Just in case you need an oversized inflatable zebra, you can get one at Urban Outfitters for $400.
oversized inflatable zebra, $400, Urban Outfitters
Even though it’s the year of the horse, let’s talk about elephants, shall we? I see them coming up a lot lately – in a variety of forms – and I’m thinking that we’re going to see more and more of them over the next year. What do you think? Is my prediction spot on or way off?
an origami elephant (from one sheet of paper!) by Sipho Mabona
elephant walking print, art.com
via Lonny
via Pinterest
elephant teapot, $20, Urban Outfitters
eastern elephant pillowcases, $34, Urban Outfitters
Annada Hypes elephant print – Quiet Places, Minted
via Pinterest
papier mache elephant, $99, West Elm
via Pinterest
 What’s your favourite elephant form – table, artwork, sculpture, bedding, ceramics? Do you already have an elephant collection?
Happy Monday, everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I think I have finally finished going through my photos from Paris. Here is the final collection of photos from my recent trip.
beautiful scrolls on a fence outside the Sacre Coeur
Dior – in white
children’s clothes at Ovale
cool restaurant chairs
Sonia Rykiel window display
Le Bon Marché department store
coffee & madeleine at Mamie Gateaux
sculpture near Place de la Concorde
water selection at Le Bon Marché
Ah…Paris…I just loved seeing the beautiful design details in shops and restaurants around the city (and the architectural details, too!).
So, it’s been a while since I’ve shared an update from my home uptown. You would think that because I have completely hibernated this winter, I should have been able to tackle a lot indoor projects, but with the evening darkness and my general laziness, I really didn’t get that much done. Plus, I am dealing with the most ridiculous kitchen cabinet maker (more on that one day soon), which has stalled much of the work that I needed to get done in the kitchen. Nonetheless, I have made some progress and here are a five updates:
1. Kitchen: The last time you saw the kitchen, it looked like this. Since then, one of the new cabinets was installed, and my dad installed my over-the-range microwave. This made a huge difference in the kitchen as it freed up a whole counter section and really makes things feel lighter.
2. Kitchen: Since I took the above photo, I finished installing the backsplash (thanks to Tia and Jeff for cutting the tricky ones for me), but I still need to grout it (hopefully after work today).
3. Big Bath: I have shared a small peek of my big bath and a couple of before photos here. A lot has changed in the big bath. In addition to the tearing off of wallpaper, new paint on walls and ceiling, and new towel bars, I now have a modern rectangular sink on top of a new laminate counter and updated vanity doors (thanks to the power of paint!). I wanted to keep the current reno cost down just in case I want to plan a bigger reno down the road (ideas, ideas!). I’m still looking around for lighting options and I have to hang up the mirror. It’s by no means a beautiful room (yet), but it’s a big improvement from day 1.
4. Big Bath: It has taken me quite a while to figure out what kind of art to put in the bathroom. At first, I thought I wanted something huge and loud. But then I couldn’t find anything that I liked, and I wasn’t sure I had time to paint something myself. As I unpacked my old gallery wall, I thought I could put it up in the big bath. But when I laid it all out, I felt it was too colourful. Then I leaned my DIY Rorschach-like art against the walls and I kind of liked it. Left it there for a few days to see if my thoughts would change. They didn’t. I painted up some more Rorschach-types, framed in frames that I already owned, and then hung them up on the bathtub wall. I’m really really liking the black & white art wall and I’ll continue to add to the grouping.
5. Dining room: I hung up my white doily art on one of the dining room walls. I lined up the bottoms as I had done in my last apartment, but I just read somewhere that art should be lined up from the top. Have I made the biggest faux-pas ever?
Bonus:
6. Entryway: I used Capture to give the carpet in my entry a refresh. It worked! Here’s the before (top) and after (bottom).
So, that’s a quick update from Uptown to end the week. My to do list is look pretty great – even though I keep adding to it. Here’s where I stand (see original to do list):
– change all the door locks to these Schlage locks
– remove wallpaper in all three bathrooms – one left!
–Â choose a paint colour
– paint the whole house white (the walls are currently brown, beige, burgundy, pink, and green)
–Â plant hostas
– install a new vanity in the powder room and upstairs bathroom & install these gorgeous Delta faucets
–Â install a screen door off the kitchen so that I can open the door to the deck without letting in all the bugs
–Â buy a Ficus plant
–Â break the big wall down that exists between the living room and dining room
–Â break the small wall down that exists in my kitchen
–Â patch up the walls after so much destruction
– change all the light fixtures (I started with this one)
– buy a new couch (looking at these ones)
– install new kitchen countertops
– install a shower in the basement bathroom
–Â buy tiles for backsplash &Â install backsplash
Here are some of the new additions:
– paint touch-ups (all over)
-office organization
-office art wall
-install fire smoke alarms (again)
-plan patio
I LOVE seeing so many things crossed off the list! Yay for progress. This spring I’m looking forward to (learning how to and) installing a stone floor on my small back patio and watching my hostas grow.
Have a great Friday & happy weekend, everyone!
—
The Uptown series documents my experiences as a new homeowner. Fun times ahead!
I was really looking forward to visiting the design store Merci while I was in Paris. One morning I walked from St. Germain to the Haut Marais and found Merci at 111 Blvd Beaumarchais. The trip took me along the Seine, through areas of the Marais and Les Halles. It was such a sunny day and it gave me the perfect excuse to eat one of Paul’s pain au chocolat along the way. (Any excuse is a good excuse!)
Merci is located in a beautiful, large, light-filled historic building, and it is definitely very high on design. It reminded me a bit of Colette (before it got so famous and busy). The various floors showcased everything from tiny dainty rings and necklaces to classic French linen scarves to notebooks and books to furniture to kitchen gadgets. The selection of products also included some lovely leather handbags, place settings, and lighting. Within the space is a restaurant and café that looked pretty cool, but I didn’t feel like hanging out there (probably because I already had my pain au chocolat).
What I loved most about Merci was the cool ribbon exhibit on the first floor. The exhibit included books of museum-worthy ribbons that weren’t for sale, and boxes of ribbon sample booklets in protective plastic sleeves that were for sale. It was beautiful. I could have spent hours flipping through all the ribbons. I bought a couple of booklets that I’ll frame. That was really enjoyable.
What didn’t I like? Well, I really was expecting to see some beautiful made-in-France or made-in-Europe items, but a large majority of what I picked up was made in China. And priced really high. I don’t know, it just wasn’t for me. I was disappointed. I think I’m also spoiled because of all the time I’ve spent in NYC…I’ve seen quite a few of the items there already and I was looking for some more innovative European collections. Regardless, I feel lucky that I was able to visit Merci in person and I am looking forward to seeing how it evolves. I have no doubt that it’s here to stay.