HOME and LANDSCAPE *design fix

Kitchens and more Kitchens

2012-03-01T11:46:00.000-05:00

As I was looking for some inspiration for my future kitchen, I found some amazing designs. Since I will probably be buying brand new, our kitchen and other things will be customizable according to our taste. I have a great fondness for travertine floors, stone backsplash and wood that sports a "used" look. Along with some accessories and materials that add modernity to the room such as stainless steel and contemporary light fixtures, you have my perfect kitchen. A few extra bucks well spent. Enjoy the photographs below!

1. Velvet and Linen 2. Pinterest 3. Mi Casa es su Casa 4. Pinterest 5. T&G

DIY projects

2012-02-27T14:49:00.001-05:00

It's been a while since I've wanted to do a DIY post. I particularly wanted to post about one of my own personal projects, a vertical garden DIY, until I realized I didn't document enough of it! This certainly thought me a lesson; take more pictures of whatever you do! So anyhow, I compiled some of my favorite finds in this following post. I hope you enjoy.

I've loved this hemp light from the moment I saw it, when I found a DIY for it, you can imagine how ecstatic I was! Especially since I love both saving and creating. You can find all the instructions on this lovely post by Graceful Whimsy.

A vase? A planter? A lantern? Maybe all three, that's how I would put this little gem to work. Check it out on Ruffled.

Finally, these candle holders are just perfect and really easy to make. Fossil Lifestyle Blog will tell you how to create them.

Ghibli

2012-02-24T22:36:00.000-05:00

Beautiful still from the Secret World of Arrietty..

Featured | Earth Designs

2012-02-22T13:52:00.000-05:00

So here is our second edition of contemporary gardens. Another fascinating project from the London garden design company: Earth Designs. Don't forget to visit their blog that features up to date information about current projects they are working on as well as useful advice. Now let's take a look at this week's design..

Client's needs

"This plot was a long urban garden and was almost completely bare, but for two large, established trees. The client was attempting to construct a pond in the near right corner using green slate boulders as decoration, and requested that this should be included in the design.

The interior of the house had a modern, contemporary feel fused with Victorian architecture. As the patio doors lead directly from the kitchen/diner into the garden, the garden becomes very much an extension of the house - as such the style of the interiorwas of particular consideration in the design the exterior space."

Before/During

Solution

"The final design created a low maintenance garden with a simple and contemporary feel. The area directly behind the house was laid with decking, running half way down the left side of the space. New wooden fences, to replace the existing worn out wire fences, were erected down the right of the garden, onto which a selection of clematis and everlasting sweet peas were trained.

The main area of the garden consisted of a tapered, oval shaped lawn, encircled by a raised bed following the same shape as the lawn. A smaller, tapered oval raised bed in the middle of the lawn served to slightly mask the bottom of the garden, breaking up the space and helping to create a sense of intrigue.

The simplicity of the borders was echoed in the planting, which consisted of white flowers and green foliage. Cool, crisp and elegant, a white planting scheme provides an air of harmony and tranquillity, and is well suited to the style of the garden and the interior of the house. An area devoted to graceful architectural ferns helped to accentuate the simplicity of the space and serves to provide a stunning and effective display throughout the year.

Re-designing the layout of the client's existing pond, using state boulders together with a powerful pump to produce an effective waterfall, helped to create a striking water feature. The pond and surrounding area was given life with the addition of water lilies and other aquatic and semi-aquatic plants. A bowed Cedrus libani (ssp.atlantica) 'Glauca', trailing branches in the water, presented the final flourish to the space."

Result

Montreal discoveries

2012-02-20T11:23:00.000-05:00

Sometimes we tend to forget the little gems that our own city can hold. In my case, it's been a while since I've been out and about in Montreal to discover new things. On a sunny sunday afternoon while taking a walk on the very artsy Avenue Laurier, I stumbled upon this exceptional ceramic workshop/studio/boutique called Gaïa Céramique.

The creations were displayed in a very museum-like setting which really emphasized the beauty of all the ceramic artwork.

Wish list friday

2012-02-17T12:24:00.000-05:00

Let's end the week with February's first wish list.

