My Ten Minutes in The Little Dollhouse Company

While I was in Toronto recently, I kept driving by the most intriguing little shop by the above name. Unfortunately, each time, we seemed to be driving to a destination and had a time line to keep. There is not a whole lot of shopping spontaneity when you are travelling with three kids and an early bird husband!

On our last day in the city, I managed to get my reluctant hubby to stop and let me out to take a look inside. Well, he had barely come to a stop before I leapt out (of a huge Suburban...our eco-friendly rental car) and nearly landed on my behind! Oh well, I knew my time was limited...what's a cracked tailbone in the pursuit of a great shopping experience? I felt like one of those contest winners at the grocery store who has 3 minutes to fill his/her cart before someone blows a shrill whistle and ends the fun. Well, my whistles were in the car feeling quite impatient and counting down my "ten minutes" (we were going to the mall of all places...blah...) so off I went.

From the minute I stepped into the store and heard that old-fashioned jingle as the door swung shut, I felt my breath catch: I was in a little girl's paradise and I had ten minutes!!!!!! Now, I love my husband dearly, but it is moments like these that I wish he wasn't such a non-shopper and that he'd understand my need to spend the afternoon marvelling over the authenticity of the miniature reproduction this and tiny vintage that. This place had piles of charm just peeking out from its shelves. Hand-crafted doll houses decorated with scaled-down versions of decorative perfection: tiny chandeliers dripping with tiny glass beads...that actually light up!!! Hanging baskets of flowers ready for the wrap-around porches, little lawn mowers, farm house sinks, baby cradles; if you can dream it, it's in that shop!!! Then there was me...with my meagre ten minutes...!!

Well, I snapped into action, allowing my eyes to dance over as much as I could when I spied what would be the purchase of my entire trip.........there in front of me, was the most realistic, scaled-down version of the fairy door of my dreams!! Now, it wasn't exactly a fairy door, but it would do a stand-up job as a substitute!! It had gorgeous moulding as the door frame, a tiny door handle, and...hold your breath for this one...a stained glass insert!!!! I dared not breathe as I asked the price. With the clerk's response, my excitement drained from me. It was well over one hundred dollars...definitely not qualifying as either a practical purchase (which it didn't have to be) or a purchase that I could sensibly justify to anyone, including myself. You see, I have problems with certain pricing points. If something is $19.95, no problem. If it is 17.95, the number doesn't sit well with me. If the price is $39.95, again, okay. If it is 52.95...it's probably not going to come home with me. In the same vein, I can buy five things for $20 each, but have a lot of difficulty buying something for $100. It's weird, and I can't explain it, but it just is. If I am going to spend $100 on a single item, it has to be big!! A fairy door for that price just doesn't qualify... The shop keeper, sensing my disappointment, laughed and reassured me that I could find a very similar unpainted version, sans the glass (which was fine with me), for next to nothing!!! Sure enough, at the back of the store, was a little display of unfinished doors with lovely frames and a selection of door accessories to purchase as well. I was thrilled to find the most beautiful wooden door and frame, handle with door knocker, and even accessories to set the scene scattered throughout the store. I paid in total, about $39.95 ( a good number) when all was said and done. That even included a little "cast iron" mailbox and some rubber boots for the "fairies" to slip on when they leave the house. In my efforts to be authentic to the fairy door people (who actually know the folklore behind these sweet, little doors) I decided to pick up a resin version for the inside of my entry as well. It was cheaper (in total, with accessories, $15) and painted up beautifully. Now, you all know I did this for my little girl,who unfortunately wasn't even with me, and I was dearly wishing she was as she would have been able to charm her Daddy into letting us stay a lot longer. Unfortunately, since this trip wasn't about the adults (is it ever?), I had to adhere to our schedule and take our boys to the mall! Sure enough, as I was paying, my dear, sweet hubby called me on the cellphone to "encourage" me to hurry along and let me know that the "bus" was leaving very soon...with or without me!!! The nerve! Do you honestly think the other man of my dreams would utter those threats to his wife??? I don't think so...!!!

