stressed.....OUT

I'm tired today. Probably because I woke up at 430am when hubby left for work. Rather than fall back asleep and fell worse when my alarm went off, I got up and started to get ready for the day. Thank goodness the squirt co-operated and didn't wake up until 630am.

photo by TheDizzyPixie

So, yes. I'm tired.

I also started my new day job this week. Can't say much about it just yet, so much to learn and get used too, which will come in time. I also expect to be a bit brain dead over the next few weeks as well, so consider this an apology in advance.

Also, we're not taking the apartment after all....at least not YET. There are a few kinks that we need to work out first. Yes, I'm sad, as I LOVE THIS PLACE, but we just can't commit to the location just yet. We have until mid-January to move, so lots to time to find something, hopefully in a bit of a better location! Please cross your fingers for us, and maybe we'll even find something better! EXCLAMATION POINT!!!!!!! I know, that's annoying, eh? QUESTIONS MARK!!!!

In the meantime though, I've managed to start hunting for bedroom inspiration. Have you visited the Canadian blog Kitka yet? Juli & John own and run Mjolk, an outstanding design shop here in Toronto focused on Scandinavian and Japanese design for home and office. I've written about them before, and I still avidly follow their adventures remodeling their apartment above their shop, as well as their cottage. Most recently, I can't take my eyes away from their bedroom at their apartment. Not sure what it is, probably the minimalism of the space, especially since i'm such a slob these days. It just seems so damn peaceful and serene.

all images from Kitka

I think this is the feel that I'm going for when we do find our new apartment. We already have a Malm bed to get us started, it can't be that difficult, can it? I'm trying not to worry about moving by finding inspiration in beautiful bedrooms. It's not working yet, but I'm still trying.

rapunzel, rapunzel, let down your hair!

Well, that was easier than I thought. It looks like we found an apartment. The very first one we looked at.

Wow. I honestly thought that was going to be a lot more difficult.

This apartment is 200% better than what I thought it was going to be.



We have a view. We have morning sun. We have privacy between the living space and the bedrooms. We have a HUGE balcony. We have a dishwasher.

Did I mention we have a HUGE balcony? Did you see the size of the living/dining room? It's massive! Well, compared to what he have now anyways.

We have until Wednesday to get our application together, then it's ours!!! Yay!!! I'm actually excited about moving. I can't freakin' believe it.

Now all of you can watch me decorate it.

Now, off to look at paint swatches. The master bedroom is first on the list!

light it up.....

.....glam style





all images from the Vivre lighting shop

Apartment Quest - Episode #2,568,988

So, in the span of one day, we're decided to buy a condo.

Changed our mind's, and decided to rent an apartment in a high rise.

Changed our mind;s, AGAIN, and decided to rent a townhouse.

Changed our mind's, AGAIN AGAIN, and am back to looking into condo's to LEASE.

I know. Go ahead. Shoot me in the finger. That way I can't surf the real estate listings anymore.

Just to give you guys a peak as to what is available in my city, here is a sample floor plan of 99% of the apartments (in high-rises) here in the big smoke.




I swear this floor plan has NOTHING special about it. All of the apartments in this town are so cookie cutter. PLEASE SOMEBODY CREATE SOMETHING WITH SOME CHARACTER! MAYBE A CROOKED WALL?

Ok, i'm done for the day. Nighty night everybody.

dana oldfather

While perusing Design Spotter today, I noticed this beautiful dinnerware by artist Dana Oldfather. This is a new venture for Dana, and she is usually accustomed to paper and canvas.

I can't wait to see what she does next, can you?

You can pre-order her dinnerware collection at InkDish.

all images by dana oldfather

bottle bloom

.....so pretty

as seen on design spotter

the kitchn

Apartment Therapy announced today that they are reorganizing their "departments". And I can honestly say THIS EXCITES ME IN A WAY YOU JUST CANNOT UNDERSTAND!!!

How many times have I Google'd GREEN KITCHEN only to have a half hazard result such as posts about recycling to paint color. It's annoying I tell ya.

Well, they started their reorganization with The Kitchn, you will soon be able to search by room type, and by colour! Yay for AT!

I knew I still loved you.

As we will be moving in the next few months, my brain has been spinning with decorating ideas. Here are a few kitchen's that caught my eye today, that would probably work in a rental apartment with boring cabinets. What do you think?

decisions

So, it's official.

We have to be out of our condo by January 15th.

This. Just. Sucks.

The landlady couldn't have waiting one more year to sell. Noooooo. So now we have a huge decision to make. Do we rent for 1-2 more years and then buy a house? Or do we suck it up and buy a fixer upper condo NOW, then sell in 2-3 years, and then buy a house?

Hmmmm. Decisions...decisions...decisions.

We could rent another condo, but then we run the risk of it being sold again. We could rent in a rental building to avoid this issue, but then chances are there will be no dishwasher or washer/dryer in the unit (doesn't exist in the neighborhood). Did I mention we need to be within walking distance of hubby's work due to his crazy hours? Yeah, there are soooo many factor's to consider and it's stressing me out!!!

ARGH!!!!

Any suggestions or advise would be greatly appreciated. Now i'll just go dunk my head in the sand and scrrreeeeaaammmmm

mural

Usually when someone tells me they just installed a wallpaper mural in their house I immediately think about ones from the 70's and 80's, you know the one's I'm taking about. The one that looked like you were sitting on a desert island. Or the one of the pine forest. Or even worse, the grande fish tank.

Wallpaper mural's have made a comeback in recent years, thanks to the popularity of feature walls, focal points, and boring cookie cutter condos. Mural's are an easy and very interesting way to enrich your living space, and even create a theme in your home.

all images from anthropologie

What's your opinion on wallpaper murals? Do you have a favorite, or have to put one up yourself? If you have, I'd LOVE to see them all! Please email your photos to me, at decoraddict@gmail.com.

remembering

Yesterday was the 9th anniversary of 9/11. I remember it vividly, and well. Unfortunately. I have not revisited NYC since that tragedy, but I do plan to in the near future. When I remember my visit there almost 15 years ago, it is one that I will never forget.

My old schoolmate Adam Shalaby captures the bright vivid image of NYC unlike no other. There is a sense of happiness that comes through in his photography.







If you live in the greater Toronto area, join Adam's Facebook group to stay on top of his current showings and events.



all photos by Adam Shalaby, aka Adam Shax Photography