I love it when beautiful images of white spaces and objects come through my email. Over the weekend, my friend sent me a link to her brother’s Stockholm condo that is currently for sale. Naturally, I drooled. All the white! And in Stockholm! I am happy to share this sleek home here.
 images from Nestor Fastighetsmakleri
Thanks L.U. and I.S. for sending this my way.
It’s always interesting to see what catches my eye when I’m scrolling through Pinterest. Recently, cool credenzas were popping up everywhere. And just like that, I’m bringing them to White Cabana. Have a look.
Greg Natale, via Style Curator
One part of today’s pair is certainly Halloween inspired. I’m seeing diamonds (and not the sparkly kind) all around!
costume, H&M
Jessica Waks, via Style at Home
We’ve had another great month of #WhiteCabanaWearsPink. I hope you enjoyed the weekly infusion of pink. As you know, I do this every October to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer awareness.
To end the series this year, I’m sharing some amazing pink coloured spaces.
pink bedroom, My Beautiful Mess
Whether they’re real, faux, or DIY, cotton branches make an excellent centrepiece for fall and winter.
It’s #WhiteCabanaWearsPink month, which means, I can infuse pink into posts on days other than Monday, right? Yes!
Today I’m showing you two sweet designs that share elements of pink and brass. The first is a kids’ play kitchen and the second is a bathroom. You’ll quickly notice that the two photos have pink cabinets and brass globe lights in common.
After a weekend in Grey County with friends (#WhiteCabanaGoesToTheCountry), I’m enjoying a day in Toronto with family. Life is good. There’s a lot to be thankful for. Yes, even with all the not-so-great stuff that life has thrown at us, I am thankful. I hope the same is true for you.
I’m thrilled to share that I have already raised nearly $650 for the Canadian Cancer Society (see my personal page to donate). I’m grateful for family and friends who supported my 5K Run for the Cure and who continue to donate. I am appreciative of everyone’s generosity.
My #WhiteCabanaWearsPink series continues today. Since it is Thanksgiving, I’ve curated a collection of pink Thanksgiving table settings.
Christofle mood gold 24-piece canteen
Happy Thanksgiving!
Leopard! It’s one of my favourite patterns. I love to wear it, and I like its muted shades in home decor.
Chelsea boot, Cole Haan
Pacific Palisades, Studio McGee
Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian readers!
Some days, I really want to get rid of everything I own and start fresh as a minimalist. Yes, even though I do really love all of my collections! But just look at these spaces. Every piece, every fixture, every finish is placed and purchased so thoughtfully.
Many of us in the design community are used to seeing large round mirrors in hallways, foyers, bedrooms, and bathrooms, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for the classic rectangle. There is! Check out these beautiful spaces with rectangular mirrors.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Classic campaign style furniture goes well in modern, traditional, eclectic, and monochromatic spaces. In short, a campaign dresser (or writing desk) is a great investment piece because it can float around various spots in a home.
Kristie’s campaign dresser in the front hall (full house tour)
So what’s the brief history of campaign style? Well, Sarah Beaumont wrote,
“During the height of the British Empire, officers on lengthy military campaigns in India and South Africa needed lightweight, durable furniture that could easily be transported. But they also didn’t want to sacrifice the creature comforts they were accustomed to. So British furniture manufacturers like Chippendale started designing pieces specifically for the military that gave them all the rugged functionality they needed, and all the luxury they craved.”
Of the recognizable details of the furniture, she further explained, “Leather straps and canvas seats made objects lightweight and easy to fold up. Recessed brass handles were added to drawers and brass angle pieces were used on furniture corners to protect them from being damaged while in transit.”
It’s hard to resist those brass and leather details even today!
 campaign dresser, $1895 USD, Williams-Sonoma
campaign dresser, Dering Hall
campaign writing desk, $249 USD, All Modern
vintage campaign chest, $445 USD (on sale), Charish
campaign dresser, $949.51 CAD, Crate & Barrel
Source: Laurel & Wolf
Today’s two of a kind are chic kitchens that include a lot of white subway tile, black grout, black cabinets, wood, art, and a touch of gold.
