my house: the photo wall

I got so many wonderful comments about my bedroom decor post a few weeks ago that I thought I would share the rest of my house as well! I'll start with the entranceway - a skinny, long hallway that I really wasn't sure what to do with until I saw a very inspirational photo in a Pottery Barn book - a photo wall! So P. and I decided to take on this project. And while it was a much bigger {and more expensive} job than either of us anticipated, it was well worth the effort! Our photo wall is right at the entrance into our house, and has turned out to be quite a source of entertainment and conversation for anyone who steps in.

To keep it all cohesive, we chose to display mostly black and white photos in mainly black frames {Walmart, Kitchen Stuff Plus and IKEA have the cheapest black frames by the way} but I do like adding a bit of quirkiness into home decor, so we had a sense of humour when choosing the photos. We each found our scowly, awkward grade eight grad photos and hung them side-by-side. Also on the wall is my award for achieving the highest mark in my grade nine keyboard class...hee...nerdy.

There is a photo of my friend Rebecca and I at Blackbutt Nature Reserve in Australia {we both happened to be wearing black pants that day so it was perfect!}, and a picture of my mom as a hot young thang.

There are many non-goofy photos on the wall too - our favourite wedding photo, various excursions, photos of good family and friends, and travel pics. But it's the not-so-perfect photos that seem to generate the most conversation and giggles.

Like this photo of my husband as a child with a humongous mop of hair {and a not-so-big catch of the day}!

Hoping you have a wonderful weekend!

loving target

The world is definitely getting smaller and so many of my favourite stores from the US have made their way to Canada in the past year - Crate and Barrel {yum}, West Elm {double yum}, and soon Anthropologie {yummiest of all!}. But...for all of these lovely stores that have finally arrived, the one I wish would leap across the border the most is Target - or 'Tar-jay' as said with a snotty French accent. That place is unbelievable! It's a Walmart with soooo much more style. On the strange popcorn machine purchasing adventure in Buffalo with Shayna Bloomer last summer, we stopped into Target and I picked up a kick-ass cobalt blue sweater, some beautiful little white dishes, and some other cool houseware items...I just can't leave that place empty-handed.

Here are some funky finds from one of my favourite stores - seriously!



1. Orla Kiely Stoneware Canister
2. Abstract Print Upholstered Chair
3. Floral Print Chaise
4. Clybourn Loft Floral Print Chair

purty table inspiration

Whenever I have friends over for dinner, I try my best to make my dining table look as pretty as possible. But table setting is a lot harder than it might seem...it really is an art! I always worry that nothing matches, or that everything matches too much, and I make a mental note that I need a new tablecloth, new serving plates, new, new new! I do realize that I'm a perfectionist, and I also know that having a dinner party doesn't necessarily need to be a fancy affair. But I just can't help the need in me to make everything look pretty {doesn't a meal just taste a lot better if it also looks good? Or perhaps subconsciously I'm trying to disguise my sub-par cooking skills?}. So I have found a bunch of tabletops that have provided me with some inspiration...they all are fairly simple and non-stuffy, and don't necessarily require an onslaught of new stuff, although maybe a bit of craftiness. Hopefully they inspire you too! Have a wonderful weekend...

from Blueprint magazine {may it RIP}

from Quick and Easy Decorating by Better Homes and Gardens

from Home Base Collections

from Darling Dexter

From Real Simple magazine

from Canadian House and Home magazine

{unsure of the source of this pic unfortunately}

from Martha Stewart {love the painted cans used as vases!}