dh designs: 2012

December 25, 2012

December 3, 2012

It's been a busy fall here in this household!

We have been spending a lot of time with our 2 year old grandson, who has just become a BIG brother to the worlds most adorable baby boy - Rhoen!

We've been assisting in wedding plans, you know venues, decor, flowers and dresses, for our oldest daughter, who has also just moved into her first home! Sooo exciting!!

Apart from all of this wonderful family activity, I have been very busy with another venture - namely The TBBs. As part of this talented group of local decorators I'm contributing to what we hope to be a great resource for local wine-ing, dine-ing and design-ing! Our three favourite things!!!

Source: The TBBs

We have been busy trying out restaurants, sourcing design goodies and tasting wine – all of it for our readers – sigh, the sacrifices we make! We`ve also had a couple of local television segments, with a couple more coming up giving tips on decorating your home for Christmas! Check them out on the blog - www.thetbbs.com.

And to top it off I was featured on the Ottawa Citizen Style magazine website. My thanks to editor Jennifer Campbell and photographer Wayne Cuddington!

Source: Wayne Cuddington

Check out the interview here.

So, it's been an

˜”*°•.¸”*°•.¸☆ ★ ☆¸.•°*”¸.•°*”˜

. . ★★★ AWESOME ★★★ . .

¸.•°*”˜¸.•°*”☆ ★ ☆”*°•.¸˜”*°•.¸

fall!

Bring on Christmas!!!!

August 16, 2012

Mini Loos

We love our home. We love the location, the style, the age (+50 years) and the back yard with it’s 35 year old grape vine arbour … well that’s what sold it for us. And I’m not even going to mention the large attached garage that has been re-dubbed “The Lounge” which now doubles as a music studio, bar, surplus furniture warehouse.

One of the few things we don’t love is the fact that there is no washroom on the main level. There’s one on the second storey and one in the basement, but you’re out of luck on the main level. Not only is it a convenience we miss, it is an issue for guests who find stairs a challenge.

So, what to do??? We are currently in the process of planning an addition of a covered front porch. The plans include a future enclosed entryway. When that happens we will convert the current front closet into a mini powder room. And when I say mini, I’m talking 36”x43”. Yup – miniscule!

This got me searching the wonderful wide web for a “little” inspiration *snicker*. I guess we’re among the minority because I couldn’t find too many mini loos as inspiration. But here are the few I did find:

Traditional Powder Room design by Burlington Architect Smith & Vansant Architects PC

There is so much I love about the one above – the wallpaper for one and the built-in book case (for the all-necessary reading material). But the best is the mirror – did you notice it? The snowshoe is a mirror – genius!!!

Traditional Powder Room design by Toronto General Contractor Norcon Home Improvements

Ours will be very similar in size the one above, although I don’t think we will have room for a pedestal sink. I like how the floor continues into the powder room. But, people, when you are taking pictures of your work, take note of the little things … like the extra roll of TP – really????

This next one really IS in a closet! Love it!

Source: room-galleries.myhomeideas.com via Donna on Pinterest

Source: ideastosteal.com via Donna on Pinterest

I like this one for the size of the fixtures, and how they’ve built around the tank and heater. Not quite sure what’s going on behind the toilet – looks like the cover may have been pushed back through the wall – oops…

Here’s a couple of examples show how to make the room seem bigger with wall treatments:

Eclectic Powder Room design by Detroit Interior Designer Dunlap Design Group, LLC

Traditional Bathroom design by Chicago Kitchen And Bath Stonebreaker Builders & Remodelers

Modern Powder Room design by Toronto Interior Designer Croma Design Inc

I did manage to find some neat fixtures – like the sink above – and these next ones too …

Source: digsdigs.com via Donna on Pinterest

Source: blog.thebathoutlet.com via Donna on Pinterest

Source: astonmatthews.co.uk via Donna on Pinterest

And finally, hubby has his vote in for this one .. me, ummmmm, not so much …

Source: scooper.com.au via Donna on Pinterest

However this turns out, I’ll guess I should just be happy if I don’t have this :) …

Source: bing.com via Tammy Lenover on Pinterest

So, have you a mini powder room? Or have you seen or used one? If you have any suggestions, I’m all ears :)….

July 16, 2012

Colour of the month for July–{chartreuse}

Don’t you love saying chartreuse? It’s even cool to spell, and I have to admit in my younger, pre-design conscious days, I didn’t even know what chartreuse was *gasp*!

Source: thepinkpenwordstudio.wordpress.com via Donna on Pinterest

Being a blonde with hazel eyes, chartreuse is one of my favourite colours to wear – especially in the summer when I have some actual colour to my skin.

Source: estherboutique.wordpress.com via Donna on Pinterest

I have several tops in chartreuse, even a purse (or two), and there’s a green pair of shoes (suede shoes I might add) that if forced, I could say they are chartreuse, but in reality they are really lime green. I still love them though ….

Source: bynowshop.com via Liz on Pinterest

I sat down recently with Chartreuse and had a chit-chat – here’s how it went….

dh: So, Chartreuse, what can you tell us about yourself?

Chartreuse: Well, dh, I’m actually a 500 year old herbal liqueur. I’m produced by the Carthusian order of monks in the French Alps and my ingredients are a huge secret – HUGE!

Source: proof66.com via Donna on Pinterest

dh: I knew I liked you! Liqueur you say … well well, let’s talk about that for a minute …. what are you served with?

