Glebe House Tour 2016 - part 2

Part 2 of my Glebe House Tour feature.
The study, where pieces of furniture end up that the homeowners cannot agree upon. The desk is a 400 year old Dutch captain's desk that Corinne did want anywhere else in the house. The painting is by John's dad and the rug was given to him by a Uzbekistan General. 

I love it.

This French Rococo settee is from 1790 and was bought in the Hague. It has since been recovered in this stunning brocade fabric. This piece John is not really a fan of. I SURE AM!!!

I was drooling over the details. So much so I got down on my knees and elbows to get this photo. 

This small hallway consists of about 5 doors, so the homeowners thought it would be cheeky to hang art featuring doors (see far left for one of 2 pieces). 

The boys' rooms were off limits because YOU KNOW. BOYS. But their 13 year old daughter's room was totally adorable and photo-ready so I snapped a few. 

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Glebe House Tour 2016 - part 1

A couple of Sundays ago, I had the privilege of a personal tour of one of this year's homes that will be featured in the Glebe House Tour next month. I have been honoured to be a part of this tour for several years now, highlighting a home or two on the blog after meeting with the homeowners and wandering their homes with my camera and husband in tow to take notes and listen carefully while I worry about getting every gorgeous corner captured in photos. I selected this home after viewing a few preview photos and was in awe of its size and the artwork throughout. I hope you enjoy my tour of this home as much as I enjoyed getting to see it personally.  There was so much to capture and to share that I needed two posts to get it all in. This post features the main floor and basement. The second post featured the second floor and exterior. Before I get into this, the tour this year is September 18 from 1-4pm, and if you are around Ottawa on that day you need to go on this tour! Five of the most incredible homes in the Glebe are yours to wander through and drool over. It is so much fun! Tickets can be purchased here. 

Corinne and her husband John bought this home for their family of 5 about 3 years ago. It was built in 1913 and needed SO much work. It was basically gutted as it needed new electrical, insulation and all that fun stuff (NOT), along with leveling the floor that had a 10" slope (??!!). The original radiators were maintained and the moldings were saved and reused as well.  

The dining table is made of mahogany and is one of many pieces the couple brought back from the Netherlands, where they lived for over 20 years. The large painting is by a friend named Lou Korte (I apologize if I get any names wrong). 

The light fixtures throughout the house are a contemporary/traditional blend and really suit the homeowners' style. Almost all of them have a sparkle factor which I love. 

The vase is Murano glass brought back from the Murano factory in Italy. *GASP*

There were beautiful flower arrangements throughout the house. Bonus homeowner points. :) 

The painting in the living room is by Bonnie Brooks, and another fabulous light fixture!

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Having your cake and eating it too

I've always imagined that living in a Parisian Haussmannian apartment would be like living in a wedding cake. All white fondant icing with elaborate sugar work decoration. Elegant but perhaps a little cold. Fragile and frosty beauty. Not quite the recipe for a fabulous family home. Except, that is, when your sugar confection of an apartment has been re-imagined by Marion Collard. Modern, colourful, simple living (within a wedding cake) in the 9th arrondissement of Paris.

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A reader's home for sale in Illinois

Bettina's home in River Forest, Illinois is for sale and she sent us a link of the listing. OMG! This home is a stunner and there's so many rooms to decorate! My dream! Here are some details: it's over 5,000 sq ft on 3 floors, 7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, original 1880's woodwork, high ceilings, FOUR fireplaces (!!!), kitchenette on 3rd floor, 2 car garage with room above....

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Monday's pets on furniture

If you would like to participate in the Monday's pets on furniture series please send photos, your name, location and a brief description to kim[@]desiretoinspire[.]net, or hashtag your photos #DTIpetsonfurniture. Thanks!

Zeus came to us last September as a rescue at age 5-6 wks. He had been out fending for himself at such a young age. What a little fighter! He was very sick and in bad shape overall. We nursed him back to health and now he is a healthy, happy boy. He didn’t get the memo about no cats on the counters, and loves to hang out on the dining room table, kitchen island and as you can see, the bathroom countertop too! Sending a before and after. The ‘before’ pic was taken at the vet’s, the day he was rescued by Sandy at AdoptMeRescue here in Ottawa.
- Leanne (Ottawa, ON)

The king sits on his throne. #mine #alsomine #traceygetsnopillow #whippetsofinstagram #dtipetsonfurniture

A photo posted by Tracey Pike (@tracey.brimhall) on Jan 8, 2016 at 6:49pm PST

Chillin. #DTIpetsonfurniture

A photo posted by Jess (@missjessharkins) on Aug 14, 2016 at 10:34pm PDT

Cromwell has been glued to our bed ever since we moved into the new bedroom. #rhwmera #dtipetsonfurniture #adoptdontshop

A photo posted by @redhousewest on Aug 15, 2016 at 10:43am PDT

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