1. littlebyrdvintage 2. BROOKLYNrehab 3. alyssaettinger 4. Hindsvik 5. EarthSeaWarrior 6. luxo

The pothole gardener

2012-02-13T12:50:00.000-05:00

An interesting art/experiment project that highlights London's terrible road conditions in a very creative way. The talented artist Steve Wheen, turns the much hated pothole into something you actually want to stop and look at. The potholes that grace the streets of London are tastefully transformed into mini gardens that certainly don't fail to impress. The artist came up with this project as part of a university course. It gained much media and public attention over the time.

These gardens are created on very quiet streets, dead end lanes or footpaths. He showcases all of his work and up to date information on his very visual blog. Definitely worth saving to your favorites! I hope to see more of these marvelous gardens.

Food adventures | Squash goodness

2012-02-12T18:00:00.000-05:00

Another week, another new recipe with my good old pal Tammy. This week's theme: Squash! More precisely, butternut squash. We did crostinis and a thick delicious potage. For the butternut squash crostinis, the recipe is fairly simple.

Ingredients:

1 or 2 pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into small cubes
Lemon juice
Lime zest
1 Baguette cut into slices and toasted
1 Cup ricotta
3 Tablespoons of melted butter
2 Tablespoons of olive oil
2 Tablespoons of brown sugar
Salt and pepper
Sage leaves

Firstly, preheat oven at 425 degrees Celsius. Then, in a large bowl, put your squash, butter, sugar, oil, salt and pepper. Mix it up good and pop it in the oven for a good 25 minutes. During that time, prepare your ricotta in another bowl by simply adding some lemon zest to it and a little salt and pepper. Also, start toasting your baguette slices in a small oven or even along your squash. For the sage leaves simply fry them in olive oil in a small pan for 2 minutes. Scoop them up. They should be a little crunchy. Finally, spread the ricotta on the baguette slices, add your squash cubes, 1 or 2 sage leaves on each slice and drizzle some lemon juice and voila!

For the yummy potage you can find the complete recipe here! I hope we can turn these food rendez-vous into a weekly thing!

Featured | Earth Designs

2012-02-06T18:49:00.000-05:00

Today's post will be thefirst of a series that will feature contemporary and modern landscape projects that merit much attention. These postswill appear weekly or bi-monthly. To start off the thread, HLDF willfeature a number of works by Earth Designs, a London based landscape architecture company created and managed by Katrina Wells. Their creations offer a unique approach when it comes to use of space since they commonly turn a backyard into an outdoor room, an extension of the house, rather than just a pretty garden. This method is both functional and aesthetic and showcases a backyard's true potential.

The spaces that EarthDesigns work with are in urban settings and we all know what thechallenges are when it comes to gardens in the city. Lack of privacy,small spaces and often poor soils are just a few of the problems to deal with. They tacklethese obstacles head on and deliver beautiful and functional resultsthat never fail to impress.

________________________________Featured project___________________________________

Client's needs and before pictures:

"Theclients have lived in the house for a number of years and have twoyoung children and two very active Jack Russell dogs. The propertywas extended a few years ago. Emma is a keen vegetable gardener andhas a plot in an allotment very close to their property. The childrenrarely use the garden, so the clients are happy to make its principalpurpose entertaining friends. The clients would like a contemporarygarden design that complements the interior of the house. However,the garden should be practical enough to cope with the demands of anenergetic family. The only feature of the current garden to beretained is the shed in the bottom right corner."

Solution:

"The garden was split into 3 distinct areas. The first section, directly outside the back door, features a fixed bench seating area comprising decked bench seats backed by rendered block planters containing low lavender hedge. A large decked table and a trestle-type bench (which can be stowed away under the fixed bench when not in use) give ample space for outdoor dining. When formal dining is not required the table and trestle bench can be combined with the fixed benches (the table is height adjustable) to form a huge double bed lounger for all the family to relax upon.

The floor in this section was laid with Indian sandstone paving in a stretcher pattern. Acrylic planters containing architectural copper grasses line the left boundary. A Yellow Balau hardwood decking path cuts through the paving and leads to the second section of the garden.

The second section consists of two large planting beds bisected by the decking paths. The beds were planted prairie-style, interspersed with a selection of Perspex and stainless steel mesh screens of varying heights and sizes to create drama and structure to this area. The central triangle of the space is framed with two stainless steel cubes 50cm square. Each bed was edged to create definition and retain a pea shingle mulch. The central segment of area was mulched with Scottish cobbles.

