The Blog

I am on the hunt for a square upholstered ottoman for the family room.
I am looking for large and square and either very sleek and simple or lots of detail but not too “sweet”.
There are a lot of great options out there but these few really stood out to me.

Lee Industries

CB2

Vanguard Furniture

I love the button tufting but, how much of a dust collector and nightmare is that going to be with 2 kids? I think I am leaning to the CB2 option.

I’ve decided to go with the Jonathan Adler swing arm wall sconce, see all the option here
& updated the design board to see how it all looks and I love it.

The only things missing are the sconces, side tables and the ottoman.
I don’t think there is a hope staying in that $1000 price range for the whole room, it was a bit ambitious, and that was based on using a sofa I found at a consignment store, that was $250.
With that being said, I will do my best to finish this room off without dropping a bomb!

Have a fab day!

Hollie xo

Have you ever woken up and you just feel out of sorts and S L O W moving.

That’s how I feel today. There lots to do today to boot, so we’ll see how well I can knock things off the list.
So today I have decided to share some of my latest Pin obsessions.  

If we ever have the chance to built our own home again it’ll be just like this

Follow me on pinterest here & I’ll be sure to follow you back.

See you tomorrow with a real post!

Hollie xo

It seems as thought the hand written note has been replaced by emails, texts & the list goes on. 

Actually, I think it’s just been lost & forgotten.

It is nice feeling to get an actual piece of mail, addressed to you and waiting at the end of a long day & filled with kind words. 

The time and thoughtfulness that goes into a letter is not just the beautiful message inside but the stationary to which it has been written. 

I found this on Pinterest the other day & fell in love with it.

This piece of stationary from Crane & Co. got me thinking, maybe I’ll start to send less “It’s been a long time” & “Thank you” emails and more hand written beauties, especially if they are on some of these.

All of the cards above are from Crane & Co.  & they have a ton to choose from. They also have a great etiquette section to assist with all of the formalities.

While putting this post together I came across this and it really sums up the simplicity and importance of the hand written letter – click here

A handwritten note shows the receiver that you took the time to do something nice & thoughtful.
 Time is something we should all take more of, to enjoy all that is around us.
So, sit down a put pen to paper.

Enjoy your Monday.

Hollie xo

I love roman blinds.
They are simple, functional and the fabric can make a statement.

Due to the fact that they are so versatile, romans look great in a wide range of spaces, from casual to very formal.

One of the things that I really like about romans is that they don’t require much material, so you can splurge on the fabric is you so desire. Also, because it hangs “flat” it really shows off a pattern or texture beautifully. I am dying over the Bespoke fabric in the first picture below – I’m going try my hand a creating some of that amazingness.

There are many variations of a Roman Shade but the 3 most popular styles are the regular, the relaxed and the butterfly.

Regular

Regular in a Bespoke fabric

Regular with the bottom pleat in an accent fabric

Regular in an interesting fabric

Regular with inset banding to create a simple pattern

Regular in a large scale pattern

Regular with an accent fabric while addressing a tricky window

Regular in a bold pattern

Relaxed

Relaxed with banding down side edges

Relaxed with accent fabric down sides and across bottom

Relaxed in a solid fabric

Relaxed in a bold fabric

Butterfly

Butterfly in a traditional Toile

Butterfly in a colourful pattern

Butterfly in a solid fabric

Butterfly in a solid fabric with a ruffled bottom edge

Butterfly with an arched top with a small box pleat detail

Butterfly in a tone on tone fabric with lots of fullness

Butterfly in a traditional Toile with button and pleat detail at the top & a box pleated bottom edge

See they suite any style of decor perfectly.
The pairing of both drapery and romans is a also nice combination.

By keeping the fabric the same there is consistency even though treatments are different

The drapery and romans are kept in the same fabric

The romans are panels are in contrasting fabrics

By having the romans in a pattern and repeating the colours in the panels creates a playful combination

How to Calculate

Here is how to calculate the yardage for a regular roman.

