Food, Inc.

Again, during my research into food, I found this movie at the local movie rental shop. It is a MUST WATCH!
You truly will get on the food band-wagon, as I am!
Next to add to my re-cylcing and working on getting more vegtables into my back garden, side garden while taking care of the soil- I will be adding Farmers Markets to my grocey shopping-- and how to do this and feed a 22 year old athletic son on a restricted budget will be an adventure for sure!
Stay tuned in my new travels.

Cute -but too expensive!

these are both images of sinks and vanities from one of our large big box stores!

I must get you the contact for the second hand store I shop at-- actually many of the items are brand new! Note the 929.00 price tag on the first item that does not include the counter/sink or the taps! I pay about $500.00 for cabinets, sink, counter and taps at two of my finds.

If you want a custom paint look-simply paint over the standard issue.

I will get you the names- best if you live in Edmonton and are trying to save money!

Brilliant Friends

I know some of the most brilliant people!
The gentleman that made this chair- and yes he is a true gentleman as well- is a brilliant artist!
I am presently begging him to allow me to post some images of an incredible dining table he has made- but it is "just not finished yet". Artists!
For my little story on chic cheap offices, he had to show me his version of the old door turned into a desk. OMG- it is almost impossible to take an image of it because it has such a high gloss sheen to it! An old door, a very old door, the panes filled with resins, polished with little treats and surprises hidden within the various panes! I must get you an image!
Then, he is also working on a major art production that will bring a type of modern earth friendly, inter-active sculpture to the masses!
We must wait for that- trust me though I want to put my commission in already!
In the meantime- while I beg and cajole with him- the image above is a piece he made with layers of wood veneers, polish and an old metal chair!

Talk about re-purposing, re-using! This chair is so comfy, so very neat! In, addition, it was saved from a landfill! Now this is an artist that deserves some of that art grant money! His art, most of it, uses scraps of woods, vaneers, old wood furniture turned into art and saved from the land fills !

Bisque from lobster 'bones'

I understand this may sound silly- when we are all trying to save money- but lobster bisque is fantastic. Please though, I splurged in August and held my annual Lobster party. I had left over bodies, a tail (which my son ate before I could add it to the soup) and some claws. Rather than throw all this away I froze the left-overs and just made some bisque. Re-use don't throw out!
This winter my family will be eating roasts and full chickens- then soups and stews made with the bones and left-overs! One must save money!
The recipe...... sorry I am not that great on measuring. Which brings me to the cloves- I did not realize there was no little holed cap on the spice jar and there is more cloves in this soup than there should be- and it is fantastic!
'Bones of three lobsters'
I smashed the bones, tore apart the bodies and threw them all in a big pot, one container of chicken stock, one onion, three bayleaves and too much cloves!
I kept the meat on the side
Simmered the bones and the chicken stock for half an hour- drained the stock.
1/4 cup of butter melting in pot, 1/4 cup of flour- heated until dissolved add 2 cups of milk and brought to a light boil stirring to ensure no lumps.
Then I added the reserved stock, and the meat and slowly heated for about 10 minutes.
Voila- lovely silky smooth bisque that really did not cost me anything!

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.

Ryan's Room

Simple space for a young man to sleep and study.

I had all the walls skimcoated, removed the popcorn ceiling and had new drywall installed for a nice sleek look and a new fan.

New buys were only the desk, chair and desklight-- and of course the closet organizer.

Basically a budget redo- but much improved!

YUMMY!

When I was in school- one of our teachers (decorating school at university) was obsessed with the tone on tone of browns! (UGHHH-- ) Sorry that was not my decade... while I love lattes I have never had any desire to live in one!

Hence, when the entire world wanted interiors with beige floors, tan walls, chocolate furniture- I could not get on that train!

For the record, everyone knew in that class all you had to do was hand in every assignment done in tones of "greige" and you would get a good mark..., me not so smart! I had to hand in my assignments in colours taken from Russian jewels-- and the teacher hated it of course!

What the heck- we can't sell out for marks all the time!

