~ Wind Lost ~

~ Assorted Silver ~

2012-01-28T23:21:00.015-07:00

I thought it would be fun to photograph more of the assorted silver I bought recently, as many of you enjoyed my Danish Princess post (here).

I also decided to try a watermark-logo on my photos (I need to work on this a bit). I first tried using my name in the logo:

And then I tried using Windlost as my logo:

I love this pile of assorted Danish Princess which was amongst the pieces I bought. I was so smitten with it that I just purchased a custom boxed set on eBay to complete 10 place settings!

I love all the varied patterns. They are all silver plate, but all seem quite heavy and good quality. I like both the ornate and the simple patterns:

The cake server (second from left) has a beautiful patina - I did not want to polish it too much and lose this beautiful detail:

These little tiny servers are really fun and very useful for pickles and compotes and odds and ends:

I'm also fond of this gravy ladle which has a very Art Deco vibe:

Do you like the photos?

What about the watermark? I think perhaps I need to soften/fade it a bit more...

I was going to use Windlost for my logo, but I think having my name is nice also - which do you prefer? Using Windlost would direct people to my blog if any of my photos end up on Pinterest or other websites, but using Terri Price Photography highlights my identity as a photographer in addition to writer-decorator!

Where We Live

2012-01-25T14:08:00.008-07:00

I sometimes complain that Calgary (and Alberta in general) doesn't have all the traditional antiques, art, and decor that I prefer (like you'd find in the US south or old east coast cities).

But it sure is beautiful!

This stunning video was shot in Alberta. It shows several scenes of downtown Calgary, the nearby prairies and Rocky Mountains. You will recognize Lake Louise from my post (where David and I went skating). They show skaters there in winter and then the lake in summer.

Unlike many travel videos that show places you've never seen in your own country, state or province, this all looks very familiar to me...but the photography is extra stunning. Most of these places are within 2h of our house - I recognize most of them. If you ski or hike here, you will recognize most of these famous spots. Wow!

Turn up your volume & click FULL SCREEN on the lower right of the video for the full effect!

Oh, and apparently only beautiful people live here. :)

P.S. The song is "Roam" by Wil.

When are you booking your trip?

The Sofa

2012-01-20T20:39:00.014-07:00

Our new Hickory Chair sofa has been ordered!

I waited patiently for the shop's January upholstery sale to save my 15%!

This is not the look I sought initially. I wanted something traditional, with a camel back or perhaps tufting - something a little curvy and romantic. But I grew tired of searching and realized that I wanted simple elegance more than anything else. I wanted versatility, a more contemporary look to go with all my antiques and old things. I needed something to balance all the curves and cabriole legs in the room. And I wanted a top quality piece that I can reupholster a time or two. Hickory Chair makes exceptional furniture.

A high back was a must, for reading in the evenings, and the spring down seat and goose feather pillows are soooo comfortable! It also needed a really good reading arm. I also love that the seat cushions are tied down so they don't spring up!

I saw a LOT of sofas online that I liked, but decided that I must sit on the sofa and love it, so that limited my choices to the local market, or our travels (I really wanted a $12,000 Baker sofa in Georgetown, but David would not allow it). I am a slave to comfort, so it had to sit right. I don't understand how people can buy furniture they've never sat in. I have much higher standards.

I also needed the right scale for the house. Our living room is not large, so I needed a piece that was neither too deep nor too long (like many of the new sofas which are sooo overscale).

Although I really wanted a very expensive velvet, I halved my costs by choosing a mid-grade fabric, a lovely linen-cotton blend which I showed you before. It has the slubbing of linen but the softness of cotton or worn linen:

I'm already dreaming of velvet pillows, in taupes and grey-browns. Or maybe something in dark green for Christmas?!

I can't wait to take delivery. Next month I will order the chair I've been wanting. Yay!

Pretty Silver & Such

2012-01-14T17:43:00.010-07:00

I recently purchased an assorted lot of old silver-plated flatware at an antique shop.

I'll post photos of my favorite pieces soon - there are some *beautiful* patterns and a nice variety of very interesting serving pieces.

One of my favorite patterns is this one:

The pattern is called Danish Princess (1938) by Holmes and Edwards. I think it's very charming with its acanthus-like motif:

Now I'm definitely on the hunt for more...!

With Christmas put away, I finally reorganized the dining room!

To cleanse my visual palette, I've gone with a decidedly all-white look for a while:

I did pull out my favorite blue silk pillow for a dash of colour on a side chair (to accompany our lovely Al Barker seascapes):

I never tire of these stormy scenes:

So that's my little interior update!

After a very mild Christmas, it is suddenly growing cold here with snow on the way.

I'm going to hunker down and rest tomorrow (headaches are still brutal) and dream of my next project...

Sweetness

2012-01-07T18:41:00.007-07:00

If I weren't an engineer-writer-decorator-photographer-aesthete, I might have been a baker.

I do love the pursuit of baking but I don't indulge myself as often as I'd like (who needs the calories?).

Over the holidays, I made my first proper Christmas pudding (a resounding success), but I also tried my hand at two pumpkin desserts which appeal to the non-lovers of chocolate in our family.

The first was this Pumpkin Ginger Roulade (a 5-star recipe from the Barefoot Contessa!) - a soft rolled pumpkin cake filled with crystallized ginger finely minced into mascarpone cream:

It was so lovely with vanilla ice cream and coffee, but I warn you, it is very, very rich!

I served it on a darling Limoges platter (one of my favorite things) that I bought at the Vanves flea market in Paris:

You can find the recipe here.

My next recipe is a definite family favorite:

~ Upside Down Pumpkin Cake with Cranberry & Pecan topping ~

I cannot say enough about this beautiful cake!

The recipe makes a soft moist pumpkin cake with a crunchy tart-sweet topping of beautiful cranberries and toasted pecans in a brown sugar-butter syrup. It is simply delicious served with whipped cream and coffee:

The original recipe calls for a 9x9 square pan, but I use a funnel pan...the wreath-like presentation is much much prettier for Christmas!

You can find the recipe, by pastry chef Emily Luchetti, here. Her book, A Passion for Desserts, is my favorite dessert cookbook.

I served the cake on my lovely pink and gold bone Limoges bird plates, which my mother gave me in October when I was home. Each of the six plates has a different bird, and the plates are very fine and appear to be quite old:

I think these two desserts make a lovely alternative to pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving or Christmas!

New Year New Furniture

2012-01-02T20:34:00.005-07:00

I feel like I accomplished very little over the holidays except nursing headaches and drowning my sorrows in chocolate squares and cranberry cake. I switched medications and have been suffering terrible insomnia as the previous medication was very sedating and I'd taken it 10 years!! I worked down my dosage to zero, and have been paying for it these past two weeks. So the holidays feel like they were about sleep deprivation and exhaustion more than anything else.

But yesterday, I did finally settle on fabrics for our new chair and sofa! We are hoping to replace our sofa and chair within the next 6 months. I want to do neutral solids on each as I am not pattern-adept and want to keep our small space clean and simple. I plan to do some beautiful pillows to add back colour to the room.

The sofa fabric is the rougher linen in the background. It's a linen-cotton blend with some nice slubbing for texture:

The sofa we're planning is from Hickory Chair and looks like this:

I love the clean lines and the tight back, and also the higher back and arm for long periods of sitting and reading. I originally wanted a bench seat, but don't want to pay the customization charges and actually like this look. If I reupholster it in the future, I can always do a bench seat then.

The sofa is 81" long, which fits our small living room perfectly (our current sofa is 84"). The frame is kiln-dried hardwood and the springs are hand-tied and all those other good things which will make this a very good sofa for a long time.

The chair fabric is in the foreground. It is very soft and is also a linen-cotton blend:

The chair is this one, from Lee. which you've seen a few times! It is perfect - a wonderful reading chair that is more modern than I wanted, but has grown on me due to its immense comfort, tall back, great reading arms and wide curl-up seat:

I want the swivel version, so unfortunately I have to do a skirt. I'm hoping for a skirt that looks like this, if Lee will customize it for me (still waiting on this info!). Otherwise I may have to break the bank and have it slipcovered after it arrives:

That's all for now. Biscuit will miss the big arms on our current sofa, as they are his frequent perch!

The old furniture will go to the TV room, where it is sorely needed!

Hope your work week is great!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T22:24:00.009-07:00

Happy New Year!

Skating on Lake Louise ~ December 17, 2011

David and I had a quiet and restful New Year's eve. We went for a chilly walk and enjoyed lovely gourmet salads (which were a welcome respite after all the carbs of the past two weeks) and a nice bottle of white wine. I have had brutal headaches this Christmas as I've been changing medications, but hope for some relief in the new year as I continue to try new therapies.

We have some big and small plans for this year and I can't wait to share them all with you...

Best wishes to you for a prosperous and healthy 2012.

xo Terri

~ Paperwhites (in the Bathroom) ~

2011-12-29T12:41:00.008-07:00

The paperwhites have been relocated to my bathroom.

Once they burst into full bloom, David could no longer tolerate the scent in our living room (he's very particular about scents). So...they've been whisked away to the master bathroom (which only I use):

I think they look very pretty here, with all the girlishness going on. You've never seen this tiny room before, but it's one of my favorite spaces in the house. It's painted White Down (OC-131), a nice antique white from Benjamin Moore, the same colour as the master bedroom.

I recently added the little jewellery rack to corral some of my often-worn necklaces:

I have always been a pearl fanatic and have several very good Tahitian black pearl pieces (not shown here). I also love white pearls - these ones are all costume. The three plain white strands came from my grandmother:

I really like the clasp on this one and wear these a lot. Maybe some day I will get a real strand of pearls:

I don't wear much perfume but have a couple of favorites, including Burberry Classic and a little perfume solid by Tokyo Milk called Sencha Bleu (which I discovered at the Thompson & Hanson garden center store in Houston!). I love the Fig Apricot perfume shown below, but it's too strong and too literal to wear, so I sometimes just use it as a room spray.

I forgot to include my favorite Jo Malone perfume which I bought in Paris! I will include it in the next photo shoot...

I also like Banana Republic's discontinued Malachite, which reminds me of childhood - it smells just like the perfume solid inside those Avon perfume brooches my mother sometimes bought when I was a kid.

So the narcissus has a perfect home with its sweet beauty and its heady scent...!

Merry Christmas to You!

2011-12-23T15:15:00.012-07:00

There's still time for one last blog post before Christmas.

Today is busy - I am baking (a favorite thing) and wrapping presents and we're having people over for Chinese food tonight (how festive)!

At the grocery store this morning, I bought myself a little pot of paperwhites (marked down!), which I wrapped in brown tissue paper and placed next to my pretty angel Santos that a few of you noticed:

She came from an antique store a couple of years ago, but I think she is more vintage than antique...

I love paperwhites, even if they smell a little funny. I think they are poisonous to cats, but luckily Biscuit shows zero interest in plants after eating some lilies and throwing up all over the house a few years ago (I felt like a bad kitty mommy).

I like all the golden-orange accents in this vignette. My mother always used golden-orange balls on her Christmas tree and this colour reminds me of her!

Since coming home this morning, one of the narcissus has opened up more, as if to say "hello". I think it likes the warm house. I like it here too (it smells like cinnamon and nutmeg and pumpkin and there is nice choral music playing)!

And before I go...I'd like to wish you a very Merry Christmas!

You are each a dear, kind friend to me and I appreciate your love and support all year long. I wish I could give you a big hug this Christmas. Drive safely, eat lots and lots, and have a very merry holiday!

Terri xo

Christmas vignettes

2011-12-20T16:56:00.011-07:00

Hello dear readers:

I've been meaning to post some pretty Christmas vignettes for days now, but the perpetual winter darkness and lack of flattering natural light in the house has really restricted my photography!

On Sunday we got home earlier than planned from Lake Louise, so it was time for photos!

Here's the sideboard:

The little ceramic tree is from the Christmas store in Banff. The small paper boxes were from my friend Noel's Etsy shop last year.

I decorate our lovely china cabinet with a little faux boxwood wreath and place a few pretty Christmas cards inside. The china inside is Haviland Concorde; many of the miscellaneous pieces are Haviland Limoges with a similar ruffled and gilded edge:

I like the old "D" tag, which of course is for "David". I really like classic green, white, silver and gold at Christmas:

I did not buy much new Christmas decor this year - only three things! One of them is this beautiful little rose bowl/candle holder. I love crystal (and have a little too much of it):

David's cardinal "Welcome" sign hangs at our front door. I am not a great red fan, but David is fond of this, so it hangs especially for him!

I find it challenging to get good photos of the tree, which sits right in front of the window!

We have coloured lights on the tree (David's preference) but I use a lot of white garland and balls to soften the look. Many of our ornaments have a historical look:

The small pillow in the background is from Pottery Barn, new this year. The small ceramic tree in the background was my Grandmother's.

Here's another view of the room. Our tree is a real balsam fir and it's huge! I love my pine cone wreath hanging on the mirror:

My model was uncooperative, preferring to look at birds out the front window:

Here he is in the background, looking perturbed:

I've been needing a small clock for the living room, and received this darling crystal oyster clock (foreground) from my mother as an early Christmas gift.

