AMANDA FORREST INTERIOR DESIGN GROUP

Yes-we are on Pinterest.

2012-01-09T13:24:00.000-08:00

A client was asking me if I heard of Pinterest. Yes! We LOVE "pinning" things...we are still adding to our collection of cool ideas

If you would like to find us, please click {here}. Easy Peesy.

Dogs on Furniture

2012-01-05T20:39:00.000-08:00

Recently my black dog just happened to lay beautifully in my foyer during a photo shoot. Those of you with pets know that they are not always easy to photograph..

Despite some misbehaving dogs in photo shoots..

There apparently has been other beautifully photographed rooms with our four legged friends in the shot..

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Inspired to use your pets as props? Have fun and may the force be with you :)

Beautiful Art

2011-12-22T10:18:00.000-08:00

Came across this beautiful image and thought I would share:

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A living room before and after

2011-12-19T15:56:00.000-08:00

We recently completed a living room for our clients while they where out of town! We started with a nice room, although the furnishings where from a previous home and did not fit this particular living room. Fortunately we where able to re-use these furnishings on another project! Making two clients happy and freeing up a little extra cash to buy new items.

This is the basic before shot:

Our client really wanted more seating, which was a little challenging given that there is a door or window on every wall. They also did not want to paint as this room had just been painted prior to us arriving on this job site.

Another before picture:

Here is our finished result! We designed a custom sofa to allow for many people to sit on, added colourful art (the clients already owned these), turquoise and yellow accessories and a cool zebra print rug made from broadloom.

Our clients are thrilled with the result, cheers!

Eclectic Decorating

2011-11-14T20:00:00.000-08:00

e·clec·tic
Meaning: composed of elements drawn from a variety of sources, styles, etc

Sounds a little cliche I suppose but recently Eclectic is what I used to describe my design style. I love so many different periods and styles that I don' really try to stick to just one "thing"-I mix it up...hence the self imposed label-Eclectic.

I recently came across this designer's website-I feel she also has an eclectic style.

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Hope these images have inspired you to take a little more risk-maybe mix some styles and use what you love, not what you think is the right piece.

Rememberance Day 2011.

2011-11-10T15:04:00.000-08:00

With sincere appreciation for those who have served and those still protecting.

Alice in Wonderland Playroom

2011-11-10T10:59:00.000-08:00

We are swamped at the moment, so please excuse us if we are slow on the blog. Thank goodness for my Assistant Jenni who keeps me on track-

We do have a before and after of a playroom we recently completed. Our client did not want to have the walls painted as they where in great shape.

Here is the after!

We added the wall decals for interest, custom bean bags, a bold area rug and fancy paper streamers for a hit of colour and playfulness.

The trundle daybed was a great find on used victoria-that helped to stretch our budget, we added the "Alice" pillowcases for a nod to our theme-striped fabric was an Ikea find.

Here is the before shot of the craft area-

And the after-much more organized.

We love working on kids spaces, so give us a call if you have a child space that needs a face lift.

Palm Springs Trip

2011-11-07T19:45:00.000-08:00

So, back here to lovely Victoria after a crazy whirlwind trip to Palm Springs. I'm full of inspiration-thank goodness as we have at least 3 new projects starting. I love the old world glamour of PS-combined with awesome shopping destinations. There are the good old favourites like Target and a number of great vintage/estate sale store to browse.

Here is a sampling of some of the inspiration I'm talking about courtesy of Designer David Jimenez -he has played an important role in developing the visual aesthetic of Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware and as a result has influenced what constitutes style in many American homes. Below are some images of his Palm Springs getaway.

Yes.."Dave", I'll be right over for dinner,

New Country

2011-10-28T14:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have to admit that I did not really think that word "country" and I go hand in hand. The word country decorating still condures up images like this which is not my style:

But this house recently featured in Country Living Magazine changes my perception of country all together. That's Suzan Jones, on the porch-the country decorator herself.

Those lantern lights make my eyes go banzangas.

Images Via Country Living.

Sundenly moving to the country feels like more of an option. Giddy Up.

Last Minute Halloween

2011-10-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

These ideas will only take a few minutes but look like a million bucks...

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Happy Halloween dear readers!

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The New Navy

2011-10-18T20:33:00.000-07:00

I just had a feature wall painted in my entranceway after seeing how it looks in one of my client's family rooms-I must say, this happens a lot. I have to warn clients before they come over that yes...THEY had it first, I copied.

I will post a picture when I get around to photographing-these days it seems that I am running from dark morning until dark night so no time to take a good shot. I used the paint colour, by Benjamin Moore called newburg green HC-158, trust me-it looks more blue then green.

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It's only paint...go ahead-give it a try!

Easy Upholstered Headboard How To

2011-10-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

We had lots of questions regarding the cost break down on this post, so we added the cost breakdown at the bottom of the post!

This past summer we had the pleasure of meeting Andrea, a kind soul looking to surprise her husband with a master bedroom make-over. A happy project like this one is right up our alley.

Andrea's bedroom was a little on the bland side, not really screaming romance or relaxation. Here is what we started with-"ya baby this tone of blah really brings out your eyes.."

Here is our good sport Andrea helping us out. We started by having all the wood cut for us at a local home store. Basically it is just plywood with a frame. We screwed it together on site.

We purchased quilt batting from a fabric store, laid it out and stapled the sides like wrapping a present. That's Jenni eyeing things up..

Andrea was a little nervous of the back firing staple gun-but she was a trooper and put her back in to it for the sake of a beautiful bargain headboard!

This is what it looks like once we flipped it over-still blah but getting somewhere..

Next comes the fun part-Fabric. We chose a somewhat Moroccan style fabric to compliment the carpet colour that was already in the room. We lined up the pattern across the top then put in a few staples to hold it secure. From here we where able to flip it up and make sure the pattern was straight. This took 2 yards of fabric.

Just to seem professional, we added a dust cover made of drapery lining to the back.

Here we are proud of ourselves.

Next comes the other finishing touches- a dresser, side tables, linens and a chandelier.

Both Jenni and I hate steaming fabrics but it's a big part of pretty much every room we finish-we often wish we could steam the wrinkles out of our faces instead.

So, here you go in case you have forgotten what this room looked like before:

And here is the after, completed for about $3,000- not including the mattress/box spring.

We ordered the custom Monogrammed pillow from Etsy.

Extra Information:

Here is a photo of the other wall, this shows some of the clients photos and a picture of the cane back chair we repourposed.

Okay-money break down, here it is! These prices include the 12% HST we pay in BC.

Sears Bateman Dresser : 379.97
Sears Bateman Highboy (not seen): 449.97
Sears Bateman Nightstands x2 : 335.93
Upholstered headboard Fabric : 400.00 (includes wood)
Lamps x 2 Pier 1 Imports : 280.00
Frames: 201.16
Accent Fabric for red pillow and custom pillow :120.00
Upholstered chair: 280.00 (30.00 for chair plus fabric and upholstery)
Side accent table : 60.00
Accessories/ 700 thread count linens : 300.00
Chandelier (home depot) and electrician: 425.60

Total: $3220.63

Client painted the walls herself,owned the floor mirror and TV.

SNAP Magazine Victoria

2011-10-03T19:49:00.000-07:00

Amanda Forrest & Bryan Lortie

IDIBC Gala

Thank you Snap Magazine for posting great pictures of the gala at Bear Mountain.

2011-10-03T19:34:00.000-07:00

I love this chair and would be so impressed to see this is someones living room...

Great job vintage revivals!

Pillow overload

2011-10-03T19:20:00.000-07:00

We recently sent 20 some odd pillows to our seamstress to be sewn up..yes-she gave me a look. I spent an hour and a half checking fabrics and tagging them all to go-when a fabric arrives at the office, we open the bolt, check to ensure the fabric is as we ordered and has no flaws. From there we cut a small piece of and attach it to our label-a tag that lists things like the clients name, room, fabric name and colour, type of pillow and size we need sewn.

Here's what the hall to my office looked like:

The most common type of pillow we ask for is called a knife edge-this is a plain square or rectangle pillow with a zipper, often we have paid enough for the fabric so we leave it at that, but it you had something more simple-you could embellish more.

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Love this owl themed fabric (below) for a little girls room we are working on!

Black and white striped fabric from Ikea is for an Alice in Wonderland themed playroom.

Bathroom before and After

2011-09-25T21:43:00.000-07:00

Here is an example of a great cosmetic make-over we completed- for this clients renovation we left the layout alone and updated everything but the white vanity and tub...we went with a less expensive field tile for the floor and tub surround....

Here is our plumber and carpenter replacing old plumbing inside the wall and attaching our new countertop-we stuck with a nice stone looking laminate to keep costs in check but splurged on a beautiful penny round tile as an accent around the vanity.