With only seconds to spare, I hopped (climbed) back into our gargantuan vehicle where I had been unceremoniously relegated to the back seat while I was in the shop. The indignities I suffered just because my fellow travellers were mostly male!!!! You can just bet that the next time I return to Toronto, I will be the driver, I'll drop the the testerone at the mall first, and I'll save all my spending money for that adorable, little shop. You can bet your money on that one!!!!

Before and After...

While it is always fun (and enviable) to be able to simply go out to a store and buy what you need and want for your home, the reality is most of us can't always do that. Throw in a shaky economy, and this carefree spending can seem downright imprudent, if one expects to be at all impacted by the instability. Then there are those who get joy in achieving similar looks on a budget, choosing to instead transform what they already have, or can pick up at flea markets, yard sales, or thrift shops. Others still consider this the ultimate form of recycling - choosing to respect that which already exists, and restoring it to its former (or new) glory. I am a combination of them all: I love to save money, get a look for less, use what skills I have, and reuse the tired and neglected.

I have taken on a few of my own before and after projects, often with the help of my husband, who I often dub "the handyman" on this blog, just to protect him from the stalkers..ha! Have a look at the following posts, and have a look at my archives. You will soon discover that I love a bargain, and if I/we can make it myself, then that is the route I choose.

Besides, we all know it take more style and talent to pull off a great look on a modest budget. While we can envy homeowners with generous budgets, we are more apt to admire those who can do it themselves!!!

Facelifts are Good

Flippin' Out

Flippin' Out...cont'd

Sophie's Room

Fireplace Make-overs

Sprucing up a Camper

Exterior Lipstick

Porch Swing Make-over

Frugal Decorating

More Frugal Decorating...

Not Your Granny's Wallpaper

Slipcoverin' It All Up

My Master Bedroom Make-over

A Different Kind of Umbrella Stand

Silhouettes...the Profiler

Silhouette Tutorial

Ceiling Fan Transformation!

The Wow Factor

Top ten Projects of 2008

Small Aspirations...do you share them??

I tend to purchase my fair share of home decor magazines each month. A few like Country Home, Canadian Home and Country and House and Home are usually in my cart (among others), and Country Living usually has a very good chance of making it in there, but usually garners a quick glance-through first. Although it goes head to head with Country Home on the stands, it falls short sometimes. Personally, I have a lot of favourites over at Country Home (uhmm...can you take a guess...???) and one is the outgoing editor, Carol Sheehan, whose editorials I am so going to miss now that she is retiring. In fact, I feel obliged to dedicate an entire post about her and will do so later in the week.

I was, however, more than enticed to pick up the current issue of Country Living this month with its delightful pink cupcakes gracing the cover ...tantalizing me with their pink confection. Also, this month features the Country Living House of the Year and I never miss that one! Sigh...while it is indeed a beautiful home, I felt rather deflated that it was, again,a home that most of us could only ever dream of. Of course, I am not so naive as to think that they are going to showcase a tiny lacklustre home, but I was discouraged at the outright unattainablity of it. Everything high end, custom...perfect. Lots to love, but I was left with a plaintive voice in my head asking, "Why??"

Why do magazines almost never show us pictures of realistic homes? Sure, they definitely profile smaller-scale homes (and they consider 1800 sq ft quite small), but they are usually cottage-style homes that would fit perfectly in the Cotswolds of England. Again, full of architectural character and charm, perhaps rebuilt with 100% salvaged materials to retain the historical authenticity of the home...and we all know that isn't the cheap way to go about it (no matter what the homeowners say)!! Indeed, I am disheartened with never being shown a basic home that has been built in this decade (and not built to replicate the homes of yesteryear) that is simply decorated well. Not all of us can afford to install soapstone countertops, hand-hewn ceiling beams, reclaimed flooring, "walk-through" fireplaces... Why, some of us actually buy all of our building materials at places like Home Depot as opposed to being chuffed that we actually found suitable kitchen cabinets there...feeling like we found a shiny new nickel amongst a pile of pennies! For many of us, building centers are often our only source for materials.

