Eclectic House: Dining room

Rose Uniacke

Room number two of my eclectic house, is the dining room! This is a sort of controversial room in many modern homes. So many of us rarely sit down for formal meals anymore which begs the question, are they necessary? In the last year or so, I've personally had a change of heart about this issue. I think because I spent the last 5 years in a house that is very "open concept" and without a formal dining space, I've grown weary of not having that option. Its difficult to have many people over, because there's no where to put them! Maybe its a sign of getting older, but I want to have a place where my family can enjoy a quiet meal together in a beautiful environment. Needless to say, I am now Pro-dining room! My only requirement is that it not be the old-fashioned formal room that the kids could never walk into! Make it a creative and welcoming space (even for pesky little boys)

Via Houzz

This is the definition of eclectic, no? I mean the formal chandelier with a rustic table, mid-century chairs and modern art!
Wow!

Via Luxe

Via Houzz

I know we've been seeing chalkboard walls for a couple of years now, but I'm still LOVING them:)

If I could show photos of what goes on in my dreams, one of them would look just like this!

My favorite detail in this room is the charming art on the back wall. I'm not sure if its a photo or painting. Its a very simple piece but a tasteful way of displaying a personal photo. Not easy to do.

Find more of my eclectic house, dining rooms here.

Handmade Pretties

I've been getting a ton of emails asking about our Christmas stockings from the Better Homes & Gardens shoot. 

They had the recycled sweater stockings made for us by Lara Newsom of Handmade Pretties and & I can't get over them!!!  (We have our ratty old sentimental ones that we love for Christmas morning but these beauties are hanging on the mantle :)

We also tied some of her felt ornaments on wrapped packages:

And they're hanging in our tree too:

The boys absolutely love the sweater balls she made...

They're under our tree right now and it's fun to see the boys go in and start playing with them.  It looks like presents waiting under the tree!!  Here they are:

{photo by Lara}

I know Lara is totally backed up before Christmas but if you can wait, it's so worth it!!

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

SABITE Didim, Altinkum

 

Located in Didim

Sabite duplexes are in an exclusive development in Altinkum, consisting of 3, 4 or 5 bedrooms with 1 or 2 bathrooms. The complex is set in beautiful landscaped gardens with a swimming pool, children's pool and 24 hours /365 days security.

Sabite is ideally located within walking distance of shops, a supermarket, bars, restaurants and the Saturday market. The complex is at a short distance to Altinkum and its main beaches and in a very central location to all attractions in town.

SABITE Didim, Altinkum

 

Located in Didim

Sabite duplexes are in an exclusive development in Altinkum, consisting of 3, 4 or 5 bedrooms with 1 or 2 bathrooms. The complex is set in beautiful landscaped gardens with a swimming pool, children's pool and 24 hours /365 days security.

Sabite is ideally located within walking distance of shops, a supermarket, bars, restaurants and the Saturday market. The complex is at a short distance to Altinkum and its main beaches and in a very central location to all attractions in town.

LAGLIO, Como, Lombardia, Italy

 

Features:

• $$$$$$ THE BEST INVESTIMENT OF YOUR LIFE - DON'T LOSE THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY $$$$$$
• UNIQUE AND SUPERB COMO LAKE VIEW, BEAUTIFUL 40 square metres TERRACE
• Gas Fired Central Heating, double glazed windows, wooden floors
• COMO LAKE - LAGLIO (half mile from GEORGE CLOONEY villas)
• Superb condition and tastefully decorated (designed by architects and ITALIAN designers)

COMO LAKE LAGLIO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Half mile from GEORGE CLOONEY villas !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Recently restructured, fantastic 2 level apartment lake view. Fully furnished. Extremely characteristic in the design and the finishes gives a beautiful opportunity to live in such a lovely place. Entrance hall, dining room with kitchen, living room, bathroom with HYDRO MASSAGE shower, two attic bedroom, laundry with SPA and sauna. Every part of this gemstone has a full view to the most beautiful lake in the world.
Nearby the apartment there's a charming tavern made of 1 bedroom and a bathroom with shower.
This place is such particular that can be difficult to explain with words its originality, designed by architects and designers, must be seen and then fall in love with it.

