Rearranging, hanging and redecorating
Wed, 1 Jul 2015Happy Canada Day fellow Canadians!! It is a miserable day here in the country's capital as it usually seems to be on this, the biggest holiday of the year (WTF). Instead of attempting to enjoy the festivities around the city in the rain I am sitting here at my computer having spent the morning tweaking photos I took last weekend of some decorating and rearranging I did when I managed to find some spare time. So I thought I would share them with you all today before I knock more items off my blog to-do list and then head to my parents for a random turkey dinner.
I have lived in this house for a year now and had yet to hang anything on the walls, so despite not having painted many rooms, I decided to hang some art in my dining room and office area in my living room before I lose my mind. For my workspace I opted for a picture shelf, that way I can rotate art as frequently as I wish without damaging my plaster walls that are painted in my favourite colour of all time - Farrow & Ball's downpipe. It seems Ikea no longer carries their picture shelves unfinished so I had my husband build me one so I could paint it the wall colour. I really love my little monochromatic office corner now. :)
I would love to replace that Panton chair with a tall plant (perhaps a fiddle leaf fig that I can promptly kill).
vintage magazine ad from Décadisme and Jieldé from eBay
my treasured crocheted bat by Caitlin T. McCormack
tesla patent letterpress print by Gaslight Electric Sign Co., resin photo by Ronny Ritschel from Lola Dot Studio
portrait by Kate Zambrano
cheap pot I need to replace with something cooler, ceramic bug from Wunderkammer, bowls by Julie of Hollow clayworks
my beloved beaten up and chewed on (thanks Felix) Tizio lamp
moth pencil drawing by Nicomi Nix Turner (that I would LOVE to get tattooed on me)
Now, before I get into my dining room, please note I have yet to do anything to the walls in here so they are still a horrifying taupe. I really have no idea what to do in here - ideally I would like to use a Farrow & Ball paint as they've been graciously providing me with their products. I don't think I want to do wallpaper because the hallway/foyer just outside this room will be wallpapered and likely the ceiling in the kitchen so that would be too much pattern. I hung a couple of things in here, added a new piece of furniture and rearranged the top of the credenza to turn it into a bar. I am still waiting on the husband to build me an 8 person reclaimed wood dining table...
Finally, I have a Daff Design (= husband) working floor model vintage radio turned Bluetooth speaker in the dining room! This thing is a BEAST. It sounds so incredible. It is for sale if anyone local is interested :( We purchased it from the sweet ladies of High Jinx. Above it is a really cool lighting bolt sign by Gaslight Electric Sign Co.
vintage wooden toolbox (I removed the rod) from High Jinx, class photo from a flea market
vintage metal rose from a flea market, and OMG Split Tree Cocktail Co. syrups/cordials are SO YUMMY
lotsa booze
beautiful etched glass decanters (empty) I found at the Ottawa Antique & Vintage Market
At the ManMade show a couple of weeks ago Matt Wallace had this stunning walnut topped bench for sale. And NO ONE bought it. So I did because LOOK AT IT!
I did not have anywhere else to display my absolute favourite vintage Catherine Holm bowls (from Samantha Howard Vintage and the Ottawa Antique Market on Bank St) so why not on the bench?
OH YEAH. This piece of walnut is exquisite.
I'm not 100% loving the rosary I picked up in Puerto Vallarta mixed with this new antique painting I bought from Joel of Antiquus Goods but it will do for now until I figure out some other arrangement.
Reader Comments (16)
It's looking great Kim! That buffet in the niche is wonderful.
Thanks Jared! That buffet was such great score. :)
Hey Kim! your place is looking great! Lots of cool stuff to see, love the antique painting over the beautiful bench. I live in an apartment so must keep findings to a manageable level, a house you can fill up! I am not a hoarder:) But in a house there is more room to display beautiful things. Have a great Canada Day:)
Nice! And in my colors!!
Thanks mavis and Axie! (I'm having a hard time keeping findings to a manageable level and this house is 1600 sq ft!)
That crocheted bat skeleton is killing me! LOVE. also love the wattle leaves and skirtings.
Your home is looking amazing and that Matt Wallace piece is standout. I think he should come to New Zealand and set up shop here.
Thanks tyson and annie! (I bet Matt would love to move with his family to NZ! His work is incredible - particularly his walnut slab raw edge dining tables and OMG he was working this hemlock table the other day that had me DYING)
Kim, it looks A M A Z I N G!!! Hugs from the Black Sea
Dear. That dark gray in your living color, with beautiful tone wood dining room, you would be spectacular. Do not hesitate. And forgive the intrusion ... but that is not the desk under the window you have a right ?. Views of life and space for rest your eyes when you work. Phanton chair with a gray fur, a puff, and a nice little round table, I've seen you before, would make a comfortable reading corner, next to the fireplace and away from the TV.
Or perhaps a chaise longue ?.
Kim, Your bar/buffet/ dining room is awesome. I've said it before and I'll say it again...the light fixture over the table is freakin' fantastic. I'm really kinda digging' the rosary and painting together. Yes, that piece of walnut is exquisite!
Amazing that the bowls don't get knocked down with so many cats. They would not survive in my home :-(
Beautiful!
http://www.desiretoinspire.net/storage/allpostphotos/070115DesireToInsireOfficeKIM_2593.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1435759995192
I think your place is lovely. Just as good or better than anything you've posted. I'm fond of the Tizio, I worked for a decorator
who used them often. On a low oriental chest by the fireplace or next to a bed. Brings me back memories...
Thanks Maria!
pachi - are you referring to the space on the wall behind my desk? i have a table/desk situation going on there so I can use it as a surface for photographing my husband's radios and my purchases. I'd love a reading corner in here but it's not a necessity - we're turning the 3rd floor loft into a library so that will be the reading room.
d of dogland - thanks! I'm still in love with that light fixture (thank gawd - it wasn't cheap!)
ombia - funny you mention that…I came home today to find the gorgeous little plant on my desk in a heap on the floor. these ferals are KILLING ME!!!!
Thank you Betsy!
oh i love your workspace so much, and that "crochet bat art" is to die for! did it come in that wonderful frame? gorgeous!
Thanks Jane! I had seen Caitlin use vintage frames like that in the past so I requested one with a bat - and she graciously obliged :)