Trade ya...!!

I, as you have likely noticed, am a huge Pottery Barn fan. It therefore drives me crazy that I cannot get my hands on their gorgeous catalogues (they won't ship them to Canada)!! Sure, I peruse their website and enjoy seeing all the great room ideas there, but there is nothing like having a real one in my happy, little hands.

Soooo, I have come up with a plan to get some, in a way that is mutually beneficial to the lovely person who will send me a few. Here is the deal: I will send you an equal amount of Canadian Home and Country magazines (a gorgeous magazine that will appeal to all you modern country style fans and lovers of all things vintage) if you will send me the most recent Pottery Barn Home and Pottery Barn kids ( I am pining for the fall and Christmas issues, especially). Sound fair? That way the cost of shipping will be relatively equal and everybody's happy!! Any takers out there??

Where were you?

My all-time favourite photo of the late Princess Diana...

It seems every generation has a famous person for whom you could ask the following question: Where were you when you found out that ???? died? For some it was John F. Kennedy, others it was Marilyn Munroe, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Mother Theresa, John F. Kennedy Jr....the list goes on. For me, it was Princess Diana...and the memory is burned into my mind.

I think almost every little girl of my generation loved Princess Diana. I remember the first time I became aware of her mystique and presence. I was watching an interview on television of a newly engaged couple, and I was unsure as to who the people were. I asked my mother, who was watching the program intently, and she said it was Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. She gave me the background on the two of them and as I watched the program with her, I slowly became enamored of this shy, pretty girl. I listened to the newsperson describe her as tall, pretty, shy and virginal ( I also had to ask my mother what that meant) and possessing a "peaches and cream" complexion. I thought that sounded lovely and I began a period of hero worship that would last basically until she passed away.

I began clipping every photo and article I could get my hands on and carefully glued everything into a scrapbook that was soon filled to the brim. Having a dear aunt and uncle who had recently emigrated from Ireland meant that I was able to secure some very good and unique memorabilia of their wedding. They took a trip back to Ireland around the time leading up to the wedding and brought me back a stamp set, a pencil case with their image, a mug, book, and more clippings...this time from British papers!! I felt very privileged, indeed, to have these treasures in my possession and I still have them today. Like every young girl I arose at approx. 5am to be able to watch the wedding on television. I imagined her excitement and nervousness as she prepared to make that grand march down the aisle. I can still remember the excited butterflies in my stomach as I caught that first glimpse of her in the carriage with her father. By this time, I knew every detail reported about her and Prince Charles and had read every book about them I could get my hands on. I even struggled through a rather lengthy book about Charles as I felt the need to be well-versed on his life as well, if I was truly going to be a "royal expert"!! I continued to devour every detail of their marriage, their children, and lives right to the bitter end of their union. I was so anxious to see what direction her life would take her following the divorce, and secretly hoped she'd find a wonderful man to settle down with and perhaps have a little girl in her image.

The day she died was such a shock to me. I had just arrived for my nursing shift at 7am and as I was receiving report, one of the LPN's arrived at the nurse's station and casually asked, "Did you hear that lady Diana died??" The first thought that entered my head was, "How tacky! Who calls her Lady Diana anymore? " and then, "Where did she hear such nonsense...The National Examiner??" I basically said as much (not the tacky part...) and she went on to elaborate some of the details. I literally felt cold inside and full of disbelief. But it was true. Every room I entered that morning, as I distributed the medications, had the t.v. on regurgitating the same scant details. Princess Diana was dead. I think I cried with every one of my elderly female patients while the elderly men tsked-tsked as they watched the details unfold. It took me a very long time to administer my meds that day. I will never forget the details of how I found out; and unreasonably, it still irritates me to this day the way the news was delivered to me. It was as if I expected it to be relayed to me in a more gentle, respectful way. Didn't anyone know what a huge part of my childhood she was? In fact, when I played Barbies (and I did so every day), my Barbie was Princess Diana. Her children were William and Harry, but her husband was...Prince Andrew!! I couldn't bring myself to make my handsome blonde Ken doll be Prince Charles. Ken was too smiley to be such a serious sort. Indeed, Prince Andrew was handsome, fun, and had a certain appeal...if you know what I mean...!!

