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ONE ROOM CHALLENGE: FALL 2015 | WEEK FOUR UPDATE

Oh me, oh my, does the time ever fly! It’s been such a busy, blurry week that I seriously lost track of what day it was and almost forgot to post today! It’s a sign of the times, my friends. Lots on the ol’ plate.

THE UPDATE

All kinds of good things have been happening around here, like our Metrie mouldings being transformed into a gorgeous fireplace surround and mantel. If you follow me on Instagram, you caught a couple of sneak peeks of that in process. My furniture maker is seriously the bomb diggity.

That baby is now installed and simply awaiting the mantel top to be truly complete, and friends, she’s a looker.

The custom herringbone nero marquina mosaic from Creekside Tile is in the process of being installed as we speak and I lerv it. So classy. So timeless.

This week was also kind of like Christmas, as those lovely faux bamboo chairs from 55 Downing St. arrived, and after a little cross border adventure with my friend Rachelle to pick them up, they are now safely at home and awaiting their paint job. Noah made a suggestion for a different direction on the paint colour for them and – sophisticated 12 year old that he is – I agree with him, so you’ll have to wait and see where that is headed.

The rug arrived and to be honest there are some problems with it, so I’m putting on my English heritage “stiff upper lip” and managing that sitch all calm, cool and collected like.

THE FRAMING

In much better news, the gorgy-gorg frames from Framed & Matted arrived and I’m sooooo happy!!

Framing can be such a massive expense for any project, especially if you want great customer service and you want things done right. I’m thrilled that the lovely Chrissy has chosen to partner with me on this project and I have to tell you, her product is as fabulous as her incredible customer service ethic. Framed & Matted is currently only available in the US, so to all of my design friends south of the border, take note! Framed & Matted is truly a top-notch resource to keep in your designer arsenal of awesome.

THE ART IS MY FAVOURITE PART

I cannot WAIT to get all of the art mounted in these gorgeous frames. I’ve given you little sneak peeks at a couple of the pieces on the mood boards, but let me properly introduce you to some of the beauties that will grace this space with their soulful inspiration.

I have had this 12×12 stunner from fine art photographer David Graham White for awhile now and can’t believe it’s taken me this long to frame it up.

David’s process for this series is so inspiring: He photographed topiary gardens in the UK on old polaroid film, and then processed the polaroids using the heat from an old tube television, documenting the BBC channels that were playing as the polaroids processed. The heat flares from the television created the gorgeous and unpredictable saturation of colour that you see in the final works, and they tell the story of extreme control {topiaries} juxtaposed with the uncontrollable medium of television which invades our daily lives. We may attempt to control nature, but does media control us in the end? The intellectual dialogue behind these stunning works only serves to make them more beautiful to me.

Then there is this breathtakingly ethereal wonder from Zena Holloway.

I have truly been coveting this piece since I first laid eyes on it in Alessandra of Citizen Atelier‘s collection, and I’m still pinching myself that she has now come to live with us. I often struggle to feel at home with figurative artwork, but the ethereal sense of reverie and mystery in Zena’s work blurs the line between reality and fantasy in a way that I find utterly mesmerizing, transporting me to a place of imagination and wonder. For me, this piece is an elegant invitation to dream. Invitation accepted, Zena. Invitation accepted.

I really struggled with what to do with the art over the desk. I have a large shelf that used to house all of my product catalogues, but now that everything is available online I don’t need them cluttering up my space. Such a visual relief! In contrast to that utilitarian past, I wanted to make this space now feel airy and open and light, so I ordered three warm white frames from Framed & Matted. They will serve as the new home for a very happy little trio, starting with this incredible piece from Amy Friend.

This series, called Babushka, documents Amy’s deep bond with her grandmother. After her passing, Amy floated her grandmother’s nightgowns and scarves in water and captured their movement and essence in a most hauntingly beautiful, emotional way. I’m so honoured to have this piece in my home.

Complimenting the piece from Amy Friend are these two lovely limited edition prints from Minted.

