The Ottoman

Great functionality that can find a home in almost every setting. I love an ottoman instead of a hard surfaced coffee table. I find it offers a sense of relaxation and comfort and possibly a splash of wonderful colour, pattern or texture. Throw a tray or two on that baby and you’re good to go. I upholstered this ottoman (see my post Reupholstering a Large Pleather Ottoman) in a silvery sage chenille fabric to add a soft subtle tone in the room and tufted it with crystal buttons for a touch of glam.

Ikea’s Kivik or Ektorp affordable storage ottoman’s are great for smaller, casual, high use spaces. I have had mine in the family room for years. Structurally solid, lid opens for additional storage and slipcover comes off for easy washing. Fabric is a highly durable cotton twill, but if it starts to look a little tired or if you just want a new look, pick up additional slipcovers available in a variety of colours.

The Pouffe

Right on trend and a great addition as a foot rest or a floor pillow. Again, perfect for adding some great texture, pattern or colour to any room.

The Bench

Benches, hard surfaced or upholstered, are perfect for seating at the the front door, dining tables, at the end of a bed or to fill in as a coffee table.

This elegant little gal serves as extra seating in my daughters room. Gorgeous feminine lines along with beautiful silk fabric and a unique profile make this bench a show stopper. To see how I refurbished this bench have a look at Parisian Inspired Bench.

This bench sits at the end of my bed and it is one that I created myself from a coffee table. No post on this one I’m sad to say. I keep a crate that was once used for transporting flower bulbs under the bench for extra storage.

The Stool

I love stools for their versatility. Group’em, stack’em or let’em stand alone. They can look so pretty while adding a tonne of functionality. Chinese inspired ceramic stools like the one shown above have been around the world of home decor forever and honestly, I think they will be around for longer still. They are so diverse in colour, texture and pattern and work in many styles.  Use it for additional seating or as a table both indoors or out.

This more industrial looking hand crafted swivel stool made by CB2 has currently found a home at my kitchen computer station. In the past, I have used it as a side table. I love the heavy angular cast iron legs topped with a Mango Wood seat.

I have two of these Sari Stools that I purchased from Pier One Imports years back. To give them a new look, I picked up some faux yak fur, cut it to size and draped it over the stool. Creates a casual, cozy feeling while adding loads of texture..

My kitchen stepping stool. A unique hand made wooden stool with loads of character. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it.

Not all my stools are functional. This antique wooden stool and wooden Chinese pillow are there just to look good! So rustic, worn and loaded with history. They set the stage for other items I have picked up on my travels.

My husband often says I have some sort of obsession and quite frankly, he could be right! Now if only I could become obsessed with something a little more productive, like exercise!

One quick chuck of a pillow can change the entire feel of a room and if you stick with a winter theme rather than Christmas, you can enjoy the look for the entire winter season. I picked up a couple of these vintage skate cushions at Home Outfitters on sale for $11.00 each. This Cushion works perfectly in my front entry which has a relaxed weathered feel to it.

TIP: Try to choose cushions with zippers so the covers are easily interchangeable. This also makes storage a dream as you only have to store the cushion cover rather than the entire bulky insert.

Faux fur throw cushions (say that 3 times!) are a fantastic way to add a touch of warmth to a room. Adding cushions picturing wildlife is right on trend this year and pair perfectly with anything fur. Adding an antler or 2 like the one seen on the side table above, is also a great way to achieve this look while staying right on trend this winter season.

One of my favourite local shops for zippered cushion covers is Fabricland. Not only do they have a huge selection, but they are reasonably priced and often go on sale. Here, I paired a cushion you could use all year with a winter themed cover. You don’t have to replace every cushion in the room to get the feel of winter or the holidays. By popping in one themed cushion that compliments your style and colour you can achieve a seasonal look without breaking the bank.

If your an animal lover, adding whimsical throw cushions like the one above by Ruby Etc is a great way to get the feel of winter in a contemporary way. And I mean c’mon, how cute is this greyhound in a toque.

For the lover of everything outdoors, nothing says winter like this cushion depicting a lone tree out in the Toronto snow.

If it’s warm and cozy you are after, look for wools, tartans and knits to give any room a wintery cozy feeling.

I love, love, love my throw cushions. Just by adding one cushion, you can change the entire feel of a room, unite colours and add texture and pattern. That’s a whole lot of power for a little 20 x 20 package of fluff!