Christine Dovey, Style at Home
These stone sinks are impressive vessels, aren’t they? While I can’t quite see one in a suburban home, I can definitely imagine a beautiful stone sink in a gorgeous Italian villa! Can’t you?
via My Paradissi
via Carla Aston
Coqui Coqui Residence and Spa, via Remodelista
via My Domaine
via One Kin Design
Have a great weekend!
If you’ve ever seen my house in person or really paid attention to my stories here on White Cabana, you probably know that I dislike my upstairs bathroom. It’s huge. It has a corner jacuzzi tub that I rarely use and the smallest corner shower. When I bought my house five years ago, I did a quick reno – removed the shiny grey wallpaper, painted the 80s wood trim on the cabinet, and replaced the counter, sink, faucet, and lighting. I also tried to draw the eye up from the grey tub and linoleum floor by crafting a giant inkblot art wall.
This was a good mini makeover, and it’s still serving me pretty well. And since I’ve spent my renovation budget on other things in my home – painting, tiling, doors, trim, and my laundry room – there has been no room in my renovation budget for the big bathroom.
So I’ve had to continue to get creative. With input from other creative people, of course!
When my sister was over a couple of weeks ago, she encouraged me to rip out the disgusting shower door and replace it with a pretty curtain. Just rip it out. Sure.
Yup. I thought this was a manageable DIY task.
  The Before
So, one morning, when I was still in my pajamas, I took out my tools and started removing a dozen or so screws. I chiseled, hammered, pushed, and pulled the door and frame out of place. It was gratifying.
The Tools (perfume optional)
I then scrubbed the built-up gunk off of the marble step. This made a huge difference. I felt like I had a brand new shower.
I filled all the old shower door screw holes with silicone, hung a shower curtain tension rod, and added a pretty curtain. Done and done.
The After
This was an easy DIY that has made a big difference. The whole project cost about $50 (for the rod, shower rings, shower curtain and liner). Yes, I still dislike the corner shower, but at least I don’t have a dirty door to look at every day. Much improved!
Books. Magazines. I love them stacked. I enjoy seeing my books and magazines (neatly) over-flowing all around my home. I tend to keep my stacks in my kitchen and office, but I also often have stacks of books and magazines in my bedroom. They make me happy. And it seems like these stacks make others happy, too.
via Domino
designed by Alexander White, via Home Adore
via Love Eva
Have a great weekend! Happy reading!
Serge Mouille was a French designer who is best known for his lighting. You may have seen his arm chandelier or sconces floating around design magazines and blogs for many years now.
Original Serge Mouille lights cost in the thousands of dollars, but as many iconic designs, there are plenty of reproductions online and in stores that cost a few hundred dollars. And you can see from the images below that Serge Mouille lighting looks great in a variety of interiors.
Julie Hillman, via The Decorista
Christine Dovey, via Style at Home
 via SF Girl By Bay
via Goop
Note to self: Find a wall to hang/lean a piece of oversized art. I do love a good gallery wall (see my office in Style at Home), but a wall featuring a massive photograph creates a “wow” moment, too.
Sun N Salt, Etsy
designer – Ashley Botten, via House & Home
If you’ve been to a design museum, then you may have come across Vico Magistretti’s Atollo table lamp. The lamp was designed in 1977, and many people would agree that it is as beautiful today as it was 30 years ago.
via Mohd
via Remodelista
If you have an extra Hermès in your closet that you no longer wear, you may consider framing it. Since each piece is a work of art, it would fit right into a home’s decor.
Tamara Eaton, Simply Framed
Sarah Blakely, Style at Home
Monika Hibbs, Photo by Tracy Ayton, via PopSugar
Tamara Eaton, Simply Framed
Yes, yes, cottages remain on my mind. I keep coming across some gorgeous cottages online that I hope you don’t mind that I keep sharing them here.
This place by la Shed is bright and airy, and it comes with incredible views.
I could move right on in!
I’m starting continuing to gather inspiration images for my dream bathroom renovation (which is still years away, I’m sure!). Specifically, I’ve had my eye on double vanities and the lovely double mirrors that go with them.
