Design by Samantha Pynn and Joel Bray, image from HGTV.ca

One of my favourite TV designers, Samantha Pynn, debuted her new HGTV show last night - Summer Home.  This show was actually on last year, but with a different host.  I’m super excited to see Sam designing the cabins and cottages this year!  She has a sweet, fresh style that will be perfect.  (And she loves chairs even more than I do!  When she was at the Home Show here in Regina, she said she has a storage locker just for chairs… I wish!)

Design by Samantha Pynn, image from the National Post

Design by Samantha Pynn and Joel Bray, Photograph by Virginia MacDonald, via Decor Happy

I’m excited to see what else she does.  I have a soft spot in my heart for cabins and cottages (I think western Canadians call ‘em cabins, and Easterners call them cottages…).  Growing up we would rent a cabin up in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan for a few weeks in the summer (and one memorable and VERY snowy Thanksgiving weekend.)  And I love beach cottage style.  If we ever had an extra pile of money lying around a cabin would definitely be on my “to buy” list.

You can check out some of my cottage dreaming on my Pinterest page. 

  Remember my last post about Sarah 101?  I believe I said Sarah had gone crazy with colour, pattern, and generally more eclectic style.  Sometimes I loved it, and sometimes it was a bit much for me.  I said old-school Sarah fans were lamenting the lack of creamy neutrals and pale pastels.  Well, I think the second half of Sarah 101 on HGTV Canada must have appeased those fans!

The first episode of the second half was a bathroom… something that is always delightful to watch Sarah do.  (Unfortunately both showings of this episode aired without sound for some reason.  So I’m waiting until they re-show the episode sometime to actually hear what was said.  But I still watched the whole episode in silence!)

Even though she’s been tempted to use colourful tiles in bathrooms before, Sarah always seems to stick to neutral, fail-safe colours that will last the test of time since bathroom renos (and tile) can be pretty costly.  So this room felt pretty classic Sarah. One of my favourite things was the striped look of the tile in the shower:

  Then Sarah and Tommy tackled an old 70’s kitchen.  This one was interesting to see the transformation, since they kept the original cabinetry.  On the TV screen at times the sand and beige colours looked peachy, which was unfortunate (with the turquoise it was reminiscent of an 80’s A&W), but I believe the colours were more linen-y beige then peach.  

I loved the turquoise island, the fresh white cabinets, the pendant lights, and some of the smart solutions used throughout.

This bedroom was lovely, but I was reeeeally surprised at how beige it was.  Sarah and Tommy don’t usually do just beige.  And especially after the first half of the season was so bold this neutral scheme was a 180 degree turn.  However, I can also see how this neutral beige+pale pink scheme is very en trende with a lot of the nude colour schemes seen in fashion and decor right now (see this post from Marcus Design). Overall I thought the room was quite pretty, but beige still doesn’t light my fire.

Next came the basement - I thoroughly enjoyed the episode.  The space planning was great to see, the fabrics were lovely, and a good basement reno always feels so cozy and comfy to me.  Again this room was largely neutral with pops of red and pattern on things like pillows and drapes… a little more “old” Sarah approach.

This sunny laundry makeover gave us another another pastel room (seriously, the whole last half of the season was neutral or pastel!).  This laundry room was quite lovely - bringing colour and lightness to a dingy basement room.  I loved the rubber floor Tommy sourced - practical and pretty.  I also loved the chandelier.  But since checkerboard tile doesn’t appeal to me I wasn’t a fan of the backsplash (or the floor in the previously mentioned kitchen).

I also decided when we move I’m going to make sure we don’t get those oversized washer & dryers with the big drawers on the bottom.  It’s so much nicer when they can fit under the counter.  These oversized appliances are like the equivalent of giant refrigerators that bulge out from the kitchen cabinetry.  I thought they integrated them well here… but wouldn’t it be lovely to have a longer stretch of counter top?

And finally a great black-and-white scheme for a condo.  I loved the big photo wall.  (I usually do), and how can you go wrong with black and white?

So there it is!  Sarah 101 all wrapped up!  Overall it was really interesting, full of surprises, had a number of helpful and unique design tips, was quite diverse in styles, had some fabulous makeovers, and was, as always, fun to watch.  

(photos from HGTV.ca … I believe most were taken by Stacey Brandford)

Tuesdays are good days.  Each week I get Little M down for his post-lunch nap and wonder what kind of design adventure Sarah Richardson and Thomas Smythe have up their sleeves for another episode of Sarah 101 (Tuesdays on HGTV Canada).  (Doesn’t my life sound thrilling?) ;)

I’d say this show is in many ways a departure from her previous shows in aesthetic.  Though Sarah 101 still has oodles of “Sarah signatures” (painted furniture, a touch of sparkle, throw pillows with buttons…) and does sort of pick up where Sarah’s House 3 left off (in using more colour and pattern), it also goes a little crazy.