The final section of the garden was designed for comfort and relaxation. It features a large outdoor rattan suite, a giant stainless steel planter containing a tall silver birch tree and two series of 3 colourful acrylic planters, all set against a backdrop of a stainless steel mesh screen straddling the width of the garden. This screen, interwoven with fragrant climbing jasmine, masks the shed and utility area at the bottom of the garden."

Result:

You can easily followwhat Earth Designs is up to with their blog that features up to dateinformation about projects they are currently working on as wellas other interesting news, advice and information. Check it out here!

Featured | Brickell Collection

2012-02-02T11:50:00.001-05:00

Remember my last Etsy wishlist featuring this contemporary looking chair? Well, the shop also has an e-store and website that offers plenty to look at for any modern furniture enthousiast. Brickell Collection offers contemporary and modern pieces at accesible prices and free nationwide shipping throughout the States. For international shipping you must inquire.

What I like most about their website is that they have a 'Lookbook' section that incorporates their pieces in beautiful spaces. Like the example below.

Here are a few of my personal favorites that I found while browsing their collection. You can find the links for every piece at the end of the post.

Lookbook A. Samurai Bench B. Stacked Coffee Table C. It's A Fact Table D. Bateman Sofa

Quirky & modern designs

2012-01-31T15:03:00.001-05:00

I put together a compilation of fun, modern and quirky design ideas that are simply irresistible.

Planter table by designer Emily Wettstein. Uses reclaimed wood and steel. Planter is removable and you are able to put your greenery of choice.

Beautiful and cute Skog lamps created by Caroline Olsson in collaboration with Magnor Glassverk. Don't know why they make me think of Super Mario Bros.

I am truly in love with these leaf ties. Designed by Tsunho Wang, director of Lufdesign. Also, the profits made from this product benefit an ecology campaign.

Truss planter by Pull + Push found on Molla Space.

Inspiring interiors

2012-01-30T14:53:00.001-05:00

It's been a little while since I've posted about inspiring interiors that I stumble upon. Here are a few office/living spaces that caught my eye. I love how rustic or industrial-like accessories always seem to find their place in our homes. They add character to any space.

1. Bradbarry 2. Room269 3. Fine ting og sjokolade 4. net.sfd.se

Wishlist thursday

2012-01-26T11:41:00.000-05:00

A wish list dedicated entirely to Etsy finds. Simply love them.

1. Leather Bracelet11 2. RossLab 3. Tall Poppy Gardens 4. Vintage Dictionary Art 5. Brickell Collection 6. Tokyo Craft Studio 7. Amourx

Featured photographer + Frodo update

2012-01-25T17:01:00.000-05:00

I really felt the need to feature some of my favorite photo finds on flickr recently. I keep stumbling upon such amazing material. This one photographer caught my eye: r_risus. Check out her photostream, a lot of rich photographic goodness. I like the different atmospheres and the muted colors are just perfect.

I find myself having a lot of time to spare these days, little Frodo is very happy. I get to spend much of my days with him. I think he knows my free time will be out the window in two months, since every time spring starts, I find myself working at least 12 hours a day. Work + business = little time for anything else. Don't worry, he will have others to keep him company during the day.

Potato blini with salmon tartare / Food adventures

2012-01-23T11:28:00.001-05:00

My dear friend and I managed to make delicious potato blinis with salmon tartare the other day. We found this amazing recipe on Couture au Chocolat, an inspirational blog about both food and fashion. So it literally took us three hours to make and five minutes to eat. What was long to make was the potato base. But it was truly worth it.

Our plan was to have this for lunch, however, by the time we were done it was more like supper. We didn't give up on desert. We had some crème fraiche left so we made these delicious crêpes with chocolate and blueberry toppings. So much for dieting...

