May 02, 2012:

Office Sneak Peeks

Blog-0-sphere meet Diana.

Diana meet the Blog-o-sphere.

MHD took on a most delightful intern this spring and her name is Diana. She's been VERY hard at work helping us make our office (the outer area not my sanctuary) into what it rightfully should be. It's still in progress but I thought I would share a little indulgence into what is shaping up.

The hardest part about being an actual WORKING designer (not just playing one on TV or blogging about it whilst eating bon bons in my pjs with The View on in the background) is maintaining a beautiful working space while actually you know working. Fabric samples and paper seem to multiple between eye blinks. Suppliers showing you new fabulous wares leaves you wondering why the hell you agreed to so many fabric sample books/libraries. I mean it truly is a hoarders dream this being a designer.

So when you find that special team who can help you walk the walk and talk the talk, you jump on it like white on rice. If someone would kindly explain to me the origins of that statement I would greatly appeciate it. If it is somehow a bad thing to say, um well just be greatful I chose that one to inadvertently offend and not something else. Please send your negative mail via errr Bali perhaps?

This is Diana. I can't remember if this is the day she wore silk chiffon to the office all pretty like or not. She's learned since that layerng is essential at MHD. You never know what you will be asked to do and um knowledge of the inner workings of power tools and Pax units a plus!

Nothing like flowers in a space to make the room feel better.

This Bust spoke to me and found a way into my arms, was lugged around and is now in the office. J'adore. Diana is tackling painting the table next.... it will be creamy white in it's new life.

We've added new cabinetry. Shorter than our existing units as there is a bulkhead. Now before you think me a cruel Miranda-esque boss (I see you Sandy there and I'm pursing my lips accordingly), we hired the Ikea assemblers to put those bad boys together. They also took apart our old Expedits and we sold them on Kijiji in under an hour I think. Apparently there is a huge market for old Expedits.

The chairs from our event last night were designed to live in the new office space. This is going to be a working space. The Barbara Barry shade is actually a return. It has a flaw. I'm thinking we may get another one though to hang over this table... love it.

We are trying out some new shades. They were inexpensive. I have other ones in mind but they will be for new lights. I may have a lighting sale on here one of these days. I hoard lights. And chairs. And fabric. And... oh shizz I could go on for a while here.

May 02, 2012:

Taste of Success - A Resounding Success!!

1000 Apologies. Our ISP totally dropped the ball migrating lord knows what to who knows where and our site went MIA & blogging was not possible. Fortunately, they got their Shiz together thanks to Shelley harassing them on Twitter to get our site back on line! Thanks Shell!!!

In the mean time, we were busy loading in our table fabulosity for last night's Taste of Success aka Kosher Iron Chef! The event was a huge success, sold out - their first year even!

We worked with the uber talented Michelle Kosoy from Kosoy + Bouchard which is how & why we were in the event for starters.

I just wanted to take the time to express our heartfelt thanks to the following sponsors who made our table possible. You will see, the results were spectacular!

Maxwell Fabrics (their fabrics almost stole the show from Michelle's gorgeous porcelain!)

Dale Design Group (upholsterers extraordinaire, braved our tight timelines and did gorgeous work to chairs that needed some TLC!)

Starlight Drapery (impeccable seamstress always)

442 Woodworking (sprayed our chairs - which I'm sure they were thrilled to FINALLY have out of their studio...ahem)

Huge thanks to Anne, Celia & Diana from MHD who made it feel almost effortless!

Match made in heaven.

Zee Table.

So much Awesome.

Why yes, that's Lalique.

Heirloom Ivory.

People could not stop raving about the tablecloth we designed (fabric donated by Maxwell Fabrics )

Kosher Blueberries. I kid you not. Blackberries (so we learned) are not Kosher. Apparently the bugs that may be found in blackberries.... ew too much right?

Anemones. I can't say their name but gosh they're purty.

That's us!

April 29, 2012:

The Week Ahead…

Before we go looking into the future to see what this week has in store, a little reminder to check back to Friday's post as I had a little sneak peek to our #BrowningAve project which had Phase One installed.

Now I'm sure you envision my weekend as one of luxuriating around whilst being fed bon bons & having my whims catered to right?

