Atmosphere Randoms

OUR BIG RENOVATION - Transformation of a Room

Our Big Renovation is only days away from being complete. We have moved in, however are now just beginning the decorating process, which can seem to take longer than the demolition & rebuilding. You become weary after enduring a long renovation which tests every bit of patience and confidence you have within yourself. Rooms are never complete until they have been "dressed" or "decorated" - so we now move forward hanging art, mirrors, having pillows made and playing in our basement full of toys, otherwise known as decor, deciding what goes where and what will be boxed and stored for another home.

Our Living Room has seen a huge transformation. It's scale and view to the river was dramatic but lacked a focal point within the room. It was crying out for a fireplace, so there began the stages of this room's transformation. With the majority of the furniture coming from our previous loft, we had a palette predetermined, however by adding a few new pieces and accent fabrics we will have created a fresh new look, while still maintaining the overall feel of a room we loved before.

 

 

Still a work in progress 
  

Now that the room has taken shape, we know what we need and can take the next step in wrapping up this room. We fell in love with a hardcover book by Eva Hesse, which has determined our accent colour. From there we have been searching for fabrics for accent pillows and deciding on what mirrors will be hung. Often our own project is last on our priority list, and so we find ourselves boutique shopping our client files and samples for inspiration - this is visible in the pieces below that have made the cut.

 

Sourced one for a client and had to have one for above our fireplace

 

 

 Coffee Table Book

 

Vertical Grouping of 5 Mirrors

 

 Brought fabric in for a client's ottoman, and fell in love with it for accent pillows

 

  
 
 
  
  

Our Big Renovation - Only weeks remain!

Can't really believe the end is nearing to our renovation. Clients and friends have been impressed and surprised at the speed in which we have been able to whip through this complete renovation, however they forget that we have been "homeless" since August and are anxious to have a home again! We booked the movers this week, so come month's end we will be unpacking, decorating and planning the summer parties!

We often laugh while watching Sarah Richardson point out her "key expenditures" on Sarah's House, and how her budgets tend not to include her design time, travel expenses and some of her trade's labour costs. We love Sarah, but wonder if we can work & design in her "bubble" of budgets, Sears and Green Works Cleaner endorsements & tile installers who don't completely destroy her creative tile patterns.

Moving on! Our favorite rooms have tended to be our Master Bedroom. We love traveling and experiencing great new Hotel Rooms, and with it are inspired by what a great retreat space can do for you at the end of a long, stressful work day.

Some of our favorite guest rooms below

  Loden Vancouver 

 

  Encore Las Vegas

 THE Hotel at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas  

 

 The Dream New York

 

Our Headboard from our previous lofts is joining us again, however don't be surprised if you see us coming up with a replacement once we move in. There are so many options for upholstered headboards in the style and fabric options, and we are continually inspired to come up with something new each time around.

 

Existing Custom Leather Headboard 

Hospital Home Lottery 2010 Custom Headboard 

Hospital Home Lottery 2010 Custom Headboard 

 

We have almost completed all of our new Master Bedroom finishes, looking at final drapery and bedding options - as well deciding on what accent chair to bring into the space. See below for some of our final choices.

 

End Tables 

Bedside Lamps (Contemplating doing with a white shade instead)

 

Wallpaper (Grey and Platinum Metallic) 

Bedroom Sconce 

 

 Black Wool Broadloom
 
 
 
 
 

  

Our Big Renovation - Not all Rooms are New

It has been a few weeks since an update from our renovation. There always seems to be a length of time during a renovation where it seems nothing happens, however during this time the bills somehow keep coming. Our millwork installation begins in just over a week, and our new house is starting to transform into what for months has only been visible in our minds. As painters begin to cover the hues of colour that existed before us, we can actually start to anticipate the day the moving trucks pull into the driveway.

Clients and friends often ask if we always start new when we move. In most cases, we are luckily able to create somewhat of a new look for ourselves, but with every move, there a more and more pieces that we tend not to want to part with. Our living room will be evidence of that, as most of the pieces will reappear this time around.

 

 

Previous Living Room

We loved this look, but wanted to introduce two new chairs with a bold fabric. We found a great Kelly Wearstler fabric and decided to apply it to a traditional Berger chair. By treating the frame in a high gloss paint, we achieved the juxtaposition we were hoping for.

