Thursday, September 30, 2010
My style is “Suburban”
2010 Princess Margaret Hospital Lottery Showhome
The design inspiration is a home in the Hamptons, specifically Diane Keaton’s home in the movie Something’s Gotta Give. It is 6500 square feet of comfortable yet luxe living in the town of Oakville.
The kitchen cabinetry, walls and trim are painted Para’s Melt Down, a deep grey. You would think that it feels dark but there is light coming in from windows on both sides so it is actually cozy and bright at the same time.
What I love about this showhome, and previous ones designed by the H&H team, is that all of the sources are listed. Paint colours, fabrics, furniture, flooring and cabinetry sources are all listed here.
If you are unable to visit in person, you can watch video tours here. There is still room this Saturday (as of right now) for a DIY event at the showhome with H&H staff which I have signed up for.
It’s fitting that I am writing this post now as a young mom to a classmate in my daughter’s class lost her battle with cancer this week. She leaves behind her family including an 8 year old and 2 year old. It’s heartbreaking. Please purchase a ticket here. You are supporting a worthy cause and have the chance to win this beautiful home - furnished, decorated and landscaped.
Have you seen the showhome yet? What did you think?
(I have been playing around with a new photo editing program, thanks to the Blogging Your Way e-course I am currently in with Holly and Leslie. What do you think of the layouts?)
An Idea Worth Stealing
with the heads of faux flowers glued abundantly on top.
It's stunning because it can be plopped atop almost anything andit looks gorgeous.
A white pedestal vase.
An old copper pot.
On top of moss rocks inside a huge hurricane.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
A fall mantel
Sharon's Dance of Freedom!!
This art is the creative imagination of Sharon Castelino but is jointly
interpreted by her parents Stephen and Sylvine. Sharon is now 26 years old
deaf and dumb by birth. Sharon’s artistic talent was discovered by her
mother Sylvine when she was only two years old. All her paintings have depth and
detail. Being very close to nature, Sharon’s themes mainly consist
of sceneries, clouds, animals and imaginative creations.
“The beauty of an art is in the eye of the beholder”
An adaptation of Greek Proverb
The picture is painted in blue which is Sharon’s favorite color. Blue is
calming, strong and steadfast or light and friendly. Sharon expresses that she
is steadfast in her imaginative dream. Secondly the color blue evokes signs of
reassurance in a complex world, while adding a hint of mystery and excitement.
Sharon expresses in this work of art that even though she faces many challenges
that she is offered tremendous reassurance from her family and friends.
Sharon is a true believer. Even though she is not able to express in words her
art expresses faith in God and invites us to believe in unique gifts like faith,
hope, Peace and freedom. The art also expresses Sharon’s thought –“You have to
dream before your dreams can come true.”
Each of her paintings are unique (no two paintings are alike), hand painted and from her imaginations and thoughts.
Few of her paintings are kept in "Institute of Emirates Very Special Arts
Group" Sharjah.
One of her paintings is kept in "Very Special Arts
Exhibition" in the USA .
In 2009 one of her paintings was short listed
for "Young Artist Award at Dubai Ladies Club.
Also she has participated
in many competitions and Exhibitions in the past in UAE and India
Please go through "Sharon's Art Gallery" and if you are interested in buying her paintings, please e-mail her family on spcastelino@yahoo.com
Monday, September 27, 2010
One more cozy corner!!
Have you guessed who this corner belongs to??? Not yet?? Do you remember this table top entry…. Yes!! Yes!! Brinda… Her photographs are so warm… that they make you feel like you are a part of them..
Here is a tiny corner of my living room by the window, just enough room for 1
person to relax with some books and a cup of tea!!
This corner is in my master bedroom with a little bookshelf and my laptop.
I
really look forward to retreat into this corner at the end of the day when all
is quite!!
The other corner is the end of the couch also near the window of my living
room where I get loads of sunlight in the summers and love to settle with
some lovely music playing in the background!!
Oh.. Brinda!! Thanks for sharing your lovely corners with us!! They are indeed warm and full of love… and I can already smell the cup of tea… (huuuummm)… Don’t forget this is the last week to show off your Cozy Corners in the September party, or email me on torresp27@hotmail.com
Enjoying Moments
It's the working of my three year old granddaughter who proudly announced yesterday, "I decorating!" She had taken items from around the room, combined them together, and then carefully topped the sugar mold with mini gourds.Her decorating makes me smile and reminds me to relax and enjoy this moment in time.
Author Anna Quindlen, in her book Loud and Clear, said, "The biggest mistake I made [as a mother] is the one that most of us make. ... I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three of [my children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4, and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in a hurry to get on to the next things: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less."
I have that same regret with my own children. And so for today, and perhaps for a few days to come, I will bask in the beauty created by my three-year-old interior decorator.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Table beauties...
Candles make me happy…. Hence this weekend was filled with candles & more!!
I’ve also found this sudden surge of love for purple & pink… *wink* and that’s the way I’m diverting now… *smiles* I'm linking to Tablescape Tuesday!
Rewind: Warm fall glow
Saturday, September 25, 2010
A New York Minute With Nate
As I mentioned in my last post, I flew in to New York for the day to be in the audience of the Nate Berkus Show. There were apparently 90 other design bloggers who landed in NYC on or before September 21st, the day of the taping.