Green love

2012-01-19T12:45:00.001-05:00

These days I find myself indulging in what I love most: gardens and greenery. It's my winter escape. But also because I will be embarking in a brand new job starting april as both an horticulturist and landscape designer and I am simply thrilled about it. However you can always count on me to find something to be pessimistic about in any joyful situation. So I tell myself: why am I stuck in a place where winter engulfs us almost six months a year! Which means for people like us who are working in the landscape field, work is not all year long. It's around seven to eight months a year max. The rest of the year we are on seasonal unemployment collecting maybe 70% of our pay check only. It really has made me thinking about moving somewhere warmer where work is year long and where your regular bungalow doesn't cost a million dollars. My boyfriend and I have family and friends both in Georgia and Texas and the houses are incredibly affordable, it's crazy what you can get for your money. However, I'm not to sure how the job market is over there, I'll have to make my researches.

So in the mean time I spend my days going through inspirational garden photographs (some being my own like the capture below) and creating plans for futur projects. I know I said I was suppose to make a post about a few drafts I've made for a terrace project, don't worry it'll come!

1. Barjaweb 2. Desde my Ventana 3. Martha Stewart 4. Myself

String Gardens

2012-01-17T11:54:00.000-05:00

Fedor Van der Valk, is the artist behind the famous string gardens that have garnished the posts of many blogs. They are beautiful and exude a sort of whimsical feel. The sceneries from these pictures seem to come straight out of a Lewis Caroll book. I admire his work very much, it easily combines the playfulness of art and the beauty of nature. These creations could also make an interesting DIY project.

Instagram love

2012-01-10T13:17:00.002-05:00

A preview of my life through instagram. I think you can tell that the Hunger Games is the focal point of said life. It's been since Harry Potter that I haven't been so absorbed by a book.

It hasn't been too long since I found out about this lovely iphone app. I must say that I'm quite addicted to it. I might make these into a weekly thing if I find myself having enough good material to post.

Travel destinations

2012-01-05T12:10:00.000-05:00

Around this time of year, I usually start dreaming about where to travel next. The few months ahead are going to be the darkest and coldest ones, so this sort of daydreaming activity keeps me warm. For three years my boyfriend and I have traveled every spring, since we found the prices to be more interesting and the spots we visit to be less crowded. This year we might have to wait until next fall due to his new work schedule.

Last time we were having a hard time to choose between two destinations. As you saw in one of my past posts, we went to the French Riviera in southern France. The other option was to go to the Amalfi Coast in Italy. This year's decision won't be to hard, we'll choose last year's option number two. Beautiful Italy it is! We will land in Naples and from there drive to Sorrento were we'll be staying.

All the villages along the coast offer spectacular views and have breathtaking natural landscapes that surround them. The mountains are sugar coated with different coloured houses that seem to defy the laws of gravity. All I can say is, I can't wait.

1. The Fancy 2. Jekowiz 3. Still Dreaming 4. MissBDG 5. Simply Bloom Photography

Starting the year with a wishlist

2012-01-02T12:46:00.000-05:00

My first wishlist for 2012. I hope to turn these into a weekly thing.

1. YesStyle 2. Aldari Art 3. Terrain 4. Copper River Bags 5. Terrain 6. FranDesignLab 7. YesStyle

Bleu Nature

2012-01-01T20:27:00.001-05:00

"All Bleu Nature creations are born of an encounter between the technical mastery of a French craftsman and the prolonged work of nature. Nature has fashioned each piece of driftwood over time, rendering every item we produce unique in both form and dimension." Bleu Nature.com

It's been a while that I've known about Bleu Nature. I used to find inspiration in their designs for some of my landscape projects a few years back. Only now did I realize I should dedicate a post about them. It is a craft-based business located in France that has now expanded throughout Europe and even reached the States. I hope I'll be able to have a few of their pieces in my own home.

2012

2012-01-01T17:48:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

May peace reign not only on earth but also in our hearts!

Comfort foods

2011-12-28T16:38:00.000-05:00

Merry late Christmas! It's been a little while since my last post, but I have a few good excuses for that. First, I've been sick, second, the holidays kept me busy and third, I've been in the midst of figuring out which road I should choose for 2012. Go back to school and get a second degree or concentrate on a career path. The second seems much more appealing to me since I am really eager to move out and buy a place of my own however, that isn't possible if I am to go back to school.

