Hooray, Spring is officially here! I ventured into our backyard yesterday to clip some fresh greenery and spotted plenty of new growth and signs of life in the garden. Buds are starting to bloom, birds are chirping and the sunshine is slowly starting to bring colour to our corner of the world, all of which have me dreaming of summer BBQ’s and beach lounging! I’m getting ahead of myself, I know, but there’s just something about Spring that inspires thoughts of new beginnings and fresh adventures, isn’t there? Here are some other fresh finds for this first weekend of Spring:
1. Loving this look inside another one of my favourite design bloggers homes, Lucy Feagins, author of Australia’s The Design Files:
3. Coffee is a staple in our house (not to mention at the shop!) and this fully stocked coffee cart would be super handy. Loving the black Smeg fridge against the black wall too, dramatic!:
I’m going to take a little blogging break to enjoy our last week of Spring Break but have a wonderful weekend and I’ll be back to chat soon enough! Here are some fresh tunes for your listening pleasure too. Cheers 🙂
We’re only a few days into Spring Break here and I don’t know about you but it feels like everyone and their dog is currently sitting on a hot sandy beach except for us. Boo hoo! But we’ve been filling our time visiting with friends (ones who aren’t beachside either) and taking jaunts around the neighbourhood and local parks so I can’t complain too much. We’ve got a two week break so I’ll get more organized planning day trips next week but for now it’s been pretty nice just to lounge around and enjoy some lazy mornings. I’m still craving sunshine and this light-filled Hollywood home is pretty much the ultimate antidote. The stunning photos are courtesy of Brittany Ambridge and you can see more shots of the entire home here. Home to fashion designer Chay Wike, this hillside retreat was recently featured in Domino Magazine and I immediately fell in love with the lofty beams, vintage touches and mix of materials used throughout:
Pretty special, isn’t it? Built in 1933, Chay and her family did some minor renovations when they moved in but retained the home’s original architecture and charm, including some imperfections (like the concrete kitchen floors, which I absolutely love). Surrounded by nature and overlooking the bright lights of Los Angeles, this home is a true gem. Have a wonderful Wednesday!
We’re only a few days into Spring Break here and I don’t know about you but it feels like everyone and their dog is currently sitting on a hot sandy beach except for us. Boo hoo! But we’ve been filling our time visiting with friends (ones who aren’t beachside either) and taking jaunts around the neighbourhood and local parks so I can’t complain too much. We’ve got a two week break so I’ll get more organized planning day trips next week but for now it’s been pretty nice just to lounge around and enjoy some lazy mornings. I’m still craving sunshine and this light-filled Hollywood home is pretty much the ultimate antidote. The stunning photos are courtesy of Brittany Ambridge and you can see more shots of the entire home here. Home to fashion designer Chay Wike, this hillside retreat was recently featured in Domino Magazine and I immediately fell in love with the lofty beams, vintage touches and mix of materials used throughout:
Pretty special, isn’t it? Built in 1933, Chay and her family did some minor renovations when they moved in but retained the home’s original architecture and charm, including some imperfections (like the concrete kitchen floors, which I absolutely love). Surrounded by nature and overlooking the bright lights of Los Angeles, this home is a true gem. Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Confession alert: I’m a voyeur. Well, when it come to interiors and home decor, anyway! Always have been. Some of my first memories are walking with my mom through our childhood neighbourhood at twilight, covertly peering into lighted windows (from the appropriate sidewalk distance, of course!) and I totally still do the same today. Creepy? Maybe, but that’s what blinds are for, right? We’re all curious about how other people live (aren’t we?) and I think that’s why I started blogging in the first place. I truly love seeing what makes a house a home and, if you’re reading here today, I’d imagine that you do to. I plan on sharing more pics of my own home and homes of friends in the near future but for now I’ll continue to share other spaces that inspire me, like the home of blogger Kirsten Grove:
I especially love seeing stylish family homes that don’t break the bank. Kirsten and her family rent this fantastic space and used some special touches (like temporary wallpaper, how cool!) to make this house a home. Do you have any “cheap tricks” that you use in your own home decor? Please share! You can see even more photos snapped by Allison Corona of the Grove’s home over at Style Me Pretty. Hope you’re having a great start to your week 🙂
What a week! I’m officially exhausted but made it through a busy week of filming at our shop. It was pretty exciting being used as the set location for a movie and it’s incredible how much happens behind the scenes to make everything come together. Not sure I’ll look at tv the same way again! Monica and I were at the shop until the wee hours last night after the crew packed up and put things to rights and it’s funny how it suddenly looks as though nothing happened, everything’s back to normal! Well, except for the fine dusting of Christmas glitter that we’re sure to be finding for weeks to come 😉 Spring Break starts now and I need to hustle to plan the next two weeks of family fun for the kiddos. We’re not going away (although I dream of heading for hot sand like the photo below!) but we’ll head out on at least a few day trips and activities to keep us all happy and sane. Here are just a few links I’ve loved this week:
Sorry for the late post today but I’ve been very distracted by the movie filming on location at Spruce Collective over the last couple of days. I even got pulled in as an extra this morning, true story! I’ve been on set quite a bit but despite my “big” moment on camera (and by big I mean minuscule), the extent of the excitement basically consists of trying to find a spot to stand that’s not in the way. Have you ever been part of a movie filming?