Yes, I guess I am asking the question, "Are the homes that many of us live in so unappealing that they can never be deemed fit for print?" I understand the need to aspire to bigger and better-similar to preferring to see fashion models wearing haute couture instead of sneakers and Keds, but surely a little dose of reality wouldn't actually hurt anyone? I mean, we can keep it to one a year... that's tolerable, right? I know I can take the dose of normalcy. In`fact, I think it would actually be quite refreshing for the reader...and perhaps a bit trailblazing for the magazine(s) that takes on the challenge. For the record, I know some of you will be able to recall a featured house or two that actually might fit the criteria, but honestly, didn't you have to think about it for a while?? I know I had to!

In fact, I would love to hear your opinion on the topic: would you be content to see a basic home that was dressed up pretty as a package, but not your typical grand (expensive) home?? Let me know...who knows, maybe someone with the power to effect the change will be reading and your door just might get knocked on...!!! So, speak up and be heard!!! I'll be listening...

My daughter's dollhouse: definitely small and cute...

Think like a stylist...think like Matthew Mead!! (week two of our collaboration)

With the continuing trend toward plunging temperatures, those of us in colder climes are forced indoors to escape the freezing cold. This of course leads to thoughts of decorating, for those of us who share this passion. As we attempt to warm ourselves by the fire, we start noticing the predictability of our rooms, the tired arrangements, and the pillows and blankets that have seen better days. Suddenly, a lightbulb goes off: what if we were to actually add a little spark to our decor...add to our collections (or start new ones), and repurpose that which we already have?

Who better to look to for style inspiration than our good friend (and style guru) Matthew Mead? As promised, Matthew is back with another good kick in our decorating pants (although he's too nice to actually deliver a real kick) to spring us into action and vamp up our spaces.

Here is Matthew's tip of the week and for those of us who like to shop...well, we just have to follow his advice. After all, if Matthew Mead tells you to do it, that should be reason enough!!

He said: Collect something new

"There is no better way for me to rebound from a style slump than to get out and look for something beyond my comfort zone. I am a huge fan of British and Australian magazines and often try to emulate their exceptional sensibility for mixing old with modern. In that effort, I go on a hunt for items with a colorful and shapely pedigree from the 60's. Jenny (my wife) has a penchant for Eva Zeisle pottery and dishes... I always pick up Russell Wright dining sets in great colors (chartreuse is one of my favorites). I like art, Eames inspired chairs and tables and all types of modern hanging light fixtures and graphic objects (my new web site debuting in February will be a real glimpse inside how my style is influenced by this design period.) These scavenger hunts become an inspirational game for me as I search for these objects amongst the myriad of collectibles out there. Its fun to see how many of one thing you can find in a day to create an instant collection and to see how similar items can be priced so differently. So try it for yourself... purchase a few new surprise antiques that bring a breath of fresh air to what you already have and makes your vignettes a bit more unexpected."

Here are some fine examples of how adding to our collections can perk up our home. This is Matthew's weekend bounty...(all photos courtesy Matthew Mead, unless otherwise noted):

"I discovered these new modern elements on my antiquing foray this weekend. The colors and shapes are just the "kick" that my traditional collections need."


"This mini chartreuse vase is perfect for flowers or greens on my desk... look at how the shape and color mix well with an early yellow ware bowl, old porcelain knobs strung on string and a classic gold leaf picture frame... all the items in the mix get a breath of new life."


"The blue translucent bowl provides "pop" and relief for country transferware... I feel like I have a whole new set of dishes!"


"An Eva Zeisle creamer is at home with ironstone mugs made decades and decades earlier."


