Woodie Camper

I found this Silver Tear Woodie Camper by Orvis in one of my Vanity Fair magazines.  Having spent my younger days aboard a variety of wooden boats, the combination of clever storage in a teensy space & the use of mahogany & ash woods had me swooning.  Check out the rear galley with a maple countertop & a stainless steel cooler.  The forward interior boasts details like a mattress that converts to a sofa & a fan & awning windows to keep you cool. 

It's not cheap at approximately $30,000 US but compared to the cost of recreational properties maybe it's not a bad deal.  Apparently they can be customized to your specifications.  Who has a craving to hit the open road??

Rule Britannia

In honour of the Olympics {and to assuage my disappointment at postponing our trip to Europe} I've compiled a few images celebrating the London Olympics.  While we still shriek "Go CANADA Go" in this household {we are well practiced after our stint hosting the Games here in Vancouver in the winter of 2010} I am proud to have English heritage & to cheer on the Brits as well.

On to imagery... check these out:

{ First saw this on my sister, Leah's, Pinterest site but seems to have taken the Pinning world by storm }

And an 'after' from design*sponge's DIY feature:

 { rule Britannia }

I am drawn into this comfortable living room but particularly liked the flag on the wall, which is actually a rug, framed:

{ Vivenne Westwood designed rug }

 And more inspiration from my sister's blog, Tiddly Bits:

{ pink stamp adds punch }

And from Miroslav Slasek:

{ This is London c. 1950 }

A mix of all thing London-y:

 

 {perfect London-estivus for the rest of us }

Ready to go cheer on your team?

43 years married

My parents began married life 43 years ago when they sailed out of Toronto Harbour aboard their yacht, Ayesha.  Here they are on their wedding day:

They have enjoyed glorious sunsets at quiet moorages, weathered many storms & successfully "launched" 5 daughters.

Congrats on over four decades of married life, M&D!  You are an inspiration to me & many.  With lots of love, always.... Ju

Cottage Colours

There has been talk about painting the exterior of our cabin.  Not sure when or if any of these suggestions will make the cut, but I had fun playing with colour last night on the computer.  Check 'em out (having trouble with the sizing on Polyvore but you get the idea):

 { Montmarte Colour Scheme }

The photo of a Montmarte window is from Little Brown Pen's website; one of my faves.  The photo below I found online and it's on my Pinterest site.  I haven't got the blues quite right but it's a start.

{ Turquoise Shingle shack } 

Can you tell I was on a blue/grey/weathered roll?

Concrete Business Cards

Look what I found through Design Mom's blog:

{ concrete business cards }

{ on teensy wooden pallets! }

OK, I know I'm gushing but these are seriously awesome.  I have a bit of a concrete thing 'cuz I'm married to a concrete guy.  These he's gotta see.... 

In Absentia

I've been neglectful of this space.  Life is moving apace and I haven't been able to keep up here.  I have so much on the go {but doesn't everyone??!}.

I will soon have some big news to share, but 'til then will leave you with this sweet photo from House of Philia's blog.  If only I looked this cute while busy busy busy....

{ love love love the pink hi-tops & the pleated trench }

Thanks for being patient with me blogworld!

xx Julia oo

Domino Back??!!

Looks like Domino is back... well sort of.

Their Facebook page update says "Loyal Domino Fans!  We are pleased to announce Domino Quick Fixes, a Domino special edition that will hit newsstands nationwide (I assume that means the US) on April 17th..."

Yippppeeee!  I'll take one issue of Domino but does that mean more are in the works?  Here's hoping....

Nursery Design

I'm very close to finishing up Hugo's room.  It also functions as our guest room so it can't be too baby-baby-ish.  My inspiration started from a piece of a dingy seat I discovered while beachcombing last summer.  And I didn't want to be too kitchsy-nautical but definitely wanted a boaty-flair:

{ beachcombed boat seat }

I found some paper fishies at our local toy store:

{ Djeco mobile }

and you can see the rest of my inspiration board here, here or here:

{ Hugo's Nursery Inspiration Board }

Need a little help feathering your nest?  I'd be happy to help.  Email me at juliasmith@telus.net.

'Til next time webworld....
xx Julia oo

The Glow

The Glow.  My new favourite website thanks to Urban Grace & Design Mom.  The mamas n' babas are beautiful...

the photography feels otherworldly & I loved peeking into their interior spaces to snoop around...

