DIY - Industrial Accents

this post topic may not be a newbie, but it's a goodie for sure.
after being in our house for over a year, we decided it was high time best to start hanging up some permanent fixtures, like ... curtains. 

we both love the fancy restoration hardware look, but definitely can't afford the prices at this stage in our life. so, we figured we would diy something we felt was just as good. welcome, our industrial pipe curtain rod! simple, fast and affordable. beat that fancy stores!

if you want to try this yourself, here is what you'll need and the how too:

1. buy a piece galvanized pipe (be SURE to clean it or you'll get back oil on your hands and curtains - i learned that the hard way) in your desired length and two toggle bolts to help support the weight of the piping curtain rod

2.  you'll also need to buy the flat piece which affixes to the wall, called an iron floor flange, and the macaroni looking piece, formally called the galvanized elbow, to connect your pipe to the flange 

3. once you have washed and cleaned (and if desired, spray painted), you are now ready to start the assembly

4. start by putting your curtains on your galvanized pipe facing the correct way 
5. next holding screw all the pieces of your pipe curtain rod together
6. now hold up the assembled curtain rod (you may need an assistant) and mark your drill holes on the wall 
6. put everything down and insert your toggle bolts 

7. pick-up your piping with curtains already on, line it all up and drill, baby drill (just make sure your curtain is already arranged facing the correct direction ... we also learned that one the hard way)

creating your own curtain rod out of galvanized piping allows you the flexibility to customize your rod for any sizing you need, and allows you the ability to turn corners for a corner windows. if the industrial look isn't your thing, you can easily spray paint the whole thing before assembling it in any desired colour.

helpful hints: 

• at your local hardware store, ask if they can cut and thread the end of the galvanized pipe in the exact length that you need. This will be safer and you'll ensure it's the extract length required. 

• also, unless your using shower curtain hooks, once this puppy goes up, those curtains ain't easily coming down - at all. so if you like to do more than steam clean your curtains  it's something to think about before screwing it all in and having an "oh-crap" moment.

Pull Down Prints

Photos via here

i'm very obsessed recently with the fact that pull down prints have made a serious come back. my home decor style has always been a mix of modern and vintage, and pull down prints are a very easy way to add a little warm old world charm. some of the best selection i've seen so far has been on Etsy, so i recommend you check them out first. i don't know about you, but i'm especially drawn to the animal feather prints and would love to hang any pull down as a single or series of three on a wall. What a lovely look for any home office, study, or living room under some beautiful brass lighting.

Creating the Perfect Picture

images via here, here, here, here, here and here.

so, i'm a bit of a commitment phobe ... especially when it comes to hanging art. 

if there is one thing i've learned it's always hang the things you love to look at most. no matter what else, if you follow this one thing, you'll never feel disappointed by your choices. while there is no REAL set rules on how you have go about showcasing art/photography on walls, successful designers often follow a few guidelines. at the core of it all it is about placing what you love in the right combination. however, if you are a sobby stress mess pile at the thought committing to putting holes in beautiful freshly painted walls and hanging up pictures, like i can be, then here are some helpful tips to consider that will give you that little bit of confidence.

// Height - the most common recommendation the professionals make is to hang art at eye level. if you are a shorty like me try and keep in mind the viewpoint of an average height person. 

// Grouping -  I love me some good groupings. this is where oftentimes we get a little stressed. since there is no real rules here, my best recommendations tend to be start with larger pieces and fill in with smaller. good groupings take proper planning before you hang. think of it as a one large art piece rather than individual items. this will help you focus on the end results and not get caught up in the process. grouping is a great way to give an modern look to your home. if you have a bunch of frames take out the display art inside and play around with placements by taping them up on your wall before you hang.

// Proportions - as a general rule of thumb you want to hang art that is proportionate to said area. for example it is not recommend that you hang over your sofa a canvas print that is significantly wider than what the sofa seats. on the flip side this rule does not apply when it comes to heights. there is a misconception that shorter sizes fit better in smaller spaces, when in actual fact taller prints can make your smaller space feel much larger.

Proportion…if you are hanging art above a piece of furniture it is generally advised to not use art that is wider than the furniture. A general rule of thumb is to aim for the artwork to be between 50-90% of the width of the furniture below. 75% is ideal, but anything in the suggested range is usually safe. If your ratio is less than 50% then the artwork is too small, if your ratio is larger than 90% the art is too big. Exception: If you are hanging art above a grouping of furniture that is close together you would use the total width of the furniture as your guideline.
· Height…a well known rule of thumb is to hang artwork at "eye level" however, this is often misleading as we all vary in height. A better guideline is to hang the art so that the center of the art is at eye level for an average person, generally 60-65" from the floor. Most often art is hung too high, so if in doubt…hang lower rather than higher. If you are hanging art above a sofa or a table you will usually want to have about 6-12" between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the art.

