May 17, 2012:

Versatility… It’s the Secret to Great Design

I'm not a big believer in having just one look. I'm sure there are design elements that I use over and over again in projects. Little tricks and favourites that I rely on that some would say are my 'look' but in truth, I strive to really hone in on and then execute projects that look or reflect the client I'm working on behalf of or collaborating with.

We're in the middle of finishing up a few projects at the moment - two installs yesterday. One residential -  #Kingswood and the other a commercial office space - #PCI. Both VERY different. I love it.

I'll share more sneaks of #Kingswood next week (we're going to be trying out area rugs I can not wait!!) but for now here's a lil preview of the more contemporary bordering on modern offices we've been busy making happen!

We had a month to make this project happen. New kitchen, cabinetry in the lounge, new carpeting, plus the pretty.

We accented high gloss white cabinetry with walnut gables. The cabinetry throughout - IKEA. The walnut gables - Custom. Together = Perfection.

Red Carpet Studio really helped us with the carpet for this space. I love it and it's industrial. Wish it were in our offices that is for sure!! Did I mention that this office is a floor below ours? Talk about a rough commute!

We gabled off the printer/copier area with the walnut. I'm thinking art rail for displaying artwork above.

Grasscloth with bamboo pieces woven into it. This office is getting a new walnut console. CAN NOT WAIT!

Charcoal Grasscloth. Looks so good I want to hug it. Is that wrong? I may have a problem.

We repeated the charcoal into the boardroom to make the existing birch furniture look chic. Love.

If you have an office that needs some designer love, reach out and drop us a line - we'd love to help you make it fabulous! Speaking of fabulous - have a great weekend!!! OHHHH it's a LONG WEEKEND here in Canada! YAHOOOOOOOO!

May 16, 2012:

Currently Working On….

Hoping that my internet at home is fixed. Bell Fibe I'm giving you majah side eye still. (Updated: Allegedly the cable from the dohickey box to our house is rotten. I mean of course that was bound to happen sometime but why can't it happen in the middle of NHL playoffs but not during American Idol ya know?)

We're crazy busy. We're starting a major residential project in #Boston which we are in the process of packing up for as we're headed there next week for much of the week. We've also gotten the go ahead for a new Chic Bakery in Burlington - #Kelly's & then there is the Salon at #81Yorkville that's just getting underway too. We are also mid-project with a variety of projects some of which started so quickly & are being completed just as quickly, I haven't even found the time to blog about them yet. Of course this means more sneak peeks coming your way. Tres exciting but I've resorted to making lists for my lists.

I still have Brimfield posts to finish up too. Oy Vey.

I love to be busy did I mention that? 

I mean balls to the wall, rock em sock em insanely busy. If I'm not, I get nervous and edgy. Not exactly what you want in this redhead. I will go out on a limb and say though that if you have a mid-large project that you are looking to discuss with us, sooner rather than later as we're booking for early fall now and wouldn't want to disappoint. I marvel at firms who are able to book in advance and have waiting lists. Definitely something I would consider doing, if I actually knew how to say no that is. It's a compulsion I swear. Can't help myself, eldest child syndrome or whatever you want to call it. I'm a people pleaser.

Because I aim to please... here's a lil taste of all that is keeping us busy. Did I mention we have another Chloe Magazine photo shoot the end of May? Oh ya that. You know what's worse, I've art directed it in such a way that the shoot will be into the evening. In my sick mind, I figure I could get an almost full work day in first and then do the shoot. Like doing it in the evening means I win some time or something added to the day. See, it's a sickness really and truly. I can't help myself.

 

Nursery. Little Girl. #Boston. OM MA GAWD.

Possibles for Master Bedroom #Boston

Possibles for Family Room #Boston

Possibles for Kitchen/Breakfast #Boston

Lil Boy's Room. I DIE. #Boston

More possibles for Family Room or Guest Room even.. #Boston

Dining Room Scheme #1 #Boston

I would LOVE for this floor plan to work out. LOVE. Nothing like a pair of sofas back to back for two different focal points.

Palm Springs is taking over the MHD Rooftop. We're teaming up with the fabulous Trex Decking and I can't wait to show you what we've got in store! Oh wait, it gets better, Chloe Magazine is scheduled to shoot it all. More glossy MHD work. Nothing better. #MHDRooftop

#SnugBistro Bar Stools. Yum. Now if only the City of Toronto would get their collective arses in gear. I've got my voodoo dolls out and I'm NOT AFRAID TO USE THEM (yes that was intentionally SHOUTY).

The amazing Para Paints has been working tirelessly with us to transform #SnugBistro - the trim colour is Heavy Metal. I love it.

#SnugBistro - You can see the bones were amazing to start with. The walls will be parchment. Can not wait. If you don't follow them on twitter, please do - @ParaPaints. They are amazing and we love their paints.

I've got four of these from our newest project #Kelly's Bakery. Gluten Free Vegan that tastes like it's full of all the bad for you stuff because it is that good. I have to freeze them until my cheat day on Saturday. Talk about a test of wills.... Speaking of a test of wills - we'll be announcing our Toile Sur Rendezvous Quatrefoil Hand towels winner later today!! Can not wait!