The Glow is The Selby meets The Sartorialist but is its own very special thing.  LOVE. IT.

You??

Happy Birthday, Mum!

Today is my Mum's birthday.  She taught me many things... about being a mother, a wife, a woman & a person.  Here are my top FIVE in no particular order:

Have adventures.

I grew up sailing the South Pacific, riding the trains of India, cruising the Caribbean, navigating the Needles and the English Channel, braving the wilds of the northern BC coast and more all thanks to my Mum {& Dad}.  I haven't been as bold as my parents were but we do travel with our kids, take them out to fancy restaurants {which can be quite the "adventure"}, and look forward to taking the road less traveled.

{ sailing off the Isle of Wight, England }

Set the table for dinner.
Even if it's just a regular Tuesday night dinner of spaghetti & apple juice.  Light candles, put out placemats.  Set the table.  It makes you stop, enjoy your food & each other.  The same goes for your home.  Put out flowers.  Hang up your kids' artwork {or yours}.  It doesn't have to be perfect.  But it will make your house a home.

{ rustic meal with blooms from the garden}

Don't finish your kids' food.

Basically:  you are not a garbage can!!  Garbage in; garbage out {or on the hips!}.  If you want a treat, have your own & enjoy it.  Food is not to be avoided but to be savoured.  

Go on dates with your husband.

When we lived in Oona River, my mum's friend, Sharlane, would come & watch us so Mum could go on 'crabbing dates' with Dad.  They went out on the Distant Drummer, my parents' fishing boat, and spend the afternoon crabbing together off Porcher Island.  A date doesn't have to mean spending a wagonload on dinner out {while that's always very nice!}.  My kids will grow up and move out & I don't want to look across the table at my husband & not know each other anymore.

{ me & Craig }

{ Mum & Dad }

Pray.
When in doubt, worried, scared, happy, concerned, puzzled.... WHATever:  PRAY.  God is listening & the answer will come.  Not always the answer you want but your prayers will be answered.  I like Annie Lammot's thoughts on prayer.  She says all her prayers {mine too} come under the "help me... help me... help me..." or "thank YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!" variety.  Yup.  Pretty much.

Happy Birthday Mama-Doo.  I love you.  You are the best mummy in the whole world.

Style Board = Inspiration

I'm not 100% today so I'm at home, feeling the ickies & working on a few 'to dos'.

{ strange little sick girl }

One of the things on my list is blogging about a recent project.  So, let's check that off now, shall we?


This client is a friend & her family is a warm, fun, well-travelled group.  As you can see from the pictures, her home is beautiful, filled with objects from their world adventures. 

{entryway with old church pew & Indonesian carvings}

{ looking into living room }

{ gorgeous new concrete & slate fireplace surround }

{ living room sitting area }

Having just completed a big renovation on the front of the house, her goal was to connect the entry and the living area without spending too much.  I came up with this style board:

It incorporates much of what she already has in the space with a few suggestions for tying in the two flooring surfaces & spaces.  They are planning a trip to Thailand in the spring & may look for fabric there in a similar colourway to the Ikats I suggested.  She has a new floor plan to work with & can repurpose much of what she has already so the budget isn't blown.

After looking at that warm wonderful home I feel much better.  Stay well, blogland!

Staring at the walls

I've posted about this before but it crops up in client consults a lot.  Do you ever find that you are intimidated by picking a paint colour?  That fan deck has an awful lotta colours in it!  But when your walls get to this state I guess it's time to commit vs. staring at the walls:

{ although I must say there is a beautiful lace-y quality to the peeling paint in this picture by Eduardo Dacosta }

I was on a paint colour consultation recently & the client works with a well-known Vancouver art gallery.  She is also a talented photographer so she has a wonderful selection of artwork to hang on her walls.  However the myriad of paint colours had her a bit stymied.  So, after a short consult with me we had two options for her space:

What would you pick if it were you?  

And don't forget, if you need just a little help with that oft-intimidating fan deck email me at info@bakerhillhomes.com.  I'd be happy to help!

a fresh start

Hello 2012.  I love the feelings a new year brings.

{ stating the obvious }

Lots of promise.  Endless possibilities...  Who knows where 2012 will lead?