Category — Renovations

This week hasn’t exactly been bright (both literally and figuratively) but this lovely townhouse in Bordeaux, France instantly lifted my spirits and reminded me that it won’t always be puddles and clouds in my little world. Photographed beautifully by Julien Fernandez, this home simply must be the most charming and eclectic space that I ever did see! I absolutely love the way home owner Elodie mixed period pieces and portraits with mid century touches and quirky tidbits throughout. Did I mention that she renovated the previously dark and gloomy space from top to bottom? This petite townhouse is now bursting with personality and light, come and see…

All photos by Julien Fernandez via Style Me Pretty

All photos by Julien Fernandez via Style Me Pretty

All photos by Julien Fernandez via Style Me Pretty

All photos by Julien Fernandez via Style Me Pretty

I told you it was charming! And could the exterior be any more perfect? The perfect antidote for this blustery Ides of March. Hope you enjoyed this tour as much as I did and have a great weekend!

After such a fantastic weekend away, fate would have it that I promptly came down with a stomach bug and two of my three kids came down with croup, go figure! We were cooped up for the last couple days and there wasn’t a lot of sleep happening for any of us between the symphony of coughing fits. After a relatively healthy winter, I can’t really complain but it was definitely quite the shock to the system after several blissful days away. Sigh. We all seem to be on the mend now and I thought this lovely Dutch farmhouse was just the antidote for any mid-week slumps happening out there. I think I’d even be ok hunkering down for a sick day or two in this lofty barn conversion, designed by Utrecht-based design firm Viva Vida….

All photos by Viva Vida

Layers of pattern and texture bring personality to the neutral backdrop of reclaimed wood and concrete and I absolutely love the liberal use of bright artwork and unique lighting throughout the space. With such dramatic ceilings and beams, it could be hard to make such an open space feel like a home but I think that the design firm accomplished the task amazingly well…

All photos by Viva Vida

All photos by Viva Vida

All photos by Viva Vida

Aren’t the kid’s rooms darling? I want to crawl into the one cubby and close the doors, yawn! I’m back at the shop today after a few days off so better get to work. Enjoy your day!

What an amazing week! The kids are settled back in school, we got some awesome press for the shop, my house is relatively clean and now I’m off for an impromptu girls night in the city! But before I head out, I thought I’d leave you with some serenity for the weekend. I am loving this clean and crisp mountain cabin renovation that I found over at Country Living…just the perfect blend of rustic and modern, if you ask me. The pickled wood panelling in contrast with warm wood floors and white furnishings is so bright and fresh! I could definitely handle a weekend retreat like this, but how about you? Does it feel like a cabin you could hunker down in or would you prefer a little more kitsch in the mix? Come take a look…

Photos by John Gruen for Country Living

Renovated and lived in by Bobby Houston and Eric Shamie, the couple brought this formerly dilapidated 1960′s rancher out of the dark ages and transformed it into their own personal getaway. Located in the Berkshire Mountains, Massachusetts, the surrounding nature is now the focal point in this calming light-filled space…

Photos by John Gruen for Country Living

Photos by John Gruen for Country Living

What are your plans for the weekend? I’m a little sheepish to say it but I’m off to see Lady Gaga tonight…I know! Not a sentence that I would typically say out loud but my good friend was given box seat tickets and invited a few of us along for the ride…hooray for generous friends! I don’t doubt that it’ll be an entertaining show and I always love a spontaneous night out with my girls! Now if only I had a meat dress to wear…Happy Friday!

What a week and what a start to the year! We closed the shop down on Wednesday to pack up Christmas and well, Christmas is still in ruins in the Spruce workshop but somehow we managed to rearrange and restyle the entire storefront! Whoops, a minor casualty of 5 creative girls working together :) We closed the store for an extra day to put ourselves back together and it feels so fantastic to start the year organized, fresh and clean! Unfortunately, my house can’t say the same and my handsome hubby is folding laundry as I type…which (no offence to Brad) means it’s pretty bad if even he noticed the mountain! Ah well, I’ll pretend that this amazing loft is mine for a moment instead of worrying about dust bunnies…

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design. Photo by Lincoln Barbour.

Located in Portland’s Pearl District, this loft was originally converted out of an industrial warehouse space and was opened up by Jessica Helgerson‘s team who transformed it into the warm and inviting family home that it is today. I especially love the kitchen with its open shelves, dark beams, concrete floors and, ooh, that chandelier! Not to mention the stunning harvest table and vintage Eames DKW chairs, swoon…

Oodles of storage, layered textures and patterns and plenty of natural materials complete the package, all of which are key components of Jessica’s signature style. Her work is so refreshing in that each home and space designed by her team is completely unique and full of personality yet in keeping with natural elements found in the Pacific Northwest. And I’m seriously coveting that wall of shelves…

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design. Photo by Lincoln Barbour.

Well, I suppose I should go put some laundry away now and tend to my dust bunnies but enjoy your day and have a wonderful weekend!

Are you coming down from the sugar highs of Halloween yet? I may need an intervention for my serious Coffee Crisp addiction…time to get them out of the house asap! Today is decorating day at Spruce Collective and we have a lot of work to do before opening up shop again tomorrow morning. Our workshop was literally filled to the brim by yesterday so we closed early in hopes of getting a head start sorting through mounds of glittering ornaments. With ambitious plans to decorate 4 different trees within our space, it felt very calming to pause and look through these timeworn and very undone images of John Derian‘s home found via The Marion House Book last night…

William Abranowicz for The NY Times via The Marion House Book

William Abranowicz for The NY Times

William Abranowicz for The NY Times

William Abranowicz for The NY Times

Featured in The NY Times, John Derian speaks of his passion for preserving the patina of this former garment factory, from smoke-stained ceilings to creaky subfloor plank flooring. When on the hunt for vintage treasures, it’s usually the paint chips, tarnished metal and flaking rust that catch my eye and it’s not often that I take the time to spray paint or fix anything up. I generally appreciate a piece in its current timeworn state and, although I don’t know if I could live with ceiling stains for very long, there is definitely something to be said for preserving the “decay” of older buildings. What about you? Does the thought of peeling paint on the walls make you want to check yourself into the nearest Four Seasons or grab a good book and put on a pot of tea? Here are some other spaces not afraid to show their signs of wear…

Tigs Macallan for Design*Sponge

Frida Ramstedt for Trendesner

Living Etc via SF Girl by Bay

Toby Scott for The Design Files

I’m all for embracing age but think there’s definitely a fine balance between a a subtle patina and  something that just looks dirty or like it’s falling apart. As with the opposite practice of “preventative maintenance” on our own wrinkles and fine lines, this is one trend to tread very carefully with, wouldn’t you agree? Have a wonderful weekend :)