over at HodgePodge today - come by!

It's a sunday, not a usual blogging day 'round here,

but the amazing DIY extraodinaire Barbara of the HodgePodge blog

recently asked me to take part in her So Canadian, eh? series,

and of course I said yes!

You can pop over and read it if you like...

Such an honour to be featured alongside the talented designers she always has lined up for us,

and it's always so interesting to read how they got started, their best advice, and so on.

Thank you very much, Barbara, for having me over today!!

Hope that one day we manage to meet somewhere between Vancouver and Toronto...
maybe we can do a vintage run together somewhere around Calgary :)
I have a feeling you would be a fabulous thrifting partner, lol.

On the colour front, since we've already talked about
choosing a grey for your walls, pink and grey, and green and grey,
 I thought next week maybe we'd talk about one of the most common challenges my clients
 are dealing with when trying to bring grey into their palettes -

hope you'll stop and in share your thoughts.

happy Sunday, lovelies - x

succumbing to temptation

if you read the blog you know I'm always espousing finding your own look, 

not just blindly going off on the trend train...

but I couldn't resist...

luscious chevron in sorbet color...it was too much...

 Since we don't have target here,

I just ordered these from ebay...

Where should I take them?

I think they'd like to go home to Italy :)

that would do, wouldn't it?!!

happy friday!

Tomorrow hockey madness begins around here,

as my nine-year old goes through try-outs and draft picks...

I'm also working on a project for Tash's room,

a couple more to go and we'll be able to show you the whole shebang!

what are all you lovely people up to?

Yay or Nay: leaning a mirror behind a console table...

When we sold our last home, 

I leaned an extra floor length mirror behind a console table for staging purposes.

It was a quick and easy solution to dress and brighten our upstairs hallway.

(We normally had nothing there, 

as it was commonly used for impromptu hockey tournaments and tea parties :)

Everyone commented on it.

I've bumped into it a few times lately, 

and I'm wondering what you think of this look?

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I'm thinking the more sparkle, the better!

And it highlights a pair of sexy legs so well...

You? Is it a Yay or Nay?

Hello friends!

It's another Monday, and another fabulous Crushing on Color post!

Todays treat for the eyes is brought to us by the ever-inspiring Carol,

from The Design Pages.

If you haven't been over to Carol's blog, you're missing out on an absolute goldmine of DIY ideas.

She not only posts the finished products, 

but there's always step-by-step instructions for those of us who may not be as crafty as she :)

Let's see what color Carol is crushing on these days, shall we??

Hello to all the 10 Rooms lovely readers.

I'm Carol from The Design Pages.

It took me only a split second to decide after being asked by Anne-Marie to be part of the

Crushing on Color series.

Peacock blue has become a favourite for me in both fashion and design.

This is my favourite shade for furniture or walls.

My favourite shade is one that is right in the middle

 of the light, almost turquoise, and the deep royal blue.

This shade can look fresh and hip.

It can also look calm and sophisticated.

It works paired with other bright, bold colours.

It also looks amazing with neutrals.

A little pop can go a long way with this very versatile colour.

If subtlety is not your style,

you could go all out with this wallpaper.

My very favourite of all the combos is the peacock blue and yellow mix.

There is definitely a peacock blue room in my future...

 but for now I'll settle for a bit of this...

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So, what do you think?

Do you love peacock blue or is it a bit too much of an attention hog for your liking?

Thank you, Anne-Marie, for having me over today.

Carol

Carol, your post is gorgeous!

Such a rich, lush color, yet it's so versatile... we're completely on the same wavelength, hon.

(when Carol sent over this post I had just taken my daughter fall shopping

 and bought her THREE peacock blue tops and matching nailpolish!)

And the peacock and lemon mix?  LOVE!

Thanks so much for taking the time to guest post... and as always, 

I'm looking forward to swinging by your place and

 seeing what shenanigans you've got going on - x

Anne-Marie

an anniversary and a weekend wish...

It's been a bit mushy around here this week!

We've celebrated our wedding anniversary.

Twelve years since we snuck off to the bahamas and made our vows.

And it's gotten better each year, truly.

Love you, hon.

D. surprised me with an Aritzia sweater and Fossil watch I didn't even know he knew I wanted,

that clever man,

AND a huge stash of sugar-free dark chocolate - 

**confession time** 

I keep a desk drawer just for goodies!

Does anyone else have a candy stash??

Since we married on his birthday (LONG story),

 he got his long-awaited projector from the darlings and I.

Truthfully, it's a bit of a sneaky present, 

since I am as excited to remove the current giant black box from our family room

 as he is to watch 10 foot hi-def car chases!

Hope your weekend finds you with the ones you love - x

ps..

you have to stop by on Monday - we've got a really, really gorgeous bit of eye candy coming from the latest crushing on color guest poster... it's fallicious!

xo

The Dorm Room: Best DIY Ideas

Did you know that the back to school market is a $68 billion dollars industry?

Dorm supplies make up at least $4 billion dollars of this total.

Thats a lot of flokati rugs :)

If you're decorating one of these tiny spaces, you may not want to spend a fortune,

because chances are everything in it will have to be burned by the end of the year!

But who wants to live in the fuschia and black nightmare I keep seeing marketed toward college students?

 I thought I'd go looking for some clever, original diy ideas for student spaces.

First thing, I got distracted by the dorm of Maximilian.

This is not ultra affordable, but damn it's gorgeous!!

Attending Drew University in Madison, New Jersey,

he interns for Charlotte Moss and has spent summers working with David Easton.

The ultra-preppy space he created is completely unexpected.

Walls are painted Ralph Lauren's Tapestry Green,

then given the gallery treatment.

Oriental carpets layer the floor,

a black watch skirted console functions as a perch for a tv,

 while a tray table tucked in alongside offers a tiny bar space.

Ties offer up a witty take on wall decor, while solving the storage issue.

A vintage dresser is styled in a manner that would not be out of place in an english manor -

including matching lamps with chinoiserie paper shades, an orchid, crystal and books 

layered under a gold rimmed mirror and classic art prints.

W O W.

He has his own design business, and I'm quite sure it will be a smashing success.

Okay, back on track :)

If you are more indie than prep,

and want something a bit less traditional,

there are heaps of really easy ideas out there that go beyond new bedding..

Walls of sticky notes paint samples, photos, postcards...

A mishmash of posters becomes an art installation when grouped around a typography bit.

The easiest way to upgrade a standard headboard?

Drape a blanket over it!

No headboard?

Make one out of photo's spray glued to foam board, 

or just cut one from whiteboard and call it a day.

A screen doesn't have to be attached to the wall,

and these work double duty as headboard and storage,

or headboard and art.

Dress up a paper lantern with coffee filters or crepe paper...

re-use some favourite old tins,

or play with string lights.

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Almost makes you want to hit the books again, doesn't it?

Hope your'e all enjoying the quiet this week has brought :)

I know next week we'll be missing the darlings, but for now, basking in a bit of silence.... xo

Yay or Nay: Asian-inspired textiles

Interesting color combinations and stellar patterns have

Asian and Asian-inspired textiles climbing my love list.

And what better way to bring in a bit of fun than a pillow?

One-of-a-kind accessories are always better -

none of us want the same pillows as their neighbour, do we? The horror!!

so here's what Etsy has to offer....

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What do you think? 

Are you feeling the love?

Happy weekend! How did we get to friday so fast?!!
I will be working with a local builder all weekend -
but hope you all manage a bit of time to relax and enjoy the last days of summer...
will catch up next week... xo