November 08, 2012

Mini-makeover - Front Hall

It is going to take some time to find all the "right" pieces to pull my new house together.  I have a long list for each room and most of those items are on my phone so when I'm out-and-about, I know what I'm on the hunt for and have all the essential measurements for any larger items.

My front hall is quite wide so there is plenty of space to take off your shoes, hang up your coats, drop your bags, etc.  The only problem is that there is no hall closet.  The former owners left a huge wooden rack with hooks and a shelf but the little cherubs on it weren't exactly my style so it was removed while I was re-painting.  The blinds you see in the photo are broken and the hall light is not very bright and casts a horrible yellow light.  With the dark colour on the walls and the brown tile at the entrance, the space just sucked up any light that came through the side window - the complete opposite of an inviting entrance.

Before:
The dark walls sucked all the light out of the space 
I used Stonington Grey by Benjamin Moore and now the natural light bounces around the space 
Not a huge fan of the colour of this tile - contemplating a temporary fix with marine paint

After (so far):
A much more welcoming space
The new light fixture is considerably brighter 
Still in need of a coat rack and a bigger bench to sit on and store shoes
I removed the blinds and added a temporary opaque film to the windows for privacy
Great inexpensive rug from HomeSense by Colin and Justin
Much better!  The colours of the rug work really well with the lighter paint and make the space even brighter.  I love the extra privacy that the frosted windows provide without sacrificing light.  The new light fixture is great and completely changes the space.  I picked it up during a lighting sale from Restoration Hardware and the classic shape is perfect for the age of the house.

Here's the rest of the "to do" list:

  • replace the tile (something light and bright)
  • replace the locks and doorknob
  • replace the windows (ordered and booked for January - still will be opaque for privacy)
  • paint out the fixture cover above the door so it's less noticeable
  • add a coat rack with a shelf
  • add a large bench (storage under the seat or pick up baskets/boxes for under the bench)
  • paint out the door? possibly a glossy black???

Still a lot left to do but this mini-makeover will hold me over while I continue to search for the rest of the items on my list.

November 04, 2012

Weekend Happenings

Here's what I was up to this weekend...
Hosted a family luncheon and served spaghetti soup
Knitting a scarf for winter
Installing new light fixtures

November 03, 2012

Mini-makeover - Chalkboard door

I had a chalkboard wall at my old place and loved it.  It was a great place to jot down ideas, grocery lists and even do some doodling.

T.O. kitchen and chalkboard wall
I wanted to recreate the look in my new kitchen but didn't have any walls that it would work as well on.  Instead, I decided to paint out the door leading down to my basement.

That all-white door is just asking for some lovin'
Martha Stewart chalkboard paint - I actually used a roller brush to reduce brush marks
Taped-out the trim so I would have nice clean lines 
First coat looks good - I patiently waited an hour between coats
Good coverage but definitely needs a second coat
Second coat had a few roller lines - probably could have waited longer between coats
Third coat resulted in perfect solid coverage
Great addition to the space
My nephew, Milo, trying it out
I'm really pleased with how this turned out.  All the design books remind you to have a touch of black in a room and I think this fits the bill perfectly.  I'm planning to use the top portion for my 'to-do' lists and the bottom is just the right height for my nephews to sit in front of and draw (as demonstrated above).

November 01, 2012

Store Love - Kit Interior Objects

Kit Interior Objects (725 11 Avenue SW) is the place in Calgary to find modern furniture and accessories.  We're talking Knoll, Artek, Cherner, Flos, Georg Jensen, Herman Miller and lots of Marimekko.  It is the mecca for all things design in the city and has a wonderful range of items on display.  I spent a lot of time wandering through the shop and coveting the many beautiful pieces.

I spy an Eames Hang-It-All
Lots of wonderful Marimekko to choose from
Fun Jonathan Adler pottery
Love the radios and Pantone mugs
More Marimekko in the form of pillows
And some Marimekko fabrics
Fun bookcase
So many great accessories to choose from
Flos lighting, including the famous "gun lamp"
A little treat for myself