new kilim rug in hallway

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You might remember that I told you a few weeks ago that we had a new kilim rug in our hallway due to the old one being moved up to Henry’s room. New is probably not the right word as this carpet has been lying around in our basement for at least a year or so waiting for its rightful home. I actually purchased all three of the kilim rugs in our house (there’s one in Henry’s room , one in the dining room, and now this one in the hallway) at the same time at the St Lawrence Antique Market in Toronto. I paid just over $300 for all of them – an absolute steal – if you ask me.

This rug is a bit more vibrant than the one than use to reside here. However, I’m finding it really brings out the colours in the stained glass transom above our front door. I find myself delighting in its cheerfulness every time I walk down the stairs.

And here is a little before shot to remind you of what the hallway looked like with the other kilim rug.

A welcome change! Wouldn’t you agree?

Image Credits:
1 – The Marion House Book
2 – Kristin Sjaarda

 

 

Posted by Emma on May 16, 2012 – 9:43 AM
Filed under house projects

smock cafe and wonder workshop

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What happens when you throw three creative forces behind a new business? You get Smock Cafe and Wonder Workshop! A whimsical, new cafe and arts and crafts oasis for parents and their children situated in our lovely neighbourhood of Roncesvalles. I have an exclusive, first look at this enchanting new place.

Sara Wood, the owner and creative power behind Smock Cafe, started looking for a multifunctional space where parents and their children could unwind and connect with others after she found herself sitting on the floor of one too many gymnasiums with her own daughter. Together with graphic designer Courtney Wotherspoon and interior designer Sarah Keenleyside she set about to devise a space that would provide a meeting spot for parents, nutritious and seasonal food, crafts and activities for a wide age range of children and a place for regularly scheduled classes and camps.

Owner of Smock Cafe, Sara Wood.

Entrance to Smock Cafe (with beautiful encaustic tiles from Granada Tiles that Sara installed herself!)

Marble run wall and stowaway reading nook just for kids.

There is definitely a Do-It-Yourself aesthetic behind everything at Smock Cafe. Sara, Courtney, and Sarah threw themselves completely behind this project and did most of the work themselves from installing all the tile work (Sara), to making the Tom Dixon like black lights from Ikea bowls (Sarah), to creating craft boxes that you can do in the cafe or take home and try (Courtney). In addition, Sara’s father-in-law, put in 12 hour days  from the moment they  took possession to opening night.

Courtney Wotherspoon, Sarah Keenelyside and Sara Wood.

Matryoshka Doll craft box created by Courtney.

Vintage sink for washing up after crafts in the Wonder Workshop.

DIY craft boxes and tubes available for purchase.

Smock will be serving up delicious, homemade food that is seasonal, organic and local whenever possible. All of the baked goods will be made fresh daily and on the premises. The Wonder Workshop at the back of the space has a magical artist’s apothecary where children can purchase small items like feathers, pom poms, bark, ribbon, and buttons to make crafts on the spot. A facilitator will always be there to lend guidance and encouragement. In the lower room of the cafe, is a space for ongoing classes and summer camps as well as for special events and even children’s birthday parties.

The apothecary in the Wonder Workshop.

Fresh baked goods in the cafe.

Lower level room for classes and events.

This whimsical new cafe couldn’t have opened at a better time for me! Don’t be surprised if you find me there on a daily basis in the coming months. Congratulations to Sara, Courtney and Sarah and everyone behind Smock Cafe on their new venture. It’s clearly a labour of love!

For more information on Smock Cafe and Wonder Workshop and to register for classes head to their website or if you live in the neighbourhood drop in! They are officially open starting today.

287 Roncesvalles Avenue – info@smockcafe.com – 416-530-0888

{By the way, if you like those DIY Tom Dixon like pendant lights that Sarah invented come back in the next couple of weeks and I’ll fill you in on how she made them!}

All photographs by Sian Richards for The Marion House Book.

 

 

Posted by Emma on May 14, 2012 – 9:01 AM
Filed under beautiful objects, you make it

the design process – cutler design

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When Natalie Cutler of Cutler Design reached out to me a few months ago with the project I showed you earlier this week on Hello! Neighbor I was excited to find out more about the design process she went through with her clients. Even as a designer, I enjoy seeing how a project comes together especially when there is a dramatic transformation. Sometimes when a space is so stuck in a particular time period (in this case the 80s)  it’s hard to see its potential. That’s where we, your friendly designers come in! It’s our job to see what is possible and then make it happen. I hope seeing some of Natalie’s process below will give you inspiration for your own space.