Read more at http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=59&sid=14755543#wmGTjPlUXjhoogMK.99

Proportion…if you are hanging art above a piece of furniture it is generally advised to not use art that is wider than the furniture. A general rule of thumb is to aim for the artwork to be between 50-90% of the width of the furniture below. 75% is ideal, but anything in the suggested range is usually safe. If your ratio is less than 50% then the artwork is too small, if your ratio is larger than 90% the art is too big. Exception: If you are hanging art above a grouping of furniture that is close together you would use the total width of the furniture as your guideline.
· Height…a well known rule of thumb is to hang artwork at "eye level" however, this is often misleading as we all vary in height. A better guideline is to hang the art so that the center of the art is at eye level for an average person, generally 60-65" from the floor. Most often art is hung too high, so if in doubt…hang lower rather than higher. If you are hanging art above a sofa or a table you will usually want to have about 6-12" between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the art.
· Line….consider whether the space in question needs the illusion of horizontal expansion or vertical height, then choose your artwork accordingly. Diagonal lines are sometimes needed for spaces such as stairways. Areas that are irregular in shape and line are a great place for round artwork, mirrors or wreaths. Round shapes soften angular areas and help to avoid the problem of rectangular art looking crooked.
· Grouping… this can be tricky but can also have amazing visual impact. A group of pictures should be thought of as one cohesive "unit. An easy trick for creating a grouping is to trace each individual piece of art onto paper and then cut out the shapes. Using these paper shapes you can arrange them on the floor, or even directly onto the wall using some tape. This enables you to determine which arrangement you prefer without having to put dozens of extra nail holes in your wall. When you have found the desired configuration you can then lightly mark it onto your wall with a pencil.
· Tools for the job…my favorite hooks for hanging pictures are called "monkey Hooks" and they require no hammer or nail! These hooks are usually available at your local hardware store. If I am hanging art for a client I always make sure I have on hand a laser level, pencil, measuring tape, hammer, nails and picture hanging hooks for all different weights. If you have a picture that doesn't like to stay straight use some Sticky putty on the bottom corners. Adhesive felt pads are great to ha

Read more at http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=59&sid=14755543#wmGTjPlUXjhoogMK.99

Proportion…if you are hanging art above a piece of furniture it is generally advised to not use art that is wider than the furniture. A general rule of thumb is to aim for the artwork to be between 50-90% of the width of the furniture below. 75% is ideal, but anything in the suggested range is usually safe. If your ratio is less than 50% then the artwork is too small, if your ratio is larger than 90% the art is too big. Exception: If you are hanging art above a grouping of furniture that is close together you would use the total width of the furniture as your guideline.
· Height…a well known rule of thumb is to hang artwork at "eye level" however, this is often misleading as we all vary in height. A better guideline is to hang the art so that the center of the art is at eye level for an average person, generally 60-65" from the floor. Most often art is hung too high, so if in doubt…hang lower rather than higher. If you are hanging art above a sofa or a table you will usually want to have about 6-12" between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the art.
· Line….consider whether the space in question needs the illusion of horizontal expansion or vertical height, then choose your artwork accordingly. Diagonal lines are sometimes needed for spaces such as stairways. Areas that are irregular in shape and line are a great place for round artwork, mirrors or wreaths. Round shapes soften angular areas and help to avoid the problem of rectangular art looking crooked.
· Grouping… this can be tricky but can also have amazing visual impact. A group of pictures should be thought of as one cohesive "unit. An easy trick for creating a grouping is to trace each individual piece of art onto paper and then cut out the shapes. Using these paper shapes you can arrange them on the floor, or even directly onto the wall using some tape. This enables you to determine which arrangement you prefer without having to put dozens of extra nail holes in your wall. When you have found the desired configuration you can then lightly mark it onto your wall with a pencil.
· Tools for the job…my favorite hooks for hanging pictures are called "monkey Hooks" and they require no hammer or nail! These hooks are usually available at your local hardware store. If I am hanging art for a client I always make sure I have on hand a laser level, pencil, measuring tape, hammer, nails and picture hanging hooks for all different weights. If you have a picture that doesn't like to stay straight use some Sticky putty on the bottom corners. Adhesive felt pads are great to ha

Read more at http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=59&sid=14755543#wmGTjPlUXjhoogMK.99