Most of the people around me right now have an entire week off for the holidays either from work or from school. So the mood is very festive and I am surrounded daily by the ones that matter. I wish this week could last a little longer. I've been having many culinary experiences lately and trying out many different recipes. I managed to make MOCHI for the first time. They ended up being really hard the second day since I didn't add any wheat starch.. I stacked them up to make a little mochi christmas tree!

Recipe

Basically I mixed 2 cups of glutinous rice flour, 1 cup of sugar and a bit of baking powder in a large bowl and gradually added water. Don't forget the wheat starch, around 1 cup should be good. Mix it up until the mixture becomes like dough. If the dough is sticky, add flour or cornstarch to make it more manageable. I split the mixture in 3 different parts and added different food colouring to each part. You then make little balls with it in your hands and fill them up with red bean paste. Finally, you steam your mochis for 10 minutes and serve! Wait for them to cool down a little first.

Here are a few more little delicacies I had fun making this past week with my family.

We all know how our relationship with food changes during the holidays. Whatever diet you were following went out the door in a split second and if you weren't on one you might consider starting one now. Here are a few yummy photos/prints found while browsing on Etsy. Visit their shops!

1.JessaMaePhoto2.RaceyTay3.HoneyTree4.AniseSprout

White interiors and inspiring courtyards

2011-12-09T12:13:00.001-05:00

Some find that the overuse of white in indoor spaces renders the room sterile and bland. It's interesting to see how different people perceive the same thing in so many different ways. As for myself, I find that white interiors exude a powerful sense of peace and tranquility. It opens up the room, makes it seem much larger and accentuates whatever accessories you add to it. The brightness created by such spaces seems to fill the house up with sunlight even on the darkest and gloomiest days.

Unknown Decor8

Iiinspired

Amyfeelings

I'm currently coming up with some design ideas for a patio, since we are pretty convinced about buying a condo by the end of 2012 (I know I'm way too excited). My garden plans will have to wait for when we will actually buy a house. In my next post I'll put up a few sketches and simulations of what I want it to look like. But for now, here are a few inspiring outdoor spaces and courtyards that get my creative juices flowing.

Non clickable item Remodelista

Apartment therapy

Holiday glam

2011-12-01T14:19:00.001-05:00

More and more houses are glowing all kinds of colours as the countdown begins towards Christmas. It makes me want to make an effort with my own home. We used to put up a Christmas tree every year, I'm not sure why we stopped. But seeing other people's decors brings back the motivation in me.

Source: Paper Bird

Source: Style files and Canadian House and Home

Source: Myself

Source: Strictly Simple Style and Maria Francesca's Tumblr

Here is a holiday treasury for you!

Christmas Holiday stock... rikrak $18.00	Christmas Cookies Gift ... ButterBlossoms $20.00	Holiday Soaps Gift Bag ... SoapalayaSoaps $16.50	Handcrafted Holiday Soa... belleterre $6.00
Square Pewter Bowl TheLinnetsWing $24.00	Silver Forest Vessel TheLinnetsWing $45.00	Painted Wooden Heart Vi... homespunirelan... $12.00	Christmas decorating ba... SKMODELL $18.00
Holiday ornaments, shab... HelloVioleta $9.50	Paper Mache Bowl White... etco $40.00	Merry Christmas - holid... GoldenSection $10.00	25% Off Sale - Ornament... ChelseaVictori... $11.25

A day at the market

2011-11-28T11:45:00.001-05:00

I spent most of my sunday morning working on a project and decided to treat myself in the afternoon. I spent the rest of the day walking around one of Montreal's finest markets. You can find all kinds of authentic products from so many different cultures. Certain shops are so well designed and original it's hard not to notice them. You can seriously empty your wallet if you don't watch out, the temptation to buy at every stand or shop you pass by is really strong. I sat down at a quaint little pastry shop and watched the people hurry by. It was a really nice and relaxing atmosphere. For some reason every time I pass by Jean-Talon market I get waves of inspiration and creativity for projects. I'm sure we all have that one spot, be it at home or somewhere else, that really makes our creative juices flow.

They had amazing meat products. It was the best capicollo I had every tried (after my mom's).

I really loved the way this milk/cheese shop was designed.

Lazy thursday

2011-11-24T11:42:00.001-05:00

It was a very big surprise waking up in the morning and looking out the window to see everything covered in white. We finally had our first snowfall.

