Shanna Murray

 I have been eyeing ShannaMurray's illustrated wall decals for quite some time now, and when I decided that I wanted to gift two of my favorite ami with her beautiful work for their new digs it seemed the perfect opportunity to gift myself as well!

But now I have a problem, I am think I am addicted and I just noticed today that she is having a sale on designs that are to be discontinued. Go check it out, the sale is only on until July 31st!

The only problem I had was trying to decide the perfect location for my decal!!

I decided to add a little inspirational note to my bathroom wall...love it so much!

xo J

images via yours truly and shannamurray

take a step back

Over the last few months my apartment has slowly but surely become my perfect little home and over the next little while I hope to share some of the little corners that make it all my own. One of the things I knew I wanted was some vintage suitcases, I had seen them all around the web being used as side tables, storage, design features, you name it!



Stepback in Vancouver was the first and only place on my list of places to find some fabulous vintage suitcases. They have such a magical collection of old home and garden pieces that transport you instantly and their adorable shop is packed to the rafters.

I found myself two great suitcases that serve as the perfect bed side table and do doable duty for storage of off season accessories (right now my bathing suits and sandals are anxiously waiting to be freed and replaced by my toques and scarfs....come on spring, show you face!)

Images via Stepback and Me

xo J

...but look at them now!

If you have been faithfully reading Amis since last year, firstly I thank you, and secondly you might have a distant memory of these , well lo and behold they are finally done!

Over the summer I stripped and sanded the arms to their natural colour and simply applied a coat of sealant. Over the fall the lovely Shannon from KiwiCovers re-upholstered them in a great pre-washed white denim. Now all they need are some bright throw pillows. My little abode is slowly, but surely coming together!

xo J

Desire to Inspire

So I was suppose to take possession of my lovely little apartment next week, I was over flowing with excitement, but sadly due to unforeseen circumstances at the Land Title office this is not to be and I will most likely have to wait another week or two. So in the meantime I am living vicariously through DesiretoInspire who are currently doing a run down of the best of 2011.

My personal favorite is the favorite-pets-on-furniture-2011

Images via DesiretoInspire

xo J

Fine finds on the Crawl

Last weekend I made my first visit to the annual East Side Culture Crawl in Vancouver, after some initial distractions from a random sample sale we happened across we finally made our way down Parker Street and got to see some of the amazing local artists show off what they do best.

I was particulalry fond of the unique and beautiful ceramics on show. Two of may favorites were CuldeSacDesign and Dahlhaus .

I was really drawn to the lace on this plate by Cul de Sac

This is a real conversation piece by Cul de Sac

Love the light colours used by Dahlhaus

I wouldn't say no to a set of these by Dahlhaus

P.S. you can find some Dahlhaus of your own at Vancouver's OneofaKind Show

Images via here and here

xo J

Design Love

As previously mentioned, I was highly excited to attend the Design sponge book signing at Anthropologie a couple weeks back, and looky here I got my very own signed copy!

I have already spent a cozy Sunday afternoon pouring over the many fabulous pages

Looking forward to proudly displaying this on my very own coffee table in a few months time!

P.S. I made a return visit to Anthropologie this past weekend and picked up these lovelies in a rainbow of colours! I have dishes! Do you know how excited I was about that?!

x.o. J

T - 3 Months

Until my lovely little brand new apartment is ready! I bought it pre-sale in May and have so, so, so patiently been waiting for it to be done and I finally feel as though I am in the home stretch. I am ridiculously excited for the heated flooring and my sparkly appliances but the fun of decorating is by far the best, albeit also scary as I realize how much stuff I need to buy!

I love this idea instead of a bedside table, doubling as some extra storage which is perfect for a small apartment!

I was planning on getting new white bedding but I think it would be fun to have a pop of colour in the pillow cases like these.

Pops of colour everywhere! Snap Crackle Pop!

I left my old bed out in the lane with a "Free" sign on it, it was gone the next day, this clean, simple look is what I am going for with my new bed.

xo J


Images via ConversationPieces , SeventyTree , youaretheriver , CupcakesandCashmere ,

Hello you fool

If I walked into my house to these lovelies it would make any bad day better...

Found here... www.blackliststudioprints.com/prints

Have the loveliest of Fridays!

xo J

FILL UP WITH CARGO @ CARGOH!!

A very hip, very local online social marketplace came onto my radar recently called Cargoh. It’s a marketplace for art, design and culture made by local DIY artists, musicians and designers. The owner–operators of Cargoh are a very fun-loving, international husband and wife duo who have made Vancouver their home and were inspired to support vibrant, upcoming artists in the area and provide them with an avenue to sell their wares. Very much in line with Etsy, Cargoh is yet another great platform (and a Canadian one at that!) for artists to get their names and products out there in the world. An online market, what an awesome concept!!

So if you’re looking for one of kind items from jewelry and apparel to toys and home goods, and you like to shop online, check it out. It’s also a great way to familiarize yourself with artists and their work and get in contact with them directly. And with purchases through Cargoh you’ll be supporting your local community and economy, along with infusing more energy into our art scene which is always a positive thing! Go get some cargo at Cargoh and share the Cargoh love!!

House for Sale!

