To be honest, the style of  this townhouse is a little more traditional than I normally like but there are so many personal elements throughout the home that make it interesting. I thought I would point out a few of the things that really make the home a stand out for me. Who knows, maybe you could use some of the ideas for your own home!

The stand out feature of Brooke’s living room has to be the dark grey charcoal walls painted in Benjamin Moore’s Chelsea Gray. It really is the perfect shade and a lovely compliment to her mix of traditional and contemporary furniture. The rug, you might be surprised to know, is from Pottery Barn.

My favorite feature of this room is the basic black and white colour palette punctuated with hits of rich red-brown leather and wood. While many of the elements of this room are quite ornate there is a simplicity and symmetry to the design of this room that keeps it from becoming too fussy.

If I ever redo my kitchen there are two things I would love to add to it. One is a wood burning fireplace and the other is a sit down eating area. If it weren’t for the industrial size range and hood vent, you would have no idea that this room functions as a kitchen.

While some people might say it is the beautiful bathtub that makes this space, I think it really comes down to those floor to ceiling cream curtains. This little touch of luxury and elegance is something you don’t see very often in bathrooms.

To see more photos of Brooke Shield’s house pick up the March issue of Architectural Digest or check out MADE’s website.

First up is Katrina from the blog Dot Dot Dash.

Hi there readers of The Marion House Book! Kat here from Dot Dot Dash. I’m honoured that Emma asked me to do a guest post.

As a fellow Ryerson Interior Design grad, I’ve since continued my studied in Architecture here in London. First finishing my Architecture Degree at London Metropolitan, followed by a masters (ARB/RIBA Part 2) at the Architectural Association. Currently, I work for a retail architecture firm CivicArts and in the last few months I’ve entered the blogging world with Dot Dot Dash.

I thought I would share with you this loft conversion from my side of the pond, located in Shoreditch, East London.

The wide open white washed spaces, easily transformed, is what initially drew me in. I love the mix of modern and 1920′s furnishings sitting against an amazing backdrop of white exposed brick and structural beams.

x kat

{Also, there is a small possibility that Henry will stay in his current room with a few tweaks and we will create a new nursery. It all depends on how the furniture fits and I haven’t quite got to the space planning stage of this project yet}

Below are some images and ideas I’ve been thinking about.

I’ve been looking for some ways to add some interest to the walls of Henry’s room. I’m particularly drawn to the idea of covering one or two walls in either horizontal or vertical wood cladding. This example with the built-in bench and bed is particularly charming and well suited to the architecture of the home.

And here is an example with what looks like rift cut white oak vertical panelling. You can see how easily this kid’s room could grow with the child right into their college years.

One of the hardest things to find to date is a twin bedframe that I really like. I’m drawn to this solid wood timber bed frame by Mark Tuckey but wonder if it would be too much wood with the panelled wall.

A better solution (and more affordable) might just be an easy linen bedskirt. I would probably add an upholstered headboard, perhaps slipcovered, in the same fabric to the head of the bed and maybe even add a footboard.

One of the things we definitely need to address is the fact that there is no closet in the room. I think we could rig something up from Ikea to look like the photo on the left but I also like how multifunctional the chalkboard wall, storage bins, shelves, and hooks are on the right. Of course, there is the concern that Henry might end up at school everyday with chalk all over his clothes!

If my husband has his way we will also be adding a climbing wall to his room. I’m not so sure…

Finally, if by chance this new room actually becomes the nursery for our little girl I might go in the direction above. It’s not typically my style but there is something about that green wallpaper, the simple red striped fabric and of course that fabulous retro yellow chandelier that I love. Again, I think it’s a room a baby could grow into and would look good for years to come.

What do you think? Would you go with the wood panelled boys room or the more whimsical and homespun girls room?

Take Ikea cabinet kitchen door fronts, they suggest their Lidingo line which comes in white, and apply them directly to your wall to create ready-made wall panelling. Um, why didn’t I think of that! Brilliant!

