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February, 2012

  1. Prepping My Office

    February 29, 2012 by admin

    I’m so excited because soon I get to take on some exciting new projects  - especially some DIY furniture makeovers.  I’ve decided to make our office at home into a little atelier/studio where I can work on each project and hopefully contain the mess.  We don’t really use our office a ton to be honest, so I just needed to do a little rearranging to get a set for being creative.  I pulled out a bunch of my old inspiration images and taped them right on the wall.  I love the way it looks and I can get fresh new ideas each day.  I also snapped some shots of the rest of the office to share with you – pencil crayons, and magazines and wallpaper – oh my!

    Here’s to all of your creative endeavours!  Hope you can carve out a little corner of your home to let your imagination soar…

    Category Around The House | Tags: | 8 Comments

  2. Bright Bold Colour Trend

    February 28, 2012 by admin

    As The Gap, J.Crew and Calvin Klein Jeans are telling us this spring, it’s time to BE BRIGHT!

    Room shots from Bright Bazaar on Facebook.

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: | 6 Comments

  3. Michael Penney Armoire for Chatelaine!

    February 27, 2012 by admin

    Have you checked out the March 2012 issue of Chatelaine Magazine?  It features a fun story all about transforming a basic white Ikea armoire and I was honoured to be a part of it!  Other designers included Kimberly Seldon, Sabrina Linn, Malcom Paterson and Arren Williams.

    Designed by Michael Penney; Photography by Robert Caruso; Chatelaine Magazine

    Here’s where we started:

    Each designer could create whatever they wanted with this Ikea Hemnes armoire.  Here’s what we came up with…

    Sabrina Linn created a gorgeous bohemian dressing room…

    chatelaine.com

    Arren brought his Brit-Pop sensibility to a kitchen pantry…

    chatelaine.com

    Malcolm went wild with graffiti on his bar/armoire…

    chatelaine.com

    And Kimberly crafted a lush home office with all the glam trimmings…

    chatelaine.com

    My take was a garden-inspired, rustic and romantic potting shed in an armoire…

    chatelaine.com

    For my armoire, I replaced the standard backboard with breadboard and painted the inside a muddy khaki colour.  The exterior was painted with melamine paint in a strong arsenic green and I replaced the knobs with oversized ceramic ones from Lee Valley.  A linen-covered cork board with grosgrain ribbon holds garden notes and inspiration.  Check out this month’s Chatelaine for more inspiration and tons of tips.

    Category Do It Yourself | Tags: | 10 Comments

  4. Easy Console DIY

    February 24, 2012 by admin

    Love this classic Martha Stewart Living DIY console!

    Perfect for your entrance way, this demi-lunce console is actually something you can create at home!

    1.  Start with a round or oval dining table with leaves.  Check your garage, attic or thrift shops for the perfect candidate!

    2.  Separate the table where the leaves are usually inserted.  Remove any additional hardware that protrudes beyond the straight edge of the table.

    3.  Using a mounting cleat or heavy duty L-brackets, mount the table flat edge against the wall (connecting with a stud or using strong anchors).

    4. Leave the table natural or paint depending on your look and you’re done!

     

    Happy Weekend Everyone!

    Category Affordable Style, Classic Martha, Do It Yourself | Tags: | No Comments

  5. Clean, Stylish Home Office

    February 24, 2012 by admin

    I’m looking to do a little re-working of my office at home.  This Windsor Smith designed room is going right on my inspiration board.

    Designed by Windsor Smith; House Beautiful Magazine

     

    There are lots of things I like about this room – the calm wall colour, the classic and luxurious drapes, the beautifully patterned rug.  But my favs are the English roll arm sofa (perfect for a nap when inspiration just isn’t coming!), the vintage portrait on the mantle (perfectly loose and quirky) and the black-painted tall chest of drawers and wicker desk chair.  Both are unexpected but totally timeless silhouettes and add some substance and sophistication to this space.  Hmmmm…now for my own mini-makeover…maybe I’ll start by cleaning out the closet!

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: | 5 Comments

  6. Lovely Lamps

    February 23, 2012 by admin

    I’ve probably ranted before about how hard it is to find good lighting these days.  Well Anthropologie has some really great options right now (although kiiiinda pricey – but good inspiration right?).  All of my favourites are kind of quiet and calm colour-wise, which is odd for me, but they’ve got some more colourful ones here too.  Take a look!

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: | 4 Comments

  7. Traditional Bedroom Makeover

    February 22, 2012 by admin

    Wow – this is a gorgeous and dramatic bedroom makeover by Eddie Ross.  Eddie (who used to work at Martha Stewart Living and shot to fame on Bravo’s Top Design) is fond of traditional interiors with a cheeky and colourful twist.  This one’s a great example of what can be done with a tired old bedroom suite.  Hope you get lots of ideas!!

    Before

    Looking better after a lick of paint!

    The four poster bed has been painted and fabric has been added.  The crimson stools at the foot of the bed are a classic touch and punch up the country gingham.

    I just love the fireplace nook – the colours are fantastic and the mirror surround in the fireplace is such a great idea!  Also the black and white botanical with a bold coral mat is a favourite of mine.

    This writing desk is a much nicer option than a tired old wall unit with a tv.  Much more romantic too!

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: | 5 Comments

  8. DIY Loop De Loop Pillows

    February 21, 2012 by admin

    How sweet are theses DIY loop de loop pillows?  I just love their honest simplicity.  Could do them in a colour too, but the quietness – the doodle on a sheet of paper quality – is just right somehow.  For the DIY check out the purl bee here.

     

    Category Do It Yourself | Tags: | 4 Comments

  9. Roses In Many Colours

    February 17, 2012 by admin

    Well guys, it’s been another crazy, busy week and it’s not over yet!  Looking forward to a loooong weekend for Family Day and appreciating all that I’ve got.  Here’s a little moment from our house this morning (roses from Valentine’s Day) on a little writing desk in our den.  Hope they brighten up your morning like they did mine.

     

     

    Category Affordable Style, Around The House, Details, Details! | Tags: | 5 Comments

  10. DIY Dip Dye Drapes

    February 16, 2012 by admin

    Now if that’s not some fun alliteration I don’t know what is!

    I was just scouring the internet for something completely different (black wicker chairs actually) and stumbled upon this shot of a DIY I did a while back for House & Home Magazine with my friend Andrea Mills.  It’s a goodie and worth sharing here, I think.

    Created & Styled by Michael Penney and Andrea Mills; Photography by Angus Fergusson; House & Home Magazine

     

    We started with some 100% cotton drapes from Ikea, a bucket, some rubber bands and some dark blue fabric dye.

    1.  Mix dye according to package directions in large bucket.

    2.  Scrunch lower quarter of drapes and fasten with rubber bands to create tie dye effect.

    3.  Dip lower quarter of drapes into dye and let sit according to directions.

    4.  Carefully remove drapes and rinse dyed portion in the sink. Let dry.

    5. Voila!

    We loved their beachy, fashion-forward effect in a traditional living room with clean white walls.  But you could go wild and use them in a multi-patterned, lush and layered bedroom, teen’s room or dressing room maybe.  Or even go with a much paler fabric dye and use them in a subtle, sophisticated application.  Give ‘em a go!

    Category Affordable Style, Do It Yourself | Tags: | 19 Comments

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