Source: myself

Source: photographer Mikko Lagerstedt

I find myself feeling sort of clueless and downright lazy today. I know I have a major project to start for a client but the desire to snuggle by a fireplace (not my own since I don't have one) with some good coffee and a good book is too strong. I blame the snow. I also blame this holiday fuzzy feeling. I found a collection of photographs that give off that same cozy vibe. A little more on the summer side though since I am not entirely ready to embrace winter just yet.

From My Little House and Better Homes and Gardens

Found on Sarah Jokisch Asbell's Pinterest. An amazing collection of photos.

I'll try and find my motivation again, if you see it let me know. Also, here are more little gems that I found on Etsy and that I put together to create a very white and winter theme. Visit their shops they have great little treasures! They give me a little bit more hope for the cold winter months ahead.

Paper Garland - Winter&... ArtsDelight $11.00	Photo Art Locket - Ink ... EyePoetryPhoto... $40.00	Porcelain Tea light Del... wapa $40.00	Christmas photography -... sparksoffire $30.00
Acorn Necklace - Swaro... BeadinByTheSea $23.00	Felted Acorns, oatmeal ... feltjar $12.00	Origami White Christma... Signoraluna $17.00	Lusterware Teapot, Silv... CarpeDiemTreas... $50.00
Birch Bark Candle Holde... braggingbags $16.50	Wintery Bokeh Branches ... mariakallin $9.90	Yummy Pink Vanilla Meri... mariakallin $9.90	Black Friday BOGO Sale:... ErinBphoto $25.00

Checklist for a future home (or condo)

2011-11-21T12:14:00.001-05:00

Hubby and I have been doing some window shopping for a new home or condo. We initial wanted nothing but a detached cottage house but we're downscaling our desires a little and we realized that it wouldn't be a bad idea to start with a condo. Why? Because we could get a brand new condo with all the nice finishes for half the price of a home from the 60's that needs major renovations. I am not complaining, the real estate market here in Montreal is nowhere near as unaffordable as some other major cities in Canada. Either way, whatever type of roof we decide to spend our lives under there are a few things that we can't compromise. I made a neat little checklist for you to better visualize what our must-haves are!

#1 Big, monstrous windows

From Live Creating Yourself

ffffound

Uncompromising and relentless uncomprosmising

2# High ceilings

Pretty stuff

Design Crisis

#3 Open concept

Houzz

#4 Green and charming neighborhood

Palmetto Bluff

I like how until number three, each following picture incorporates the previous concepts. I hope I can find everything in my wish list, the only thing I can potentially sacrifice are the high ceilings, everything else is a must.

A little bit of magic

2011-11-20T15:40:00.001-05:00

On this grey sunday afternoon I decided to add a little bit of brightness and cheer to the day with some inspirational summer photographs. I miss being able to walk barefoot on my lawn already. The gardens I love most are the ones that aren't pampered, the untidy ones where perennials are overgrowing over fences and vines taking over brick walls. The lack of human intervention is often the solution to having a lush and healthy garden.

From Francis Pierre on Flickr. Amazing photographer.

Unknown source :(

You simply get lost for hours in this tumblr page. Inspirational images indeed.

Photograph from Firdaus Musthafa.

Look who it is, my other little furry friend. Meet Frodo. Also, meet my garden. Following shots underneath from myself.

The old, the new and the natural

2011-11-19T15:00:00.001-05:00

Wood on white and rustic with modern, I'll never get tired of those juxtapositions. I have a deep fondness of interior spaces that integrate those concepts.

Better Homes and Gardens

Cool Spotting

PaperSnitch

Hilary Robertson

The Pursuit Aesthetic

Here are a few really amazing finds from Etsy. I wish I could buy them all...

natural white birch woo... urbanplusfores... $24.00	Wood Ephemera Tile Pend... bhbeadcreation... $15.00	Drift Wood Centerpiece mamasquiettime $90.00	Step-by-Step PDF Instru... radmegan $5.00
Wood Bike Basket abasketfull $69.00	Natural Weathered Wood ... MrLentz $250.00	Nature photograph, Past... SeeLifeShine $14.00	ON SALE Primitive Teak ... EvaDaBeada $19.00
Wall Decals BIRCH TREES... ParisDecals $78.00	Gold Birch Leaf Necklac... tyrahandmadeje... $41.50	Raw and Organic Anagama... nestingemily $40.00	SET of 100 Fall into Lo... braggingbags $175.00

Inspiration from France

2011-11-17T17:25:00.001-05:00

I visited the magnificent Côte d'Azur and a few other spots in France this year and the sceneries and landscapes blew me away. It really made me think about getting a career elsewhere. Don't get me wrong I love Montreal, but it lacks in a lot of things. These are a few shots I took during my travels.