Vanessa Alexander, via Dering Hall
via Becki Owens
via Decorist
Are you a bathtub or shower person? And if you like bathtubs, what style do you have? If your tub sits on four ball and claw legs, then you have a traditional clawfoot tub.
Emily Chalmers, via SF Girl By Bay
This style reached popular stats in the late 19th century when it spread to England from Holland at a time when bathing became fashionable. Fashionable. Could you imagine living in a period where bathing was such a luxury. In some parts of the world, I know it still is!
In the 1880s, companies started manufacturing porcelain enameled cast-iron tubs. Nowadays, these tubs could be made of fiberglass or acrylic, which makes them much lighter than the traditional cast-iron version.
I recently learned of a design firm called Three Birds Renovations, and each project is absolutely stunning. You wouldn’t have to twist my arm to live in any of these spaces.
If you’ve been following along regularly, then you know that over a 6-week period, I shared the progress of my laundry/bathroom combo room makeover as part the the One Room Challenge event this spring. Last week, I shared five room reveals from the featured designers of the One Room Challenge. Today, I bring you five more gorgeous spaces, but this time, from the guest participants of the event..
Here’s a sneak peek at 5 rooms from the guest participants…
And one more for good luck:
And just a few more:
Decor Happy’s teen girl’s bathroom
The Posh Home’s modern living room
A House in the Wood’s shared girls’ bedroom
Wonderfully Made’s laundry room
Cait Waite’s bedroom
Deeply Southern Home’s library
Home Glow Design’s she-shed
Hartley Home’s laundry room
Jessica Devlin’s living room
My Pinecone Home’s guest bedroom
Have a great long weekend, everyone! See you back here on Tuesday!
p.s. In Royal Wedding news – this cake recipe!
Ladders in the home are not just for dark, moody libraries. They’re used in kitchens and closets to reach high shelves, and they’re used in living rooms and bedrooms for hanging blankets. In my own home, I have a couple of bamboo ladders – one for storing extra towels in my bathroom (well, “just for show” towels), and another that is decorative in my basement lounge.
These photos show the diversity of this decorative – and functional – piece.
I’ve had a look around shops online, and I found some great ladders that could work well in a variety of spaces.
ladder, $102.99 CAD, Wayfair
ladder, $214 CAD, Target
ladder, $98 USD, Anthropologie
ladder, $99 USD, The Home Outpost
ladders, $80-96 USD, West Elm
It’s been all One Room Challenge around the design blogosphere over the last six weeks, and the featured designers and guest participants shared all their after photos on Wednesday and Thursday this week. This means that we have a lot of reading to catch up on this weekend! Hooray!
To get us started, here’s a peek into five beautiful spaces from the featured designers. Next week, I’ll share some of my favourite spaces designed by the guest participants.
backyard oasis – Jojotastic
basement – Coco & Jack
master bedroom – Rambling Renovators
living room – Natasha Habermann
office – Bisou Style
Have a great weekend, everyone! Happy Mother’s Day!
Today’s the day! It’s the One Room Challenge final reveal day!
So, without even a moment more of pause, let me welcome you in to my new laundry/bathroom combo room!
And before I share more photos, let’s have a look at the before photos of the space. (Note: You can see more photos in this Week 1 post.)
I’m so excited to share these after photos with you. The last six weeks have been full of mess, clean-up, shopping, and styling. I’m beyond thrilled with the end result, and I am so grateful for the team of experts who helped me transform this space. I now have a bright space for laundry days, and my guests have a beautiful white bathroom to enjoy while they visit.
As I showed you over the last six weeks, we completely gutted this space. No surface was left untouched, and nothing from the original room remained. Everything is new – from plumbing to studs to tiles to accessories. This space needed an overhaul, and that’s exactly what it got!
I’ve always called this space small but mighty. I demand a lot from this space in terms of functionality, and the changes my construction team and I made have definitely improved every aspect of the space. It’s a combo room – laundry plus bathroom – so it’s really going to be put to work!
