DECORATING THE CONDO...PART 3

IT IS DONE!!!
But I can only show you a few pictures.... I know....  I know

I had BIG plans last week for the 2 days I was at the condo.
This is what happened. I hired handyman Dom from  The Handyman Frank  through Homestars to help change out most of the light fixtures, hang some curtain rods and attach a wall unit to the wall and a few other quick fixes. I counted on him being there for 3-4 hrs. tops. The very first light fixture Dom attempted to hang was missing a key component. It had to be jerry-rigged with a part from another light fixture....which caused a ripple effect with all the replaced light fixtures having to be tweaked so they could be hung. If this had happened at home, I would simply have gone back to the source and picked up the missing part .
Six hours later, Dom packed up his tools and I was left with a huge mess of boxes, wires, broken plugs....and a coating of dust everywhere.

Due to the extra time needed for installs...I had no time for styling so quickly snapped these shots as I was literally leaving the condo to head home. I PROMISE the reveal after the next trip.

I've got this thing for decorative cushions in varying fabrics, textures, styles and finishes. These are a sample of the few I designed and made for the space. I'm now under strict orders to NOT make another cushion for this condo.

There are several empty walls in the condo and original artwork to decorate them was out of the question. I really wanted to showcase some of Lianne's paintings, so I designed a gallery wall with some of her original work from university. 

I ordered this poster of vintage TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) subway signs and had it framed. This is a meaningful piece as my father was the General Manager of the TTC before he retired.

As mentioned at the beginning of this post we needed...BADLY... new light fixtures. But again, the budget prohibited spending big bucks on lighting. Plus, I had this brilliant idea that this antique egg basket...

 ....could be turned into a dining room pendant. I spray painted the basket and had it outfitted professionally at Vintage Architectural Antiques Lighting ... a must visit if you are looking for architectural pieces and vintage lighting ....I was in awe of this treasure trove and was thrilled with the final product.

Sorry folks....that's it for now. I'm hoping the final instalment of this project will be posted in about two weeks after my next visit. 

I WANT THIS OFFICE ...BUT MINE SAYS 'ME'.....

In my dreams I have an office like this....

I designed this imaginary corner of MY perfect office in my perspective drawing class a couple of years ago. I was a little anal with the colouring I admit, but I never got this look out of my head.
Alas, my office looks nothing this glamorous, let alone this spacious or tidy.
I own none of the gorgeous hand crafted, solid hardwood furniture the zebra print hide rug, the button tufted, velvet desk chair, the horizontal striped window treatments...none of it. I made it up.

I can't...ok...I shan't show you a picture of my puny 10X10' home office/sewing room space...it would be a monstrous letdown. You might all query..."how on earth can an interior decorator have such an undecorated office space".

...or is it undecorated?

To appease you, I will instead show you some vignettes of what I have put in my space to make it my own...it speaks ME for sure....not the me of my dreams, but the me IRL.

My 'antique' red suitcases. I got the white handled one on my 4th birthday (I think I just dated myself) and found the other four antiquing several years ago...I just love them...

Anyone who knows me well will not be surprised to see these album covers on the wall in my office....these are so ME...I just never know when I might want to belt out ..."♫  the hills are alive ♪"....

I WILL get to this pile of fabric shortly... I promise

Freaky....I see the number "11" EVERY SINGLE DAY...on digital clocks, in the car, on addresses....and even in stores...I just look up...and there it is "11".  In fact my BD this year is 11*11*11

(not sure what it means, but if anyone out there does, let me know, but only if it's positive)

I love this sunny corner of my itsy witsy office. Serger thread, cutters, pens, pencils, buttons, fabric swatches, bulletin board all at my finger tips and topped off with a display of antique bobbins. 

I really enjoy the view from my window, but above my window...come on...not everyone has an antique 'singer sewing machine' sign. My friend spotted this on one of our antiquing trips and pretty much insisted that I should spring the big bucks for it. So glad I listened.

...and finally...I have been very fortunate as a small home based interior decorator to be published twice within the last year.  My family had my first published feature (top) framed as a Christmas present last year....I was beyond touched by this gift. I'm hoping they take the hint and get the bottom article framed for me this year for Christmas.

Although I don't have the gorgeous home office of my dreams, as a decorator, I want to impart to you that surrounding yourself with the items you love, the mementos, books, drawings....whatever speaks to you... can be meaningful and inspiring in your workspace when curated and displayed with thoughtfulness.