The Interior Hangout

The Winter Entrance

2012-02-22T14:23:00.002-08:00

Winter can be a bit of a slump season when it comes to decorating your front door. The holiday season is over so your holly wreath and cedar garland have made their way to the compost but it's too early to plant spring flowers in your urns. So we've generated a few ideas for you to bring life to your front entrance over these cold dark months. Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of fellow blogger Diane Carnevale.

Diane added life to these birch logs with winterberry branches.

This winter boxwood wreath from Terrain will last all winter long and bring a little green to an otherwise bare branch season.

On the other hand, you could embrace winters' starkness with this grey birch twig wreath from Lovegrass Farm.

Or how about an Amish Barn Star...did you know that each color has its own meaning? This black one signifies protection - perfect for a front door.

Itsy Bits and Pieces went beyond creative with this front door display!

So have a little fun and don't be afraid to go a little off-piste with your front door this winter. Happy Decorating!

Scandinavian Design +

2012-01-24T11:55:00.001-08:00

Marimekko design has always been a favourite, but what if there was a shop that went beyond? Introducing Huset, a Scandinavian design shop that carries a multitude of uniquely and distinctly Scan housewares, furniture, and clothing.

Huset is defined as "The House" in Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian and they define themselves as being able to "bring together the rare and unusual of today`s visionaries plus the time-tested Scandinavian icons of design, directly to your door". And yes, they deliver internationally.

Here`s a sneak peek into the colourful world of their shop...

Bird on a Wire Coat Rack by JBA

Rice dk Melamine Side Plates

The Swedese Tree Coat Rack

Krone Hanssen`s Wood Stubbe Poufs

bObles Elna Elephant Tumbling Animal

Rice dk Birdhouse Kitchen Egg Timer

You can visit Huset.com directly for more great finds.

In a Girls World

2012-01-19T11:02:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, I found a beautiful photo of what was clearly a girls room and I was instantly reminded of the fact that I would never have a room like it with a husband and 2 growing boys at home. Of course I'd never trade in my fab family for the sake of decor but I refuse to give up being inspired by the delicacy of white linen, lace, and toile!

For everyone who dreams of exploring the more feminine side of decorating, these are for you:

Inspiration Shot from Style at Home magazine (online)

Boys could absolutley not resist dropping food or rubbing mud on these white chairs!

Elle Decor.com

Oooh, white, pink satin, and glass - all no no's in a house of boys!

DecorPad.com

I'll keep dreaming...and living vicariously through my clients and magazines!

2012-01-04T10:45:00.000-08:00

I woke up to the thunder of rain rushing down my downspouts today. Yuck! It was dark, cold, wet, and down right depressing. COFFEE was a requirement - pronto. Reading through some tweets I saw that House and Home had featured a textile designer named, Bev Hisey. Click click and voila, a little sunshine appeared in my miserable day. Hisey is based out of Toronto (my old stomping grounds) and her textile works include rugs, pillows, blankets, panels, and handbags. Yummy yum, they're so colorful they electrify. Her creativity is genuine; anyone who can turn botulism into a floor mat deserves to be recognized. Here's a sampling of her work:

Dirty Dishes Carpets in the Medical Series. From the top L to R: Anthrax, SARS, E. coli, Cholera, HIV, Influenza, Botulism, Streptococcus, Acinetobacter

Moroccan Hand Tufted Wool Carpet

O.K. maybe not the most colorful but Bev definitely had a colorful mind when she created this one! The "Mommy Dearest".

"In The Woods I"

"Butterflies" and "Ants"

Hand Screened "Squiggles" and "Die Cuts"

Visit Bev Hisey.com to perk up your gloomy day! ...and for more details.

Eclectic Modern With a Bit of Soul

2011-11-03T12:24:00.000-07:00

Last spring I met the coolest lady who needed help refurbishing her sofa. To say the sofa was eclectic would have been a wee bit of an understatement. However, it held many memories and was fundamentally an interesting piece. So I took some photos, we picked some fabric and paint, and we were off.

