Design: NewWall Wallpaper Designs

My friend Tim works so well with wallpaper*. Christine does, too**. Me, on the other hand? Not so much.

I was basically traumatized when I moved into my own home 2.5 years ago, and I had to spend hours (and hours and hours) peeling off old wallpaper from my bathroom walls. It was absolutely a big pain in my arse.

And then there’s the ol’ commitment issue. If I install wallpaper, that would mean I’d have to commit to it. For a long while. Yikes!

So, why, you may ask, am I writing about wallpaper today? Well, let me tell you! While I do not like paper in my own home, I am definitely impressed by the art of wallpaper. There are so many beautiful prints out there that put a smile on my face, that make me curious, that make me contemplate wallpaper’s uses, and that demonstrate people’s creativity. It’s amazing, really.

When I came across NewWall’s Holden anchor print, I needed to have it. I’m going to turn it into a non-permanent work of art for my parents’ condo in Florida, and it’s going to look fabulous up on the wall. Holden is from NewWall‘s Abnormals Anonymous collection, and it’s such an amusing collection, that I thought I’d share it here.

Bruce_men_in_blackBruce – Men in Black

Buggie_men_in_black1

Buggie – Men in Black

ernest_gulfstream

Ernest – Gulfstream

Gossip_men_in_black1

Gossip – Men in Black

MrBlow_bone_thugs_harmony

Mr. Blow – Bone Thugs & Harmony

wheeloffortune_concretejungle1

Wheel of Fortune – Concrete Jungle

I’m also surprisingly keen on the vibrant Lobby – Red Pepper lobster pattern. If I lived on the east coast, I would just have to put this in a sweet powder room.

If you’re interested in seeing more cool wallpaper patterns, I encourage you to check out NewWall.

*See Tim‘s recent feature in Style at Home magazine.
**Peak inside Christine’s office.

Marketplace: Spring at TJX Canada

Many of you most likely know that Winners, HomeSense, and Marshalls brands are united under the TJX Canada umbrella. I don’t know about you, but I make just-about-weekly visits to one, if not all three, of these stores. The deals are great, the selection is diverse, and I generally find what I’m looking for…and then some.

If you’re eager for spring’s arrival, it might be wise to pay a visit to one of these stores to start your spring shopping. While the selection varies in each store, I’m sure you’ll find something on trend for your home or wardrobe.

From Winners:tjx_151127_winners_9927

jewelled earrings, $29.99

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structured boustier, $49.99

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metallic velcro sneakers, $79.99

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saddle bag, $69.99

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embossed mini skirt, $399.99 (I love love love this!)

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embossed shorts, $16.99

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lace peasant dress, $99.99

From Marshalls:

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two-in-one sweatshirt dress, $399.99 (I love love love this, too!)

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silver paillette dress, $129.99

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beaded slip dress, $169.99

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eyelet lace blouse, $39.99

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platform lugg sole sandal, $79.99

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textured leather shoulder bag, $129.99

Finally, from HomeSense:

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driftwood base table lamp, $69.99

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accent table, $129.99

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textured vase, $39.99

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retro-inspired 3-piece chat set, $149.99

What do you usually buy at Winners, Marshalls, or HomeSense? What will you be hunting for this spring?

 

The Friday Five: 5 Ways to Style Black Jeans

I wear a lot of black. As in, I wear black just about every single day. And on the days that I don’t wear black, I wear white. Black and white. White and black. This is my basic uniform. While some of you colour-loving readers might think I live a boring fashion life, I would completely disagree. I jazz things up with textures, layers, and accessories.

You know I’ve been working with L.L.Bean this year, and I was thrilled to try out their signature skinny jeans. After I received them, I wore them for three days straight, which basically sums up how I feel about them. I love them. They sit a little higher on the waist, they have plenty of stretch (but do not stretch out), they have a slim leg, and the back pockets are perfectly placed. They have washed well so far (I hang them to dry), and they keep their shape. Needless to say, I have no complaints at all. If you’re in between sizes according to the L.L.Bean sizing chart, I would go for the larger size as these are a skinny fit, and you don’t want them to be totally uncomfortably tight.

White-Cabana-LLBean-jeans

I’m wearing*: L.L.Bean signature skinny jeans c/o, ruffle trim sweater, boots (similar)

Considering how often I wear black jeans (and I imagine you might, too), I thought I’d share five ways to style a sharp pair of black jeans.

First: The Classics: black jeans paired with a classic white shirt

black-jeans-white-shirt

white shirt, belt, shoes, crossbody bag, necklace, earrings

Second: Casual Confidence: black jeans paired with classic Converse and a hoodie

black-jeans-casual-converse

Converse, hoodie, tote, tank top, watch, earrings, sunglasses, wallet

Third: Feminine Perfection: black jeans paired with lace and sparkle

black-jeans-lace-feminine

top, shoes, clutch, cuff, earrings

Four: Getting Down to Business: black jeans paired with turtleneck, blazer, and Chelsea booties

black-jeans-turtleneck-blazer

purse, booties, turtleneck, blazer, earrings, scarf, bracelet

Five: Rock and Roll: black jeans paired with stripes and leather

black-jeans-rock-n-roll

shoes, leather jacket, ruffle back tee, clutch, earrings, bangle

What are your favourite pairings for your black jeans?

Have a great weekend, everyone!

*I took my coat off for 1 minute for this jump (brrr!). Thanks for the snapping the jumping photo, SY!
Thanks again, L.L.Bean, for sending over the signature skinny jeans. Read my previous L.L.Bean posts.
All opinions are my own.

 

Hotel to Home: Introducing a New Thursday Series

Dear readers – As you know, I’ve let go of my 20 Below on Tuesdays and replaced it with Two for Tuesday. On Thursdays, I’m considering starting a hotel-to-home series.

As you may know, I love, love, love to travel, and I love staying in the best possible hotels that are friendly on my wallet. I love my real life, but I also like to escape it, and as soon as I enter an airport, get in the car for a drive, or walk through a hotel lobby, I always feel like I’m transported into another world. I will always make room for travel in my schedule and in my budget. (Yes, I know I over-used the word “love” here.)

Anyway, enough with the preamble. In this hotel-to-home series, I’m planning on first featuring a hotel, and then I’ll propose some ways to bring the same design feel into your home.

Let’s get right into it, shall we? Today, I’m taking you all the way to Portugal to the waterfront Farol Hotel.

farol_02_2Farol Hotel, Portugal

This Amor room is white-white-white, and the view looks to be quite spectacular. If you like this design, and would like to recreate it in your own home (with or without the view), here’s what you’ll need:

Inspired-by-Farol-hotel-White-Cabana

pendant light, chaise, Robert Indiana miniature LOVE sculpture, bed linens, console table, art print

What do you think about this series? Honestly, I’m not quite sure how it will work, but I imagine that if I do this for the remainder of 2016, I’ll be able to feature 30-40 hotels. So, if you know of one (high on the white/black/grey colour scheme) that I should feature, please let me know!