On a complete change of subject, I read a design term that really stuck with me yesterday, “Minimal Bohemian” (thanks for the decription Eva!). I’m often asked how I would describe my style and always have a really tough time putting it into words but I think that minimal bohemian pretty much sums it up! Here are some examples of looks I’m loving right now:
Clean lines, layers of subtle texture and pattern, plenty of natural elements like wood, concrete and brick. What do you think, does that sound like Minimal Bohemian to you? How would you describe your “look”? Back to the set I go! I’ll let you know if I have any more “big breaks” 😉
It suddenly feels like Spring, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s the whole “Springing forward” time change or seeing buds starting to bloom but whatever it is, I’m ready for it! The last of the snow has melted (knock on wood!) and I even left the house without a jacket yesterday, risky after the torrential downpours, I know but it feels great to start shedding layers. The changing of seasons is the perfect time to switch things up on the decor side of things and I always love seeing unexpected pops of colour. Art, rugs and quirky vintage finds are my favourite ways to inject bold hues into my own house and here are some other bright ideas:
I came across the above Jenny Highsmith print recently and immediately ordered a copy for each of my Spruce partners (and more to sell in our shop, they’ll be in stock later this week!) and cannot wait to hang mine up at home! It’s been mildly shocking how often we’re asked “how on earth can five women be in business together?!” (generally accompanied by a skeptical laugh) and even more shocking that the question is most frequently asked by other women. I don’t suppose that certain reality shows have done us any favours and although it’s really unfortunate that some people find it easier to visualize cat fighting brawls instead of creative collaboration, I’m extremely thankful that this quote sums up the reality of our collective experience at Spruce! I truly hope that it’s reflective of your own relationships with women as well. Happy International Women’s Day, by the way 🙂
Whether your budget is big (lucky you!) or small (I can relate), it doesn’t take much to add a little taste of Spring to your space. Bright blooms are always a great place to start (tulips are my fave) and I’ve framed everything from postcards and book pages to tea towels and wallpaper scraps, cheap and easy! Do you adjust your colour scheme with changing seasons? If so, I’d love to hear your own tips and tricks. Chat soon!
Confession alert: I’m a voyeur. Well, when it come to interiors and home decor, anyway! Always have been. Some of my first memories are walking with my mom through our childhood neighbourhood at twilight, covertly peering into lighted windows (from the appropriate sidewalk distance, of course!) and I totally still do the same today. Creepy? Maybe, but that’s what blinds are for, right? We’re all curious about how other people live (aren’t we?) and I think that’s why I started blogging in the first place. I truly love seeing what makes a house a home and, if you’re reading here today, I’d imagine that you do to. I plan on sharing more pics of my own home and homes of friends in the near future but for now I’ll continue to share other spaces that inspire me, like the home of blogger Kirsten Grove:
I especially love seeing stylish family homes that don’t break the bank. Kirsten and her family rent this fantastic space and used some special touches (like temporary wallpaper, how cool!) to make this house a home. Do you have any “cheap tricks” that you use in your own home decor? Please share! You can see even more photos snapped by Allison Corona of the Grove’s home over at Style Me Pretty. Hope you’re having a great start to your week 🙂
What a week! I’m officially exhausted but made it through a busy week of filming at our shop. It was pretty exciting being used as the set location for a movie and it’s incredible how much happens behind the scenes to make everything come together. Not sure I’ll look at tv the same way again! Monica and I were at the shop until the wee hours last night after the crew packed up and put things to rights and it’s funny how it suddenly looks as though nothing happened, everything’s back to normal! Well, except for the fine dusting of Christmas glitter that we’re sure to be finding for weeks to come 😉 Spring Break starts now and I need to hustle to plan the next two weeks of family fun for the kiddos. We’re not going away (although I dream of heading for hot sand like the photo below!) but we’ll head out on at least a few day trips and activities to keep us all happy and sane. Here are just a few links I’ve loved this week:
Sorry for the late post today but I’ve been very distracted by the movie filming on location at Spruce Collective over the last couple of days. I even got pulled in as an extra this morning, true story! I’ve been on set quite a bit but despite my “big” moment on camera (and by big I mean minuscule), the extent of the excitement basically consists of trying to find a spot to stand that’s not in the way. Have you ever been part of a movie filming?
