Scoop du Jour: cobi

Cobi Ladner, former editor of my favourite design mag Canadian House & Home, is trying out a new hat. She's launched her website cobi which stands for "collection of beautiful ideas". Her philosophy is that homes should be personalized, unique spaces; a reflection of you and not your decorator or anyone else's recycled ideas.

I kind of agree with her. Show me a piece of furniture/fabric/wallpaper/lighting that you love and think is so 'you', and I'll show you 13 blogs, 2 magazine articles, and an HGTV show where that same item has appeared in other people's houses. With the speed of design today, good ideas become stale ideas when too many people jump on the bandwagon (trellis pattern, anyone?). I'm guilty of this just as anyone else (you have noticed my ubiquitous white shaker kitchen with stainless appliances, haven't you?) so I'm interested to see what cobi brings to the table. Then again, I think Domino magazine tried to promote the same idea, that different is much more appealing than sameness, and we all know how that ended.

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Hey, Don't I Know You...?

Do you bloggers out there ever wonder if anyone actually reads your blog? Now I know that its not just me and my mom (hi mom!) reading this blog, but sometimes it feels that way. It feels like I'm writing in my diary, spilling out thoughts and ideas, and tucking them under the bed where no one else can find them. So when a stranger actually recognizes you and says "Hey, I read your blog" it can really feel surreal. That's what happened to HandyMan, Chloe and I a few days ago. We were in a store checking out this lovely


(isn't it divine, with its sparkly candy apple red finish and glass bowl?) when we were recognized. I'm pretty sure I squealed a little bit from the shock then stood there dumbly with my mouth agape. We're no Brangelina so that moment of bloggy celebrity was unexpected. I was so surprised that I didn't think to ask the many questions running through my head... like how you found my blog, or which of us you recognized (must be Chloe. That kid has way too many pics on this blog if you ask me ;o) ), or WHAT YOUR NAME WAS. Ahh, bad blogger with bad manners.

It was so lovely to meet you though. Thank you for your kind words. And all you other bloggers out there take it from me, your paparazzi moment can happen when you least expect it.

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And speaking of that kid who has way too many photos, she's got her own blog now too. Over on mammarazzi I'll be trying out my photoshop tricks, practising to be a better hobby photographer and taking pics of my favourite subject :)

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Rad Rad


And the room is done :) When you're renovating, is there a phrase any more satisfying than that one? I think not.

HandyMan installed the Octoperf wood mesh on the radiator cover. The design which you guys suggested looks perfect. We did have a bit of a trouble though... because we didn't make the three squares the same size! Oops. But I assured HandyMan you couldn't tell the difference at all ;) So that's it, the last piece of the room complete. Finito. Over and out :)



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If you like how Chloe's room turned out, I'd appreciate your vote in the Share Your Style contest.
One winner out of the top 10 will win a boatload of Benjamin Moore paint (oh what we could do with the master bedroom and living room!) among other prizes.

It's the last week of voting and every vote helps. Click the "Vote For It!" button here. You'll need to register your email address but you are entered to win a prize just for voting too :) Thanks so much!!

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Garage Sale Score - Part II



...and this is the reason why only one person in the HandyLuster household will get to enjoy the chair! Yes, its a miniature throne fit for a princess. I think its so adorable. The lady who sold it to us said she put her china dolls in the chair. We'll use it for our own little doll :)

So what are we going to do with the chair? Well, I'd like to use different fabrics on the front and back, like
this:



We have some fabric leftover from the curtains and banquette in Chloe's room, plus some striped IKEA fabric leftover from the kitchen roman blind:



The curtain fabric with the swirlies has a nice sheen to it. It feels silky and would make the chair feel a bit glam. I like it for the front of the chair. For the back, either the striped fabric or the gingham fabric could work. The gingham would be a bit more traditional and suits the style of the chair. I really like stripes on a chair but I'm not sure these two work together. What do you think?




To finish off the edges, we could do a gimp trim like
Just Beachy does with her fab chair makeovers. Here's one she did... isn't it lovely.



As for the paint finish, I'm not sure yet. Suggestions? Canary yellow? Creamy white? Robin's Egg Blue? Lilac? Whatever it is, we'll be painting Chloe's dear little doll bed and mini vanity from Nana the same colour.



