Container plants

My containers look like they've been run over by a truck this time of year (the fresh dump of snow hides it right now) but I've seen some ideas on having green containers year-round by using plants that look good all year, and supplementing them with annuals with the new seasons. Some plants that I like (besides the boxwoods above):

Cupressus macrocarpa 'Wilma' (small trees now, but can grow to 20 ft. tall -- so they'd have to be transferred out of the container eventually).

Emerald Isle Spikemoss (I wonder if they would keep their ball shapes once planted?)

Random Seattle pictures

Suckers at Anthropologie

One of the coolest things I saw this past weekend in Seattle: lollipops hung by their sticks from the ceiling at Anthropologie.  Beautiful!  

My dream chair

The Petrie leather chair from Crate & Barrel.  Perfection.  Trevor says it looks like it's from the 70s -- I say, who cares?  It's green!!  (And the colour is called 'sour apple'.  But the purple 'amethyst' and grey 'putty' are nice as well.)  I took a picture of a chair in the store that was upholstered in that exact finish (the existing Petrie chair was in 'vellum'):

Fabulous.  Fabulous, fabulous.  

This song will make your week so much better

We've recently started playing 'Little Big Planet' (so much fun!) and while browsing in Anthropologie this weekend this song -- which is in the game -- began to play:

Hypothetically thinking

I know our next house is going to be a fixer-upper (or a smasher-downer and then a build-again-er).  These are some of the house plans I found that I like the look of, and I'm discovering my tastes head towards French Country or Craftsman styles.  And I'm only talking about the outside (I'm shallow like that).

Stainless steel letterforms

Coming to my mailbox soon!  I've decided to start a collection of letterforms for a future feature wall.  My first letter is coming from a 1950's era parking garage in New York (salvaged).  It's stainless steel and about 10 inches high.  (I bought it here.)  

Trevor asks why I decided on the letter 'P' to which I say, 'I have to start somewhere!'.  And I can always put it in the bathroom for now, as a little subtle encouragement.  ;)

One other letter I've seen, that I would have LOVED to have be the first to find was this letter 'A':

New for the crafty bookshelf

I picked up this sewing book on the weekend.  I don't do a lot of sewing, but a book like this that has lots of projects for around the house is inspiring.  (And it's refreshing to see a nicely designed book on sewing as well...those pattern books at the fabric store look scary sometimes!)

Compiling colours

I have a folder on my computer full of pictures pinched off other websites for colour palette inspiration, but this week I've found the ultimate inspiration through a paper sample book dropped off to me. 

Seriously, it makes me giddy.  Things are going to be much different in the next house*.

* I know, I speak of this elusive 'next house' all the time.  There's no 'for sale' sign on our lawn yet, but it's only February still.  And there's a master bathroom to finish.  And tiling to do in another bathroom, and caulking and painting trim everywhere.  Believe me, once that's all done I'll be talking a different story.

Gorgeous geometrics

I've put the green pattern on my list to make drapes out of one day. (I am such a sucker for green.  It's a borderline addiction I think.)  

Hot or not?

I've been keeping an eye out for a reasonably priced dining room chandelier (we have to switch our existing one out before we put the house up for sale -- it was a gift).  Unfortunately, I came across the exact opposite -- something expensive, over the top, and faaaa-aaaa-bulous.  I would love to see it in a foyer or stairwell (but not in this house).  

Blue sky...what's that?

As seen out my back door this morning.  I need warmer weather so I can head out into the garage and turn it into a paint-sprayer paradise.

Scary windows x 4: Before and after

The scary windows were tackled over the weekend.  After holding the previous fabric option up to the windows and taking a look, I decided that they were blocking out too much light in the stairwell -- and that's not good.  So light and airy was the new goal, and a trip to Ikea was made for panel curtain material:

Anno Horisont curtain panel.

I took the roll and measured 4 panel lengths and did a simple stitch along the top and bottom for the rod (no need for the sides, they don't fray unless you touch them a lot, and no one can reach these).  

Scary windows x 4

These windows are in a scary location -- right in the middle landing of the stairs, wayyy up in the middle of the wall.  I've considered doing a frosted vinyl pattern on the glass, but since it's so high, I don't know if I want to spend a lot of time up there filling holes from the rods that are there now, painting and then applying vinyl.  And so I'm going with the idea of replacing the current fabric with something a little less granny-like (seriously, they're circa 1997, and were made to match the previous *shudder* burgundy wall colour).  

I have some existing fabric (Joel Dewberry) that I'm thinking of using, and did a quick mock up below of three options.  I need something that's not too sheer because these windows face our neighbour's house (right into their stairs as well).  Ah, the joys of crammed house-to-house living!

Option 1 - Grey

Option 2 - same thing, but in Celery

Option 3 - Black and White (might be too harsh on a blank wall)

I bought a book for the cover

I've done this before -- this book was calling my name off the shelf (and it was 20% off, so really calling my name). 

Here's the  illustrator's website (Helen Chapman) with more samples of her work. 

The entryway: Before and after

The entryway was finished this weekend.  Despite my inital ho-humming about the slate tile (it seems a bit overused in houses right now -- but I'm sure the future buyer of this house will be over the moon about it) I think it turned out beautifully.  Two coats of gloss sealer (bling!), the addition of moulding (notice the plinth block action, courtesy of Trevor's mad finishing skillz), painting of moulding (my mad skillz), painting of closet doors and one revamped table later and we're done*.  

* Although I think the glass bottle needs a flower or two.