moving into a motorhome

So, I haven't mentioned it much on this blog yet, but I've undertaken a new project: I'm moving into a motorhome in order to live on some land with some friends and try my hand at farming.  Ahhh!  So exciting!

I bought a used (1978) motorhome back in the spring and am moving into it in two weeks.  I've been spending the last couple weeks renovating it and making it 'livable'.

Today my mom brought over the cushions and curtains she's been making for me for the sitting area in the trailer.  I'm so excited about how things are looking now that they're coming together.  Loving the colour tones and airy-ness of it all.

A detailed blog posting about it can be read over at my farm for a year blog.

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West Elm

Loving the fall lines at West Elm, so cool ! I've always wanted a window like the one in the first picture...wowsa !

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House Plans - Build it yourself

In the "old days" people used to build their own houses. Many would buy a set of house plans and the construction materials from the Sears & Roebuck Catalog; the pieces would get shipped to there home site and they would build it. Today there are Architect Designed Sears homes all over the country that were built in the early part of the 20th century. Here are a few examples.

This trend went away after world war II when the baby boom began. There was an enormous demand for housing and as a result developers began mass producing houses. One cookie cutter house after another.

Times are sure different now and I wonder if it is time to learn a bit from our past. The economy is tight and people don't have as much money to spend, but everyone still wants a nice home to live in. So why not start building our homes ourselves again?

I would never recommend that you literally go out and start framing your house. You would have to be very skilled and knowledgeable to take on that kind of effort. But depending on how handy you are and your level of confidence there are many ways that you can save money. Here are a few thoughts on things that you might consider tackling yourself:

1. Be your own general contractor
2. Build your own decks
3. Install your own cabinets
4. Install your own counter tops
5. Perform all of your own painting (exterior and interior)
6. Install your fireplace surround
7. Do your own landscaping
8. Install your own appliances
9. Install your own patio or sidewalk pavers
10. Install your own music system
11. Build your own special interior staircase
12. Install your own light fixtures
13. Install your own bathroom accessories

On my own home I did at least some work in each of the above categories. My strategy was to let the professionals perform all of the critical work (foundations, framing, roofing, siding, etc.); but I would do the work that I was confident I could handle. I saved a bundle of money, which made my home affordable. Be warned however that this is a crazy amount of work for you to take on yourself. Many times you have to be available during normal work hours. And forget about having any kind of a life during construction. You will be at your job site every single night and weekend.

If you think you want to take on this kind of an effort you might start by finding a great architect designed house plan at Simply Elegant Home Designs.

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Random Love.....

No story here, just some photos that made me smile ...

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Repurposing

Before you bring stuff into your already small space, look around and see what you already have first. Grandma's teapot just sitting around? Put some pretty flowers in it! Tight fit for a bedside table? Grab a chair! Decor does not always have to be expensive to be beautiful !

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Home Design Ideas - Funky Fireplace

You can learn much from studying rooms that you love. Below I have attached a living room picture from a home I designed a few years ago. This turned out to be a very calm and soothing space. I wish I were sitting there now!

A few key points:

• Windows were placed on both of the outside walls of the space. I always try to have natural lighting feeding into a space from more than one direction.
• Fireplace wall design was asymmetrical. Here form followed function. We needed a hideaway for the flat screen on one side, but not both. That left space for a cozy bench on the other side of the fireplace.
• A funky half oval shaped fireplace was used. This adds a very unique detail to an element that is normally very predictable (the rectangular fireplace box).
• Yellow walls with cream trim; natural wood floors and leather - the materials and colors are comforting.
• Dark ebony stained trim is used sparingly to cap off the fireplace and media cabinet and at the stair railing. This adds richness and sophistication to the space.
• Recessed lighting above highlights the details of the composition.

The moral of this story is - if you are looking to remodel a space in your home; find pictures of similar spaces that you love. Then study them to discover what it is about that space that makes it work so well.

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Bold Moves !

People who have small spaces sometimes back away from bold patterns and colors. Right now budgets are tight, so look to spruce up the things you already have. Don't design for others, design for YOU !!!

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resurrection fern

Wow. This blogger may just be the online artist version of Annie Dillard's unnamed narrator in Pilgrim at Tinker Creek (one of the most beautifully written observations on nature I've ever read).

Margaret Oomen's blog, resurrection fern, hosts her ongoing and inspiring collection of nature-inspired crafts. LOVE IT. All images in the post pulled from her blog.

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Beijing Water Park Redux

This post is not about Home Design but I thought it interesting to pass on. Remember the National Aquatic Center at the Beijing Olympics? That's where Michael Phelps won all of that gold. So what do you do with your Olympic swimming pool inside a stadium when the festivities are over? If you are China you transform it into a huge Water Park.

The 77,000 square foot building Sports seven-storey slides, a wave pool, a water bar, rides entitled Aqualoop, Ridehouse, Bullet Bowl and Speed Slide, whirlpools and ‘deep-sea tornadoes.

Amazing Structure - Amazing Space!

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Small but cute kitchens

These are 3 small kitchens but very stylish!

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Vancouver Cycle Chic

Vancouver Cycle Chic

Vancouver's got a Cycle Chic blog - finally! Ever since I started following Copenhagen Cycle Chic, I've been wishing that Vancouver had one too. There's certainly no shortage of bicycle riders in Vancouver - including many with great style. Really looking forward to following this :)

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my cabin in the city

Before I jump into trailer renovations and a whole new line of trailer/farming inspired decor, I thought I'd share the 'after' photos of the cabin I lived in in Vancouver. I was there for ten months (pretty standard for me) before I moved to the farm I'm on now. The 'cabin' was a rustic little carriage house behind a larger rustic 'heritage' house in Mt. Pleasant, Vancouver. It was definitely yearning for some TLC and decor when I moved in and, like every other place I've ever lived, I jumped in with changes right away.

The biggest change for me was the patio. I was really excited to have that kind of space in the city, so my family and I got to cleaning it up and filling it up pretty quick (see photo above).

The interior didn't need much in the way of repairs and the landlord wouldn't let me paint, so it was really just a matter of cleaning the place well and finding corners for my furniture and art. You can see all my photos on my flickr site, but I've pulled out a few below to give you a glimpse. It was a pretty dark little place, given that most of the windows were made out of glass bricks, so that - paired with my crappy camera, didn't result in any amazing photos, but you get the idea... :)

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back after a long hiatus

I'm back - after a very long hiatus. I was close to shutting the door on this blog forever because I had left it for so long, but after starting up a new blogging venture, I've decided to revive this one as well. Stay tuned for regular posts on things I swoon over in the decorating world as well as updates on a very personal renovation project I'm working on.

In brief, I've left my place in Vancouver and moved to the country to try my hand at farming for a year! I bought myself an old motor home and am in the middle of renovating it. Can't wait for the decorating part (of course!). If you're interested in the day-to-day farming experience, you can follow my documentation of it at www.farmforayear.com, but if you're only interested in the trailer decor, I'll be posting about that here as well :)

Here's to revived blogs and a fun new project - cheers!

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Japanese Dining Room Design Inspiration

Japanese Dining Room Design Inspiration

Modern Japanese dining room design is more about architectural structure and elements than the objects in a room. Strong composition begins with floors, walls, windows, and ceilings. Japanese dining set is a great example of contemporary furniture design and although strongly influenced by Oriental themes.

Modern Dining Room Design Ideas

Beautiful Dining Room Table Design Ideas

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