Isn't baby-sized furniture the cutest thing? :)

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Garage Sale Score

HandyMan, Chloe and I were out for a walk yesterday and stumbled upon a garage sale in our neighbourhood. It was late morning so we were surprised to see some nice items that hadn't yet been scooped up. We immediately fell in love with this beauty of a chair:


Its a reproduction Victorian round back parlor chair. The seller said it was made in Williamsville (NY?) and originally cost a few hundred dollars but we could have it for - wait for it - $20!! Sold!! I immediately envisaged doing one of those great chair makeovers Design Sponge features on her blog, like this one:



or
this one:


I love the curves on our chair and think a painted finish will really help to bring them out.



Tomorrow, I'll show you some fabric options I'm thinking of... and the surprising reason
only one of us will get to use this chair :o(

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Summer Cleaning

Time to brighten things up around here. Out with the oh-so-2008 gray blog background and in with the clean fresh white. We've got a new header too (Disclaimer: no babies were harmed in the making of this header. Ha!). But as you can tell, I'm a bloggy newbie and the header isn't centred and my border doesn't fit . Can any of you smart folks tell me how to fix that? How do things look on your end?

Other than that, same great content, same drywall taste ;)

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A House In The Attic

If we ever get to renovating the basement, I would LOVE to do something like this.


The Daily Biff found via Tiny Decor Blog

What a wonderful space for children and adults alike. The owners have really made an effort to address the needs of their kids. Chloe would scream with delight to have a little playhouse like the one pictured. Okay, Chloe can't scream yet, only drool and occasionally coo, but what little girl wouldn't love her own house with a doorbell, mailbox, exterior lights, real shingle siding, and an in-house vacuum connection to keep the little house nice and neat! Heck, when can I move in?!



The attention to detail in this attic is impressive. There are built-in trundle beds for guests. A closet with roll-out clothes rack just for dress up. A mini-bar for the adults. And the decor is just perfect. I love the white wainscotting against the gray walls, and the pops of red.



I'll have to sift through the rest of this blog because I can only imagine what the rest of the house looks like if the attic is this good!

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Troll The 'Roll

Ever wonder how people find your blog? I do. Using tools like Sitemeter and Google Analytics can tell you how many readers visit your site on a daily basis, what links they used to get there, and how long they were checking you out. "White kitchens" and "tile" tend to be my blog's big draws, though googling "frugal phoenix wedding" and "a couple making a baby" can also inexplicably land some of you here on Rambling Renovators (Welcome! I'll take what I can get ;) ).

Then I came across this site which shows you who has you listed on their Blog Roll. Just type your URL in the Search field and you'll see a list of referrers who have linked to your site. So thanks to these folks for including me on their blog rolls... here's some blog love right back at you! :)

http://2l3bs.blogspot.com/
http://www.247reno.ca/
http://416fixerupper.blogspot.com/
http://www.9-oh-6.blogspot.com
http://alifesdesign.blogspot.com/
http://allbowerpower.wordpress.com/
http://www.aroundtheblockdesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.aspringofteal.blogspot.com/

http://baltimorerowhouse.blogspot.com/
http://bebechouchou.blogspot.com/
http://bergnewz.blogspot.com/
http://bitterhouse.blogspot.com/
http://blushevents.blogspot.com/
http://boblives.blogspot.com/
http://brickcitylove.com/
http://www.brooklynlimestone.com/
http://www.casareveal.com/
http://www.centsationalgirl.com/

http://chelseaandbrian.blogspot.com/
http://www.chriskauffman.blogspot.com/
http://www.clutter-cubed.com/

http://daveandjoi.blogspot.com/
http://dcrowhouse.blogspot.com/
http://designesquire.blogspot.com/
http://diy.alltop.com/
http://diydiva.net/
http://www.fabulissime.com/
http://www.freckleschick.blogspot.com/

http://five2eight.blogspot.com/
http://furnitude.blogspot.com/
http://www.gnomeangel.com/
http://halfofvamh.blogspot.com/
http://holyhudson.blogspot.com/
http://www.homesimplehome.blogspot.com/
http://hookedonhouses.net/
http://www.iaintnowriter.blogspot.com/
http://jeremyandkathleen.blogspot.com/
http://jenanddavesreno.blogspot.com/
http://kjerstevp.blogspot.com/
http://leliakate.blogspot.com/
http://maeveden.squarespace.com/
http://www.mikeandmcgee.blogspot.com/
http://www.modernemama.com/
http://mynottinghill.blogspot.com/
http://www.newlyweddiaries.blogspot.com/
http://ourcastlereno.blogspot.com/
http://ourlonghaul.blogspot.com/

http://www.pachamamahouse.blogspot.com/
http://www.rehabordie.com/
http://shadeofabeechtree.blogspot.com/
http://www.shannysaidso.blogspot.com/
http://shawnanonna.blogspot.com/
http://simmertilldone.com/
http://www.solsticehome.blogspot.com/
http://www.swedaisyspaces.blogspot.com/

http://teamseamons.blogspot.com/
http://themcwoods.blogspot.com/
http://www.theheadlemur.typepad.com/
http://thisisjalyn.blogspot.com/
http://threeacres.wordpress.com/
http://www.tilingbathroomideas.com/
http://tonifrantz.blogspot.com/
http://www.younghouselove.com/


Okay, looks like the site doesn't provide a comprehensive list. If I've missed you, please let me know. I'd love to give you a shout out and visit your site!