Proportion…if you are hanging art above a piece of furniture it is generally advised to not use art that is wider than the furniture. A general rule of thumb is to aim for the artwork to be between 50-90% of the width of the furniture below. 75% is ideal, but anything in the suggested range is usually safe. If your ratio is less than 50% then the artwork is too small, if your ratio is larger than 90% the art is too big. Exception: If you are hanging art above a grouping of furniture that is close together you would use the total width of the furniture as your guideline.
· Height…a well known rule of thumb is to hang artwork at "eye level" however, this is often misleading as we all vary in height. A better guideline is to hang the art so that the center of the art is at eye level for an average person, generally 60-65" from the floor. Most often art is hung too high, so if in doubt…hang lower rather than higher. If you are hanging art above a sofa or a table you will usually want to have about 6-12" between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the art.
· Line….consider whether the space in question needs the illusion of horizontal expansion or vertical height, then choose your artwork accordingly. Diagonal lines are sometimes needed for spaces such as stairways. Areas that are irregular in shape and line are a great place for round artwork, mirrors or wreaths. Round shapes soften angular areas and help to avoid the problem of rectangular art looking crooked.
· Grouping… this can be tricky but can also have amazing visual impact. A group of pictures should be thought of as one cohesive "unit. An easy trick for creating a grouping is to trace each individual piece of art onto paper and then cut out the shapes. Using these paper shapes you can arrange them on the floor, or even directly onto the wall using some tape. This enables you to determine which arrangement you prefer without having to put dozens of extra nail holes in your wall. When you have found the desired configuration you can then lightly mark it onto your wall with a pencil.
· Tools for the job…my favorite hooks for hanging pictures are called "monkey Hooks" and they require no hammer or nail! These hooks are usually available at your local hardware store. If I am hanging art for a client I always make sure I have on hand a laser level, pencil, measuring tape, hammer, nails and picture hanging hooks for all different weights. If you have a picture that doesn't like to stay straight use some Sticky putty on the bottom corners. Adhesive felt pads are great to ha

Read more at http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=59&sid=14755543#wmGTjPlUXjhoogMK.99

Proportion…if you are hanging art above a piece of furniture it is generally advised to not use art that is wider than the furniture. A general rule of thumb is to aim for the artwork to be between 50-90% of the width of the furniture below. 75% is ideal, but anything in the suggested range is usually safe. If your ratio is less than 50% then the artwork is too small, if your ratio is larger than 90% the art is too big. Exception: If you are hanging art above a grouping of furniture that is close together you would use the total width of the furniture as your guideline.
· Height…a well known rule of thumb is to hang artwork at "eye level" however, this is often misleading as we all vary in height. A better guideline is to hang the art so that the center of the art is at eye level for an average person, generally 60-65" from the floor. Most often art is hung too high, so if in doubt…hang lower rather than higher. If you are hanging art above a sofa or a table you will usually want to have about 6-12" between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the art.
· Line….consider whether the space in question needs the illusion of horizontal expansion or vertical height, then choose your artwork accordingly. Diagonal lines are sometimes needed for spaces such as stairways. Areas that are irregular in shape and line are a great place for round artwork, mirrors or wreaths. Round shapes soften angular areas and help to avoid the problem of rectangular art looking crooked.
· Grouping… this can be tricky but can also have amazing visual impact. A group of pictures should be thought of as one cohesive "unit. An easy trick for creating a grouping is to trace each individual piece of art onto paper and then cut out the shapes. Using these paper shapes you can arrange them on the floor, or even directly onto the wall using some tape. This enables you to determine which arrangement you prefer without having to put dozens of extra nail holes in your wall. When you have found the desired configuration you can then lightly mark it onto your wall with a pencil.
· Tools for the job…my favorite hooks for hanging pictures are called "monkey Hooks" and they require no hammer or nail! These hooks are usually available at your local hardware store. If I am hanging art for a client I always make sure I have on hand a laser level, pencil, measuring tape, hammer, nails and picture hanging hooks for all different weights. If you have a picture that doesn't like to stay straight use some Sticky putty on the bottom corners. Adhesive felt pads are great to ha

Read more at http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=59&sid=14755543#wmGTjPlUXjhoogMK.99

Decorating with Little Green Friends

images are from here, here, here, here and here.

lately i've been excited to bring little green friends into our home. little green friends who help clean the air and bring a little life to some bare spaces. i haven't always had good luck with little green friends, but i'm hoping we can reconnect. after countless hours of reading online about easy to care for indoor plants, i finally think we are ready for a second go. surprisingly, my little black thumb, cannot kill an orchid. there is just something about orchids that do so, so, so well with me. always blooming, content, always looking so purdy. knock on wood now that i haven't jinxed it now.  