I am absolutely loving having a large laundry sink. After five years with a bathroom vanity sink, this change is a big one. I was lucky to work with Blanco on this project, and the company generously provided me with the durable Liven laundry sink. The Silgranit material is supposed to be “exceptionally resistant to heat, scratches, and impact,” which is exactly what I need.
To match the sink, I opted for the Blanco Urbena faucet. When the box arrived way back in the fall, I took the faucet out immediately, and was so impressed with its strength and substance. Now in place, this piece looks even more beautiful (and it’s even better in person). The pull-down faucet function is going to be great as I start making a mess in this space with indoor gardening projects, hand-washing delicate clothing, and more.
I had a custom cabinet made in Toronto. It’s painted Chantilly Lace, and it has the same door front detail as my interior doors (see below). For the counter, I went with white quartz, and a 6″ backsplash. The door pulls are from Ikea.
I have used some pieces in this space that I have already in other spaces in my home. Why change a good thing, right? For example, I have the larger version of the mirror in my powder room. And I have the same toilet and toilet roll holder in my powder room. I know many people like to switch things up in the design world, but I like consistency and simplicity, so I was happy to use these same pieces in my new space.
The addition of a beautiful new shower has really made this combo room that much more functional. This was a big job, and I lived with a trench in my floor for a couple of days as my plumber was working his magic. I opted for classic white 4″x12″ subway tiles, and my tiler surrounded the shower with them. I carried the hex floor into this shower space, too. The shower system is the Arris style by Moen.
The little “door” that you see in the photo below is a genius invention by my drywaller. It slides up and down, and it hides my main water pump/valve. It’s incredible. It’s so handy, and it looks sleek, too!
The floor is much more exciting than what you might see in these photos. Beneath these gorgeous hex marble-like tiles is Warmup‘s floor heating system. And it’s luxurious! The thermostat is easy to use, and I have been playing around with different schedule settings. I can even control the temperature from my phone. You know what this means, right? I can lie in bed on a Sunday morning and only get out to do laundry once my floor has been heated up! Genius! (Note: I haven’t added a bath mat to the space yet because I want to stare at the floors!)
The doors in this space are Metrie’s Masonite Lincoln Park. I used the same style in my #byebyebifold makeover, so it only made sense to carry them into this new space. Side note: In fact, I have replaced all of my interior doors, and the change has refreshed my whole home! The door hardware (just like everywhere else in my home) is the Milan in satin chrome from Direct Door Hardware.
The addition of the pocket door to separate this gorgeous space from the less-than-gorgeous furnace room has been an especially smart addition. I was beyond ready to get rid of the accordion door six weeks ago, and I was even more thrilled when my drywaller told me he could get in a pocket door.
To bring more beauty into the space, I reached out to my friends at pamuk & co., and they sent me the softest set of Turkish towels and a matching robe. I am so spoiled with these items! Each towel is a piece of art, in my opinion. And have I mentioned how soft they are? Absolutely luxurious! You can see the robe in #WhiteCabanaStyle action in this Instagram photo! (Side note: pamuk & co. has been spotted in Meghan Markle’s hands post-yoga and in her former Toronto home!)
I have two pieces of art in this laundry/bathroom combo room. The top piece above the toilet is Clothespins 2 by Elliot Stokes from Minted. Under this is a photo my friend Suzanne took, and I printed. It’s a close-up photo of a large-scale piece by Marco Godinho called “Forever Immigrant.” If you’d like to see more of the art, I recommend this video.
And one final look before I leave you for the day (to explore other One Room Challenge participants’ reveal posts):
Thanks again for following along this renovation journey with me.If you’d like to take a walk down memory lane, check out my week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, and week 5 posts. And for more inspiration, click on over to the reveal posts from the One Room Challenge’s featured designers and guest participants.
Thanks to Blanco, Warmup, Minted, and Pamuk & Co. for collaborating on this project. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to my construction team for making my design come to life: Chris, Troy, and Tony. Thanks to Mom and Dad for your continued willingness to help out and get messy!