These bad boys where $50.00 per square foot so we used them sparingly-they where worth every penny

Here is the finished result...

Decorating with Buddha

2011-09-25T21:24:00.000-07:00

Please welcome Katie with an interesting guest post...

Hi, I’m Katie, from Inmod.com , an online retailer of modern furniture, lighting and décor.

Who’s better for bringing tranquility and calmness into your home than Buddha himself? While it would be interesting to decorate with Buddha himself, what we really mean is decorating with Buddha-influenced décor! It seems in every home magazine and website you look, buddhas are popping up as fixtures in rooms and outdoor spaces. And since Amanda blogged last week about her love for skulls, I thought it’d be fun to go for the opposite of rock-n-roll and tap into the zen side of home decor!

In the left image above we have a modern living room with a Buddha head resting on the mantel, and the right-hand image is just a closer shot. The bright lighting and natural elements are enhanced by the calm presence of the Buddha. As you can see, there is not much else Zen or Asian-inspired within this living room, so the Buddha brings a hint of whimsical surprise along with its natural feng shui.

The next image is of Kyle Richard’s (of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) previous living room. As you can see, this living room boasts not one but TWO Buddhas – one head over the fireplace and one statue in the corner. This living room has less going on than the previous image, yet has similar vibrancy and natural aspects, yet it is a tad more tranquil and minimalistic. Could it be the effect of two Buddhas over one? Quite possibly…

This third image isn’t quite as inspirational in design as the others, yet it shows the Buddha in a painting, which is another interesting way to bring the tranquility of the style into your home. The painting also shows that you’re not limited to Buddha statues or busts when incorporating this beautiful Asian influence. At Inmod, we also have a room partition with a Buddha painting on it so that you can elicit tranquility to the fullest!

What are your thoughts on decorating with buddhas? Do you enjoy their Asian style and serenity or do you find it too religious and symbolic for your décor?

Thank you, Amanda, for allowing me to guest post here! Be sure to check out Inmod for all of your home accessories and modern décor, which if this post inspired you, contains many Buddha-related items!

Credits: house beautiful (page 2, 8) , wetpaint.com, homdit.com

Skulls in home decorating

2011-09-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

It's weird..I know. I have a thing for skulls. Yes-your gasping..I know, I said it's weird. I should say more so that it is a surprise to clients if I bring up the whole "skull" thing. They say ,,,what..YOU? Yes, me. This is the perfume I wear. No skulls here but it describes me well.

This is a room with a skull pillow that I adore, I have this in a file to use as inspiration if I have a client who has a skull thing like me.

Here's another example of a skull pillow done well, in my opinion anyway.

This wallpaper would look so great on the inside of a closet..or a cool boys room.

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These are the pen holders in my office...from Urban Barn.

up- cycled chair

2011-09-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a before picture of this pretty little cane backed number we picked up for $30.00! The pink seat had to go but the chair was in perfect shape....

Here is Jenni...hard at work carrying in our newly re-upholstered chair ($80.00)

Here is the up-cycled chair in the left corner of the room...(don't mind the wrinkled linens, we hadn't got that far yet when this shot was taken) We have a steamer who we call Tobi-steaming things is what Jenni and I hate the most next to removing extra sticky price tags.

Lighting Ideas for Powder Rooms

2011-09-12T12:02:00.000-07:00

Hello Dear Awesome Readers,
Today’s guest post is from Susi, a writer for Arcadian Lighting. Visit their website and cool blog for more information about interior design, lighting design, and beautiful light fixtures. Enjoy!

The powder room is a jewel box of a room in the home. These diminutive spaces can be a challenge to decorate and light despite their small footprint. Here are 8 lighting ideas for powder rooms. Hope you find them inspiring!

Emily A. Clark (via)

A decorative pendant light adds sparkle and style to a powder room. An interesting ceiling fixture will draw the eye up and is a great way to highlight a tall ceiling in a small space.

SF Girl by the Bay (via)

The powder room by definition is a small half bathroom. This means space is limited. A close to ceiling light with feminine lines suits this pink, feminine powder room.

House of Turquoise (via)

A pair of wall sconces flanking a mirror is a classic lighting choice for a powder room. The side lighting is more flattering than a vanity light above the mirror.

Just a Touch of Gray (via)

Charming small light fixtures are perfect for the small footprint of the powder room. A diminutive capiz shell chandelier hung is hung in the corner of this powder room.

Classic Casual Home (via)

Mirrors are great for making a small space feel bigger. Hanging a large mirror above the sink leaves no room for lighting. Solution? Mount wall sconces on the walls perpendicular to the sink.

La Dolce Vita (via)

A sparkly petite chandelier adds glam to even the smallest of spaces. This mirror lined room will reflect the crystals beautifully.

Pinterest (via)

A two-light vanity light provides enough light for a small bathroom. Find a vanity light that suits the décor in both style and finish.

Cote de Texas (via)

Lighting in the powder room is a chance to do something interesting. Just as a powder room is a great space for a bold patterned wallpaper, it can also be the perfect spot for an antique, vintage or unusual light fixture find.

Content provided by Arcadian Lighting, a site that specializes in top quality lighting fixtures at extremely affordable prices. If you like this post, be sure to stop by the Arcadian Lighting blog and say hello!

How a design concept is born

2011-09-09T14:37:00.000-07:00

People often ask me how we come up with concepts for a space. That's a good question...usually it's something really small, a piece of fabric, art, tile-something that seems to have that particular client's name written all over it. I'm a great listener, I'm sure most designers are-I take lots of notes while at my first client meeting. I want the space to evoke a special feeling for them when it's complete. Most times, at that first meeting I can start to visualize the room transforming, as if a blurry picture coming in to clarity. From there I start to pull together the key colour combo and pieces that we will eventually use as "anchor" pieces-the really special items that are going in the space.

This is what a concept looks like before we present it to our client:

It generally takes a good two hours to present our concepts as there is lots of info for everyone to digest. Our goal is always to have this type of reaction when the space is complete:

"We are more than thrilled with the results! Stunning! It is very evident the time and effort you have put in to bring this all together for us so beautifully! It is clear you went above and beyond!

We both want to thank you for the passion and dedication you put into your projects!

We would love the opportunity to toast you with a glass of wine sometime. We feel so very fortunate to have had you enter our lives! these rooms make us feel very special indeed!"

Thank you so much!

Gratefully, Brenda and Ken.

We are so apreciative for our wonderful clients,

2011-09-09T14:19:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the pleasure of attending a summer BBQ hosted by IDC (Interior Designers of Canada)- the BBQ was to benefit the Designer Survivors Tour, supporting the BC Cancer Foundation.Here are a few snapshots of some of our industries talented guests.

We had perfect weather for the event, which was hosted by The Westin Resort Bear Mountain.

The group enjoyed a beautiful array of food and drinks, as well as complimentary mini spa treatments by Sante Spa, Bear Mountain.

To find out more or donate to this important cause, please visit The Designer Survivors Tour website.

Colourful rooms..

2011-08-01T20:57:00.000-07:00

Designer Ruthie Sommers has really got it together. Her rooms sing to you.Her passion for colour is apparent in every room.

Adding colour to our designs has been a "challenge" yes-like almost impossible. In the same way that it's a challenge to dine at a fine restaurant with a two year old.

Yes, we've analysed why we seem to have to "dial it down" colour wise. We feel that some clients look at us as though we are just "playing" around with their money and are going to just randomly go hog wild in the fabric store picking every expensive fabric we touch...this is not true. I can assure you that in almost every case the design has started off more colourful, then we took some colour out before our presentation to avoid "the look".

So, while we work on strengthening our colour presentation skills-I'm asking...if you are a colourful soul-please give us a call! We'd love to work with you!

Busy with projects

2011-07-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

Jenni (my lovely assistant) and I are running around trying to be super heroes of the construction world these days...it is interesting to watch us on site in heels-feeling a little like wonder woman.

We have 2 renos to look after, the one below is referred to as "cat pee house" No-the owners are not offended, they call it that too.

The second is a hotel-lots of measuring and meetings about this one..

This living room is one of 8 rooms or so to complete...lovely couple who just welcomed a baby girl. The furniture in this room is for sale by the way if anyone is interested??

We also have a secret bedroom make-over on the go-more about that after the reveal..plus furnishing a condo in record time.This is not really how we deliver furniture but we've thought about it.

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So, please pardon us if we are slow to update the blog..

Cheers,

Beach House Chic

2011-07-20T19:18:00.000-07:00

Actress Courtney Cox always wanted to be an architect- her Malibu beach house is featured in the recent issue of Elle Decor.