I love how together they tell a story of wanderlust and adventure, of exploration and wonder. If I can instil those values in my boys I will be a very happy mama. If I can remember to live by them myself, I’ll be all the happier. I have no doubt this art will fuel me in achieving those goals – visual reminders of our core values of beauty, curiosity, gratitude and wonder.

I have one more piece to share with you – the one that will sit over the fireplace – but there’s a special project involved on that front and I can’t share it with you just yet. Stay tuned, as it’s all kinds of lovely.

THE GREAT SIDE TABLE DEBATE

So I picked up our Plan B side tables this week, and once out of the box discovered that they are way too pinky-copper for my liking. This photo belies the actual colour.

I’m all for mixing metals, but I need to actually like the shades of said mixed metals. So, back they go and it’s back to the drawing board for a rather close-for-comfort race to the finish line on this element of the room.

On the flip side, I picked up these beautiful acrylic column table lamps in brass from West Elm and they are perfection.

Classy, modern, timeless and just right for this room. I’m just waiting on the pair of Crane Floor Lamps from CB2 to come in and the lighting for the room will be officially checked off my list.

THE TO-DO LIST

I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to do at least one extra update post as I have a ton to get done this week and I want to make sure you don’t miss out on all the fun. So much of the action takes place right at the end of a project!

Here’s this week’s strike list:

Paint the bamboo chairs
Dive into my biggest DIY for this space: the custom pin board. I’ve got something pretty fabulous planned and am grateful to say I just yesterday found what I need for it, so stay tuned on that front.
Finalize all of the styling, which is probably a 3-full-days kind of job to get it just right.
Oh yes, and move all the old furniture out, move the new pieces in, get the drapery installed, hang the artwork, and somehow manage to continue doing my day job and care for my family in the midst of it all!

If you’re the praying kind, I’ll take it!

In the meantime, check out the progress of this ridiculously talented lot:

Can’t wait to catch you up on everything that’s about to unfold, so check back in soon and have a fabulous weekend!

xx
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|October 29th, 2015|4 Comments

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE: FALL 2015 | WEEK THREE

I’m not entirely sure how a week has gone by already. I’ve been caught up in the whirlwind of wallpaper installation and client projects and finalizing details for my own, and somehow I feel like I missed the weekend in there!

Just in case you’ve missed them and want to get caught up, my Week One and Week Two posts about the One Room Challenge will fill you in on all the scheming and starting that has happened to date.

THE PROGRESS

I’m grateful to say that the Thibaut wallpaper is UP and looking gorgeous! If you follow me on Instagram, you saw my live post during the process of installing it.

MY TOP TIPS FOR INSTALLING WALLPAPER YOURSELF

Gratefully, it wasn’t too traumatic in the end! The key was to paste the paper and “book” it {fold it over itself and let it rest for 2-5 minutes so it could absorb the wallpaper paste} and to paste the wall before hanging it. Every wallpaper will have its own set of instructions, so be sure to start there as they will tell you the right kind of paste and process to use for that particular paper. My other tips?

1. Have the right tools, namely:

a smoothing brush {we used a foam one so as not to lift the thousands of little vertical strips of paper that make up this gorgeous Ikat, but you can get a coarse bristle brush if your paper is less delicate}
an edger {see what Graham is holding in the photo above?} – use this as your ruler for cutting your edges
a utility knife with a ton of blade refills
and a soft wet cloth ready to wipe up any excess paste along the edges

2. Make sure you have a fresh blade for trimming for every length of paper you hang. This is critical!

3. Work top down and make sure you have all the air bubbles out before you trim.

4. Be patient and work as a team. This is definitely a two person job unless you are a pro.

The texture and sophistication of this Thibaut Ikat really are changing the room already. So worth the effort!! I must admit that I love this stage in a project: the messy middle where the dust has far from settled, but things have started to take shape. It’s that blur between initial vision and reality merging together. So fun!

THE FIREPLACE

Other things starting to come into focus? The beautiful Metrie mouldings were delivered to my furniture maker last week and the surround portion of the new fireplace surround and mantel is done!