***
Sources:
sink: Blanco Liven (c/o)
faucet: Blanco Urbena (c/o)
floor heating: Warmup (c/o)
robe and towels: pamuk & co. (c/o)
art: Minted (c/o)
art: photo from a friend
hooks: Ikea
hangers: Ikea
cabinet and counter top: custom
cabinet paint: Chantilly Lace
mirror: HomeSense
doors: Metrie Masonite Lincoln Park
door handle: Milan, Direct Door Hardware
floor tiles: Toronto
wall tiles: Toronto
shower system: Moen Arris
toilet paper holder: Bed Bath and Beyond
toilet: Costco
ceiling lights: Costco
We are near the end of this spring’s One Room Challenge event.
I can barely believe it actually. This week 1 before post seems like a distant memory now that all my new pieces are in place. This is definitely going to be a dramatic before-and-after feature, so I hope you’ll stick around until next week to see the big reveal.
For now, here are a few glimpses into my transformed space.
My Blanco Liven sink and Urbena faucet were installed. They’re surrounded by a white quartz countertop and a custom cabinet.
My drywaller made the greatest invention to cover my water main valve. 
My pocket door is one of my favourite features of my new room.
And my new mirror adds some classic shine to this high-functioning room.
Finally, my WarmUp floor heating thermostat was installed, and it works perfectly. My floor warms up in minutes, and it’s definitely a luxury for this space. Without the floor heating system, my tile floor is so cold!
Over the next week, I’ll be adding all the finishing touches: shower curtain, toilet roll holder, and art. It’s going to be a fun week!
Check out my week 1, week 2, week 3, and week 4 posts to get caught up on all the action. And for more inspiration, click on over to the posts from the One Room Challenge’s featured designers and guest participants.
Thanks to Blanco and WarmUp for collaborating on this project. All opinions are my own.
I’ve been keen on terrazzo lately. Terrazzo is a type of polished concrete flooring that has bits of marble or granite set into it. Â While I have no use for terrazzo in my house, and the installation process does seem intensive (I’ve watched plenty of YouTube videos to prove this), I keep wondering about how I could possibly use it in the future. Maybe for my third bathroom redo? Hmm…
Here are five gorgeous spaces that use black and white terrazzo.
via Buk & Nola 
via Buk & Nola
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Simple black lines can be quite striking. This duo caught my attention.
House C. staircase
Ron Gilad – Molteni & C, via Azure
I still have cottage life on my brain, and I imagine it’s going to get even stronger as the good weather arrives. So I’ve been floating around Pinterest looking at beach houses, and oh my goodness, there are so many beauties out there in the world!
Isn’t the kitchen below from Amber Interiors just gorgeous? Could you imagine having a beach house with this stunner? Wow!
And this bathroom? Sweet, right? You know I’m not usually drawn to patterns, but I think this floor is so charming, and it would be so lovely in a cottage.
And what would a beach house be without a couple of hanging chairs. They’re a must!
What do you think about leaning art and books? I have things leaning in a few spots in my house, and I really enjoy layering art. I love being surrounded by cool art pieces, and by layering them, I can switch things around when I need a change.
Here are five inspiring spaces that are accented by leaning art walls.
via Carla Aston
via Carla Aston
via Habitually Chic
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Well, it’s official. I’m taking part in my first One Room Challenge (ORC) as a guest participant. If you’re unfamiliar with the One Room Challenge, it’s a twice-yearly event that happens in the design blogger community where design bloggers makeover a room in 6 weeks. 6!
Calling it Home started the challenge over a decade ago, and ever since, design bloggers have been putting their best foot forward. There are two lines of participation at this point. First, on Wednesdays, a group of 20 featured participants will share their progress (see their week 1 posts). Then, on Thursdays, any design blogger can participate as a guest participant. You can check on everyone’s progress at the One Room Challenge site as well as on individual blogs.
So how will I participate this year? So what am I going to feature over the next 6 weeks? My combo laundry room/bathroom. And I’m pretty darn excited! (If you’re new to White Cabana, here’s a peek into my home.)