As of today my lovely little townhouse that I have shared for the last three years with two of my besties is officially on the market. It has been a fabulous three years in our mini sorority house but I suppose it is time for us to really really grow up and live all by our lonesomes...or with a new hubby in Sonia's case.

However, it is not all sad, I am so excited to decorate a space all my own and I have been saving images galore as inspiration.

I am noting a bit of a trend though: white walls with lots of pops of colour! Lots of lovely colour!






I apologize, I am a bad blogger, and can not remember where I pulled all these images from al though my best guess would be www.designspongeonline.com

xo J

Haters Gonna Hate

You can't help but smile at this chubby little guy.

He's also a good reminder to keep it real and do your own thing. You strut little man!

Print available here at These Are Things, which also sells really cool n colourful maps.

xo
Jen

Bonus: Lovers gonna love - dog lovers check out this Best in Breed slideshow from the Westminister Dog Show here

Design Problem? Put a Bird On It!

Hey Peeps!

You know birds are everywhere in design these days, so that means it's the perfect time to make fun of it!

So for your viewing pleasure here a sketch from SNL's Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein's upcoming show "Portlandia". Portland is everywhere too!

Enjoy!
xo Jenny C

Last Minute Gift Ideas - Think Local

3 days until Christmas - not enough time to get cool stuff shipped from the wonderful world of Internet, but  more than enough time to take advantage of the hip artists that live in your hood. Here's some great Vancouver artists to check out for this Christmas, or to keep up your sleeve for future gift-giving opportunities.

For your gal friends that love pretty things: 

Porcelain Mason Jars from Claire Madill at Heyday Design (image via www.heydaydesign.ca)

For your burgeoning art collector coworkers: 

Whale 2 Graphite and Acrylic on Paper by Kyu Hwang (image via takeiteasyplease.com)

For Your Picture Loving Parents: 

Custom Portraits painted by Roselina Hung. Image above: detail from Self-Portrait as a Polar Bear 2009. (image via www.roselinahung.com)

For your Homebody Hubbies:

Custom furniture designed and built by Nick Vorstermans of Wood Roots Furniture and Design (image via www.woodroots.ca) 

Take some time to discover the artists living under your nose, chances are - they've got some wicked wares to share.

xo
Jenny C

Dream a little dream

Ummmm….so….yeaaaaah… I am in love! With these little dream retreats. You know I like to read a lot right, how perfect would it be if I could curl up in this ah-mazing renovated cottage (Sandra Foster did it all herself for $3,000) and these Rest Nests with a pile of my favorite reads and make them my own secret escape. I mean I am speechless and incredibly jealous.

Sigh…a girl can dream.

Images via Dedon and New York Times

Living Art Kermodi Style

Kermodi is a very cool local plant décor company in East Vancouver that I recently came cross that creates very sleek looking exterior and interior plant furnishings. That’s right plant furnishings, or as Kermodi aptly puts it, living art. Their sheik planters and terrariums are not your typical fern in a colour clashing pot that’s in your kitchen for added oxygen. Their plantware is based on style as well as function. Simple yet elegant, their focus on shape and succulent greenery that is easy to care for speaks to a clean and modern design approach.

Kermodi’s philosophy is definitely one to be appreciated. They believe that adding living elements into the design of space brings an organic essence, which not only provides a finishing touch, but also a tranquility and natural beauty. The photos on their web site of their plants at work in different spaces provides great inspiration and really demonstrates their vision in action. It’s definitely more upscale than your local nursery, but they do sell their plants in a range of prices. You also have to think of it as Kermodi suggests: more as a piece of art work that you or your gift receiver will have for years to come.

They might not look like much...

...but I have big plans for these 2 chairs.

With a bit of re-finishing on the wood and new upholstorey they will look as good as new. I saw these in the window of the used furniture where I picked up my white vanity table and thought they had so much potential. Yes, the material is ugly and they need some new stuffing, but I loved the shape of the arms of them. So I will keep you posted as the renovation progresses….oh yeah, and they were only $20 each!

That's Mint

Like walking into a chic home decor magazine - a trip to Mint will make your eyes sparkle like their walls. This new home decor and furniture store in Vancouver has unique, handcrafted and stunning pieces from designers across the globe.

Some pieces that I loved the most were their ibride trays. ibride is an amazing design firm from France that you must check out - and Mint carries a wide selection of their line if you want something for your home now.

More beautifulness in the form of acrylic side tables and STUNNING mirror - my photo does it no justice. Also boo that I didn't note the designers! There is a lot of product info on Mint's site though if you follow the link at the top or bottom of this post.

Mint also creates custom furniture like the killer sofa in their display room and lovely occasional chairs. If you have a small mint to spend (let's be real - it costs money to buy such beautiful things), or if you just feel like furnishing the mansion in your mind, stop by Mint and check out their offerings.

Mint Interiors
1805 Fir St.
Vancouver BC
Tel: 604.568.3430
Web: www.mintinteriors.ca

Paris, je t'aime

This is the apartment version of The Secret Garden. This is like my dream! Can you imagine stumbling across an apartment like this that has remained untouched for 70 years!

The owner moved away in 1940 but kept up the payments even though no one was living there, until passing away this last year when it was finally discovered. Makes me want to get lost in Paris and buy lots and lots of pretty things!

See more photos here

Images via Apartment Therapy