Strolling through The Bay this past week, I came across this -
From the 10th Anniversary Brian Gluckstein collection (by Lennox), I love the combination of bold colour, greek-key inspired pattern and that touch of gold …. stunning!
Happy Weekend….Donna
to create a home that reflects your style and your life
This week I bring you one of the many pics I took while at the fabulous Hudson Hotel in New York City. We visited New York for the third time in May of this year. I will never tire of that city!
The lobby is a wonderful mix of industrial, art nouveau and glam!
Happy Weekend…Donna
to create a home that reflects your style and your life
Several weeks ago, hubby and I visited Chicago for the first time. We were wowed by the architecture, the landscaping and the friendly people!
At the top of my list was a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio in Oak Park, a short transit ride from downtown Chicago.
Oak Park is an area of large beautiful homes on large beautiful lots with mature gardens and trees. It was a pleasure to stroll through this neighbourhood and visit the home and studio of one of my favourite architects!
I’ve written about the home tour over on the TBB blog here. In this post I’m going to share a tour of the studio Frank designed adjacent to his home in Oak Park.
After gaining popularity as an architect at the turn of the 20th century, Frank moved business from his home to the newly built studio adjoining his house. This studio was designed to allow maximum light without obstruction so architects and their students could work the long hours required.
Support was provided using heavy duty chains as structural support rather than large wooden beams as seen below.
The room was filled drafting tables, overhead pendants and task lighting. The quote shown from Rudyard Kipling’s “McAndrews Hymn” was displayed in the studio, I’m guessing to provide inspiration. The adjoining office space was built to display the work of the architects and conduct business with clients.
The studio/office tour was a wonderful glimpse into Frank Lloyd Wright’s work life as well as his design aesthetic. Next week I will share the walking tour of the Oak Park neighbourhood.
Happy travels….
to create a home that reflects your style and your life
to create a home that reflects your style and your life
I have been seeing a lot of dark walls in my design wanderings lately. Not previously a fan, I have to admit they are growing on me, but they have to be done right. Dark colours are tricky to work with and if pulled off right you get something like this:
Source / Photographer: Sharyn Cairns
What do you think? Would you do this in your home?
Happy Weekend…Donna
Please contact dh designs if you are ready
to create a home that reflects your style and your life
I am desperately trying to find a space in my house to do this wall treatment.
Source: www.bhg.com
What do you think?
Happy Weekend….Donna
Please contact dh designs if you are ready
to create a home that reflects your style and your life
Please contact dh designs if you are ready
to create a home that reflects your style and your life.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home, Oak Park Illinois
On a recent visit to Chicago I had the opportunity to visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home and Studio in Oak Park, Illinois. I am in awe of his vision – the implementation of scale, proportion, contrast and colour! If you ever have an opportunity to do this, I would highly recommend it!
I will be sharing more of this visit on The TBB’s Wine Dine & Design blog shortly!
Happy Weekend … Donna
Please contact dh designs if you are ready
to create a home that reflects your style and your life.
Please contact dh designs if you are ready
to create a home that reflects your style and your life.
Years ago I lived in a rental with an old clawfoot tub. The landlord agreed to let me paint the outside of the tub a navy blue – it was stunning! Although this looks black at first glance, it’s actually painted Farrow & Ball’s "Pelt”, a lovely deep shade of egglpant.
Source: Farrow & Ball Facebook page
Happy Weekend….Donna
Please contact dh designs if you are ready
to create a home that reflects your style and your life.
This week I was “flipping” through Flipboard (have you tried this amazing app? ) and came across a Dwell.com article by Olivia Martin on unique home floors. This glass floor in a Paris apartment caught my eye!
Design/Architect: Michael Herrman | Photographer: Filippo Bamberghi
Happy Weekend…Donna
Please contact dh designs if you are ready
to create a home that reflects your style and your life.
Lately I’ve found myself gravitating to the warmth of gold, bronze and brass in interior finishes. So, when I was perusing the September issue of House Beautiful this week this ad for Crystorama’s Broche pendant stopped me in my tracks!
I’ve been searching ever since for an example of this in a room, because I think it would be stunning. If you find one let me know!
Happy Weekend … Donna
Please contact dh designs if you are ready
to create a home that reflects your style and your life.