On a complete change of subject, I read a design term that really stuck with me yesterday, “Minimal Bohemian” (thanks for the decription Eva!). I’m often asked how I would describe my style and always have a really tough time putting it into words but I think that minimal bohemian pretty much sums it up! Here are some examples of looks I’m loving right now:
Clean lines, layers of subtle texture and pattern, plenty of natural elements like wood, concrete and brick. What do you think, does that sound like Minimal Bohemian to you? How would you describe your “look”? Back to the set I go! I’ll let you know if I have any more “big breaks” 😉
It suddenly feels like Spring, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s the whole “Springing forward” time change or seeing buds starting to bloom but whatever it is, I’m ready for it! The last of the snow has melted (knock on wood!) and I even left the house without a jacket yesterday, risky after the torrential downpours, I know but it feels great to start shedding layers. The changing of seasons is the perfect time to switch things up on the decor side of things and I always love seeing unexpected pops of colour. Art, rugs and quirky vintage finds are my favourite ways to inject bold hues into my own house and here are some other bright ideas:
I came across the above Jenny Highsmith print recently and immediately ordered a copy for each of my Spruce partners (and more to sell in our shop, they’ll be in stock later this week!) and cannot wait to hang mine up at home! It’s been mildly shocking how often we’re asked “how on earth can five women be in business together?!” (generally accompanied by a skeptical laugh) and even more shocking that the question is most frequently asked by other women. I don’t suppose that certain reality shows have done us any favours and although it’s really unfortunate that some people find it easier to visualize cat fighting brawls instead of creative collaboration, I’m extremely thankful that this quote sums up the reality of our collective experience at Spruce! I truly hope that it’s reflective of your own relationships with women as well. Happy International Women’s Day, by the way 🙂
Whether your budget is big (lucky you!) or small (I can relate), it doesn’t take much to add a little taste of Spring to your space. Bright blooms are always a great place to start (tulips are my fave) and I’ve framed everything from postcards and book pages to tea towels and wallpaper scraps, cheap and easy! Do you adjust your colour scheme with changing seasons? If so, I’d love to hear your own tips and tricks. Chat soon!
This week has been a bit bumpy so I’m really glad it’s Friday again! I feel like I’ve been fighting off a head cold, which makes sense since my kids have been alternating sick days, and a foggy head on top of my usual work load and the dreaded tax season (seriously, why do always leave it so late!) add up to some serious brain drain. But I’m shaking off the cobwebs and heading into the city tonight to meet some girlfriends for a night out, the perfect remedy! On an exciting note, a Hallmark movie will be shooting on location at my store, Spruce Collective, starting on Sunday! We’ll be closed for 5 days while they take over (I can’t wait to see how they transform the space overnight, literally!) and it’s a fun little burst of fame for our block in Downtown Abbotsford. I wonder if they need any extras?? Here are some links I’ve loved this week:
1. I’m feeling the urge to learn a new skill and calligraphy is right at the top of my list! I’m super jealous of anyone with hand lettering skills and have been craving a hands-on creative outlet so a class like this one (held in San Francisco recently) looks pretty top notch:
2. Speaking of new skills, one of my big dreams (I have many, it’s a problem!) for the shop is to have a big studio/event space someday. This one in the UK would be perfect! Now if only I had a magic wand:
3. There is so much natural light flooding into this Belgian home. That combined with layers of texture and vintage furniture make it such a warm and welcoming space, especially the main living room:
4. I enjoy baking much more than I do cooking (might just be the stage I’m in with the kiddos, skeptical looks and “ew!” is pretty common when I try new dinner dishes. Muffins and cookies are always a win!) and would love to expand my horizons with that skill set too. One of my favourite movies is It’s Complicated, especially that scene where Meryl Streep teaches Steve to bake chocolate croissants (so romantic, right?!) and I’ve wanted to learn how ever since. This Knead and Know croissant making class looks absolutely scrumptious:
5. It’s no secret that I love concrete floors but I’m generally drawn to the honed or Acid-stained variety. The high gloss floors of this Danish home are so striking though, aren’t they? They become such a focal point for the space and almost look like water. Very cool:
What’s a weekend without music? Here are some new additions to my current playlist. Cheers 🙂
Living on the West Coast, we’re no strangers to wood. It literally surrounds us in live forests and is one of our most used building materials and resources for export. While I would never balk at painting out dated finishes (like those weird bleached pink cabinet doors of the ’80s or that shiny orang-ey oak of matching dining sets or lacquered cherry anything) I’m definitely a big fan of highlighting exposed wood throughout the home. It brings so much natural warmth to a space, especially when balanced with other finishes and textures to keep it from looking like a hunting lodge (not that I wouldn’t enjoy a good hunting lodge, especially with a roaring fire and hot toddy in hand but you get my drift). Our own ceiling (which you can catch a glimpse of here and here) are original circa 1969 cedar tongue + groove and were the selling feature when we first walked through the front door 6 years ago. I love them just as much now as I did then, especially when it rains. We have no attic and it really feels like we’re cozied up in a cabin in the woods (or possibly a hunting lodge) with raindrops (and often pinecones) pattering down overhead. Here are some great spaces made even better with the addition of natural wood accents:
How genius is the above bench? Seriously, such a great idea especially for entertaining when it can just be tucked out of site or pulled out in a pinch. I also love that the designer chose a different wood colour than the floor to make it stand out. Not a fan of anything matchy-matchy, can you tell?