The architecture is mid-century and sits on 2 acres and includes a guest house...wow-wouldn't I love to stay at her place for the weekend???

The goal was to make the house look like a modern barn, in fact-I think that describes the house very well, although I would have to see it to really understand what she is talking about, barn + modern don't generally go hand in hand. Whatever she calls it, she pulled it off beautifully.

Courtney calls this her "screening" house, I guess that means to view her latest roles? Call it what you would like, this looks like a fabulous bar to sit and enjoy a cocktail at sunset.

The kitchen is beautifully tailored, simple and clean..my favourite.

This interesting modern "LOVE" painting by Mathew Heller looks like a project we could attempt as a DIY.

I hoped you've enjoyed the ten cent celebrity spy tour....

**Sorry Courtney if your reading...we spelled your name wrong in the first post, all good now**

Upcycling Master Bedroom Furniture

2011-06-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

Recently we transformed this cozy but somewhat outdated master bedroom into a beautiful, bright new space. Our clients had neglected this room for quite some time, as you can see below-it's looking tired...

The photo below was taken during the renovation, we ripped up the old carpet, we also installed panel moulding on the walls to give the room some character (not shown)

The clients entire bedroom suite was hand made by her father, so we opted to re-use some piece in order to retain some sentimental value, we love upcycling wherever we can- the headboard and side tables were re-used. Below is the original headboard sitting at the upholstery shop ready to get fitted with a beautiful linen and bronze nailhead detail (a cost of about $500.00 including fabric)

Here is a shot of our finished product, new headboard, painted side tables and paneled wall. The client was thrilled!

Here we go...again- BEFORE....

And ...after!

Give us a call when considering your next bedroom make-over! Our estimates are complimentary.

How to display a Stairwell Gallery

2011-06-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

We recently had a request to transform this stairwell into a gallery space for a talented young photographer. This stairwell was nicknamed by the clients as "the walk of doom"-you can see why...

For the transformation we added new stair treads, new carpet and nicer hand rail supports. We also painted the walls a lighter shade to make the black and white photography pop.

Below displays us starting to lay out the prints, about 25 of them. In order to make final placement location on the wall simpler, we traced each frame on to paper and cut out the pattern, this allows us to stick the paper to the wall and play around with the design until we are happy with the picture location.

In this case we had to set up some make shift scaffolding in order to reach high enough, we took advantage of the plank that had been already set up in order to change out the light fixture to something more graphic.

Here we go, my co-worker and I get to work adding all the cut outs to the wall, once in place we mark the location of the nails and hang all the prints.

Our client is thrilled with the finished result shown below,

Again-the before:

And the after!

W Hotel Style to Steal

2011-06-20T06:38:00.000-07:00

W Hotels are contemporary chic with vivacious designs and ultra modern amenities to satisfy everyone. With magnificently large windows, luxurious beds with 350 thread-count linens, goose down comforters, pillows and the signature W bed. Modern living is everything you've dreamed of. These spaces are astonishing.

This pool is brilliant!

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That shower is so spacious. This is a mere standard room. I have never seen a standard room so nice.

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A hotel room with a loft bedroom I love it.

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This is in Japan so pretty and sleek.

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Every room and every design is unique and unto its own. This is the W Hotel Hollywood.

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Patio Planters

2011-06-20T06:31:00.000-07:00

So many people live in urban areas and are limited by what they can do to achieve a garden oasis but I have seen some great examples of how patios can become your own urban oasis without using high maintenance grass.

That looks like a wonderfull place to host a dinner party.

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So fresh! Check out the colourfull plant pot and accessories.

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A rooftop patio with sleek lines and simple plantings.

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Garden tea party anyone?

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Pottery Barn is Now Shipping To Canada!

2011-06-20T06:26:00.000-07:00

For years Canadians have waited for the ability to order online from Pottery Barn. It gives us a great resource to purchase linens, accessories and my personal favourite sale and clearance items! They are now shipping to over 75 Countries. Woohoo! Happy shopping.

Crisp, Classic and Bold. Navy Blue.

2011-06-08T22:10:00.000-07:00

When I think of navy blue I think of summer. Navy and white, sailing, jeans and Ralph Lauren. Navy is a neutral that looks great with so many colours. This season I have seen it used with orange and green and it looks hot!

I really like the orange with the navy it has real summertime feel to it.

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Without a lot of money and a few accents you can add navy to your space as they did here.

This condo looks so bright and fresh- the navy and green are ultra cool paired together.

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I see this room in a cottage or beach house and I would love to curl up on one of those chairs and read a book!

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Cool Upholstered Headboards

2011-06-08T22:03:00.000-07:00

Upholstered headboards come in such a wide array of colours and shapes to inspire and spark one's creativity that I had to show some of our favourites. With bright colour and fabric these headboards can make a real statement.

Go pink! I think this headboard is stunning the pattern and the shape are so lovely for a little girl's girly room.

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Okay, I may be wishing I was a teenager again if I could have this room! The headboard is fantastic.

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The shape of this headboard is a nice feminine touch to a more masculine room.

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We can manufacture almost any headboard shape in almost any fabric, email us if you'd like a quote.

Hotel Design Abroad

2011-05-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share with you some beautiful scenery from the Four Seasons Hotel-Kuda Huraa, located in the Maldives (not sure where that is?? no worries, we'll get to that)

My daughter recently left to go and fulfill a dream of hers to work for the Four Seasons hotel chain. She is quite a Spa Diva and this location full filled all of the beauty she had envisioned in a luxury spa.

The white sand beaches and beach huts are enough to make me want to sell my first born (okay, not really but I like it -A LOT) for a flight out!

I know, it's crazy beautiful isn't it?

The hits of orange with the graphic black and white pillows are definitely something I am inspired to try out as a scheme for a client's bedroom

This somewhat Moroccan inspired bath retreat looks simple but extremely elegant.

Okay, here you go, if you are fortunate to have the time and money to book a flight to visit this majestic destination, here's how to get there and a little background information courtesy of the Tourism Board.

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The Maldives lies in two rows of atolls in the Indian Ocean, just across the equator. The country is made up of 1,190 coral islands formed around 26 natural ring-like atolls, spread over 90,000 square kilometers. These atolls structures are formed upon a sharp ridge rising from the ocean, making way for their secluded uniqueness.

Each atoll in the Maldives is made of a coral reef encircling a lagoon, with deep channels dividing the reef ring. A string of islands take their places among this atoll ring; each island has its own reef encircling the island lagoon. The reefs of the islands, alive with countless types of underwater creatures and vibrant corals, protect the islands from wind and wave action of the surrounding vast oceans. This unique structure of reefs and channels makes navigation almost impossible for the passer-by without sufficient information about these waters.

Ninety-nine percent of the Maldives is made up of sea. The people of the islands are widely dispersed across the atolls, with about 200 inhabited islands. About 90 islands are developed as tourist resort and the rest are uninhabited or used for agriculture and other livelihood purposes. (via)

Here are a few shots from the going away party we hosted for her:

I love looking at hotel design so perhaps this is something we'll add more of in the future. Happy dream travels, until next time!

Pastel Rooms

2011-04-20T07:15:00.000-07:00

These latest spring ads for J.Crew really sum up how I am feeling right now. Spring is in the air in Victoria, tulips are poping up and the weather is finally warming up! I just bought some beautiful japanese cherry blossoms for an upcoming shoot and they are spectacular!

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These pastel coloured rooms are a beautiful example of a mix between traditional and modern.

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Happy Spring Dear Readers!

Horses poping up in Living Rooms?

2011-04-18T09:51:00.000-07:00

Equestrian art seems to be "ridin' high" at the moment. I have even been looking to some artistic horse shots for a current project.

Below are some examples of horse art done well. Notice there are horse pictures, however the rooms do not feel overly "themed" to the point that you want to vacate the ranch.

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This image (below) looks quite chic, who would have thought...equestrian chic!

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Adore Magazine-Australia

2011-03-09T19:39:00.000-08:00

Australia is fantastic, what else can I say, the beaches, the accent, the design-the wine. I have had the pleasure of visiting Australia, Margaret River to be exact as our family owns a vineyard there...nothing huge as of yet-but we are putting forth some good grapes. So far we have sold our grapes to some great wineries (some that you may know of) but for the most part we are just sampling things ourselves until the vines get established. Here's the family checking things out with the site manager...

The vines are larger since this was taken but you get the idea..

Aussie love..

Yes-this is a design blog, I know.. so on to the Australian Eye Candy-Adore Magazine, fairly new in the circles of online reading...but wow! It packs a punch.

Honestly when I saw this I thought...oh-that's where I belong..in Australia. The fresh colours are a breath of fresh air..

