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Spiced Delicata Squash Soup + A Harvest Table Setting with Urban Barn

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The weather has truly laid out the red carpet for us for Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada. The air is crisp but the sun is still warm and the colours are just starting to turn.

This time of year makes me so happy. I feel like it’s an invitation to savour life more fully, both indoors and out. There are so many wonderful opportunities to host friends as the weather cools, and there are few things we love more than inviting the people we love to share a meal around our table with us.

At this time of year, I find myself craving simple beauty and heart-warming soups, and today’s post brings together both of those things with a soup recipe by yours truly and a simple but beautiful table setting inspired by our friends at Urban Barn.

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When it comes to a simple table setting, I like to work with dinnerware that does a lot of the decorative work for me. Enter the beautiful light grey Sintra collection from Urban Barn.

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I love the sophistication of the delicate pattern and the gentle wash of grey glazing. The colour is soft and looks great as the canvas for any dish you can cook up, and I love the way it integrates so effortlessly with my décor. For me, this is decorative dinnerware that is fresh and timeless.

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I chose to use 3 of Urban Barn’s White Outline Vases for the centre of the table, and I love the way they create a modern frame for the flowers while serving as a clean backdrop for the dinnerware. Add in the Camile Highball and Old Fashioned glassware along with some simple white napkins, and you have an effortlessly casual yet sophisticated table setting for your next gathering.

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Speaking of casual yet sophisticated, this soup recipe is as easy as it is delicious. I had several discerning taste-testers (including my guys and the lovely Bruna from Simply Lace Photography, the amazing woman behind these beautiful images), and everyone raved about it. Here’s how you can make it at home (and if you click on the recipe it will pop up in another window so you can print it off!):

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I can guarantee this one will be on repeat in our household over the next few months, especially as the weather gets colder. I hope you and yours will enjoy a few bowls of it together, too, as you savour the changing seasons and as the nesting instinct that comes with winter kicks in.

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Huge thanks to my friends at Urban Barn for working with me on this post. Massive thanks as well to the lovely Bruna of Simply Lace Photography for such delicious photos. And thank you to all of you for coming and hanging out with me in my pretty little corner of the internet!

For all of my Canadian friends, I wish you a meaningful Thanksgiving weekend filled with gratitude and the opportunity to make happy memories. And to all of my international loves, I wish you a weekend filled with moments to treasure.

Be sure to pop back on Monday for more design inspiration! I’m bursting at the seams with things to share with you these days, so keep checking in to see what’s fresh and happening.

Sarah-Signature

By |October 7th, 2016|0 Comments

My One Room Challenge Favourites | Style Takeaways From The Spring 2016 Edition

So it’s been one week since the One Room Challenge reveals broke the internet, and I’m still not even remotely caught up on everyone’s gorgeousness yet. While I play catch up, I thought I’d share some of my favourites with you thus far along with a few design lessons we can take away from each one.

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I love absolutely everything about Claire Brody‘s transformation (you must see the befores to truly appreciate it!). From the neutral palette to the layers of texture and pattern to mix of old and new to the bold artwork, light fixture and rug, this room has it going on. I also love that the room feels like it could have been this way for years – it’s inviting and approachable and feels like it tells a story. That takes talent. But the number one design lesson we should all takeaway from this room is: SCALE MATTERS. If that rug was smaller, if that art was smaller, if that light fixture was smaller…the whole thing would feel off. Balance isn’t just about symmetry. It’s about scale too. Brava, Claire. I feel like we should be design neighbours! I’d be visiting for tea or bringing over a bottle of wine on the regular.

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I love Jill Sorensen‘s space pretty hard. I had to show you two photos for the takeaway from her space, which is this: BOLD COLOUR SCHEMES REQUIRE DISCIPLINE. What does that mean, you ask? Jill’s palette is a mix of gold, royal blue, black and white, and she disciplined herself to repeat the mix in variations of dominance throughout the entire space. Repetition is KEY with a colour scheme that features more than one strong colour choice, and Jill absolutely nailed it here. Also, that greek key Moroccan-inspired rug from her collection is the bomb.