 

May 15, 2012:

Brimfield Part Deux… + New #Boston Project

As promised, here are a few of the fabulous finds that made Brimfield amazing! Oh wait Bell Canada has this new service called Bell Fibe and we got it. It's supposed to be the I Dream of Jeannie nod/blink of uploading/internet/HD TV. Except it doesn't work. So I'm typing this by using my Rogers powered iPhone as a hotspot.

This means that uploading pictures is slower than molasses. So no pictures. 

Plus as an added bonus, I'm including some sneak peeks on a new project we are working on in Boston. If you want to see some of these photos, go over to Instagram and follow meredithheron. Feel free to @BellFibe and demand them to get my internet back working so you can be dazzled with Antique finds and all things fabulous.

I'll try and find a way to upload pics later on. My apologies - Hubs swore this was going to be a better option and we've both been let down. Grrrrr

AND today is the last day to enter our Toile Sur Rendezvous Quatrefoil Hand Towels Giveaway!!! Follow both of us on Twitter & Like us on FB to qualify!! Make sure you tweet out to us so we can register your entry!

May 14, 2012:

Confessions of a Former DIY Goddess….

Seriously.

This should totally rock your Tuesday.

My latest HGTV Blog Post.

Keep your coffee away from your keyboard.

Don't say I didn't warn you. I've coined a few new terms.

Click HERE to Enjoy!

More #Brimfield/#RABRIMFIELD love later gators.

May 13, 2012:

Robert Allen Fabrics + Brimfield = OH MY!!!

Whirlwind Designer, Shopper, Cocktail Taster & Pulled Pork Sandwich Connoisseur - that was me Friday thru Saturday, returning home early Sunday morning. Forgive me typos and sentences that start, appear to stop abruptly or just never go anywhere.

So the backstory - I was thrilled to be invited to Brimfield as a guest of Robert Allen. The caveat was, I had to first get to NYC to meet at Robert Allen's studios to preview a new fabric line, The Neutrals. Um, NYC, new fabric line?? I don't know if I even bothered to read the rest of the details before I hit send with a Hell Ya I'll come! The third read thru saw the inclusion of taking the Fabric on the road to Brimfield - I may have whooped out loud!

Brimfield, for many who Canadians who are not in the Know is Antique Hunting Mecca. Fields filled with antiques as far as the eye could see, food trucks of epic proportion & in the middle of it all is the VIP Tent for Twittererererers to meet (finally) in person (neutral territory for those nervous to meet their online imaginary friend) which was the brainchild of Gretchen Aubuchon (Founder & EIC of Fashion and Decor) and Cynthia Bogart (EIC of The Daily Basics). This Tent of Fabulosity was sponsored by the likes of Style at Home (Media Sponsor) - our amazing Canadian magazine of Design Gorgeosity (The team from SAH braved a 10hr car ride each way all in the same van together!!!!), Benjamin Moore, Company C & Sashay's very own sponsor  Kathryn Markel Fine Arts and of course Robert Allen Neutrals.

While I could tease you for hours spent reconnecting with my blogger friends over cocktails made by the fabulous Warren Bobrow & my cheat day made all the better with my 1st taste of Dunkin Donuts ( I ate two) and then the Pulled Pork Sandwich ( I also ate two)...... but you want the Design Porn I know I know. Shut up Meredith Already right?

 

I walked in to the Robert Allen offices a little late ( considering I had taken a car to YYZ airport in TO, landed in Newark NJ, took a train to Penn Station in NYC and then walked 12 blocks to get to the showroom) and was immediately struck but this little section of fabrics hanging on the wall. It was hard to exchange hellos and pleasantries knowing that that this Holy Grail of fabrics was just behind the counter.

Neutrals like these make neutral a sexy thing.

Are you dying yet? These aren't even my favourites yet.

DEAD. GLORIOUS. WORDS FAIL.

SERIOUSLY. Ikat ain't goin nowhere people. NO WHERE. I should probably tell you that I was further blown away when I got to the tent and saw fabrics that had somehow escaped my eye in NYC. I may have tried to have them accidentally end up in my luggage. Or not. You know. Allegedly.

Robert Allen told us the name of this fabric but it was all Wa Wa Wa Wa Wahhhh to me becuase as soon as I laid my eyes on it I started calling it Meredith. You agree right? Hey Peter... pssst if the line isn't released yet, you still have time to make it right and change the name. Please make sure you spell it right though  M E R E D I T H (People have a tendancy to switch the 2nd E and I around... mkay thanks!)

Faux- Hand Blocked prints for those who do not like the imperfections & bleeds  associated with. I can not wait to use this one. Already have plans for at least a dozen of them! I'm going to leave it at there and give you the part two of Brimfield tomorrahhhh.

This was Gretchen and I just before the 8am Tweet Chat for #Brimfield. Not bad eh? Stay tuned for more on tomorrow's blog!!