LAGLIO, Como, Lombardia, Italy

 

Features:

• $$$$$$ THE BEST INVESTIMENT OF YOUR LIFE - DON'T LOSE THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY $$$$$$
• UNIQUE AND SUPERB COMO LAKE VIEW, BEAUTIFUL 40 square metres TERRACE
• Gas Fired Central Heating, double glazed windows, wooden floors
• COMO LAKE - LAGLIO (half mile from GEORGE CLOONEY villas)
• Superb condition and tastefully decorated (designed by architects and ITALIAN designers)

COMO LAKE LAGLIO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Half mile from GEORGE CLOONEY villas !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Recently restructured, fantastic 2 level apartment lake view. Fully furnished. Extremely characteristic in the design and the finishes gives a beautiful opportunity to live in such a lovely place. Entrance hall, dining room with kitchen, living room, bathroom with HYDRO MASSAGE shower, two attic bedroom, laundry with SPA and sauna. Every part of this gemstone has a full view to the most beautiful lake in the world.
Nearby the apartment there's a charming tavern made of 1 bedroom and a bathroom with shower.
This place is such particular that can be difficult to explain with words its originality, designed by architects and designers, must be seen and then fall in love with it.

Casa Turquesa, Vista Del Mar, Calle Togio, Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote, Canary,

 

Features:

• Stunning 2 bedroom property with fantastic ocean views
• Private heated swimming pool
• Air conditioning
• Wifi Access
• Excellent rental demand all year round

Casa Turquesa is only 5 years old and is perched on a slighly elevated site in the Old Town of Puerto Del Carmen. The property is located in a walled in complex of similar properties with security gates and cctv being just some of the added features of Vista Del Mar. As the name suggests there is a fantastic view of the ocean from the barbeque patio and swimming pool. There is also a view of the island of Fuertaventura off to the right. The location is ideal being within 1 5 minute walk of the Old town where shops, bars and restaurants are all available.

Casa Turquesa, Vista Del Mar, Calle Togio, Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote, Canary,

 

Features:

• Stunning 2 bedroom property with fantastic ocean views
• Private heated swimming pool
• Air conditioning
• Wifi Access
• Excellent rental demand all year round

Casa Turquesa is only 5 years old and is perched on a slighly elevated site in the Old Town of Puerto Del Carmen. The property is located in a walled in complex of similar properties with security gates and cctv being just some of the added features of Vista Del Mar. As the name suggests there is a fantastic view of the ocean from the barbeque patio and swimming pool. There is also a view of the island of Fuertaventura off to the right. The location is ideal being within 1 5 minute walk of the Old town where shops, bars and restaurants are all available.

Decorated Houses for Halloween 2010 in Vancouver

Take a spooky stroll through Vancouver's West End this Halloween to see all the amazing decorated houses! This vibrant neighbourhood filled with heritage houses, apartments and parks is the perfect place to explore as it lights up (or dims down!) for the spookiest celebration of the year! Don't miss Rand House at the corner of Nelson and Bute streets which is hands down the most impressive in the area and be sure to have a fun and safe Halloween!

Decorated Houses for Halloween 2010 in Vancouver

Take a spooky stroll through Vancouver's West End this Halloween to see all the amazing decorated houses! This vibrant neighbourhood filled with heritage houses, apartments and parks is the perfect place to explore as it lights up (or dims down!) for the spookiest celebration of the year! Don't miss Rand House at the corner of Nelson and Bute streets which is hands down the most impressive in the area and be sure to have a fun and safe Halloween!

Talbitzer Homes at Lacamas Meadows

 

Lacamas Meadows is an exciting new community centrally located, near both Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR. Featuring both Townhomes and Single Family Homes, we're confident you will find a floorplan that is right for you. Plus, you'll find quality homes surrounded by over 4800 lineal feet of walking trails, thousands of feet of natural rock walls and nearby shopping and freeway access. 

Talbitzer Homes at Lacamas Meadows

 

Lacamas Meadows is an exciting new community centrally located, near both Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR. Featuring both Townhomes and Single Family Homes, we're confident you will find a floorplan that is right for you. Plus, you'll find quality homes surrounded by over 4800 lineal feet of walking trails, thousands of feet of natural rock walls and nearby shopping and freeway access. 