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I’ve had a fellow designer’s crush on Naomi from Design Manifest for a year now. What I love about her aesthetic is that she creates classic foundations with expressive details. And that’s really our takeaway from her space: GO CLASSIC ON THE BIG STUFF, GO BOLD WITH THE SMALL STUFF. That may not always translate literally. What I mean is this: cabinetry, countertops, backsplash and appliances are all big ticket items that you’re not likely going to change on the regular, whereas the paint on your counter stools, cabinetry hardware and the fabric used to make a small roman shade can easily be changed up when you tire of your current accents. Know where to be daring and know where to be timeless so that your space speaks to your personality but leaves you with the flexibility to evolve the look over time.

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I absolutely love the layered, neutral-but-never-boring space that Mandy and the team over at Waiting On Martha created for their new office space. The number one detail that stole my heart is the sign behind the desk which reads, “Remember Why You Started.” And that’s our takeaway: ALWAYS INCLUDE SOMETHING THAT SPEAKS TO YOUR HEART. Good design should tell your story. It doesn’t necessarily have to do so with words as in this example, but it should ground you and remind you of who you are and what matters to you. Major props to Mandy for getting this so right.

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Christine Dovey refined the design plan for her master ensuite over two rounds of the One Room Challenge, and honestly, you can tell. There’s a lot of love in all those layers of texture and pattern play and the mix of modern and vintage. It’s sexy and sophisticated and glamorous. The takeaway from Christine’s space? MASTERING THE MIX TAKES TIME. Take the time to really work out your design plans and keep editing until your space goes beyond beautiful to something bespoke and unexpected. You’ll be glad you did.

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Cristin from the Simplified Bee‘s bathroom floor may just have made me stumble. That’s right, I’m here to confess to everyone listening that I am coveting that geometric marble gorgeousness with total abandon, and I don’t care who knows it. The design takeaway from this stunning bathroom makeover? MASTER BATHROOM FLOORS WERE MADE TO BE DROOLED OVER. If there is anywhere to embrace bold pattern in a big investment item, it’s on your Master Bathroom floor. This one happens to be bold and classic, sophisticated and timeless all at once, and that’s the benchmark for this kind of design statement. To. Die. For.

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I absolutely love the effortless cool of The Vault File‘s front entry. That Moroccan pouf and lambskin layered on the warm wooden bench add a touch of bohemian comfort for me, and the gallery wall is totally my jam. And that’s where our takeaway lies with this space: CHOOSE ONE ELEMENT TO CREATE COHESION IN A GALLERY WALL. In this case, all of the art is black and white (with the exception of the photograph of the Louvre on the bottom left which has so much white that it doesn’t fight the scheme). This is a really easy way to make it work. If you’re ready to dive into installing your own gallery wall but don’t know how to hang it without sweating right through your shirt, go get this downloadable guide to installing art like a pro.

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The mint, pink and red colour palette of Mimosa Lane’s kids’ room makeover is all kinds of fun, but that Chinese secretary in lipstick red next to the giant pink lips? Genius. Total styling genius. And those luscious lips are telling us exactly what we should be taking away from this room: ALWAYS TRY TO INCLUDE SOMETHING QUIRKY. As designers it can be really easy to take ourselves too seriously. Okay, as human beings it can be really easy to take ourselves too seriously. Including a necessary dose of quirk keeps things fresh and interesting and keeps us from getting too stale.

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I’m totally crushing on all of the geometry and colour-blocking going on over at The Painted House‘s playroom makeover. It’s not just anyone who can pull of this mix of bold colours, but Angela has nailed it with her signature offbeat style. She’s also heralding a truth that is showing up in all kinds of corners of the design universe: THE 80’s ARE COMING BACK, BABY. You don’t have to get on board with it, but if you decide to, consider Angela your expert guide on how to go back in time with style.

I want to give myself the freedom to post, oh I don’t know, a dozen more of these ORC round-ups because I seriously haven’t scratched the surface of all the linking participants yet. In the meantime, I hope you got something out of these design takeaways! Be sure to come back next week for more inspiration for living a beautiful life.

