Sorry for the pics

I am still playing with my new camera! Promise I will redo these so you can see much better!
I am so thrilled though- I got an e-mail from Jennifer Garant herself! She remembers me commissioning the piece in this room as well as one in my kitchen!
I feel so special!
Jennifer's work is very popular -most people recognize her work from the series of fat waitresses and waiters she has done- and then went on to license those images!
Me, I like my fat ladies- wish I had more!
Two I missed out on were- a fat lady laying on a chaise -with her closet behind her- and holding up a teensy-weensy little yellow bikini- wondering if she should wear it! Too funny!
The other was a fat lady sitting at a very fancy table in a very fancy restaurant- with a huge pink pig sitting across from her. Ladies, we have all at some time felt that way about our dinner partners!
Ah- well lovely drapes and original art can always make our day- other than a great pair of shoes of course!
As Cinderella said "One shoe can change your life."
Have a terrific day

Cheap chic office

Painted old closet sliding doors resting on old file cabinet sprayed with hammerite paint. Paint on the desktop is from Benjamin Moores 'metals' collection....
Louis Vuttion is laying on cork tiled floor that has withstood 12 years of abuse with my rolling office chair and the cork still does not show any wear!

Legs for cheap chic desk

Legs are from Ikea- need them to hold up the far corners

Cheap chic office- and terrific drapery

I think terrific drapery is always the way to splurge. You can save on furniture, as long as it is comfortable - you do not need a $5,000 sofa---- but it can be nice!
However if you cheap out on drapery, window coverings it really shows- you can not hide cheap drapes!

This is my home office and the hub of everything I do-- I needed it to be a relaxing fun place to spend many hours, doing quotes, designing, with great light for colours, relaxing, peaceful and beautiful. It is- I have had the same office for over 10 years now and never tire of the colours, the elegance, the textures, the photos of my friends and family-- and my luscious white silk drapes. I am also lucky to have a wonderful view of my front garden which I enjoy during the day, and enjoy the simplicity of the drawn drapes at night.

I certainly saved on the furniture, except for my chair, collected the knick-nacks and picture frames over a few years and splurged on a great piece of original art by Jennifer Garant!

I love being here- it infuses me with creativity- like I say " Beauty is so under-rated in life. Beauty lifts our soul'

Enjoy finding your beautiful place and making it your very own.

http://www.jennifergarant.com

Wise words from a hardworking lucky girl!

Cheap Chic office

cheap chic office

Office desk vignette

Personalize your desk area
Ah the spot you see is from the 'air freshener' that spilled! It took the paint and lacquer right off the top- I think perhaps we should not have these lovely liquid air fresheners in our houses. I think maybe- highly carcinogenic? Hey if it lifts paint and lacquer-- no more for me in my house!
(and I wiped it up right after I spilled it!)

The Brag Girls

Yes, I got my new Brag panty pak.... it matches my 'Brag' and is made just as well! .....cute little inside pockets- nicely named even- 'Clean' and 'Not so Clean'- how sweet! The 'not so clean even has a solid pocket lining- keeps the other side 'fresher'.

Pockets on the outside as well -- too cute!

Perfect for a friend that has everything and likes to travel- or for you and your travel dreams!

thebragcompany.com

Let them know you heard about them from Raine!

Budget decor

Most of us these days have to watch our budgets-- ughhh! However, for the next few weeks I will be posting budget ideas, to-dos, am doing, and have done projects.

In addition, I will show you some of the great haunts I have discovered for budget products!

In decor, like most things in life- we have to choose when to splurge and when to save.

Marble floors for one client was a splurge- I do believe though in spending on the main elements of a project...... lighting can be a splurge or a save.

Furniture- again splurge or save- repurpose.

Drapery, well I have to admit here I think store bought tab drapes always look like store bought tab drapes and I am a big fan of splurging here- the splurge can be relative though- big or small splurge?

After much deliberation and seeking out fabrics I think we will go with a white silk for a bedroom I am presently working on. The window is small, faces north-east so not too much sun will hit it- as silk 'rots' under heavy sun so this must be considered before splurging on this type of window covering- but sometimes only silk will work!

Stay tuned!

Home Staging!

I have been helping a friend look for a 'new' gently pre-owned home to buy lately and frankly are surprised what a mess is out there!
Folks, clean up your houses before you have pictures taken! You would not believe how many people have un-made beds in their 'For Sale' pictures, kitchens a mess, clutter everywhere! Then you wonder why your house is not getting viewed in person?
This is a neat little trick you can use for decorating and well as trying to decide what to edit from your home.... take pictures of your spaces in black and white- then edit until the black and white images look good !
It highlights scale, balance and proportion--- it does not mask an unmade bed though!
Spending the $50.00 dollars an hour to hire a stager truly would make a huge difference in a lot of these homes I have seen lately!

Close up of perfume cabinet

The owner of this house wanted a simple clean space to highlight her extensive collection of miniature perfume bottles.... that she never uses - execpt for the bottle of GEM- which is no longer available but if you find one highly recommended you buy it!

A male friend who has smelled this remarked- well things we cannot say on this blog- but ladies truly you should indulge if you can find a bottle- even an old one!

Perfume Cabinet in bathroom

Perfume cabinet from mirrored dressing area.

Views of Perfume Cabinet...

These are the views you see walking past the back entrance- the perfume cabinet is reflected in the mirror above the sink- drawing you in and creating interest in an otherwise very simple white on white space.

Small half bath off master bedroom and back entrance

Click on images for larger view)

This is a small half bath off of a master bedroom in a 1960's house. The rear entrance which is rarely used had a bench, lino floor that was starting to sag. The owner of the house a single woman actually wanted more closet space than she had in the small walk-in closet in the master bedroom. In addition there was an exterior swing door- which we kept- a swing door into the bathroom from the rear entry, a swing door into the hallway in addition to the existing pocket door that went into the bedroom area.

To open up the space we installed pocket doors to the hallway and from the back entrance to the bathroom. She basically wanted a dressing area as well. We installed electrical inside the sliding mirrored closet doors to allow for a steamer.

We installed large 24 x 24 marble tile on a diangle with white grout to create a flow and the look of one large piece of marble. (I do not recommend white grout in commonly used areas as this is a true labour of love to keep clean).

We also included a wall hung sink and cabinet to extend the feel of the small space.
Our splurges were the tile and installation,(over $2000.00) save on the cabinet, sink, taps and mirror (total for all three was 600.00).

In addition, while we truly wanted a TOTO toilet-low flush (but actually works even with teenage boys- if you know what I mean?) our budget was getting out of hand so we re-purposed the relatively new existing toilet with the plans of down the road installing a TOTO- which has the same white finish as the sink.....aghhh budgets!

In an ongoing theme throughout the house in order to re-create the minimilist mid-century modern feel of the home all the moldings were removed from all the interior doors... creating a simple smooth look that highlights the architecture and simple lines. All the door frames were matched to be the same height further eliminating visual clutter and allowing the eye to follow the lines of the home.

Gelato

I have been wondering lately why the huge difference in gelatos.... some are so creamy, others more like sorbets.


I have the answer..... often both types are called Gelato-- the creamier ones are from recipes from the North of Italy-- and then the fruit based 'icer' ones are more often from the Southern regions (historically)


Gelato is Italy’s version of ice cream, with three major differences. First, gelato has significantly less butterfat than ice cream's typical 18 and 26 percent. Tests conducted by Delaware’s Department of Agriculture confirmed vanilla and chocolate gelato both have less than 10 percent butterfat.

However, less fat does not mean less taste. With the lower butterfat content, gelato is less solidly frozen than ice cream and melts in the mouth faster.Therefore, the customer will taste gelato’s full flavor immediately.

Second, gelato has a much higher density than ice cream. Ice cream is produced by mixing cream, milk and sugar, then adding air. Manufacturers add air to ice cream because it nearly doubles the quantity of their product. But, it cuts their quality in half. No air is added to gelato. The result is a higher quality dessert with a richer, creamier taste.

Third, gelato is served slightly warmer than ice cream. While both gelato and ice cream are served well below the freezing temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, gelato is served 10 to 15 degrees warmer than ice cream. Because it is less solidly frozen, gelato’s taste is further enhanced as it melts in the mouth.

Many cafes use real fruit, nuts, chocolates, milk and cream, not syrups, to make award winning gelato. Three centuries ago, northern and southern Italy created two separate and distinct gelato recipes. In the north, the people of Dolomite made gelato with fresh milk, cream and sugar. In Sicily, the southern Italians used a predominantly water-based gelato with fresh fruit.

Lady Rothschild

When asked about her taste for the luxe life, Lady De Rothschild remarked...

"I don't think being rich is all that important. I think not being boring is really important."



Well said!

Dacapo

Interesting little spot. Thought I would drop in with a friend to check out the Gelato and try a few little appetizers.
Well, they really do not have nibbles, good wine-but pricey-- chairs are not there for a long sit-hard on the behind.
Cleary the intention here is to get in -eat and get out.
I had a pizza with a dribble of truffle oil, very thin slivers of artichokes and I think there was supposed to be some basil on it, I could not see any. Also the thin crust pizza could of used a tad more heat (as in I think it was too rare).
However- I was there for the gelato and that did not disappoint. Terrific... one of the best I must admit.
Service was okay- but I felt we were boring the staff by being there-- and also BRING CASH. Surprise, this must be the only restaurant in Edmonton (or the northern hempisphere) that does not take credit cards or debit. They do have a private cash machine on the premises if you like paying $10.00 per withdrawal.
Would I go again- yes to pick up the gelato and take it home.
The gelato was worth it!
109 Street and 85 Avenue- on the west side of the street just before you go down the hill- across from High Level Dinner (gosh have not been there in years! It used to be a great place for Sunday brunch- back before kids made Sunday brunches a thing of the past!)

Kerstin's Chocolates Edmonton

Chocolate!
The true gift of the gods, the forgotten major food group, the medicine to reward the soul (and women’s hormones) Chocolate!

In my ever expanding world of chocolate I have discovered yet another little chocolate place.
Kerstin’s Chocolates
10139 112 Street
Edmonton

Tucked away in the lower level of a residential/commercial condo complex this is a delite as you enter the door. The décor is friendly and cosmopolitan, the layout of the delicious little lumps of chocolate are (excuse the bad pun) tasteful and elegant. The merchandise is unique and lovingly displayed….

Now, what about the taste.
I sample a few of the creations, ginger dipped chocolate, pears, pepper infused ganaches, ginger and chocolate delectables. Very unique flavour combinations, chocolate caviar and the cacao buds---! These were a surprise there was none of the bitterness we would expect from this single sourced chocolate rather a exhilarating taste of roses, or was it cherry, or was it….? It was sweet but wonderfully so!

The combinations of the chocolates found here come from the owner’s travels and life experiences in Tokyo and New York. Once I heard this all these strange and wonderful combinations made sense.

Certainly a place to drop in an visit for unique chocolate combinations!
I will be going back!

They also have chocolate tastings (which I highly recommend one takes at least one chocolate tasting in their life-----. I had one booked but it ended up being on the only nice weekend we have had in Edmonton this summer- so I canceled! I do think, the Single Source Chocolate Tastings at Kerstin’s would be well worth it!

Tell her Raine sent you!

http://www.kerstinschocolates.com/

Debbie Travis Get-away!

WOMEN'S TUSCAN GETAWAY SEPTEMBER 2009Debbie Travis, home decorating icon, wants to share her success with other women. Not for an hour in a stuffy conference hall, but a week in a magnificent location under the Tuscan sun. When the retreat begins, each participant will receive an ANICHINI robe as a special gift from Debbie. These luxurious robes are the perfect lounge wear for idyllic relaxation.Travis' success spans numerous television shows, 9 best selling books, a syndicated newspaper column, a 60MM$/yr home product line, 2 television production companies, and a design/branding studio.Her unique retreat takes place in southern Tuscany at a luxurious ancient villa.For more information, click here.