I bought this little Christmas sachet at a favorite local shop, Melange for the Home. It is filled with balsam fir, buckwheat hulls, cinnamon chips, allspice berries and whole cloves! It was made by P.Flynn Design of Portland:

~ Merry Christmas! ~

Holidays ~ Old Hotel Style

2011-12-16T20:50:00.014-07:00

Each Christmas, David and I attend a delightful Christmas lunch at the grand historic Palliser Hotel in downtown Calgary. We both cherish lovely old things and days gone by, so we enjoy making these historic places part of our holiday season:

The Palliser sits in the shadow of the Calgary tower, on one of the oldest streets in Calgary. The hotel opened in 1914 and always hosts Calgary's most famous guests, including celebrities, rock stars, politicians, and royalty. This is where the well-heeled stay when they're in town, so you know lunch will be good...!

Today, the hotel was beautifully appointed for Christmas. I am so fond of wreaths (my favorite Christmas motif, if you hadn't noticed!). These windows are perfect:

The front lobby is very grand and delightfully sparkly for Christmas. A gingerbread replica of the hotel took center-stage in the lobby this year:

The ballroom was all ready for guests or a recital:

The main dining room is very inviting for Christmas lunch, which includes an amazing salad and breads table, clam chowder, turkey, prime rib, pork tenderloin, stuffing, cranberries and every other holiday dish you can imagine:

Meals are prepared by a team of 50 chefs and helpers, including wonderful pastry chefs who create a stunning dessert table each year:

My favorites are the yule log, flourless chocolate cake, and the German stollen (before I even start here, I am usually full already...)

I *adore* my coffee, but simply can't tolerate it (caffeine) due to migraines, so I enjoyed a rare splurge with a small pot of decaf!

After our meal, we wandered the hotel admiring all the glorious crystal chandeliers:

David's company Christmas parties were once held here, in the Crystal Ballroom:

What a charming place! I would love to stay here for a night or two...

Happy Holidays!

We are heading out to Lake Louise, in the Rocky Mountains, tomorrow for the night, to stay at the beautiful Chateau Lake Louise, which is another Fairmont grand hotel. Stay tuned for more holiday hotel photos...

~ A Historical Christmas ~

2011-12-05T17:02:00.011-07:00

Each year at this time of year, we attend Heritage Park's "Once Upon A Christmas" celebration with the whole family. Heritage Park is a lovely historical park in Calgary which celebrates life here in the late 1800's.

The park is beautifully decorated for Christmas. The recent snowfall helped make everything look very festive!

My favorite house is the charming Thorpe House. The Thorpes were Norwegians, from Eau Claire Wisconsin, who came to help run the new lumber mill in Calgary. They raised eight children in this quaint house!

The lovely St.Martin's church hosts church services and carol-singing over the holidays. It is very snug inside with a wood-burning stove:

The old schoolhouse is one of my favorite places in the park:

These green blinds must have been standard-issue in Canadian schools, as my primary school had them too, decades later. I also recall making popcorn garland at school!

The main street also has a bakery, a pool hall, a newspaper print shop, and a home goods store. You can go inside most of these buildings, where staff and volunteers greet you wearing period costumes!

Even the bank looks good all gussied up for Christmas:

The site is so pretty this time of year:

Fresh snow sets the whole thing off:

I love going inside the houses to see the rustic Christmas decorations:

Paper and bits of fabric are more versatile than we realize!

And here I am with my new bff after our wagon ride:

Hope you have found some lovely Christmas traditions for your family!

'Tis the Season

2011-11-30T14:07:00.008-07:00

:~ Hello Christmas! ~:

Welcome to our house...

With our first proper snow today, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Is it wintery where you are?

~ Great Interior Design Quotes (Edith Wharton) ~

2011-11-29T14:27:00.007-07:00

Edith Wharton created her summer home "The Mount" in 1901 with architects Ogden Codman Jr. and Francis Hoppen

"Mrs. Quentin's fastidiousness had, indeed, the flaw of being too one-sided. Her friends were not always worthy of the chairs they sat in, and she overlooked in her associates defects she would not have tolerated in her bric-a-brac. Her house was, in fact, never so distinguished as when it was empty; and it was at its best in the warm fire-lit silence that now received her".

Edith Wharton, Collected Stories Volume I, "The Quicksand"

Christmas List

2011-11-26T22:18:00.004-07:00

I am just beginning to get the Christmas spirit!

Tonight I listened to my favorite Christmas carols on iTunes

(I highly recommend this King's College Choir essential Christmas album).

And I surfed Etsy for some inspiration.

If you are looking for gift ideas for me (I know you are), here are some things I love...

Linen, ruffles and bows, black & white, old script, and chocolate rank highly on this year's favorites list...

Merry planning...

Acquisition

2011-11-20T13:34:00.012-07:00

I'm not really a collector. For this I am thankful as the collector gene can get expensive (and the house can get quite full). However, I do have a bit of an affliction for lamps. I am often drawn to those with an historic quality, hearkening to bygone days. But I also like sparkly crystal and Lucite lamps, or those with a neoclassical bent.

In this case, old-fashioned sparkle caught my eye:

Yes, that is a blooming Christmas cactus to the right. Our Christmas cactuses love our house (i.e. neglect) and seem to bloom constantly.

I picked up this pretty lamp recently with a gift card I received two birthdays ago and had not used. In person, it has a lovely white ethereal glow and I think it will look even prettier at Christmastime. It is made from antique brass:

Here is an aerial view so I can show you my sparkly traditional chandelier. I moved the little Robert Clay painting off the wall for this vignette. I just noticed one of my candles is askew:

And lest we forget my Nova Scotia crystal lamp (which appears in most/all sideboard photos if you've been around long). I have moved it, but it seems most at home here. It was a house-warming gift from my mother:

I antiqued all my photos in Photoshop to soften them a bit, as they all looked way too bright with the new lamp turned on...

Hope your Sunday is lovely!

~ A Pennsylvania Afternoon ~

2011-11-13T19:18:00.013-07:00

On a recent trip to Pennsylvania, as David (a civil war junkie) toured the battlefields at Gettysburg, I turned my camera to the landscape on a wet afternoon.

A monument to the men of Virginia:

An inviting mass of soft green for insects (and cameras) to enjoy:

These branches are beautifully coloured and arranged, as if for an abstract portrait:

I love the juxtaposition of fresh greenery against aged stone:

And the muted pale greens and grays in this rock:

Man-made landscapes are just as lovely (pavement):

An historic building (where the only civilian, Jennie Wade, was shot) at Gettsyburg:

A beautiful battlefield (Pickett's Charge) belies the bloodshed here 148 years ago:

Approaching Seminary Ridge (for the house lovers on this tour) and Lutheran Theological Seminary:

View of the Blue Ridge Mountains, from Seminary Ridge:

I like the copse of trees to the left in this photograph:

The sun comes out briefly, illuminating the forest...

A farm field and monuments:

Photographer at work (inspecting flora and fauna for portraits):

I hope you've enjoyed my short landscape tour of Gettysburg!

A Touch of Black: Decor Inspiration!

2011-11-11T17:59:00.016-07:00

The inspiration to change often starts as a whisper (this is true in life as well as interior decorating!). We sit and ponder our rooms (or our lives) and list the things in our heads we "still need to do" (if we are lucky to be that conscious). But in a way, I don't mind not completing my projects. I like that rooms evolve and change as I change.

So I am always open to new directions.

On our recent trip to Washington DC, I visited a flea market and fell for this fantastic engraving. I bought it on the spot (and had it shipped) as it satisfied a deep taste I have for classical elements. You don't get more classical than Roman warfare:

The antique engraving is based on an old painting called Die Hunnenschlacht (The Battle of the Huns) by Wilhelm von Kaulbach, depicting the Huns battling the Romans

The engraving (which needs to be reframed) solidified a whispering desire to add more black to my interiors. I already have a lot of black and white art (which I must share in another post), but I need to add a few more dark elements for their crisp contrast with my often-pale rooms.

After visiting the American Art Museum in Washington, I feel in love with American artist Abbott Handerson Thayer. I researched him upon returning home and just fell upon this beautiful painting, which takes me further in the black and white direction:

I plan to frame a print of this for our bedroom or perhaps my bathroom...

Speaking of which - our bedroom already has some nice dark notes, with our dark console table, the drapery rod, and some small accessories:

But I'm now planning to add this gorgeous fabric (the chevron pattern in the middle) by my friend (interior designer and textile designer) Lauren Liess, which I just won in her giveaway here!!!:

Photo: Helen Norman

Her black and oatmeal filagree chevron (which I will likely make into pillows), suits my classical tastes perfectly and will add a modern note to the room! Plus...it is just the touch of black I was looking for! I also love her Queen Anne's bouquet pattern at the top...

By the way, if you have not seen her new textile designs, they are simply divine. Check them out at her shop here. I am just so proud of Lauren (an early blog friend) and see her star shining brighter each day.

I also recently acquired this lovely simple light fixture (for another room, but I think I prefer it for our master bedroom). I like its simplicity and the curvilinear quality I always identify with (the same lines I notice in much of my furniture):

I love when a new decor inspiration comes along, particularly when it's subtle and I don't have to completely redecorate the house to accommodate it!

I will report back when all the changes are made.

~ Happy weekend ~

Simplifying Life for A Highly Sensitive Person

2011-11-05T15:11:00.012-06:00

I am a "highly sensitive person" according to the definition by author Elaine Aron. It is an innate trait of psychological sensitivity. I always knew there had to be some theory to explain the overload I often feel. If you haven't read her book, I recommend it, although not everything in her book applied to me (I have never been considered shy, for example, and I don't mind violent movies and occasionally loud music!)

As Aron kindly points out:

I am easily overwhelmed by strong sensory input
I am aware of subtleties in my visual environment (I notice everything)
Other people's moods affect me
I need to withdraw on busy days, to a place I can have privacy and relief from stimulation
I am have a rich, complex inner life (I ruminate on everything...)
I am conscientious
I find it unpleasant to have a lot going on at once

As author Elizabeth Gilbert said, "I do better with less on my plate." Amen sister.

Sadly, I don't want less on my plate. I want to embrace life and do everything. So I work full-time, live with chronic daily headaches, take courses, work out regularly and read everything I can get my hands on. However, my trait also means that I sometimes crash and need (prefer) to spend entire Saturdays on the sofa under a big blanket, surrounded by shelter magazines and classical music.

In an effort to manage my brain, I try to adopt systems to simplify life...like only buying white sheets and towels, and wearing a lot of black. I also hate clutter, but I love things, so sometimes it is a battle to keep my life sane and organized...

I love my rules and systems, as they prevent my obsessive brain from melting down.

So I thought I would share a simple system I use to stay organized at home.

I don't have a smart phone and I like to write things down...so I use these wonderful Moleskine black notebooks for everything. I have an annual planner (the big one) for appointments and daily "to do" lists. The small daily notebook is where I take most of my notes (Christmas lists, great quotes, house stuff, etc.) so I don't have annoying little pieces of paper all over the house.

And I file the books at the end of the year (or when the notebooks get full)!

The annual planner is nice as it lays flat, has a week at a glance and a blank page facing each week for my "To Do" lists:

Part 2 is that I only have two kinds of pens that I write with! Years ago, I fell in love with fine-point black markers and I have never looked back. I have not written with a blue ink pen in at least 10 years.

My favorite pen is my Mont Blanc Noblesse Oblige (I love the name), which was a gift:

I also LOVE my black Uniball Deluxe Micro's and buy them buy the box. They are all over the house and in every bag (and at the office):

I am also an inveterate list maker. Here is my Christmas list, where I am recording gift and book ideas for people...

Everyone says I would enjoy an iPhone. I would love to have an iPad or maybe a Kindle. I can see these tools condensing life into a neat little bundle. But honestly, I hate monthly fees for an iPhone, which are higher in Canada (and I am sitting in front of a computer all day at work and all evening at home!). I also don't like relying on a battery for my life.

But above all, I like the tactile bliss of writing things down...

How do you simplify?

Home

2011-10-29T22:46:00.012-06:00

For many people, home is a place. For me, home is where my mother is. And secondly it is the place I grew up. I was home last week for my mother's 60th birthday. We had a wonderful eleven days and I was sad to leave. I just love spending time with her.

I thought I would share some pretty fall photos from around our home there, so you can see how pretty it is, how perfectly rural and idyllic, and how I can be so nostalgic for place...

This is the view out in front of my mother's house. I never tire of this view. The river is out in front of the cliffs:

This is the old railway, where trains passed when I was a kid, between the houses and the river. It is now a wonderful walking trail where I spent my 20's and 30's running (and now walking) when I go home:

I love this view of our dear neighbours' house (they have since passed away and the house sits mostly vacant, as in many rural towns with no economies...):Another view out in front of Mom's house. This field was a hay field up until a few years ago. Now it is going wild, untended. It floods frequently in spring. As a child, I loved watching the water come in and track the progress of the ice jams with my Dad:

Some pretty Eastern fall colours. I miss those reds and oranges as we seem to only have yellow leaves out west:

This is the little country church in the nearby town where my Mom grew up. This is a favorite place of mine. The graves in the foreground (next to the leafless snowball bush) are my maternal grandmother's parents' graves:

I like this abstract shot of a tree in my mother's yard, taken from my upstairs bedroom window:

This is my mother's charming little cottage house, built around 1940. It is very pretty and welcoming inside and sits on a marvellous private property. The giant pine trees in the background (lining the driveway) have been there since long before I was born (they have always been huge to me!). The leftmost one is being removed as it is starting to die and we don't want it to fall on the house!:

And the star of the week - my Mom (in a small photo to preserve her privacy!). We went out for lunch on our shopping/antiquing day in Fredericton at our favorite hotel:

What a great trip home it was. And most of all, because of her...

