BACK TO REALITY & SOME BOARDS....

Well, I'm back.  It was a wonderful vacation, however, I could have done without coming back to a major snowstorm.  Apparently, we picked the wrong week to be away....


I was totally thinking of this......

the entire time I was driving, white knuckled, through the snowstorm....sigh....


But I digress, I wanted to say a big thank you to my guest bloggers, Jessica from Arcadian Lighting & Kelly of Jax Does Design for doing a fab job while I was away.


I have a few little tidbits I wanted to share with you, so I'd thought I'd put them together on this post.


First of all, in our other cottage, we put in the wood butcher block counters from Ikea and when my hubby cut out the counter for the double sink, I had him keep the piece and I then used it as a cutting board for seven years.  The plan was that the edges would be sanded down, but seven years later, it still had not happened.


Fast forward, to this January, when my parents were visiting the new cottage and my Dad, bless him, saw my cutting board.  He asked me how I would like it finished.  We decided to do two cutting boards as it was a large piece and kind of awkward.  


Of course, in the rush to give it to him, I forgot to take a before picture.  But I'm sure you can imagine, it was a roughly cut rectangular piece of wood with very uneven edges.


And here's how it came back to me.  First, a simple cutting board with lovely bevelled edges.

 And number two, with more lovely bevelled edges, grooves for any juices to be caught in and a raised edge/handle. 

My Dad is so talented, I love them!  I know I said I'd share a few tidbits but they were making this post far too long.  I'll save them for another post really soon.

ICONIC MONDAY....KARIM RASHID'S OTTAWA COLLECTION.....

Being from Ottawa, I was pretty stoked when I saw that Karim Rashid had designed an Ottawa collection for BoConcept.
So for today's Iconic Monday post, I'd thought I'd share some photos of Rashid's new collection.  

Source


The collection consists of a dining table, sideboard, storage unit, dining chairs, lighting and even tableware.  


Rashid decided to honour the city where he studied 30 years ago, at Carleton University, in Industrial Design. 

                                     Source
                                                       Source
The Ottawa chair above is leaf shaped with a smooth crisp profile.


Such beautiful clean shapes I'm sure they will end up being Iconic designs.


The collection will launch in Toronto on April 4, 2012.

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL....

Awhile back, I purchased an old 1960's dresser for my daughter's room.  We sanded and painted it for her room.  You can read about it here.


It came with a matching mirror, which wasn't right for her room, so in the garage the mirror stayed.  I figured I would figure out what to do with it at some point.

Anyways, fast forward to a few months ago and our new cottage purchase.  I decided to put it up in the entrance over a dining room buffet that I'm using as a hall console table.


Here's how it originally looked.

It worked but the original wood finish just faded into the log walls.  So I decided to paint it (Benjamin Moore - Black Iron).

So much better!

The Extreme Makeover Kindness Edition is being completed today with the reveal scheduled for tomorrow.   Stay tuned for the reveal pictures.


And I've linked this post up to Feature Friday Free for All over at Five days Five ways.  Click on the link below to add your link or to be inspired.

ICONIC MONDAY....GUEST POST...GEORGE NELSON BUBBLE LAMP...

Today's Iconic Monday post is brought to you by my good friend and fellow blogger, Kelly James from Jax Does Design.   Thanks so much Kelly for stepping in while I'm away!

The George Nelson Bubble Lamp is probably the most iconic lamp in the history of modern design. Created by George Nelson for Howard Miller in 1947, the Bubble Lamp is still as popular today as it was over half a century ago.

Photo by Douglas Friedman
Image from Douglas Friedman Photographer

The design for Nelson’s bubble lamp was was inspired by a silk covered lamp. When he saw the price tag {a whopping $125), Nelson decided  he could make his own lamp for a lot less money – just like any good DIYer :-) And he did! The original Bubble Lamps were made from a self-webbing plastic that was originally used in the military. It was easy to produce, and created durable lamps that were very similar to paper lanterns and gave warm, even light. And priced from $14.75 to $90 when they went on the market in 1952, they were much more affordable than the silk variety.

The Bubble Lamp comes in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. These are a couple of pages from a vintage catalogue circa 1968 (via atomicpear’s photostream on Flickr).

Bubble Lamps have always been made by hand at the Bubble Lamp Factory in rural Michigan. In 2000, Modernica took over production from Howard Miller. But the process is still the same – first, pieces of wire are bent and attached to a ring one at a time. {Images from the Modernica blog}


A completed frame.

Then multiple layers of vinyl are sprayed onto the frame.

And voila, a completed Bubble Lamp!

The completed lamps are hung to dry and cure.

* To read more about how Bubble Lamps are made and to see more pictures, check out the Modernica blog *

Over time, the white vinyl acquires a yellow patina.