Edited to add: WOW - so many great blogs out there focused on home/design/renovation/family! If you like my blog, chances are you'll like these others listed, so check them out!!

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Light Delight

When I start designing a room, I look for that "one thing", that one spark of inspiration that will ignite the whole rest of the design. It can be anything - a piece of fabric, a paint colour, a piece of art. For the dining room, it was the wallpaper. In Chloe's room, it was the curtain fabric. For the master bedroom, its the...well, I haven't found it yet. I thought maybe I would start looking at lighting and perhaps that would be the catalyst for a great design. Here's a few I found on the lampsplus.com site (have any of you purchased from them?). There are so many different directions I can go with this room. It'll be hard to pick just one!
This bamboo pendant chandelier is tranquility and contemporary cool in one. I like the mix of textures and the subtle colour. I picture it in a room with grasscloth on the wall, crisp white sheets, sheers on the window, orchids on the sidetable, and lots of glass accents.

I love swing arm lamps, one on either side of a bed, and this one is simply stunning. The chrome finish would look great in a modern or transitional setting. Think cloud white walls, a thick plush carpet underfoot, worn leather suitcases stacked for use as a side table. Maps and architectural prints adorning the walls in thin edged frames.

This pendant is from the Walt Disney lighting collection. There is something about it that is very Disney-esque, don't you think? It is so Art Deco, I love it. This would look at home in a high glam room... luxe silk draperies, a tufted headboard, sparkly accessories, panelled walls. Mmm, so divine.

This Jonathan Adler pendant seems very Kelly Wearstler to me. I see it paired with bold coloured walls, nubly textured bedding, perhaps a sisal rug underfoot. The diffused light could highlight a vibrant orange laquered dresser and dramatic art piece over the bed. An eclectic look.

A fun fresh look for the bedroom. I'd put this in a room with beadboard 2/3 up the wall, maybe the ceiling painted blue too. Mix in white sidetables with vintage handles, black & white photos mixed with etsy art, all in silver frames, a cozy window seat with coordinated cushions in shades of blue, white, and lilac. A room perfect for taking a summer afternoon nap.


How fun would this lilypad light be? Would it make you feel like you were sleeping beneath the sea? This could work with a retro look or clean Asian vibe. Think pale aqua walls, matchstick roller blinds with vintage curtain panels. A plush carpet with oversized floral pattern. A curvy vanity and lucite makeup chair. Soft and feminine.

See what I mean... decisions, decisions!

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Cover Up

Still working on a few bits and pieces to finish up Chloe's room. We've been pondering how to finish off the radiator cover for a while now. We considered metal mesh at first but the edges are sharp and Chloe may be poking her little fingers into those holes. Another option was thin wood strips, maybe 1.5" wide. This would work but its a bit labour intensive to to cut prime and paint all those strips so we kept looking. Then HandyMan found this product, Octoperf, which is a perforated wood product. It can be painted, stained, and easily cut. Just what we're looking for! It also comes in large sheets which is great because we'd order enough to finish all the other radiator covers around the house.

Here are some samples of the designs available. HandyMan put a coat of primer on so we could see how they would look in the window seat. All we have to do is pick a design. Which one do you like?

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Swim Model

When we finished the bathroom reno, I was looking for some art to hang on the wall. Some of you mentioned that you had put up pics of your little ones in the bathtub. Well, now that I have my own little one, what better art than photos of my tiny swim model. I thought about making them black and white, but I'm craving a bit more colour in the bathroom so I've done a bit of Seventies styling in photoshop.



And here's a mockup of how it'll look in the bat
hroom... because this little one does not like to nap so it will be a while before I actually get a chance to buy the frames, print the pics, and get them mounted! :o\

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Bedroom Inspiration

I've got the bedroom renovation on the brain... here's a few of my favourite inspiration pics. I love the colours, the textures, and the feels of these images. How they'll translate into a singular bedroom 'look' is still beyond me. This room is going to be a tough one to design!

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