plants can add a lot of character to a room in a way that architecture can't. try placing oversized plants in impractical places, hang tiny plants vertically as an accent on a wall, or grow an upside down herb garden in your kitchen windows using varying hanging planters. start thinking outside the box when it comes to adding vegetation to your home. if my bathroom had a window, let me tell you i would surely be shoving a fern in the shower to sing along side me each morning. plants want to live creatively too.

yesterday my newly bought first ever hanging pot arrived on my door step from this lovely shop, made by a lovely lady named Monique Cote. i highly suggest you check her work out. it's an early birthday present to myself and a fresh start at welcoming plants into our home.

so, to you dear succulents, lemon tree seedlings and ferns recently purchased. please bare with me. i promise to be good as good to you as  i can. to share you with the sunlight and to keep you fresh and happy! now please don't die.

The Reno Report - White Kitchens

our kitchen before ... 

our inspiration board after weeks on pinterest ... 

images via

i love the use of white in a kitchen. it's so fresh and clean and bright. it's calming and it makes me feel really creative. as i'm getting older i find i really love to cook, so i like saving my bright colours for food and in my dishware. much like a few of the other rooms i have shared, we have a number of elements we have to work around until a bigger reno is possible. in the case of our kitchen we have faux wood looking countertops and some old cabinetry. so, most of what we are trying to do is a few updates to help make what we have look a bit more modern, i'll just call "phase 1", aka. the temporary facelift. for the past few months we've been chipping away at putting a little love and life back into this main hub of our house.

the update list we are tackling includes:

• paint old wood cabinet handles white and add cabinet pulls
• remove the blind over the sink and add curtains to the window
• removed useless and extremely small small broom cabinet (that actually only fits a broom)
• paint the yellow hoodfan
• change old light fixtures 
• hang some small fun art/images
• change out old not working properly dishwasher 
• maximize or increase storage space to the fullest potential
• paint ceiling a nice bright white

we are almost done getting through this list and I just cannot wait to show you the results! i'm very excited with how much happier and brighter this kitchen feels. our life right now is all about budgets so learning what you can do with a little pocket money is so important, and I think i have some great ideas to share. 
 i would love to see your before and afters, link them in the comment! what does your dream kitchen look like?

Fall Finds - Treat Yourself

happy friday the 13th!!! the fall is the time of year to cozy up at home, start your first fire in the fireplace and enjoy rich full bodied red wines. these are a few pics of my must have items to best invited that warm fall feeling indoors.

1 // Wicker baskets (image via)

2 // Olive Oil Soap  (image via) 

3 // Linen Napkins & Rosemary Accents (image via) 

4 // WoodWick Candles (image via)

5 // Plaid Throw Blankets (image via)

6 // Emile Henry Cook & Bakeware (image via) 

Zara Home

all lookbook images are totally the credit of  Zara (via this link)

my posts don't normally warrant two in a day, but this one is definitely worth it. Zara Home just opened up it's first Canadian shop yesterday at Yorkdale Mall. holy hannah stop the presses, this just made my Friday! alsdkflskdflasdlskjf (how else do you show excitement via copy!!!) yes, that is right, now you can fill your home with all that stunning European glam that Zara has to offer. from a mix of bedding and towels, to what appears to be seriously stunning tableware and decor accessories, the company looks to be offering seasonal variety at affordable and reasonable prices. wait, it gets even better. you can also shop online! omg!!!! ok, so aside from making our annual-from-scratch-tomatoe-sauce-for-the-year this weekend with my new family, you can also find me at Yorkdale face planted in all this gorgeousness. swoon.

Map Quest

lately i've been on kinda a map kick. i'm drawn to variations that you can find when it comes to maps. antique vs. modern, painted vs. graphic, typography vs. illustration. it is a great way to add not only a visual accent in your home, but something personal that speaks to you, the homeowner. maps are personal. they evoke emotions from past travels, or remind you of home. here are a few outstanding maps, location graphics & cityscapes i've found on recently Etsy that are drool worthy.

 1. PortLove - "Los Angeles" watercolour 

 2. TheDriftingBear - Personalized Coordinates

3. FlyingJunction - "Boston" typography

4. AudreyDeFord - "India" watercolour

7 Thrify Steps

Take a moment to assess your neighbourhoods and the stores you are interested 

in. More often than not, thrift stores collect from their community members, so learn 
about  the cultures that reside in those areas, and/or the style of products that those 
stores seem to carry on a regular basis. So, if you are looking for a specific item, this will 
help to narrow down your list of stores.