One thing that will inevitably stand out if you get the chance to visit Turkey is the gorgeous architecture. With ancient structures, domed ceilings, gorgeous tile work, use of colour and lets not forget loads of Kilim Textiles. It is no wonder we look to Turkey for some decor inspiration.  

Ceiling of the Hague Sophia

Ceiling of the Blue Mosque

Photo Credit: Nazmiyal Collection

Adding a touch of Turkish style these days does not necessarily mean a trip to Istanbul, although I do highly recommend it! As the popularity of Kilim in the world of home decor has increased so has it’s accessibility. I am sure many of you have noticed it popping up at big box stores and if you haven’t yet, you will after you read this. These hearty textiles, some of Turkish origin, are typically made of wool and cotton in a flat-weave technique to create a pileless finish. Traditionally all natural materials with a durability to last the years.

Photo Credit: Marcelle Guibeau

Colours and patterns are endless and as a result compliment a multitude of styles.

Photo Credit: Jodie Cooper Designs

Photo Credit: N-Project

Photo Credit: Design Sponge

So durable, that they are a perfect choice for high use areas like kitchens, hallways or dining rooms.

Photo Credit: Pottery Barn

Because they are low pile, with pattern and colour abound, Kilim textiles are great for any room and especially for those that love the layered look.

And if you’re an eclectic nut like me that loves odd little treasures collected from around the world then something Kilim could be just what the designer ordered.

Photo Credit: kilimpension.com

If you would like to read more on Istanbul, see my post Turkish Delight

Every piece of furniture in this front entrance was purchased second hand and given a new look. Buying furniture for the home this way, is not only a great idea for the budget savvy and environmentally conscious, but also for the creative types that enjoy putting their own look on things. The armour, as you can see, is a large piece that commands the attention in this foyer. In its original dark wood colour the piece was quite heavy. To take things down a notch (or several), the armour was painted creamy white. The great thing about this armour other than its curvy lines, beautiful hardware and craftsmanship, is its massive storage capabilities. I paid $300.00 for this armour and it has been with me now for 15 years. The mirror hanging beside the armour was purchased for $40.00 and I love how these two pieces compliment each other.

If space permits, I always like to add some sort of seating at a front entrance to allow guests a comfortable spot to put on, or take off shoes. I scored two wooden chairs from an antique auction that was filled with items that came from England. They were in pretty rough shape when I got them, but I only paid $15.00 for the pair. Both chairs were painted, heavily distressed and reupholstered in a new French Country inspired fabric.

I found this absolutely adorable and unique light fixture for $10.00 on a local used furniture website.

There are two water colour paintings in the room and both were done by a local Nanaimo artist and family friend, John Hofman. The antique smoke stand beside the chair was lightened up by painting it a soft blue and topped with baskets for a perfect spot to drop keys and sunglasses as you enter the home.

The area rug is a highly textural soft wool in creams, beiges and blues.

The only other art in the room is an old beat up nude beach sign.

The adjoining hallway which leads to the garage and laundry was modified to incorporate pull out storage cabinets under the stairs.

The storage cabinets were then framed out and painted in Cloud White by Benjamin Moore to match the existing trim colour in the room.

The opposite wall in the hallway was also framed out with new trim, painted and completed with coat hooks. The garage door at the end of the hall was painted Normandy by Benjamin Moore to match the front door and add a pop of colour.

With the windows in the door and the large window in the adjacent room being the only natural light source in this foyer, keeping things bright was a must so other than the trim and wainscoting that is painted cloud white, the entire foyer was painted in Benjamin Moore’s warm neutral called Ballet White.

A light and airy foyer that is filled with Casual French Coastal Style, loads of storage and functionality.

As usual, I wanted an easy and affordable solution to this problem. So, instead of smashing the tile or cutting it out and refinishing, I decided to put a cap on it.

First we began by making a template of the shelf using a piece of scrap cardboard.

We then used the template to cut a piece of plywood to the exact dimensions of the surface of the corner shelf.

Once we ensured the size was spot on, we covered the plywood with some leftover hardwood flooring (same flooring that was used in the front entry) using clamps to hold the wood in place until the glue dried. We then added a trim piece to the front edge. I knew I was painting the cap so no need to match wood types, we just grabbed a piece from the scrap wood pile in the garage.

After the glue was dry, I painted the shelf to match the trim which was done in Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White in a semi-gloss so it would be both durable and washable.

Quick, cheap and easy way to cover a tiled corner shelf. The end result…LOVE IT!

]]> /2015/08/get-your-cap-on/feed/ 0