What is home for you?

~ Travel Finds for Home ~

2011-10-14T19:05:00.009-06:00

I love shopping for art, antiques, and home decor when I travel. I try to fit it in with all the sightseeing, history and culture, and great restaurants, but will admit that finding a street of good shops is a favorite thing.

I like to bring home art and fabrics as they don't take up much room in a suitcase, but I have been known to buy big things (like the silk quilt in Paris that required a new duffle bag).

On our recent trip to the Washington area, I did not buy too much, but I thought you might like to see.

I got this little down-filled linen cushion for a chair in our bedroom at Oliver Dunn in Georgetown. The old T- back chair is quarter-sawn oak and sits below our "new" (old) Gabriel Spat painting "Promenade au Bois du Boulogne", which finally arrived:

I love etchings and handpicked this set of six, showing English country homes, at a Sunday flea market we stumbled upon. I plan to frame the entire set:

I picked up this pretty silver dish for a song in an antiques mall...it was tarnished but polished up perfectly. The little lead crystal candle holder we found in Emmitsburg, MD on a rainy afternoon en route to Gettysburg:

And you've seen this before - our other new painting, by Virginian Robert Young Clay, which I bought in charming Alexandria, VA:

I also bought a few tops from J. Crew, which we don't have in Canada, and my favorite peppermint hot chocolate from Dean & Deluca.

What do you like to buy on holiday?

A (Decorator's) Walk Through Georgetown

2011-10-08T13:46:00.017-06:00

On our whirlwind US trip last week, I had a few hours to stroll through glorious Georgetown. Georgetown is a charming colonial neighborhood in northwest Washington DC, full of stunning historical buildings, beautiful townhouses, cobblestone streets, wonderful antique and art shops (Wisconsin Ave), gourmet shops like Dean & Deluca, and lots of great clothing stores (mostly along M Street).

I thought you might enjoy a brief decorator's tour of Georgetown!

I snapped this charming glass doorfront at Fleurgreige, a gorgeous flower boutique (and floral design school):

I admired the art at Addison Ripley through the windows (sadly, it was closed). They had an exhibit of vibrant sea and skyscapes by Maryland artist Mary Page Evans:

I visited the always-refined Baker furniture showroom on M Street, and fell in love with their Rebecca sofa. It is my dream sofa - I can imagine it in my ideal home in a study surrounded by vast bookshelves, tall ceilings and chevron floors (but sadly it's a little over budget at $10,300).

I also fell for this lamp. At $900, it wasn't coming home with me either:

My favorite find of the day was a new antique store called Comer & Co., owned and operated by two very talented Washintonians (their original store is down the coast on Chesapeake Bay in Kilmarnock). On this day, the store was staffed by a lovely young lady who told me all about the owners and their business and let me take several photos!

The store is beautifully styled with 18th to 20th century antiques. It occupies a charming two-story Georgetown townhouse:

I loved this vignette in black, white, and gold set against a backdrop of perfect grey walls, in Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter (I asked):

I loved the lines of this reupholstered Art Deco armchair (they had a pair). They were a smidgen over budget at $6500 each. I think they're swell:

The upstairs was just as charming, and featured lots of white and gold elements, set against dark patinaed wood:

This blue antique dragon wanted to come home with me:

I can't wait to visit Comer & Co. again! Inspired by all their pretty blues, I did buy one thing...a pair of blue beeswax candles that I will show you soon.

Next I stopped briefly at John Rosselli Antiques (another lover of blue Chinoiserie and husband of Bunny Williams, in case you didn't know). In his Georgetown store (there is another in NYC), I admired posh designer fabrics (that I don't often see in Canada) in the back room:

Next I visited the somewhat more affordable Random Harvest, a Washington-area decor store specializing in both antiques and reproduction pieces. I liked this shield mirror and soft blue armchair. Too bad they won't ship furniture to Canada!

Next I visited with the lovely Catharine at Catherine Roberts/Moss & Co./Oliver Dunn, a trio of shops housed in one delightful space (notice her dog Sophie waiting in the window):

The shop is large, with several rooms over two floors, and chock full of old world linens, ironstone, seagrass, weathered woods and unique vintage finds:

I liked everything about Catharine's brocante section of the store:

These great candlesticks would really suit a character home:

I seriously loved this vignette of tufted armchairs and sconces. The sconces were $250 each, so they didn't make it into my suitcase either. The next day, I was sooo close to going back for them...

I also visited another new shop run by a lady shopkeeper I had met on my last trip. She now runs "The French Apartment", which is seriously cool. She is a stylist nonpareil...

I liked the mirrored cube in this autumnal vignette...

I also popped into the exquisite Marston Luce, which specializes in antiques from France and Sweden. The store is always quiet and serious, so I don't take many photos here. But I did snap a pair of fabulous lamps...

My last stop was at Susan Calloway Fine Arts. Susan has a deep and incredible array of contemporary and antique art available at her lovely Georgetown gallery. I didn't take any photos this time (darn), but always find something to covet. This time I chatted with Susan about her paintings by Robert Rea (for sale here). If you recall, Rea's Georgetown home, designed by DC designer Frank Babb Randolph, was featured in April's Veranda magazine:

I hope you enjoyed your tour of historic and always-inspiring Georgetown!

National Portrait Gallery & American Art Museum

2011-10-03T19:34:00.020-06:00

I have a new love. On our recent trip through Washington, DC we visited the stunning National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum (housed together in the newly renovated Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture).

This gallery knocked my socks off. I thought the National Gallery of Art (also in DC) was amazing, but this was a real gem of a gallery. I am a genuine art lover and can easily spend a whole afternoon in an interesting gallery.

I thought I'd share some highlights with you. One of the most appealing aspects of this gallery is the wall colours. The gallery's curators choose such flattering wall colours to complement the paintings in the various rooms...

New acquisitions at the Portrait Gallery. The lady at the center is Ann Landers:

Maybe you recognize Walt Whitman?

And here is Mark Twain, together with artist Cecilia Beaux and novelist Henry James:

And a young Edith Wharton (who I am just now reading):

A self-portrait by painter Cecilia Beaux. She held her own beside many of the great male painters of the day:

American impressionist painter Mary Cassatt, as captured by her pal Edgar Degas (this looked familiar...I have it in a book on Degas!). Cassatt is said to have hated this portrait of herself:

A charming portrait of industrialist Henry Clay Frick, with his daughter:

The interior courtyard:

The Deco-era "Woman with Red Hair" by Albert Herter. I love that the curators hung this painting of an orange-haired lass on a complementary blue wall:

My favorite room. The painting on the left is by Cecilia Beaux (above), entitled "Man with the Cat" (Henry Sturgis Drinker, her brother-in-law) with a charming ginger cat. On the right is a stunning pot of flowers by my new *favorite* artist Abbott Handerson Thayer:

A close-up of Thayer's flowers:

And to the right is a stunning portrait of Miss Elizabeth Winthrop Chanler (by portraitist extraordinaire John Singer Sargent):

The Sargent portrait is stunning. We saw an exhibition of his work in Houston last March, but this is my favorite painting of all. It works beautifully on this red wall:

I also adored this portrait, "An Interlude," by Wm Sergeant Kendall, of his wife and daughter. A print of this would be lovely in a child's room (I bought a postcard):

The very pretty "Wreath of Flowers" by John La Farge is in the foreground of this shot. Note the rich green walls:

"Angel" and "Virgin Enthroned" both by Abbott Handerson Thayer (the latter was painted in 1891, the year his wife died):

Another angel by Thayer, who took up painting angels after the death of two young children and his wife:

I hope you enjoyed the brief tour of this lovely gallery. My highest compliments to its esteemed curators! David also enjoyed the Civil War exhibit...

~ Alexandria Art ~

2011-10-02T21:48:00.009-06:00

We just returned from a whirlwind eight-day trip to Washington DC, Gettysburg, and Alexandria to celebrate David's birthday (a civil war tour). I was lucky to squeeze in some sightseeing and shopping time (with apologies to all the bloggers I did not visit this time!)

I visited a few gorgeous stores in Alexandria and purchased this lovely landscape painting from the very posh Spurgeon-Lewis Antiques. I love the slate blue sky - it's my favorite colour of blue:

The painting is by Robert Young Clay, a Virginia artist who died last year. His impressionistic landscapes are so atmospheric (to use Steve's word) and dreamy. I may need to reframe this as the golden frame seems a little bright for my tastes. David and I both love Virginia, so I was pleased to buy my first work by this well-loved Virginia artist, who was also a genealogist, heraldic artist and archivist.

And yes, our annual art budget is now officially depleted, in case you were wondering.

More about our holiday soon, and I will post lots of photos. Special thanks to Pat for taking me around Alexandria for a couple of hours. She is a lovely lady, an extraordinary tour guide and thrift shop guru! She also has a large and stunning eclectically-decorated house that I could have spent hours admiring. Thanks Pat.

Autumn Daydreams...

2011-09-17T13:30:00.013-06:00

It's a balmy autumn afternoon and we're starting to prepare for a little dinner party tonight to celebrate David's birthday. The house is quiet except for the opera (I listen to Saturday Afternoon at the Opera on CBC as often as possible).

I also hung my new PARTY banner...! Isn't it pretty?!

My chocolate cake's frosting was a bit of a catastrophe (the butter was too hard) but I salvaged it by heating the entire cake in the oven for 1 minute! Then it spread like...well...butter!

I am also day dreaming about our new painting, which we just bought from a wonderful art dealer in Massachusetts, from whom we purchased a landscape painting (see it here and also in the photo above!) this time last year.

The new painting takes me back to my student days in Paris:

The painting is by American Impressionist painter Gabriel Spat (1890-1967), who lived in France most of his life (and shipped his lovely paintings back to America for all the francophiles to covet). The painting is entitled "Promenade au Bois de Boulogne". It resonated with me as I lived in Paris as a graduate student and frequently visited the Bois de Boulogne. I also took English riding lessons for several years and still love the equestrian arts.

I can't wait 'til this rather old and lovely painting arrives and finds a new home in our living room! Hope you are having a sunny autumn day...

These Are a Few of my Favorite Things

2011-09-07T21:32:00.015-06:00

This is a Spontaneous List of some of my favorite things, as of today, in no particular order:

1. The English countryside

Manor Farm, Oxfordshire (via www.myukbreak.com)

2. Rubber boots, clever dogs, and Range Rovers

3. Classical and neoclassical references in art, interiors and architecture

4. Tom Allen's voice in the afternoon on CBC Radio 2 (Shift)

5. Classical music

6. Adagio for Strings by Barber

7. Arvo Pärt

8. Chocolate

9. Cats

10. English real estate shows (“Relocation Relocation” and “Location Location Location”)

11. Down-filled anything (duvets, parkas, furniture)

12. Home décor books

13. Etchings and sketches

14. The New York Times Home & Garden section

15. Great enveloping chairs

16. Audis

17. Tufted sofas and chairs

18. Walking around Paris

19. Sleeping in

20. A good wool coat (like these)

21. Lentils du Puy

22. The west coast

23. The east coast

24. Rain

25. A good massage

26. A good book

27. My mother

28. Lattés

29. Naps

30. Intelligence

31. Wit

32. Crisp white shirts (and gray flannel trousers)

33. Cooler weather

34. Good sheets

35. Comfortable, soft things (clothes, bedclothes, stuffed bears)

What is one of your favorite things?

Unless indicated, all images are humbly borrowed from strangers...

The Painted House

2011-09-05T21:33:00.008-06:00

The front of our house is a work-in-progress, but I was long overdue to share the new paint colours with you. I was holding out for our tree pruners to finish the front yard, but regrettably we're still on the waiting list for service...(if you're an arborist, Calgary needs you).

So, without further ado, I'll share the photos I took right after the painters left...complete with overgrown spruce. We love the new colour, a custom greige (i.e. taupe) I struggled over for weeks, together with crisp black on the shutters and doors:

In case you've forgotten, this is where we started. We were so tired of green and pink (which the previous owners also used throughout the interior)!:

After the painting was done, I updated the front planters with these lovely little boxwoods and got a new mat. I am still on the hunt for a great lantern and promise to show the whole thing in a future post:

The back garage and fences also look better in the taupe and black, which matches the existing iron work in the garden:

Our little potting shed looks so great in its new colours. The deck must be replaced next year (there's always something!) and then I'll buy some proper outdoor furniture:

Although our house is from the early 70's and only has so much curb appeal potential, I finally feel like we've at least arrived in the current century with the paint colours!

More to come...