Sarah-Signature

By |May 18th, 2016|4 Comments

One Room Challenge Spring 2016 | Week 6 | THE BIG REVEAL!

“Good things come to those who wait,

But better things come to those

Who work for it.”

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Hello darlings, and welcome to my virtual “The One Room Challenge Is DONE!” dance party! You may not be able to see me dancing, but believe me, I am dancing, and I’m singing Sia’s Alive at the top of my lungs! I’m not gonna lie, It. Feels. Good.

My photographer jokes that I really should have called this one the “One Floor (And A Bit) Challenge.” He’s right. Because our main floor is so open concept, our living room makeover spilled over into zhushing the kitchen and dining room a bit, and even crept up the stairs with our lovely gallery wall. The good news is this: ONE, we did it! And TWO: we love it! I couldn’t be more grateful to be on the other side of this design dare, and I’m thrilled to be sharing the reveal with you today.

For simplicity’s sake, I’ll share the source info with you below each photo. I can’t wait to hear what you think, so please share your thoughts in the comments below!

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SOURCES

DRAPERY FABRIC: Groundworks for Lee Jofa / UTTERMOST COPPER DRUM TABLE: Bellacor / BRASS FLOOR LAMP WITH LINEN SHADE: LampsPlus / COPPER FRAMED ARTWORK BY JAIME DERRINGER: Minted / GUMI ARMCHAIR BY BRUNO MOINARD: Avenue Road / VELVET LEOPARD PILLOW: Arianna Belle / BABY TEARS PLANT: Sweet Woodruff / PINK SOFA BY HUGUES CHEVALIER, PARIS: Emily Quinn / VINTAGE BEADED LEATHER TRIBAL PILLOW: Stone Textile / PEARL COFFEE TABLE: Bernhardt / SOUK RUG: West Elm / BRASS BOX ON COFFEE TABLE: Pottery Barn / COPPER CANDLE: Kit + Ace / QUARTZ GEODE: Centro Garden

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SOURCES

ESSEX CREAM LEATHER CHAIRS: Industrial Storm for Whittington & Co. / KUBUS ARGENT PILLOWS: Arianna Belle / FRINGE FLOROGRAPHY PRINT: Ashley Woodson Bailey via Citizen Atelier, finished with ArtResin / MODERN RESIN CANDLESTICKS: Creators Of Objects / DWELL STUDIO BLACK DECORATIVE BOX: AllModern / COFFEE TABLE BOOKS: Emily Quinn / HAVEN SMALL DRESSER: Bernhardt / BRASS SHIFT KNOBS ON DRESSER: Upper Canada Specialty Hardware / DWELL STUDIO GOLD URCHIN (on side table): AllModern / SILVER TRAY WITH HORN HANDLES: AllModern

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SOURCES

PAINTING ON PIANO: David Gillanders via ArtInteriors / “LEGS” PHOTOGRAPH: Jeremy + Claire Weiss via ArtStar, framed in Framed & Matted frame / SEBASTIAN HERKNER BELL SIDE TABLE: Avenue Road

And now, on to the dining room refresh! I can’t begin to tell you how much I love the softness added by the simple Kravet linen drapes, made sophisticated by the elegant trim detail banding the leading edge of each panel. As it turns out, softness was the theme for this room’s update, and the lambswool seat covers communicate that in both look and feel, making our Ghost chairs a much more comfortable perch for long, lingering dinners with family and friends. Also adding to the feminine edge is the stunning floral arrangement by Lisa Gray of Sweet Woodruff in the centre of the table. In my dream life, I’ll have arrangements from Lisa in my house on a weekly (or at least monthly) basis! Also on my dream life wish list is the stunning Serax Belgian tableware from Emily Quinn. So organic, so elegant, so unexpected. I couldn’t love these pieces more!