Determine what you finished size is going to be. Let’s say 35″w x 57″l & our fabric is 54″wide

35″+ 8″ ( 4″ for each side to have a 2″ double side hem) = 43″
1 cut or width of fabric

54″ + 30″ (this allows for the top & bottom hems & 2 stationary pleats) = 84″
84″ / 36″= 2.33 yards rounded up
2 1/2 yards

That it, easy peasy!

 Remember if you or anyone you know is having trouble calculating yardages or has questions regarding drapery or needs assistance figuring out what to do. I am happy to help.

Have a beautiful weekend.

Hollie xo

Good Morning. 

I meet with my personal trainer 3x’s a week, and have since the fall. As I progress the workouts get tougher. I’m feeling extra sore this morning. Not to mention, I started a Pilates class last night. I’ve got a pair of very tight hips – that feel about 90 –  that are becoming quite painful at times, I hope the Pilates helps. So, with all that being said, I think a long hot soak in some Epsom Salts after I drop the kids off at school is in order. 

In other news:

It was a raining yesterday so I spent some time in the soon to be family room.

The furniture was moved last week when the sofa was delivered and the sideboard got shimmied into it’s new spot. I styled it, using what  I had  from different areas in the house. I’m unsure about the large picture, but I like how it balances out all the feminine, so until I decide, it’s just going to lean there. 

We love the style of the sofa but the seat cushions were WAY to thin. 

As we speak new ones are being whipped up but one of my seamstresses in this awesome wool and the 2 large back pillows are getting the wool treatment too. In the photos the sofa looks very creamy yellow and the wool looks grey, but in real life they match the wool. 

Now, there’s the debate over the wall sconces. I’m currently loving something with a swing arm, but not ruling out a regular sconce either. Here are the few that I have narrowed my choices down to. 

Jonathan Adler

IKEA

Jonathan Adler

Thoughts on the sconce front, I’d like your opinion???

Well that’s it for now. I’m off to take a soak and enjoy some quite time.

Peace Out.

Hollie xo

Aerin is the grand daughter of cosmetic power house Estee Lauder and has been the Style & Image Director at Estee Lauder for many years. She recently launched her own life style brand aptly named,

By presenting products that reflects her signature & effortless style, Aerin’s goal is to have women feel beautiful, live confidently & simply. Her sophisticated modern presence speaks to women who are inspired by fashion & beauty whilst juggling busy lives. 

This brand is made up of objects for body & home. It is simple, minimal, modern, classic & luxurious all at the same time with lots of gold. 

It’s genius!

Below are some of the pieces that I LOVE, especially the Geo nesting bowls.

To see more of what gorgeousness AERIN has to offer click here 

Below is a small glimpse into her amazing homes, yes I said homes, she has 3.
What a lucky lady, to design and decorate 3 homes impeccably – I love how you can tell just by looking and the pics that they are in Manhattan, East Hampton & Aspen.

I have any design thoughts after seeing these images – Enjoy.

Until tomorrow…

Hollie xo

I have a subscription to

So it was not a surprise that it was in my mailbox, but today was extra special because yours truly and her shop, Pillotopia, was mentioned in Christine’s monthly S@H column, Web Watch.

Can I get a Whoot Whoot!!

I know, you all know her. C has style, and loves accoutrement’s. I was so very honoured when she asked if she could include me & my hand painted metallic cushions, so I said of course…of course!

Along with 2 other Etsy shops, Melongings & Sukan.

Although it was a total fluke, I thought that it was quite fitting that this was placed on the same page as – All the Trimmings – it suggests that to get the designer look, trims, tapes and banding can be added to your drapery, because my post last Friday, Wonder of Windows Part 2 was recommending to do just that!

Thanks Christine for thinking of me.

While on my weekly perusal of fab things I happened upon these few fine little gems:

Leif Shop

My daughter might need that little pink dress painting for her bedroom.

Tomorrow, Same Place, Same Time.