Serious Chair Love

2011-08-19T22:31:00.012-06:00

If you've been reading this blog a while, you know I've been wanting to replace my living room furniture. I've been fixated on this Lee Industries sofa (3106) and finally sat in it...but I'll tell you more about that later!

In the meantime, I've been scouting for an interesting chair to go along with this (or similar) sofa. Calgary isn't exactly a design mecca for us (semi) traditionalists, so I've struggled to find good quality pieces with great lines (that make a nod to tradition), serious comfort, and that have beautiful fabric choices (I just can't afford to do COM on 2-3 new pieces!). I really need to go shopping in Atlanta...

But I've found a few:

Option A: I really like this Lee chair (1822), which I blogged about before. I've sat in this chair at three stores in Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria (thank heaven we travel!). I think it would go well with the sofa, with its similar lines.

It's a modern wing and sits soooo comfortably. I have a bad back and sit in the living room in the evenings to read, so I really like the very high back, with its perfect pitch. It has down seat (Haven fill), and the seat and arm heights are perfect. I also like the slightly larger scale seat, for curling up. I love the way this chair sits, and like its looks, but I don't LOVE the way it looks. I like a chair that sits up a little more, on taller legs. So my dilemma is...do I get the chair that's most comfortable (at the best price), but not the most beautiful? Or do I find one that's better looking while still fairly comfy? Sounds like shopping for a husband...

Option B: I found this beauty recently, by Pearson, at my favorite furniture store (Maria Tomas). This one is covered in an exquisite Chilean wool, and down filled. I love the way it looks (elegant but approachable) and it sits soooo comfortably, like floating on a cloud. But it isn't as high and supportive at the back. It also costs ~2 to 2.5 times more than the Lee chair:

The seat is really generous (and still comfortable) if you remove the cushion - great for reading, sitting cross-legged, or curling up with a reading pillow or bolster. The back is high enough for comfort, but I can't rest my head back for a wee nap. I love the stitching details and find it very pretty and versatile:

Option C: I found this gorgeous chair (Milling Road European Club) by Baker at Eisenberg's. It sits really great and has a higher back. I like the clean lines and know David would like it. The Baker fabrics are gorgeous and the price point is about 2x the cost of the Lee chair (and the sales rep seemed flexible on price!).

It looks sooo beautiful in a neutral linen with nailheads, and would be very versatile. The little camel back would go great with the Lee sofa, but the arms are quite different:

Which chair do you like best to go with a new sofa? Maybe I need to buy two...

Summer Party Preparation...

2011-08-14T17:33:00.013-06:00

David and I hosted a little summer birthday party last weekend. My favorite part of parties is the anticipation and preparation (i.e. before the people come...I am an introvert you know!). I like making things pretty and yummy.

We made limoncello mousse for guests, with fresh mint from our garden (isn't that chic?):

I took out my antique salt and pepper shakers (with shiny new tops):

I deconstructed two bouquets of flowers and made many small vases for the room. I moved our beautiful landscape painting (background) so it is more IN the room and not on the periphery:

I liked the many small arrangements. It felt like a wedding! I used hot pink napkins to match the hot pink flowers we procured for the festivities:

I also took out my new (old) silver vase I bought in Victoria in July. It is square, with a beaded edge and rather odd for me as I generally prefer curvy things. It's hard to get a picture of because the photographer appears in the reflection. It is rather elegant:

The party was a success and with two glasses of wine, I became very talkative. Too bad there is a chill in the air, as I wish we had another summer party to plan...

In case you are wondering, I wore the turquoise dress, which was a hit!

End of Summer Dresses (and a book to read)!

2011-08-10T17:31:00.005-06:00

Who doesn't love a sale?!

Unlike the ever-lovely Janet, I usually don't post "what I wore" or "what I'm gonna wear" photos on my blog. But I had to make an exception. These two cute summer dresses, which I got for $20 each, had to be shared (excuse the fuzzy self-portraits).

I think I was Indian in a previous life, as I've always loved Indian-inspired tunics, nehru-collars and the like.

Dress #1 fit me perfectly but is a little short (for me) to wear with bare legs, so I got a pair of nice navy leggings (the good kind...$5 on sale!!) to go with it.

Dress #2 was only available in one size larger, so it's a little looser. It will look good with or without leggings. It has black in it, so I'll put it with black leggings for fall.

If you want one, stop by Zellers, but sadly there was only one size 6 and several size 14's at the store I visited and none left at another location!

And speaking of India, if you haven't read "Secret Daughter" yet, you really must. It is a beautiful, heart-breaking, and life affirming portrait of an adoption from the perspective of the disadvantaged Indian mother who gives up her child and the wealthy American who adopts her.

It is by far my favorite book of the year on my book club reading list...

Afternoon Tea at The Banff Springs Hotel

2011-08-05T16:54:00.008-06:00

I am feeling rather spoiled (when I am not having blistering migraines this summer). I went for afternoon tea again...this time at the marvellous Banff Springs Hotel, last weekend, with my dear friend M.

Historical photos from The Banff Springs collection, circa 1910

One of the supreme benefits of living in Calgary is our proximity to the Rocky Mountains, and my favorite hotel, the inimitable Fairmont Banff Springs. The Banff Springs was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway, and opened in 1888:

A short 1.5h drive puts us here (Mt Rundle, to the right). Life is beautiful!:

Here we are, M. & I, ready for serious eating after a brief stop at the Willow Stream Spa, inside the hotel:

After a brief wander 'round the hotel, we headed towards the restaurants, passing this lovely recital hall along the way (you can get married here!):

Afternoon tea takes place in the breathtaking setting of the Rundle Lounge, which sits above the hotel's back foyer:

Beautiful tables await in this charming old room...(how romantic!)

We had a window seat, which was perfect for watching the fog lift whilst perusing the tea selections. I ordered the Cascade Mountains Peppermint Tea, imported from nearby Washington state (where some of the best peppermint tea in the world is grown):

A charming silver pot of dainty flowers adorned each table:

The views are rather smashing. The Banff Springs sits in the shadow of Rundle Mountain, with views of the icy green Bow River:

The food is not bad either. In fact, the tea was lovely and compared favorably with afternoon tea at The Empress, which I posted about a couple of weeks ago (here). Servings at the Banff Springs were only slightly smaller, but cost $20 less! And, you could have as many pots of different tea as you like!!

I loved the miniature yellow creme brulees and adored the raisin scones (I need a recipe!). I am addicted to them, and their companion...Devonshire cream. If you've not had it, you have not lived.

The day was perfect for our luncheon! Banff is heavenly...

I hope some day you get to visit Banff!

Here is my favorite viewpoint to see the hotel, from across the river. It is most stunning in winter:

xo Terri

Moments in the Bedroom

2011-07-24T16:11:00.010-06:00

Hello darlings! I thought I would share some of my favorite decorating moments in our master bedroom (in case you thought I meant something else...). We don't sleep in this room in summer as it can be warm (and nobody here has air conditioning), but sleep instead in our cool downstairs guest room.

I really adore certain elements of this room, like the silk-linen-wool blend drapes I had custom made right after we moved into the house. I also love the tiny Florentine mirror I picked up at a favorite antique shop:

The bedroom isn't large, so I needed a narrow console table to place against the wall opposite the bed. I found this gorgeous asian altar table quite unexpectedly at a consignment store - it's one of my favorite things in the house:

An antique (1915) Doukhobor fruit-gathering basket sits on the floor

This table serves as a prominent place for my "to do" list. A tray on the table corrals pens, electronics, and papers of pressing importance.

At the other end of the table are a few favorite objets. The bronze cat statue acts as a paperweight. A cream porcelain bowl holds business cards, loose buttons and papers. The ikat bowl, in my favorite gray-brown colour, is from Anthropologie. The photograph, a favorite of mine, captures a lonely copse of trees in northern Italy:

Before I move on, I must show you my wonderful new giant canvas bag (from Restoration Hardware, $39 on sale). I LOVE matching my wardrobe with my decor (which David says I do already, as I dress mostly in beige and white and blue). This bag is perfect for lugging things to and from the car, and carrying yoga and gym gear:

The bedding in the background is new and very inexpensive (labelled simply "100% cotton"). I usually buy higher quality bedding but could not pass up this delicious duvet cover and pillowcases, with their lovely neoclassical chevron/leaf pattern:

Excuse the green sheet - my previous very soft, very old fitted white sheet just ripped down the middle!

I usually only have a thin quilt on this bed, but have now added the duvet for evening naps and for when we sleep here when we have summertime guests.

I posted my side table before, with its neoclassical theme:

I hope you've enjoyed your visit...!

Slow Progress on the Front of the House...

2011-07-21T22:21:00.004-06:00

Well, I've made a little more progress on the front of the house.

I picked up two gorgeous boxwoods for the front stoop and think they look smashing with the black door, even if it isn't perfectly symmetrical.

I searched high and low for black pots, but found nothing inspiring (end of season...). I really like the shape and colour of the two clay pots from Chintz & Co. I am definitely the only one to notice that the semi-circular detail on the pots relates to the semi-circular window in the door.

I also added a small rubber mat, which I really love. I won't be able to hide the key under it now...

I will show you more photos of the front facade, with the new paint job, once we get the trees pruned (next week) and hopefully I will have a new lantern (still hunting for this...so I may have to post "in progress" photos).

Afternoon Tea!

2011-07-11T22:20:00.017-06:00

If you've never done so, you really must treat yourself to afternoon tea at a grand old hotel.

Recently, David and I enjoyed a beautiful luncheon tea at The Fairmont Empress, a grand 104 year-old hotel on the harbour in Victoria, British Columbia.

Our late morning tea started in this beautiful room, with a comfy seat by the window:

Inside this grand old hotel (photo from my winter trip in February):

Our first delight was fresh strawberries with whipped cream...(sorry for the fuzzy focus...I was feeling a bit gauche taking pictures of my food, so rushing to photograph before the room was full of people!)

Tea was served in gorgeous china (Earl Gray for David and herbal for me, since I can't have caffeine), alongside champagne mimosas (which is how I would now prefer to start every day, darling...)

Five varieties of tiny sandwiches were served, alongside soft raisin scones (my favorite thing) with heavy whipped cream and strawberry jam:

Several darling dainty desserts were served on top. My favorite was the beautiful Battenburg checkerboard sponge cake (chocolate and white) wrapped in pink marzipan:

If you're ever in Victoria, you must visit the Empress!

And to heck with counting calories...you really must find an afternoon tea at a fine hotel near you!

Our getaway was wonderful and refreshing...more soon!

Away (and The Natural Eclectic)

2011-07-06T23:11:00.011-06:00

We are getting out of town for a few (restful) days of walks, antiquing, breathing sea air, and much needed R&R. I will be back Sunday and promise to post a few house things I've been thinking about.

On the subject of restful and wonderful, you must check out my *new* friend Heather's gracious new blog, The Natural Eclectic. Heather is the beautiful, gifted, accomplished, artist-photographer-writer-stylist-business woman-vintage find finder and traveller (aka modern Renaissance woman) I posted about back in April when I visited her unbelievable shop in Vancouver, "Heather Ross (in House)". You can read my gushing post here. I told Heather, and this is no exaggeration, that hers is the most beautiful and personally touching (resonant) shop I have ever visited.

Since then, Heather and I have struck up a lovely e-friendship and we have found that we have a surprising lot in common. It is so nice to find a kindred spirit who just happens to be officially Lovely & Amazing, with a store and a book project to prove it!

This weekend, Heather celebrates 10 years in her Vancouver business Heather Ross (in house). I would love to check out her new finds and paintings. I will be there in spirit, Heather!

Photo from "Heather Ross (in house)" website (background painting and vintage finds all found and styled by Heather)

You can find Heather:

At her shop: 1525 West 6th Ave. (half a block west of Granville)

At her website: Heather Ross In House

At her new blog: The Natural Eclectic

Good luck Heather, as you embark on your new book project, The Natural Eclectic™, and congratulations on 10 years of fabulous...

Sneak A Peek: House Exterior

2011-06-29T21:00:00.008-06:00

Exterior house painting and front yard tidying is finally in progress at our place. The house was green with hot pink shutters before we started. Here is a sneak peek at the new and improved House of Windlost exterior colour scheme:

We choose a lovely milk brown with a gray undertone. Crisp black for the doors and shutters and white trim make it a little more (suburban) classic.

All paint by Benjamin Moore (Arborcoat Exterior Stain) in a custom colour.

Extraordinary, professional, courteous painting by Scott & team from Appleby Painting!

Special thanks to my new life(style) coach, Steve, from An Urban Cottage for extraordinary emotional support during the colour selection process.

More updates to follow...!

The Best Accessory

2011-06-22T20:34:00.004-06:00

I think flowers are simply the most elegant (and accessible) accessory for a home. It's especially nice when they match one's decor so beautifully. These "white" (ivory-yellow) peonies look perfect in our dining and living rooms, with all the white, green and browns:

I am very fond of them and don't even mind their strong perfume. I must get some to plant in our garden. These came from the store, bought as tight buds which bloomed profusely once they hit the water:

Flowers are a luxury I make room for in my budget!

Though I admit that at this time of year, I can usually find something in my garden, even if it's just some fern clippings. But when peonies appear in the stores, I am the first in line.

Do you grow peonies?

The Spring of My Content

2011-06-20T13:29:00.019-06:00

With apologies to Shakespeare, I do believe this is "the spring of my content" after an arduous winter of my discontent. Calgary generally has a long cold winter, but not so much snow. This winter was an outlier, as it was longer than usual and snowed constantly, like the typical east coast winters of my childhood.

Spring usually seems too brief and then it turns into summer. Calgary has a semi-arid climate (Zone 3 for gardeners). Our humidity is low, so summer here is a pleasant mild blue-sky affair, with lots of weather in the 20's and occasionally days in the 30's C (mid-80's F).

However, this has been a long, cool wet spring, and I am thrilled! For the past two months, it's been raining almost daily and the days are cool, around 20C (68F and below). As a result, our gardens are vibrant and green (and don't need constant watering) and the air is damp and cool. Call me crazy, but as much as I love a sunny day, I adore cool weather, rain, and stormy days.

Today, I thought I'd share some photos of our shade bed, which is doing better than usual for this time of year. This bed gets dappled morning light - otherwise all shade. We've planted various hostas and ferns here, together with white and pink bleeding hearts (the columbines died):

My favorite addition to the bed is the groundcover in the front (little white flowers), called Sweet Woodruff. I think it is my favorite thing in the garden, as it reminds me of a shady meadow. It does NOT like being stepped on, and I have replanted it once already. We often plant some shade-loving annuals here for colour, but didn't get around to it this year:

In this bed, we have several varieties of hostas and ferns, as well as a Lady's Mantle. To the left, under the tree is the glossy green Bergenia (Elephant's Ears), flowering now, and which stays green all winter. I can't seem to find many colourful perennials that will survive in this bed, so do send ideas if you have any (keeping in mind we are Zone 3!):

Our Mayday tree always gets a pot of annuals, for summer colour. Behind the Mayday is a large bush of Goatsbeard, which gets a gorgeous ivory lace fan-like flower in mid-summer. It reminds me so much of raspberry bushes:

Here is our conifer bed, in a cedar box. The conifers give us winter interest. The umbrella-shaped leafy tree in the middle is a grafted caragana, which is just starting to get its yellow flowers. There is a blue star juniper in the foreground, followed by a dwarf spruce shrub (left), followed by yellowish barberry (right) and so on. The bed is symmetrical around the umbrella caragana. We add annuals for colour:

One of my fun favorites is my small herb bed where I grow cooking herbs and spearmint for tea. We have a serious crop of chives (Allium schoenoprasum) ready to bloom. They come back each year. I love their funny purple flowers:

I hope you've enjoyed the tour. Later I will show you the other half of the back yard, which contains our sun-facing beds with their bounty of summer flowers...

Spontaneous Perfection

2011-06-13T20:03:00.006-06:00

Living in a northern climate, sometimes it seems like we're the last people on earth to experience spring! While I enjoyed seeing all your tulips and lilacs these past few weeks (or months), nothing replaces having my very own...

Tonight I gathered a spontaneous bouquet of fresh lilacs, the very last of our tulips, and some snowdrops from my (finally) flourishing garden:

The snowdrop interiors remind me of egg yolks...

Lilacs remind me of childhood, as my family home and my grandmother's home had an abundance of lilac bushes. They also remind me of my great-grandmother Susie, who always loved lilac soap. I agree with her...their scent is heaven.

I am continually amazed at the perfection of flowers and their effect on my spirit. I wish I could have a daily bouquet in every room.

Night time Finds

2011-06-10T22:07:00.005-06:00

I love looking at my Etsy favorites. They capture all sorts of moods I am in at night, which is when I scout the site. Some nights I find colourful things and romantic things and whimsical things that I never buy. They resonate with me, but I am not sure how to fit them into my life. I just like looking at the pictures. I do not even mind when they eventually say "sold". I somehow enjoy them for their fleeting beauty...(in my life in my mind).

Some nights I add to my favorites entire groups of things that are related...this set has mostly a soft, organic, romantic feel to it...I still covet some things here but I manage to live without most of them just fine. I do wish I'd bought the square gray basket below...(but the golden easel to the right was bought by me!!)

If you want to send presents, now you know what I want...

A Bit of Pink Always Helps...

2011-06-09T21:15:00.006-06:00

It's been a very busy week and I am madly trying to sort out paint colours for the house. Headaches have also been extreme, so I am a weary camper. I thought I would share a tiny touch of my favorite happy-making spring colour...pink! A little pink is always welcome at my house.

This pink and blue tablecloth was a gift from my mother when I got my first apartment. It has matching napkins. I love it and use it a lot. It has a very old-fashioned feel to it:

This is the tree out in front of our house, an ornamental crabapple tree. It is frequently populated by birds as we have a big feeder in it we can watch from the front window. Yes, spring is very late here. Our lilacs are just starting!:

I brought some apple blossoms inside from our neighbour's tree, which is an even brighter pink!

Hope you have a happy weekend!

Where I Blog: A Mini Organizing

2011-06-04T17:13:00.009-06:00

I love wire baskets and cool, old-fashioned office stuff, but sadly, I have yet to acquire many cool old things for this space. In the interim, I was feeling disorganized. So I picked up some cute little organizers with a pretty pattern inside - a paper tray, a magazine box, and a pair of little box trays.

The gray-brown colour inside the organizers works with my new RH "fog" linen drapes which you can see (left side) in the photo above. The drapes are actually not even hung yet - they are just draped in place. I must get to this, but was delaying as I am thinking of repainting the office...

The tray (actually the bottom of a box) corrals my pens (sorry, Martha, I don't have all matching pens) and loose paper, as well as my external backup hard drive. I also keep candy in here for late night blog reading:

The trays match my drapes and the fabric sample for the tufted RH chair I want for this space...

I have been slowly scanning old photos, so I am sharing my small desk with this giant professional scanner (left), an Epson v700. This scanner is amazing. But I can't wait until it's off my desk...

Organizers: Chapters Indigo

Scanner: The Camera Store

Lamp: Restoration Hardware

Ginger Jar: Paris flea market

Today

2011-05-29T18:06:00.010-06:00

Today I accomplished nothing. My flight arrived rather late last night and we got home after midnight - naturally I had a brutal headache (part of the reason I hate flying). To mark the end of my idyllic vacation, I was very migrainey today and spent much of the day in bed. Luckily, I had some company:

Biscuit keeping guard over sick Mummy.

After a lot of sleep, I visited with David and then read the new "House Beautiful", which was waiting for me at home. I also picked up an interesting book at the airport called "Nurture Shock" by Po Bronson (more new philosophies of child-rearing) which is very interesting.

My trip home was excellent. Basically we did lots of visiting, talking, and eating. Some exercise was done, I finished the first Edith Wharton novel, and got to watch the final episodes of Oprah and American Idol with my Mom (she's a fan and I called it that Scotty would win months ago when I saw his audition!). We visited my Grandma lots at the nursing home. A perfect family holiday...

Here is a close-up of the bedroom shelves I stared at all day from my post in bed:

The little swan came from Vancouver (it's antique Goebel). The horse is from a Paris flea market. The paper-covered books and box were made by my friend Noel. The tiny picture frame is from Holland. "The Remains of the Day" is a favorite book, as is "Dwellings" by Sills and Huniford.

The walls in this room are painted a dreamy Skylight by Farrow & Ball, made up by BM.

Hope your day was as relaxing as mine, minus the headache...! I've missed you all.

Spring Favorites & Travel

2011-05-17T19:45:00.017-06:00

I am about to embark on a 10-day journey to the east coast to see my darling mother and extended family. I hope to have plenty of time for visiting loved ones, sleeping, sight seeing, spring appreciating, and eating lovely foodstuffs.

I have been meaning to post a few things, but got behind. So I thought I would share with you some things that have been on my mind the last few days.

This is presently my favorite room, from a Paris hotel. I should like to live here, thank you. Excuse the awful scan. Don't you think it is perfect for me (although champagne gives me a headache)?

This is my new favorite book ("Living Traditions" by the inimitable Matthew Patrick Smyth). The front and back covers are awfully nice to look at.

And here is Biscuit, my favorite (and only) cat in the background. A very pretty bouquet of spring flowers, a gift from myself to me, sits in the foreground:

These are my new favorite summer shoes ($11) which I can only wear in the house because my arches ache if I actually walk anywhere in them (my feet demand proper shoes):

Close-up of kitty inspecting camera:

This is my favorite shrub in the yard, a double-flowering plum, attempting to flower (at least the buds against the warm window - the rest have barely emerged).

This is the marvellous book I am reading. I love novels of manners and have intended to read this forever. I keep meaning to buy her book "The Decoration of Houses", published in 1898 (I imagine it's a blast). I am set to read her Pulitzer prize winning "The Age of Innocence" next.

And this is my favorite song (presently, and for the last several months since I first saw the video). I finally bought it tonight on itunes for my plane trip. I do hate to fly, but Adele will help. Collective ahhhhh...

(Adele from Later with Jools Holland)

Happy Spring to you all! See you in June!

House Painting: Different Door Colours?

2011-05-14T13:21:00.007-06:00

In my previous post, I showed sample palettes I've been considering for painting our house. I should have trusted my instincts, as I received several comments and emails voting for the two-tone look I preferred (medium greige on top with the brick painted a slightly darker colour).

Until I change my mind, let's pretend this is my scheme and move on to doors and shutters...!

I am drawn to the crispness of black shutters and door, but admit is quite sedate (hey, I've been known to like sedate).

Keep in mind, in summer, there is colour around with a (brief) pink flowering plum to the right of the step, tons of flower pots out front, and a dark purple ornamental crabapple all summer long (right). In winter, think s n o w...

Option 1: Here is the black + black. I love the crispness of the black.

Option 2: I also like this dark plum door, which coordinates with the apple tree!!! I have left the shutters black, which are unbalanced but will pick up the lantern and mailbox to the right of the door (to be replaced with crisp black).

Option 3: Originally I wanted a slate blue door, but it doesn't relate to anything...except maybe the Colorado blue spruce to the left of the door

Option 4: Ok, here is green for someone who suggested it! Matches the landscape and might look nice out back with all the green doors of the garage, potting shed coordinating with our flower garden.

I tried to choose gray tones of the selected colours, to suit the greige tone of the "Requisite Gray" paint colour ("Manor House" on the brick). I tried bright colours for the door but they looked terrible. As Maria of "Colour Me Happy" always says, the cleaner colours made the gray look dirty!! So I stuck with gray versions of the door colours.

What think ye?

Help Me Paint My House!

2011-05-13T22:56:00.009-06:00

Our house desperately needs a paint job. Here's the current colour, as we bought it 4 years ago. The wood is sage green and red brick facing appears in three areas. The hot pink doors have to go!

My preferred house colours are white, seaside gray blue, and soft yellow, but only if I had a charming character home! Instead we have a 1970's house in a neighborhood where everyone is updating their house in taupes, browns, and grays. I would like our house to fit in...

The entire back yard (garage, potting shed, and 3 fences) will be painted in the wood colour (or perhaps 2 similar shades), so I really want to love the colour we choose for the wood! It's what I see when I look out the window at our lovely flower garden, so I want to like it!

Everyone in the neighborhood seems to be painting their brick. I don't happen to LOVE my brick, so I'm not too sentimental about it. I can't find anyone in Calgary to stain/tint it, as I'd rather do, to preserve a different mortar colour. So it might just get painted.

I've worked out 4 schemes so far. All options have black door and shutters (I may consider a different colour door later!)

Option 1: Paint the brick. Use a medium greige on the wood, a few shades darker on the brick:

Option 2: Paint the brick. Darker greige on the wood with homogenous brick (perhaps only one shade darker but similar to the wood):

Option 3: Keep the brick. Use a complementary medium brown paint:

Option 4: Keep the brick. Use a complementary DARKER brown paint, which picks up the dark brown bricks:

I think I am leaning to Option 1 or 2. What think ye? Another idea perhaps??

I used Sherwin Williams fabulous colour visualizer for this project!

Colours are all Sherwin Williams:

Option 1: Functional Gray (wood) + Thunder Gray (brick) + Tricorn Black (door, shutters)

Option 2: Dovetail Gray (wood) + Gauntlet Gray (brick) + Caviar (door, shutters)

Option 3: Mega Greige (wood) + Tricorn Black (door, shutters)

Option 4: Mink (wood) + Tricorn Black (door, shutters)

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-07T21:15:00.005-06:00

I have been blessed with the most wonderful mother in the world. She taught me everything I need to know about being kind, loving, curious, compassionate, strong and optimistic.

She is a devoted mother, daughter, sister, mentor, teacher, lover of music, constant learner, cat lover, great cook, and word nerd. She also has great legs, beautiful green eyes, and a ready laugh. I have never met someone as positive and as interested in other people as she is. She is loyal and good and my biggest supporter and number one fan. We are similar in so many ways, including our love of sleep, movies, music, and chatting with strangers. She has the strength of a warrior and a heart as big as the ocean. I am so proud she is mine!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Exterior House Painting

2011-04-27T22:49:00.009-06:00

We have to paint our house this summer. It is currently a pretty sage green, but with dark pink shutters, it looks dated. I will post a photo once the yard is cleaned up!

Our house is a four-level split from the early 70's, so it doesn't have a lot of character (unlike the stock image below!), but it is very nicely laid out inside and we have a lovely lot. I want to make the house look "current" but not too trendy.

Many homes in our neighborhoods have been recently painted dark taupes that I find a little gloomy. The dark taupes remind me of Benjamin Moore's Weimeraner, below.

(white shutters brighten this up, but many people are using dark trims too)

I prefer lighter body colours. I am thinking a medium taupe for the body, like Stone Hearth from Benjamin Moore, below (or perhaps a little darker). I like the idea of white shutters since we have a lot of white trim already on the house (white vinyl windows and soffits, etc.). I think I'd like a black or off-black door. Our mailbox, lantern, and house number are black.

This picture shows a lighter slate blue door, but I am thinking darker.

Because our house has a rather plain facade (some brick, which we are thinking of painting) and the roof is not visible from the front (side slant), we don't need several colours. I think three will suffice on the front.

Do you have any favorite combinations for contemporary houses?

I love the Benjamin Moore personal colour viewer, which I used to create this sample....

Roman

2011-04-23T16:40:00.006-06:00

While visiting The Cross (see below), I bought this little (imagined to be...) Roman plaque.

I like it very much, even if it isn't a veritable relic.

I am becoming a bit obsessed with neoclassicism and have been voraciously reading all my furniture and architecture books to sort out my Empire from my Federal from my Georgian, etc. It is all still a blur, but my History of Furniture courses are all coming back...

Vancouver Shops!: The Cross

2011-04-21T23:04:00.016-06:00

In Vancouver's Yaletown I visited a wonderful decor boutique called "The Cross", which I discovered on a previous visit:

The Cross is truly a cross between chic European and a more romantic, whimsical style. But don't let the "pretty" fool you. The Cross's staff have serious design and decorating chops.

I fell for this faux gilded Louis XVI chair. I liked the unexpected combination of the fancy chair with the plainer ticking stripe and dragonfly pillows:

I really liked this polka-dotted black and white ottoman, shown next to another Louis chair:

I was fond of this Baroque-inspired mirror, cheerfully updated in turquoise. Sold!:

Some feminine finds fill this old-fashioned cabinet, with a blue upholstered interior. How clever! I regret not bringing the pale blue trophy cup home:

The Cross has such interesting accessories. The wire ferris wheel would be wonderful in a child's room:

Vintage finds are interspersed with newer items. I bet this scale has stories to tell:

They also had a fun collection of John Derian paperweights and trays, just like the ones I saw at The Conran Shop in Paris:

Wonderful chandeliers!! And fine soaps by Rancé! Who could ask for more?!

I hope you've enjoyed your tour.

Do check out The Cross next time you're in Vancouver's Yaletown!

More Vancouver-Flavoured Love

2011-04-18T22:12:00.006-06:00

Despite giving up coffee (including decaf) about six weeks ago (due to unrelenting migraines), I had to stop on my recent trip to Vancouver and have a small latte at JJ Bean. They make a mean cup of jet fuel. After Caffe Fantastico in Victoria, I think this is my favorite java joint. The west coast knows its coffee!

Before my short break, I visited a favorite store in Yaletown where I picked up two very pretty things. I will post about it soon...

Do you have a favorite west coast coffee spot?

Vancouver: The Beautiful Mind of Heather Ross

2011-04-11T20:40:00.017-06:00

Last week in Vancouver, I discovered a beautiful shop, called "Heather Ross [in house]". I think it is the loveliest, most serene, and inspiring shop I have visited in a very long time. Entering the shop was like waking up inside in a lovely, watery dream...

Heather is an artist in every sense of the word. Not only is she a trained textile artist, but she is also an accomplished photographer and painter. Every painting in her shop is her own exquisite creation.

Heather has a stylist's eye for composition (and has worked as a stylist and photographer-writer for magazines). The vignettes in her shop, created with her mostly-antique finds, are works of art on their own. I coveted everything I saw, but each object on its own seemed lost without the beautiful others (it almost seemed a shame to break up the compositions...)

The shop itself is a crisp white canvas, flooded with natural light, making the most of her rare and elegant finds, neatly composed in a restrained palette of whites and pastels, or rich earthen hues.

This little swan came home with me

The shop truly has the feeling of an underwater garden, inspired no doubt by Heather's upbringing on the coast and her love for all things natural, all things organic.

Heather's photography, displayed amongst her many interesting finds

This is the thinking decorator's dream shop. I could not extricate myself from its intelligent, captivating spell, and spent well over an hour talking to Heather about her art, her refined taste, and her serious accomplishment as a self-sustaining artist and business woman.

She also quietly mentioned an impending book project, which sent my heart aflutter...a book capturing all this beauty? I cannot wait! I will tell you about it as soon as I know more.

Heather's shop is both historical and fresh, rich with the patina of well-loved things, but also delightfully new in its juxtaposition of different eras and styles...pottery with silver, rustic with refined.

I noted her wonderful stylist's trick of grouping like objects with like, and using colour groupings, which gives her arrangements such gravity and presence.

I imagine she spends hours curating her shop, quietly moving things around to suit her exacting eye.

Everything seems to have a story to tell...

And if the things themselves aren't lovely enough, her paintings created a quiet perfect backdrop. I think her paintings could become an addiction all of their own...

I wish you could all visit Heather, who is such a beautiful person to match her beautiful mind!

She seems like a very old soul to me, someone who has cultivated beauty a long, long time...

(maybe even in lifetimes before the rest of us).

Next time you are in Vancouver, please visit Heather and say hello for me!

She is as captivating as her creations, so hopefully she will be "in house", perhaps painting in her atelier out back, when you pop in.

Heather Ross [in house]

1525 W. 6th Avenue

Vancouver

(just off Granville)

www.heatherrossinhouse.com

Exquisite Vancouver

2011-04-10T21:35:00.006-06:00

I discovered an exquisite store in Vancouver. Can you guess what it is?

Here is a teaser of a most wonderfully styled display. The shop owner is an artist-stylist-photographer with a wonderful eye and a rare gift for capturing beauty. So eloquent.

Aren't you just dying to visit? I assure you, I didn't want to leave.

More soon...

Fine Find: Urn Lamps for the Master Bedroom

2011-04-02T13:53:00.015-06:00

I've been hunting for urn-shaped lamps for my bedside tables. I had a pair picked out online but they were so expensive that I simply couldn't justify buying them.

And then I made a serendipitous find at a home decor store the other day! I love unexpected finds. Here is my bedside table with one of the new lamps:

Wall colour: Benjamin Moore "White Down" OC-131, drapes custom

They came with a really ugly square shade and I almost looked right past them! I promptly replaced the shade with white silk English barrel shades, which were more expensive than the lamps!

The lamps look like carved wood but are made of resin (i.e. fake, sorry). I think they are nice replicas however. I love the little leaf detail at the bottom:

In the photo below, I turned on the lamp to show you how bright white the shades are. I love a crisp white shade in this north-facing room. The little framed print on the wall is a favorite of mine, called "Swan Rush and Iris" by Arts & Craft-era artist Walter Crane.

My bedside table is the first antique furniture I ever bought, at a store called Wisteria, back in 1991 as a student at McGill in Montreal.

Here is the other (mismatched!) side of the bed. I have a custom hand-built Mission style bed (below) which I bought many years ago after I started working (along with a matching high boy). It doesn't perfectly align with my new decor tastes, but is a really nice piece of furniture. Some day I may move it to a spare room.

The little lamp is classical, but I think it all looks fine together and adds some softness to the rectilinear lines of the bed. I am looking for a good antique table to replace the old country table we have here:

Redwing and Medalta No.2 pottery from my collection

Talk about mixed styles! My romantic bedding is "Rossini" by St-Geneve and is 100% Giza Egyptian cotton, woven in Italy and made in Canada. It is gorgeous. It was also a first decor purchase before I really had my colours worked out. But luckily it is historical and suits my style, if not my current pale-neutral colour palette!

I recently moved my beloved blue Al Barker seascape painting as I think it looks nice with the orange:

This room is proof that you can mix and match styles and incorporate new things you prefer now with old things you bought before you knew what you were doing!

Vancouver...!

2011-03-28T21:59:00.008-06:00

Late next week, we will hop on a plane to Vancouver for a quick 5-day getaway! I definitely need a break from work (and winter) and cannot wait to have two days to myself while David attends a conference.

We went to Vancouver last summer and had a wonderful time. You can read my post here.

This time we are staying in another wonderful downtown hotel with a harbour view room. How posh and how very Vancouver!

Here are some highlights from last year's trip:

Interesting light fixtures in the lobby of the Four Seasons...

A plush bathrobe I wanted to stay in all day long...

Delicious treats I coveted at grocer Meinhardt:

A darling (and affordable) table at Chintz & Company:

Fun and beautifully-styled finds at Liberty on Broadway:

Posh fare at The Cross in Yaletown:

Back to the water: boating in the harbour

A walk along the shore with a dear friend, looking towards the Lions Gate bridge:

Coffee and cake at the Arbutus Cafe in Kits...

Foxgloves in a community garden...

Do you have any suggestions for things to see and do this time?

I love great antique and home decor stores. Ideas????

David has a jam-packed schedule for me this time, but I will have some time to myself for a daytime R&R. Anything I should not miss?

Home Office: Colour Inspiration

2011-03-19T00:20:00.008-06:00

The new drapes arrived today for my office. They are this colour:

I will keep the office walls blue for now (out of laziness and the volume of other projects demanding my attention). Eventually I think I will paint the office walls a nice white or antique white. I have been thinking about *accent* colours. I have to reupholster a chair (likely in a grey-brown, like the drapes) but think it might be nice to add soft pretty accent colours, perhaps through art.

I am inspired by the colours and imagery in these prints, from my files:

Odilon Redon (above)

Source N/A (above two)

I think the springlike imagery is so inspiring, but in a watery muted palette that I love. I don't think I will ever have bold, bright colours in my house in any serious way (maybe flowers...)

I am always drawn to weathered, worn looking things. I wonder why this is?

(baby, I was born this way).

What do you love that is inexplicable...?

A New Lamp: Scale?

2011-03-12T14:28:00.011-07:00

I recently purchased this lucite lamp, from Restoration Hardware, to be part of the Office Redecoration Project (officially named, to be sure it happens). This is Step 1. I really love lucite and crystal lamps and don't care if they are a little ubiquitous - I declare I shall never tire of them!

I love the neoclassical lines of this lamp and its silver accents, but I'm wondering about the scale. I knew it was a little "overscale" when I bought it (everything at RH is huge). The height is 25.5" and the shade is 16" wide. Initially it seemed to dwarf my big iMac:

It seems gigantic to me because there was a smaller lamp here before, but it's starting to grow on me and looks "just right" in the photos. What do you think (excuse my messy office)?

The lamp, which arrived yesterday, actually came out of the box broken and is sitting a little askance. I need to take it to the store and order another.

It is growing on me, and will look polished with the new gray-brown drapes I have planned and the eventual antique-white walls. Today the old armchair went to the furniture doctor for a repair. It will be reupholstered...

The only thing that annoyed me about the new lamp, besides being too expensive, is that you could see the harp through the silk shade (visible in the second photo). I was using a clear bulb, but when I swapped it for a regular opaque/translucent bulb, the harp was no longer visible. Tada! Problem solved!

Thoughts on scale?

Happy Birthday to me!

2011-03-11T14:54:00.004-07:00

Today is my birthday! I am happy because today is a nice warm, sunny, blue-sky day and usually my birthday falls on one of the coldest days of the year.

Today I had to work, but got to have lunch with some of my favorite colleagues (Indian food!). And I've gotten lots of cards, emails, and phone calls. Tomorrow we will have a party at our house. Happy times!

Are there any other March birthdays out there?

xo Terri

Fine China, A Fellow Blogger & Serendipity!

2011-03-09T16:37:00.015-07:00

A few months ago, I stumbled upon an incredible blog called Affordable Accoutrements, which is written by an amazingly gifted decorator, collector, and writer named Bill, from Tennessee. Not only does Bill have a large, beautiful home filled with lovely antiques, he also has an enviable china, silver, crystal and glass collection. As you might imagine, his tablescapes will knock your socks off! Perfection!

Bill lives in a part of the world (i.e. the south) where a committed collector like him can find lots of lovely old (and new) china. On the other hand, I'd been looking for a set of china forever and could find nothing I liked...until I saw Bill's set of Concorde by Theodore Haviland (made in America), which is shown off in this stunning tablescape (the solid white/cream set):

I mentioned to Bill in a couple of emails that I was in love with the Concorde and asked him some questions about it. And this is how generous he is - he came across a partial set on a weekend antiquing jaunt to Missouri, wrote down the prices and emailed me!

After connecting with the lovely shop keeper, who runs Pastimes Antiques, I have received the first small shipment of my very own Concorde, including the coffee pot, creamer and sugar bowl:

Isn't this beautiful? I just love it. I am not typically a gold fan, but I had a few odd pieces of scalloped Limoges with gold trim, and found that they really brightened up my table. The gold seemed to make big occasions feel more special with their glow. It may be a while before I set a table like Bill, but I'm off to a good start!

