Chic Front Doors

What do you do to prepare for summer, when you can't wait another day for some sun shine? Do you dream about laying in the sun on your friend's boat, sipping a cool Stella? Do you plan fun adventures for your group of friends, and decide which island you're going to visit this year? Do you try to scheme a way to keep your back yard lawn looking perfect, yet not have to give one huge newf up for adoption?


Rich and Lucy (AKA Big Bubba)

Well, if you're me, you're thinking about how nice it is going to be to paint the house in the warm sun this summer! And by association: the door! I have a few ideas of what I want for the front door, but am still open to all ideas and pretty pictures:

Interior Design Show 2011 - Sarah Richardson

Well, my idol has done it again! Sarah Richardson and her brother Theo Richardson have teamed up for this years Interior Design Show in Toronto. And the rooms turned out super neat! What do you think:











Everyone have a great weekend!!

Area Rug Ideas

Area rugs come in many different shapes and sizes – making it one of the best ways to help define and jazz up a room. Buying off-the-rack area rugs is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Custom area rugs are now more economical than before, and it is the best way to get exactly what you want. You can fine tune any pattern, get the exact colour, and design the perfect shape and size to meet your needs. This is especially handy when working with an odd shaped room, or being able to cut around a fixture like a fire place.


You can see here the detail that was achieved buy a custom rug that cuts around the fireplace
A well thought out area rug can define the space in an open concept floor plan (something that I have to consider deeply when designing my own house)


Look how well these two living spaces are separated by simply using an area rug in the ‘living room’ area. Walls are not always the answer


If my living room was this big…


The area rug I dream about (I obviously have no dogs or husband in this particular dream)

And keep in mind quality. You get what you pay for in most things in life, and for area rugs this rings very true. Figure out how much you are willing to pay for an area rug that will last a year. Two years? 15 years? If it is for a place you plan to live in for a long time, or something that is flexible enough to move with you, consider paying more for something that will stand the test of time. You only cry once, if you buy the best.

Here We Go!

Given my fascination with both renos and marble, it should not come as any surprise that I demoed my bathroom the day I decided on which tiles to use. Richard came home from a friend's house to find me lying on the couch in my demo pants. I believe 'Oh God, what have you done' were his exact words. This being said, that was February 2010.

Since then, we have been without a sink, toilet or drywall in the only full bathroom in the house. Why would it take so long between demo and rebuild? Well, this is the Morgan House we're talking about, and I first had to finish this (http://morgandesigninc.blogspot.com/2010/12/cool-cushions-for-cheery-chairs.html ) and this (http://morgandesigninc.blogspot.com/2010/11/simple-christmas-decoration.html )

Well, our family bathroom reno is finally under way. No, seriously, it is. Friday night we ripped out the ugly, old, almond tub, the shower surround and all drywall. Then we proceeded to applaud our efforts, eat some Chinese food and go to bed. I guess no hot shower in the morning..


Our bathroom, as of Friday night. What have we done?

Saturday morning was a lazy start, and getting the new tub in required much more work than originally thought. You see, of COURSE they don't make tubs the same size or height any more, so Richard spent most of the day cursing loudly and trying to move all the plumbing. I, on the other hand, stayed out of his way (and worked on another art project! Photos to come)


Lovely new tub and ugly new drywall - our bathroom at 11pm Saturday

After yet another lazy morning, we got started on the tiling - my favorite part! Richard worked magic with the tile saw and all the little mosaic pieces, and we were able to almost finish by bedtime. I love when a plan comes together!


Our tub surround at 11:30pm Sunday

Spice Up That Stairwell

It is clearly some sort of oversight on my part that I have never gotten around to decorating my staircase. Sure I've thought about it lots, but I'm not big on the 'action' part when it comes to actually banging a nail into walls and hanging artwork. I usually think about it for a few months, ignore it for a few more, and then the cycle continues. Last week I decided on a bunch of important artwork decisions for the house - and despite the fact that I have no artwork on the walls just a bunch leaning on the wall where I'm pretty sure I want it, I still feel like I have taken a step in the right direction.



I have recently become very aware of how empty and boring our stairwell is. The bottom of our staircase starts right near the front entrance, so I am not sure why I have thought for so long that this is allowed to be a dull area of the house. We have un-textured (yes, that is a term) the walls and painted. Still left to do one-day is new stair steps in wood, carpet runner, and chic rails and banister. But today, I'm thinking artwork.



Although none of these photos are of MY staircase, I hope that my stairwell will look like these once I have completed the ever daunting decision making for photos and frames

"1, 2, 3, 4, Tell Me That You Love Me More"

Who doesn't love a good stencilled number? Who I ask?!?




I realize that — other than admitting that I like a good rainy day and that I can't stand socks with my sneakers — this is going to be one of the most ridiculous things I have ever said: sometimes I forget that I am handy.




These photos of stencilled numbers remind me to actually get out that ol' paint and stencil, and create some of these cute details.





I'm thinking the following table for the future-child's room is a great place to start

I saw this one, and thought of you Jennie. Narr.

Lovely Lounger

It is still swirling with cold winds outside and threatening to snow again (the type of cool weather where you mutter in your sleep about how cold you are, but don’t bother to get up and walk the 3 feet to the thermostat). It has been hovering at 3 degrees for weeks now, and I know all of you East of the BC boarder are snickering ‘heh, wimps’, don’t hate us because of our pretty tans left from July. Just when I think I will never be warm again, and beg my husband to make a fire in the fireplace for the billionth time this week, I think to myself ‘I really need somewhere pretty to lounge in the yard this summer’.

After almost being stuck by a piece of flying lumber when I expressed this concern out loud to hubby, I began to draw up a sketch of my perfect lounger. I would need two, of course, so that Krista could join me in my quest for tan domination. And of course we would need a pool-boy named ‘Hugo’ to hand us our margaritas. Ahem.

I decided that I wanted a nice wood slatted frame, and an upholstered cushion on top. I wanted a frame that will sit up, but can recline down to make a flat surface when not being used as a lounger. This way, if we need more seating in the backyard, we can simple recline it, and we have seating for an extra three people (and it will be more comfortable when Krista and I flip over to get some rays on our backs).

I know that I want it upholstered in a bright yellow and white striped fabric, which apparently does not exist. If I can't find it by the time this project is done (2016.), then I will opt for a nice green and white or navy and white stripe. Is everyone ready for some sunshine, or is it just me? Speaking of yellow and white stripes:

And best of all:

Paper Me Some Walls

If it’s true that the definition of stupidity is to try something over and over again and expect different results, then I am indeed in need of a helmet. I have been trying to convince my husband that a taste of wallpaper in the house is completely necessary - somehow I believe every time that I will get a different answer, although this is never the case. I'm not sure if it is because of all the wallpaper he has had to remove in his day, or because he is picturing 'grandmas wallpaper' - but rest assure, this is not your average wallpaper! Take a look at some of these fabulous spaces with modern wallpaper:

Also, wallpaper is not expensive anymore. Here are a few of my favorite choices from Home Depot: