{Inspiring Spaces} Cottage Coastal Charm

 Photography by Thomas J. Story; Sunset Magazine

Today it's all about coastal cottage charm lovin'. Maybe because, in Canada, we're on the heels of a Victoria Day long weekend. These images are from Susan Delurgio's cozy beach house in Fairfax, California. Susan says she wanted something "carefree and simple". What separated this design to other beach-house spaces, at least for me, is the use of colour. I love the palette of blues and greens with some minty teal thrown in for a splash. The boat-wood frames and salvaged bamboo table are some of my favourite pieces. Also, how cute is the orange toaster? Who would have thought that orange, teal and bright green would be so complementary? Very bold and daring; I love it! What's your favourite thing about this cozy coastal cottage house? Happy Tuesday, folks!

Take Your Pick ~ Style at Home Colour Collections With Beauti Tone {Townhouse & Loft}

Townhouse or Loft: which one is your favourite? {This is going to be my last installment featuring Style at Home's colour collection with Beauti-Tone paints.} Are you in favor of the soft neutrals mixed with cheeky accents like the townhouse look? I'm a big fan of how the wooden furniture blends in naturally with the colour scheme. Watermelon would be the perfect accent colour to add a little pop to the space. Or are you a loft lover? Perhaps you're a modernist or traditionalist who always likes to stay on trend. The mix of deep greys, pale blues and pure whites are the perfect match for a city slicker like you.

Did you catch the other collections?

Cottage vs. Farmhouse

Romance vs. Manor

Exotic vs. Fresh

I hope you enjoyed these collections as much as I did. I would love to hear your comments. Have a Happy Thursday!

Take Your Pick ~ Style at Home Colour Collections With Beauti Tone {Manor & Romance}

Happy Easter Monday! I hope that you all had a relaxing and enjoyable weekend and are having an equally exciting Monday. Did you check out my Easter inspiration yet? (including Pantone Easter eggs and decorations made from paint chips!) For a relaxing Monday, I leave you with another installment of "Take Your Pick: Style at Home Colour Collections with Beauti-Tone". Now for more daring collections. Do you prefer the rich, sophisticated, and ultra-European tones of Manor? What I like about the colour combinations is that they can be as equally effective in an expensive manor or in a decked-out frat pad. I love the combination of navy blue and yellow. Plus the addition of brown hues - from Moccasin and Cableknit - break up the bold colours nicely. Or are you a romance junkie (perhaps you're obsessed with purple)?  If so, you'll adore the moody mauve colours that blend with antique grey tones. Purple is the colour to pick if you want a sensual and moody colour that's not too abrasive. With names like amethyst, light cashmere and plum, how can you go wrong!?

Two bold colour palettes, one choice. Take your pick. Which one "grabs your fancy"? Also, be sure to check out the other Style at Home colour palettes I've featured, including: farmhouse, cottage, fresh and exotic.

Take Your Pick ~ Style at Home Colour Collections With Beauti-Tone

Beauti-Tone paints has teamed up with Style at Home magazine & Home Hardware to create a colour collection that will make your mouth water. I'm extremely impressed by the colour selections and even more impressed by the style guides they give you. If you're an interior design novice, Beauti-Tone gives you paint suggestions to match up the look that you're trying to achieve so there's little room for error. And when starting a big paint project, that's music to anyone's ears. Although I love every collection, two stand-outs for me are the cottage and farmhouse series. I'm drooling over the paint colour lighthouse and agree that it would make for the perfect look-at-me door colour. And you all know I adore green, so I cannot help but gravitate toward viburnum (and I'm loving how it looks combined with the black and grey tones). So take your pick: which series is your favourite? Are you gaga over the relaxed yet cheerful cottage colour palette? Or does the soft whites, spring green, and contemporary country farmhouse style scream you?

Inspirational Spaces for a Beautiful Weekend ~ Alfresco Style

Design: Deirdre Heekin & Caleb Barber    ~       Photography: Ditte Isager

Every once in awhile I come across a space that literally ignites my inspirational juices. For many, their dream home consists of a grand and glorious mansion. Although a mansion would be nice, for me personally, there would be too much space wasted. This cottage in Vermont (which was once a summer camp) is very close to my idea of home perfection. It's quaint, cozy and full of character. It's surrounded by nature, rustic yet modern at the same time, and exudes a bohemian-chic flare. I love the luminous shade of blue on the wall which pops against the grey wall in front of it. I also adore the office space and how messy and cluttered it looks -- but in an organized way. And the inspiration/vision boards are a beautiful touch. They make me inspired just looking at them! This space definitely has an urban-country look to it combined with a mix-and-match of styles from different areas (like the King Louis XIV-inspired Hanna chair, slip covered settee and the Barcelona chair in the living room). And books, books -- so many books (and alcohol!) I can take a few guesses as to what the owners like to do in their spare time! An essemblage of old and new, this space certainly expresses layers of time, love, living and memories. Do you love this home as much as I do? What is your favourite thing about this space?

I hope you have a relaxing and rejuvenating Saturday!