Chartreuse: I come in two varieties – yellow and green – and both pair well with desserts. My green self really goes well with chocolate. You can have me straight up or on the rocks and I lo-o-ove cocktail parties – some of my favourites are:

Everybody’s Irish where I team up with whisky and creme de menthe,
the Iguana where I party down with my Mexican pal Tequila and some fruits & veggies
and one I think you’ll like where I add a little tang to a classic – the Chartreuse Martini – yup vodka, vermouth and me – all swirling around with some ice!

dh: Wow, I think I’m in love …. I will definitely be trying that last one! So you say your ingredients are a mystery – how so?

Chartreuse: Well, originally back in the olden days I was distilled as the “elixir of long life” and as such my ingredients were a secret. Then there was like 500 years of upheaval where the recipe was copied, hidden, sold, bought, and finally returned to the Carthusian Monks. Today there are two monks who know the ingredients and they’ve sworn a vow of secrecy... so don’t even ask!

dh: Cool … hmmm … next trip to France, there will be some time in the Alps required… So, I’m guessing the colour Chartreuse is based on the green liqueur?

Chartreuse: Yes, you’re right, but there are really two colours of chartreuse; chartreuse yellow and chartreuse green. And there are dozens of in between colours that are derived from chartreuse. From a light greeny yellow down to a darker olive green!

Source: Uploaded by user via Donna on Pinterest

dh: Wow, I didn’t realize there were so many variations on the colour. So I guess those lime green suede shoes I have really are Chartreuse – sah-weet!!! Now, as a colour, what other colours do you like to hang with?

Chartreuse: Good question. Because I’m used mostly to make a bold statement colour, I go with many colours. As they say a picture tells a thousand words, here’s a few pics that should give you the idea…

Source: coastalliving.com via Donna on Pinterest

Eclectic Living Room design by Richmond Tile Stone And Countertop Charles Luck Stone Center

Contemporary Living Room design

Contemporary Dining Room design by Austin General Contractor Texas Construction Company

Contemporary Dining Room design by New York Media And Blogs Vendome Press

Source: houseandhome.com via Donna on Pinterest

dh: I see what you mean about being bold!! These are awesome interiors, but now tell us the truth, how do you hold up on the exterior?

Chartreuse: Is that a challenge? You’ll be amazed – I’m actually very present in nature from algae to moss to grasses and many many plants. Here are some examples…

Landscape design via Houzz

Traditional Landscape design by Boston Landscape Architect Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design

Traditional Landscape design by Philadelphia Photographer www.KarlGercens.com

Contemporary Exterior design by San Luis Obispo Landscape Architect Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

dh: Ughhh Algae …. our pool was that lovely shade of chartreuse a couple of years back … ick!!! So, I get it that you do nature well… but how about as exterior colour on or around a home … in the non-natural elements?

Chartreuse: Geez….It’s like you don’t believe me … I actually add a really nice pop of colour in a lot of exteriors – here… check it out…

Source: Uploaded by user via Donna on Pinterest

Contemporary Porch design by Austin General Contractor Texas Construction Company

Contemporary Patio design by Burlington Architect TruexCullins Architecture + Interior Design

Eclectic Garage And Shed design by Portland Maine Kitchen And Bath Robin Amorello, CKD CAPS - Atmoscaper Design

dh: Well, I can certainly see you have all the bases covered as far as interiors and exteriors go. You are quite the versatile colour! Thank you so much for agreeing to talk with me, it’s been really great getting to know all about you – from the ancient monks to the cocktails to the algae. I’ll be looking for you as I browse through my Food and Drink magazines as well as through my home decor magazines. And I’ll salute you as I have my very first Chartreuse Martini!

Chartreuse: Thanks for having me dh, it’s been fun!

So folks, now we know a little bit more about chartreuse. If you’d like to see more examples of using this colour check out my Pinterest board and my Houzz Ideabook.

How have you used chartreuse – the colour, or the liqueur??? Share….

June 27, 2012

Colour of the month for June–{lavender}

I am soooo late with this post, since June only has 4 days left … but I struggled a bit on what colour I should write about for June, but browsing through FB the other day I noticed that June was lavender season. How perfect is that?! I just so happen to sit in a lavender office everyday (OK well 5 days a week) and love the calming effect it has on me – especially when I’m at my busiest!

So, lets talk about lavender. The colour name obviously comes from the plant lavender, which is actually from the mint family. I’m not a mint lover, but am definitely a lavender lover. I have two plants in my perennial garden and make it a point to check them out every day. Just brushing by them fills the air with lavenders sweet scent … ahhhh…

The plant has many uses. Apart from it’s ornamental value in your garden, it is used to create an essential oil, which has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory uses. It’s scent is also used in cosmetics and fragrances. And it is a popular additive to cleaning products these days. Apparently it has disinfectant qualities as it was used during the First World War to disinfect floors and walls.

The nectar from the lavender flower is used to make honey and is used to flavour baked goods or tea. As an infusion lavender can help ease itchy insect bites and headaches. It is said a lavender cachet in your pillow will help you sleep. So from a plant perspective this is one versatile perennial!

Now, from a colour perspective, lavender was identified in the book “A Dictionary of Color”, first published in the 1930’s with only four shades, and by 1955 the ISCC-NBS Dictionary of Color Names listed many more. The “true” lavender shade is still based on the colour of the plant and is called Floral Lavender.