This great capture right below is from here.

And this one is from Haute Design, beautiful isn't it?

Painting the japanese culturescape

2011-11-16T14:55:00.001-05:00

When I was younger, I've always been sort of "teased" by my fellow comrades for not following the norms of my culture. Doing so made me look strange to the eyes of others of my own origins. What they did not know is that I found them strange for following blindly what they've been thought since birth and not exploring all the beauty the rest of the world has to offer. This brings me to say that I want to dedicate this entire post to all the things I loved while growing up, which happen to be mainly associated with the Japanese culture. From movies and games, to architecture, to landscapes, it was a culture I always related to and found great beauty in. Today as an adult and as a landscape architect, I tend to always find inspiration in japanese gardens, because to me, the creators of such gardens seem to be the only ones that master the true meaning of what a landscape represents.

House of Vision from FORM Kouichi Kimura

Oh the joys of folding paper to create anything your imagination tells you. I remember spending hours with friends filling up plastic jars with hundreds of little origami stars. These beautiful captures are from Flickr users Annika Svenmarck and Micci Laroza respectively. Visit them for more amazing photographs!

I always wondered why here in eastern Canada we don't cultivate more cherry blossoms in our parks. Why I ask? They are winter hardy up to zone 5! The magic they bring to any space is indescribable. I once heard in one of my classes that it is because they are not "emblematic of our nation"... ARE YOU SERIOUS? Instead we're stuck with diseased maples everywhere. Anyhow, I'm glad I stumbled on this amazing blog where I found the above picture, the photographs are just stunning. Please visit tender love and a seedy wink!

Ghibli, Ghibli,Ghibli. I lied, this isn't just about the things I loved while growing up, it's also about the things I love right now. I will always remain profoundly fascinated by Studio Ghibli's movies. I hope they never stop making them..

A photographer I avidly follow on DeviantART is Jyoujo. He managed to capture flawlessly the beauty painted by japanese landscapes and gardens. For me his pictures are eye-candy.

How to enjoy the simple things

2011-11-15T16:33:00.001-05:00

Today I was going through my collection of photos taken this summer and I realized how we tend to forget to enjoy the little things. Those simple daily occurrences that we take for granted and ignore? Yes those. As I went through the pictures it kept reminding me of just how many good moments I had this year and how I now stopped appreciating them when they occur. Things as simple as taking a walk in my own garden (and discovering that a huge frog was considering it home for quite some time), making small DIY projects for home or just sitting at a café with the people that matter to you. I told myself to stop and notice the little things that keep me merry and learn to feel lucky.

Here are a few shots I took during the year. From trying to float a paper boat my very creative friend made me to making jam from all the apple picking I did to capturing the blooms of my favorite plants. The last image is from this very amazing blog.

From Des De My Ventana

Stock up on lights as winter approaches

2011-11-14T10:53:00.001-05:00

Hi!
As I mentioned in a previous post, we've been blessed with amazing weather so far. However, it's better we don't get too comfortable with these sunny days as they are bound to be gone for a good six months. What never fails to cheer me up during winter: light. String lights, jar lights, modern light fixtures and more. Here are a few great images that capture the warmth they create.

Found here

From Anything Indie

From Blue Velvet Chair, an amazing blog with great creations and projects.

From this lovely tumblr

Houzz

Pretty wedding things

I think i'll turn my Etsy finds into a habit. I love featuring little treasures that are related to my posts. Here are three amazing finds that are sure to add a nice atmosphere to any space.

Shop: Boots N Gus Pamela Angus Pigeon Toe

Independent coffee shops, the impossible dream?

2011-11-13T21:12:00.001-05:00

Hi!