But this wasn't the last of the design; the room needed some soul after she had gone through the process of de-cluttering and removing several pieces of furniture. My client was so funky it was a welcome challenge to try to marry her eclectic style of travel chachkas with her desire for a "really modern" room with “lots of colour”!

The turning point for the design was when it came out that my client had a hobby - she was an amateur photographer! We went straight to her computer and low and behold, before me were hundreds of editorial and gallery quality images!! I knew I was in for an interesting ride. I immediately paired her with my dear friend (also a photographic artist) who happens to have a Giclée printing machine in his basement.

With art as our inspiration we moved forward with re-hauling this room into an accurate reflection of my clients character; eclectic modern with soul. Following are the results:

Before De-Cluttering & Furniture Removal

Before Room Design

After

2011-10-09T13:11:00.000-07:00

The Art is in the Hanging

2011-09-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

Last week we had the task of hanging art for a discerning client. Many people think there are rules you must follow; however, when it comes to hanging art, rules are made to be broken.
To take on the task, we knew that our not-so-skilled hands could not meet the challenge. So, we called in an expert. We called in Kent Southwell of Kent Picture Framing here in Vancouver. He was up for the challenge!

His easy going professional manner was met with quick and expertise hanging. This guy knows his stuff.

If you're ever in the market for hanging art - he's your guy. We will no longer go anywhere else!

Thanks Kent!

We're currently scheduled to take professional photographs of the results...stay tuned...

Bastille Day, July 14, 2011

2011-07-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

Whether you are a Francophone or just someone with Joie de Vivre, today is the 222nd anniversary of the troop invasion of the French prison in Bastille that was pivotal in ending the French Revolution in 1789. But is it acceptable to say, "Happy Bastille Day"? Well, to some descendants of the French Imperial Court that would be like saying, "Happy day your ancestors were caught and beheaded".

In France, it is actually not customary to give any salutation on this day. But if you find yourself wishing to cheer something aloud, a "Joyeux le quatorze juillet", which translates to "Happy Fourteenth of July!", would be a safe bet. Or even better, a simple “Bonne fête!” will suffice.

Regardless, today is a day of celebrating! Here's our take on some fun and delicious french must-haves:

Best Indoor/Outdoor Chairs

2011-06-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

The Designer Bar: Best Indoor/Outdoor Chairs: "Oooooh laaalaaa! It's so exciting out there. So many cool outdoor chairs this year that are equally as functional indoors. The colours ar..."

Finding Glynda

2011-01-29T17:29:00.000-08:00

Wondering through Ambleside, a seaside community in West Vancouver, a little shop dressed in white came into view. Intrigued...we went in. Little did we know that Glynda, who's apparently a good witch, had opened a shop breathing new life into a tired static string of street side shops. The shop is called Glynda (the good witch) and it's white meets black, shabby chic meets bling, spiritual artist meets girly bliss interior is just what we needed on a rainy Vancouver day.

The artists name is Glynda Fitzgerald and she's been an artist her whole life. She now creates canvas art and greeting cards that will blow your mind. We thank you for having the courage to open up a shop and expose yourself to the world. Good luck from Northshore Interiors.

Here are some samples of her work:

Canvas Art

Card Art

Decorating with Pantone's Color of the Year "Honeysuckle"

2011-01-20T20:43:00.000-08:00

Every year, Pantone announces its chosen "Color of the Year". Are designers chomping at the bit? No, not really. Even though it's fun to creatively think of different ways to use the color, does anyone really have that kind of power to persuade?

However, when Pantone revealed their choice to be "Honeysuckle 18-2120 TCX", we were once again excited to do a search on the color. Maybe if we keep pushing pink it will one day become more acceptable than it's current limitation to little girls, single women, and men's ties.

Country Living.com

Available through: York Wallcoverings

Wallpaper Available Through: Crown - Antonina Vella - Celia

Sarah Richardson's Design Inc.

Available through: Direct Wallpaper.uk

Fabric by: Madeline Weinrib's Hot Pink & Orange Mor

Go Martha!!