Oh, and by the way, did I mention that I MET the princess? Well, I did. I was about 11 years old and she was visiting our area, so a lot of the local schools organized bus trips to the private school they were visiting nearby. We waited a long time for them to emerge from the building; but when they did, it was well worth the wait. I got to shake both Princess Diana's and Prince Charles' hands and she chatted with me and my friends about how we had waited a long time in the drizzle to see them and that she hoped we hadn't had to miss our lunches. I have a photo of her speaking to me (my friend snapped it from beside me, so I'm not in it, but she was thisclose to me) and I remember thinking that her complexion really was like peaches and cream and how beautiful her engagement ring looked up close. She wore a pale lemon dress in a drop waist style with pleating all around the bottom and a lovely matching hat. It was one of the highlights of my childhood!

Now that Diana is gone, I still find myself wondering what would have become of her. How would her boys be different, and would she have remarried? I still remember thinking that the world would miss seeing her beautiful face on the covers of magazines...that the world would be a far duller place, for no one could, or has ever matched her appeal or kindness. And, most importantly, the people who lost the most were two boys who knew her simply as Mummy.

"A girl given the name of the ancient goddess of hunting, was in the end the most hunted person of the modern age."- Earl Spencer, Diana's brother -

The man of my dreams...

Well, although I'm happily married to a great guy, I think there's a man more compatible with me. I know his name and where he works, but I don't think there's a way to wrangle a meeting. This is probably a good thing as we are both married and it would require one of us to move, or enter into a long-distance relationship...

Now, before you start thinking I'm a woman of loose morals or a homewrecker, I'll bring you up to speed. My perfect man, at least from a decorative standpoint, is Matthew Mead. For those of you who are saying, "Who??", Matthew Mead is basically an icon over at Country Home magazine and is a creative genius with a love of all things vintage and dog-eared. He frequents flea-markets, tag sales and thrift shops on his weekends; and obsesses over seasonal decor ideas in a way I can totally relate to. He is basically a male Martha Stewart, albeit he probably has a little more balance in his life than poor, workaholic Martha. He is a powerhouse of creative ideas and his style features appear in magazines like Country Home and Pottery Barn, among others. He just looks friendly and approachable and I can only imagine how much fun he is to be married to. In fact, I bet he is the only husband who probably had a hand in truly designing the pew markers and centerpieces at his own wedding!!

My husband does not brake for yard sales...in fact he speeds up!! He doesn't see the beauty in time-worn objects. He thinks they smell and are ripe for taking to the dump!! He has thrown out more than a few of my treasures in the name of "decluttering" and clearing out "junk". It has been a sore spot in our marriage, indeed. In fact, during one of our many moves, the lid of an old ice box I painstakingly painted (okay, I spray-painted it) mysteriously fell off the back of his truck when he was moving it to our new place. Even more conveniently, he accidentally ran over it; and lo and behold, that was the end of my plans for the icebox. Do you think Matthew would do that to his wife's treasures...? I think not. He'd probably wrap it in vintage, tattered quilts and carefully transport it in a vintage pick-up truck. Then, we'd stop in a field of daisies and have a picnic on a tartan blanket, sipping fresh-squeezed lemonade out of an old flask and munch on hot milk cake with mashed, fresh strawberries and cream. Then as we ambled back down the road, talking about the crafts we'd be doing for fall, we'd stop for each and every yard sale and pile more wares into the back of our truck. ~Sigh~ Sounds perfect, doesn't it??

Check out more of Matthew at his website, Matthew Mead Style. He changes things up seasonally, has wonderful archives and downloads, and has a personal blog, too!!

Here are some of examples of Matthew's creative genius:

all images, Matthew Mead Style

By the way, check out Matthew's Country Home blog...in particular, this wonderful post that will appeal to your senses.

Just don't go getting any ideas about stealing him for yourself!!

My trouble spot...

