A few of my favourite things

There are little treasures around our home that add a charm creating a distinct style all our own. I love playing with items, moving them around periodically to create a new look with current pieces. If you have timeless classics they will always work and look great when teamed with a few trendy items.

We picked up this silver coffee carafe at the antique market this fall; it compliments the European style coffee cups (encased in leather sleeves that come off for washing). I use the cups every day and love having my morning coffee in them. The cups were a gift from a friend and former owner of Brassaii Bistro.

Antique carafe and my favourite coffee cups

One of the little 'friends' who has followed me from house to house, and made an appearance in every room of the house is this little bud vase. I don't recall where I bought this little guy who boldly holds up a glass bud vase {look at his little smile}. There were two vases but my Honey dropped one when he was cleaning a couple of years ago (and that is why I prefer to clean). I switch the flower or greenery depending on the season; buddy Angel looks charming no matter what flower he is sporting.

'I bring you flowers every day'

Girls need a space of their own

We had a generous amount of built-in shelves in our last two homes. Loads of space for me to spread out my books, pictures, magazines (sooo many), inspiration board and computer. Now we needed to inject some sensible storage into to our new apartment and have the charm of built-in appearance with the flexibility to move the shelves when we move. Well, there's only one word.......... IKEA. For the verasility of being able to move the units, the finished look and of course a great price; the Liatorp Ikea bookcases and desk did the trick.

This is our spare room (ha, there is no spare room in a small space. You use it all). The shelves and desk area are all Ikea. This gives me space for my books, magazines - hidden behind the lower cabinet doors, a desk area for my laptop/iPad/Printers/ and still a large enough surface on the desk area to create a dressing table area. Add a little sofa to the room, hang a chandelier and a white shag rug and magically it becomes a full functioning space.

 

Desk/Storage by IKEA :: Chair from Home Outfitters

Gilded light makeup mirror was a gift from my Uncle when I was 8 years old.
My Sister and I both were treated to these great mirrors.
I use mine everyday to apply my makeup.

Garden Angel with rose petals in the top leaf bowl adds to the Glamour

Everyone needs a little Glamour

We are currently living in a small two bedroom apartment while we decide on a permanent home. When Richard and I met three years ago he lived it a lovely French Chateau style house on an acre and a half deep wooded property. There were three interconnecting ponds and a 265 foot driveway that set the house back among the tall oaks on the land.

Tall Oaks Estate

Richard sold the property; we hadn't found a new house and so we leased a little Historical house in Old Oakville 'to try out the neighbourhood'. It was a big change for him to be in such a little house, but the house was so charming we loved it.
I painted almost the entire house in soft Historical colours and found our furniture actually was enhanced within the new surroundings.

The rooms were small, the main floor had been updated to an open concept which created great flow. The two bedrooms were small and another little room was converted to a dressing room complete with built-in closets.

Entry of the 1853 House we leased

Open concept - den/dining/kitchen area

This kitchen might be small but there was great pantry cupboards 

with ample space

A year later we still hadn't found 'the' house and the owner of this little charmer needed to sell the property..... so we moved. I didn't want to move again unless we were going in to our last home, but move we did. I cried - I was miserable. We didn't find another house to lease (ok, not one at a reasonable cost), so we leased a two bedroom apartment.
I measured every wall and inch to try and prepare a floor plan. What would we take? What would go in to storage? Pout .... actually it was POUT!!

Our new temporary space is small and maybe that will encourage us to settle on a final property. Here are a few pictures of our 'things' adjusting to the another location. I think it's proof that if you have good core decor items you can work them in anywhere.

Our sideboard hutch comes alive with a new 'old' mirror from Winterberry Lane.

Murano glass, silver vase from HomeSense 

A new mirror from Winterberry Lane brings style and grace to the front entry.

The kitchen in our apartment is limited (ok, yes - it's small). And then there is a useless little nook taking up space and not adding value to the need for more storage. We went on a hunt for an antique sideboard to keep the microwave and some dishes on.

This great sideboard had two front doors originally which we removed. Then we had the white/grey marble top cut and added. I love the sideboard - it is one of my favourite pieces in the apartment.

sideboard purchased at 'My Back Shed Too'

Visit My Back Shed too!  @  Ohh Beautiful Things

When you live in a limited space everything must have a place and must go back in place to keep order. At our other two homes we had generous cupboards/drawers at the back entry - great for dropping keys, cell phones, mail. We needed a front hall solution to fit in the 15 inch wide space at the door. This mustard yellow cabinet brings colour pop to the entry and is the perfect solution for storage, and one of the Buddha heads from Richard collection.

Another great find from HomeSense

 We are continuing our search for 'the' house ::  but in the meantime our familiar things, mixed with some new things suddenly brings the Glamour home.