Martha Stewart.com

Unknown Source

Top 5 Holiday Decor Picks

2010-12-15T22:04:00.000-08:00

What's Hot This Year in Holiday Decor?

#1. Owls. They're everywhere. Felted, ceramic, padded, twigged. You can't escape this wise choice!

Available through Etsy.com

At Crate and Barrel

#2. Plaid. We're just mad about these ornaments.

From Canadian Tire

Pottery Barn Kids

#3. Alice in Wonderland. Pop-culture at it's best in 2010.

Available at Etsy.com

#4. Birds. Organically influenced, naturally inspired.

Etsy.com

Available at Earth Lover Shopping

Found at West Elm

#5. Global Village. Tradition cultivated.

www.crateandbarrel.com

Happy Holidays!

8 Great Shops For Home Accessories in Vancouver

2010-10-27T21:26:00.000-07:00

We live on the North Shore of Vancouver, so one of our first stops is always Davinci's Home to pick up unique pillows, coffee table books, or glitzy table decor. It's also a few doors down from our favourite coffee shop Crema!

Davinci's Home

When feeling adventurous and looking for French inspired accessories, heading down to South Granville to visit Villa Beau Interiors, Peridot, 18 Karat, and Liberty is like one-stop shopping.

18 Karat

Peridot

Liberty

In Yaletown, The Cross is always our first stop but we can't miss the opportunity to get inspired at Chintz & Company.

The Cross

Chintz & Company

In Gastown, Parliament Interiors is sure to fill your need to add bling to your home. Parliament has an exciting youthful vibe that will keep you coming back for more.

Parliament Interiors

Fun Fabrics

2010-05-03T20:42:00.000-07:00

Fun fabrics can lift your mood when you walk in a room. Like small hits of paint color can bring life to a room, fabric can be used almost anywhere; pillows, drapes, upholstery items, even napkins.

Fun red fabrics from Anna Maria Horner in the dining room.

Amy Butler's new LOVE designs would look great in a teenage girls room.

Alexander Henry's fun fabrics would work beautifully in a little boys room and can be found at Funky Fabrix.

Can you say Breakfast Room? Also available at Funky Fabrix out of Australia.

The New Look of Wood

2010-04-29T21:32:00.000-07:00

Furniture designers are calling it Raw, Recycled, Reclaimed, Rustic, Unfinished, or even Organic. The new trend in non-stained naturally crafted wood pieces is everywhere you look these days.

The natural patina plays well with the eco-friendly organic approach to design that was once only associated with food.

Now, home design is reducing the carbon footprint with eco-fabrics, -area rugs, - insulation, - flooring, - and almost anything else you can think of.

Barbara Barry's Jackson Hole Design featured in Veranda Magazine.

Raw Wood Coffee Table found at West Elm

Restoration Hardware's Reclaimed Elm Parquet Coffee Table

The Philadelphia Dining Table at Elte

Dovetail Furniture's Element Line

Sunny Wallpapers for Spring

2010-04-21T07:28:00.000-07:00

With the skies opening up it's time to brighten up your walls. Here are some ideas...

Image Source: Nono United Kingdom

Image Source: Madison and Grow

Image Source: Cole & Son

Image Source: Hermitage

Image Source: Flavor Paper

Easter Decorating Ideas

2010-04-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

Who does one turn to when wondering how to decorate the house for Easter? The one and only Martha Stewart. These classy yet traditional elements would bring beauty to any home.

All photos sources from Martha Stewart.

Lucky with Irish Green

2010-03-17T07:07:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Green is very "of-the-moment" in so many ways. Whether it's an asian-inspired decor, eco-decorating, or retro, green is lucky today.

Ballard Design's hit a homerun with this easy-on-the-eye way to introduce green to a room.

Sarah Richardson of Design Inc. in Toronto, Ontario somehow has this way of taking a piece of used furniture, slapping a coat of paint on it, adding a little bit of bling, et voila! She does it again. No one can pull off a green bathroom like Sarah. We love it!

Add these cute little accessories to finish off the look. Plates can be found at Anthropologie and this adorable sticker wall clock was found at Dutch By Design.