To be honest, I started this project weeks ago, but progress has been s…l…o…w. Given my work/life schedule and my lack of contractor contacts in Waterloo, renovating the space from top to bottom in 6 weeks wasn’t looking promising. 12 weeks, maybe. 🙂 But I can definitely feature it in 6 weeks! And that’s what I’m committed to doing.
Warning: This post contains some colourful before photos that may hurt your eyes.
Here’s what this room looked like on the day I took the first tour of my (future) house five years ago. Soon after I moved in, I removed the support bar (and about 30 others around my house), the shelf unit above the toilet, and the glass shelf. I also painted the wood strip on the sink cabinet and covered almost the whole floor with a big, white bath mat.
And then I lived with it. Year after year. I lived with a hideous pink/grey/gold laundry/bathroom. It hurt my eyes every time I had to do laundry.
Here’s what my space look liked a couple of weeks ago. Note the floral wallpaper. Awful. And the accordion door. Awful again. And the drop ceiling. Convenient but awful. And the lighting. Awful.
To be honest, I’ve had a love-hate relationship with this space. It’s been great to have a finished laundry space and extra bathroom for guests. It’s also been really enjoyable for me to see people’s reactions when I show them this space. Easy entertainment. On the other hand, though, the wallpaper and floor combo has always made my eyes hurt. And I hate not having a big laundry sink. A little vanity just doesn’t cut it for my needs.
While I did hire tradespeople for this makeover, my DIY-loving self could not leave it to them to have all the fun. I spent about two weekends in demolition mode. We took everything back to the studs, so that I could have a blank slate.
The space is small, but the makeover is going to be mighty!
Here’s what the space looked like post-demo day:
I know it’s not pretty and tidy, but I actually like this part of the reno process. I like to see all the pipes exposed, to see how things were originally set up, and to think about ways to make things better.
I know the tradespeople I have hired are going to make it better than ever before. On the technical side, new electrical and new plumbing is being installed. I also said goodbye to the awful accordion door, and my framer installed a fabulous pocket door. Things are already looking bright.
As for my design plan?
I’m going with this marble-like ceramic hex tile on the floor: 
 this classic 4×12 subway tile on the walls:
this quartz counter on the cabinet:
this Blanco Urbena faucet on the sink:
My crew is also going to do some more reframing and add a heated floor. Hello luxury!
My custom cabinet is ready for pick-up, and my Blanco sink is going to look gorgeous on top of it. I have settled on a shower trim kit (finally…after buying and returning a couple). My original design plan continues to guide me, but I have had to make changes to it. Overall, my space’s design could be described as “a massive dose of white with a touch of grey”.
Thanks for following along my first One Room Challenge! If there’s anything specific you’d like to see or learn, let me know in the comments.
I’m sharing two interesting artist studios today. I love the combination of messy and neat in each of these rooms.
via Home Edit
via Country Living
Even in homes that have a very white aesthetic (like mine), natural elements are a welcome addition. A piece of furniture or a small decorative bowl in wood, rattan, raffia, or wicker adds instant warmth to a space that is white-dominant. The spaces here prove just that.
via Style Curator
Andrea Martin-Loff via The Design Chaser
As you can see, the addition of natural textures works in modern and traditional spaces.
I recently acquired a new hutch and added new hardware to it. After seeing Jennifer’s bookcase, I opted for the same type of lock – the catch. This type of fastener – also called a latch – has two parts that lock into one another.
White Cabana Instagram (catch from Lee Valley Hardware)
The catch hardware reminds me of pieces of furniture that I’ve seen in France, and since I’m a bit of a francophile, I have been drawn to this piece.
I came across this photo on my Pinterest travels, and I fell in love with it. Look at those windows! This is an incredible space, and there’s even more goodness around the whole home.
These two Easter table settings caught my eye. I absolutely love the simplicity of each style.
This curvy dining table was designed by Warren Platner in 1966. It’s made of reinforced stainless steel rods that are welded together with horizontal and edge framing wire, making its base extremely stable.
In addition to the classic dining table, Platner’s collection includes a side table, a coffee table, and a variety of arm chairs.
Let’s have a look at how Platner’s creations integrate with their surroundings.
