Slither on in....

I have always loved the unusual, and that includes animal skins/patterns/faux hides in design. Amoung my faves: zebra, cow, python, alligator, crocodile and giraffe. There is something about them that just speaks to me. Maybe it's because that even with their graphic prints, they are afterall, really neutrals. Browns, blacks, creams, etc. Where else could you find such beautiful, neutral colors - than in nature!!!

So my newest quest: I am on the hunt for a python table for our living room!!

Years ago Domino featured Laura Yaggy and her beautiful line of tables for Lorely Furniture and I fell in love with them. My absolute fave was this python table that she even has in her living room! To most, a python table on it's own might be a little gawdy, but in a very neutral living room, such as my own - I think the python serves as another neutral with a bit of pop due to the pattern/texture.

However, unfortunately, my table budget is nowhere near what Laura Yaggy charges for hers, so in my quest for a wallet-friendly alternative, I came across these:

This tray table from Neiman Marcus is the perfect little mix!!

This little darling is a set of two nesting tables from Ikea of all places that the owner re-finished herself!! You can find more info on Ikea Hacker .

Wish me luck - firstly in finding something I love, and secondly in convincing Cory that he loves it too. Although, chances are that I will just get it anyhow, and he will have no choice but to deal with it!! :)

Room Service

I loved Sarah Richardson back when no one knew her. I was a devoted Room Service watcher ( her show before Design Inc. and Sarah's House). I even taped episodes and cut pages out and kept them in my design files at home.

I also was a little sad when Design Inc. replaced Room Service, as it also seemed to mark the end of budget friendly stuff from Sarah.

Nonetheless, I still watch in awe as she and her team transform a space. Here are some of my fave rooms from the 5 seasons of Room Service

This room makes me think of a very uptown penthouse. I love that it looks expensive, but isn't too precious and actually looks like a room that would get used!!

I've always wanted a white front room. Essentially it would be the room that wouldn't get used as much, but still looks amazing. Perhaps when I get my office I'll create a white sitting area in it.

To me, this photo is a home that would be well loved, and well used. Typically I do not care for orange, or most warm colors for that matter, but they are so nice and cozy here and I love that they continued a theme throughout the living space to keep the vibe.

When I finally get a home that I own - the first thing I am going to do is the walls in all of them. I will wallpaper, paint and put up everything my heart desires. I love love loved the silvery grey walls, and then she went and added the silver-leafed squares and my heart melted. Back in the day, I even used silver cigarette package paper to cover my closet doors as a teen.

*side note: love the simple but elegant dining scape. Clear glass and white are my faves!!

Oh I would love to have a dining room this size!!! Plus there is something so elegant about wood panelling in a dining room. This room gets extra points as it has a window and that's rare in the showhomes near us!

I love how warm and cozy this bedroom looks! It makes me think of a cozy ski lodge in the mountains. Now don't let Cory know since I veto'd his idea of a brown and cream bedroom..

*side note: I think a cream colored able-knit throw would look much better at the foot of the bed!!!

Again, tugging at my heart strings with metallic!! However this would also look cool done in silver and then silvery-blue accent pillows would just pop!!

Hmmm.. I guess my previous comment was foreshadowing my love for this guest room. As soon as we own, I am turning our guest room into this!!!

* the headboard is button-tufted blue velvet!!!!!

Another masculine bedroom that I love. The only thing I would change is the carpet, and that's purely cause I hate red, so those carpets will never appeal to me!!

If your teenage daugther's bathroom looked like this, she might want to keep it clean!!

Go green while buying green

If you're a Canadian, you are probably familiar with the Superstore/Loblaws/Extra Foods brand. You will also then know that they've been eco-friendly for quite some time. (they charged for plastic bags, long before it was socially accepted to do so).

Well, good new: They've done it again!! Superstore has become the first major Canadian retailer to recycle plastic plant pots and flats ( like the kind that come with bedding plants). For more information on this, click here .

As well, if you're looking for ways to become more eco-friendly in YOUR home, check out their website for more info on their PC Green and PC Organic lines!!

Canadian House & Home Magazine

I am currently wishing I had picked up the August issue of Canadian House & Home Magazine the other day when I was at the grocery store. I loved it, but Cory said I didn't need "another" design magazine. So I sadly passed.

But looking at Their Site it is very hard to view some of their beautiful rooms.

I did manage to sneak te beauty above from a past issue that I had not seen, and I love it!!

I'm glad there is a Canadian Magazine that shows it is possible to create beautiful rooms with stuff available in this country, and this one even looks attainable (notice the Ikea storage boxes) and oh so girly and lovely!!!

Love, Love, Love this idea!!!

New addition.....

Today I welcome a new living addition to our home - in the form of a new house plant. We have a company at work who takes care of our plants ( poorly I must say.....) and my boss asked for a new plant in the front here as the one we had was looking a little worse for wear. I believe this to be because they only come like once every two weeks, so I've been watering the plants in the interim......

Anyhow, he brought us a brand new plant, so I asked if I could take home the one he removed. He said it should keep growing, especially if I cut off the flowers.





I will need to pop by the store on the way home and buy myself a new pot, but other than that, I am hoping it will thrive in it's new home!!





I'll keep you updated on it's new life!!

Cleaning Schedule

Over at The Nest , I was reading a thread where people were posting their Cleaning Schedules. So I thought this might make a good topic.

While I don't really have a schedule, I try to do something everyday, so that I am not stuck wasting my weekends or days off, cleaning. Instead, I can be outside enjoying this summer weather!!

Monday

Litter box

pay bills

water plants

Tuesday

sweep

bathroom

windows/ mirrors

Wednesday

Litter box

dust

vaccum

Thursday

sweep

tub/shower

Friday

litter box

clean fridge

paperwork filing

Saturday

vaccum

dust

wash floors

windows/mirrors

bathrooms

Sunday

laundry

bathrooms

change bed linens

clean closets

wash floors

grocery shop

do next week's menu plan

do any misc. stuff that needs to be completed.

Cory is responsible for the garbage, so I leave that to him, especially since the day changes each month. He also does all the cooking in our home. We have a dishwasher, and try to do any hand washed dishes, each night when we are finished.

As well, each night, after he has gone to bed, I do general tidying. There are also seasonal stuff we do, but this covers the basics.

What's your plan of attack? Any tips or tricks you use to get the job done more efficiently??

Deals of the Week

I almost forgot it was Monday, so here are the items on my wishlist for today!

These Organic Animal Print towels from West Elm range in price from $7.00 for a washcloth to $20 for bathtowel. So cute, and nice to have cute prints in neutral colors

This beautiful blue stool from Pier 1 would add a nice pop of color to our living room, and for only $50.00, I could even afford a cushion to go on top!

I've never been a huge fan of these Pier 1 director's chairs, but at only $20.00, this would make a cute chair for a laundry room

I've seen this cute duvet set from Pottery Barn in a couple other bloggers' rooms... and thought that if you loved it, you might want to stock up on more shams, since they get a lot of wear!!