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SOURCES

PANEL MOULDINGS: Metrie / BLACK HONEYCOMB VASE: Joss & Main / FLORAL ARRANGEMENT: Sweet Woodruff / ORGANIC FINE BONE CHINA DINNERWARE: Emily Quinn / STEMWARE: Emily Quinn / COPPER FLATWARE + LINEN NAPKINS: West Elm / CREAM LINEN DRAPERY FABRIC + GREY DECORATIVE TRIM: Kravet Canada / ARTWORK: Kathleen Weich via ArtInteriors

Up next is the zhush of the kitchen which was one part pretty and one part practical. The practical came in the form of an upgrade to touchless technology with our amazing Brizo faucet and matching soap dispenser. Practicality also came home to live with us via the glorious arrival of our Bosch dishwasher, the silent, panelled-in wonder that has made our lives forever better. The pretty is all about the transformation of the bookcase, the gorgeous Groundworks Channels linen faux roman valance, and the gorgeous copper accents from Wayfair.

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SOURCES

COPPER CANNISTER SET: Wayfair / HAMMERED COPPER TRAY: Wayfair / POTTED ORCHIDS: Fiori Oakville / TURKISH TEA TOWEL: Pamuk & Co. / CHANNELS EBONY LINEN FABRIC FOR FAUX ROMAN: Groundworks for Lee Jofa / SOLNA TOUCHLESS FAUCET + MATCHING SOAP DISPENSER: Brizo / PANELLED-IN DISHWASHER: Bosch

I’m not going to lie, the bookcase makeover is my favourite change in the kitchen. The tension between the sophisticated and edgy Thibaut faux alligator wallpaper on the cabinet back, the more feminine leopard wallpaper-wrapped books with their calligraphy labels, and the Anewall portrait of a lady, elegantly framed and dipped in Farrow & Ball paint sets up my favourite kind of juxtaposition. It is both modern and traditional, a mix of masculine and feminine, a touch of classic and a dash of unexpected whimsy.

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SOURCES

FAUX ALLIGATOR WALLPAPER: Thibaut / LEOPARD PRINT WALLPAPER: Thibaut / PORTRAIT OF A LADY: Anewall DIPPED IN PITCH BLACK PAINT: Farrow & Ball /

And last but not least, the gallery wall seen from a different angle than the one I shared with you last week. If you’re planning to create a gallery wall yourself and want to know my sweat-proof method for getting it done in no time flat, be sure to pop back to last week’s post and download your guide to installing a gallery wall like a pro!

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ART FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: ABSTRACT PAINTING BY KATHLEEN WEICH: ArtInteriors / CALIFORNIA WALL: Art by Melody Hansen in Framed & Matted frame / BLUE MONDAY SIGNED PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT: Minted, framed in Framed & Matted frame / ABSTRACT PAINTING BY TREVOR CRAIG MCDONNELL: ArtInteriors / SMALL LANDSCAPE WITH CLOUDS PAINTING: Etsy, framed in Framed & Matted frame / SIGNED + FRAMED TREE RING PHOTOGRAPH: Minted / PAIR OF MIXED MEDIA SMALLS BY JAY HODGINS: ArtInteriors / MANUEL ANTONIO ROCKS SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH: Minted

I don’t know about you, but I cannot wait to see the reveal posts from all of my fellow One Room Challenge daredevils! Be sure to check out the links to their blogs below, and come on back here next week for more fuel for your beautiful life!

For now, I’m signing off with a heart bursting with gratitude for the amazing people who made this edition of the One Room Challenge possible: my incredible husband, Linda from Calling It Home, my supportive network of friends and incredible brand partners, and all of you amazing friends who have chosen to come along for the ride. Thank you for joining me! I hope you’ve come away feeling inspired for how you can tell your own story through designing your home one room (or perhaps one floor) at a time.

All photographs by Larry Arnal

 

Sarah-Signature

Claire Brody | The Curated House | Design Manifest | Driven by Decor | Honey We’re Home | Hunted Interior | The Makerista | Making it Lovely | My Sweet Savannah | Pencil and Paper Co. | The Pink Clutch | Simplified Bee | Sketch 42 | Jill Sorensen | Orlando Soria | Thou Swell | The Vault Files | Waiting on Martha | The Zhush | Media Partner House Beautiful | TM by CIH 

By |May 11th, 2016|85 Comments