BLACKBOARD WALLS….

I love blackboard walls – I think it brings out the inner child in me – remembering how much fun it was to draw and write on them as a child….

Now it is so easy to do them anywhere, with the blackboard paint – personally I like the black better than the green and now blackboard paint can be in lots of other colours and they can even be made into magnet boards with some magnetic paint.

Here’s some inspiration photos:

 

kitchen design via Houzz

 

 

 

eclectic bathroom design by other metros interior designer Birdhouse Interior Design Consulting via Houzz

And my own blackboard on the back of my pantry door…

My daughters also have done this on their closet doors in their bedrooms and their friends love to leave them little notes and drawings on them.

Most of these photos show a blackboard in the kitchen.  Where would you put a blackboard??

I believe that every space can be comfortable, warm, elegant and beautiful. I would love to help you achieve your beautiful space!

Email me at lisa@lisagouletdesign.com or if in the Ottawa area call me at 613-762-0818.

Lisa

BASKETS, VASES, PAILS, BOXES

Okay, I have to admit that one of my secret, well maybe not so secret obsessions is organization and storage.  I have a small addiction problem collecting containers of all types, shapes and sizes.  I love baskets, vases, pails, boxes, apothecary jars any type of container that can hold things….  I have quite the assortment in my home and cottage and I can’t stop buying them.  I move them around from room to room, home to cottage, cottage to home and change what I store in them almost constantly. I love to find a different use for containers that I hadn’t thought of before.  Here’s some that I have and some that I covet.

traditional bedroom design by seattle architect Bosworth Hoedemaker via Houzz

Such a beautiful armoire…I love armoires and the baskets on top just add to the love.

eclectic kitchen design by new york architect Dufner Heighes Inc via Houzz

What a great unfitted kitchen!  This table/island is spectacular!  Look at those legs!

traditional kitchen design via Houzz

I love seeing baskets in the kitchen.

traditional kitchen design by philadelphia architect Felhandler/ Steeneken Architects via Houzz

More baskets in the kitchen…..

traditional home design via Houzz

I love the woven stool – but I really love the wooden box!

This is an old sap bucket that was left at our cottage so I’m now using it as a vase….

These cute little galvanized pails (from Pottery Barn) are adorable for holding little necessities and they remind me of my sap pail.

This is one of my favourite container to use as a vase, it’s actually an old metal coffee/tea jug.  But I think it is perfect as a flower holder….

I have some of these in my kitchen as well also holding lemons and limes, faux pears and wine corks and some in my bathroom holding cotton balls and Q-tips. These canisters can be used everywhere and for everything.  The pail in the back is pretty cool too!

I love this retro mint green tin container which is in my laundry room filled with detergent. 

Here’s some great glass boxes (also Pottery Barn) that you can use to store or display lots of things…imagine some sand in the bottom with your special seashells from your last beach vacation…..

And of course Ikea’s Emu boxes – I have these everywhere….

One of my favourite things from Ikea - their Antonius basket insert but my daughters and I use them for makeup storage.  Two of them fit perfectly in my long shallow bathroom drawer for keeping eye shadow and lipstick sorted and tidy.

I am loving these Winston baskets from Pottery Barn – they would be great for magazines, too…

Even my pets find new ways to use my storage items.  Here’s how Pixie and Milo like to use my new Pottery Barn basket, which is on top of the bookcase!

Do you have any unique containers that you use in interesting ways? 

MODERN FARMHOUSE STYLE

This feature was shown in the styleathome.com newsletter done by Jackie Glass and senior designer Pia Hugglestone of Jacqueline Glass & Associates and I just love it. It is fresh and clean but still so cosy and comfortable.