Good thrift shopping takes time. If you are looking for a quick trip or a specific item, 

then this line of shopping isn't for you. Make sure you have time on your side. Plan 

an afternoon, go with some friends, pack a snack and pick up a coffee or tea. If you 

take the time to do the proper digging, you will not be disappointed. Also keep in mind 

that if you don't love it, don't buy it! Chances are there will be more interesting items

 to come!

Make sure you know what it is you need. Shopping is never a good idea with out a list. Keep

 in mind what you are looking for and when you see something you like try to envision 

it (all cleaned up) in your home or space.

Sometimes we see things that we don't even realize could be stunning after a little 

tender loving care. When thrift shopping, try and see past the chips, scratches or mix-matched colours. Keep an open mind and envision what you think it could look like. 

Focus on what makes it is that makes it an interesting piece.  Ask yourself, if this was all one 

colour what would I notice first? Often times what you find in a thrift store needs a

 little personalization once you bring it home, but it is in doing so that you really create the statement pieces that you'll come to love the most.

 This might just be the most important golden rule - know the schedule. Keep a notepad and 

pen with you when you start figuring out the stores you like to shop in.  By asking the 

staff, make a note of  when they typically bring out new product (most times it is 

during the week on a Tuesday or Thursday), and if/when they have sales or special 

events. This will help you to source out the best products before they get picked over.

When you start spending enough time digging through stores, you can sometimes get 

lucky and come across some very chic brands. Pay attention to the labels because 

not only may it be something that you find you love, it may also be worth something.

The real trick to good thrift store finding is to go often. The items you see will change 

hands frequently, so it is best to go hunting on a regular basis keeping in mind what 

the items are that you need or want.   

Happy hunting!

Helpful Hint - Waxy

Apartment Therapy recently posted from their video section, a One Minute Tip on how to remove that ever annoying and dreaded wax build up from a candle holder. Heaven knows that this issue has driven me personally insane on more than on occasion. Therefore, when I saw this (and actually tried it and it worked), I knew it needed to be shared. Enjoy and hopefully this saves a couple of relationships and restores some love towards using mood lighting.

DiY : Paper Flowers

Since our engagement party I have had a lot of people ask me how we created the red paper flowers that we used as centerpieces. Well, here is the step-by-step process how we did just that. About a week before the party my middle sister and I stayed in, put on some cheesy tv, comfy clothes and hunkered down to make these pretty paper flowers. Once we got into the groove of creating them, we started to produce them rather quickly, as you will see if you try this DIY project.

1. Start by collecting your supplies - you will need, scissors, tissue paper and pipe cleaners/wire. 2. Gather about 10 sheets of tissue paper (play around with mixing different colour shades for flowers with more dimension as well), stack them, then fold it all and cut it in half.  3. Take one half of your cut stack and begin to fold it like an accordion. 4. Be sure to cut off any extra that doesn't line-up.  5. Next fold your accordion in half. 6. Take your pipe cleaner/wire and tie it around the middle of our folded accordion, making sure to leave extra pipe cleaner/wire to create the look of the stem. 7. Then grab the ends of your accordion and trim until you have achieved the desired shape of your flower petals (rounded corners works best it from my experience). 8. Spread the accordion folds between your fingers and very slowly (and gently) pull out each piece of tissue paper towards you. 9. Slowly pulling each sheet until you begin to create the shape of a flower, being careful not to pull too hard and rip the delicate paper. 10. Finally work away at "puffing" out the flower until you have it exactly how you want it to look, then place on display. Heck, you could even try misting them with perfume to give them a soft sent.  If anyone tries this, please share a comment of your success or new ideas!

Top 10 : Summer Lovin'

Today the weather is dreamy. Perfectly puffy still summer clouds, warm fresh breeze through thin curtains and bright soft sunshine shining down. Now that it is officially summer (though with the heatwave it has felt like summer for weeks), I am craving a mash of bold bright patterns, textures and shapes, both inside the home and on the body. Oh ... and beach hair. That pure fresh out of the water, towel scrunched, air dried, wavy hair – pure bliss! With all those desires in mind for this season, here are my top 10 summer style recommends.  1.  Watercolour fashion print 2. Missoni pillow 3. Watercolour art by Chantel de Sousa   4. Bold and beautiful wallpaper  5. Zara's pretty polka dot silk top   6. O'Clock white watch  7. Statement stemware  8. Antropologie Atom Art bowls  9. Missoni blanket  10. Soraam Big Bow pillow. Enjoy the weekend ahead! Me and the fiance are off to celebrate at our engagement party with family! xoxo.