Brag factor on the mantle: Vintage Greek bust, Anglepoise 1227 lamp, Seletti skull.

“Without black, no color has any depth. But if you mix black with everything, suddenly there’s shadow – no, not just shadow, but fullness. You’ve got to be willing to mix black into your palette if you want to create something that’s real.” – Amy Grant

The gorgeous appartment of Australian designer Chelsea Hing & partner Nik Epifanidis, an architecture photographer, is a showcase of beautiful vintage finds set on a magic black baskdrop.

Brag factor: Panthella table lamp by Verner Panton, Chef portrait on wall – ‘Le Chef De L’Hotel Chatham’ by William Orpen.

Brag factor: Vanity by Frank Cadogan Cowper, Altered antique plates sourced from Beat Up Creations via Etsy & Third Drawer Down, Ventana mirror in by Jonathan Adler, Joker bowl in gold by B&B Italia, Bespoke console custom designed by CHDC, Rosy Angelis floor lamp by Flos.

Brag factor: Vintage Gaetano Sciolari 1970′s chandelier, Fat Fat ottoman by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia, Strata sofa by King Furniture, Navy chevron throw by Jonathan Adler, Vitsoe shelving by Dieter Rams, Untitled photographs on wall by Nik Epifanidis.

source: The Design Files

Regard sur Sauvez les Meubles… une saison qui s’achève et une autre qui débutera bientôt. Oui oui c’est une grande nouvelle, Sauvez les Meubles revient pour une seconde saison!

L’aventure a commencée avec cette pub… disons audacieuse! Jamais je n’avais porté (en public et devant autant de public ensuite) des tites tites shorts comme ça! J’ai mangé de la soupe une semaine de temps avant de faire le tournage!

(more…)

On this Friday August 31st… I cannot properly concentrate! In just a few hours, my life will change forever with the airing of the first EVER episode of Sauvez les Meubles on Québec’s Canal Vie. I have barely slept a few hours and I have been inhabited by a nervous energy since then.

So, while I do the happy dance all over my house, I thought I would let you bask in some of the great designs by Daun Curry. I love the way she integrates form and texture in a seamless manner. Her profuse use of white and cream tones is also very refreshing don’t you think?

Although I think I have made it clear over time that I am not a very law abiding “design” citizen, there are some unwritten ones that I do follow (somewhat). Transparent anything makes a space look larger. And it makes sense right? As your eye is not distracted by the chairs, the table and its surroundings can take the center stage and become the focal point to the room.

Another one is to never hang mirror, that can shatter if they fall, over beds. Well let’s rewrite that rule and simply say that mirrors over beds look great, just make sure that you have them put up to resist a 8.9 earthquake!

As for the wallpaper thing, I know it’s been said that it is not a good idea to install them in the bathroom… I kind of agree. Moisture will make it peel over time and worst mould at the seams. But then again that too looks fabulous and so I have some to terms with its use in spaces where there is only a soaking bath (low moisture) and installed over bathroom gyprock (again to reduce moisture). See, I do follow SOME rules!

On that delightful note, let me now return to my dancing in my living room with joy at seeing (finally) my show on the tube. May it have a long life. Yé!

xoxo

v.

source: Daun Curry

Hello hello virtual lovelies!

What a week it has been… I mean WHAT a week! I feel like it has been months since I last wrote and yet it all happened in the last 4 days. Ouf. After the “great escape to Toronto” last weekend, I came back with a trunk full or vintage finds and my head filled to the brim with ideas for what was about to begin.

Monday morning, bright eye and not so bushy tail (we had driven over 7 hours to come back due to traffic on the 401), I embarked on what is already becoming an adventure of magnificent proportions… I started to film the first show of 26 to come of “Sauvez les Meubles” (Save the Furniture). Yup, the wheel is officially in motion after a year and a half of planning. Woot woot!

Let me tell you a little more about what this show will be all about and why I am doing it… not that I need to justify myself (it’s more like sharing my overflowing joy)! So the concept is all about literally saving the furniture in people’s homes which they’ve inherited from family members, found in garage sales, or simply always had them and which they don’t know what to do with anymore. We’ll paint, repurpose, recycle & refurbish, hammer, and sew pieces back together to give them a new beginning and create, in the process, decors that are truly one of a kind.

You know how I feel about our current day and age where we can no longer afford to simply buy and buy some more, whether for financial or environmental reasons. It is not about consuming less it is about consuming better! Cool no? And in the process I hope to bring to the audience DIY ideas to try on their own but also to make them discover some of the great artisans and retailers that I have come to know and love on Damask & Dentelle.

Doesn’t it seem to be made for me? I’d say so!! (Happy Dance) One small hurdle though… every week, I’ll have to bring vintage pieces back to life and in the current century while spending no more than 500$. Yup 500 loonies! So, more than ever, I will be raking my brains for ideas and inspirations that have that little “je ne sais quoi”. (This home right here is definitely source for much inspiration don’t you think?) 

Let me finish by reming you that today is the LAST day to enter the Home Depot Dream Kitchen contest!! A 2500$ gift card is up for grabs to remodel your current kitchen. So if you live in Québec, check it out and be sure to send in your pics.

Source: The Style Files