Kelly Wearslter Fabric

 

Berger Chair in New Fabric 

Our "Goddess" lamps which we had customized with black ribbon on the shade will return, as will the glass coffe table, round side tables & high gloss black pawn stools.

 
"Goddess Lamps" 

New additions will also come in the form of accessories, wall sconces and a much needed focal point fireplace. The room is vaulted with wall to wall windows overlooking the Saskatchewan River, and by adding ceiling height charcoal sheers will create an amazing panoramic view.

New Decor 

Wall Sconces we loved from Hospital Home Lottery 2010

 

New Fireplace 
 

OUR BIG RENOVATION - A good chair can be hard to find

We have been trying to finalize our dining room furniture but have not been able to decide on a dining room chair. In our last loft, we found our dining room table while visiting New York City a few years ago.

 

Soho Shopping in New York City 

 

We were shopping the streets in Soho and after leaving jaw dropping Armani Casa, we went down a few doors and stumbled across a table that was perfect. While talking to the store owner, we found out that the table was actually imported from Canada - who would have thought! It was what we were looking for, without the Armani price tag and available in Canada.

 

Armani CASA, New York City 

 

Dining Room Table

 

When we sold our loft, the buyers also wanted the table and chairs, so this is how we find ourselves on the search again! What is great about the clean lines of the table, is that it opens up pretty much any possibility for chairs. This is where it gets complicated - who would have thought the chair would be such a challenge.

 

The Contenders

 

Woodhouse by Jonathan Adler - but what Fabric? 

 

Wilshire Chair by Brownstone - too much wood? 

While watching the Bravo series Flipping Out, we kept noticing the dining room chairs and wondered if this just might be the best option. How difficult would it be to find the chairs, and then knowing Hollywood how much would the chairs cost? If you have watched Flipping Out, the thought of calling Jeff Lewis Design to ask where he found his chairs is almost not an option!

 

Cast of Flipping Out

Ryan Brown and Jeff Lewis 

After some further searching, we noticed his business partner Ryan Brown of Brown Design Inc. , has also used the chair. I sent an email to Brown Design for their help, and within the same day had a reply with the source of the chair {very grateful that they helped us out}. Only question then became what fabric....

 

 The Chair shown in a Schumacher Fabric

While searching other stores in Los Angeles, we fell in love with another chair, only to complicate our chair decision further. The chair below is from a favorite celebrity haunt of the likes of Drew Barrymore, Ellen Degeneres, and Rachel Zoe. The store is also a destination of one of our favorite designers Kenneth Brown

 

 

What might have made the difference, was the service we received. Just as we were about to order the "Flipping Out" chairs, Melissa from Room Service, sent this video and as you can see what did they have with the chairs? Our dining room table... some things are meant to be!

The chairs left LA on Tuesday, and we expect to be polishing the chrome frames this week!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Big Renovation - Metal Railings - Our New Favorite Thing

We were thrilled with how the railings turned out at the 2010 Hospital Home Lottery Showhome, so we really wanted to incorporate a version of this in our new home.

 2010 Hospital Home Lottery Showhome

We have over 43 feet of railings, so we know they need to be impressive. Rob from Dragonfly Metal Artists has begun work on our project and in a matter of weeks we should see our design below come to life!

 

Our Renovation Railing Design

Our Big Renovation - Plumbing

We tend to joke about the worst part of our job - maybe not the worst part, but for sure the most awkward has to be talking about the pros and cons of toilets....the flush power, comfort.... enough said. When it came time for us to order select our plumbing fixtures for our renovation, it started surprisingly with the toilet. Trevor has always loved the lines of this toilet - so this house had to have them!

We also love anything in chrome, so we continued with some faucets that we have admired over the last couple of years. Plumbing rough-in has started and we are excited to see these installed!

Ensuite and Powder Room Lavatory Faucet

Ensuite Tub Faucet

Ensuite Hand Shower

 Ensuite Rain Shower

Kitchen Faucet

  
  

OUR BIG RENOVATION...with just a little help from a client!

You never know when & how just the right thing falls into your lap! We had been struggling to find the perfect coffee table for our new family room, we knew we wanted glass but just couldn't find something that worked. It is the last remaining item that needs to be ordered, every last detail has been determined right down to the vase for our orchid .... but no table for it to call home.