I am known to be a little colour phobic myself, however, all of this I can live with...happily.

Mainly white walls with hits of dramatic colour.

Hooked aren't you??? Check it out here.

Red Room Love

2011-02-09T20:20:00.000-08:00

I don't have a red "thing" in my house...not sure why-just has worked out that way. Given the certain luv holiday that's around the corner, it only seems natural that I find a way to incorporate red in to the topic of design :)

So, Happy Valentine's month everyone....

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Below are some of the smashing rooms that have brought in a little or..a lot of red..

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Inspired to try a little red yourself??..I am considering it.

Thanks for all the "blog love",

Amanda

www.amandaforrest.com

Toronto Interior Design Show 2011

2011-01-28T12:44:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of IDS:

Today we celebrate our 13th show and IDS is Canada’s largest contemporary design fair. Since our inception, we have welcomed over 550,000 visitors, close to 5,000 media, and provided a marketing platform for almost 4,000 individual designers, studios, firms and companies.

This year's Interior Design Show in Toronto is packed full of fabulous talent. When I think back on attending past shows, one particular talented person stands out: This is my personal design mentor-Brian Gluckstein, whom I had the pleasure of meeting. He was friendly and down to earth...I remember talking with him, but somehow I suspect my name would not exacly "ring a bell" with him.

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I have been following Brian's design career for a good 10 years, I have watched him on Cityline and can honestly say he shaped my ideas of what "classic" means very early in my career. The rooms he has designed look as beautiful now as they did 10 years ago-that's great design. I like to experiment a little more with colour than Brian does (notice how I call him by his first name like we are friends) but, all in all-I love neutrals-always have.

This is the man himself:

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Here is a small sampling of the talent that oozes from him...

Our Ontario friends and clients still have time to get inspired at this fun filled event for anyone who is interrested in design and decorating.

General Admission. Children 12 and under are free
$19 in advance or $22 at the door

Metro Toronto Convention Center January 27th to 30th 2011.

Amanda

www.amandaforrest.com

Colour Of The Year 2011

2011-01-05T16:45:00.000-08:00

Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world. Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It’s a color for every day – with nothing “everyday” about it.

While the 2010 color of the year, PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, served as an escape for many, Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life.
“In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”

Eiseman continues, “The intensity of this festive reddish pink allures and engages. In fact, this color, not the sweet fragrance of the flower blossoms for which it was named, is what attracts hummingbirds to nectar. Honeysuckle may also bring a wave of nostalgia for its associated delicious scent reminiscent of the carefree days of spring and summer.”

Honeysuckle is guaranteed to produce a healthy glow when worn by both men and women. It’s a striking, eye-catching hue that works well for day and night in women’s apparel, accessories and cosmetics, and in men’s ties, shirts and sportswear. Add a lively flair to interior spaces with Honeysuckle patterned pillows, bedspreads, small appliances and tabletop accessories. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Honeysuckle for a dynamic burst of energy in the family room, kitchen or hallway.

Happy Painting,

Amanda

Happy New Year!

2010-12-30T19:15:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year!

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Be safe, have fun!

Amanda

Client Gifts 2010

2010-12-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

How time flies when you are decorating around town! We want to sincerely thank all our clients + suppliers who made 2010 a great year in design for us. This year, we have chosen Urban Barn Gift cards to deliver to clients as a token of our appreciation.We have a great relationship with Urban Bran and with locations in BC and Ontario-we are able to accommodate clients from both design studios.

Have a wonderful, safe holiday season everyone,

Amanda + Holly

2 Modern Friends + Family Sale!

2010-12-09T10:46:00.000-08:00

I am a big fan of the online store 2modern. They recently forwarded me this email to share with you! 2Modern modern furniture features the most talented and innovative international designers of contemporary furniture,modern lighting, hip personal accessories, art, & eco furniture for your home and office.

Visit their user friendly on-line shopping site: http://2modern.com/

Happy Shopping,
Amanda

How to get the most value when ordering flowers

2010-12-09T07:26:00.000-08:00

Today we have a guest blogger,Tina Barabonoff of Platinum Floral Designs, Victoria BC. She has given us some insightful information on how to choose the proper floral arrangement for your home + save money when working with a florist-read on! You won't be disappointed!

Flower design is a luxurious finishing detail to any home! Bouquets will match
and enhance any space. When considering a flower arrangement for a particular
room, attention to line, colour, texture, mood, style (modern or traditional) and
scent should be studied in order to create harmony within the space it will be
displayed. Flowers, like pictures, or home decorating, may be enjoyed for their
line, mass and colour. Here are some handy tips for you to guide your florist with
your next floral purchase.

Decide on the location of your arrangement. Advanced consideration of the
placement of your arrangement will triple the value of your flowers through
presentation. Consider how it will be viewed for example, will it be viewed from
eye level? Can it be viewed from all side, just the front, or perhaps from 3 sides?
Consider how the "viewers" will interpret the design as they move around the
room. Consider the mood in which the room is already designed, is it warm,
cool, modern, traditional? Keep your arrangement within the same "mood" your
room is exuding, this allows the arrangement to become part of the room, adding
immeasurably to the liveliness of the home.

Size matters - An arrangement made too large or too small will greatly detract
from the overall presence of any arrangement in any space. Proportion and
scale are so important! Consider the height of your vase, traditionally your
flowers should stand one and a half times taller then the vase, however modern
design has completely broken these rules!
Line or Mass Design? In line design the emphasize is on the form in which one
particular bloom holds. For ex. lilies have long straight stems with large bursting
blooms. By using only a couple of these stems strategically placed will produce
a magnificent modern display enhancing the lines of the blooms. Poppies are
another example of line design. A small cluster can be used, their delicate stems
produce twists and turns creating another dimension. Berries, seed-pods, iris',
and flowering branches are some further examples.
Mass design is created by grouping together many blooms to form a bouquet and
the interest moves from the emphasize of the lines to colour display. Such
bouquets bring sparkle and richness into a room. Often, the grouping of one
colour and type of bloom can produce a great display, however arranging
multicoloured flowers that enrich each other through colour theory often creates a
luxurious and high end look.

Colour combinations. Imagine a colour wheel and how colours relate to each
other. The same theories apply when arranging a bouquet. For example, a bowl
of white carnations may receive accents of blue bachelor button mums: and
yellowing pink Cophelia roses combined with larkspur is pleasing to the eye
through colour and textural harmonies. In selecting flowers for a room, consider
the colours used in that particular room. Engage the senses, perhaps the room
needs to be made more stimulating, choose warm colours which will harmonize
with the general colour. Or choose brightly coloured flowers to POP in a room.

Flowers can be enjoyed most thoroughly when placed against a plain, solid
coloured background. Patterned vases detract from the effect of the bouquet as
well. If placing the arrangement in a wallpapered room, try placing the
arrangement on a table to allow space between the wallpaper and bouquet.
Winter bouquet: Winter is a time to get creative. Being a floral designer myself
and growing my own organic flower garden, I sometimes too find myself feeling
sad when I look at my bloom-less field, but it's a perfect time to think outside the
box. Within my own yard, I am surrounded by berries, seed pods, rose hips,
twigs, cedar and pine. These items alone create a beautiful arrangement.

Final notes: When ordering your next arrangement, create a list and a picture of
your space and bring them with you to visually show your floral designer.

1. Discuss with your florist the location the arrangement will be placed, how it will be
viewed, colours and moods!

2. Discuss the type of arrangement you want, line design, mass design, modern,
traditional.

3. Discuss your budget, I could design a piece for hours and hours, just let your
florist know your budget and they will happily work within it.

4. Ask your florist to use a vase you already have that works within your space, this
will save you money.

5. Bringing in a picture of your space will allow your florist to visually see the space
and get a better understanding of the final look.

DON'T JUST ORDER A BOUQUET, ORDER YOUR LUXURIOUS, PERSONAL,
and QUALITY arrangement. It's about you, be custom and original. Any great
florist will be up for the challenge.
Contact Platinum Floral Designs for further information or any questions. We are
always here to answer your questions free of charge.
Visit us at www.platinumfloraldesigns.com and shoot us off an email! We are
glad to hear from you.

*Images-Platinum Floral Designs

Behind the scenes at a photo shoot for West Elm.

2010-12-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

I recently came across this video of a behind the scenes look at a styling shoot for one of my favorite stores-West Elm. It's a quick video showing the fast version of what goes on. This got me thinking back to one of my style shoots...I don't have video but will post the craziness in photographs next.

