Birch + Bird Vintage Home Interiors

Phew, what a weekend! Did yours go by as quickly as mine did? The sun was shining and it was beautifully hot for Mother’s Day yesterday . I can’t say that it was super relaxing as we hosted 15 people (both of our families) for lunch, but it felt so great to spend the afternoon on our patio celebrating our moms and grandmothers while soaking in some much needed rays.  On Saturday night, we were treated to a fun evening out by some dear friends which included a limo ride (ooh la la!), a cooking class by Chef Dez at Lepp Farm Market and a yummy pastry demo by Tina of The Pink Spatula. I don’t think we were the ideal students…we get pretty chatty when wine is involved…but it was a really great time with some wonderful friends! How was your weekend? Did you get breakfast in bed or have a chance to spend time with your mama? Hopefully you got the same dose of sunshine that we had! Speaking of warm and bright, take a peek around this gorgeous apartment in Sydney, Australia….

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

I can’t get enough of all of the gorgeous rugs, red accents and warm wood furniture throughout and I’m pretty sure I could handle curling up on that window seat with a good book for hours at a time! It’s hard to believe that it’s only a two bedroom apartment, isn’t it? Belonging to Vanessa Steele and Peter Braig, it is “One of just a handful of boutique apartments in a building known as ‘La Granada’ in Sydney’s leafy Bellevue Hill neighbourhood…Tucked at the back of the block on the ground level, and opening out onto a leafy patio, it’s wonderfully private, and with windows on all sides, it feels more like a house than an apartment.” City living at it’s finest, I would say!

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

This looks like one very happy and liveable home, wouldn’t you agree? I feel so very blessed by my mom and the many other amazing women who bring so much joy and warmth to my life! My mom has always encouraged me in all of my creative endeavours, has supported me in countless ways and has helped us with the kids soooo much. My sister is also a huge part of our lives and I am so excited to say that I’ll be an Auntie sometime in December! Becky and her husband are expecting their first bambino and I’m so happy to see them move into this next phase of life. Hurray for the moms, moms-to-be and amazing aunties everywhere!

Oh my, I think this week has gone by just a tad too quickly! I’ve got a few important market to-do’s to check off my list before the weekend and I still have Mother’s Day to think about, not to mention little ones to cuddle, a house to clean and cupboards to fill with at least a few groceries…busy days! But, like all good procrastinators, I have found squeezed in some quality time on Pinterest and while looking through my boards the other day, I couldn’t help but notice that rafters and beams seem to be a key architectural feature in many of my favourite spaces….

Country Living. Photo by Mikkel Vang.

Grey Gardens via Design*Sponge

Dwell. Photo by Pia Ulin.

Haynes Roberts Inc via Remodelista

Homelife. Photo by Sharyn Cairns.

From rustic wood cabins to modern white and the combinations in between, I’m not too picky! I just love the character and lofty effect that exposed rafters bring to a home and they seem to allow so much light to pass through each space, don’t you think? White or wood, which do you prefer?

Robert Young Architecture & Interiors

Country Living. Photo by William Waldron.

Morrison Hair. Photo by Laure Joliet. Styled by Morgan Satterfield.

Amy & David Butler‘s home on Apartment Therapy

HGTV

Well, I’m off to a Mother’s Day tea at my daughter’s preschool before checking in at our market space and having a conference call with Rachel. She’ll be here with her girls in just a few days and we’re all making excited X’s on our calendar. Hopefully, we’ll be able to squeeze at least one more shopping day in before Scout to stock up our own inventory and I’m thinking some wine and sushi will be in order too! Off I go…

Oh dear, I made the mistake of looking at my calendar last night and there are only 17 days until market day, eek! I had a momentary heart palpitation but think I’ll be okay…let’s hope so! Actually, things are feeling pretty organized and the excitement of all of the vendors and everyone else involved is really inspiring! I managed to make a quick trip out to Got Craft? on the weekend where I met up with my friend Janis. We couldn’t get over how much creativity and talent was in one room and we met a lot of new artisans and craftspeople along with a few other great vendors who will be joining Rachel and I at Scout. Creativity is contagious, isn’t it? I came home and brainstormed a few easy DIY’s that I hope to squeeze into the next few weeks and organized my work space…it’s much easier to make things when you have room to work! I think colour is also contagious. After such a long and dreary winter, the more colourful home accents I see, the more I crave! Here are some examples of relatively small details that make big impact…

New York Times. Photo by Russell Gera.

Photo by Janis Nicolay. Design by Nancy Riesco.

Style At Home. Photo by Michel Dube.