Serendipitously, while I was talking about Bill in Tennessee, David came upon the idea of making a civil war trip there! So we've decided to visit Tennessee in late September, for another civil war trip (he's a major civil war junkie). This follows last fall's Virginia road trip and David's solo Gettysburg trip.

The great part about the road trips is that I get to go antiquing while David walks in battlefields. I might get to visit Bill, but if not, I definitely hope I can get a list of his favorite antique shops!! Thanks Bill!

Pendant Love

2011-03-06T21:33:00.005-07:00

For my birthday (which occurs on Friday!) I received this wonderful necklace. It is called a "talisman" necklace and is made from an old wax seal, said to be from the 19th century.

The necklace is from a Vancouver company named Pyrrha, (which also, oddly, has a shop in L.A.). Do check out their website and wonderful things.

My pendant has an image of a phoenix on it and the words below "Que Sera Sera" (which means "whatever will be, will be"). I find this very funny because I am not a "que sera sera" person. If anything, I am a certifiable control freak.

I do, however, like the imagery of the phoenix (rebirth, rejuventation). I think that is a very powerful suggestion, to rebirth myself in some aspect of my life.

Perhaps I am meant to be re-born as an easy-going, relaxed, laid-back "que sera sera" type of woman in my next decade?

I like that thought!

P.S. Striped t-shirt from Tristan.

Gaga for Goforth

2011-03-04T22:21:00.012-07:00

Ever since Joni blogged about Ashley Goforth back in August (here) I have been madly scouring the internet looking for more of Ashley's work. Since Joni's post, Ashley has updated her website with more photos of her ~ u t t e r l y ~ stunning work (here). I am awestruck.

I can't put a finger on precisely why I love her rooms so much. We all see so many beautiful rooms, but Ashley's strike a perfect note and seem to gather all my tastes up into one perfect box. Isn't the bedroom above gorgeous? I am nuts about it.

All her rooms are clean and uncluttered, lightly layered with beautiful and interesting things. She finds a lovely balance of modern and traditional elements. And her colours - Ashley has already mastered the most beautiful colour palettes, my favorites being those with plenty of white and grayed out blues and browns.

I also *L O V E* the balance of dark notes (exquisite antique furniture) with pale walls (which remind me of Darryl Carter and Mariette Himes-Gomez).

I think we can all take a lesson from her restraint and her beautiful palettes.

I am very sorry to gush, and I also hate re-posting items others have already discussed. I try to keep my content mostly original and personal, but I am so inspired by Ashley's rooms I just had to share them (in case you missed Joni's great post, where she featured several of Ashley's projects).

Ashley's work reaches right into my heart and filters my tastes to a "T". Of course, there is a side of me that loves academic clutter in a room, romantic country florals, and other styles, but Ashley certainly sums up the side of me that likes classic elegance.

I honestly can't get over her rooms. So perfect. And she's so young! I wish I lived in Houston (if I did I'd probably say to hell with engineering and go into interior design for a living). Ashley makes me want to toss out everything I own and start over (with her on retainer)!

Thanks Ashley for sharing your beautiful talent with us and taking the time to email me!

Portrait Love

2011-03-01T20:20:00.011-07:00

While in Victoria, I fell in love with this dashing gentleman (oil on board, not real), who I discovered at my new *favorite* antique shop:

I am not generally a fan of portraits of strangers, but this little painting had my heart aflutter. The worn water-gilded frame also spoke volumes...

I think I like the size and scale of the piece almost as much as the subject himself (who is wearing a dark gray suit, standing against brownish-red panelling with a slate blue pocket square and a dark rose tie!!). What wonderfully-rich colours:

This is an Art Deco-era painting, and I would tell you more about him, but I need to keep it a secret (I'm still trying to decide if I need to buy him). Let's just say, he was from a famous Canadian turn-of-the-century family that fell on very hard times, and died a tragically early death. Isn't that romantic?

Sadly, my art budget is very low, and I seem to find too many things to love these days. The budget has to cut off somewhere. Darn.

He was so handsome in the context of all these wonderful old things. He would not look nearly so dashing in my small home, alone on the wall. I like the completeness of the three paintings hanging from the picture rail in this lovely tall-ceilinged room...

Do you like portraits of strangers?

Maybe I should buy it (but maybe this is a much-needed lesson in restraint)....

I will reveal the details of the shop in a future post, as you really must visit if you're in Victoria.

New Victorian: Amazing Office Decor

2011-02-22T21:10:00.013-07:00

I just returned from a lovely and rejuvenating trip to Victoria (hence the play on words in this post's title)!

Despite the fact that my infinitely-irritating headaches and back pain persisted and didn't relent until Sunday (four days into my trip), I had a wonderful time. I ate and ate. I walked and walked. I had breakfast (bacon, orange juice!) and a facial with my marvellous aunt. I had a massage. We ate French food. We ate local, organic food. I ate chocolate creams. We ate Indian food that M. made. We ate pizza and walked in the park and looked at the ocean. I shopped for antiques and tested sofas. I bought an antique etching. We shopped for books. We talked and talked! My back ached and I took a hot bath in epsom salts. I iced my aching neck. I walked more. I came home weary and rested in my quiet room. I savoured the west coast weather (chilly but green!). I watched cherry blossoms and crocuses unfurl. I had a great break!

But...

What I wanted to share first is my friend M.'s apartment wall, where she displays some of her portrait postcards. This is just a fraction of her 5000 card collection. M. and her hubby I. share a lovely, brightly-lit, airy space with amazing views over the city and park below. I love their apartment, which is small and comfortable and inviting (and smells good) and always has something good to read, and is filled with character (plus, she has a zero-gravity chair that my back needs).

M. can tell you who almost everyone on this wall is:

Besides postcards, she has heaps of books too, all of which she devours. She is very clever. If that isn't enough, she's learning Italian (and ballroom dancing)!:

As you look closer, you become engrossed in the individual cards. They are so absorbing as you start to recognize faces (and can't remember names...)

If you don't know who they are, you are encouraged to pull them off the wall and read the back (and remind everyone):

I love the juxtaposition of the beautiful and the brilliant, the young and the old, the witty and the wise and the well-built. And the just-plain talented:

I love this wall and think it's a fabulous decor idea for your office. That is...if you don't mind spending twenty years collecting and (gradually) spending thousands of dollars...!

You should see her other postcards...famous people are just the beginning!

Thanks M. for letting me photograph your collection (and for being you)!

Windlost Makes A Getaway

2011-02-15T20:19:00.006-07:00

Life has been very trying lately. My headaches have been very, very bad and work is a little stressful. So I decided it was time for a getaway to "reboot" my system and get some fresh west coast air ...

David and I love the west coast. And Victoria, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, is my favorite place in Canada for rest and relaxation. Plus, some of my favorite people live there!

On the ferry. Our previous trip to Victoria.

I get to visit my bff, in the photo below. She is clever and brilliant and unstoppably positive and interested in the world. She also "gets" me, and I can use some understanding right now!

Amazing M. and I. Her t-shirt reads "Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History". Need I say more?

I also get to visit my aunt, S. who I love and adore and who is also one of the cleverest, wittiest women on the planet (and a serious dog lover, so she really is a fine person).

Two great women in one weekend!

I get five days in heaven (well, with a little chilly rain). Everything is in bloom there too!

The inimitable Butchart Gardens

We plan to do lots of walking and resting and eating. Massages are booked. Organic restaurants await. Bookstores are on the list. Lattes will be drunk. Favorite antique shops will be visited...and deep, quiet sleep will be slept!

See you next week!

Home Office ~ Colour Dilemma ~

2011-02-12T23:33:00.009-07:00

My office needs a makeover. And I am feeling lost. This is a room full of paper and stuff and proof of life, so I'm struggling with how to pull together a coherent "look" for it while still letting it be an easy unfussy space.

Today I painted some sample boards and thought about painting the whole thing a nice soft beige to replace the medium blue walls:

Above: Skimming Stone sample by Farrow & Ball

But don't get too excited. I decided against the beige and took down all my samples.

I still like the blue walls and the natural linen skirt on the work table:

A while ago, I painted my odd furniture (bookcase and little dresser) a soft blue, which I also like (although the blue walls and lighter blue furniture together have always bothered me). And don't worry, we are painting the trimwork white throughout the house, so this will be done too (eventually replacing it all). The armchair will also be reupholstered when all is said and done:

So...here is the dilemma. I have colour schemes racing through my head!

Option #1: My first plan was to paint the walls a warm white like most of the house. Nice and classic and foundational. This also works with the brown drapes I adore (Restoration Hardware's "Fog" linen drapes, which are a grey-brown, almost identical to the ones below). I think they look great with a white wall. And I could keep the furniture soft blue, like the accent in this photo. The chair would be reupholstered in a complementary brown, like the drapes.

I really like this combination:

Option #2: I keep the blue walls and do a white or natural linen-coloured drape.

This saves painting (yay!) and still looks soft and inviting:

This would give me a look similar(-ish) to the ones below:

The blue wall with white/natural linen curtain option would be quick and painless. A soft brown natural linen drape would coordinate with the linen skirt I have on my computer table. And I could reupholster the chair in a nice natural linen. But white linen drapes would be nice with the blue walls and crisp white painted trim too. And I could use all white accents. So even if I do the blue walls, what colour drape?

Thoughts? Some days I love my blue walls and other days I want those brown drapes, which I think would look better with a white wall.

I am torn between two loves...help!

Home Office: Essential Qualities

2011-02-04T21:41:00.008-07:00

Although they don't all typify my usual airy traditional style preference, there's something I like about each of these home offices from my archives. I think these rooms possess essential qualities of any good home office (just perhaps not all in one room). I'm thinking about these qualities as I redesign my home office. I just wish I had 12 foot ceilings.

The Essential Home Office shall possess:

1. A good sofa (for naps and reading)

2. Lots of white

3. Art you like (to heck with anyone else)

4. Tranquility and quiet

5. A sensible desk

6. Good light

7. A spot to spread your stuff out

8. A place for books

9. Beautiful things

10. An extra chair for the cat

11. A good reading table

12. A chair for a friend

13. Some books

All photos Elle Decor: 1. Miles Redd (Simon Upton photo) 2. Hugh Newell Jacobson design 3. Gil Shafer design 4. Matthew Patrick Smyth (Simon Upton photo) 5. Laura Sartori Rimini & Roberto Peregalli

The New Farrow & Ball colours

2011-01-31T21:16:00.013-07:00

Farrow & Ball is releasing some new colours in February!

I always delight in the Farrow & Ball names and love their dense hues. I think Calluna is my new favorite. Or maybe Mizzle...

Farrow & Ball's last addition to the range was in 2008.

The new additions use the same intensity of colour Farrow & Ball is known for and, in keeping with time-honoured tradition, each colour tells a story with a distinctive name and inspiration.

Regrettably, I have not yet used Farrow & Ball paints in my own home, but I have bought many sample pots and have a list of favorites waiting for rooms. I copied their glorious "Skylight" (my favorite F&B colour) for my guest room but know that I am overdue to try the real thing. I've heard that once you switch to F&B you don't want to go back to other paint companies!

My laundry room is next on the "to paint" list and an F&B colour is in order. I have been dreaming about dark lovely Pigeon which my friend has in her shop. But the new Brassica looks interesting. It would be soooo crisp and fresh with white appliances and silver accents! Yum!

Have you tried Farrow & Ball paints, or is there a colour you love?

Light Fixtures In the Bedroom

2011-01-27T12:22:00.018-07:00

I was going to title this post, "In the Bedroom: How Big is too big?" but I didn't want to attract a different kind of reader.

My question is just that, actually. But it pertains to light fixtures. How big a light fixture can I use in my guest bedroom?

Here is my little guest bedroom, with its pretty white notes, patterned drapes, and little neoclassical-ish tables (on the opposite wall, which you can't see, I have some little urns, b&w sketches and classical accessories on the shelves):

The overhead flush-mount fixture is not centered in the room (and I cut it off in this photo because it's ugly!). Rather it is located in the far left corner. The new fixture (a chandelier or lantern) will hang more or less over the left bedside table.

Since I have pedestrian 8 foot ceilings, there is not much vertical height for a tall fixture. The room is small too, so I don't want a too-large fixture to dominate the room's proportions.

There is 45" clearance between the table lamp and the ceiling (unless I hang the fixture low-ish over the table and remove the lamp...).

I really like this romantic fixture from J.Covington Home which is 10" diameter and 19" tall:

Because the fixture isn't "airy" I wonder if it will take up too much visual space and over-scale the little side tables? It also leans more to my feminine side than to the historical-slightly-more-masculine look I've been favoring lately. I also wanted bronze to relate to the table's knobs, rather than silver (although I do love silver).

I also like this mini-chandelier from Shades of Light, again a little more feminine:

It is silver too, and a little taller (22") and wider (13"). But it's nice and airy so it doesn't have as much visual weight. I like the elegant look for this room. I am also considering this fixture for my master bedroom which has rectilinear Mission furniture that could use some softening up.

Another option is a lantern, which keeps the lines a little cleaner. This little Rococo-inspired number is nice, although I am not crazy about shiny brass (and it's sold out!):

What think ye?