Switching gears to a retro look. This Ascaso Dream retro green coffee/espresso machine should jazz up your morning.

Going Green is unquestionably here to stay. The below "Living Wall" is a great way to not only be green but also to bring the outdoors in. Green Over Grey is a local Vancouver company reducing the footprint of design on the earth. We can't wait to install one of these.

Enjoy your St. Patrick's Day!

Dream Outdoor Space on a Dime

2010-03-15T12:13:00.000-07:00

New Job! Redesigning an outdoor eating area on a very limited budget.

Here's the before:

And here's the budget: only $2000

So we're needing to decide what stays, what goes, and what needs to be added or changed. The conclusion is to prioritize changing the color scheme to grey/black/and white, and to beef up those tiny pillars. After that, adding some white canvas sun drapes, seasonal flowers, some cushions, and candle urns to soften the whole look. Then, with a good pressure wash and a coat of stain on the table set, we're thinking the deck will look a million times better and stay within the $2000 budget.

Our Inspiration

This porch found at Martha Stewart is our color inspiration of black and white.

With long flowing white grommet outdoor curtains,

and yellow and chrome accessories.

Now we're ready to go! Results will be in later this spring.

Changing the Clocks Means Changing the Throw Pillows!

2010-03-10T20:21:00.000-08:00

Yeah, the clocks are springing ahead this Sunday morning March 14th. To most people this signifies longer days, but for us it means we get to change over our heavy winter throw pillows for fresh new spring ones - yippeee! Throw pillows are one of the easiest and one of the cheapest ways to re-decorate. We do it seasonally -it's kind of an addiction :-)))

Here on the west coast, being eco-friendly is always top of mind so we tend to re-use a lot of the same pillows but in different combinations and in different rooms or we have pillow swap parties with friends and fellow decorator's.

But of course, we're always looking for some new ideas and here are a few of our fav finds:

Clayton Gray's selection of accessory pillows are hot hot hot! Put them all together on a nice crisp white sofa for a mod hot look!

The undeniable bold style of Marimekko fabrics would add pizazz to any room in need of a spring makeover. We found these for a great price online at Imagine Throw Pillows.

We hope you have as much fun as we do welcoming Spring! Enjoy.

Olympic Inspired Canadiana Design

2010-03-07T20:28:00.000-08:00

We are feeling inspired to decorate something, anything, with Canadian motif's after spending 17 days with our Olympic athlete's in our homes. Whether you were watching on television, reading the newspaper, or simply walking through the streets of Vancouver, Olympic Fever was everywhere.

The competition might be over but our inspired spirit carries on with these amazing Canadiana finds:

We thought it would be fun to snuggle up in this Ouno Design bedspread in our (imaginary) Whistler ski cabin! The designers at Ouno made this from recycled "Amik" scarves from the 1976 Montreal Olympics. How creative is that? Plus, they are made in our very own city of Vancouver, BC. This is truly a marriage of ecoism and localism.

Another local artist who's work we love is Sabina Hill because she is so conscious of our Pacific Northwest heritage. Sabina worked with Canada's First Nation communtiy to develop her New Spirit Collection, which features the above eagle wall panel.

A room cannot be a bonified 'Canadiana' design without this classic HBC Point Blanket. This thing's been around forever! Well, maybe only since 1780. It is Canadian design staple that can work in any home, cabin, or cottage.

O.k., we loooove this chair! Nothing says Canadiana like a good ol'chair made from your brother's broken hockey sticks. This creative masterpiece was found by a guy while walking through a small town after a hike and it seems we have now joined his worldwide search to find out who made it.

Who said Moose antlers had to hang in the den? One of our fav 'go to' sites, Trendey.com, featured this melange of antlers, which was showcased in the September 2009 issue of UK's Livingetc magazine.

And our #1 paint color choice this winter season is "Inukshuk" by Benjamin Moore, which pays tribute to one of our national Olympic emblems. We've recently had the opportunity to use it in one of our powder room makeovers and it was smashing.