The Blog

Hi Ya’ll

Let’s just say that today hasn’t gotten off on the right foot, but not all has been lost.

We woke up late this morning, like 8 am late. My kids don’t sleep that late, live EVER! I suppose the time change and that fact that the kids are at swimming camp this week for March Break has caught up with them.

So we awoke with a knock at the door, my contractors were here to hang the 48″ x 60″ mirror frame and cut the holes in the backing for the sconces. I was also going to have the mirror man come measure today. This all sounded so simple and looked great in the elevation and I could visualize it in my head. Well it seems not one person saw the problem we just encountered.

The boxes for the sconces are placed so they line up with the hardware on the vanity, great & what I expected. Well, because the right side of the vanity is against the wall & the left side the counter extends 1 1/2 ” because it is a waterfall, this is the problem. So, to make a long story short, the sconce on the right would have to come in 1 1/2″ to make spacing of the sconces on the mirror equal, but then it’s over too far- not happening. I know myself and we have come this far and it has to be right. I just hope my husband is reading this and I won’t have to explain it to him again later:)

So my quick thinking brain came up with an even better idea than the original & we also have more than enough left over marble so make my new plan happen. The tile will span from the top of the counter to the ceiling with the same 12 x 24 Bianco Carrera, laid vertically in a brick pattern and the entire width of the counter. The sconces will be mounted on the tile and I will find 2 (very cost effective) tall skinny mirrors, one above each sink.

Anyone interested in a 48″ x 60″ frame painted Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron????

I went for my first of many client meeting last evening to see the new Rainbow Expressions Hair Salon and let me tell you I really have my work cut out! I walked into a total horror show.

All the owner said was “I know hair and you know design so please make it pretty”
 Here are a few of the before photos and let me tell you I don’t think I can do any wrong, any improvement will be a positive one.

reception

cutting stations – there is another double station like this on the opposite wall 

retail area  

this area will have 2 additional cutting stations

2 Shampoo stations

Washroom

Storage in the washroom

I have big plans for this salon. There are a few fixed elements for the existing Rainblow Expressions Salon that they will be retrofitting to use in this new space, but other wise I plan on making this place a whole lot of pretty.

Hollie xo

Good Morning all, I’ve got lots on my plate this morning so this is going to be short and sweet with lots of eye candy. Let’s get to it shall we!

I’m feeling rather chipper today, despite the light rain & soft grey haze and springing forward with the clocks.
 I just keep thinking this means we are one step closer to SPRING!!!

So I figured with the crystal blue skies and clouds that remind me of cotton candy that are on our horizon it only seems fitting to dedicate this

All The Pretty Colours to

Out of all the blues, I am currently loving the more saturated tones

 And there is also a little room for some Cobalt

Photo sources: pinterest & goolge

Do you have a favourite shade of Blue?

Hollie xo

I hope you had a nice week end, and the time change hasn’t messed you up too much!

Mine was nice, a relaxing Saturday with the kids, just hanging out and a Bridal Shower on Sunday for a work friend in Niagara Falls.

The weather has been so beautiful the last few days, so I busted out the spring jackets!

I can’t wait to see some flowers, green grass, leaves on the trees, birds chirping, and the smell of spring air.

One of my favourite flowering trees is,

The Cherry Blossom

I love the small delicate petals. The fragrance is lovely, and the colours and simply beautiful.

Here is a design board that I created inspired by the Cherry Blossom. 

A few new items were added to my shop

The last time I had this fabric it sold out in less than 1 day. I just received a small quantity.
Can you say total gorgeousness? This will be added to Pillotopia’s line up Tuesday.

A reader asked me to put some cushion combinations together for her. She was looking for specific colours and wanting to achieve a slightly bohemian vibe.
The only thing she knew was there had to be a few big pink ones! I love her already:)

Pillotopia’s 20% off sale is on until the end of March, the coupon code is march2013.
If you are interested in something and you don’t see it, convo me and I can make it happen! 

Thanks for stopping by.
Hollie xo

Ensuite Evolution is coming together. All of the painting was completed yesterday. The drapery and mirror frame and being hung today, and the glass shower is happening Saturday.

So with freshly painted walls that are white, I’ve never had white wall in my life! 

I have been thinking about the art. I was envisioning some tasteful nude sketches, 

but I have not really found anything I love, so I am keeping an open mind.

I am hoping for 3 pieces. 2 to hang one above the other beside the vanity,

and one larger piece to hang above the toilet.

Below are a few of my selections to narrow down.

 Holly Sharpe

Leigh Viner

 My Soul Fly

Thoughts????

Hollie xo

It was a very exciting day yesterday. I was awarded 2 new projects!!!

The first is a custom home, which I will refer as Maple Ave. Project from here on out. 

I will be meeting with the clients this week to begin nailing down the overall design and feel.

Then I’ll get cracking on creating an amazing space.

Maple Ave. is strictly for selling purposes, the clients will not actually live there. The attention to detail and the materials used is especially important because of where the home is and what the expected asking price is going to be.

More on this next week when we have nailed a few things down.

Project #2 is a Hair Salon, more specifically the salon that I go to.

It is moving to a house (actually the home that I first lived in when I was just a baby)

All I was told that the space is on the small side in comparison to what the stylists have now.