This week I’m sharing a fabric find! I’ve been perusing the Tonic Living website and I have to say it was hard to pick ONE fabric to share. But this one definitely caught my eye!
Gazebo Cloud from Tonic Living
And here’s an application of that very fabric from their FB page – lovely!
Happy Weekend….Donna
Please contact dh designs if you are ready
to create a home that reflects your style and your life.
Found on House & Home’s website, this is a room from the 2011 Princess Margaret Show Home. I love the blend of charcoal, wood and lighter fabrics. And the curtains add a nice touch of whimsy. The perfect balance!
Source: House & Home / Photographer: Michael Graydon
Happy Weekend…Donna
Please contact dh designs if you are ready
to create a home that reflects your style and your life.
Source: http://cmddir.tumblr.com/post/53682409963/decormag-july-aug-2013-fr-edition
Please contact dh designs if you are ready
to create a home that reflects your style and your life.
I love the contemporary feel of this pergola!
Source : Nordfjell Collection out of Sweden
Happy weekend….Donna
Please contact dh designs if you are ready
to create a home that reflects your style and your life.
This week had me wishing for nicer weather so we could sit outside with friends and enjoy the garden and perhaps a beverage or two. And when I came across this picture on Houzz, I thought it would be a perfect spot to do just that!
I love the casual fluidity of this seating arrangement. An arrangement perfect for conversation! And the garden ain’t to shabby either!
Happy weekend…Donna
Please contact dh designs if you are ready
to create a home that reflects your style and your life.
I know it’s almost July, but today’s find is more about keeping warm and dry after all the rain we’ve had today in Ottawa.
Source: upenn.edu/careerservices
This is what I want – a hot toddy (a glass of red wine will do), a warm fire and a good book!
Happy Weekend…Donna
To welcome summer …
Source: Coastal Living
I would love to spend a lazy summer afternoon right here with a good book, a gentle sea breeze and the sound of the waves lapping the shore.
Happy Weekend … Donna
Please contact dh designs if you are ready to create a home
that reflects your style and your life.
In honour of Father’s Day this weekend, this is the perfect small space solution to adding a bar to your home!
Happy Decorating!
![30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb[1]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-r8FGOztCQD4/Ubof1LM4MUI/AAAAAAAACzg/8_zDHhE2W7M/s1600-h/30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.png "30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb[1]")
I was looking through some of my old blog posts today and reminiscing about how eager and inspired I was about blogging. Since my first post back in April of 2009 blogging has been the source of so much good in my life. I have met some amazing people, both online and in person. I’ve been inspired by so many other blogs and their authors, and I hope that I’ve inspired others with the content of my blog.
Over the course of these four years my commitment to blogging has waned. With the advent of so many social media tools, there is only so much time one can spend online. I suppose mine online time has shifted somewhat to Facebook and Twitter, not to mention the fun I’m having over on the TBB Wine Dine and Design blog.
But I miss my blog! I miss the creative process. I miss the interaction with commenters and readers. I miss hoping that I’m inspiring just one person out there.
So in an effort to re-commit to my blog, I’m re-instating a favourite of mine – Friday Finds!
Tomorrow will be the first of many …. so stay tuned!
![30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb[1]](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TM1M4Jr-11s/UboVoQNWTdI/AAAAAAAACzI/vmVkzefGMfc/s1600-h/30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.png "30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb[1]")
![30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb[1]](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-w1GnkS_sd6M/Ua-iCCgaFAI/AAAAAAAACyc/b78m_Ipg5hA/s1600-h/30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.png "30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb[1]")
The weather is warming, the snow has disappeared and apart from the evidence that I have dogs, the lawn is starting to green up. Spring has arrived!
Source: fanpop.com
Outside your home is showing all the signs of spring, but what about the inside of your home After a long, cold winter, here are 5 easy ways to bring spring into your home:
1) Declutter
Over the course of the winter our nature is to nest and when we nest we tend to surround ourselves with items that give us happiness and comfort. Spring is all about new beginnings, so here’s a little exercise to help you declutter.
deniseinbloom.com via Michelle on Pinterest
2) Floors and Windows
Spring cleaning routines typically involve a good window cleaning. Not just the glass, but the mullions, sills and trim. While you are doing this take the opportunity to change up your window treatments. Replace heavy draperies with sheers to give the room a breezy look. If you have horizontal blinds, consider removing all other treatments to give the window a cleaner look.