Trouble spots...we all have them, and I'm not talking about thick ankles, frizzy hair, or knobby knees. I'm talking about the decorating kind...almost as irritating, but easier on the self-esteem. My trouble spot is my master bedroom. Always has been. It is the room I give the least attention to. It houses the cast-offs from the rest of my house and has a very disjointed feel to it (at least in my mind). I have three good elements in it: the bed (footboard and headboard), and our bedside tables. The rest I could toss into a dumpster and never look back.my current bedroom: summer edition

I don't know why my bedroom has always suffered from the fate of the ugly duckling role. Over the years, finances, lack of motivation, and impulsive purchases have all played their part. I own three rather nice quilts/coverlets, but none wow me and make me breathe that happy sigh when my eyes rest upon them. Paint colour has been an obstacle, too, and I have had three yellow bedrooms (including my present one), one blue, one taupe, and one green ( a light and fresh shade), and they have all basically left me cold.

another shot of my current bedroom

Monday morning, I awoke with a fresh resolve to take this bull by the horns and recreate my bedroom into a space that I love. I lay in bed that morning making mental sketches as to what I would like it to look like. I mulled over colours, lighting (my ugly, but necessary ceiling fan just broke...I can now justify pitching it), and bedding. Then came the self-doubt. Would I actually achieve a look that I wouldn't tire of in a year; would it be all that I hoped; and would it be worth the effort? I immediately began dreading the prep work required to get it ready to paint, the continued ( and so far fruitless) search for the perfect drum shade to be made into the perfect overhead ceiling fixture (there is no way I'm going to keep up an ugly, non-functioning fan), and the additional search for the perfect, affordable bedding needed to pull off a smart look. It is so much easier to do this for a client than myself. What I have to work with is not really what I want...not to mention budgetary restrictions and a creeping feeling of laziness washing over me...

Well, here is my plan...if I can summon up the ambition to carry out said plan:

1. Paint the room in a cool taupe (so not typically me...I rarely paint walls in this colour as I fear being beige and boring) and the ceiling in a cool shade of blue. I think the combination will be lovely.

2. Make my own drum shade overhead ceiling fixture. I was intending to install a great chandelier, but I feel the need to break my personal decorating mold...

3. Paint my dressers either cream or a washed out blue...add crystal knobs and pulls.

photo: Better Homes and Gardens

4. Purchase new bedding

5. Purchase brown velvet curtain panels (for the fall and winter season )to be replaced with airy white panels in summer...

6. Find the perfect wall art for my room .

photo: House Beautiful

Oyy...I feel all that inital drive draining from my body...Somebody please give me a pep talk to get me excited about the proposed change again...Somebody...help....!!!

Just to give you an idea as to where I'm headed with this, here are some more inspiration photos I aspire to:

photo: Design Inc.

photo: Cottage Chic Store

The end of the road...

photo: Pottery Barn

I think I bit off more than I can chew with this alphabet thing. I just have the hard ones left, so here goes...

Q is for quoi...as in that certain je ne sais quoi. You know what I mean...it's that bit of style that someone gives to their home that is hard to put your finger on. I think it is basically their personality coming through. Their love of nature reflected in a piece of driftwood, their cheerfulness that can be compared to their detailed pillows or artwork, their memorabilia that tells you that they have travelled...basically just that element that sets them apart. Not all of us have it on display but it's there if we tap into it...

photo: Ralph Lauren Home

R is for rugs (or flooring, carpets, etc.). Choosing a great rug to ground and "finish" off a room can be very difficult...especially if you want it to work if you change your decor with the seasons. In fact, I am in the process of finding a great rug for my living room. Alas, I am having absolutely no luck. Maybe I need to take another trip south of the border...

(For my dream rug...and chairs...see top photo)

S is for shades...Lamp shades, that is. Choose shades in the right proportion to the lamp you will be using (a guide will often be on the lamp tag itself when you purchase it). My favourite shade of the moment is the drum shade. In fact, I am on the lookout for a big one for a ceiling light I want to make. Another really nice variation is a black shade. This looks very rich and classy and can offer a modern touch as well.

T is for treasures... We all have them, we just have to figure out the best way and places to display them. I love to use shadow boxes and mirrored trays to showcase small treasures. Giving them prominence elevates their importance and reminds us of why we consider them treasures. Dig your treasures out from their hiding spaces. If they were important enough to keep, then they are important enough to show off.


U is for up-lighting...(I know, I'm grasping at straws here). But up-lighting is a great tool to use in the garden, especially. I love to uplight the large birch tree in my front yard, especially at Halloween and Christmas. It can give an eery or magical impression to the tree and showcases its magnificent beauty.