The biggest factors are her use of colour and pattern, and an overall more eclectic look.  Now I know out there on the message boards there are a ton of women having heart attacks since their love of Sarah stems from the predominantly white and cream years of Design Inc., or even the very pastel-y years of Room Service.  I also love when Sarah embraces white and cream, but for myself I think it’s neat to watch a designer evolve since style and design evolves too.  And why shouldn’t she push the envelope?  I think people in touch with design outside of HGTV know that Sarah’s hardly the kookiest designer there is.  

So the results thus far are a mixed bag in my opinion… Check it out and let me know what you think!

EPISODE 1: “VIBRANT LIVING AND DINING ROOM”

This room sort of “broke us in” for the season.  While the walls were neutral and the chaise and drapes were mostly cream… there was a hot pink sofa.  And hot pink dining chairs.  And some pretty bold fabrics.

And I loved it all!  A bold scheme (I mean it’s pink.  C’mon.) but the overall look worked.

EPISODE TWO: “SOPHISTO-NURSERY”

Other than hating the name of this episode (yeesh) I really liked a lot about this one.  Blue and orange is one of my favourite colour combos, and I thought this was marvy-fab.  (I stole that word - “marvy-fab”- from an Archie comic, I think.  It sounds almost as cool as “Sophisto-Nursery”.) ;)

In addition to the colour scheme, I’m in love with the wallpapered ceiling.  I think it’s a great move in a nursery.  Period.  And it helped that the intricate paisley pattern was gorgeous.  Other plusses? Drapes. (The fabric is great, and Tommy finally got his ball fringe.)  Light fixtures.  The piece used for a change table.  The stripes.  And I totally agree that a boy could “grow up in” this room.

My detractions?  It depends on the baby you have, but I never could have survived my many sleepless nights with Little M in that chair.  I need rock.  I need recline.  Swivel will not cut it.  However it’s a chair a kid could love when he’s older.  Also the floor plan felt a bit funny to me with the crib peninsula’d like that.  (Though I might feel differently actually standing in the room.)  And the picture frame arrangement isn’t my cup of tea.

EPISODE 3: BIG BOX KITCHEN

I liked this kitchen.  Liked.  But it’s maybe a little forgettable.

Obviously it’s a great improvement on the old kitchen, and cool to see Sarah use more IKEA cabinetry (though her IKEA-based farmhouse kitchen in Sarah’s House 3 was magnificent, so you can understand why I’m underwhelmed).

The biggest issue for the kitchen was space and layout.  One of my favourite Sarah-isms is that an island isn’t always best.  She uses them sometimes when it’s right, but she’s a big proponent of peninsulas, which just make more sense in some situations.  Here, if you look at the floorplan you can see the island was ridiculous.  I’m not sure I love the peninsula either, though.  So my opinion for this episode is that I don’t really have a strong opinion.

EPISODE 4: INDUSTRIAL SOUL BEDROOM

Loved this one!  A loft bedroom, with some bold colours, and dragon fabric on the bed?  Not exactly what Sarah’s known for.  But after watching the episode a second time I decided it was awesome. I love the use of colour, the roman blinds and drapes with the thick trim, and just how the whole room fit the loft look without being run-of-the-mill.

I also loved how they used the client’s grandfather’s war medals.  The colours were exactly right and the sentiment was perfect.

EPISODE 5: JEWEL DINING ROOM

OK.  Here’s where I have issues.  Overall I do not like this room.  There is a fine line between “Granny Chic” and “An Old Lady Lives Here”.  Maybe the room needed a bit of restraint.  Or maybe a few less straight-up vintage pieces.  But whatever the issue, I just couldn’t dig the overall look.  The nail in the coffin was the painting (seen on the left wall in the picture above.)  When that came out the old lady moved in.

There were many elements that I really liked: Wallpaper? Wonderful.  Chairs?  Charming.  Fabrics?  Fabulous.  Trim?  Terrific.  But when it was all put together it just felt like too much and too old lady.  (No offense, old ladies.)  And so… we move on.

EPISODE 6: BOHO GIRLS’ ROOMS

I love watching any episode on a nursery or child’s room - even if you don’t like the aesthetic, you can usually pick up a good idea or two.  Plus you can be pretty bold in kids’ rooms.  These rooms were a mixed bag for me.  Plenty of cool ideas and cute features, but I’m not in love with either room.  

In the blue room I felt like the scale and composition of the wallpaper animals felt weird (such a tall giraffe paired with a short alligator nearly hidden by the bed frame?  That felt “off” to me.)  And the painted green “hill” effect on the bottom of the wall was too much for this room.  (Funnily enough, as someone who used to paint murals for kids’ rooms I’m really not a fan 99% of the time.)  But I am a fan of the headboards and side tables, and thought the bed arrangement was a cool solution to sharing a small bedroom. (The beds were pushed against the wall with the ends touching, giving the look of one giant daybed.)

