Not your grandmother's apartment

I am dying a slow death over this total gem of an apartment. It is EVERYTHING a Paris apartment should be. AND MORE. Featured on The Socialite Family you can catch all the juicy details there. If you're going to take over your grandmother's apartment and keep the tradition alive THIS is how you do it - by working with all of the jaw-dropping original architecture and adding in vintage mixed with iconic modern elements (with help from architect friend Samantha Hauvette). 

The Ploum sofa by the Bouroullec brothers is one of the coolest sofas of all time IMHO. 

Up there with the Ploum is the Togo. YAAASSSS!

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Working on a Sunday

Now this is the type of office I would be more than happy to work in. Especially when it has an equally fabulous coffee shop below it. Welcome to The Haas Collective in Cape Town South Africa. Haas (the Afrikaans word for "rabbit") was born from the wild ideas, passions and endless conversations of creative minds, Glenn Venter, Francois Irvine and Tess Berlein (and in 2012 Francois De Villiers joined). Their dream was to create a hub and an inspiring space where things of beauty could be featured in all shapes and sizes. But more than that, they wanted to give talented individuals a platform to showcase their work. However, what started out as a home of edgy collectables and one-of-a-kind, quirky art pieces (Haas Design) quickly leaped to Haus Coffee, as the demand for enjoying a cup of coffee, while savouring the beauty and energy of this unusual hub, grew. It didn't stop there though...It also naturally developed into Haas Advertising. Located in a heritage building, it took none months of gutting, unearthing original details and renovating to create this dreamy environment. Via Visi (details of the downstairs coffee shop here, details of the upstairs office here). 

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The drama of dark and light

I had a few free minutes before heading out to the Ottawa Antique & Vintage Market so I decided to spend this precious break perusing one of my favourite blogs, The Design Files. A couple of homes featured over the past couple of months really blew me away for their dramatic impact and I had to share some of the photos with you. First there was the home of Melbourne stylist, decorator and retailer Lynda Gardener - a converted warehouse whose all white space is the perfect backdrop for rustic, vintage treasures. Then there was the SOHO loft of Australian photographer Martyn Thompson, that is dramatic in its dark palette and random in its decor. Here, hand-painted murals by Martyn's artist partner Dove Drury Hornbuckle take centre stage. Both are absolutely breathtaking.

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From the Toronto Antique & Vintage Market

I thought I would share some photos from the Toronto Antique & Vintage Market that was held a couple of weeks ago, as a lead-in to a reminder to Ottawa folks that it is now OUR TURN! This weekend is the Ottawa Antique & Vintage Market (this Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 10-4 at Carleton Fieldhouse) the husband has a booth so I will be helping him out again but this time I will be scouring the house to see what vintage goodies I can bring to sell. Maybe a Panton chair....maybe my yellow Eames...some bargello needlepoint pillows...definitively some art....

Husband's booth for Daff Design. We rocked the show with that stunning floor model radio (the wood grain is ridiculous) that is now a Bluetooth speaker complete with subwoofer - WOOT!!

This vendor had the BEST BOOTH EVER. Eclectic Pelican carries distressed, vintage finds that often have a European/Victorian vibe, and not only did she have the best content but the booth was beautifully styled. 

I bought that double-ended brush above and lace wings to hang over my bed. :)

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Eclectic in Paris on a Sunday

This apartment in Paris' 9th arrondissement is everything I love about this city - the stunning mouldings and windows, and the residents' love for eclectic decor and vintage furnishings. Here you have some mid century and classic mixed with modern (that Ligne Roset Facett lounge chair is HOT) that always works in an intriguing way. It is however unfortunate that the original flooring seems to have been replaced. :( Details on this home and its inhabitants can be found on The Socialite Family.

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