Have Home, Will Decorate

SOME DECOR I PUT TOGETHER (AND THE TABLE TO BE PAINTED)--SIMPLISTIC.

GAUCHO PAINT LIVENS UP THE KITCHEN/LIVING-ROOM AND KEEPS IT MODERN SO I THOUGHT USING IT WITH WHITE ACCENTS WOULD WORK.

Thanks to Home Hardware, IKEA and our own homes, our home is semi-decorated. The paintings/wall shelves have not gone up because we were painting the walls gaucho brown. I think it is a lovely brown colour--not too light and not too dark. I was hoping for a chocolate colour but everybody feared it would be too dark for our small space. Since we are having our first guests over on Saturday, we have 2 more days to put some more touches on the place but for three days in, we haven't done pretty bad.

I have to say--painting without painter's tape is...difficult, at best. But we were determined and even though there is paint smeared on the ceiling, we are too tired to care. Tomorrow I am painting the black IKEA table white with some extra paint to keep the apartment fresh and bright, and add a white lamp and some white sconces to brighten the walls and add a sheen to the walls. Our bookshelf is empty but it will be filled with books and decor soon. Keeping the decor white makes the darker walls seem very modern. 

THE BEFORE PICTURE--PLAIN AND BORING

Whatever you put your mind up to, you can do it. It's all about getting out of your comfort level and being adventurous. Your condo/apartment does not need to look like everybody's else. It can have it's own appeal and speak of your own personality. I can't wait to see our place look fabulous and my own inspiration is originality from other people's own homes.

In Love With My Place

So now I'm moved in and some things have been unpacked I'm ready to do the funnest thing--PAINT! Yesterday I headed over to Home Hardware to pick up paint for the living room/kitchen--the first rooms we are going to paint today. The color we chose is called "Gaucho Brown". It was a close call between that and a lovely light gray but we just felt we had a lot of brown/white to work with in the house so it would be natural to go with it. Chocolate and white is such a lovely pair--the white pops against the chocolate colour and adds a homey, cozy feel. Luckily, our couch is brown as well so with a few bright white accent pillows and a white rug...well you can imagine how lovely it will all go. I'm excited/nervous to paint because I've never done it before! Hopefully I don't screw up!

I wanted to work with the walkway\hallway and a door-less closet near the front door. Right now we are storing the mop/brown etc in it but I am going to paint, add a mirror and a chest of drawers and some sconces. We will use it to put our mail, car and house keys, dog leash/collar, poop bags and miscellaneous items you have when you're walking in the door like a place to put a box of delivery pizza while you pay the delivery guy. I forgot we had a walk-in closet and plan to add lower drawers from IKEA for shoes and add some mirrors/art and a rug to lighten it up. It's a fantastic closet and I think if we unclutter ourselves, it will work for us. The bathroom just needs a new shower curtain, window curtains, some art, some nice soap holders, etc, candles and it's ready to rock. The kitchen is perfect we are just going to get a wine rack. I'm going to hang up some paintings today after the paint dries so it's coming along great. Can't wait to show the before/after!

Signed and Sealed

   Yay! Finally signed the contract for the Annex apartment in such a charismatic, great neighbourhood and I'm pretty stoked. It's not only that the neighbourhood is great, it's just the legalities are done and I can sit back and finally focus on the aesthetic aspect of moving in. I was able to measure the place which is about 670 sq. feet which isn't bad since I've seen New York City flats much smaller look fabulous! The hard-wood floors and U-shaped kitchen have me sold. I am going to make this sucker home!
    I wanted the space to be warm, comforting and cozy after a brutal day in the outside world and will be picking out some Benjamin Moore paint cards to decide on the best hue. Decorating a small space is so much fun--and less than a month to go!

Black Cupboards in the Kitchen

How I envision the kitchen to look. (My actual kitchen)

 





 

It's In The Small Things (Kitchen Edition)

A basket of fresh vegetables on the countertop is likely to get you cooking!

Provencal inspired

Cafe art

Cafe chairs and table.

Iconic cookie jar

Parisian espresso cup

What inspires me for our kitchen is an Italian\Provencal\Parisian vision. I see breadsticks, fresh butter, wicker baskets full of fresh vegetables and fruits and onions and shallots, wine, oils and vinegars, espresso cups and teacups, cookie jars and jars of nuts and sweets. I imagine fresh flowers in a clear vase and Andreas Bocelli singing to me from the speakers. I see a cutting board on the table with wines and cheeses and grapes, little China saucers that are delicate and ornate and bubbling pots of sauces and foods. Glass jars filled with rices and pastas and beans line the walls and you know it's the little things....just the little things.

The Culture of the Cafe

Cafes play an important role in our lives. It is our meeting places, our relaxing places, it is our social quo places (ahem Starbucks), it is our omg-I'm thirsty places. When we go somewhere, we instantly look around for a cafe or a coffee shop and relax. If there's an Urbana Coffee or a Second Cup, we know we'll be okay. Our frothy lattes, the deep leather chairs and the earthy aroma of grinding coffee beans is ingrained in our culture. We buy overpriced bottles of waters and cookies because they're in these well-lit glass counters and there's a line up of people watching us. Why not splurge? Christmas season rolls around and the cups are decorative red-and-green. Candy-cane flavoured lattes and pumpkin scones fill the shops and gift baskets filled with organic teas and dark cocoa line the windows. 

How do we take the essence of the cafe home with us? I want our little white kitchen to look like a cafe, as impossible as it sounds. What do I need? White marble counter tops? Top of the line espresso machines? A chalkboard?  I want a counter with our espresso machines and mugs (Turkish coffee is something my fiancee makes well), baskets of Splenda and brown sugar and honey. I want to recreate a cafe in our home. I spoke earlier of cafe "art" but I think that is one component of the unit. A bowl of espresso beans as decor is a fantastic and great-smelling feature as well. I always see sales for espresso machines at Home Outfitters and along with a coffee machine and an electric kettle it'll be fabulous. I think the idea of having this cafe is an extra reason to wake up early! Of course, a rack of newspapers will be a fine addition, as well to the cafe. (Reminder to self: get newspaper subscription).

A cafe in a home kitchen.

RONDO CAFE