Amanda

My life of a prop-stylist

2010-12-03T10:28:00.000-08:00

Your job must be soooo fun!! You get to shop all the time!! You make your own hours!
Yes, yes & yes...however, I have to admit that on pretty much every shoot I think..am I crazy for taking this on? The reality of working as a prop stylist is that the end photograph is very satisfying, but the road to get there means planning a "scheme" from little information, working with a very tight budget, begging borrowing and "almost" stealing from stores, countless conference calls, scheduling deliveries, late nights, early mornings, eating on set and packing up everything to be returned.

Thankfully now I have a bigger truck, compare to the hatch back I had. This is my friend/assistant Rob crammed in the front seat, plants in his face, holding a fragile item. Thank goodness we didn't get pulled over. I'm sure he thinks THIS is glamorous!

So, yes, we are shopping but under pressure, extreme pressure because we only have a couple of days to gather up all the items we need, negotiate with the store owners-they charge a rental fee in most cases, have everything packed safely (I am liable for all the items) so they can be delivered to the site. In the end everything will have to be re-packaged and delivered back to the store. It would be nice if we could use only one store, but the reality is that we are frantically driving all over the city to find just the right pieces.

Usually, we are so hyped up on coffee that dumb things seem funnier then they are :)

We sleep in crummy hotels because we have so much stuff from shopping that we have to stay at a place where we can cart stuff in on the ground floor- uhuh...again, glamorous-I know.

They must wonder what we're doing as, generally we have to move all the furniture around to fit everything in. Maybe people think we got kicked out of our REAL apartment. Note the nice light fixture, the more wine we drink, the more we re-decorate the place in our minds.

On to a little R&R, in this case some of the crew was from our good neighbours the USA..so we showed them a nice evening in Vancouver.

The picture below is the reality of my job-caught on film. Yes, I am standing on the table trying to cover up an unsightly light box that is showing up in the shot.

Look at all the gentlemen "helping" me.

Below is part of the crew moving the home owners furniture around-we have to tuck it away out of the shot.

We use those big sheets of white cardboard to bounce light around and get a more natural looking shot.

This is a picture of the room before we started (below)

Before

This is the dining room with all the props in and painting done (below). I should mention that I do not choose the paint colours, I am given a list of colours to "make look good".

After

I hope you enjoyed the prop stylist for a day ten cent tour.

Amanda

24 Days Until Christmas

2010-12-01T20:28:00.000-08:00

Every year, for some reason...I am surprised that Christmas has come this fast. Odd-given that Christmas comes at the same time every year? I feel like a Christmas crazed nut case trying to get the tree up on time, go gift shopping, attend kids concerts and so on. I love the season, but honestly, I feel like there is a lot to cram in to a few weeks. When I looked at my watch today and realised it's December 1st, i feel instantly a bit "crazy". So much to do!!

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On the note of feeling crazy, I need cool Christmas decorations ...fast. I can't very well have clients stopping by only to find a mouldy pumpkin on my doorstep-sadly...that was the state of my door step not too long ago. I have a thing for all think monogrammed, so while looking for wreath inspiration, I came upon these really well done personalized ones. I ended up taking last years square faux (a good"faux")boxwood wreath, buying a nice wooden letter "F" from Michael's and attempting something like these:

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I painted my letter "F" turquoise because I have a really dark brown front door and I like the punch of colour, but really- you could choose whatever colour you like. I noticed Costco Canada had live green wreaths for $14.99 each,paired with a $4.00 letter from Michael's and a nice ribbon holding it in place you have something pretty gorgeous for $20.00.

Amanda

Cheap + Gorgeous Christmas Gifts

2010-11-29T15:45:00.000-08:00

I personally find the financial cost of Christmas a bit staggering. I LOVE giving gifts (don't get me wrong), the problem is I want to give gifts to everyone-and it's costin' me! I feel like a bit of a scrooge even bringing the whole "money" thing up....

I compiled a few photos of what I think are gorgeous inexpensive gift ideas. The great thing about penny pinching is it forces you to be creative, these photos really demonstrate how crafty can look absolutely fantastic!

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Perhaps you will be inspired to think outside the massive store line-ups and make a little something personal at home.

Happy crafting,

Amanda

Ellen's House

2010-11-23T07:36:00.000-08:00

Ellen DeGeneres (born January 26, 1958) and wife Portia de Rossi. I came across this post about Ellen's Santa Ynez country home on a great site called Lookiloo.com. I love her style and would be interested to know if she still owns the property and where she shops for furniture! I noticed her walls are WHITE..yeah, a woman after my own heart.

You can also watch a hilarious tour with Ellen on Youtube.

Have a cup of joe and enjoy dear frozen readers .....(Brrr, Victoria is in a freeze this a.m)

Amanda

Wedding pic from celebritybrideguide.

Man Glam

2010-11-21T20:00:00.000-08:00

Many of you may have notice that men are sporting a somewhat "hairy" face these days.This is thanks to -"Movember", the month that men are encouraged to grow a moustache for 30 days in support of prostate cancer.There are many ways other (who can't grow a "Mo") can support our men..such as a "dog mo"..

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Glamorous "Mo" cuff-links,

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How about one of these hilarious mugs for the office, just try and have a serious conversation while someone is drinking coffee!

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You could also print your own or make paper cut outs , as we did for our last Pirate Party.

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For a sophisticated take on the moustache, you can visit Demitasse Jewelry, this is more my style.

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Cute huh?

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You can also donate good 'ol cash to the cause by visiting this site and supporting my brother, or find our more information online at: Movember Canada.

Happy Movember Gentlemen,

Amanda

New Blog Design

2010-11-19T08:51:00.001-08:00

Please be patient as we work on our new blog header,

Fireplaces

2010-11-19T07:55:00.000-08:00

One of my client's renovations include-re-facing the fireplace. It is a corner fireplace in a dining room, a little odd-but still, we've opted to keep it and work with it. The plan is to raise the fireplace and cover the front in tile to give it a more modern-restaurant lounge feeling. I thought I would include a post today about the immense world of fireplaces, I have shown a few styles in the picture below, but it really is incredible what is out there! The first couple of pictures are of another client's before and after of their not so pretty brick fireplace.

Pretty bad....I know.

This is the after-

We kept the original firebox (had it inspected and cleaned) then boxed it in and covered it with cultured stone. Much more appealing we think.

The rooms posted below are a few examples of how a fireplace can almost set the mood for a room, some are a little more glam then others :)

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I could move into this room NOW! (below)

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I know with our blustery weather on the way, I will be curled up by my fireplace tonight.

Have a great weekend,

Amanda

Custom Monogrammed Jewellery

2010-11-15T20:47:00.000-08:00

I recently came across this beautiful jewelry while visiting a local Victoria coffee shop. I picked up a delicate little business card with the name: SUETABLES on it. The description hinted at custom silver...hmmm-a graduation gift for my daughter perhaps?? Upon visiting the website I excited to see a beautifully simply monogrammed pendants. Needless to say-given that I LOVE custom gifts as timeless as this: I had to order one.

They also offer sweet soft mauve gift boxes..very nice.

Founded by Sue Henderson in 2005, Suetables has successfully been worn by many celebrities, including model Coco Rocha, Olympic skier Britt Janyk, actress Melanie Nichollas-King, Enuka Okuma and Missy Peregrym, who stars in ABC/Global’s hot new TV show, “Rookie Blue”.

Lisa Bradley-The face of Suetables for BC had this to say"There is nothing more special than a piece of jewelry that is simple, gorgeous, and truly personal. At Suetables, they are fueled by a commitment to create just that. Each Suetables is hand stamped to ensure each piece is truly unique and reflects personal expression. You can choose from your loved ones initials and birthstones to simple yet relevant phrases that express some aspect of your life. From new moms to new grads you will find a piece that represents you or someone you love. For the full collection, including the 2010 Holiday Line and the brand new Suetables Kids Line check out the website at http://www.suetables.com/

Amanda

Organize Baking Stuff in 5 Minutes

2010-11-13T16:18:00.000-08:00

This little cupboard of horrors has been driving me nuts for some time. Not that I have a giant collection of spices/baking supplies or anything, but when I did need a little something I had to sort through this mess-turning me off of baking something before I even started.

{Embarrassing-I know}

On a recent trip to an island dollar store, I found these fantastic glass jars with stainless lids for just...(you guessed it!) $1.25 each. I bought 10 but I think I should have bought more.

I dumped out all the outdated stuff and put the rest in jars, nice and sorted. I was going to make labels but I did not really have anything that was not obvious. If you had say...flour and baking soda-you may want to add labels.

I managed to organize this cupboard in about 5 minutes, the time it took for one of my two year old's to try and put barbie in the VCR.

