Interior Design Sense

A crazy week! So much to do and so little time. That’s why I love to find a website that transports me to a world of beautiful things and beautiful rooms bathed in beautiful light. New photographer crush. Bulgarian born but now long based in the States, Miha Matei gets it. She really does. Miha can capture the essence of a room and tug at your heart. She makes you go “yes … that’s it … that’s exactly what I want”. And I want that bedroom and that dining room and those spindly leg stools. So much more after the jump.

Since I have the day off from work I thought I’d use this opportunity to get through some posts I have been wanting to include here lately that I haven’t had a chance to what with wedding plans monopolizing what little spare time I have.

To start, even though Jo mentionned this book back in a WINKS post in April, I finally got my hands on a copy (gotta love snail mail from the other side of the world) and wanted to do my own plug, because it is JUST THAT GOOD. The book I speak of is Australian stylist Megan Morton‘s Home Love. And I have ALOT of love for this book. I have not had a chance to devour every word yet but I have devoured every photo and they are stunning. What I have managed to read of it so far is very useful tips and suggestions for creating different flavours of rooms. Megan has included alot of her own personal experiences which I think brings this book to a certain level of reality. It’s definitively one of my new favourites that will sit proud on my coffee table, and I highly suggest that if you don’t have a copy already, that you go find one ASAP (or try here). Oh – and Megan happened to mention our little blog on page 92. Here is a sneak peak…

Next order of business is a new advertiser has joined DTI, and I’m totally stoked about this one. It’s a shop called Redefine Home, run by David Betz and Linsi Brownson, a home builder and interior designer by trade. They started this online shop last year,  and are proud to work with local artists and small companies, and offer products that are exclusively made for Redefine Home. They offer a bit of everything, from furniture, lighting, textiles, kitchen and bath products, art…they have it all.  I’m stoked because there are so many items they carry that I’d love to get my hands on. (Shipping is free on orders over $50 in the U.S. and I am pleased to tell you that they ship to Canada! And the UK!) Here are just a few of my favourites:

And lastly, I received an email from Greg at 2Modern who wanted to put the word out that they are looking for some new guest bloggers on the 2Modern blog. Anyone can inquire. Guest bloggers post once a week on a chosen day…topics range from modern design, architecture, furniture, lighting, etc. The bloggers are from all over the world (but posts are in English only) and from all walks of life (architects, modern connoisseurs, designers, etc.). A link to contact them if you’re interested is here.

HAPPY CANADA DAY to all of our Canadian readers! Hope you all have a fun day off work, partying it up and enjoying the festivities. I’m hoping to get out in my front yard at some point and attempt to snap a photo of the Snowbirds as they fly around the capital. (Last year I just missed them).

Today I’ve got a few things to blog about – the first is a request for some paint ideas. Later I have a book review, a new store to share, and a request for guest bloggers.

So to start, here is a request from Nataliya:
“A few weeks ago you did a wonderful post of someone’s house exterior with reader comments on how to improve it. I was wondering if I could get so lucky as to have my house get the same royal treatment It’s a Minto home on a Minto street and I’m looking to make it extra special and fun. I would love to paint the trim, front door, garage door and storm shutters, but not sure what colours to choose. Currently I love white, black and red. However, a red double garage rood scares me a bit! Any comments would be very very appreciated.“

Minto is a very popular builder of suburbs here in Ottawa and this home is very typical of what you’ll find here. (I grew up in a very similar home). So Nataliya needs help making her home stand out from the rest because as is typical of the burbs here where all homes are built by the same company, every house looks the same – which is one of the main reasons why I am staying out of the burbs. So if you guys have any suggestions for Nataliya, fire away.

Maddison Architects  take a holistic approach to their work. Think architecture, interior design and landscape design. These houses address their site, explore their purpose. Like a lifesaver’s tower rising from the beach the first home is perfect for costal living. Inside and out meld seamlessly. The design is responsive not intrusive. Summer holidays all year round. Don’t miss the black house after the jump. I have it saved in my files for my perfect bush retreat.

We all know and love designer Celerie Kemble – she’s been featured in tons of magazines and Kemble Interior‘s work is internationally known. I featured this firm back in 2007 and thought it was time for a bit of an update. They’re still about spaces on the traditional side but with a bit of whimsy and perfect doses of pattern and colour. The dining nook above would make a perfect sit-down-and-blog-with-a-cup-of-tea-and-a-plate-full-of-cookies space.