Interview with Tammy McKay- GO DESIGN

Go Design Group

Interview with Tammy McKay


Tammy MacKay the vivacious mother of two teenage sons, a one year old daughter and one more little girl that is due to join the family very soon also teaches Residential Interior Decorating at the University of Alberta while leading a professional team of 5 ladies at her company ‘ Design Group’. The west-end Edmonton based design company has just celebrated it’s fifth birthday and has experience in both residential and commercial applications. Tammy shared with Condo Living what some of her secrets to ensuring customer satisfaction with her clients.


What are you finding to the major needs and wants of your clients?

“Considering the demographic shift that is taking place amongst condo owners we are seeing a higher disposal income and for many owning a condo is becoming a prestige item. Many of our clients’ have two or more residences and find condo living more conducive to their busy lifestyles”


Globalization and the internet has created an awareness of better design to the masses. Clients are paying for smarter use of their square footage over the concept of larger spaces. Luxury is the top of the list for many condo buyers. The use of high-end materials- travertine, quartz, beautiful finishes that are also eco- friendly. Reclaimed wood is becoming very popular as is engineered woods over the use of solid wood for flooring. Another area we are finding a serious interest in is energy conservation and the purchases of higher end appliances.

“Clients are very smart and savvy, they want to be good citizens of the world and care for their planet”

What makes good design in your opinion?

Good design to me is about a holistic approach, not just does it look good but does it feel right- it has to feel right in order to work… design should be for all your senses—does it feel right.

When I design a place I want to include all the 5 senses in the space- the luxury feel again-especially in residential. I truly believe in tactile texture in my spaces.

How to you start a project and how to ensure each space feels fresh not a repeat of what you have done before?

“I start with the ‘Principles of Design’ and that is still what I do every time I design a space- I sit down and think what is the purpose for this space and what do I need to do—what is the concept I want to create for my client.”

The five ‘Principles of Design are’ colour, space, texture, light, and line.

You can never go wrong if you use and follow the rules of the ‘Principles of Design’- you can never go wrong- you can break them but you need to know what they are in order to break them correctly. So, yes, I always start with a piece of paper and write down the principles and in what order I am going to give them significance.

My clients are very savvy and design orientated so what I do is simply guide them through the process of what they want to ensure their vision is executed to the highest standards. Sometimes I do push them a bit and offer perhaps a more dramatic element then they originally thought about.

In my opinion light is the most important of all the design principles and I like to utilize lighting as one of the main proponents of my design. We are using much more layering in lighting then we have in the past. If you think about your favourite restaurant for example you will find it is the ambiance you actually like sometimes even over the food. It is how you feel while you are in the restaurant space and I think if people thought about it they would appreciate the ambiance of their favourite spaces is highly dependent on the lighting in those spaces.

We are now using on an average of 5 different light sources in rooms to achieve this layering of light and it makes a dramatic difference in the feel of the spaces once they are completed. I think the layering and the technical aspects of what professional designers are able to create is what separate them from the amateur decorators.

What do you consider to be the most important skills of a designer?


“My clients trust me, which is one of the most important elements in a successful venture. Perhaps when I am suggesting a crimson ceiling in the dining room my client may think that is too much- but if we carefully layer that element we will end up with a dramatic space, but my client needs to trust me in order to allow me to create a perfect space for them. We need to have excellent communication skills, empathy for our clients and they need to feel safe and secure when dealing with our staff.

Empathy, we need to feel what and why our clients want –it is not about us. It is about asking and discovering what our clients want to feel in their space. It is not so much about what they want to use as far as colours but more importantly how they want to feel in this space.

Summer finally

What a ‘wonky’ season!


Like most of you- I am certainly glad to see the backend of this winter. The touches of green dotting my yard….. even the mud puddles make me happy! The leftover leaves mushed into my grass topped by branches from last year’s winter storms make me very happy I booked my spring clean up last fall! Hope you have your clean up booked!

New soffits are arriving shortly complete with new eaves topped with fancy gizmos so I don’t have to clean them. Nice, especially since I have a 40 plus foot tree hanging over most of the roof of my house and I tend to be extremely clumsy! (Gosh lately I fell off my high heels- no wonder my family is worried when I get on the roof!) Once again though- I booked the soffit folks early in the spring.

The broken window in the basement, that was broken last summer, and front door jamb- finally will get fixed. Like many of you I had to wait along time to find a window/door company that would come and look at such a small job. I did finally find one. Wow- things are starting to happen at this old house.