Give the floor a good cleaning, including the baseboards. If you have an area carpet, replace it with a sisal type rug. The room will have a much lighter feel. Area carpets are pivotal to defining your furniture arrangement so make sure the carpet is the right size for your room. A carpet that is too small, unless it is there for it’s artistic value, will make the room look cluttered. A good rule of thumb for the right size is to have a minimum of six inches and no more than two feet from the edge of the carpet to the wall.
3) Rearrange
I’ve said it before and will continue to say it. Move things around! The art on your wall, the carpets, the furniture – if it fits with the colour scheme, move it between rooms. If it doesn’t fit with the colour scheme, rearrange it in the same room. You will be surprised at how fresh and new a room feels when you do this!
4) Colour
Adding colour can be done in various ways. If you are ready for a change, a coat of paint does wonders to up the newness of a room. If you don’t want to commit to new colours, then try a couple of new accessories or pillows in a bright spring colour.
Source: colourlovers.com via Pamela on Pinterest
Hint: You don’t have to buy new pillows – just pick up a few pillow covers and recover existing pillows. Ikea, Homesense or Bouclair are great places to pick up spring accessories and pillow covers without breaking the bank.
5) Flowers/Plants
Bringing the outdoors in is as easy as adding plants or fresh flowers to your home. Fresh flowers are a wonderful way to add a pop of colour to any room. Houseplants are a more permanent way to bring the outdoors in, but keep them to a minimum (see #1), you don’t want your room to look like a greenhouse. Plants are also a commitment – watering and pruning is required on a regular basis. If you don’t have a green thumb, there are plenty of beautiful life-like silk arrangements available that would have the most avid gardener fooled.
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| Contemporary Spaces by Vancouver Architect Kerrisdale Design Inc | Mediterranean Living Room by Atlanta Architect Summerour Architects |
Happy Decorating!
![30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb[1]](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Zm12JKiruMg/UXr1E6420VI/AAAAAAAACxw/xSUzGI8TfEg/s1600-h/30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.png "30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb[1]")
Please contact dh designs if you are ready
to create a home that reflects your style and your life.
Well it’s been a little over a month since the Interior Design Show in Toronto. I have started this post several times and struggled with the words to describe what I saw, what inspired me and what was pure gorgeousness. So instead of agonizing over what to say, I’ll show you the pictures instead – what a concept!
From Studio North, a section of the IDS floor devoted to unique artisans, crystal wine glasses repurposed as lighting from Tat Chao out of Montreal.
Urban Barn’s take on mustard:
And this lighting display from Living Lighting on King
Wide plank engineered hardwood from PurParket:
Gorgeous ikat inspired area carpets from Weavers Art in one of my favourite colour combinations:
Industrial cage lighting from the Earth Inc. booth
A wonderful blend of rustic and modern from Tomlin Group
There were many more inspiring exhibits some of which have been covered on the TBB Wine Dine and Design blog:
I am looking forward to drawing on this inspiration in upcoming projects!
Happy decorating!
![30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb[1]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mi66z0p1B9M/UTOeBKkBmiI/AAAAAAAACxI/xJGLxEudkfM/s1600-h/30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.png "30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb[1]")
This week I’m heading to Toronto for the 2013 Interior Design Show, fondly known as #IDSToronto or #IDS2013 for those of us on Twitter.
It will be a whirlwind of activity including opening galas, after parties and glitzy hob nobbing!
Honestly though, the real reason I’m there is to be inspired. Friday is “Trade Day”, where members of the trade are granted exclusive access to the show and it’s exhibitors, speakers and product.
The last few shows I’ve been to have provided inspiration on several fronts.
I am looking forward to more inspiration this year – that and well, perhaps a little bit of the partying too *wink*!
Happy Decorating
![30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb[1]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-E9LbBqHZKOo/UP2V7dHMioI/AAAAAAAACuc/pUs5sOfl7YA/s1600-h/30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.png "30548A92FAA8E7E295C558C62B466B77_thumb[1]")
