san fran inspiration ... japanese garden

This Japanese Tea Garden in the Golden Gate Park was sublime. Just perfect. Love the round "Dr. Seuss" trees as my cousin calls them. The bridge is entirely made of wood too if you can believe it...

more san fran inspiration...redwoods!

How beautiful are redwood trees? So so so tall, it's breathtaking. And they smell good too. I got to see a ton of them in Muir Woods, after crossing the Golden Gate bridge.


And look what I found when I biked around Angel Island?! A beautiful little friendly deer. We stared at eachother for a while.

leaving on a jet plane

Going on a soul searchin' journey to Kauai, Hawaii for 2 weeks, Bloomers. This Bloomer's soul needs a serious rest! But then I realized I got so carried away with my house sale pictures, that I forgot to post the rest of my inspirations from San Francisco way back in October...my first soul searching trip in a series. Ok, I wanna show you! I'll post for the next few days, and then then maybe I'll have some inspiration from Kauai when I get back! These paper flowers I saw in a window of a jewellery store in San Fran - so pretty. Reminded me of Lynn Bloomer and all the paper flowers she made for Amy's cool funky wedding.

Michelle Williams, new muse

I liked the lace around her neckline - so delicate:

whoever styled her for the Oscars is amazing...i love her red lipstick...never would have paired it with the yellow but it just works!

Loved her pixed hair cut and make up here too...good styling!

Seems somewhat out of character for her, with such a low cut dress, but I do like it.

Casual wear...I like this style!

How did Michelle Williams get to be such a style icon? She was a bit frumpy dumpy in her Dawson Creek days, remember? Then, I saw a picture of her at the SAG Awards the other day and realized how much I like her dress and her pixie cut. And then I realized that I generally like everything she wears to red carpet events. And even her casual wear. She has such a neat, fitted vintage style. What do you think?

amy's house is for sale!

So, big news! Remember my friend Amy's really funky house in the Danforth? You may also know Amy from her amazing, colourful, boho chic wedding . Well, guess what?! Her housey is for sale! I love it, I love it, I love it. If you are looking in Toronto, you have to check it out. It's incredible. MLS # E2281380.

grey on grey

I love this picture that Lynn Bloomer sent to me. The grey dresser looks beautiful on the light grey wall...I do indeed love monochromatic colour schemes. {Remodelista}

and a new little bloomer is on her way...

I am SO excited for Joelle Bloomer, Petie and little Sagey...she is getting a little sister!! {design by inBloomStudio}

this isn't Feist - but I like her messy hairs!

It said on MSN today that Feist did a pretty awesome cover of Guns N Roses' "November Rain," (remember slow dancing to that song?!), but this really doesn't look like her! I am pretty sure it's not...however, I do think it's a cool picture. I like this girl's messy hairs! There's a secret rock star in my somewhere...

Lynn Bloomer's Budget Basement Makeover

Talk about a really great makeover, on a budget! Look at the Before and Afters of Lynn Bloomer's basement. I love the grey and white tones...they were perfect to calm it down. Not to mention the white painted fireplace...much much better. And the sofas? These aren't even new sofas! They are slipcovers. Yummy. For the wallet and soul alike. Great job Lynn!

Paint out the brick on your fireplace? At first I was uncertain, but now I say YES!

Much calmer and much cozier now...

Love the grey painted out walls...and the large open windows...note the large wardrobe she also painted out white. Oh,and I also want to look through that telescope!

window coverings for big bay windows!

There's a recurring problem out there in the world, and it has to do with big or bay windows! Are there any cool window covering options for big bay windows - an option that isn't curtains or shutters? The options are limited as far as I can see, I must say. I would say my favorite option are Roman blinds designed specifically for them (and using two side by side if a really wide window), but there may be some more unique and cost effective alternatives out there which I also like too! Here are some window inspirations I found...

I thought this roller blind was super cute, especially with the rope tie. Could potentially make this yourself! Just get some cool fabric from Tonic Living or something!

This would take some time but I LOVE the mismatch, vintage appeal (Remodelista):

I like this light linen / gauze type of material...blocks it enough without being too heavy (HouseBeautiful)...


same kind from House Beautiful:

I think these are the same cheapy Walmarty blinds I used on my guest bedroom (pic from BlissBulb) - introduced to me by Lynn Bloomer. Super cheap and really not bad to look at at all (here are the ones from my guest room)!

This is a smaller window, but I like the halfsies of it! And I loving this whole new tea towel trend (Remodelista):

More tea towels sewn together...pretty casual and vintage-y (Remodelista):

So, if you're gonna do shutters, maybe black would be cool? Painting out the trims black too? May give it a whole different funky look.

Cute, dainty, pretty lil do-it-yourself option (remodelista)...

These look expensive...but I like the teal blue and like the halfsies again! Quite a statement (Blindsaver).

Don't mind these graphic curtains...makes a statement (Apartment Therapy):

Or we could just leave those effers open! If you face a private forest of course (I want the zig zag rug)...
{pic from Remodelista}