Sexy and cool “green” Luxury

In the world’s new awareness of ‘green’ and being ‘green’ is now a trendy idea amongst the Prada clad stylish and not reserved for ‘hippies’ are propelling a new market.

Bamboo as we are familiar with is the harsh grass used to build huts, baskets, and floors for the super stylish and now it is used for fabric!

In my search for new towels and sheets I discovered the most luxurious ‘hand’ (the industry term for fabric and how it feels- well on your hand) of bamboo. Standing in front of the display shouting to my shopping partner “You have to come and feel this.”

I’ve had a ‘thing’ my entire life for ‘scratchy things’. I simply do not like things that look or feel scratchy. This bamboo towelling had a decidedly not scratchy feel to it- it had an OMG feel to it!

“If you like the towels feel the bathrobes” came a voice from over my shoulder while a thick mass of white terry towel was trust in my hand. Wow- this bathrobe was similar to the wonderful white terry ones we find in fine hotels with their gold threaded logo monogrammed on the front- but this robe was on steroids! Yummy!

“Feel this” a large fine sheet was being pulled out for my fingers to rub over- and yet again the luxury was amazing. The sheet was fine- light silky but not satiny and simply amazing.

“Okay- enough! I have to try these”

Walking away shaking my head- my shopping list got a touch carried away. White bamboo towels, white and ivory coloured bamboo sheets, a silk summer duvet and then pillows made from Kopak. Kopak being a tree from Africa and the ‘fluff’ harvested to create pillows that are allergy free, easy to clean, eco-friendly and also adjustable. Just can open the zipper on one end and pull out enough ‘stuffing’ until you get the correct firmness for yourself, neat idea.

“This feels like 800 thread Egyptian cotton’ exclaimed one of my better heeled friends. Me- I have never slept on 800 thread Egyptian cotton to know. The closest I have ever come to Egyptian cotton was when I copped a feel of some sheets at Harrods department store in London a few years ago. They were light, soft and I did not dare even to look at the price- but they did not cause me to gasp with anticipation like the simple bamboo ones that had been presented to me!

Frette and Pratesi bed linens are two of the favs amongst the fashionable and famous types. However they carry price tags of around $1450.00 a set and are a tad out of my reach. Then following those two luxury brand names comes SFERRA – these I have never had the privilege of touching- and at $15,000.00 a set- I doubt I ever will. Bamboo and me will have to take a chance at this- these I can afford!

Here goes, freshly washed feeling like wisps of nothing, I had no other chance but to think of the Emperors new clothes—there was nothing here! Laying the new silk duvet over the fresh bed wondering how is this flat pancake bit of muslin covered silk going to feel. I like the fluff and down of feathers. This silk summer duvet is flat- not luxurious looking at all. No fluff- and I guess as anyone that knows me will admit I like ‘fluff’. I ‘adjusted my new pillows to the softer end of the firmness scale and crawled in.

OMG- I had now had my sheets, duvet and pillows for a few weeks and every night I enjoy the feel of the smooth elegant fabric sailing over my skin. This is a feel everyone should enjoy it is like being under a whisper of a cloud! Honestly, the bamboo is the most truly amazing feel I have ever encountered, the silk duvet so light with just the perfect amount of density to feel like nothing is on you while still so cozy you do not ever want to get out of bed.

Bamboo towels? Yum--- the fabric glides over your wet skin and lightly absorbs the moisture like a magnet sucking up the moisture- eliminating the exfoliation action needed with cotton towels. The entire collection washes up like a dream.
Only one little glitch – if you like your sheets and pillow cases wrinkle free or close to remember to grab them from the dryer right away as the fabric wrinkles like fine linen. A touch of the iron on the cases and top of the sheets may help to create a true top-notch visual effect.

In addition to the wonderful feel—being a 40 something woman—the sheets feel cool—which makes the sleep for some of us that are having some ‘night sweats’ much more luxurious! In addition the sheets are so soft that you easily ditch your jammies and sleep ‘au natural’. The ‘au natural’ sleep is great for us ‘older’ women- young couples- newlyweds- well you get the idea!