Snort.

Well I did get my meals made for me by my fabulous husband. I would be the size of a house without him or decidedly underfed. Not sure which but probably the former.

Spring has sprung in the world of design and lots of interesting projects are being considered as we speak. Hoping to share some ridiculously exciting news with you in the VERY near future.

But for now, I'm going to dazzle you with some sneak peeks of the Kosoy + Bouchard & Meredith Heron Design table that we've designed for tomorrow night's Taste of Success charity event. (Think Kosher Iron Chef).

In addition to Charity fabulous we have meetings with new prospects, #SnugBistro installations, #SwankyOfficeInstalls, New project - #81YorkvilleSalon is getting measured, hoping for a new Bakery project to start, a Bryan Adam's concert and I'm headed to Boston to check out a potential new project which I'm very excited about.

We're also trying to partner with a few brands on an exciting rooftop patio project & a gorgeous kitchen project.

There's also my own mother's kitchen to deal with. Did I mention she went out and had granite installed without my knowing it was being installed so I could STOP HER? Ya that. It's also got a green tinge to it. We have been trying to get rid of the green in her house. Damn. Her cabinetry needs to be ripped out forget refaced. I haven't mentioned that to her yet. I also hate hate hate all of her appliances including her um new fridge. It's really an eye sore. If you are reading this Mom... I'll make it work but you are going to have to listen to everything I say. I mean it. And you may have to lose the fridge. I just don't think there is room enough for both it and well me in your life.

I knew I was forgetting something else!! You'll have to read all the way to the end for that one!

Maxwell Fabrics I love and adore you. This embroidered fabric is to DIE FOR.

I love Kosoy + Bouchard's work. In grey... hello.

We have silver.

We have gorgeous.

We have Lace, Danish Silver, Crystal, Lalique, Ivory... CAN NOT WAIT to see it all come together.

Okay if you've made it this far... Go HERE - it should hopefully make you giggle!

April 26, 2012:

#BrowningAve Phase One Reveal

Not all design projects are undertaken in one fell swoop.

Our scope for Browning Ave was to put together a plan for the living and dining room with the foyer thrown in for fun. We took down walls, added crown, put in surround sound, painted and then took on the task of new furniture.

Our client warned us from the outset that she is the type of person who needs to see the entire outfit put altogether before she walks out the door wearing it. Good to know in advance. She also recognizes her own style of making choices which necessitated breaking the project into phases so that she could live with/reflect/absorb the changes in strategic doses to ensure that we make the right choices.

Not how we normally do things but if you want to achieve a Home that you love, I can't argue with the logic. Almost ALWAYS clients who push timelines, rush to complete a job all at once, overlook or miss out on opportunities to do something really special. Great things come to those who wait.

Until we get Phase Two finished though, I thought I would tie you over with a few sneak peeks of the progress to date!

I use this sofa a lot. It's timeless. It's brilliant for small spaces. It gives maximum seating with the bench cushion and the narrow arms mean that there is more seating. The scalloped arms also keep it from looking/feeling too deep. PERFECT for narrow spaces. Our client test drove a fabric sample for a few weeks before we ordered. She ran it into the ground and it came clean. That's the reason we put a white sofa in a house with a 2 year old. We have to decide on chairs and coffee table in here still.

Pretty sweet reflection huh? Why yes, that's a Barbara Barry Scalloped Drum Shade that hangs low over the coffee table. B-R-I-L-L-I-A-N-T (I did it first in my office which I adore).

Here's the vignette in progress.

Love this basket from West Elm. It's going to hide shoes. There is zero storage existing at the front door so we're getting creative.

Preserved Hydrangeas. I used these at my wedding. Look and feel like fresh ones. Use them everywhere!

The chairs & chandy are by MHD. Table has to go but we're waiting on a rug to see what colour to do it. Custom banquette to come as well. Cream, Robin's Egg or Black... all up for negotiation.

I'm still a sucker for a good Buddha. This house totally rocks the Moroccan/Buddhist/Road to India. We're really proud of the fact that it totally deserves the designation of Eclectic. I don't go throwing that one around much anymore it's become so watered down. However, this one - totally rocks it. Can't wait for phase two!