See the last picture? It’s a fabulous reno of a formerly hideous space (so rude, I know but you really have to see the entire transformation to see what I mean!) and I love how Daniel painted out the original wood floorboards (gasp! don’t worry, they were in really bad shape) before building a natural wood desktop and floating shelves. What do you think? Well, I’m off to the shop now to sort through the vintage treasures that my partner Jessica and I bought yesterday (we went on a mild spree South of the border!) before a creative brainstorming session with the rest of my Spruce girls. Have I mentioned before that I love my job? Because I do 🙂
I’d hoped to feel rested up by today but somehow I’m not. No good excuse either! We were homebodies for most of the weekend, which felt great in a way but had it’s frustrating moments, including refereeing squabbling children. I feel like we’ve got so many projects that we want to do around our house but I’m holding back (or stuck) for a couple of reasons. A) Funds are tight and we just can’t tackle the big projects like flooring, kitchen, etc anytime soon and B) I’m just so freaking tired these days that I don’t know if I have the energy to finish even a little project! But I know that the latter is just a mildly lazy excuse and I’m perfectly capable of organizing a closet (or three) so I think I just need to make an actual goal list for the week to get some momentum going. Small projects, even simple ones, can make a world of difference and I’m the type of person who thrives on project planning. Thankfully, my store is the perfect creative outlet when I’m in a rut on the home front and we’ve got a few exciting projects in the works that I can’t wait to share. In the meantime, to coax Spring out of hiding here’s a collection of spaces + products featuring my current colour crush, aqua + green:
Hurray for the weekend! I’m feeling a little low on the energy scale this week, you know that feeling when you’re moving in slow motion and start several tasks without finishing any? Yeah, that’s me. But the weekend is here so I’m hoping to reboot and recharge before jumping into several creative projects, both at the shop and at home. Speaking of creative, my Spruce Collective girls and I recently filmed our first YouTube video (totally out of our comfort zone, fyi!) and I thought you might enjoy a little look behind the scenes in addition to some other links I loved this week:
2. Although our own basement renos have slowed to a snail’s pace, I still love living vicariously through other peoples renovation adventures. Can’t wait to see the end result of Sarah‘s home and here’s a glimpse at her DIY studio in the meantime:
3. Winter can be a little lonely, can’t it? Especially when temperatures drop, brrr! But I can’t think of a better way to come out of hibernation than with a communal dinner like this one, attended by Shannon Eileen and hosted by Aran Goyoaga of Cannelle Et Vanille:
4. A big kitchen reno is high on my wish list but isn’t remotely realistic at this point in time (wah!) but I’m hoping to come up with a few creative and budget friendly tweaks to make it at least a teeny bit happier. Loving the concrete counters and open shelves in this small Dutch kitchen:
5. I love a good motivational quote and absolutely love this DIY “wallpaper” by blogger Marij Hessel! So awesome and sooo easy too, my kind of project!
What a crazy burst of weather we’ve been having! Blizzard conditions on Monday turned into sunshine + bird-chirping Spring, total switcharoo but I’m definitely not complaining! I’ve got Spring cleaning on my brain and, inspired by our recent “freshening-up” over at my store, feel ready for a few bright + de-cluttering changes around our house. Considering my mild addiction to discount rug websites (like this one) and the endless quest for the perfect living room area carpet, it’s no wonder that this home tour on SF Girl by Bay caught my eye a couple of weeks ago. Layered with subtle pattern and texture, natural wood accents and bright pops of colour throughout, it’s hard to believe that this home was dark + dated before designer Natalie Myers got her hands on it:
So bright and classic, isn’t it? I absolutely adore the layered rugs in the living room and the vintage furniture + accessories used throughout the space. That bright turquoise door is pretty awesome too! I generally tend to paint doors out to match the walls but why not trick them out in a bold accent colour? Could you live here? I could.