Modern A-frame Cottage

This cottage (or lake house) reminds me of a modern take on an A-frame style house. We see a ton of them in northern parts of Michigan with the amount of snow that can accumulate in those areas. The traditional A-frame with the steep sloped roof helps to keep the snow from piling up on the roof over the course of some long winters.

On the interior they used all plywood and just painted it white from the floor to the walls. It's simple and low maintenance - cottage all the way. Throw in an old school wood burner, grab some local wood and you have your heat for the winter.

The cottage has the large glass wall (shown in the top photo) opening up to the lake which I'm sure provides a sweet view. I also think that it's important to take into consideration which direction the natural light will come from and how much shade you will have. These few things can go a long way in helping determine finishes and how you heat and cool the place.

A cool use of exterior materials with the cedar shake and adding color to the few windows in this place. A nice way to make a little statement or add that pop when it seems as though the winter months can bring not just snow but a ton of gray. It's so low maintenance using the natural cedar shingles, perfect for a cottage on the water.

photos by Jens Rotzsch via Arch Daily

Convex Mirrors

{Mount Vernon Federal reproduction Convex Mirror by the Friedman Brothers  $3200}

I've had my eye out for a Federal-style convex mirror for a while...  Alone, they can be very serious pieces, often thought of as formal & symbolic.  Above, the 13 balls surrounding the mirror represents the 13 original colonies, and of course, the Eagle, chosen by our Founding Fathers, symbolizes the United States of America.  Originals and even good reproductions like the mirror above cost in the thousands.   In the 1940s and 1950s, a bunch of reproductions were made out of plastic and other cheaper materials and then painted gold.  I looooove the one below on liveauctioneers.com with a starting bid around $1200. 

In the photo below, Dorothy Draper used a massive ornate convex mirror for the Greenbrier Hotel:

{Dorothy Draper, the Greenbrier Hotel, photo via tilevera.com)

Below, Markham Roberts used a guilded Regency convex mirror above a fireplace in a new home that he worked hard to "age."  This story came out a few years ago and I really loved it because it showed how to add patina and a sense of history & permanence to a brand new home. 

{Markham Roberts in House Beautiful by Eric Piasecki}

...But as formal as Federal style convex mirrors can come across when used traditionally, they can also read modern & fresh when used unconventionally.  Below, Darryl Carter has a painted black convex mirror in his bedroom. 

{Darryl Carter's bedroom in Elle Decor Magazine}

I love Eddie & Jaithan's small white one below.  It's so unexpected and adds a bit of whimsy to the room:

{Eddie Ross in Lonny, photo via Matters of Style blog}

And how pretty and & glam is this mirror layered over mirrors below?

{also Eddie Ross!!}

A bit more versatile are plain convex mirrors as seen in the living room below.  The domed mirror itself is beautiful:

{JB Randall Powers in House Beautiful, photo by Luca Trovato}

Smaller ones can be added almost anywhere:

{image via decoroad}

If you look closely at many of them, you'll see the balls or starts inlaid in the frame reminiscent of the 13 original colonies.  Many of them have exactly 13.

{House Beautiful}

{image via Homeandgarden.com}

The convex mirror below lends a cool vibe to the room.  I love it when the mirror is old & spotted.

{Miles Redd in House Beautiful}

...And... -finally-  I found my very own vintage convex mirror when I was shopping at a thrift store in High Point with my friend Maria of Colour Me Happy.  I think it's one of the 40s or 50s reproductions and I might reguild it.  The mirror has been aged to perfection and it's complete with the 13 balls representing the original Colonies.  It was just the thing missing from above my nightstand:

{my bedroom.. photo by Helen Norman}

I'm always on the lookout for them and ebay has some pretty good deals.  That being said, there's nothing like an original & the beauty & history it posesses, so antique stores & sites selling mirrors in the thousands are also worth looking into if you have the budget.

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Eclectic House: Kitchens

I'm building a virtual house, room by room. I think on the inside I'm a frustrated home builder. So, my first step to fulfilling my housing development dreams is to collect ideas of what I would like to see. Of course what would these houses be but eclectic! The question remains, would anyone buy into my vision?

Via Marie Claire Maison

Via Houzz

Okay, this photo isn't exactly of a kitchen...but its a kitchen skylight! I mean how fantastic is this idea?!

This kitchen may be my favorite. Its spare without losing its earthy feel. I have collected more eclectic kitchens
on my new Houzz profile. Go check it out here