Ok, so these tiles aren’t a small decorating detail but aren’t they amazing? I am just in love with that watery emerald green colour …

Claesson Koivisto Rune via The Style Files

Bethany Nauert Photography

Canadian House & Home. Photo by Donna Griffith.

Ikea via Bright.Bazaar

Style At Home. Photo by Stacey Van Berkel-Haines.

Better Homes & Gardens

Looking to add some colour to your space but still want to keep it mostly neutral? I love the subtle addition of the navy blue base cabinets in this otherwise white kitchen…classic but with a fresh twist. Definitely a colour that I would love to see more of in my home!

Apartment Therapy

Griottes

Budget is always on my mind these days and I love a simple DIY project that’s nearly free…who doesn’t?! Use different shades of leftover paint or discounted mis-tints to coat the inside of glass jars…wouldn’t they make a beautiful centrepiece, grouped and filled with fresh blooms from the garden? Something I’ll definitely be trying soon…well, maybe after May 26th! And just a head’s up that one of our market sponsors, Delish Magazine, will be doing regular features on many of our vendors over the next few weeks. The first two interviews are now live so be sure to check them out here…it’s always so interesting to see what inspires others to create! I think that Delish’s motto, “Make everything with Love“, is perfectly fitting for the weeks to come so I taped their postcard up on my computer to keep me motivated. Do you have any projects on your to-do list, big or small? Please share!

Well, my week didn’t quite end the way that I had hoped.  As Lily mentioned I got the stomach flu on the last few days of my mom’s visit, not the best way to say good bye.  But thankfully, it didn’t interfere too much with our plans and I’m on the mend.  I was so relieved when Lily graciously stepped in yesterday when I was too dizzy and nauseous to pull a post together.  One of the many benefits of a blog partner, who I miss dearly.  Carrying on from my post the other day, I wanted to share the home of the Charles and Ray Eames with you.

Among other major architects of the day, Charles and Ray were commissioned to design and build affordable and sensible model homes for The Case Study House Program that was sponsored by Arts & Architecture Magazine.  With millions of soldiers returning home from war, the United States was experiencing a housing boom so the houses had to be easily reproduced and use some of the technology that was acquired from the war. This was an experiment of sorts.  The architects had to keep a hypothetical client in mind.  So the Eames’ jumped at the opportunity to be their own client and build their dream house in a meadow on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in California.

The “clients”  were a working couple with grown children who wanted a comfortable living space with a studio.  So, using prefabricated industrial materials that you would find “off the shelf”, the Eames’ (with help, of course) put together the frame in just a two day span.  Along the way, several changes were made to the original plan which ended with two neighboring buildings, one with the living space where Charles and Ray called home and the other that housed their studio.  The Eames Case Study House #8 was one of 36 designs part of the program that were built between 1945-1966.  Some of these houses were never built, some were demolished and others, like the Case Study 8 are still standing, preserved and open for tours.

 Leslie Williamson

Floor to ceiling factory windows flood the space with light and give way to spectacular views of the 3 acre property beyond.   I love the contrast of the industrial materials to the surrounding nature and the spacious open plan.  Perfection.  I wonder why architects and builders aren’t taking on projects like these nowadays?

 All images for Life magazine photographed by Peter Stackpole

Dave & Anna Douglas

The Eames’ home is definitely on my list of places to visit.  Field trip, anyone?

Hello again! Poor Rachel came down with a bad stomach bug so I’m standing in for today…being a mom and being sick is the worst, is it not? But on a much brighter note, I came across this amazing cabin the other day and thought it was perfect to share. Remember that adorable cottage belonging to Jessica Helgerson that I featured last month? Well here’s another eye opening renovation which maximizes every inch of a wee 600 square foot space…yes, six hundred square feet!

Country Living. Photo by Victoria Pearson.

Country Living. Photo by Victoria Pearson.

Ian and Brooke Hanson used some elbow grease and more than a few covetable thrift store finds to transform this rental cabin into the perfect retreat! Nestled in the Northern Californian woods, this hideaway has all of the perfect ingredients in my books…rustic walls, bright accents, a projector movie screen (for those rainy days, did you notice it above?), vintage touches and a well-stocked bar cart…what more do you need?

Country Living. Photo by Victoria Pearson.

Country Living. Photo by Victoria Pearson.

Country Living. Photo by Victoria Pearson.

Country Living. Photo by Victoria Pearson.

Country Living. Photo by Victoria Pearson.

Country Living. Photo by Victoria Pearson.

Be sure to check out the rest of the article by Catherine Tillman Whalen to read more about their thrifty tips and a breakdown of what they spent on this cabin renovation. It’s pretty inspiring and makes me even more determined to streamline our clutter and live more efficiently within our own space! Off to sort through my linen closet…