Now, this may sound crazy to those who aren’t designers/decorators/DIYers who blog. But there was a powerful force pulling us all towards New York from our respective homes across North America. It wasn’t just about seeing a taping of a show. I’m sure most of us have experienced that at some point.
Yes, everyone was excited to be in the presence of Nate, a designer that we all admire and have blogged and tweeted about. The real attraction, the real reason for arranging babysitters, spending money and taking the time to be in NY for a day was to meet other like-minded designers/decorators/DIYers who write and are passionate about design. I was on a high for two days after my return from just being in the company of people whose blogs I have admired for years and new friends who shared in this experience together.
At the Bouchon Bakery pre-show with the Canadian Bloggers: Me, Sarah, Michelle, Kerry, Christine and Lisa.
Tamara, Kwana, Sarah, friend of a blogger, me.
Waiting in line in the sunshine to get into the show.
Christine and I with Janet and Joy, the moggit girls. They were so adorable and were the tour de force, along with Julieann, in making this happen.
Canadian bloggers and Chanee
We were seated in the front row center of the second section up from the stage. At one point, an audience member asked a design question and Nate was standing not a foot away. I so wanted to shake his hand when he was done. I felt like my 8 year old daughter at a Jonas Brothers concert, hoping that her idols would reach down and shake hands. Unfortunately, she had better luck than I had.
The first segment of the show featured a couple who worked with Emily Henderson, HGTV’s Design Star winner, to declutter their home. I hope we are able to watch her new show here in Canada because I’m sure it will be filled with inspiration and loveliness.
Susan, who blogs at the House of Brinson, talked about the renovation of her NYC loft. You must check out the images on her blog.
We were able to take photos once the taping finished. Nate then answered questions from the design bloggers. This isn’t normally a part of the show’s format but he wanted to show his appreciation for all of us being there. This was even better than the taped segments. He was genuine, thoughtful, reflective, eloquent – not to mention seriously handsome!
Chanee’s insightful post includes videos taken during the Q and A session. Some highlights were:
- 80% of what Nate uses in his designs are found objects, vintage pieces, and reupholstered pieces. Rarely, does he or someone on his design team visit a new furniture showroom. (Very environmentally responsible.)
- Nate doesn’t have time to read blogs but someone on his staff puts together “binders and binders of printouts” of rooms from blogs.
- A home should tell the story of who the homeowners are and not be filled with trendy items.
- Nate is thankful for the inspiration that blogs provide to homeowners and himself.
The lovely Chanee who crafted a blogger photo handout to help us recognize each other.
Sarah, Christine, and I with Camila who organized the after party with Nest.
Photo by Trent Bailey (low res that I screen printed). Check out his website to see his beautiful work.
I was so honoured to meet the Rue girls: Caitlin, Anne, Crystal and Alaina. They are all living their dream of creating and publishing a stylish, successful online magazine. Their launch party was the night before the taping but unfortunately we weren’t in NYC yet. It was a real success from all of the photos I have seen.
These were just a few of the talented and inspiring women (I don’t think I chatted with any men) that I had my photo snapped with. I also had a chance to meet and chat with Cristin, Rachel, Kate, Amy, Erika and Kirsten whose blogs I just adore. I’m sure there were others as well that I am missing.
I hope you enjoyed these photos! It was a day that went by in a New York minute but one I will remember for a long time. I’m not sure when the show will air, but probably in the next two weeks.
(Thanks to Chanee and Christine for some of these photos.)
a cozy corner... from NS!!
This is the place where I love to spend my evenings. I have couple of flower and
vegetable plants in my balcony, after watering them in the evening, I just
love to sit there and have my tea with a book in my hand.
Do you have a cozy corner as gorgeous as NS’s??? If you do, share it!!! Email me torresp27@hotmail.com or just join in the September party!!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Parties and more...
Dora the explorer was special… coz we celebrated this at home. Most of the banners, arrows leading to the house, the paper flowers, the star catchers and some decorations the girls made using chart paper, stickers and loads and loads of colours… ofcourse with a little help!!
The flip flop themed – pool party… was absolutely mad!!! It was on the same day at the Dubai Terry Fox Run… so we ran from the run venue to the party venue… It was pouring cats, dogs and all… so we had to cancel the pool bit and do an indoor party.. absolutely unplanned… but all my elves were super charged and we completed the décor just before the kids arrived.
The fairy & pirates party… was nearly a replication of the fairy and potter party we had the year before. The girls got involved with colouring & sketching on the give away – brown paper bags.. I had learnt a little bit of photoshop by then… so make the little thank you notes.
Halloween is always fun. Its not one bit scary in my household… Its just a way of getting the kids involved… All the stuff you see here are painted and sketched by the girls… (my girls… and their friends)… As usual… the final touch up still needs to be done… Still.. I think they do a fabulous job…
Do you have a party to show case?? Do send me an email on torresp27@hotmail.com .. I’d love to feature it here!!
Bloggers in New York!
September Love
My favorite month of the year is September. I love this month so much that if I were in charge of making the calendar, I would make two Septembers. 
I enjoy the month partly because it's the month of my birth and the onset of my favorite season. It's the beginning of a new school year and when the outside temperatures begin to feel perfect.To me September signifies a fresh start.
A few years ago I joined the crowd and put up all of my fall decorations at the beginning of September. 
But I discovered that I prefer to ease into the season, much the way Mother Nature does, just a little at a time.
This way I can savor my favorite month of the year.