"I just love bringing in "new" old things to my collections... a great and easy tip for blending... think about coordinating colors for a seamless mix of generational items."...Matthew Mead


She said: Speaking of vignettes...

Enter the stylist...and in this case, I mean you! I have always thought that the stylists have the best jobs in the magazine world. Dreaming up themes for the photo shoot, hunting down the appropriate props and treasures, tweaking and adjusting, guiding the photographer...really who wouldn't want that job? Well, maybe it's not as glamorous as it seems, but there is nothing stopping us from being the creative director of our own home.

As Matthew suggested, have another look at what adorns your walls. Have you had the same tired artwork on your walls? Even if you love what's there, why not try something else for a short time? Artfully arranged plates, collectibles, even your child's framed artwork...you may be surprised at just how easy it is to change style directions even if it is just for a season or two.

Finally, never ignore the style impact of the vignette. Examine all your landing places: do your shelves, tables, dressers, sideboards and countertops simply serve as a holding spot for clutter, half-hearted attempts at accessorizing, or accidental displays? If so, think like a stylist: pretend you are actually thinking of photographing the vignette. Do the items displayed complement each other, are they to scale, or could they be rearranged to have more impact? Peruse your own home for items to try. Simply moving items to another spot can enhance their appeal. Think like a stylist when decorating your seasonal home! Seasonal decorating is not a permanent fix; rather a way to rediscover your treasures, the features of your home, and incorporate elements particular to that season. Embrace the season...and all it has to offer!

Here are some examples of great styling:

photo sources: (above ): Matthew Mead Style; (top right): source unknown

photo source: Pottery Barn

Winter tourists...

The view from the CN Tower..

First timers!!

Well, as I mentioned the other day,we fell off the turnip truck and landed in the big city of Toronto!!

What a whirlwind weekend!! We flew in on Thursday and out on Monday and exhausted are we...not to mention a wee bit more experienced (well, I am anyway). This was the first time our kids have flown and their innocence wafted from them like the smell of cut grass! In fact, my youngest son had two concerns about our plane. First, he wondered if our vehicle would be loaded onto the plane and then, on the flight home, made me alert the stewardess to show her what he felt was a safety hazard with the window next to him. He "felt a draft" coming from it, and not reassured by her (she did look a tiny bit concerned), settled for no less than the pilot himself to have a look!! All was well, and he didn't have to worry about getting "sucked out the window" and he excused the pilot to commence take-off. The funny thing is, he is my reckless, fearless child...

"Give me a quick rundown on flying this thing...with my memory, it should be a piece of cake..."

Before take-off, we got a tour of the cockpit. Just as I was squeezing myself into his cramped seat, the pilot instructed me to be careful to not "bang into any switches." Gulp... what if I already had? It would surely be my fault if we all went down!! The kids then insisted on chewing gum during takeoff and almost panicked when I couldn't find it in time. Honestly, I know they haven't led the priveleged life that some of their peers have, but do they have to embarrass me with their small town ways?? It was sweet to see my eldest just shaking his head at being above the clouds...saying, "I just don't believe it..." Personally, I grew up never doing anything, as we just couldn't afford to even think of family vacations and the like. It has made me very appreciative of anything we thus do, and although our children have experienced much more than we did, they still haven't experienced serious travel like kids today seem to take for granted. They truly appreciated this trip and we were so excited to be able to do it for them.

