Second Wind : March 2012

This was a crazy week for me - crazy good, though!

Things are getting quite busy around here, as they do when Spring is near.

I've had to wear many hats lately working on projects with vastly different needs and aesthetics.

This is why designers need true vision, an open mind, a great ear, and a ton of patience...

plus the ability to shift gears on a dime as the need arises!

Here's a look at some of the projects we're working on.

Classic Glamour

An empty-nester's luxe dream bathroom

One wall came down and we almost doubled the space of the original bathroom.

A glamorous, contemporary sanctuary for the lady of the house, please.

The tiles in the pictures are more gray then they appear here.

Earthy Chic Dining & Living Room

custom details with an elegant and modern edge for young family with two kids

This elegant living & dining room is coming together (more info here and the before pic here)

with the final accessories being selected shortly it should be ready for a close-up very soon.

Cool Contemporary Media Room

on a tight budget for a young adult getaway in the basement of a classic home

The "grown" children in this house needed a space of their own and the main floor's elegant style just cramps their style! A fresh & fun colour palate, solid furniture, and durable fabrics were the objectives here.

Who says you can't have great style on a budget?

Traditional Arts & Crafts Living Room

for an established writer living with beautiful antiques

Refreshing a dated living & dining room by replacing period wallpaper with historic paint colours, reframing art, reupholstering furniture and adding a couple of new pieces for modern living.

Just another week of

breathing new life into tired spaces!

I've struck gold... or it struck me!!

As someone who's always appreciated the blingy things in life, I must say that my love for all things gold was stuck in the 80's but as of late, it's been totally revived.

Any shade of gold will do...burnished brass, vintage gold, even antique bronze.... all good!

The brass movement in design been making its way over from Europe for the past couple of years but has really hit hard in the decor industry in the last couple of seasons. It's not the shiny yellow stuff from the decades past, but a more weathered, warm tone that works so well in almost any home.

Here's what I'm digging lately.

The first 3 pics are vintage finds I've picked up recently at my favourite antique shops.

I picked up this Italian tray for a client who has an eclectic space
with a mix of Asian and European antiques with blue accents

This is one of a pair of lamps that I found with mega-ugly shades. I love all the details.
They'll be topped with black drum shades with gold interior lining.