For my dear friends who have been a part of my wild crazy ideas lately, you must know very well what the term coffee shop signifies to me. A dream. Something that I absolutely, truly, dearly wanted to own! It didn't take to long for me to put my two feet back down to earth. Owning an independent coffee shop is one of the riskiest businesses today. The competition is just to strong. Sadly, here in Montreal we seriously lack original concepts. Unique and artistic cafés that also have an atmosphere to offer. However, I understand why that is the case. Many fail due to their "overly cozy" nature, people spend two dollars on a coffee and can spend hours in the shop. That is fine for big chains, but for a starting business it is unfortunately a sure fired downfall. It is all about sales. Alas, I put that dream on pause for now, and started blogging.... Because hey, if you can't own a coffee shop, you can at least own a blog that rants about them :P

Beautiful still form Hyer Images.

I'm discovering such beautiful blogs ever since I started this whole experience. The photo right above is from Annaleenas Hem, stop by if you can, stunning content and lots of talent. One of the reasons I adored the idea of having my own shop, is because of the many possibilities it creates to expose unique art. Some of the most stunning pieces of art I've seen so far happened to be displayed in cafés. I recently discovered an artists who's works are just mind blowing. Shayna Leib, a sculptural glass artist that truly explores all the beauty this amorphous solid material has to offer. I'd love to have her pieces in my own home!

Moss love on green friday

2011-11-11T13:07:00.001-05:00

I've always had a strange fascination with moss. Mainly because every time I tried to grow some on pottery, on stepping stones or even on bonsai's, I failed miserably. I tried the yoghurt technique, keeping it in a moist and shady area, no use. So when I see design concepts that integrate moss I'm really fascinated!

The Hanging Moss Garden from the Moistscape Installation and a beautiful still from a lovely wedding planning blog I stumbled upon.

On to other things green, I couldn't help but fall in love with this solar-powered prefabricated greenhouse in one of Inhabitat's latest stories.

Found on marieclaire.com

I've had this picture in one of my interior design folders on my computer for over a year, I think, and I never knew where I had found it from. I remember that when I first saw the picture a long time ago, waves of inspiration hit me for decorating my home. I produced sketches after sketches thanks to this one picture. Today, I finally found the designer! How late am I...

To finish off friday's post here are few of my favorite Etsy finds for today.

Shop: lePetitFoyer Doodle Birdie TinyTerrains

Sunshine weekdays

2011-11-10T12:52:00.000-05:00

Here in Montreal the weather is clearly out of sync. We are in november and it is still so warm and sunny (well maybe not today, but so far it was!). Here are a few shots I took during this past fall that seem to capture the essence of this year's weather.

One walk in Montreal's botanical garden in fall and it's enough to make you fall in love with the place. Ornamental grasses are a must in any garden (in my opinion), they bring life to a landscape when everything else is getting ready to go dormant. They are beautiful even in winter and are pretty much no maintenance!

Oh, and I am not the only one enjoying the weather, my little furry friends as well!

Also, I'm having issues with the comments, even though I enabled comments, there is no comment link that shows up at the bottom of my posts. I'll have to look around for a solution. If anyone can help, an e-mail would be very much appreciated :)

Home accents with a touch of nature

2011-11-08T11:32:00.000-05:00

When nature meets interior design. Natural stone sinks give off a spa-like feel to any bathroom and you'll soon come to realize how much I love spa-like decors :). From Freshome.

Another piece where nature elements have been used to create something functional. These mushroom lamp sculptures are done by a very talented Japanese artist and are simply breathtaking. Use them as an art piece or as a small ambiant lamp or both! They unfortunately do not ship overseas due to the fragility of the item. When the day comes that I will be visiting Japan I definitely want to get myself one of these (I'll make sure they survive the ride back!)

Lighted branches also can add a nice touch to any indoor space.

Garden atmosphere

2011-11-08T11:21:00.001-05:00

Having the right lighting makes all the difference in a garden. Love these different garden atmospheres published on freshome.

Bocci pending light fixtures

2011-11-08T11:00:00.000-05:00

I am currently loving these light fixtures from Bocci. They don't come cheap; a decent set is around 15K.

Having them in a solarium or in a garden setting would be absolutely stunning.