V is for vintage...You had to know I was going to choose that!! In my book, vintage anything is basically a great choice. I love incorporating old decorative items and furniture. It gives a home a sense of history, even a new home. I also live knowing that someone else used and loved items now in my possession. It is the best form of decorative recycling. What's old is new again...!!


W is for windows... Great windows are the crowning touch to any home...it is so important to not scrimp when picking out new windows!! When purchasing windows I fall back on one of my favourite sayings, "It is what it is." Windows are expensive, but such is life. You need them and they might as well be pretty, because no matter how beautiful your view from the inside of your home, it will backfire if you cheap out on selecting the windows of your home!! You mustn't forget the view from the street...your home!! Add mullions/grills, beautiful trim, and the creme de la creme of all windows...transoms. Nothing says heritage home like some beautiful transoms topping your windows. So buy the best you can afford..you won't regret it!!


X is for...x is for...x is for...x is for... sorry I can't think of a single thing!!!!!!!


Y is for yellow... one of the best "neutral" paint colours I can think of. Yellow can be creamy, buttery, sunny, earthy (think maize), happy, calm, or vibrant. And you know how I love a yellow house...

Z is for zzzzz's...what I should be catching right now...I have a big organization job in the morning and I need to get myself organized!!!
By the way, if you thought of something for the letter X, tell me!! I hereby X-tend my apologies and can offer no X-cuse for my lack of creativity!!!

HIJKLMNOP...

Don't you love that song?? Every toddler warbles the words (and letters) out in such a sweet way, all the while learning their alphabet!! Well, on with my version...the decorating ABC's!

H is for hardware...No, not hardware stores (although they can be a treasure trove), but hardware as in door knobs, cabinetry pulls, handles and knobs, even plumbing fixtures...the mechanics of the home that disguise themselves as jewellry. I hate going into a new home where the contractor has chosen everything, and the "jewellry" is missing. It seems like they either cheap out, or just don't have any style sense. Either way, it's up to us to tweak what needs tweaking and add our own jewellry. Nowadays, you can have your pick from vintage/reproduction style hardware in milk glass, antique metals, glass knobs... to the other end of the spectrum: modern finishes and styles. All can add up to a cheap, easy way to update and beautify doors, cabinets, bathroom fittings, and more.

I is for inspiration...Find a look, object, piece of art or even a colour that you find inspiring and let it be a jump-off point for everything else. Take the best from your inspirational item and make sure that when you choose something for your home because of it, the new item should make you feel as good as the inspirational piece. J is for journey... Decorating is a process and should be fun and drawn out. There are those who can afford to pay people to make everything come together at once. All is completed and perfect and they can purchase all the "right" pieces as soon as the want enters their mind. While I am prone to a bit of envy towards those folks, I would not choose that route for the interior of my home. My style is constantly evolving. It is like a puzzle...I find something I like and it either fits or it doesn't. If it doesn't, I move on to something that "fits" better and I know that something better WILL always come along. I enjoy this journey as I create a space that I love... that isn't impulsive or just in vogue at the moment. I don't have the luxury of an unlimited budget, but I do have the luxury of an unlimited imagination, as do you. I dream it and try and find a way to create it on my budget. And if it doesn't happen, then it wasn't meant to be...and I move on to another piece of my puzzle. Let your home evolve. Your style will have more longevity that way...

K is for kitchen... I love a good kitchen. It is the first room I click on when I am perusing real-estate online. If the kitchen is good, I know the rest will also be good. Renovating a kitchen can be hugely expensive, so that is where your creativity comes in. Let paint, hardware, accessories, and lighting be your friend. One of the most creative fixes in a kitchen was done by Cindy at Romantic Home. Pure genius at work...and a great way to beautify on a budget! I forget where I found this kitchen (below), but it is a great example of the homeowner choosing longevity over trends... beautiful!!

L is for lighting...I've droned on and on about my love of lighting and the absolute necessity of not overlooking its importance. It truly doesn't have to be expensive. Think classic good looks combined with a bit of the unexpected. You really do deserve a chandelier in your bathroom or bedroom, and exterior lighting is not meant to be solely used outside. Select only lights that you love and you will elevate your home to a new level.