You’ll see an increase in reno-focused posts over the next little while as I have quite a bit on the go at my house, and I like to share. I hope you’ll enjoy learning about the reno process, too.
In my new bathroom, there will be white subway tiles in the shower. This means that I need to settle on the grout colour. Originally, I was all for white grout, but considering the hard water we have in Waterloo, my lack of desire to scrub showers, and a conversation I had with my tiler, I’m reconsidering the white (dramatic, I know!).
Here are the options:
Option 1: white (subway) tile + white grout
Option 2: white subway tile + grey grout
Option 3: white subway tile + black grout
I do prefer the white-on-white because the grout lines would just blend in with the tile, but I really want this space to be clean for a long while, so I’m almost certain I’ll go for grey grout. I think the grey will look nice with the flooring, too.
What are your thoughts about white subway tile? Are you sick of the look? Are you tired of seeing yet another bathroom with white subway tile? As for me? I’m definitely not tired of them. Year after year (after year), I come across images of gorgeous spaces that use them, and I always think that it’s a beautiful, clean, classic tile option for a kitchen backsplash or bathroom.
my kitchen – featured in Style at Home
I’ve picked up a 4″ x 12″ white tile for my new laundry room/bathroom, and I think it’s going to look great. I know patterned tiles are very a la mode at the moment, but they just don’t fit well with my aesthetic. White subway tiles on the other hand? I can’t get enough of them!
Although I prefer the tiles (small or large size) to be installed in a brick formation, I do like the look of the stacked installation as well.
What do you think? Do you have strong feelings about white subway tiles?
Today I’m bringing you information about one of the most famous designs in the world of lighting. The Arco Floor Lamp was designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1962. You’ve probably seen it – or countless imitations of it – in design magazines ever since then. Even when the 60s and 70s styles passed, this lamp remained. It’s certainly a long-standing fixture in many homes.
The base is made of Carrara marble, and the hole in the side makes for easy lifting and moving. The curved stainless steel stem means that you can position the light as you wish.
 via Cheer Huzz
via Decoholic
 via Vintage Industrial Style
via Modern Karibou
via The Decorist
The Rolls Royce of ovens has to be La Cornue. A La Cornue is like a piece of art, and I can only imagine how much joy it brings its owners. The range was invented by Albert Dupuy in 1908, and it has been an extraordinary piece ever since.
I wrote about about La Cornue a couple of years ago, so it’s obviously something that I can’t get out of my design-loving mind!
Chateau, La Cornue
La Cornufé, La Cornue
What do you think? Have you heard of La Cornue?
I recently learned about La Divine Comédie boutique hotel in Avignon, France, and I just have to share it because it’s so beautiful. The hotel has five stunning suites and several well-appointed common spaces. The hotel also has a gorgeous garden area. The hotel is classic French in design, but if you look closely, there are a number of quirky elements, too.
I enjoyed reading Jacquelyn Clark’s predictions for 2018 design trends a couple of weeks ago. I agree with her point about curved couches. I think we’re going to be seeing more of them in the months ahead. At the Interior Design Show a couple of weeks ago, one of the hot spaces was Avenue Road, which included this gorgeous curved sofa.
curved couch (It’s ready for some new upholstery, but I love it in white!), Autumn Hachey
a curved couch for curve home theatre, The Fox Group
  Vladimir Kagan sofa, Parisian room designed by Pierre Yovanovitch via Scandinavian Collections
Maison Van Gend, NY Times
Here are a few sofas with curves that I’ve sourced from around the Internet…you know, in case you’re in the market for one.
curved armless sofa, Baker Furniture
Velago sectional, Wayfair
curved sofa, 1st Dibs
curved sofa, 1st Dibs (sold)
Copper has been on must-have lists for quite some time. In fact, I don’t think copper in the kitchen ever goes away.
As you may recall, last month, I had the opportunity to explore Grey County (see what I did on day 1). Day 1 ended at the Pretty River Valley Country Inn. And here’s where I’d like to continue to share my travel story with you.