 I must be creative with the layout and storage solutions.
I would also like to incorporate the name of the salon into the design somehow, I certainly don’t mean  rainbow murals on the walls, so I best put my thinking cap on!!!

So upon getting the call, I jumped on my laptop and began the search for inspirational ideas and here is what I found.

slightly industrial with surface applied moulding on mirror & crystal chandeliers – brilliant!

mirrored herringbone ceiling- need I say more?

clean & slightly rustic

repurposed

amazing lighting

awesome floor

crisp – great light

simple with a little crystal storage behind the mirrors

Amazing floor

Here are a few other items that I came across that I think are pretty cool

This light is pretty quirky – I love it!

Once I see the new space I will have a clear design direction.

One more thing-
Remember there is a 20% off sale over at Pillotopia for the month of March use coupon code march2013

I just wanted to say a thank you for reading my daily posts, it means a lot to me that there some peeps out there who want to read what I have to say. If you have a minute leave me a quick comment so I know that someone is out there.

Have a lovely day!

Hollie xo

 10 years ago Kay Douglass went to France & brought back more furnishings that she had space for, so she opened South of Market.

SOM is overflowing with antiques from France & Belgium.
They offer  a huge selection of upholstered & re-purposed objects & lighting galore, including custom work.

Here is just a sprinkling of what you will find at South of Market

Here is just a small dose of Kay’s exceptional designs, many have been featured in numerous shelter magazines.

I love Kay’s distinct style. It’s clean, rustic, unique with a sophisticated edge & she incorporates numerous elements seamlessly.

All of the neutral with the injection of colour is beautifully done.

Hollie xo

It’s an exciting day here over at my pad, project Ensuite Evolution is getting the mill work delivered today and all the hardware put on, along with the counter tops being measured.

I am also on the hunt for 2 nude sketches, but I can’t seem to find any that I really like. If you know of any artists who create beautiful and tasteful nude sketches, let me know.

The master bedroom is also getting a boost, I already love the direction of this room,
 here is how it looks now.

I really was wanting to incorporate a vanity / make up area in the bathroom but the layout was proving to difficult, you’ll see why when I show off the reveal.

I’m having a wall to wall floating make up area right in front of the window that is nicely tucked into an alcove. 

In addition to the floating vanity I will be adding these wall sconces  

 a lucite chair

and the carpet is going to be replaced with hardwood

these are the contenders

the dark one in the middle

or these 3

I can see it all in my mind and can’t wait to have this space of relaxation and rejuvenation complete!

Don’t forget about the 20% off sale over at Pillotopia!

Hollie xo

I hope you all had a nice weekend, my was particularly lovely.
 I had not one commitment, so I enjoyed doing very little, and that’s A-OK in my books!

The weather that last few days has been so nice, that it has me longing for spring, 

so I put together a list of my must haves. Well, let’s get real, they are more like wishes, since the whole Ensuite Evolution project is slightly over budget, although
a few will manage to make their way into my closet.

1) Black Leather Blazer

These will definitely be happening !

Hi new friends, I am so happy that it’s Friday & I have a few things to share with you.

1) Project Ensuite Evolution 

The tiling is complete, hallelujah, I thought it would never end.
The guy who did it is a total perfectionist & I appreciate one taking their time, but after 2 1/2 weeks I was ready for this part to be done, so we can get the rest of the show on the road.

Here’s a sneak peek, I can’t give it all away quite yet.

2) Hair

I’m gett’in my hair did tomorrow, and I am wanting something different. 

I have been growing my hair for what seems like an eternity. So, last June I got extensions, and I had long flowing locks like had been dreaming about. When I had them taken out at the end of November, my hair was way longer than I anticipated. It grew so much, just what I wanted right?

Well, now I find myself overcome with hair, mine is super thick and I have enough for like, 3 people, and now all I do is put it in a ponytail.

I’m toying with the idea of layers, bangs, 

lots of blonde highlights, and maybe even some violet, think Kelly Osbourne!

If I had balls I would go Kelly all over!!!

I’ll give you the final result Monday or if you follow me on Instagram you can see it Saturday.

3) There goes 100 bones

I was lucky enough to sell all of the old fixtures from Project Ensuite Evolution via Craigslist & Kijiji.

A guy brought the vanity light for $100, like 5 weeks ago, and he was willing to wait a week or two until it was taken down, but one thing lead to another, and the light was till here. So I offered to deliver it to his home yesterday, only because I was going to be in the area. When I opened the trunk to my SUV, the fixture must have shifted somehow, and it fell out and smashed all over his driveway.
F#*k Me.

4)SALE

I am having a SALE over at Pillotopia for the month of March.

  I’m offering up, 20% off everything even E-Design & Design Boxes for the whole month.

Use coupon code march2013

ikat polka dot

Hollie xo

Yesterday I showed you the floor plan, for The Shack out Back,
but here it is again for a refresher.

I put my nose to the grindstone and have pulled all of the pretty things together
& here is what I came up with.

All the walls, beams, rafters, & baseboards, basically EVERYTHING will be painted

Benjamin Moore Cloud White

Well I’m off to pick up some supplies for my shop I’m hoping to add a few more items.