M is for mouldings... I am talking about not only trim, but wainscotting, beadboard, raised and recessed panelling, etc. Especially in new homes, this brings an element of architecture to rooms. Wide baseboards and deep window headers are particularily beautiful and will add real style to your home.

N is for natural... Decorate in YOUR style. It's okay to get inspiration from a magazine or design book, but when you find yourself obsessed about replicating every detail in the photo, then you know you have lost your way. Your house won't feel like yours if you strip away your treasured belongings just because they don't fit in perfectly with your desired decorating scheme. Show a little of yourself...be inspired by others but don't be a copy-cat. This leads to my next point...

O is for originality... I have two things to say about that. Inject some originality into your space...but don't believe your hype. While others may tell you that you are the most creative person on the planet, and you likely are extremely creative, we all have to own up to the fact that we've likely seen the idea elsewhere. Whether it be at someone else's home, in a magazine, on HGTV, or some other random spot. We may not consciously recall where the idea originated, but very likely someone, somewhere has had the idea first...albeit perhaps way down the creative ladder.

I know of someone who would spot a great idea in a newly released magazine and announce that they were going to do "this, this, that and this". Therefore, the rest of the world who would have purchased the magazine would be copying if they decided to carry out the ideas as well (I bet you're nodding in agreement...we all know someone like that!). Remember, it is easy to recreate a great look, but to truly make it your own and even better than the original, infuse some of your own personal style and belongings into the look.

P is for paint!! The dreaded decision...which colour to paint our rooms can drive us all batty. We are so scared to make a bad colour choice...or even worse, to make a mediocre choice that we will live with because it isn't offensive; but we hate it all the same because we're angry at ourselves for playing it safe. If you want my advice on selecting paint colour, check out this old post about choosing colour wisely.

I've got some tough letters up ahead...Q and U and X and Z...I better go ask my kids for some advice on what starts with those letters. I'm pretty sure I can't convince you to hang X-ray photos up on your wall and you certainly can't place a vase on an Xylophone...Aagh!! I'll see what I can some up with!!

The ABC's of decorating...verse 1

photo: poshchicago.com

Well, I hope I don't get you humming the ABC song, 'cause that's where I'm going with this. I'm going to do that crazy word association game in the form of a decorating lesson, so hum along with me...if you know your ABC's that is...

A is for accessories...you know what a sucker I am for those. It's so important to have just enough, but not too many. And please, make them mean something to you. Don't buy something because you should, but because you can't live without it. In other words, choose love (or looks ) over money. Just because it costs a a lot, doesn't mean it's great.

B is for bed... We finally invested in a good quality mattress and my back thanks me for it everyday. This is an example of pro-rating at its best. The mattress may be a good chunk of change, but divided over the life of the bed, it's an outright bargain! And you know how much I love a bargain... Oh, and don't forget to buy pretty, soft sheets. Stay away from the 180-thread counts...unless you want to feel like you've just gone to bed on a loofah... You will feel pampered if your bed is pretty and comfy. You're worth it...I know you are!!

C is for chairs. I think I've said enough on that topic...just promise me you won't settle for ugly/ quality. I did that with mine...but that's an old story!!

(oops, I forgot...C is also for Chandelier...an absolute must have...the sparklier the better!!)

photo: Design inc.ca

D is for drapery (although I prefer to call them curtains, or window treatments) Lighten up on these...they should enhance the window, not overwhelm it. And unless you need sheers in the same way your mother needs a slip, forgo them. Let the light in and enjoy your view!

photo: Cottage Chic store

E is for exterior decorating. Don't forget curb appeal. The outside of your home should entice people to cross the threshold. Spruce up your entrance, open your curtains, put out a nice welcome mat, and hang a pretty wreath on the door. Reveal some of who you are on the outside of your home...

F is for fireplace. If you have one and you don't love it...give it a makeover! Resurface the front of it, change your mantel decor with the seasons, and clean out the firebox. Soot and grime do not make for a "smokin" look!! Don't forget, F is also for focal point...something your fireplace should be!

G is for garage door. Please, oh please, don't paint your garage door a crazy colour or make it stand out from outer space. It should recede...blend in...or if you really lucky, treat yourself to one that has a heritage feel. There are some beautiful options out there. Choose beauty and function!!

Well, tomorrow will be brought to you by the letters HIJKLMNOP . Bet you don't know what comes after that!!