New Build Begins...

I think I was as excited as my children look a few months ago when the demo of the old house started:

{ Paulina, Hugo & Sebastian watching the destruction }

{ old house is reduced to rubble }

{ kids plus a friend after school take a rest in the digger }

Prior to the demo the house looked like this:

{ dining room }

Complete with vintage wallpaper, carpet & drapes:

{ the flocked wallpaper was in great condition }

{ these drapes! }

{ this kitchen carpeting!! }

And after a "house wrecker party"with this cast of characters...

{hockey in the dining room }

{a few bevvies with the boys }

{  girls having some laughs }

{ cuties on bikes }

{ graffiti artists }

{ and more lovely guests }

The last minute party & demolition continued on into the evening as you can see below...

{ hooligans... but cute hooligans }

And this is the result:

{ I did rescue the chandelier - with a fresh coat of paint it will be quite cute }

We're well into the project now with the framing started.  I'm working on final drawings for the interior plans & elevations.  I'm going to try to keep on top of this blog a bit better as it's an interesting way to chronicle the building process plus give me a little creative outlet.  I'm also working on updating the blog & my website so to that end, wish me luck!

'Til next time, friends...

J xo

Last Project in Dream Homes of Canada

As I mentioned earlier this year, our last project is featured in the BC Edition of Dream Homes of Canada!!.  Read it online by clicking here and looking at pages 28-31.

{ shameless self promo }

IDS West Quick Report

I had a wonderfully good time at IDS West this year.  I brought along a few friends & they made it much more fun.   We spent a good few hours at the Cactus Club Coal Harbour:

{ Alix & Kylie = cutie pies }

I didn't get to see inside the Laneway House because the lineup was ridiculous: 

{ me no likey queues & the prosecco was calling me }

I met a few interesting vendors.  One was Vin de Gard.  I loved the simplicity of their racking systems which allows the wine to really shine. Here are some of the cellars they have been involved with:

{ I love the feature wall at the end of this cellar }

{ the light bouncing off the wall of wine is mesmerizing }

I also met an artist, Shakun Jhangiani.  Her work is linear; however the textural qualities manage to imbue her canvases with a feeling of movement.  See some of my favourites here:  

{ reminiscent of low tide at our cabin}

{ a slightly more tropical feel }

All in all I think IDS West was a success.  I came away with my head a-swirl with plenty of fodder for our new build.

Till next time...

xxo J

Hammer & Spear, LA

In the latest issue of Lonny Magazine, I read about an LA store called Hammer & Spear.

{ looks good from the outside }

 The store is named after the couple who own it (Kristan Cunninham & Scott Jarrell).  "Hammer" is Jarrell's unique nickname for Cunningham & Jarrell translates to "brave with Spear".  Cool, huh?  Their 'how we met' story is fun & sweet & all online on Lonny.  Not only do they seem like friends you'd want to have, they have lots of new & vintage stuff on site & online... Check it out!

We are heading to LA soon so this is a place on my must visit list.

 

Lonny October 2013

I'm excited to delve into the latest online issue of Lonny Magazine.  It features Jessica Alba's office space.

{ love the turquoise wall }

If I get all my work done today I'll indulge tonight... can't wait!!  

xx J

IDS West

I'm baaack...

Having taken an unannounced hiatus over the summer, I'm excited to be back at the drawing board, working on our new build.  

This weekend I'll be attending IDS West (the Interior Design Show for western Canada).  I always enjoy seeing familiar exhibitors & discovering exciting new ones.  Plus I am going with some fun girlfriends & we plan to lunch afterwards which (to me, who loves food) is as thrilling as being at the show.

I'm looking forward to seeing the new laneway house that is being auctioned off for charity:

{ I love spaces with history, but I think I could live here among these contemporary clean lines }

I love the idea of living well AND efficiently in a small space.  I don't believe they are mutually exclusive.  This is just over 500 square feet of high end design.  I'd love to plunk it down as a recreational property in Osoyoos or environs & enjoy warm summer desert living in a cool concrete cocoon.

What do you think of the plywood exterior cladding?  Love it or leave it??

Wondering about Windows

As we prepare to submit our architectural drawings to the powers that be, we are thinking more & more about the bones of this house.  Where will the plumbing stacks go, whether we will go with radiant or forced air to heat the house, will we have air conditioning,  how thick the walls will have be to accomplish the look of deeply reset windows that I love... I could go on & on.

So today I've been wondering about windows.  Obsessing a bit, to be honest.  How many mullions should they have?  I want them to be recessed into the facade but not at great expense to the floor space inside.  To follow are some images of windows that I love.  This next one is from Kolbe Windows:

{ many mullion-ed splendour }

I come back again and again to this Bristol Circle home by William Hefner.  While parts of the interior are a little more traditional than we want I am drawn to the wall of windows in the rear of the home:

 { beautiful way to let in light }

The tranquility of this space by Paul Raeside is incredibly appealing to a busy mama of three:

{ clean lined & cozy isn't a contradiction in terms }

{ same space from another angle }

And finally these windows & this space designed by Reese Roberts seems like an appealing spot to land at the end of the day:

{ more mullions... can you see a pattern developing? }

So window selections feel more defined than they did a month ago.  What's next?  Doors??

Best, blog-world...

xx 

J