Sarah Walker The Curated House, Author at The Curated House

Design Find | Built NY Origami Wine Tote

With the season for teacher’s gifts nearly upon us, I’m on the hunt for something fresh and unexpected. Last year, I gave my little guy’s teachers handmade wine and cheese bags – one for wine, one for cheese with an intentional pairing carefully nestled in each. They were a huge hit!

I still haven’t decided what I will give this year, but I’m in love with this brilliant design from Built NY.

This re-useable wine tote is as practical as it is pretty. The folds of fabric aren’t just a design feature, they also protect your bottle of wine from bumps and bruises while you’re driving, making it the perfect gift for anyone who makes regular weekend trips to cottage country.

Of course, the fact that it folds up to neat-and-tidy, easily stored proportions is also brilliant. Feels like a “one for me, one for you” situation if you ask me!

Now I want to pack up a gourmet picnic and go for a drive in the country! Anyone want to join me?

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|May 29th, 2013|4 Comments

Project Ugly Duckling Has Finally Begun!

For those of you who know me and know my house, you know that there has been one singular room of shame awaiting my attention. Some think of it as a museum to the visual atrocities of the 1960’s. I think of it as something of a shrine to the ultimate “before,” and as such have left it shockingly untouched before now so that the contrast of the “after” would be all the sweeter. It has taken much discipline and the hiding of all sledge hammers in moments of weakness.

I think I have counted no less than seven different shades of green in this original 1969 bathroom. Let’s just say they went ALL OUT. Nature may be able to pull that off, but when you start doing it with laminate countertops and ornate drapery trim, you’ve really just gone too far. Ain’t nothing natural about that, folks.

My guess is the original owners were lovers of detail. When you lay eyes on the light fixtures they chose you’ll see what I mean! I too am a lover of detail, but it is at that point that we diverge rather significantly. I am more of a lover of classic details like these herringbone floors…

{Image by Francois Halard for Vogue}

Or this wallpaper from DeGournay…

Or this modern and sophisticated wood vanity by Croma Design…

{Image via Croma Design}

And you see that come through in the spaces I design for my clients, like this serene and sophisticated Master Ensuite I shared with you awhile back…

OK, so where are the photos of this Ugly Duckling, you ask? I honestly felt I just had to show you some pretty to soothe your senses before I assault them with the ugly, ’cause friends…she REAL ugly. But now that I’ve whetted your apetite {and mine} with some designer eye candy, it’s time for my secret room of shame to be revealed. I invite you now to {shudder} feast your eyes on all the glory that was 1969.

She’s quite something, isn’t she? I mean, just look at the detail on those globe lights…

The flocked wallpaper is so old it’s almost new again, but I get creeped out every time I wonder how many people forgot to wash their hands before reaching out to touch its velvety texture. So gross.

Even the horrible cafe curtain on the window wasn’t left alone to an existence of peaceful simplicity – check out the fringe! They really meant business.

Then there’s the tile…the tile upon tile upon detailed tile…

And competing with the globe light fixtures as the pièce de résistance of the room is the combo of “marbleized” hunter green counter with the avocado sink.

Never ones to disappoint, the original owners of course chose an avocado toilet to match. Naturally. Did you catch all the varying shades of green? Avocado, hunter, leaf, chartreuse, olive, khaki…the overdose has me turning green with nausea! You can see now why I had to show you some pretty first! I promise, the worst is over now.

Well, the introductions have been made. I’ve presented my Ugly Duckling to you and invite you to join me now as I help her transform into the swan she was always meant to be. This should be a fun one.

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|May 28th, 2013|1 Comment

The Curated Collection | Suzanne Ernst

I always love a good story, and today’s artist certainly has one. Armed with a masters degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University, Suzanne Ernst started out making her mark as the in-house landscape architect for a major Canadian architectural firm, working for clients around the clock to pour her passion for design and beauty into their projects. But the gratification of seeing her visions fulfilled was often waylaid by competing budgets, and the hard edges of the business started to wear away at the softer edges of Suzanne’s artistic integrity. So, in an act of courage and honesty, Suzanne embraced her love for landscape and decided to protect it by giving it a new voice as a mixed media visual artist.

Armed with her camera and her very personal and refined view of the natural world, Suzanne now expresses her well-honed vision through the lens. She prints the images to her chosen scale and then lovingly enhances each one with acrylic paint, ink, pastels and pencil crayon before adhering them to board and finishing them with a water’s-surface-like coat of colour-enhancing resin.

Suzanne’s story is a story of redemption, really. Of protecting the thing you love most. Of staying true to your passions and recognizing where they are best set free.

I wonder how each of us might take a page from Suzanne’s book? Where do I need to take a leap of faith to guard and protect my first loves? Clearly – as evidenced by Suzanne’s work – the results of such courage are truly beautiful.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|May 27th, 2013|0 Comments