Last week a client of ours was in Toronto, browsing the vast square footage of Elte - looking for items for her upcoming renovation. Among amazing finds for herself, she came across a fabulous table that she knew somebody needed to have! Thanks to cell phones, more importantly Blackberry - one "click" and a "send" with the line "your new coffee table"....

 

 

 

We love it and know it will be just what we needed. How do we repay her for this discovery? Possibly the most amazing kitchen, dining room, & living room... which will include this stunning wallpaper (below) & silk drapery with feathered trim perhaps????

 

 Thank you KD!

  
  
  

Our BIG Renovation "The Den"

 
We began our business working out of a home office many years ago, and once we made the move to a downtown location we said we would never work at home again! Our homes have always been an escape for us, and for years we have rejected even having a computer at home. We are slowly returning to life with a den/home office, but this den design has nothing to do with work!

We wanted a room that was 100% glamour and sophistication - a luxe retreat where we can lounge and research our next travel destination, chat with friends and family, never once distracted by floor plans, fabric samples and the constant chimes from our inbox.

The wallpaper we found set the mood, with a Jonathan Adler desk and chrome floor lamps adding some serious star power. We have added black leather le Corbousier chairs for lounging and will layer a large floor length mirror in behind adding impressive depth to the space.

This is our den, and we cannot wait to finalize the next room in Our BIG Renovation!

Let the Renovations Begin

On January 31st, we took possession of our very first house - built in 1985, we were taken by its great street appeal and amazing views backing the river. Previously we have lived in a lakeside condo, and then 2 downtown lofts, so the idea of taking a home and renovating has always been something we looked forward to doing.

.

 Lakeside Condo
 

  Loft #1 

Loft #2

We love the convenience and lifestyle of condo/loft living, however in Saskatoon, we felt that we had done all we could do with that type of dwelling for the time being - so we sought out for a great house in a desirable neighbourhood. We will return to our roots in the future, hopefully in the much anticipated River Landing development in downtown Saskatoon..... hoping that this actually will happen. Our dream residence has always been a penthouse condo with an amazing city view at night, and lush panoramic views of the riverbank during the day. We are patient and believe our city will provide this for us in the near future.

On to the house, or what we have now nicknamed the "lovely money pit". We know the deal with renovating - having taken clients there over and over again, but now first hand we get to experience the unknowns of renovating. We love the layout, spacious with the entire back and sides with floor to ceiling windows, looking out to and beyond the river. We first looked at the home in fall and now in winter appreciate that all four seasons will create entirely different, yet all spectacular views all year round.

We decided to renovate all floors, even though we will not have much use for the space in the basement, we wanted all levels to have a connection with each other. We have underestimated the amount of square footage there is to design and renovate in this home. There are four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a den, kitchen, dining room, family room and living room. What were we thinking is right! However, the challenge of space will only open us to possibilities when it comes to designing separate spaces under one roof.

Our first selection made was the hardwood flooring, that will go through the entire main floor. We saw it and were immediately taken by its uniqueness - a solid bamboo floor milled and stained to appear much like a walnut floor. We then had to decide on cabinets, so we opted for an almost black stained rift cut oak. We are adding solid white quartz and carrera marble as accents in the kitchen (with square chrome door hardware) and for the family room, have paired a solid grey linen fabric for a sofa, with other linen accents and glossy charcoal leathers.

Kitchen/Family Room 

 

Kitchen Table, Chairs and Light Fixture 
  

Kitchen Island Pendant 

 

"18 Karat" Family Room Decor 

 

Family Room Side Table 

 

Family Room Sketch (As Seen On Twitter)

The fireplace gets delivered tomorrow (our very first fireplace!!!), and thus the framing will continue with electrical work to follow. We will keep you posted as we endure dusty site visits, endless decisions and .... there will be wallpaper! Powder Room and the Den will be all in wallpaper, we can't wait to share our selections with you!

"Mystery Showhome" Opens in 7 Days

 Master Bedroom

Mirror, Mirror...

This sideboard/bureau is the perfect piece to reflect all that is glam in the Master Bedroom.  Black lacquer and domed, mirrored doors - the first piece you'll see as you enter the room.

Want To Know the Mystery?  Click Here.