My loft at the Pretty River Valley Country Inn was spacious and comfortable. I fell asleep listening to the crackling fire. When I woke up, the first thing that came to my mind was the incredibly deep sleep that I had just had. I could not believe it. Interestingly, during breakfast at the inn, I met a couple who said the exact same thing! We agreed that our deep sleeps were due to a combination of a very comfortable Tempurpedic mattress, the warmth of the fire, and the fresh country air.
Breakfast was served in the main house at the Inn, and everything was freshly made. I ate by the fireplace, naturally.
After breakfast, I took a little tour of the property and surrounding trails. The day was bright, and I loved who I met along my little stroll in the snow…reindeer and Icelandic horses! I had never seen reindeer in person. Have you? What an awesome treat! All the animals at the Pretty River Valley Country Inn are absolutely beautiful.
the reindeer at Pretty River Valley Country Inn
the horses at the Pretty River Valley Country Inn
After my trail walk and visits with all the animals, I loaded up my car and took a short drove to the sweet village of Kimberley. Here, met up with Amanda from Grey County Tourism for lunch at Justin’s Oven. This restaurant is full of charm! The wood decor reminded me of a Swiss chalet or in a Cabane à Sucre. The restaurant is open only a few days a week: Thursday pub night, Friday pizza, Saturday dining, and Sunday brunch. My breakfast crêpe was tasty and service was friendly. I would easily make a return trip for Friday pizza! And I can imagine how fun it would be it in the summer with the windows open!
Right next door to Justin’s Oven is the Kimberley General Store. Every nook of this store exudes charm. The products are carefully curated – many of them local, too! It’s a great spot for little gifts, chocolate, and fresh bread, too! I picked up some garlic (grown right on the property).
goodies at the Kimberley General Store
It was wonderful to chat with Stacey – owner of the Kimberley General Store – and the other staff. Everyone was friendly and proud of all that the area has to offer its residents and visitors.
From Kimberley, I took a quick drive to Blue Mountain for a few outdoor activities. I hadn’t been to Blue Mountain for decades! I’m not a skier, but I was up for trying other activities at the resort. The newest attraction is the mountain top skating trail. I had brought my skates to give this a try, but the weather affected the ice conditions, so the trail was closed during my visit. Instead, I braved the Ridge Runner – a 1km-long mountain coaster. Honestly, I was scared. I had control of the little cart, and I was safely buckled in, but I was still scared. All the kids around me though – not so much! Ha ha!
the Ridge Runner at Blue Mountain
I also walked over to the other side of the resort to do the Hike n’ Tube. The cheers and screams from people tubing down the hill were hilarious! After the Ridge Runner, though, I found the hike n’ tube so calm! I don’t think I uttered even one little scream as I slid down the hill in my donut tube! It was fun though. I probably would do both activities again.
After a couple of hours outside in the winter weather, I was ready to check-in to my hotel. On this second night in Grey County, I checked into the Westin Trillium House Blue Mountain. The hotel was so busy, but check-in was smooth. This hotel has all the amenities that anyone could want. I was booked into a great suite – a one bedroom plus den with a living room, kitchenette, large bathroom, and a balcony. Oh – and a fireplace, too. My room overlooked the village and icy pond (check out this day/night comparison). I took the opportunity to spread out all of my stuff and to dry all of my outdoor winter clothing.
I stopped in at Oliver & Bonacini – on the first floor of the Westin – for a quick dinner before I headed over to the Scandinave Spa.
I was curious about the Scandinave Spa in the winter. I have been several times before in warmer weather (see this post and this post), but outdoor baths in the winter? How was this going to turn out? Well, let me tell you. Although the baths routine is hot-cold-rest, there was no way that I was brave enough to plunge into anything cold in freezing cold winter weather. The warm baths, on the other hand, were absolutely enjoyable! I was so relaxed! And after a day of outdoor activity, being in the baths was perfection! And I wasn’t cold at all!
And this brings me to the end of my second day in Grey County. Can you tell that I really enjoyed myself? I definitely did!
All photos by Jordana.
Thanks to Grey County and Amanda P. for sponsoring my trip. All opinions are my own.
 
 
 
