House & Home: May 2011

Sideboard for Office

Look what my parents found at a garage sale just a few blocks from their house this past weekend...

Isn't it lovely? They spotted it on Saturday, I saw it Sunday, and the purchase was made. It's in really great shape, and with a coat of paint it will be perfect for my mom's office. (Sorry the pictures aren't the greatest. I just snapped a few with my brother's iphone since I didn't have my camera with me.)

I had thought it might be challenging to find the right piece for the room, but here it is! That was easy. Good eye, mom and dad!

-Sarah

Meal Plan (May 31-June 6)

Here's what I'll be cooking this week...

Tuesday: Russian Chicken; Rice; Roasted Cauliflower

Wednesday: Spinach Soup; Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Thursday: Grilled Salmon; Rice Pilaf; Broccoli & Cheese Sauce

Friday: Chicken Fingers; Fries; Veggies & Dip

Saturday Brunch: Omelettes; Pancakes; Fruit Salad

Sunday: Lunch with Family

Monday: Cocount Curry Lime Chicken; Rice

Yum! Yum!

-Sarah

Outdoor Dining

For today, let's move outdoors and enjoy the lovely spring weather. Perhaps we'll enjoy a leisurely picnic mid-day or a dinner at dusk with only candles and lanterns to give us light.

This is Glamorous

House & Home

This is Glamorous

House Beautiful

Martha Stewart

Decorpad

House Beautiful

Elle Decor

House & Home

Our outdoor space doesn't come close to any of these beautiful retreats, but nonetheless, I'm inspired to dust off our little bistro table, pull up the patio chairs, and enjoy our evening meal outdoors. We just made it through the roughest call stint in MacMillan family history, so we're having a little celebration tonight. James won't be on call for another three whole days! That, my friends, is reason to celebrate in the current craziness of our busy lives.

I hope you'll enjoy some outdoor dining this season too. It's yet one more way for us to make the most of our relatively short spring/summer season (especially if you're from SK).

Enjoy your day!

-Sarah

Links:
This is Glamorous
House Beautiful
Decorpad
Martha Stewart
Elle Decor
House & Home

My Top 5 Floor Lamps

Floor Lamps for a Friday...

#1 Jasper Floor Lamp in Gilt Gold by Shine Home

#2 Nocturne Floor Lamp, Crate & Barrel

#3 Tube Top Floor Lamp in Charcoal by Pablo Designs

#4 Chrome Arc Lamp by George Kovacs

#5 Porter Brass Lamp by Jayson Home

I also stumbled across a tripod lamp with a fresh twist in my floor lamp search. For those who don't know what I mean by "tripod lamp", this is a more traditional or conventional version...


Target

And this is the twist...

I had trouble sourcing the lamp so I'm not sure who makes it, but I kind of liked the fresh, very modern look.

Can you believe it's Friday again?! The days are flying by.

I hope your weekend is filled with whatever it is you need it filled with. Rest, family, work... whatever you have planned.

Thanks so much for all your kind comments and well wishes for Luke's birthday.

See you Monday!

-Sarah

Links:

Shine Home

Crate & Barrel

Pablo Designs

George Kovacs (designs available through various dealers)

Jayson Home & Garden

Target

Happy 1st Birthday, Mr. Luke!

Luke turns one today! We're celebrating with some family in Saskatoon since James is on call AGAIN. Sheesh! We'll have the "real" party in a few weeks when James' schedule settles down a little.

One year ago, we welcomed our dear little boy into our family. Luke Alexander MacMillan. 7lbs. 11oz.

One year ago, we became a family of four.

Now, one year later...

Oh, how we love you, dear little Luke. Our hearts overflow with joy and thanksgiving for your precious life. You are such a cheerful, easy going (but always on-the-move), little boy. You adore your big sister and think she is oh, so funny. You love splashing in the tub - really splashing! You must taste everything, including your sister's rubber boots. You are the squirmiest thing alive. You have such a smile. You are a total delight.

Witness the hardcore splashing...

Happy Birthday, Luke! XO

-Sarah/Mommy

Room Design (Mom's "Office")

Here's a little update on my mom's office design. Check out these before shots of the space as a reminder.

It turns out that this "office" will actually be redesigned as more of a multi-purpose room. My mom has decided that she doesn't want a desk since she uses a laptop and prefers to sit in other rooms of the house. She doesn't want to paint the walls because they were just freshly painted. She would like to have a place for Avery (my 2-year-old daughter) to sleep when she stays at Grandma's house (she really doesn't want a big bed in the room though).