Happy Saturday,

Amanda

Poppies

2010-11-10T19:16:00.000-08:00

Thank you,

With sincere appreciation,

Amanda

Dwell Studio Fabric By The Yard

2010-11-09T19:25:00.000-08:00

Dwell Studios recently launched they're line of fabric, sold by the yard through Robert Allen. This is very exciting to me given that practically my entire house is the colour of these gorgeous fabrics. Their mix of traditional -modern textures and colours make me swoon. Here is a bit a preview:

Pretty much all the fabrics can be used for drapery or pillows, as shown below. They have one of the nicest yellow trellis pattern on the market at the moment (in my opinion) shown..

Their popular "dots" pattern has been "luxed" right up with a gorgeous velvet look.

Here is an example of some of the fabrics show on upholstered chairs, absolutely stunning!

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You can peruse the dwell line of fabric yardage by clicking here. We are proud to carry the line and offer it at a 10-25% per yard discount, just contact us for a yardage quote!

Amanda

Make an inexpensive fresh floral arrangement

2010-11-09T09:09:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I had the luxury of an afternoon to myself! My mom and I attended a fun floral class at one of Victoria's oldest floral shop, Jennings Florists. The shop has been family owned since 1920, Rob Jennings was our teacher for the afternoon.

The class consisted of about 1o woman + Rob, all eager to create something fresh. Rob is super friendly and funny, making the class pretty entertaining. I had to resist not jumping in with "smart" comments and try and stay focused on the flowers!

Here is the first step-to have oasis soaked in water and ad that to a container using floral tape to hold it in. In this instance we used a candle but you don't have to.

Them we added greens in small bunches all the way around the oasis. So far so easy huh?

This is me trying mot to be "smart"-hard when Rob is being funny right beside me.

This is Rob, concentrating on getting his arrangement done super fast, he says a florist only has 15 minutes to get an arrangement done or the shop looses money, wow, I'd be fired for sure.

He handed out pieces of pre-cut ribbon and asked us to add four pieces to our arrangement, I am not really a "bow" kind of girl but wanted to follow along and not seem like a show off so I did what I was told.

Below is a good shot of our "fancy" flowers laid out on the table. This is the part that is so great if you want to do this at home, you could simply buy a mixed bouquet, then separate all the flowers, add oasis to a container you have and voila! Something gorgeous and fresh that lasts a long time.

This is the finished product, candle and all-I love the concept and am going to try and create something nice for the holidays, perhaps using fresh evergreen boughs and white lily's.

Here's Rob and I at the end of the class,

For more information on Rob's fun filled floral arranging classes, please click here.

Happy Arranging,

Amanda

Holiday Gift Certificates are here!

2010-11-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

An easy online gift for the hard to buy for,

Again this year, we are delighted to offer holiday Gift Certificates. Simply choose your denomination and check out with PayPal. The certificate is mailed to the recipient free of charge. It will arrive beautifully printed and can be redeemed anytime in 2011.

To order, please click here.

Cheers,

Amanda

The beach house I own... (in my mind)

2010-06-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we enjoyed some family time at a beach front cabin in Washington. The cabin itself was 2 bedrooms with a kitchen, bathroom and a wood stove. From a design stand point, it was not too glam, that's for sure-I actually have never seen so much clear stained pine in one place,amazing what you can make out of pine, cabinets, floors, wall, beds, shelves, paper holders, lamps....you get my drift.

Like anyone else crazy about decorating, I had completely renovated the place in my mind in the first few moments of arriving, by that first night, I was analyzing how long it would take to repaint everything white, slipcover some pieces and how cheaply I could accessorize. Even though I am back to reality now, I have been combing real estate sites looking at property...just in case!

Below are a few pictures of the beach house I own in my mind,

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Hope the weather is nice and beachy wherever you are today,

Amanda

Now, this is "Glamping"

2010-06-01T09:18:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, this is the interior of a tent....a fully equipped luxury tent cabin to be precise. My husband and I where fortunate enough to have stayed in here last weekend. These unique cabins have hot running water, jetted tubs,bathrooms + premium linens. From a design standpoint they are just cool to say the least.

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This unique stone signage was the first interesting design element to greet us, as you can see, the detail attained from using different types of stone is simply a work of art!

Here we are on the boardwalk to our tent..

All the tents have beautiful water views, despite the weather being quite rainy, the views where still magnificent,

This picture (below) shows how beautifully constructed the boardwalks are.

The cabins all have a deck, the perfect spot to enjoy morning coffee, even if it's misty out.

The surroundings have been relatively untouched, the tents seem to secretly "hide" amongst the landscape.

This is the entrance to the tent cabin area, it has a very zen feel to it.

You can find out more information about this wonderful resort by visiting: rockwatersecretcove.com

You won't be disappointed!

Amanda

Outdoor LCD television

2010-05-19T09:21:00.000-07:00

Recently we met with our client to discuss their outdoor space. Most of the spaces we design are inside, but we love applying similar concepts to outdoor spaces when we have the opportunity. This is where the idea of an outdoor TV came in! While we work to figure out how to fit this baby in the budget, here are basics on what we are talking about.

As you can see the possibilities are endless for an outdoor TV, the application below is at a restaurant in Toronto, Ontario.

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This is more along the lines of what I am thinking, the tv would be equally nice near a hot tub. Great to listen to music (via cable), listen to the news, play family pictures during a bbq...or install on the back of your Yacht :)

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Sunbrite TV is one of the suppliers of these innovative outdoor LCD TV's. Once installed it is resistant to the following:

Rain
Dirt
Insects
Scratches
Extreme Temperature Ranges

This is a bit of a luxury, the price for a 32" TV is approximately $2,600.00.

Hmm, are we all dreaming of a Rock Star life now???

Amanda

New paint colours in Canada!

2010-05-17T15:57:00.000-07:00

Martha Stewart Paints are now available at Home Depot.... Sarah Richardson and Para paints have teamed up too...

Happy painting dear friends,

Amanda

Fabulous Online Reading..

2010-05-12T06:02:00.000-07:00

There is a fabulous new online magazine recently launched called Nesting Newbies. I am new to online magazine reading myself, I love the feel of a brand new glossy paper mag, but, in the interest of conservation I am exploring online reading more. I was drawn to this cover, particularly because of the bird pillow on the front, as some of you already know, I am weirdly obsessing about birds right now, don't ask me why! The pages are easy to "flip" through and the content does not take long to load.

NestingNewbies.com combines a traditional magazine format with the new social media trend of original online videos and blogs to present a cross-platform experience for “nesting newbies,” the site’s target audience of those who are new to nesting and have no clue when it comes to cooking, entertaining, and decorating. Cooking and decorating enthusiasts will also enjoy the original ideas being presented.

Below are a few inspiring photos from their online site:

Thanks for reading,

Amanda

PS-Look for our new blog header soon..being designed as we speak.

Kimberley Seldon Business Of Design 2010

2010-04-26T12:57:00.001-07:00

Creative minds galore! I recently attended the Kimbery Seldon Business of Design Seminars in Vancouver, Canada. This brings together creative talent in the design, decorating and staging industry. The seminars where held at Layers and Layers, they provided us with amazing food, beautiful, comfortable surroundings and comedic relief during our long segment on contracts!

Below is a picture of Kimberley and I enjoying some BC Wine during our Wine & Cheese event.

We had many eye opening, soul searching moments during our segments on work/life balance.

Layers and Layers showroom (above)

Lori concentrating (above)

Above and below are a couple of the amazing woman I met.

Here I am with Lori and Robin (below) Robin is a talented girl who traveled from Texas to be a part of the seminar.

You can find out more about Kimberley's seminars at http://www.kimberleyseldon.com/

Amanda

The Earth As Art

2010-03-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, earth hour is approaching. As a family, this is something we usually participate in, the kids love that we all sit together and play cards, by candlelight of course. This prompted me to think of how beautiful images of the earth are, which of course, having a creative mind-lead me to think of maps, which lead me to think about decorating with maps..if you have that type of mind too, you'll get my logic :)

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You can order a large scale wall mural online-this one is through Sears for $149.00.

Here is some inspiration on what to do with your new wall mural or perhaps some inexpensive maps you already have.

Source House Beautiful

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This one is my personal favorite (below)

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Have fun,

Amanda

Alice in Wonderland Birthday Party

2010-03-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was my birthday, our family celebrated with an Alice in Wonderland Theme Party. We tried to make everything quite fast and budget friendly, below are a few of the "props" we used. The dot candies where purchased as take home gifts for guests, they are fun to eat and provide a nice shaped box to wrap easily.

We wrapped all the boxes in black striped paper that I found at Ikea, the red ribbon is from Wal-Mart. A simple bow was tied around the box to give a punch of colour. We also used a red & pink smaller ribbon to attach the playing cards. We hole punched the cards to make it easy to thread the ribbon through. This gave a a kind of whimsical queen of hearts look.

