My First Fall Mantel

I have decided to link up! After looking at all of your fall mantels on The Lettered Cottage Fall Mantel Party, I am so inspired, Its amazing what everyone has created. Looking forward to next year when I can take some of your pointers. I especially love all of the owl accents and black and white colour schemes found all over the blogosphere.

Bathroom Remodel Part I: New floors and baseboards

Wow this post is long overdue. On August 19, 2011 I undertook a few bathroom renos for a family friend.  In a three bathroom home, we created three separate looks using the same basic staples. The faucets, granite countertops and glass bowl sinks were done a few years back and were consistent throughout the house. We (hubbie, myself and my dad) added new flooring, new thresholds and new baseboards into all three bathrooms. The whole process from start to finish took about 36 hours of manpower spread out over three to four weeks. The finishing touches were added later and these were quite simple to achieve with a little time from my part. In this week’s post, I will document the flooring renovation and baseboard replacing completed in all three bathrooms.

Console Table + Upholstered Ottoman

I am really looking forward to this new year. With my son turning one, the new interior design course I am taking and applications to medical school, I feel like l am moving forward in a positive direction. Last year feels like ancient history, pregnancy fears are all long gone. I am so thankful for my family especially my hubbie and our son. E has changed my life in more ways than I had ever thought and I’m truly loving it. Mind you, I have my moments of exasperation.

Enough of this sappy stuff and back to Haute Decor.   I love console table vignettes. I wish I could have one in every room of my house but unfortunately, space is a limiting factor. Just check out these gorgeous options:

Source: Unknown

Falling in love with Broccoli and Cheese

Courtesy of: 

http://www.wellpathclinic.com/just-another-reason-to-eat-your-greens

Courtesy of: http://theglobalgourmand.blogspot.com/2010/10/know-your-french-cheeses

In our family, fall is the time to slow down after whirlwind summers. A final breath before the big plunge into the winter months. I feel content and comfortable during these months. Perhaps it is because it signifies the new beginnings, especially for students like me or is it the fall colours? Oranges, reds, yellows and lovely sunsets that feel like they last for hours.  In Calgary, autumn can be easily missed. You have to make that trip to Banff or to parks to watch nature's costume change. Its the perfect transition between the hot summer and blistery winters here in Calgary. Although the past few days have been scorchers,

Painting Ceramic Flatware

I want to embrace colour into my home design. I'm not quite ready to mix colours but adding one accent colour into a space is completely doable. Ive done it in my guest bedroom and now I want to inject colour into my dark kitchen. See my cabinets are black brown, couple this with a dark granite countertop and a windowless kitchen and you have a recipe for a dark space.Until recently, I had not found an accent colour that I love for my kitchen space. Most of the time, any accent colour I chose would not be bright enough for this space. So I stuck to the traditional stainless steel and typical white option. But recently, while doing my weekly round at the HomeSense, I found these gorgeous blue tea and sugar canisters.

I instantly fell in love and brought them home. To carry the colour theme throughout the kitchen, I decided to repaint the oil/vinegar dispensers.   I zipped over to Michaels with canister in hand. I took it with me to colour match to craft paint. Guess what? I actually found the perfect colour. I brought home two bottles just in case.