Sleek and sophisticated, a contemporary take on classic Spanish style. Welcome to the portfolio of Joan Lao. It’s all about the contrasts.  Dark cocooning rooms providing respite from the strong Mediterranean sun. The clean crisp lines of furniture against voluminous drapes. Velvet against stone. It’s spare but luxe. Cool yet hot.

Andrea Monath Schumacher created the Denver Colorado firm O Interior Design back in 1999 and is now joined by Laura Medicus and Devon Goldberg. Together they create contemporary spaces that have an air of Hollywood Regency but are comfortable and liveable, chic without being too over the top. Unless you consider wall-to-wall zebra print carpeting in a bedroom over the top….

It looks pretty certain that with my husband’s new job (yay!) that we will be moving to the next city (not so yay!) in a few months. The house search starts all over again and in a new town, my old home town. Never thought I would be going back after I escaped left 30 years ago. One consolation though is that the real estate is cheaper and the place is full of gorgeous old timber homes. Today I’m stalking this home. Built in 1890 it oozes the old house charm I’m craving. Needs work though. Lots of painting, tweek the kitchen and bathroom, bring the garden back to life, fences, deck and of course it’s much more than we can afford right now. Do you think it can stay unsold for say … oooh … 8 to 10 months? Then we could just about do it A girl can dream. More after the jump.

P.S. Because I really really want this house even if I can’t afford it and no one else can have it until I can here is the general link to the real estate site but no direct link …. wouldn’t want someone else to buy it! I know I’ve jinxed my dream already

Bright yet soft, dark yet bright? Personality shining through just as much as the light. These images are so calm, so everyday special! Don’t you just want to soak in those tubs, curl up in that bed, reach up for a cup for your tea? Cosy, comfortable, family and friends. Inspiring and real. Sorry I’m just brain storming the portfolio of photographer Holly Jolliffe. It is just so obvious that Holly loves what she does. It shines in her work. I’ve featured her before but when the portfolio is updated then that’s all the excuse I need to wax lyrical about her work again. Enjoy!

If you’d like to send us photos to include in next week’s “pets on furniture” post, please ensure your photos follow our basic rules: First, the pet must be on a piece of furniture. And said piece of furniture must be clearly visible in the photo, so it takes center stage rather than your pet. (Think of it more of a photo of a great piece of furniture that you want to show off…and your pet happens to be sitting on it). And second, the photo must be of decent quality. If it’s dark or fuzzy (from a camera phone) then it may not make the cut. Thanks! (Photos, your name, location and a brief description can be sent to desiretoinspirekim@hotmail.com and PLEASE don’t send me closeups of your pet!)

“This is Mavi, my 8 month old kitten. He is really cuddly and loves sleeping on furry stuff!“
-Eda

“This is Morgan. I didn’t even pose him. Seriously. He was just sitting there.“
- Maggie&John

“Here is a picture of my cat, Mary, watching tv in our living room. I think it was Law & Order (she used to like it, but lately she has stopped watching it). The art on the wall, listed in order clockwise from the top left includes: two cyanotype photographs by my husband Marek Warunkiewicz, “Float” by Charles Pachter, a small photo by Bill Schwab (sitting on the furniture), a photo taken around 1910 of my great grandfather who was a surveyor in Western Canada, and one of the famous Toronto streetcar prints by Charles Pachter. The vase was made by my husband.“
- Jenny (Toronto)

“This is my golden retriever, Murphy, relaxing on one of the many chairs and couches that came with the house we kindly purchased for him to enjoy. The clock I found at a thrift store.”
- Kira

“This is my three year old Pekingese Manny showing off his summer haircut. You can find him pretty much anywhere in the house when he wants to lounge, but he really seems to like the sofas where he can keep an eye on everyone “

“Meu nome é Alessandra Ayub. Sou do Brasil. Moro na Granja Viana,em São Paulo.Esse é o Nescau, o gatinho da família.Ele adora dormir no sol da manhã que bate na bay window, na sala de almoço. Espero muito que voces gostem. Obrigada.“
- Alessandra (Brasil)

“This is a pic of our adorable fur baby; Cooper. He grown fond of our blue wingback. I wonder if he’ll still like it when I reupholster with a houndstooth print…“
- Erin