This week has been a bit bumpy so I’m really glad it’s Friday again! I feel like I’ve been fighting off a head cold, which makes sense since my kids have been alternating sick days, and a foggy head on top of my usual work load and the dreaded tax season (seriously, why do always leave it so late!) add up to some serious brain drain. But I’m shaking off the cobwebs and heading into the city tonight to meet some girlfriends for a night out, the perfect remedy! On an exciting note, a Hallmark movie will be shooting on location at my store, Spruce Collective, starting on Sunday! We’ll be closed for 5 days while they take over (I can’t wait to see how they transform the space overnight, literally!) and it’s a fun little burst of fame for our block in Downtown Abbotsford. I wonder if they need any extras?? Here are some links I’ve loved this week:
1. I’m feeling the urge to learn a new skill and calligraphy is right at the top of my list! I’m super jealous of anyone with hand lettering skills and have been craving a hands-on creative outlet so a class like this one (held in San Francisco recently) looks pretty top notch:
2. Speaking of new skills, one of my big dreams (I have many, it’s a problem!) for the shop is to have a big studio/event space someday. This one in the UK would be perfect! Now if only I had a magic wand:
3. There is so much natural light flooding into this Belgian home. That combined with layers of texture and vintage furniture make it such a warm and welcoming space, especially the main living room:
4. I enjoy baking much more than I do cooking (might just be the stage I’m in with the kiddos, skeptical looks and “ew!” is pretty common when I try new dinner dishes. Muffins and cookies are always a win!) and would love to expand my horizons with that skill set too. One of my favourite movies is It’s Complicated, especially that scene where Meryl Streep teaches Steve to bake chocolate croissants (so romantic, right?!) and I’ve wanted to learn how ever since. This Knead and Know croissant making class looks absolutely scrumptious:
5. It’s no secret that I love concrete floors but I’m generally drawn to the honed or Acid-stained variety. The high gloss floors of this Danish home are so striking though, aren’t they? They become such a focal point for the space and almost look like water. Very cool:
What’s a weekend without music? Here are some new additions to my current playlist. Cheers 🙂
Living on the West Coast, we’re no strangers to wood. It literally surrounds us in live forests and is one of our most used building materials and resources for export. While I would never balk at painting out dated finishes (like those weird bleached pink cabinet doors of the ’80s or that shiny orang-ey oak of matching dining sets or lacquered cherry anything) I’m definitely a big fan of highlighting exposed wood throughout the home. It brings so much natural warmth to a space, especially when balanced with other finishes and textures to keep it from looking like a hunting lodge (not that I wouldn’t enjoy a good hunting lodge, especially with a roaring fire and hot toddy in hand but you get my drift). Our own ceiling (which you can catch a glimpse of here and here) are original circa 1969 cedar tongue + groove and were the selling feature when we first walked through the front door 6 years ago. I love them just as much now as I did then, especially when it rains. We have no attic and it really feels like we’re cozied up in a cabin in the woods (or possibly a hunting lodge) with raindrops (and often pinecones) pattering down overhead. Here are some great spaces made even better with the addition of natural wood accents:
How genius is the above bench? Seriously, such a great idea especially for entertaining when it can just be tucked out of site or pulled out in a pinch. I also love that the designer chose a different wood colour than the floor to make it stand out. Not a fan of anything matchy-matchy, can you tell?
See the last picture? It’s a fabulous reno of a formerly hideous space (so rude, I know but you really have to see the entire transformation to see what I mean!) and I love how Daniel painted out the original wood floorboards (gasp! don’t worry, they were in really bad shape) before building a natural wood desktop and floating shelves. What do you think? Well, I’m off to the shop now to sort through the vintage treasures that my partner Jessica and I bought yesterday (we went on a mild spree South of the border!) before a creative brainstorming session with the rest of my Spruce girls. Have I mentioned before that I love my job? Because I do 🙂
The Design Files. Photo by Eve Wilson.
A Fabulous Fete (FREE PRINTABLE!)
Anthropologie “Paeonia” Wallpaper
Emilie Bedard Architecte via Home Adore via Simply Grove
Reath Design
My Attic
Photos by 