Image via The City Sage

Bubble Lamps truly are timeless. Here’s a Saucer Bubble Lamp hanging above the dining table in a 1953 ad for Republic Steel Kitchens:

Image via Mid Century Home Style

And here it is in a dining room today:

Image via Rex Kelly mid century via Plush Palate

A pair of Saucer Bubble Lamps are as much at home in this blue & orange mid century modern bedroom…

Image via retro renovation

…as these Cigar Wall Sconces are in this breezy beach bungalow.

Architect, Glenn Keyes Architects | Designer and home owner, Amelia T. Handegan
Image via Architectural Digest

A Round Bubble Lamp then…

Image via myspace

…and now…

Designer Charles Mellersh Design Studio | Photographer Chris Tubbs
Image via Remodelista

Image via House Beautiful

There’s a really interesting story about the Opdhal Residence, the home of Joyce and Richard Opdhal and this Round Bubble Lamp. {Click here to check it out}

Architects Edward Killingsworth | Photo by Catherine Ledner
Image via dwell

And one last Bubble Lamp in yet another shape:

Homeowners Brian Sevy and Michael Richardson | Designer Michael Richardson | Photographer Ivan Hunter Photography | Image via Style At Home

And if that’s not enough Bubble Lamps for one day, I just finished creating my own version of a bubble light. Head over to JAX does design to check it out!

Thanks to Lisa for having me as a guest poster today. It was a great learning experience for me, because I really didn’t know much about George Nelson Bubble Lamps before. Hope you learned a little something from my post too :-)

SERENE IN LILAC - GUEST POST......

I just wanted to say a big Thank you to Jessica from Arcadian Lighting who is guest blogging for me today.  Hope you enjoy her post!

Hello! I'm Jessica, a writer for Arcadian Lighting, a wonderful source for lighting fixtures and interior design inspirations. I'm delighted to be guest posting for Lisa today because I'm going to be sharing some beautiful interiors that incorporate the lovely color lilac. Lilacs are traditionally associated with spring and the thrilling emotions of young love. I think this color adds a fresh, serene quality to any room. Enjoy!

The soft lilac bedframe and gingham and floral pattern on the canopy headboard add a gentle feminine atmosphere to the very opulent, luxurious details throughout this bedroom. I love the framed mirror and candle wall sconce.

Lilac is a wonderful color for a girl's bedroom. The floral wallpaper and long sweeping curtains add a bit of drama and romance, as does the charming window seat.

A mix of lilac furnishings and pillows give this petite living room a serene quality. I love the chic, modern shade on the table lamp.

The gorgeous velevet head and foot board on this sleigh bed is an especially luxurious detail. The pale lilac color of the bed picks up beautifully on the deep purple in the abstract artwork.

In a room full of patterns and textures, the lilac frigidaire in this kitchen stands out as the focal point. I love the mix of shabby chic textiles and furnishings, particularly the wooden bench.

A soft lilac and white color palette will help transform any bathroom into a peaceful retreat. The clawfooted tub and chandelier for a bathroom light aren't bad touches either.

A pair of floral metal scrollworks painted in a silver color makes an unique and interesting headboard in this lovely bedroom. The silver paint reflects the lilac colors from the bedding and fresh bouquet of lilacs. A wonderfully relaxing sanctuary.

Purple and yellow are a perfect color combination because they are complementary colors. The single lilac chair in this office space really sets of the bright yellows in the rest of the room.

Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

 Would you go for a completely lilac colored room or do you favor simple lilac details? For more colorful inspirations and a beautiful pendant light or two to transform any room in your home, stop by Arcadian Lighting today!

IDS12....HANDCRAFTED AND COLOUR......

Next, to talk about from IDS12 is the use of wood and colour for this year.  


It wasn't a great shock to see that the handcrafted is still "in" for this year.  The more organic the better.  


Lighter wood is everywhere and dark stained wood is officially "out".  Sorry, to everyone who has dark wood...don't worry though...it'll be back again...at some point.

This rope light above got lots of attention.  Very interesting!

 And I apologize for showing this tub yet again but it really was one of the most beautiful items in the show.  I can't get it out of mind, obviously...

 They also had these beautiful sinks done in the same type of hammered finish.  Isn't the barrel sink unique?


Now, these ones are about the colour at IDS 12.  I really didn't find there was tons of colour but what colour there was, was quite bold.  They are saying we will be seeing the 70's colour out this year...so are you ready for NEON?  Yikes, definitely not one of my favs.


Here's Jardin de Ville's booth with a beautiful translucent blue floor. 

 I really liked this cool little fireplace.  

 I have to include Andrew Richard Designs again, the pink and orange were seen from very far in the hall.

And Rubinet showcased some lovely red shower and sink faucets. 

 And Alfred Sung's Outdoor set up was gorgeous and sunny in orange or should I say tangerine!

 


Last but not least, Dee Dee Taylor Eustace's small scale living set was adorable in orange and gray.


Hope you enjoyed this little wrap off of the handcrafted and the colour at IDS12.


BTW - I'm off for a little R and R in sunny Mexico, but not to worry I have a couple of guest posts lined up for you to read while I'm away.  Hope you enjoy them!