Any thoughts on scale and style for my bedroom fixture?

Home Office Updates

2011-01-22T17:27:00.012-07:00

Almost two years ago, I finally got around to "decorating" our home office. That meant a fresh coat of paint (blue), a nice linen skirt and glass top for our computer table and a few framed photos:

I painted the little dresser that came with the room (and added new knobs):

I also painted my old bookcase and added a soft wool rug from Ikea (which has held up beautifully):

I painted the built-ins white and started transferring photos into silver and wood frames for a consistent look. I covered two bulletin boards in linen so I'd have a place to collect paper ephemera:

We moved in our big wooden table, giving us a nice work surface and staging area for projects (and a place to hide boxes beneath). The basket is for electronics:

Since then, however, I'm afraid to say that nothing more has happened in this room! It is still tidy, but I never got around to adding curtains, reupholstering my old grey armchair, adding more storage, nor getting a new office chair.

I have a list of projects as long as my arm for 2011, but one of the main projects is to finish the office.

Window coverings are number one. I'm trying to decide if I should repaint the room white and use soft brown linen curtains, or leave it blue and do white curtains. I love these linen curtains from Restoration Hardware:

I also want to add some storage. Ideally I'd find an amazing antique cabinet, but my searches have left me empty-handed (for now). So I'm considering budget options.

I like this little Hemnes cabinet from Ikea, with its mix of open and closed storage. Don't you think the grey-brown cabinet would be nice with the white-wall-and-brown-curtain option? I do!:

The white version is nice too and would work with the blue-wall-and-white-curtain scheme. I would add interesting knobs.

I also like the all-glass version. I think two of these cabinets would be very nice side-by-side:

I also have four antique pressback chairs from my grandmother. I think one of these chairs (which are much darker than the photo below) might make a nice office chair:

Now, I'm on the hunt for light fixtures...

So...do you think I should leave the office blue and do white accents, or should I paint it white and do the soft browns that I love? The room faces south, so a nice white would be in its best light. Thoughts?

The Sofa & Chair Quest Continues

2011-01-15T22:26:00.013-07:00

In September, I posted about "The Sofa That Wasn't", which is this Lee Industries sofa (below). I had coveted this sofa for a long time but decided not to order it (during a custom furniture sale) due to concerns about dimensions of the piece (read my post here) and not being able to sit on it. I have tried enough Lee furniture to know that the seat will feel great in their Haven fill package, but I was concerned about seat depth (24", requiring a pillow behind you) and the deep rake of the back:

I have tried quite a few Lee pieces in the meantime and know that I might have to order a piece "sight unseen". I am becoming more comfortable with that as I know how their seats feel and what dimensions work best for our bodies. But it is hard to know how the back will feel.

Because I'm 5'5", I don't even consider a seat height above 18" nor a seat depth above 22" if I want my feet to hit the floor! However, a seat depth at or above 22" does work well for curling up your feet under you (which I like to do while reading). 22" is the perfect depth for sitting normally and curling up.

I also like a tight back as I don't want a lot of pillows, which to me look messy. And because I have a very bad back, I tend to like taller backs, which make it feel supported. So many criteria! Besides size, this furniture will be used a lot for reading and resting, so it has to be comfortable, besides looking crisp and elegant.

At the time I was considering the sofa, I also coveted this Lee chair, a modern wingback (which I had sat in and LOVED). I did not initially love the look of the chair (I didn't even notice it at first) but it felt wonderful to sit in. It had me at hello as a perfect reading chair:

In the last few months, I've been on the prowl around town, trying sofas and chairs everywhere. While I have found many pretty items, nothing has met all my criteria and my other high standards: perfect dimensions, clean-lined with a nod to traditional, very comfortable, plenty of beautiful natural fabrics to choose from, and environmentally-friendly.

I know exactly what I want if I could just afford to custom-design my own!!

I am still thinking about the Lee sofa. Here it is in the apartment-size (76") with a slipcover. We would need to get this size as the full-size (94") is too large:

To throw a wrench in the works, I just discovered this newly-introduced sofa on Lee's website:

It is only 75" long but the interior length is 67" which means I can lay the length of it!!! And the scale is perfect, with an 18" high seat and a 22" seat depth, perfect for me and the same as our current sofa. I would prefer a bench seat (which Lee can probably do for extra). Now I am wondering if I can live with the slip-covered look.

I've always adored slip-covers in other people's homes, but prefer the more polished look of legs for our house. This little sofa is very tailored and more "skirted" than slip-covered and I think it looks very refined in its skirt.

The coordinating chair resembles more of a slip-covered look, but is also listed on Lee's site as upholstered. I think the chair is just darling. I don't think I would ever tire of a classic piece like this. It has all the right dimensions too, but the back is not quite as high as I normally prefer:

I think the slipped look would be nice in our living room which already has plenty of legs (the console table, the coffee table, the cabriole leg on the china cabinet, and the little armchair which is waiting to be reupholstered), as you can see from these Christmas photos. Legs o' plenty!:

Since I just bought a new car and spent $2k today on winter tires and rims, I think it will be a LONG while before I allow myself out of the house with my wallet to go further than the grocery store. So I may have a while to dream about this...

What do you think? Do you like the tailored slipcover look? Or do you think I should follow my first instincts and get the deep sofa (which would be great for curling up on) and the chair I loved? I do think the second set looks more attractive and coherent but the chair is not as good for reading.

Thoughts?

A Seaside Video: Memories & Longing

2011-01-09T00:06:00.007-07:00

I'm having a heck of a tough time adjusting to the back-to-work, post-Christmas, post-sugar buzz routine. The days are dark and dreary here (and cold!) and honestly, all I dream about is escaping. I'm having a serious hankering for an ocean visit. For a while, David and I made regular pilgrimages to the stormy seaside of western Canada but we haven't been there in well over a year.

So I finally booked a flight to see my dear friend M. who lives in nautical bliss (by the ocean), but I have five whole long weeks to wait.

Here is a (silly) video from our last visit to the seaside at Tofino:

Ahhh...bliss!

Here is a closer look at our carefully coordinated outfits, for you "What I Wore" fanatics...(Janet)

Looking this good takes planning...

It was a very gloomy day but I didn't care. I wasn't at work! And I look good in police-tape yellow.

David has a coordinating outfit and no hands (too cold for hands)

These are the best boots. I wish I could spend my days in rubber boots in Tofino.

Happy dreams...

The Year Ahead

2010-12-31T15:40:00.012-07:00

Windlost in Paris, September 2008 (we plan to visit again in 2011)

2010 was a pretty good year. I led a mega-project at

work (and mentored two students) so I felt overwhelmed at times. My headache situation did not improve (and the botox shots my neurologist did were a total failure), which added to the misery, but life was otherwise:

G O O D

Everyone I love stayed healthy and employed, which is the most important bit.

In the past few years, I have reaped what I've sown and have been enjoying the fruits of my labour. We bought a nice new house and lots of things for the new house. As the cherry on the cake of life, after 10 years of driving my previous car, I am taking delivery of this on Tuesday:

And it's already paid for.

But while my commute will be very pleasant in 2011 (especially with Sirius satellite radio), it is not all fun and games people.

The coming year I am already calling The Year of Hard Work. Or maybe, like the British, I should call it my own Year of Austerity.

I need to work on some things.

I plan to spend a lot of quality time with these. In fact I think they will

be my new BFF:

We don't have too huge a mortgage, but in 2011 we want to make a serious dent in it. So I will keep more of this in my pocket and spend it much more carefully:

That probably means this blog won't be nearly as much fun as usual. But don't worry darlings, I still love decorating. I just might do more of it from flea markets. Around the house, I also want to spend more time on fundamentals, like getting the remaining rooms painted and changing out the light fixtures. Less "stuff", more substance.

I also want to take some courses. Every year I take various evening courses, and as much as I'd love to take more interior design courses, this year I am focussing on my career.

I'm presenting a paper at an engineering conference in Washington in May.

Me & Davey in Washington, September 2009 (after getting caught in a very cold rain and buying an emergency Georgetown sweatshirt)

In January, I'm taking a course in this:

I already speak very passable French but I'm going to perfect it but taking classes in this:

Life needs some attention too. I have a ton of scanning to do and plan to transfer a lot of negatives to my Mac using my new prosumer grade scanner:

Doesn't that sound like a fun evening after getting off the treadmill?

Since my year ahead will suck (except for the Audi), I plan to rely on YOU to inspire ME. I can't wait to follow your blog, watch as you decorate your beautiful homes, and share your fascinating selves with me. I am infatuated with many of you, you know?

Janet, Trina, Steve, Lauren, Brooke, Noel, Deborah, Bill...sorry for stalking you.

As I hunker down to work on myself, I promise to still post pictures and stories from my life. This year might feel like a different Windlost, but I think it will be a better one...

Happy NEW YEAR to you (my decorating peeps)!

Christmas Eve...

2010-12-24T13:40:00.008-07:00

The gifts are all wrapped and the baking is done!

I'm enjoying a relaxing Christmas eve afternoon and will go to church at 4pm for the afternoon service. I love Christmas eve, when all the rushing stops and the joy of the season truly begins. Christmas eve is my favorite part of Christmas, with all the work behind and all the anticipation (of joy and good times and good food) to come.

I love listening to Christmas music whilst wrapping my gifts. I am very fond of classical and choral Christmas music. All day I've been playing songs by the choir of King's College, Cambridge, including my favorite Christmas carol, "Once in Royal David's City".

Tonight we'll go to David's mother's house for the night and a lovely Christmas day ahead with his mother, brother, sister-in-law and dogs. All my family is far away but luckily his family is here and we love to spend time with them.

Here are some pretty gifts I wrapped today. I love this brown paper (I am so into brown right now) and the vintage-looking tags:

The wrapping paper below came into the office from one of our suppliers and we all took home a roll. I usually don't care for blues at Christmas but I think this is so pretty - a lovely colour combination:

I often recycle old Christmas cards to make new tags:

Here are some things under the tree. David prefers classic Christmas colours (red and green), so most of his gifts are wrapped in bright colours, which make him happiest:

And since I forgot to do a post on my Christmas ornaments, I thought I would show you two of my little wise men, who I picked up at a craft sale. I think they look very wise:

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas...and that most of all, it is filled with L O V E.

~: Merry Christmas :~

Spent!

2010-12-19T22:15:00.003-07:00

I don't know about you, but I am spent. Christmas isn't even here and I am all partied out. In the past three weeks, I can't count how many Christmas parties we've attended, from a swanky company party in Lake Louise to numerous open houses, lunches, and family events. I have to work all week and hope I can get some rest at my desk.

On Saturday David and I hosted a small party for some friends and their kids. I made a lovely chocolate cake. I snapped its portrait while I was setting up and bringing out the booze, so I didn't forget!

I also took a portrait of my new hall mirror wreath. I am very fond of it and think it looks like a nest. I need to lower it a little but haven't gotten 'round to it.

Here is another photo snapped while setting up for the party. We bought chocolate Callebaut letters for the kids, which are sitting on their plates on the half-set table:

I have been quite amused by Biscuit who has not left the Christmas tree unattended this whole week:

I snapped this picture early this morning after I finished the last of the cleanup. The tree is more pretty when it is unlit, in the broad light of day.

I hope I make it through the week. I'm looking forward to having Friday off, going to church, and taking a deep breath and rest for a few days. I am glad all the events are over. Sometimes more is less. I think next year I will say "no" to more as the fun goes out when you are drained at your own party and yawning...

Hope your Christmas preparations are joyful and not too tiring...I must remember the true meaning here and hope to focus on that more in the days ahead.

xo's Terri

Our Vintage & White Christmas Tree

2010-12-10T13:03:00.012-07:00

The tree is decorated!

It was done in three parts, due to our busy week! David picked out a splendid fir this year, with a lovely, fairly narrow profile and some quirky bits (extra long branches here and there!) that are very charming.

I decorate our tree with all our collected new and vintage ornaments. To balance all the different colours, I start with a generous swath of white garland and then I fill in the blanks with white and green balls.

My Christmas colours are green and mocha and white and silver (with a little vintage mustard yellow). It sounds like an odd combination, but has a very historical feel and works with the room, which is currently white/cream and mocha brown and green. When I've bought new ornaments, I've tried to keep them historical/vintage looking and also in this colour range. We have the odd red or blue or orange ornament, but I don't sweat it (I sometimes just tuck them in less obvious places)!

Everyone enjoys looking at our varied ornaments and I think our tree has a lot of character. The historical look is helped along by two strands of pearl bead garland (I need to get more) which remind me of my grandparents' trees from childhood. We have a lighted white star on top, which is vintage.

The white and silver helps to calm all the miscellaneous colours down too! I don't care for themed trees, although I would love to have white lights (David insists on coloured lights, and since he rarely expresses a decorating opinion, I don't argue!).

Our new linen tree skirt is lovely and Biscuit adores it. He has been sleeping on it, so it is usually askew. I will show you a close-up later.

I am off work this afternoon as we are heading out to Lake Louise (two hours away, in the Rocky Mountains) for David's company Christmas party at the glorious Post Hotel & Spa. I can't wait!

Happy Christmas!