Superstar that he is, my furniture maker came and dry fitted the back board of MDF to our existing cabinets and then built the surround on top of that. I really think the new fireplace design is going to add major sophistication to this room, and I’m super excited to see it installed. Today is spraying day on that front, so we are getting close!

THE FURNISHINGS

Other exciting progress? I painted up the legs of our little bench for in front of the fireplace. The process was basically sand, prime with Para 777 Superstick, then paint with two coats of high gloss Para trim paint in a rich black called Walkin In The Rain.

This sweet little number is now in the capable hands of Staci at Switch Studio who will be replacing all of the foam and then upholstering it in this gorgeous ombré chevron from Cassaro:

Don’t worry, she will actually centre the fabric – I just draped it over the bench quickly here to get a sneak peek preview, and all I can say is hello lovah! So excited to see her all done up and ready for her debut!

But for now, it’s time to tackle what’s next.

THE TO-DO LIST

This week I have a ton to get done, namely:

1. Touch up paint on the sides of the built-ins before the fireplace is installed.

2. Pick up tile for fireplace surround and get it installed.

3. Pick up the faux bamboo chairs, get the seats templated for new cushions being made and then paint them.

4. Create the custom pin board for the back wall of my desk area.

5. Finalize art and framing along with a special little DIY on that front.

6. About a thousand other client-related projects that are on the go.

I’m pretty sure this week is going to blur by yet again, and gratefully that is in part because we are taking Sunday and Monday off for a quick belated anniversary celebration. The timing might seem nuts, but I think crow-barring in a break in the midst of all the madness is just what the doctor ordered.

Be sure to check out what all of the other superstar design daredevils have been cooking up in their spaces. There are some serious over-achievers on this list and I can’t wait for reveal day!

Until next week!

xx
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|October 22nd, 2015|6 Comments

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE: FALL 2015 | WEEK TWO

Two down, four to go! It’s really just one week since this whole design dare began, but with the speed of life {which is apparently faster than the speed of light} it’s already blurring by. Here’s how my selections are shaping up as of today.

THE PLAN

THE PROGRESS

Weekend plans to install the wallpaper were foiled by the flu, but we did get the grooves of the panelling filled and sanded and the stone of the fireplace removed, so I don’t feel completely unproductive.

The super hubs had to travel for work and left Sunday, so I’ve been waiting until he gets back to tackle the paper as a team. I just keep picturing myself wrapped in a swath of wallpaper and unable to extract myself! OK, not really. We’ll get it done, folks.

In the meantime, this week has been all about finalizing some of the {bigger} details. I feel like I’m living on the edge here at the intersection of deadline + decisions yet to be made. Take end tables, for example. I’ve got two of these brass beauties secured and on their way, but I’m still landing on my other pair.

Crossing fingers I can make a pair of these stunners happen.

If not, there is a back-up plan. Just a significantly less glamorous one. We’ll see what comes together on photo shoot day!

Gratefully, all of the fabrics have arrived and are in the capable hands of the talented Hollie Cooper, who is also working on a One Room Challenge space of her own. Here’s the fabric story in all its glory.

Let me take you on a tour of what is going where. The black velvet in the middle is going on the pair of custom Kravet sofas which are being finished as we speak.

{Perhaps we can all pause and say a prayer that they’ll arrive on time for the photos?}

HOW TO CHOOSE A QUALITY SOFA

After more than a decade in this business, I’ve come to know that if it can happen, it will happen. That’s why I ordered these babies back in August. That might sound crazy if you’re not a designer, but good quality, bench-made custom furniture takes time. It’s the difference between 8-way, hand-tied coiling that will keep the seat from sagging for life vs. zigzag springs that will give you 3 years tops before you have a hungry sofa and you’re the main meal. Kiln-dried, dowel-joined hardwood frame vs. a Lord-knows-what mix of composite materials and toxic glues. Down-wrapped cushions vs. cheap foam that breaks down quickly and leaves you regretting that “deal” of a furniture find. If there’s one place to invest in a room like this, it’s in the main furniture pieces. This is where you do life, after all. My motto? Go for liveable luxury and do life well.