I’d suggest you could even use something like their Ramsjo line of cabinets that comes in black-brown or red-brown solid beech wood frame for  a moodier or more dramatic backdrop. Of course, any of these could also be painted to match your colour scheme. A simple modern room could instantly be updated to something more romantic and elegant.

With a bit of careful planning (check your dimensions before you start) you could have a panelled room by the end of the weekend.  A good project for you and your sweetheart!

Image credit:

Nina Broberg/IKEA Livet Hemma

This weekend we prepared the house for another photoshoot with a local Toronto magazine. I’ve photographed my own house so many times and know every square inch of it so well that it is always interesting to see it through a professional’s eyes. Plus I love the excuse to fill my house with flowers especially in these long winter months.

Also our design studio, Marion Melbourne, is  in the midst of a very interesting project with a Brooklyn based design and event company. I can’t say much at the moment just that it all goes down next week and is consuming every second of our time at the moment.

It’s sometimes very easy to forget that I am almost six months pregnant. My schedule is busier now than it has ever been. Every now and then my little girl gives me a good kick to remind me that she is there. I think she’s going to be quite a feisty one!

At some point soon, I will have to get started on Henry’s new room. I have lots of ideas but nothing is certain yet. It might be a rush to the finish line much like every thing else in my life right now.

Big Tinsel Ball and Chain Bracelet (last one!)

For those of you who missed out, I suggest you head over to the Big Tinsel etsy store or The Arthur and pick yourself up something like this fabulous Ball and Chain Bracelet. Or treat someone you love and care about to a special Valentine’s Day present.

And on that note, I wanted to say a big thank you to all of you that stop by my blog on a regular basis. It’s hard to believe that it was only two years ago today that I started this venture. Blogging is a two way street and this place wouldn’t be half as much fun if it weren’t for all of you – so thank you!

When I came home, I gathered up all my lovely, spiky epiphyte’s and placed them into the branch. They immediately looked at home and much more comfortable! The smooth desert-like branch seemed a fitting place for them.

These plants are extremely easy to care for but do require some attention. I mist the smaller ones about twice a week and the larger one which I keep in a glass bowl gets submerged at least once a week.

I’ve noticed air plants popping up all over the place lately but my favorite display has definitely been in Jennifer Sarkilahti’s home. Jennifer is the talented designer behind the Odette jewellery line which I also happen to love.

The sage green colour of the air plants works so well in her soft peach, pink and dove grey home. If you haven’t checked out her home tour over on Design Sponge you should have a peek! It’s an absolute delight.

Don’t forget to enter the Big Tinsel giveaway to win a Fox Necklace. Last chance! I’ll announce the winner tomorrow.

The front room of our house is a very awkward space to put furniture in. With two doorways, a cast iron radiator, a bay window, a fireplace and a maximum width of about 12 feet across creating a comfortable seating area is difficult. It’s fine when there are only 2-3 people there but once you add any more guests it becomes difficult to communicate.

Luckily, the sofa I bought when we moved functions as both a sectional and as two separate seating areas. I always thought it would work well against the long wall in the dining room with one or two of our Bertoia wire chairs facing it. I’ve also always loved the idea of having a dining room that also functions as a library or study. I could easily imagine lining all the walls of our front room with bookshelves and really making using of all the vertical height would have. (Not to mention that it would be nice to finally get all of our books out of the basement.) If we decide that we really like these two rooms this way than I’ll think seriously about getting some bookshelves put in.

To date the change has worked really well for us. There is definitely more circulation space between the two rooms which makes life a little easier. I also really like collapsing on the sectional with the whole family at the end of the day. It’s a little more informal and relaxed than our old set up. I’ve also added a bit more colour to the living room through some new pillows and a flokati like rug (from the lovely Mrs. Huizenga). I originally bought the new rug for Henry’s new room (it might still end up there) but threw it down when I bought it home and it hasn’t moved since.

