5 finds for friday

I'm always looking for new sources for affordable art prints, and Society6 delivers.  And then some.

lovebirds by Paul Vizzari, $20

I know it's still October, but I can't help but start to think about Christmas this year when I see such cute wrapping idea's.  No more store bought paper for me, bring on the washi tape and craft paper and let me at it!

 gold snowflake tape, Papermash 

One day I will make it down under, and when I do, i'm going to make visiting Mr. Kitly a priority.

 interior photos by Mr. Kitly himself

  

After seeing this banner plastered all over Pinterest recently, i`m giving myself a kick in the butt to get over to the fabric store.  MUST MAKE ONE OF THESE IMMEDIATELY.  It`s a perfect makeshift headboard, don`t you think, not to mention so pretty!  If hubby doesn`t object.  Tee-hee.

via the hvidsten`s blog

I`m always on the hunt for new jewellery, and this caught my eye.  Stunning, just stunning, and sooo me!

 infinate ring by Donna O Designs

Have a beautiful and inspiring weekend everyone.

Playing with your food has an entirely new meaning ...

I am seriously considering doing this to my own dining room table. Gotta love chalkboard paint.

from design*sponge

books by colour

Remember this post from last February? I was so inspired, that I did it myself in my own bookcase.

Well, our new camera helped me take this photo as well. We just picked up the Sanyo Xacti dual camcorder/digital camera....I love it! With the bambino arriving next week, you must have a camcorder!

our living room

I have NOWHERE near the number of books as shown in my original post, but just to give you an idea of the effect this can have, here it is again.

image by colour lovers

I can't get enough of this look. It just makes a bookcase look that must more organized, even mine, which holds everything from our stereo, to storage boxes, to candles, and small pieces of artwork and photography.

Freebies & DIY's

I don't know about you, but whenever I catch an online freebie, or awesome DIY project online I bookmark it right away. There is a special folder for this on the laptop. Not saying that I actually use every one of them, but they're amazing to hold on to as you just never know when you may need or want to take advantage of one.

One of my favorites places to visit for freebies is Creature Comforts. Ez posts them so frequently, it's hard to keep up with them!

This is one of my favorites, iron-on pillow transfers. So romantic!
image copyright CreatureComforts

Another would be Poppytalk, by my fellow Canadian, Jan. The freebies here have a unique vintage quality to them that I so love, don't you think?

see them all here
image copyright Poppytalk

Happy downloading, and happy weekend! See you back here on Monday, where I will also announce the winners of DecorAddict's Ad-Space giveaway!

To keep or not to keep?

I've lugged my wardrobe/armoire around for the past 9 years. Through 5 moves. It's held up well, but I admit, it may be time to throw in the towel and give it up to someone who has the space. It was gifted to me by a friend, and isn't really worth anything, but it's totally functional.

You see, it's HUGE. Hence, the hesitation to toss it...it holds so much stuff! It's also still holding on to it's original stain, which isn't too pretty anymore.

I had a thought today however, about painting it RED. Like fire-engine red, and keeping it in the baby's room. Something along these lines (see below). What do you think?

image from Canadian House & Home

Home Office Thoughts {aka dining room}

Hmm....

I've been browsing through my Flickr favorites today, as i'm trying to come up with some inovative ways to decorate/set up our mutual dining room/home office. This picture just stood out, what do you think?


image by O!Rachew!

I could not only use each clipboard as a to-do list, but maybe also a calender, or to just post inspiration photos.

What do you think? Too much? Or any other idea's like this?

Hmmm. I'm still thinking.

Organize! {books by colour}

I just did this last weekend.....definitely creates a little bit of order amongst chaos!

Instructions to help you along the way here, from ColourLovers.

Ready Made Magazine

I spent some time in the magazine section of Chapters over the weekend, trying to find myself a viable replacement for the demise of Domino.

The only North American glossie that held my attention and kept me coming back for more was ReadyMade. I'll admit, it's the first time I've actually bought the magazine, however I have been a frequent visitor to their website for some time now.

Now, I wasn't able to find much on their website about their current issue, so I've taken some photo's of my own copy...c'mon ReadyMade! Get to it!



I grabbed the Feb/Mar 2009 issue, whose theme is entertaining at home - a great idea considering these grim economic times. But, what really grasped my attention were the most original DIY ideas, along with the instructions on how to execute them!

Chalkboard Wine Rack - LOVE THIS!

"Hiding the Uglies"
...you know the culprits, icky thermostats, old radiators etc...

But, my ultimate favorite has to me this quirky funky ceiling fixture, made from 12 glass balls from CB2.