Like good tourists, we toured the CN tower (I even stood on the glass floor!) which is the world's tallest free standing structure. Then, while the kids and hubby toured the Hockey Hall of Fame, I indulged in a little retail therapy..which led to the sorest feet I have ever experienced. Like a fool, I wanted to look at least somewhat fashionable, and of course, I didn't really pull it off, and instead suffered in the pursuit! Which led me to the realization that I don't necessarily want to fit in with certain fashion styles. Especially the leggings + babydoll dress + bad eighties boots look I saw everywhere (on the young set)! Maybe if I was young and skinny again...but all I know is the good Lord meant for me to wear that stuff then, but not now. Besides, I am a preppy girl at heart...so the long duffle coats with black, square-toed boots suited me much better. Which is basically the other predominant fashion I saw floating around the city. I was actually a bit disappointed with the fashion and shopping! Everything was so spread out and when you finally reached your destination, the exhorbitant prices nearly knocked me over!! Just to prove my point, this store (Au Lit) had sheet sets that sold for $500-$1200 and I literally couldn't afford (in good conscience, anyway) anything in the store!! Personally I'd feel guilty sleeping on such pricey bedding while others don't even have a blanket to cover themselves with... I guess I just believe that my sleep needs (or skin) is no more deserving than anyone else's and some things are just so indulgent that they seem vulgar...but that's just me. Somebody has to be purchasing such luxuries...

The highlight for the kids was the visit to the Much Music studios (and meeting the veejays) and the basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks. What an exciting outing!! They do an incredible job at pumping up the crowd and if it wasn't for the drunk guys behind us with a proclivity for the F-bomb (lovely), it would have been perfect! Which leads me to my other observation in Toronto. While everyone we met was very nice, I encountered a certain lack of social niceties...which I'm sure is just a symptom of a faster-paced life and talking too much on cell phones as one walks... Indeed, I was bumped into many times and found myself apologizing (in true Maritime style) while the guilty party seemed totally oblivious, if not annoyed at me for being there! Where is that turnip truck when you need it?? My only other complaint was the way that the shop keepers in many of the more swank stores would size you up like a side of beef to see if you were worthy of their attention, and of course, me in my dull clothes and lack of chic, dark-framed glasses did not pass muster!! I went into a store called Teatro Verde and politely asked if I could photograph the most exquisite chandelier, and she sniffed, "Noooo... I don't think so..." in a very posh voice. Hmmph...I'd show her: I politely turned on my heel and as soon as I could get into running distance, snapped this photo!! I can be rude, too!!!

The ever so swank Teatro Verde: actually not that great...

Our hosts, my husband's brother and sister- in- law, were the most gracious hosts and we all loved spending time with them and their adorable daughter. Good food, good company, coupled with some great outings added up to a wonderful first trip to Toronto for the kids. I was fortunate enough that my good friend Chris met up with me for a day's shopping and we had so much fun navigating the shops on Queen St. East.

Here are some photos I took. Now's the time to check out if you're not family (or bored... or just polite):

My BIL's beautiful home (this one deserves the beautiful label)

The "boys" looking entirely too happy...except for Gray...caught him in a blink...or stupor!!

Me and my posse at the Raptors game..so much fun!!

1st subway ride...don't they look impressed?

The Toronto Zoo: a wonderful place even in winter: just look at this mother gorilla nursing her baby...so sweet!!

mama chimpanzee and her baby...

Meet Charles...he was very shy...he'd sneak a peek at me and then look away quickly (although I didn't look my best, surely he wouldn't have found me that hard to look at it??). The gorillas were my favourite...they had to drag me away!!

Well, we had a great time in the big city and made lots of great memories. Toronto is definitely a beautiful city and is a great place to visit any time of the year!!

I want one...

I want a new sofa. I know that's not a very nice way to begin a new post, but I'm feeling a little furniture pang. I just want one. I need one for my basement family room as I'm tired of slapping cheap slipcovers on the ones I have down there. I can't even invest in custom made ones to thereby prolong the life of "their ugliness" as the springs are shot from years of jumping and training for the "high jump". When you sit on them, you sink in the middle...and not because you ate too much comfort food this winter. Will I get my way, you might ask? Nope...not unless I'm prepared to get a new hubby and heaven knows where I'd get one of those...Despite his frugality (he likes to call it common sense), he's kinda cute and useful and makes a good cup of tea, so the debate rages on between us and it goes something like this:

Me: We really need a new sofa and love seat downstairs.

Him: Don't start...(which is his favourite saying and annoys me to no end...)