What do you think of the switch? How about the splash of colour I’ve added to the living room?

By the way, don’t forget to enter the Big Tinsel giveaway to win a Fox Necklace. You can do so on last Thursday’s post. You have until Wednesday night to enter. Good luck!

The Fox Necklace features a very unique bead with a fox head design. It is solid brass and hangs from an antiqued brass ball chain which is 24 inches long. To enter the giveaway please leave a comment on this post telling me which piece of jewellery you like best in the Big Tinsel store. You have until midnight (EST) on February 8th to enter. I’ll announce the winner on February 9th (my 2 year blogging anniversary). The giveaway is open to all my readers (even those of you in far flung places) so enter away.

Before we go, I just wanted to show you a few sneak peeks of the new jewellery that will be available at The Arthur.

The top blue pieces are made from a vintage bracelet and the red works combine coral, a found heart and an old brooch. Aren’t they lovely? I’m particularly enamored of that red coral bracelet. (Hint, hint – sweet husband!)

If you don’t live in the Toronto area, Maria’s work can also be purchased through her Esty store. She’s just added a few new items that would be perfect for Valentine’s Day.

The Queen Necklace features a quartz crystal at its center. As Maria notes, this necklace is not for the weak willed! The one above has already sold but she has a selection of 6 other crystals you can choose from to complete this necklace. The Going Steady Necklace features a vintage charm with the words Going Steady. Both of these necklaces are in very limited quality so act fast if you would like one. Oh and did I mention they retail for $30 and $25 respectively. Do yourself a favour and buy one!

Or try your luck and enter the giveaway below!

Wouldn’t you like to have something like this hanging above the sofa in your living room?

Ann Marie Cosgrove, Decadence

Or how about this?

Kevin Bishop, Does this Tie Make Me Look Fat?

Both of these works and many more are available through a new online art auction site called Art Bomb. Art Bomb is a new carefully curated daily auction site that sends a new artwork to your inbox each morning. If you like the work, you have until 11 pm that day to make a bid on it. Obviously, the highest bid wins and the next week the work is sent to you ready to hang. Art buying from the comfort of your own home!

Art Bomb carries a range of work from painting to prints to sculpture to video art to mixed media. To date the artworks have ranged in price from as low as $150 up to $3000. The majority are priced under $1000.

Holly Wheatcroft, Turn It On, 2011

I took some time this week to talk to Francisco Gomez, one of the artists who has had work for sale on the site. His mixed media piece, Arquitecture of Being 1, was inspired by biology, genetics and mathematics.

Francisco Gomez, Arquitecture of Being 1

As an artist he realizes that buying art from a gallery setting can be an intimidating experience. He appreciates that Art Bomb makes purchasing more accessible to people and that it exposes buyers (or even just onlookers) to a whole new world of artists.

I also spoke to Natasha who recently purchased this photograph By Brendan George Ko from Art Bomb.

Brendan George Ko, Aquarius

Natasha had never bought art online before but she felt comfortable taking a risk with this piece. The online representation of the artwork in her own words was bang-on — absolutely no surprises, it looked exactly as she expected it to. She said the bidding process was easy. She entered her bid in the morning and the waited throughout the day to see whether or not it would be overtaken. It wasn’t and the next morning she received an email telling her the good news. She also mentioned that she thinks it is a great resource for businesses looking to add some art to their walls.

I see beautiful art everyday in the galleries and the neighbourhood and I’m successful enough in my trade now, to give back to the neighbourhood that’s fed me culture for the past 15 years.

Exactly! If you would like to sign up for Art Bomb’s daily eblast you can do so at the bottom of their website page. Think of it as your daily dose of art for the day! You’ll expand your knowledge of fine art and maybe every now and then be compelled to purchase a piece. Believe me your walls and your home will thank you!

(By the way, if you liked any of the first three artworks in this post they will all be up for sale in the coming month on Art Bomb.)