Dining area

Kitchen

 

Living Area

Hallway and staircase

Bathroom

Master Bedroom

Pretty amazing, right? A complete transformation and so much of it attained with a simple change of paint and a clear vision of what they wanted to succeed.

If you have any questions for Natalie or the homeowner, Kim, please ask away. I’m sure they would be happy to provide you with answers.

 

Posted by Emma on May 10, 2012 – 7:13 AM
Filed under hello! neighbor

hello!neighbor-vancouver edition!

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I’m mixing it up a bit with this month’s Hello! Neighbor post. We’re taking a little road trip out to Vancouver to peak in on Kim and Morgan’s townhouse in the South Granville neighborhood of that city. Before I moved to Toronto, nine or ten years ago now, I actually lived in this very same part of Vancouver. I have to say I miss being able to walk down to Granville Island to buy my groceries and walk along the sea wall. I hope you enjoy seeing a different part of Canada. A big thanks to designer, Natalie Cutler, for bringing this project to my attention and photographer Janis Nicolay for taking the beautiful photographs.

Enjoy the tour!

Names

Kim McGarrity and Morgan Maguire

Occupations

Tax Lawyer ,CEO of Investor-State Law Guide (ISLG)

Any kids or pets?

One cat. Her name is Raven, but we call her Kittums.

Year Home was Built

1981

How long have you lived in your home?

5 months

What’s your favorite room and why?

Our kitchen. It functions as well as it looks.

How did you find your home?

Our search began on August long weekend when our landlords at the time notified us that they were planning to sell the Yaletown condo we were renting. Four days later, we reengaged in a 3-way bidding war for the condo—which we lost. At the time, we were really disappointed; however, once we started looking at other places with our amazing realtor (and great friend), Ania Balicki, we quickly realized that we really wanted a townhouse that we could put our mark on. We found our townhouse in the Fairview/South Granville neighbourhood in September. While it needed some work, it had great elements: on a quiet tree-lined street; a 500 square foot rooftop deck; and just minutes from Granville Island, the seawall and downtown. After another nail-biting bidding war and due diligence period (we’re both lawyers after all!), the townhouse was ours!

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Kim: Throughout our house search, I collected images of different interiors that I loved (mostly from Remodelista, House & Home and of course, The Marion House Book). I’ve always loved simple, clean interiors, and Nordic design. We hired Natalie and Jeff Cutler of Cutler Design + Construction and Natalie came up with our “Scandinavian Modern” theme. For our kitchen in particular, I was really set on having white painted cabinets with honed black stone counters. I wanted it to be modern, but with nod to more traditional, country kitchens like Martha Stewart’s kitchen set in the 1990s.

How did you end up living in your neighbourhood?

We’ve always liked the Fairview/ South Granville neighbourhood, and have both lived here or very nearby in the past. At first we were hesitant to leave the downtown core, but once we moved in we felt right at home. We still get to enjoy the amenities and conveniences of living in the city, but we also get to enjoy the quiet and calm of living in an established residential neighbourhood.

What did your home look like when you first saw it?

It was in desperate need of an update from the blinds to bathrooms, to the awful stone fireplace. Every room was a different colour—mint green kitchen, mustard living room and a dark green bedroom. There were at least four types of flooring just on the first floor! The previous owner had renovated the kitchen and replaced the appliances. While the bones of the kitchen were great, it just wasn’t our taste.

What work have you done on it to make it your own?

Before we moved in, we hired Cutler Design + Construction to renovate the townhouse. The kitchen got a serious facelift: new countertops, backsplash and fantastic brass hardware; sprayed the cabinets; added a display shelf, etc. We gutted the main bathroom and replaced some of the fixtures in the powder room. We painted throughout and replaced the all flooring, doors and trim. The renovation went really smoothly thanks to Natalie and Jeff!

We purchased some furniture including the custom dining bench and some accent chairs from Craigslist. We’re still figuring out how to freshen up the chairs.

What would your dream house look like?

It would have an ocean view, a sauna and let in tons of light. Something between Suzanne Dimma’s cottage and the Fredensborg House by Norm Architects.

We really love clean, bright spaces. That said, Morgan loves a patterned textile, so our dream house would have to have one or two pieces from Svenskt Tenn, which we discovered on a recent trip to Stockholm.

Thanks Kim and Morgan for inviting us into your West Coast home. And thanks again to Natalie and Janis!

I’ll be back here later in the week with the before shots of this townhome and some insight into Natalie’s design process. You won’t believe what this space use to look like!

All photos Janis Nicolay.

 

Posted by Emma on May 8, 2012 – 9:24 AM
Filed under hello! neighbor