{Consider the above your personal checklist for quality on your next sofa purchase.}

I’m also all about texture and inviting comfort, so I ordered four of these gorgeous Tibetan wool pillows from Fibre by Auskin, which will pair beautifully with this stunning luxe Python print from Kravet.

Having drooled over this Cassaro ombré chevron for months, I’m thrilled to have found a home for it on this little bench I picked up at Aberfoyle Antiques Market.

This photo doesn’t show the full range of the ombré – it fades into a really light dove grey with just touches of the black. I absolutely love the dimension this fabric creates! I’ll be stripping and painting those feet this weekend, and then it’s off to Staci at Switch Studio for the final step in the ugly duckling transformation. I’m thinking this will be the perfect little perch to warm yourself in front of the fire on a cold winter’s night.

Speaking of cold winter’s nights, this decadent Kravet Couture chevron faux fur will be magically transformed into a blanket thanks to the lovely Hollie and her genius ways. Perfect for power snuggles.

The champagne metallic linen is headed for a life as our drapery panels. It’s hard to see in the photo, but this simple fabric is incredibly radiant and will add a subtle sophistication to the room.

The reptilian velvet you see above will be the pin board fabric for my desk area, which I have yet to introduce you to. Friends, meet the “before.”

This desk and shelf are neatly tucked against the wall opposite the fireplace, framed in by the stairs. As you can see, it’s all helter-skelter right now as we are moving things around to fill and sand the grooves, but once it’s finished this will be a super practical hub for our household – my office during the day, and Noah’s homework spot at night. That’s why I’m beyond excited to have two of these gorgeous faux bamboo Hollywood Regency chairs on their way to me from 55 Downing St.

I have been searching all over the earth for an unexpected yet practical chair that can function at the desk but also be stylish enough to be flipped around and pulled into the living room when we have groups of friends over. Enter these bamboo beauties! I must say, the selection of chairs at 55 Downing St. really impressed me and I nearly went in the direction of one of their gorgeous wingbacks, but these lovelies are light and will be easy to move around. They also won’t close in the space and will keep the floor plan feeling open and inviting. So thrilled to have found them!

Once they arrive, I’ll be painting the frames black and then Miss Hollie will be making seat cushions in a gorgeous dove grey mohair from Kravet. The piece-de-resistance will be lovely lumbar cushions in this gorgeous silk ikat from Bermingham & Co. I absolutely love the story behind it.

Unlike most fabrics which are dyed or printed after they are woven, Ikats obtain their distinct designs through a process of “tie-dyeing” the warp threads in specific pre-determined patterns before the weaving process begins. The manipulation of these individual dyed threads on the loom create the “blurred” patterns most associated with Ikat fabrics. In fact, the Uzbek name for this textile is “abr” meaning “cloud.”

All-in-all, the fabrication process employs 37 separate steps, requiring over one month to produce 200 yards of Ikat fabric. It is truly a labour of love and artistry. The patterns are determined by the artists who create them, and they are all one-of-a-kind. Once that 200 yard run of fabric is sold, that’s it. I love having something with such a special story and process coming to make its home in our home. Very special.

And that, my friends, is the fabric story! Check in with me next week for updates on lighting and to see where we are at with our progress.

In the meantime, go get your design inspo on by checking out what all of these lovelies are up to in their daring transformations.

Until next week, my design daredevils!

xx
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|October 15th, 2015|4 Comments

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE: FALL 2015 | WEEK ONE

Well lovelies, it’s that time of year again. I can already feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins like a horse getting ready to shoot out of the gate. Six months have passed and it’s time for us daring designers to saddle up, because the One Room Challenge flag is ready to drop! 6 weeks. One room. Total transformation. This business is not for the faint of heart, people.

If you haven’t picked up the latest issue of Style At Home magazine, you’ll want to make a beeline for newsstands so you can get the inside scoop on the laundry room I redesigned {and my super-hubs renovated} for the Spring 2015 edition of the One Room Challenge. So fun to see her in all her glory on those glossy pages!