Hollie xo

I trust and hope a lovely weekend was had by all. Mine was nice.

I got my hair done Saturday, nothing crazy just the usual, highlights and a “aircut”. Only the teeniest bit off the ends, if anything really, since I am still trying to get a few more inches in the length.
I love a little salon time, it makes me happy!

Sunday we celebrated my Grandad’s Birthday with a luncheon for about 150.
Then the immediate family members gathered at my home for dinner. We indulged in pizza, wings, ice cream & brownies and some good old fashioned family.

On April 17th he turned, 80!!!

Grandad is a truly special guy, a real family man.

He and my Nanny have been married for 59 years & together they have built a family.

There are 3 kids, 5 grand kids and 3 great grand kids, including spouses that’s 21 of us.

G-dad, as my husband lovingly refers to him, has been a carpenter / builder for his entire life. 

He is very talented and can make just about anything from inlaid wood cutting boards to houses.
He takes pride in what he creates.

As a child I remember going to his workshop & we would make things together.

He always had a special treat for me in his desk drawer, mints, Kit Kat or Chicklets gum.

I think that I love the smell of saw dust because it reminds me of him.

G-dad and I hung out a lot together when I was young so it makes me happy that now my kids get to spend time with him too.

Happy Birthday to a one in a million Grandad.

Me & Grandad 1979

Have an awesome Monday.

Hollie xo

I find this is that part where peoples eye begin to roll back into their heads. 

Honestly, if you have a window covering specialist, they will work this out. 

If you really want to know how to calculate yardage, then here is the step by step equation.

First we need all of the existing measurements.
I find a window biography is helpful when you are calculating for the first few times.

Our floor to ceiling height is 108″ and the outside frame to frame is 72″.

We would like the drapery to be  82″w x 104″l.
The fabric is 54″wide

The next step is to determine the number of WIDTHS of fabric that are needed.
72″ + 4″(for overlap in the centre when closed) + 6″ ( 3″ past the frame on teach side) = 82″
82 x 2.5 (for fullness) = 205″
205 / 54″ = 3.79 widths (round up to 4)
4 WIDTHS

Next is the LENGTH of the cuts
108 (the finished length) +12 (for hems & header) = 120
120″l cuts  X 4 widths = 480″
480 / 36″(yard) = 12.88(round up to)
13 YARDS

There are many different types of pleats and details to choose from.

I always say to clients:
“Mount your drapery rods as high as you can & use decorative hardware whenever possible”.
These are 2 things that make a huge difference with the finished result.

Add some colour blocking, banding or ribbon detail

If you have an arch, consider ignoring it.
Mount your drapery rod above the arch to give the illusion of even taller windows.
By doing this, it will actually enhance the architectural detail.

Don’t cut the window in half, like this.

 Please whatever you do, don’t do this either, I beg of you!

It actually pains me to put that image up, but it’s still happening.
So, I will leave you with a fun but completely unrelated image.

Have a great week end.
See you Monday.

Hollie xo

I think this has been the quickest turnaround on a project that I have ever done.
 I wanted to have it completed as fast as possible, for as little money as possible & do it all on my own.
TOTALLY POSSIBLE!

As a reminder here is what the space in the basement looked like before.

Here was my design plan.

I pretty much stuck to original vision, but while at my local Home Depot, collecting the paint and supplies for the one wall, I spotted this.

Really, how hard is it to put up wallpaper anyways?
I thought if it gets me out of painting, I’ll give it a try, on the end wall.
All in all it wasn’t too difficult, but I’m not going to try this myself EVER again. I’ll leave it to the pros.

Next I hit up IKEA, and was able to purchase the bookcases, rugs, drapery panels and the pendant light.

So here is where all the sewing magic happens now!

I am very pleased with how my little corner turned out and cost a total of $386.66
I consider that a success!

This was a good exercise, in buying only the minimum and then re purposing what I already had.
I hope to spend some time in my new space over the weekend and create a few additions for the shop.

Have a beautiful day!

Hollie xo