EPISODE 7: CONTEMPORARY LIVING ROOM

Sorry, dudes.  Since this is the most recent episode it’s tough to find decent pictures.  When I find some I’ll share.  This room?  I liked.  A lot.  Maybe because even though a couple years ago I was sure the grey-and-yellow scheme would be short-lived I’m still crushing on it.  Also because I like every single fabric used in the room.  And the rugs.  I’m not in the Grasscloth Loving Club, so the wallpaper isn’ for me.  And I’m not someone who’d enjoy a light-box photograph in my living space.  But I can appreciate both elements and like pretty much everything else in the rooms.  Since this show is not done with client consultation I did like how much this design complemented the kitchen which the homeowners had recently renovated.  It’s nice that the whole main living space jives and fits the homeowner’s aesthetic.  (Though I was surprised by the husband’s enthusiastic reaction in episode 1 with the pink sofa.)

So there’s my run-down.  What do you think?  What’ve been your highlights so far?  I’m certainly looking forward to the second half of the season because I really don’t know what to expect…

(Photographs via HGTV.ca, Design Maze, and Rambling Renovators)

So… I just went back and re-read this post and it takes me a while to get to the point.  But I’m not changing it.  Just stick with me, people!

My job is really hard to explain to people who don’t me well.  It is equally awesome and hard.  It is a perfect fit for me… and yet it stretches me.  Anyways, this Sunday was a big day after a really big week.  Sundays are always long and tiring, and this one was the kind when I go home and sink into an unavoidable coma… and wake up from a nap at 7:00pm.  That also means it was the perfect kinda’ night to stay up late (after that monster nap) and devour a brand new blog to distract my brain from thinking about anything work-related.  Lucky me, I found the perfect frivolous pursuit!

Have you heard of Emily Henderson?  

You probably have.  I always feel like when I recommend something like this people are like, “Um, yeah, I followed that blog since forever ago.” and I’m nerdy and out-of-touch.  Kind of like when your mom newly discovers and uses slang from 5 years ago. *cringe*

Whatever.  Maybe you haven’t heard of her.  Maybe you’re uncool like me (Yay!  Let’s start a club!)  This is one situation where I can blame some of it on being Canadian.  (Which I don’t do often, by the way.  Canadians are freaking awesome, it’s just that most people don’t notice and we’re too cool to be all in your face about it.)  But, being Canadian means I don’t have American HGTV.  I have Canadian HGTV.  And 98% of the time that is a very good thing because I get a whole lotta’ Sarah Richardson, and Samantha Pynn.  And my impression of American HGTV is not stellar, because all the shows we get from the US network can be pretty cheezy.  And ugly.  And don’t even get me started on House Hunters.  (Because if you do, I’ll get the strong urge to punch someone in the face.)  But now I’m thinking maybe American HGTV just gives us all their crummy shows, because this Emily Henderson gal is currently working on a show for HGTV that I really want to see…

(But probably won’t see because HGTV USA gives us lame shows because they think we Canadians will be OK with that.  Or maybe the CRTC wants to make us watch the Canadian shows so they only let HGTV Canada pick up the lame American ones.  And maybe HGTV Canada’s sending them all our garbage like Property Shop or She’s Crafty.  *shudder*  That would be so bad.  Wow.  Holy digression, Batman.)  So back to Emily… apparently she was a winner on Design Star - a show I think we might have gotten one season of?  But not hers.  So that’s not even how I found out about her.

First I found some crazy great photos from her portfolio floating around in blogdom that I adored, like this one:

and this one:

And then I found her online portfolio.

And then I found her blog and read, and read, and read.

And then I figured out she’s on TV.

Which is probably the best order from me, cuz if you told me her story and said “read her blog!”  I’d be like “Ugh.  Maybe not,” given my previously stated feelings of sketchiness about American design shows.

Anyways, she has a ridiculously lovely way of taking old stuff and reinventing it, or pairing it with other things and creating a “just right” look that I think lots of you will appreciate.  I particularly love her Flea Market Finds posts… if you like envisioning how something old and forlorn can become a prized piece (I do!) you’ll like them too.  She takes some crazy pieces, but after you’ve seen her work you just know she can make it look tres magnifique.  And she’s a great writer.  And by that I mean terrible speller, but super funny, and readable, and frank.  I like it.

OK… so… go read her blog.  And check out the lovely pictures I’m posting today.  I’m gonna’ go see if I can find Design Star 3 on YouTube, since we can’t watch the episodes on HGTV.com… being above the 49th parallel and all.  yeesh.