As I shared in the magazine feature, I love Linda for creating the One Room Challenge because it has proven to be the fire under my tush that I needed to put some focus on my own home rather than all that thought and energy always going into client projects. So, with our little luxe laundry room under our belts, it’s time to move on to what I’ve affectionately called our “Hand-Me-Down Brown” room. Our family room has seemingly been the place where all brown furniture has gone to die. I mean, seriously! Check out the before:

Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had some amazingly memorable nights on all that brown furniture, laughing with friends, watching movies and snuggling, talking for hours by the fire. I’m truly grateful for how it has served us until now. But the room has so much more potential, and it’s time to take it from just functional to functional and fabulous!

I’m a huge believer in the power of environmental psychology. Redesigning a room can change the way you live, inspiring new habits and new ways of relating. My hope is that we’ll listen to more music, read more books, snuggle more, dream more, laugh more and simply have more heart-to-heart chats together when this room is done.

THE INSPIRATION

The new floor plan that is all about connecting. I have had a love affair with sofas flanking a fireplace for as long as I can remember – I find it such a conversational floor plan – so this gorgeousness from Architectural Digest is my inspiration for the new layout.

THE DETAILS

I also want the room to feel more sophisticated and inspiring, so that’s where the stunning sofas and fabrics from Kravet, Cassaro and Bermingham & Co.; the wallpaper from Thibaut; the hair-on-hide rug; the lighting and the art will come into play. More on some of those details in the weeks to come. For now, here’s a sneak peek at where things are headed:

THE DEMO

Along with lots of layered, textural goodness in the soft finishes, we’ll be creating a nice little facelift for the fireplace surround by removing the painted angel stone and creating a more elegant surround using Metrie mouldings and some gorgeous custom herringbone mosaic from Creekside Tile. After all, what would a design challenge be without a little dust and demolition, right? The pulls will also get some refreshing with our favourite Lewis Dolin brushed brass collection from Upper Canada Specialty Hardware.

THE TO-DO LIST FOR THIS WEEK

What you might not be able to see in the before photo is the fact that the family room – built in 1969 – has authentically original wood paneling that we simply painted out when we first moved in as a temporary fix. Not my favourite detail. But with plaster crown moulding wrapping around the room, that stuff ain’t coming down.

So, at the top of the to-do list for this week is to painstakingly fill all of the grooves with wood-filler and then sand and prime the walls to get it ready for installing the gorgeous Thibaut wallpaper. Which, yes, I will be doing myself. Not because I’m an experienced wallpaper installer. No. More because I’m just a little bit crazy. {Translation: the budget is stretched, friends, and this girl’s gotta do what this girl’s gotta do!}

Also on the list:

Find an occasional chair that miraculously fits the budget
Remove the existing mantel and the angel stone from the fireplace surround
Pick up the wood moulding for the new surround and mantel
Finalize art selections
Prep my DIY’s
Remember to follow through on client projects and not get wallpaper paste on their files
Maintain my grip on sanity and remember to feed the children

There’s more of the room for me to introduce you to, but I’m going to save that for next week. For now, it’s time to get my groove on with this Thibaut gorgeousness!

It’s actually tiny slices of paper that are laminated to the backing paper, which totally blows my mind…and, let’s be honest, terrifies me slightly given that I have to install it! I love the soft ikat pattern that all the slices of paper create, and I can’t wait to see it on the walls! Just pray it goes well, friends! Pray it goes well!

Raising a glass and sending my best to all of my fellow design daredevils who are joining in on this adventure! Can’t wait to see what you’re all up to and follow along with your progress.

Be sure to check out all of the featured designers and guests and let me know which rooms are your favourite! Can’t wait to catch up with you all again next week.

xx
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|October 8th, 2015|4 Comments

Move Over Marble | The Best of Nature + Technology Meet in New Solid Surface from Dekton

I love marble. Something about the natural veining and poetic beauty of stone carved from the earth is both decadent and timeless, perhaps in part because we’ve been using it in architectural applications since Ancient Greece. Think of any French bistro you’ve ever been in. The likelihood is that every single one had marble countertops or tabletops.

