Airy Girls Bedroom

Photo credit to come…thanks Al

This used to be my 23 year old son’s room before I staged it as an airy girly room for staging our house…I had the opportunity to make a girls room after all…lol.… if only for a few months. All for under 300 bucks including mouldings', paint, lighting, new electrical…and furniture with bedding. It can be done…Brian didn’t believe me. Thanks IKEA :)

Hence, my absence from blogging lately. Wish us luck…a few steps closer to that loft space in the city :)

Best, Michelle

Sunday Reading

 

A Sunday at home with magazines and good coffee…it was a great day! Albarosa took this photo when she came for dinner and rendering lessons on Saturday night. She also took the new portrait shot of me…what do you think…please be nice :)

Best, Michelle

Carport to Summer BBQ Room

Like many, I have a carport…I wish it was a garage, so I could paint year round, and maybe one day that will happen. The space is smothered in light in the evening, as it’s west facing, so I always thought it would be a nice place for BBQ nights, and hanging out with friends and family. Back in May I bought really inexpensive curtains and rods from Ikea, a gallon of concrete paint, a fence panel and a couple of concrete post holders (I know there is a more technical term), then went to work transforming a carport to an eating area. The key piece was a shed from Home Depot to store all the furniture off season, and the gardening gear.

We have used the space quite a bit this season, and for the winter, I will hinge back the fence panel, and regain a place to park my car.

 

  This is what my carport has looked like most of the year.

Best… Michelle

Should I Paint It?

 

Over the last week, I have been changing things up at my studio…this is a little niche off the main large space that has great light; I use it to meet clients and have my morning coffee.

I was thinking of painting the old Ikea table tomorrow, and applying nail head trim on all 4 aprons. I just don’t have anything in that warm pine colour. What do you think? Would you paint it? If so, black, white, or warm gray?

Look for Six Objects de Vie with Albarosa from the blog Brillante next post :)

 

Best…Michelle

The Well Travelled Room

A snipit of my bedroom makeover...I'll be posting more on the room and the Paris map later, which became my inspiration for our "well travelled" room.

Can I admit something to you detail oriented bloggers? I took a long time making things just right to shoot some pics, but forgot how much wrinkled bedding shows in photos. It's all about light and shadows, making the wrinkles even more prominent in the pictures.

So, today, like many of us would, I will iron the sheets, and retake the photos, so the room looks it's very best to show you all. It feels earthy and worldly, cozy and warm, and I am really enjoying it.

Sunshine On My Shoulders Makes Me Happy

Look at the orange orb and these ray type thingies coming through my window a few minutes ago...it gave me the energy this morning to wash my car before 10am, clean my house and plan a day out sourcing.

I love Spring!

Christmas 2008

Some Christmas wrapping before it all got squished on the snowy trip to Ucluelet. The kids were with their dad, as we alternate years.

Christmas morning before my husband got out of bed...a quiet morning coffee, and a warm fire.

I made my own gift tags from old fabric book inserts (showing fabric repeat).

This year our gift bags were re-usable as lunch bags later. Inside were Belgian chocolates from Santa's travels.

Looks like a hairbrush would have been in order, LOL, but Santa was listening...he took a trip to the blue box store with shinny stuff and to Hudson's Bay in his sleigh! I'm so glad he reads my blog!

I am a sucker for Christmas music; old and new. The Starbucks compilations are really good, and I have collected a few over the years...their "Ornamental Holiday" has David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing "Little Dummer Boy" together...it's from a TV special a few years back, and for me is so nostalgic. The green covered "A Very Special Christmas" is still my all time favorite all time Christmas CD.

We had over 18 inches of snow in my neighbourhood...more in North Van. ...all right before and during Christmas! You notice there are no tire tracks out of my driveway on the left.

Pictures of Ucluelet Christmas, and my sister's new puppy to come.

...visions of sugarplums...

Well, it's arrived...holiday decorating week. It's a crazy month around our house; my husband's birthday is Christmas Day, and the kid's birthdays are in December, and the first week of January.

I'm also hosting the family dinner here on Boxing Day, since the boys are with their dad's family on the island for Christmas this year. Here is a peek of what I've been doing... more to come yet...

The Holidays at my house are all about the bar and the kitchen...my favorite is champagne and Chambord...with salmon skewers and goats cheese appy's. It's a bit about over-indulgence around here at Christmas.

My husband made this wood log candle holder when he was 8 years old, and it sat on his grandfather's mantle in Anacortes for all of their lives. When he passed away, we brought it home, and it sits on our mantle every Christmas. The candles are from Restoration Hardware, and the little raindeer are from Canadian Tire...yes, love these little guys, and I can change my look next year for the price.

My mom brought me back this nativity scene from Mexico over 10 years ago, and I love it. They remind me of Finnish and Dutch patterns, and are cheerful.

The twig tree from Canadian Tire is perfect for displaying the cut chandelier pieces from the Paris flea market. I thought I would put them on the main tree, but need to get some more on my next trip to make any impact. I love the way the light bounces around them, especially the faceted ones.

I have collected Santas for a few years...

















Some of my tree decorations...my tree stays pretty much the same every year...no garland, no tinsel, just a growing collection of sentimental ornaments. This year I didn't get a fresh tree. I have a new car, so I didn't want to clean up the needles for months to come, and I have a heat vent in the only spot I have for a tree, so I went artificial, slim and tapered.

I like the look, but you really have to spend upwards of 500 dollars for a good artificial tree. I like the fact that it is pre-lit though! I always dreaded that part. Since I have boys, I have been the sole decorator in my house. They would put a couple of ornaments on the tree, and then wanted to play in boxes, so it's nice to get the part done quickly, and get on to the decorating. Nowadays they come in the room, give their critique, and eat the candy, and be on their way.

I just love these two in multicoloured glass...they remind me of the sixties, and my mom's tree decorations...the indented ones are the the best.

Others that are very special are the snowman frame with a picture of my sister and my first baby within an hour of his birth...he's now 21. Gheesshh.
Crocheted skates with paperclips as the blades...these are from my Nana Tyne in Cape Breton; she also made me mittens, boots, icicles...all crocheted.
The little paper stars are Danish and from the mother of my first husband, Sigrid. I found others at IKEA, but they were much larger. I cherish these little ones. She has great taste.

We made little pipe cleaner ornaments a long time ago, when the kids were little; I'll never get rid of these things...and love the memories they provoke.











The fun continues today...Happy Holidays to you!

MBR makeover

My new MBR plan- Rendering by Michelle Morelan

My bedroom now
The pillow covers as inspiration

I love these pillow covers I purchased at an Amsterdam Flea Market. They are my inspiration for a new bedroom makeover.

It will include some architectural prints I bought in Paris, a paint patterned roller from Amsterdam's DOM shop, and a pop of blue in the nightstands; something in high gloss.

The new look includes tone on tone walls in white and cream, like the cushions. I'm keeping my mirrored lamps and auction nightstands, and my PAX wardrobe that I just could never live without!

A 6' linen headboard (or maybe to the ceiling) with equal vertical seams will bring your eye up, and direct interest to the framed prints on or above the nightstands. I'll find the blue throw first, then match the table paint to it. I may get a box style cushion made for the bed like the one on the chair.

This Merlena chair from Mitchell Gold would be great with a low end table like this one from Oly. The Robert Allen Linen is a good price point, and is a heavier weight to use as upholstery for the headboard.

I can't wait for a new look. As a mother, my bedroom has been my sanctuary for a long time, but this is the first time the objects have meaning. Out with Home Sense, and in with pieces that mean the world to me :)