AND, they give you the FULL instructions on how to do it!!!




This is something I may just have to try on my own.

Not only is ReadyMade for the DIY lover, but for the interiors fan as well. With a house tour a feature in every issue, along with a food feature, and entertaining tips, this may just be my new favorite glossie. Especially with Domino out the window (yes, I'm still mourning)

House Tour
Souliyahm & Tia Keobounpheng's Minneapolis Ranch House

Thank you ReadyMade. You have just restored by creative mental block.

UPDATE: I just found a digital issue of ReadyMade here!


all images by decoraddict

Adorable Iron-On Transfer's FREE {via Creature Comforts}

Get all the details on the Creature Comforts blog! Adorable!

image from Creature Comforts

Online Workshop {Unravelling}

Thanks to Holly over at Decor8 for cluing me in to this amazing online creative workshop.

Find all the details here.

image from Unravelling: Ways of Seeing Myself

DIY - Custom Magazine Files via AT

LOVE these magazine files you can make yourself here, courtesy of Apartment Therapy.


image from apartment therapy

Trying something new, blogging from Word 2007

This is kind of a test post, I'm trying out Word 2007's blogging feature to basically see what it can and cannot do. I have no idea how this is going to work, or even how it's going to work. So far though, I prefer typing out my post in word instead of that tiny little box in Blogger that is like 2 inches x 4 inches – note to blogger, make this box bigger!!! That is my one major pet-peeve about blogger, otherwise I love it.

The DecorAddict Flickr group is growing! We have some new pics uploaded by michelleverd, check them out below (hopefully these pics will upload!)

all images from michelleverd

Thanks Michelle!

(Note - uploading photos from Flickr to Word 2007 doesn't seem to work...hmm....any suggestions anyone? Looks like I'll have to upload photos directly from Blogger, anyone know an easier way from word? I'd rather not store my photos on my hard drive...gotta save space!)

Love this! {via design*sponge}

I can remember a telephone table almost exactly like this at my grandparent's house. At the time I thought it was ugly, but look what you can do! I love this!



You can find the full post on design*sponge here.


all photos from design*sponge

DIY Gift Wrap {via Creature Comforts}

I've printed out my templates already, what about you? Find full instructions here.

Love This! {via apartment therapy}

How-to's can be found here.

I'm Back!!! NEW Surface Collective

I'm officially back from Colorado! What a great state in the grand US of A!!! Although the altitude unexpectedly bothered me, overall it was a great trip! Fresh air, beautiful rocky mountains, not to mention fabulous shopping! I have a few pictures I'll share with you later in the week.

I spent most of yesterday going through a gazillion emails, making this weeks to-do list, not to mention catching up on laundry, I'm so sorry for the wait everybody! While I was gone, a whole whack load of new exciting things filled up my inbox, the most exciting for me being Surface Collective, remember I talked about them here a few months ago? Well they've just released some new wall decal designs, and they are better than ever! Kudos to my fellow Canadians!

clockwise from top left, sunlight is gold, weekend in Miami, undermine, & incognito

Surface Collective has also reduced their prices on their most popular designs, they've introduced 4 new designers, and will be releasing laptop skins! Yay Surface Collective!

clockwise from top left, damask, flo, lost lenore, & bamboo

Has anyone tried out these wall decals? I'm seriously considering some for our new apartment that we're moving into next month. Wow. We're only a month away from our move already. Here are a few that I'm considering for our combined living/dining room.

top - bye bye blackbird, bottom - woodcut

What do you think?

Poppytalk Handmade {Holiday Market}

Poppytalk Handmade's Holiday Market opened today! Get all your shopping done all in once place! This month's market ends December 12th.





image from Poppytalk Handmade

Budget Book Love: Domino & Handmade Nation

I’m a sucker for impulse shopping. I see something I want, hold it in my hands, smell it, and buy it! This past weekend, I resisted temptation while at Chapter’s (large bookstore chain in Canada). I went in to scout out some new design books, some international design glossies, and the cookbook section. I found everything I was looking for, but, the only thing I walked out of the store with was the new issue of Domino magazine, UK shelter magazine Ideal Home (wow! More about this amazing magazine later in the week), and a book from the clearance section called Scandinavian Modern Home, by Elizabeth Wilhide. The only reason I walked out with the later, was because it was only $25 Canadian, at over 50% off the regular price.