I found these nice sticker envelope seals at Michael's Craft Store, we attached one monogrammed "A" sticker on the front of each package.

Computer printed "Eat Me" tags proved to be the perfect topper for the cup cakes. I simply used a font that I thought looked handwritten & copied it multiple times on to white card stock.

We then cut out the saying and gently used scissors to curl each end to make a bit of a scroll.

This is my daughter icing the cupcakes with lemon icing..yuummm..

I found these small phial's at at dollar store, perfect for the secret potion (orange juice)

Here is my breakfast table set with our theme in place!

We stacked the cupcakes on a vintage tiered tray to give more of a "cake" effect. The roses where a dollar store find, I simple took all the roses and leaves off of the stems to use as props.

This is me in my Queen Of Hearts Costume...a thrift store dress, wild make up, heart shaped lips and a red rose in my hair. I have to confess, if feels good to say "off with your head!!"

Here are my daughter dressed up too, they are such good sports. We could not find a top hat so we sewed this one quick out of black felt.

Tea cups full of Jone's Soda where the perfect alternative to hot tea.

Here the basic price breakdown:

Candies-Dollar Store: $1.00 each x15

Ribbon from Wal-Mart: $3.00 total

Black wrapping paper from Ikea: $2.00 for the roll

Playing cards from the Dollar Store:$1.00

Envelope Seal from Michaels: $1.50

Eat me drink me signs cardstock I already had : $0.00

Phial's from dollar store: $1.00 for a pack of four

Red Roses from the dollar store: $3.00 total for 3 bunches

Felt for top hat from Wal-mart:$3.00 for one meter

Queen Costume from Thrift Store: $14.00

Grand Total $43.50

Everything else we had on hand, thanks for reading!

Amanda

Win a shopping spree,enter by March 26th, 2010.

2010-03-16T07:38:00.000-07:00

WIN $1,000!!

Dwell Studio has a contest running right now for an online shopping spree. Dwell studios carries linens, baby items & accessories. They are known for their modern simple but colourful fabrics. They want to know "How You Dwell"-take a picture of your space with a Dwell product in it and submit to their Facebook site.

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I recently ordered these bird inspired chinoiserie pillows (below) for my sofa. A bit of a splurge, but the colours are perfect for me, I have had my ikea pillows for a couple years now so I have gotten my money's worth on those. I will update you with living room pictures once the pillows arrive.

What is Chinoiserie? {A french term. It is characterized by the use of fanciful imagery of an imaginary China, by asymmetry in format and whimsical contrasts of scale, and by the attempts to imitate Chinese porcelain and the use of lacquer like materials and decoration}

This kind of looks like my sofa colour and fabric.

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Photos by Dwell

Be inspired...

Amanda

{Giving is always in style}-Great job Canada!

2010-03-13T16:44:00.000-08:00

2010-03-13T07:56:00.000-08:00

Discounted glamorous shoes.....I recently discovered heels.com which prompted this blog. After going through pages of shoes and lusting over most of them, I thought I would share with you a few that I found. The part about the shoe discount will be at the bottom of this post. Credit

I wish I could be blessed with those little girly feet that allow me to wear heels to work everyday, but no-I am a good size 8.5 wide. Truthfully, I used to wear heels more, but now reality is that I can't take the pain after a full day running around,plus heels are hard to wear on construction sites (and not safe of course)and climb ladders with, both of which I do a couple of times a week for work. Having said that, I love to wear heels when I can, they always make me feel more feminine and make my legs look longer-heels also seem to give you a certain confidence-so heels for a dinner out a shopping afternoon is more my speed.

Below is some eye candy for your feet...

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Given my profession, of course nearly everything I think of leads me to think of decorating, so naturally, all these shoes prompted me to think of beautiful shoe storage...

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So, now with shoes on the mind, inspiration of where to store them and a coupon-what else is there to do but get shopping!

Go to heels.com, enter coupon code PATTY25 for $20.00 off your $100.00 purchase

(until march 19th, 2010)

Amanda

2010-03-08T14:23:00.000-08:00

Family canvas painting..... I have recently been working on finishing my basement-like many, it had become a catch all for left over furniture. Part of my basement re-do was looking for a large, inexpensive art piece to jazz up the big main wall behind my new sofas. When I get a minute I will upload all the before and afters of the basement re-do, but for now-here is the painting.

I purchased a large canvas for about $60.00 at a local canvas store. It's about 4' x 6'. Most canvas' come pre-primed so you can for the most part just go ahead and start painting. To give this large piece some depth we first used drywall compound to add bumps and creases to the piece...why drywall compound you ask?? Because that's what I had on hand :)

Once the compound was dry we painted a deep grey base coat on the canvas-latex paint I have left over from my kitchen walls.

I wanted something that would be easy for many age ranges to add to, or people with various paint skill levels so I decided that doing basic straight brush strokes seemed to be the easiest. Above and below are my daughters adding brush strokes to the canvas using different size brushes.

We used paint we already had, plus some bright coloured latex paints purchased for $0.99 each from our local craft store. Once we felt our canvas was complete, we rolled on a coat of clear gloss then let the whole thing dry overnight in the garage.

Below is the finished result in the basement, we are very happy with the punch of colour added in a rather monochromatic space.

Maybe this will inspire you to try a little family painting yourself!

The approximate cost of this project is about $100.00.

Happy painting!

Amanda

2010-03-03T14:14:00.000-08:00

Babies are cool....I have recently been working on a nursery project-no, not my own:)....but these nursery's are so nice that it makes you envious of the children who get to spend time in them! You'll see my project after these ones:

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My Latest e-decorating client is a baby's nursery-Grandma graciously purchased a gift certificate for her first born granddaughter{+mom}. It is not too often that I have the opportunity to dress a space for a child, so this had me really excited. There are so many kid friendly options on the market now that the sky is the limit when thinking "cool cribs". We settled on a purple and grey colour palette after falling in love with this wallpaper, it has a pale grey background with these vibrant butterflies on it. We opted to do the wall behind the crib as an accent. The thought behind this paper is that it can grow with the child. We spent a little extra on this ultra cool crib in dove grey, so, with the budget a bit chewed up, we opted for an inexpensive {but comfortable} slip covered chair...good for "spit ups".

My clients have existing broadloom in the babies room {used to be guest room} it's a cream colour, not bad, but this colourful purple rug will camouflage it a bit until they can save up for hardwood floors. We are also having an existing dresser sprayed white-this will provide budget friendly much needed storage.

Hopefully the new little one will sleep soundly in here!

Amanda

*Sources are not listed out of respect for my paying client. Thank you for your understanding.

2010-02-24T11:42:00.000-08:00

Kimberley Seldon is The Decorating Editor for Style at Home Magazine-What a fabulous sounding job! There is great reason for this title, she is a Designer, Journalist, Keynote Speaker and Broadcast Personality - She has an international reputation as a vibrant presence in the world of design. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Kimberley to promote her upcoming Business of Design Seminars, which I am looking forward to attending in April 2010.

Below is a small sampling of Kimberley's work to give you an overview of her incredible talents...

*All photo credits-Kimberley Seldon Design Group.

1. What type of Participant(s) are you expecting to attend the Business of Design Seminar in Vancouver?

Business of Design is built around 6 years of working one-on-one with my own business coach. Anyone - designer, decorator, stylist, stager, landscaper, architect - who works with clients in a "creative" field will benefit from the courses.

2. What prompted you to offer such a seminar?

Somewhere near my 7th year in business I realized I was running into the same problems over and over - and none of my best efforts was eliminating the issues. At that point, I hired a professional business coach and we dismembered and reshaped my business practices from the ground up.

3. Have you always been in the design industry?

My first career was in television. I worked at ABC in Los Angeles. I ended up in design after discovering I was expecting my first child. I determined that I wanted a more "sane" career. Who knew I was trading one adrenaline-based career for another?

4. What is your earliest experience with interior decorating?

Ha. My poor mother would tell you it was choosing her shag carpeting. I picked a different colour for each room (and she let me!). The result was hideous. That was my first realization that there were rules governing decorating and good taste.

5. What are you currently most excited about in the world of design?

At the moment, I'm really excited by social media and its ability to bring an industry of peers together. Design can be such an isolated practice; I love that I have peers as close as my blackberry who can provide me with advice and inspiration.

6. Who would you like to design a space for?

I would love to work with any of the actors from the cast of Mad Men. I have the feeling they may appreciate good design after spending so much time on set.

Although ambitious, my goal is to condense nearly 20 years of learning into three seminars -Kimberley Seldon’s Business of Design™: Part 1 - 2 - 3. The lessons I pass on were generously shared with me and they will work for you too.