Me: Yeah, but...(this is where he jumps in...)

Him: Please don't start...

Me: But the springs are shot, they're out of style, and we should get something that reflects our taste (which is where I really lose him...).

Him: We're not getting a new sofa until the kids have moved out and that's that!

Me: silent treatment begins...

Now before you think that I'm a major wimp and need to just stand my position, you have to remember I have my own version of the Tightwad gazette...or better yet: the Frugal Hack(I must remember this one).

I also know he is right. A new sofa would have busted springs in a matter of months, the cats would claim it, and we'd never actually sit on it anyway (given our tendency to flock upstairs). So, I give up the ghost, take a trip to Winners to buy some accessories, and never let on that I think he is even remotely right.

Still, it's okay to drool over pictures like this, no??

all photos: Maine Cottage.com

I know this isn't a sofa or love seat, but I want it too!! A girl can dream, right??

Style me Pretty...

photo: source unknown

photo: Country Living.com

Pretty...I love that word. It has such a sweet connotation to it...a simplicity, an innocence, an attainability. While we may not all be beautiful or live in beautiful homes, most people can have something about themselves that qualifies as pretty: pretty eyes, pretty hair, pretty smile, and so on. To be called pretty is so much easier to accept, even for those of us who brush off compliments. Pretty seems more believable, more honest... more genuine. Of course, there are many people who qualify as beautiful, but so many more that are more apt to be labelled pretty. We often hear the phrase, "the beautiful people" and we are prone to think that they are more vain, less committed to their relationships, and yet innately more happy. While this is obviously a sweeping generalization, these opinions live on.

When we think of beautiful homes, we almost always think of grand spaces, with heaps of architectural interest, reeking of quality and high mortgages. Even with homes, we equate beauty with perfection. Although we are very generous in using that descriptive when touring each other's homes, it is often more honest to deem a house pretty, or lovely, or charming...words that bring less committment to this supposed perfection. If a home is pretty, it has a definite aesthetic appeal; but it may also have nooks and crannies that are imperfect: rooms that are yet to be remodelled, paint that is chippy in spots, pillows that are imperfectly plumped, dust balls dancing across the slightly scratched wooden floors, creaky screen doors that slam too loud upon closing...perfectly imperfect.

My goal for my home is for it to feel/look pretty to me: hence my use of a soft colour palette; slipcovers; touches of sparkle and glitter; pom pom fringe; crisp, cotton sheets, whimsical light fixtures...basically anything that inspires me to think "pretty" when I look at it. What ever happened to being satisfied with pretty? Why must we covet perfection, streamlined beauty, high-end this and top notch that? Isn't pretty good enough??

photos: country cream .co/uk

In fact, my favourite compliment when someone visits my home for the first time, is that it feels comfortable and is pretty. Now, I'm not fishing for compliments here, I'm just stating my preference. Hearing that it is beautiful would honestly make me squirm a bit, as I am one of those people who equates beauty with grandeur. Certainly, I consider many things beautiful, but the word pretty just brings to mind fresh, natural, down to earth style. Simply put- white roses are beautiful... as they depict quality, simplicity, restraint. A daisy is pretty: natural, attainable. A peony defies all rules and is simply breathtaking, but in a fresh, pretty way. There is indeed a difference to how each makes me feel when I see it.

So, I say let's bring pretty back into our homes: let's not consider it the dowdy sister of beautiful, but rather the fresh-faced girl next door that we secretly know is nicer, self-deprecating, more natural and will put us more at ease when we encounter her. Bring on the unstarched white sheets, the chippy paint, the wildflowers, the pastels, the mismatched chairs, the dog-eared treasures that have been handed down through the generations. Let us forget about always wanting the best, and simply accept that good enough can be just that: apply that girl next door prettiness to our homes. Beauty fades, but even the wrinkliest of grannies can be pretty...

Some more examples of pretty...(again, not from my house)

photo: Sarah Richardson Design

photo: Better Homes and Gardens