[ all dolled up ]

WOULDN'T YOU love to be sitting at this little dressing table getting ready for a special date? I love the vintage feel of the mirror and the charming floral wallpaper and drapes. So pretty.

lisa

[brabourne farm]

[ outdoor drapes ]

WITH SUMMER HERE,  everyone is thinking about outdoor spaces and how to create a comfy spot to sit back and relax or entertain family and friends. I love these outdoor rooms and in particular, the outdoor drapes. Not only do they help to create the sense of a room, they are great for creating privacy from too-close neighbours and blocking direct sun as it starts to set.

lisa

[better homes and gardens]

[ diy tie-dye ]

REMEMBER THE good old days when tie-dyeing our t-shirts in a rainbow of colours was hot? Well, it's back! But this time for our homes! The July issue of Style at Home magazine features various tie-dye projects from wall art to slipcovers to pillows to paper lanterns. The mix of pattern techniques paired with the blue/green palette give this room a fresh, summery feel.

With a pack of dye and a few simple tools: paint brush, spray bottle and a few elastics (and some wax if you want to attempt Batik), you can easily let your imagination run wild and create these really great patterns. Try interlocking ring patterns by dipping the rim of a glass into the dye and stamping. Just choose natural fabrics, prewash without softener and you're ready to get creative. Give it a good rinse when you're happy with your pattern and hang to dry. Voila! 

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

AND IF you are lucky enough to have a charming porch swing, may you have plenty of time to enjoy it this weekend!

lisa

[house beautiful, evan sklar photography, flickr]

[ burlap ]

I'M DRAWN to the touches of burlap I've been seeing in decor lately - its nubbly texture and natural colour lends such a homey, casual feel to any space. It really is such a versatile textile since it works for anything from drapes to lampshades and with its modest price, anyone can incorporate it into their home.

[country living, house beautiful]

I came across all kinds of fun burlap finds on Etsy too. Here are a few of my favourites.

lisa

[1 myadobecottage] [2 ShopFullCircle] [3 eabdesigns] 

[4 myadobecottage] [5 myadobecottage] [6 ShaggyBaggy]

[ earth, wind, fire and a giveaway! ]

WHAT DO A 5.0 earthquake, tornadoes and a fire have in common? My week here in Muskoka! In an area that sees little activity, the earth was shaking yesterday as a rare earthquake hit a wide region of Ontario. Later a severe storm system swept through with tornado warnings with some areas just south experiencing a fair bit of damage. And my local UPS store where I pick up my parcels was hit with a fire, the owner still accepting parcels and handing out mail outside of the building as cleanup crews demolished the smoke-filled interior. Bless her. Throw in a G8 Summit with all its security and strange characters descending upon the region and you've got the makings of a pretty weird week! 


Time for fun! Come celebrate Sarah's one year of blogging at Flourish Design + Style! In honour of this milestone, she's celebrating with the ultimate - 11 days of amazing giveaways! And I'm part of the party! So don't walk - RUN to Sarah's beautiful blog to find out how you can win! And you can still enter for Day 1, 2, 3 & 4! Good luck!

lisa

[ pink and petals ]

THERE'S NOTHING more girly than pink and petals. Sometimes we all need a little dose of pretty.

[1,4,5 country homes and interiors; 2,6 ideal home, living etc]

And speaking of pretty, if you haven't followed Sarah at Flourish Design + Style, be sure to pop on over to her inspirational blog - she's celebrating a year of blogging and has eleven days of giveaways in honour of this milestone! I'll be helping her celebrate too so be sure to stay tuned!

lisa

[ wallpaper wuss ]

PERHAPS IT'S because I don't actually have any wallpapered rooms that I'm so drawn to these fabulous spaces with such statement patterns. But I think the thought of having to painstakingly remove it down the road has scared me off for fear that I'll tire of the bold look and want to tone things down too quickly. Have you adopted the current wallpaper trend?

lisa

[domino, house and home, living etc, houzz, kml designs, ideal home, living etc]

[ homespun quirkiness ]

LAST WEEK I posted about adding some homespun touches to your decor. It's an idea gone international - how about these quirky pieces spotted in Milan? Knitted pendants lights, knitted then felted striped chair and a felt-covered chair with pinking shear edges!

lisa

[livingetc]

[ to my dad ]

THANKS for always being there. Happy Father's Day. xo

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

OH HOW I wish that were my chair overlooking an infinity pool on the Mediterranean! But it's not all bad - I do have a dock and I'll definitely be on it this beautiful weekend! Here's wishing you a lovely, scenic, relaxing weekend too!

lisa

[marieclairemaison]

[ he's a keeper ]

EVER HAD one of those days when you're just going about your business and suddenly there's a knock at your door and you open it to be greeted with a lovely arrangement of flowers? For no reason at all? Yup, my man is a keeper. Just because he misses me from across the pond. Life is good.

lisa

[ homespun happiness ]

THERE'S SOMETHING so charming about adding little handmade touches of decor to a home. They add such vintage personality and bring back memories of crafts we used to do when we were little.

This is such a cute vignette - I love the artwork, the tiny bunting/pennant string, the patchwork throw, coordinating pillows and the handmade doll. So homey. I think my grandmother's sofa was covered in that same fabric!

How cute are these granny square stool covers? I remember learning how to crochet granny squares when I was little - I wonder if I still know how...

This pretty paper bunting would be so easy to make by painting pages from an old book and accordian-folding tissue paper strips into flowers. Just fold strips, tie up one end tightly with string, puff them out and tie to a ribbon or string. So pretty for a party.

Personalized square bunting is cute strung up on the mirror and a little pink rosette adorns a plain white pillow.  I also love how the vintage poster is so simply displayed.

lisa

[pics: by fryd]

[ potting mix ]

WITH GARDENING season in full swing, I can't help but dream about how great it would be to have a potting shed or even just a little spot for a potting bench. Sure, we have a shed but it's a maze of shovels, a lawnmower, a kayak, odds and ends of lumber and tools and an ever-growing collection of flea market and auction finds just waiting for their makeovers. And so I keep dreaming of one of these...

lisa

[better homes and gardens; 2,6 flickr; it's complicated; 4,5 martha stewart;

cottage living; 8, 13 my sweet savannah; 9, 11 city lady country girl; the farm chicks; 

country living; traditional home]