I almost gave in to temptation and bought the new Domino book, I had it in my hands, and was practically drooling over it, but I remembered a post I read on decor8 last week about decorating on a budget .... I held my breath, and put the book back on the shelf telling myself to wait until I got home to check the price on Amazon. I am sooo happy I did! In-store, the book was $37.00 Canadian. Online, it was only $23.00 Canadian! That’s almost 40% off the list price! I was so happy, that I bought another book on my wish list, Handmade Nation, regularly $27.95 Canadian bought online for only $18.00 Canadian! That’s 35% off! I’ve never really thought twice about buying a book online vs. in store, nor did I realize the savings involved.




The post on decor8 got me thinking about how I could cut back to save money, nothing too drastic, but maybe only 1 trip to Starbuck’s per week instead of every morning, bringing my lunch to work, and recycling more stuff, such as gift bags and ribbon. This will help me save up for the new sofa we will be buying from Crate and Barrel this January.



You may have noticed a new link in the DecorAddict Elseware section of the page, the link is DecorAddict Books! Yes, that’s right, you can buy the latest design books online here at DecorAddict!



What design books have you been buying or have on your wishlist? What design magazines are your favorites? I'd love to hear from you!

Color 101, why you eat the large fries instead of the small

I have been holding on to a Pier 1 gift card for a few months, as the past few times I've been in the store, nothing in particular jumped out at me saying "buy me!". Today, was a different story as I walked out with 3 new throw pillow's for our living room; navy, hunter green, and ivory with a blue coral pattern. Now I have too many throw pillows (8 in total), but that's for another post for another day :-)

I started to think about why and how we're drawn to certain colors, and it took me back to my first day in design school during our color theory 101 class. Ever color carries with it a tendency, feeling, it's own personality. A certain color you wear can actually change your core body temperature. Yes, I know it's hard to believe but its true.

For example, for about the past year or so, I've been decorating our main floor, living/dining room in a combination of blue, green, and even dark purple accents. I've chosen the blue and green simply because both provide a calm, relaxed, clean feeling, in any room. The purple is found only on a candle I have, mixed in with some other neutrals, but it's just enough for the space.

Every color provides a feeling, and even a purpose. Here's a short list of the more popular colors, have a look, and maybe you are choosing that fuchsia slipper chair for a reason.


Cool Colors: blue, green, turquoise, silver






All of these colors have a very calm, and relaxed feeling to them, and are often used in that applications, such as in bedrooms, ocean-side hotels, and outdoors on front porches and patios.

These same colors can provide the opposite feeling as well, cold and impersonal, sometimes blue, or "feeling blue" is associated with depression. No, I'm not saying that if you paint your house blue you'll become depressed, but for a persona that has a very busy and hectic lifestyle, painting a room the right shade of blue, or the right combination of cool colors can provide that person with the space they need to unwind, and relax.

I think I started to use blue's and green's to calm down our own home. My husband and I have very busy lifestyles and our home is where we relax and wind down. Just the right shade of blue helps us do that.


Warm Colors: red, pink, yellow, gold, orange






Warm colors are exciting, bright, and happy. If you were to wear a red sweater, or t-shirt, your core body temperature would actually increase. Red instills confidence, power, and boldness. My mother always told me to put a red sweater on if I was down in the dumps to help to lift my spirits, the scary part, is that it usually works.

Orange is known as a stimulant..it motivates emotions and even your appetite. Ever wonder why the Harvey's fast food chain in Canada had orange decor for so many years? Do you wonder how the small fries you wanted initially turned into a large? With gravy? That's right, orange makes you hungry.


Mixed Cool/Warm Colors: Purple, lavender, green, turquoise






This color group can be used in almost any space, as it will go almost anywhere holding both cool and warm color attributes. These colour both warm and excite the senses.

Turquoise makes me think of the Caribbean sea, but also the warm sun the Caribbean provides.


Neutral Colours: black, brown, gray, white, beige, ivory







These colors, I will admit are ones that I am most comfortable with, but in what I wear, and in my own personal home.

All of our furniture is neutral; khaki sofa, dark brown coffee table, dark brown dining set, etc. These colours to me are very natural, and remind me of the outdoors.

Neutrals help us to focus on other colors in a space, and to even tone down colors that may be overpowering on their own. For example, you may have a large piece of artwork you would like as your focal point in a room, the artwork using a very bold colors such blood red, and burnt orange. If you pair that painting with a red sofa, the red in the painting will blend with the sofa, creating a softer impact than if you paired that artwork with a neutral colored sofa. The neutral sofa, in a neutral room would make that piece of artwork your focal point.

~

There are countless textbooks written on the theory of color, too many to count. All I can suggest, is when choosing a color, go with your gut, and go with what makes you happy. It's your home, and it should look & feel exactly the way YOU want it too.



all images above from Domino Magazine