My mom desperately needs some storage solutions for all of her teaching supplies, and she would like to have a comfortable place to sit if she does choose to work at her laptop in the room.

Did I mention that my dad also uses the room? He keeps his clothes in the closet, so the room is a type of "dressing room" for him.

I did say multi-purpose, right?!

The design has changed several times as we've talked and planned. I'm sharing what the current plan is, but that plan is subject to change. Unexpected things will come up, but I'm happy to have a semi-finalized plan in place. Now, we can at least take some steps forward.

Here are a few things currently in the room that will be kept or left alone.

Expedit Bookshelf, IKEA

Carpet Colour

Wall Colour

The bookshelf will provide some good storage once we get things a little more organized. The carpet and wall colours aren't exact, but these are fairly close to the existing colours.

The room really needs some colour so I searched for a fabric that would coordinate with the floors and walls while adding that needed splash of colour. Here's what I found through Tonic Living. It's called Sweet William, Sand (and I think it's sweet indeed). Greens, white, pink and burnt orange. Perfect! (Oh, and mom thinks so too!)

The fabric will be used for the window dressings and perhaps a throw cushion on the chaise (keep reading).

With the main fabric decided upon, it was simpler to decide on the other furnishings. Here are some of the other pieces and decorative elements we're thinking of incorporating.

A white, slipcovered chaise. This would offer seating for mom if she wants to sit in the room and work. It would also provide a place for dad to sit while he pulls on his socks. And, if the chaise was pushed up against the wall, Avery could easily sleep on it. (The chaise is just over 5 feet long.) Plus, the slipcover is easily removed and washed.

Ektorp Chaise, IKEA

A 6-drawer dresser to keep mom's teaching supplies organized. It could also hold some of dad's sweaters if need be.

I'm thinking of purchasing a second hand, 6-drawer dresser and then painting it in a burnt orange/red colour.

Something like this...

Colour? Check! (I still have to convince mom of this part of the design. The amount of work it takes to find the right dresser, sand it, paint it, etc. is NOT appealing to her. Fingers crossed.)

We also want to do a kind of family gallery wall above the (orange?) dresser. Mom seems to really like this idea. Here's some inspiration for that.

O.k. now here's a look at everything put together in a design board. The decorative elements like the mirrors, lamp, area rug, etc. are just suggestions or ideas for now.

So, what do you think?

Now, let's get this show on the road and make this design a reality! Woo hoo!

-Sarah

p.s. If you could comment on how fabulous that orange dresser is it would really help my cause. Hee hee.

The Colour Yellow

Yellow. It's a colour I never wear. A few years ago I would have shyed away from using it in my home too. Recently I've been warming up to the colour though, and now I find myself actually drawn to it. I've used it in a few places in my home. Sparingly, yes, but it's there. Here's a look at the colour yellow in a variety of hues and paired with several other colours.

Yellow & Yellow. This monochromatic look is simple and soothing.

Elle Decor

Yellow & White. These colours create a bright, clean look.

Elle Decor

House and Home

Yellow & Purple. A rich and dramatic look. (Grey works really well as an additional colour.)

House and Home

Yellow & Blue. The ever-popular colour duo (for obvious reasons).

Decor Pad

The Lennoxx

Elle Decor

Yellow & Black. A striking combination.

Domino

Style at Home

Throwing some aqua blue in there works really well too.

House and Home

Elle Decor

Yellow & Pink. Depending on the shade of pink, this palette can look bright and cheery or rich and glamorous.

Decor Pad

Rue Magazine

Style at Home

Yellow & Brown. These colours create a restful, natural look. A bright yellow can offer a punch of colour, while a more subdued tone can function more as a neutral.

House and Home

Yellow & Grey. I almost forgot about this combo, but I'm glad I didn't. To me the combination is a bit of a contradiction that works beautifully. Grey skies and sunshine? Sure! The palette has a soft, soothing effect. The grey seems to tone down the yellow somehow.

Domino

House to Home

Kate Spade

Summer Thornton

Whew! That ended up being a rather looong post.

I don't own a stitch of yellow clothing, but I'm enjoying the colour's warm, sunny hue around my home. So, tell me... are you a yellow person? If you are, what colour (or colours) do you like to pair with it?

-Sarah

Links:
Elle Decor
House and Home
Style at Home
Decor Pad
The Lennoxx
Rue Magazine
Kate Spade
Summer Thornton

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