Business of Design is not theory. There's too much of that on the market already. Come to the seminars - I will tell you what to charge (and what others are charging), how to invoice and collect from clients, how to get more clients and how to make them happy. Not only will you learn more then you have from any previous business class, but participation will also remind you why you got into the business in the first place.

If you would like further information on Kimberley and her upcoming seminars, visit www.kimberleyseldon.com

Thanks to Kimberley for taking the time to chat!

Amanda

2010-02-12T15:27:00.000-08:00

Go Canada Go! Credit

We Believe..... good luck to all the athletes + welcome tourists to BC!

Amanda

2010-02-08T20:11:00.000-08:00

Kitchen Reno on the mind?? I recently had an inquiry about an outdated kitchen. "Outdated" is a big word, could mean just a little burgundy and forest green, a little peach wall colour, dusty fake flowers, sponge painting (you know who you are), and the list goes one. The particular inquiry I am speaking of was not quite as outdated as the image below (please tell me if I have offended you) but pretty close.... Credit (above)

The problem with me is I am obsessive when it comes to design, this means that from the moment I see a place I start dreaming about it...relentlessly!! I have pretty much re-designed everything before I leave (or at least have a pretty strong idea of what I am going to convince you of) I am posting about white kitchens today as the kitchen in question should be white, can't tell you exactly why..it's just a "feeling" -a spooky design intuition :)

The white kitchen below is pretty much my "ideal" when it comes to what "good white" is to me.

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This one (below) is interesting with the two islands...

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Okay, so for all those inquiries wondering it their kitchen is salvageable or not...if it looks like the first kitchen..you know the answer.

Thanks to all my wonderful clients who keep me chuckling with their stories!

Amanda

2010-02-05T17:08:00.001-08:00

Orchids...I have a slight addiction to them. This orchid post was inspired by an incredible pink orchid plant I purchased at Costco yesterday, only $24.00. Sadly, I'm an orchid killer, but I don't mean too, I have to get my act together and learn how to re-grow the beautiful blossoms. For now, I keep buying them and throwing them out when they die (eeekkk!! I know...bad) Another place in BC that seems to have consistently well price ($19.99) beautiful orchids is Rona.

I have included some beautiful rooms with orchids in them to inspire you. Perhaps you can re-arrange a coffee table, side board or dining table to accommodate this beautiful indulgence.
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I assure you that this incredible blossom will add instant richness to you space, for about the price of a bottle of wine. No hangover, no red wine on the rug :)

Here is a great site I found, explaining the care of orchids for you fellow plant murderers.

Have a great weekend,

Amanda

2010-02-02T19:34:00.000-08:00

Colour of the year 2010.... Pantone is the world authority on colour (yes, there is such a thing). This year they have chosen turquoise as the leading colour in fashion, home decor & accessories.

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“In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,“It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”

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Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.

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So, enjoy, bring a little turquoise in to your life....

Amanda

2010-02-01T10:15:00.000-08:00

Before and Afters....everyone seems to like a good before and after, it seems to make us feel as though maybe our space is not so bad, or...there is hope for our somewhat "unpleasant" looking room. Take this client for instance. This is the before shot of their living room right after they purchased the house...(below) Not exactly my style or theirs, very busy to the eye and makes this dining room look REALLY small.
Room #1.
Before:
Moving along to the after shot (below)

Wow, significant change if I do say so myself. My larger looking, bright, airy and truly reflective of my client's true personality. Amazing how this room comfortable sits 8 people for dining, it did not seem that way in the before picture.

Room #2-

Really, I have to say I feel for the man who had to sleep in this room, the intense purple is a bit more then my husband could have bared. Again, not the idea of a relaxing retreat for my client.

Before:

Here is the lovely master suite after (below), a much calmer colour palette, nice clean white bedding and a somewhat contemporary low profile bed. This is purely cosmetic-so keep this in mind when shopping for real estate.

Room #3-

To me this feels as though you are sitting in a storage room...way to many accessories! Those two lamps look like they will topple on you as you walk by.

Before:

Here is the living room after (below). Again, purely cosmetic but the room feels huge now, sophisticated, light, clean.

So perhaps this post has made you think a little more about editing your space. It's amazing what a great cosmetic update can reveal about your home.

A little Monday inspiration for you,

Amanda

2010-01-25T21:22:00.001-08:00

Spray Paint fun....weather was pretty nice this past Saturday, this gave me a chance to try out a new spray paint colour called Pewter. The company who has come out with this subdued shade is called Krylon-available at Wal-mart. I primed the ceramic pot first just to be safe-the paint went on flawless-take a look...

This is the Thrift store pot before-$1.00
Below is the Thrift store pot spray painted. I then added a couple of grocery store iris'-Voila!
Total project cost $5.00 (not including spray paint)

Give it a try,

Amanda

2010-01-21T19:57:00.000-08:00

Word on the street.....is that I am a "new kid on the block". Thanks to Ivan Meade for his insightful article in YAM - You and Me :: Living Smart-a beautiful full colour, quality magazine published by Page One in Victoria BC. Ivan wrote about our vibrant design community-booming with an "impressive community of designers". I am grateful to be listed amongst such inspiring talent, as "one to watch", along side
Lana Lounsbury and Jenny Martin to name a few.

What a pleasure to have such an incredible city to draw inspiration from. YAM Magazine is currently available at Chapters in Victoria BC or by subscription at: Page One Publishing.

Thanks again Ivan!

Amanda

2010-01-18T20:01:00.000-08:00

House to die for....really, this house is not my "typical style" this being said, I would move there in an instance. For those design addicts who have seen "It's Complicated"-you know what I am talking about....you pay more attention to the background then the movie. I had to laugh when I came upon this photo-so cute, really. Can you imagine! It seemed so intimate in the movie, but really, this is life I guess.

Isn't this the ultimate dinner party? Personally, I have never been invited to a beautiful room like this. The round black table is a gorgeous staple of this dining room, very conducive to fun , happy conversation, the slipcovered chairs are a bit country for me-but look perfect in this environment.

The entire house was decorated by Beth Rubino-set decorator for Something's Got to Give. I would have never thought to throw in that dark orange chair, but it looks dynamite!

Wow, a kitchen with two islands, this kitchen was rarely seen in the movie but there is an interesting trick here, the slate look counters are actually wood counter tops- painted to look like slate.

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This is the original "Something's Got to Give" living room. Famous for it's Hampton's styling, so much so that it has developed it's own style name-the "Something's Got to Give" look.
This makes me want a home in the Hampton's!!

Good evening everyone....

Amanda

2010-01-15T15:53:00.000-08:00

Animal house?? I realised when I mentioned "leather"-that my client's cat had priority over "good design" by the look of horror on her face....no, not with our dear cat she smiled. Alrighty then. As someone who currently has no animals, hair, scratching, etc. does not really come to mind when designing a space, although, apparently it should. So, this prompted me to blog about animals on furniture, there are some pretty funny shots listed below, the first one, with all the Weirmaraners on the sofa is my favorite, I have always admired that type of dog, and they look so graceful taking over the sofa. So, enjoy all my animal loving clients & readers...

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Credit-Real Simple Have a great weekend,

Amanda

2010-01-14T19:54:00.000-08:00

Design...rain or shine. Every year, about this time, I feel slightly frustrated that every single sample I pick up seems to be in the rain-fabric in the rain, chairs in the rain, art in the rain...you get the idea. This prompted my post about fashionable umbrellas. There are some great designs out there, making you hold your head high while strutting with your "oh so cool" rain gear. The colourful ones below are from Modern 2.com.

Moving along to something that made me laugh my head off-it seems this is the umbrella of future?I can help but think you may find it stuffy or steamy in there...

And riding a bike? I'm sorry, I am still laughing...

Perhaps I have offended some readers, if so I apologize, for those who are interested, you may purchase the above "bubble boy" type umbrella at nubrella.com. Please call me before you head out so I can drive by and take a look, ha-ha....(sorry)

Bye for now,

Amanda

2010-01-12T19:58:00.000-08:00

Wake up to this beside you??? I need an alarm clock that greets me with visual "joy"in the morning...I decided this on a whim-my alarm clock had been good for years, but esthetically, it's hideous and frankly embarrassing. So, with this new mental obsession nagging at me I went on the hunt to all the usual stores, walmart, Canadian tire, superstore...but nothing, just plain old alarm clocks...nothing that goes with my glam bedroom. Some online searching brought me to this baby (below) a shiny new mirrored clock radio, hopefully it will be as stunning in person as it is in my mind when it arrives!

Take a look at your nightstand, is your clock radio photo shoot worthy? If not, you can pick this beauty through Tech Depot Canada. It's $40.97 + shipping.
Sweet "clock" dreams,

Amanda