But here’s my dirty little designer secret: despite my love for marble, I have only spec’d it for kitchen counters in 3 of the countless kitchens I’ve designed over the course of my 12+ years as a residential interior designer. Bathrooms? Always. Kitchens? Almost never.

Why?

Quite simply, natural marble is too porous for the workhorse environment of a functioning kitchen. A little balsamic vinegar or rogue tomato sauce is all it takes to send a perfectionist into overdrive about the stains left behind on their precious countertop. Natural marble is as soft as it is porous, too, so scratches are just a part of the package.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, TIMES HAVE CHANGED!

It was an Instagram pic from Regina Sturrock that first had me doing my designer happy dance. She captured an image of the beautiful book-matched fireplace below, as seen at KBIS this year as a part of the Modenus Blog Tour. The beauty of the book-matched stone surround caught my attention, but it was the story behind this ultra-compact solid surface material that really got my pulse racing.

DEKTON MARRIES THE BEST OF NATURE + MODERN TECHNOLOGY

For years, solid surface manufacturers have attempted to replicate the beauty of natural stone with lacklustre results. But Dekton‘s new product line is quite simply stunning.

How do they replicate the look of nature so effectively?

Through the use of their proprietary and revolutionary technology, Dekton has created an accelerated version of the metamorphic process that takes place as natural stone is formed over thousands of years from the heat and pressure. The result is the natural look of stone cleft from the earth, but with the best of modern technological advancements, including absolute zero porosity and none of the micro-defects found in natural stone that cause tension or weakness.

BEAUTY MEETS FUNCTION | THE TECHNICAL DETAILS

Using a combination of quartz, porcelain and glass, Dekton produces ultra-compact slabs that are heat-resistant, scratch-resistant and stain-proof to a degree we’ve never seen before. In fact, Dekton is the most scratch-resistant product on the market.

And yes, I did say stain-proof. Dekton naturally prevents liquids and gasses from penetrating the surface, and because it is non-porous, it never needs to be sealed. This product line is also highly resistant to ultra violet (UV) light and will not fade or degrade over time, making it perfect for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Whereas most solid surface materials have a warranty that is made null and void when the material is honed, most of the options in the Dekton line up come standard with a honed finish.

If you like to be totally wowed – or if you don’t believe me on the stain-proof, ultimately scratch-resistant and heat-resistant part – check out this short video to get a sense of how virtually indestructible this material really is! Prepare for your jaw to drop.

I think we can all agree, this is a truly game changing innovation in solid surfaces. There’s absolutely nothing else like it on the market.

YOUR IMAGINATION IS THE ONLY LIMIT | APPLICATION DETAILS

Dekton‘s ultra-compact solid surface material comes in 3 thicknesses – 8mm, 12mm and 20mm – meaning vertical applications such as the interior of elevators or yachts no longer face the same restrictions based on the weight of the materials.

And for horizontal surfaces, don’t just think countertops. Dekton is just as applicable for outdoor applications, making it a brilliant solution for stairs, pool surrounds, patios and driveways as well as of course for designing the ultimate in indestructible, all-weather outdoor kitchens.

With over 5 times the strength of granite, Dekton can also be installed over greater spans, allowing for up to 12 inches of unsupported overhang on pull-up islands and peninsulas. No longer does a designer’s imagination have to be held back by the previous limitations of natural stone.

Because of the extraordinary hardness of the material, even the 8mm thick slabs can be fabricated with a mitred edge to create whatever profile thickness you desire, though European trends would suggest that thin, sleek and integrated edge profiles such as the one below are heading our way for modern kitchen designs.

I will be eagerly seeking the next opportunity to specify this remarkable product line on a project, and can say that my track record of virtually marble-less kitchen counters is on its way out thanks to the innovators at Dekton.

I hope this Design Find leaves you as inspired as I am at the possibilities! Many thanks to Regina Sturrock for the photo that pointed me in the direction of this remarkable new product.

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|March 6th, 2015|5 Comments

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