House & Home: February 2012

amazing restaurant design

I LOVE finding new restaurants, and it is not just for the food.

I have a thing for restaurant design.

It is beyond cool when you find a place where the food is fabulous and the environment is right…

no need to be fancy, just right. That is the case with the new restaurant Palmilla

in Hermosa Beach – although I haven’t tried the food yet the design is delicious!

With no further ado, get ready to indulge yourselves!

How beautiful are those pendant lights?

The wall with the chain is such a cool design element!

yum… the food looks good too!

Hermosa Beach here we come!!!

Have a good day!

K & M

House Plans on a Smaller Scale

As many of you know, we're in the process of finalizing plans for a new build. Things are moving along well, and I hope it will all be official soon. There's another kind of "new build" I'm dreaming of embarking on though. It's a new build in a miniature way. I've been dreaming of a dollhouse for my little girl. She doesn't know about it yet, and I don't think I'm going to mention it. It would be so much fun to put the house together for her, furnish it (at least partially) and present it to her for her 4th birthday this fall or perhaps at Christmas. It makes be giddy just thinking about it!

After searching around, I found the Little Dollhouse Company (based out of Toronto, Canada). They have some amazing dollhouses, dollhouse kits, and all the accessories! I was blown away.

Aren't they darling? This is the one I've been eyeing. It's called the Beacon Hill.

The only catch is, it comes looking like this...

I'd have my work cut out for me, but it would be fun and my little girl would enjoy hours and hours of play time sitting in front of this dream house.

The Little Dollhouse Company has ALL kinds of dollhouse styles. Those who prefer a more modern aesthetics will be happy to know there's even something for you!

The dollhouses range in price from $20.00 for an assemble-it-yourself kit to $8,000.00 (yes, you read that right) for a gracious, assembled house. Click HERE to see the assembled Queen Anne Dollhouse. (You have to see it from all angles to get the full effect.)

So, am I crazy to try and build a house while I'm... building a house?

-Sarah

A little reminder on a cold and snowy day, that Spring is just around the corner!

'Through the forest' 2012
Mixed Media on panel
Shane Norrie

My Nursery Reveal

I think this will be my last "official" post about my nursery! I still have frames that need to be added to the shelf and my ceiling pendant hung, but overall it's finished and I'm in love!

Here are some of the "reveal" photos...can you spot my inspiration board above the bookcase? My class project really has come to life!

Most of the pieces are from PB Kids and Potterybarn. The pillow on the chair is from Marshalls but is the fabric I sourced from Calico Corners. The little stool is from Target, but is temporary as this will be replaced by the changing table/dresser.

The rhino book ends are from Urban Outfitters. The monogrammed piggy bank is from Nordstrom. Orange Chevron rug is from Urban Outfitters.

This weekend I washed all of his 0-3 month clothes and hung them back in his closet. His 3+ clothes are separated out into sized boxes and stored in the attic for now. I'm thinking of doing some sort of closet organization to take advantage of all of the space below the hanging clothes. Plus we'll need some additional storage for diapers, blankets, towels, etc. So I'll be posting any great finds later...

Do you remember this space before? Here's what it looked like when we moved in...

Here's the same room set up as my office...

And here's the same room set up as the baby nursery!

Now we just need to wait patiently for the bambino...

Bathroom Makeover

It's time! We have to remodel our Master Bathroom. Most people

would be excited about this prospect! Not me!!! I know...This is what I do

day in and day out. It should be easy, painless, and so much fun!

Not when it's in your home! Oh... and did I say - there's a BUDGET, too!

Pay back is a bitch! Ha HA!

I've been compiling a few design inspirations to get

me moving on this little project.
Take a peak!

This is so me!

Erin Martin Design

i'm loving all the white on white!

the clean lines and the simplicity of this bathroom is so inviting.

check out the sink!

whats not to love here!

tile inlay mats in case you forget who's - who!

yummmm - subway gorgeousness!

like the industrial pendants! these sinks however

aren't fabulous for the master bath!

this is what I'm going to end up with if I don't get the ball rolling!

which... isn't so bad! i actually love everything in here!

Wish me luck!

Stay tuned for some before and after pics.

Have a good day!

A Design Board & Some Colour

Here's a pretty, over-the-top feminine space I pulled together. It's really fun doing design this way. You get to conceptualize a space and piece it together without having to spend a dime! You'll notice navy and pink as the main accent colours. These colours are trending right now so I thought I'd have a go at it.

I tried to keep things as budget-friendly as possible.

Sources:
Floor Lamp ($270), Votive Holders ($10) and Jewellry Box ($49): ZGallerie
MALM Dressing Table ($129), Side Table ($79): IKEA
Vanity Mirror ($239): Graham & Green
White, High Gloss Chair ($199): Brocade Home
Fashion Sketch ($28) by Leigh Viner (Etsy)
Pillows ($60 each): Caitlin Wilson Textiles
Fuschia Chaise ($579): Urban Outfitters

If you haven't yet had your fill of navy and pink, this is for you...

Have yourself a bright and cheery day! But one quick question before we part ways... Would you wear hot pink pants?

-Sarah

Image Sources: Fashion Images (via pinterest); Veranda; Samantha Pynn

Home & A Little Bit of Fashion

A few fashion picks to start the week off. For some reason, I've been on the hunt for a polka dot blouse lately. This one from Piperlime would do the trick (if they had my size) and a few pretty accessories wouldn't hurt either. Aren't the sparkly flats adorable?

Accessories via Piperlime. (Hive & Honey Accordian Hoop Earrings; Sabine Onyx Statement Ring; Vera Wing Lavender Louisa 2 Flats; Michael Kors Watch; Mia Oversized Clutch)

We're home now and glad to be reunited with our kiddos. Our vacation was wondrous in every way. We enjoyed being together, filling up on fresh seafood, basking in the sun, and exploring the ocean waters. Simply being outdoors is a treat when we're normally stuck indoors for most of the winter.

Here's a peek at the resort we stayed at for most of the time. It was paradise!

We spent a lot of our time on the resort although we did enjoy ~~shopping~~ looking at Waikiki, the outlet malls, the Polynesian cultural centre, and a day trip up to the north shore (which included some snorkeling and boogie boarding - FUN!). We're so thankful we were able to have some time away. The kids enjoyed all the grandparent time in our absence. Thank you, grandparents!

And thank you to my blogger friends who filled in for me while I was gone. It was a big help, and I enjoyed seeing what each of you put together.

Glad to be back in the swing of things!

-Sarah