Main Bath Sneak Peek

It was never fun to have a bathroom reno project while we both had hectic work commitments, but thankfully it's officially over. I am travelling again this week, so I can only get to the finishing touches the following week. After that I can then show you the final reveal. For now, here are some sneak peaks into our main bathroom reno to-date:

The Benjamin Moore Pigeon Gray on the vanity cabinets turned out to be exactly as I envisioned (thanks Paint it Like New! more details to follow). The gray shade is almost identical to the Bianco Statuario countertop. I intended to pick a Carrara slab but then ended up walking away with the Statuario. I couldn't take my eyes off those veins. The polished nickel knobs are fromMarth Stewart's Bedford collection via Home Depot. 

Here is another picture from the same angle with a higher exposure setting. 

I picked the Kholer Fairfax single-control lavatory faucet for its ease of use and vintage look...love the Hot-Cold porcelain plug button.

That's all for now and I will post more pictures in the following week.

How to Design a Boutique Master Bedroom

Do you find yourself falling in love with the bedroom designs of the boutique hotels that you visit while on vacation? Then why not recreate that atmosphere in your own bedroom so you can enjoy it all year long? Check out the tips below so you can design a boutique master bedroom of your own.

It Starts with Your Bed
Your bed is the focal point of your bedroom, so dressing it up right will definitely take your overall design to a new level right away. That’s why this is the first step that you should take when you’re redesigning your space. An attractive set of sheets and a luxurious comforter, along with plush pillows, will transform your ordinary bed into one that will be fit for royalty. Check out some of the many Woolrich bedding options to start generating some ideas. 

Choose European Pillows
Speaking of pillows, stick with European pillows, which are used in many boutique hotels because they’re super comfortable and perfect for when you want to lean back without lying down, such as when you’re reading before bed. These pillows are square and big, and they also provide an impact visually, so they’re just as attractive as they are useful. Just be prepared to purchase the special pillowcases that these pillows require. Once they’re on your bed, you won’t regret taking this route, though, as these pillows are really luxurious and totally worth it.

Clean Off Your Bedside Table
Provided that you have the room for one, a bedside table is a useful and attractive addition to any boutique styled master bedroom. Make sure it matches the rest of your design scheme in terms of color and style. Then keep it clean and free of clutter. While an alarm clock is certainly fine, you don’t want to overdo it. Maybe place a bottle of hand lotion on the table that you can use before bed, along with a book or magazine that you’re currently reading and your phone. Remember, less is more. 

Add a Place to Sit
You can also set up an additional seating area in your bedroom, provided that you have the space, of course. This is a great way to make your bedroom feel more like a hotel retreat than an ordinary room that looks like everyone else’s. Choose seating that is comfortable and luxurious, and make sure it matches the rest of the room’s overall vibe. Then place it in a convenient area, not too close to the bed but not too far away, and in a spot that’s out of the way. 

Keep the Lighting Warm
When you walk into the most fabulous hotels, you’ll notice that their lighting is warm and minimal. Sconces and lamps are common, rather than just relying upon harsh overhead lighting. So, when you design your bedroom, be sure to include lamps, and maybe even some sconces, to add some warm and calming lighting to the space. 
By following the easy tips above, you can transform your bedroom into a boutique inspired space that you’ll never want to leave. Have fun with the process and then enjoy the rewards of your efforts.

Living Room

In July 2009, when we first moved into our newly-built house, the living room was in some serious need for character and life. The walls were white, floor was laminate, and it also warehoused the old furniture we took with us from our last house.

December 2009, to prep the living room "for show" in time for a Christmas party, I picked up some decor accessories and furniture I later parted with on CList -- the room not only looked "blah" but also was impractical: why on earth did I put an oval white silk ottoman in the middle of the room? It's so pristine that none of guests dared to sit on  or use it.

June 2010, in my quench to add some vintage look to the living room, I put up a gallery wall of antique botanical prints over the fireplace. The flow appeared awkward, and the room still looked very much like a builder home.

Fast forward one year, June 2011, I came to the realization that wall panel/wainscoting would be a good way to add character and accomplish that "always there" look I've been so much going after.

We also replaced the ceiling light with the Edwardian lantern to add more vintage touch. 

September 2011, the room was filled with a lot of my favorite: Windsor Smith Pelagos fabric, antique coffee table with criss-cross legs, finial urns, etc., but they were all upstaged by the masculine black cowhide sofa set. They cost us tons of stones, so to get rid of them wouldn't be rational. The only hope was to finish the basement soon so that we could retire them down there.

November 2011, a fantastic score of the Urban Barn Lumex coffee table, and the newly acquired Martha Stewart Fretwork rug seemed to have brought the room together.

December 2011 was a good month. We finished our basement, and were able to send the black cowhide sofa set down to my husband's man cave. I added two curved arm chairs upholstered in a creamy fabric (similar to the long sofa), a mirrored chest with clover cutout, and re-arranged a few pieces of furniture and accessories. 

And the living room is finally "fully us". It was a painstaking process to put this room together as it was done while my design skills and tastes were evolving. It was however definitely worth the ride, and I've learnt so much from the experience. 

You can read more about how our living room came together here. 

From Glam To Calm And Points In Between

Are you someone  who loves pretty, sparkly, elegant, or glamorous in home decor?Do you love to continually redecorate, change with the seasons etc. Are you someone who loves accessories?  Many people have this "refined" up to date, concept of beauty and want their living spaces to reflect that.

Believe it or not, there are also people who are equally determined not to have spaces that are perfect and new. They like more pared down, earthy, calm environments that have "real" objects in them.  Some refer to this look as zen.As in all things there is usually a middle road that people like to take.  I am certainly not, nor never have been, attracted to glamorous spaces, with silk, sparkle and too much excess.  Comfortable, calm and clean lined is more my vibe. 

I have always found the Japanese world view/aesthetic of wabi sabi that acknowledges three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect, very freeing. Such beliefs allow you to accept the dents, scratches, wrinkles, splits, cracks and scuffs as part of the history of a piece that makes it unique and authentic.  If you want to know more about wabi sabi check out this post.Natural materials predominate in wabi sabi homes: paper, aged wood, linens, cottons, etc. Look for anything that celebrates the  marks of time, weather, and  the effects of loving use. In other words look for objects with history on their surfaces.

 I am definitely attracted to the tenets  of wabi sabi, and if you went around my home you would see subtle evidence of my interest in the marks of time, wood, and natural materials like cotton and linen. 

But you would also see pristine, light, glass  and leather.  For me combining new and old  is also a statement that  probably brings more attention to the less than perfect objects and what they mean.

I find spaces that have obviously combined the up to date with the old and authentic very interesting, and I think about them as approaching wabi sabi rather than fully embracing it.

This Just Might Be the Fanciest Kitchen We've Ever Seen

"It's nonstop elegance," says Richard Anuszkiewicz of the kitchen he created for clients renovating their circa-1910 waterfront home in Annapolis, Maryland. The couple entertain frequently and tend to do more congregating than cooking in the kitchen, so graciousness topped their wish list.

Crafted from walnut, imbuia and anigre, the nearly 11-foot-long island was inspired by English antiques, Anuszkiewicz says. While it evokes a stately heirloom, the custom piece has kid-proof durability: "The wood is sealed with an acrylic finish, so it resists spills, scratches, stains, heat — almost anything."

Anuszkiewicz balanced the island's size and drama with a pair of Chantilly chandeliers by Vaughan. Embellished with crystal garlands and blossoms, the duo is a showstopper: "You can't do understated with this island."