The winner is...

After narrowing down our paint choices and painting some samples on a 2x2 foot piece of drywall, we had a winner - Behr's Observatory. It was a close call between that and Benjamin Moore's Newburg Green, but ultimately we felt that Observatory was a touch more blue.

Source: homedepot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: knightmovesblog.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

We sent the kid off for a weekend with the grandparents and then spent Friday night prepping and all of Saturday painting. I love how the colour highlights our Crate & Barrel pillow shams and I think it looks fantastic with our trim colour. One day down the road we may trade out our bed, I want to change out one of the bedside tables, and we have to add art to the walls (I have several pieces ready to go) but I think that paint made a huge difference in the feel of the room.

We used Valspar's Ultra Premium paint in a satin finish and had it colour matched to Observatory. It only took one gallon and two coats although it probably could have used a third coat. I'm not super happy with the finish but that's probably a result of us not being great painters and a downfall of picking such a dark colour.

Overall, I'm really happy with the result and am yet again amazed at what a difference a can of paint can make.

Here's the before... (pardon the dark photo - I didn't get a chance to take a photo during the day.)

And the after...

Have you painted any rooms in your house recently? Do you have a go-to colour?

Picking Paint

We are at the point in our bedroom beautification process where I have convinced A. that painting the room would be a good idea and we've taped many swatches on the wall to try and narrow down a colour. I've been tracking down inspiration photos that use paint in my favourite colours and now I'm having a hard time narrowing it down.

Here are the front-runners.

Source: thesamplesstore.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: westelm.com via Courtney on Pinterest

This bedroom from West Elm is painted in Benjamin Moore's Marine Blue.

Source: passport2design.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: passport2design.com via Courtney on Pinterest

This fun space uses Benjamin Moore's Newburg Green.

Source: creategirl.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: creategirl.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

I'm diggin' the drama of Benjamin Moore's Old Navy.

Source: thisposhhouse.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: viveredrayton.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Another one that's captured my eye is Benjamin Moore's Twilight. Admittedly, I've only seen the Benjamin Moore colours online. I still need to go to our local store to pick up some paint chips.

Finally, we have two that have been living on our walls for a week and I'm liking them both.

Source: homedepot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Observatory by Behr

Source: lowes.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Admiral Blue by Olympic

We will need to pare it down to two or three colours and then get test pots for the final comparison.

Which one is your favourite?

I'm loving... cozy grey bedrooms

Our master bedroom is large. It's not huge but it's definitely bigger than we are used to and the empty corners tend to be black holes for crap. When we built the house we chose a buttery cream colour hoping that it would be a nice neutral but it's kind of turning our bedroom into a big blah box. We have a TON of natural light in the room (three southwest facing windows) which I think would lend itself well to having a darker colour on the walls. A while ago I did up an inspiration board and sent it off to A. He liked it but doesn't want to spend money on new furniture since we just bought ours when we moved back to Calgary in 2008. I'm hating the matchy-matchyness of the set but in the spirit of using what we have, I think I've come up with a plan.

Here is the inspiration board I came up with awhile ago. Forgive the shoddy quality - I created this using Microsoft Word. Ha!

Source: flickr.com via Courtney on Pinterest

I am obsessed with the Colette bed from Crate & Barrel but since that's not in the cards I am going to swap our bed with the LEIRVIK bed we currently have downstairs in the guest room. (The bed in the photo is actually a more affordable version of the Colette called the Beaconsfield from Sears.) While it was living in the guest room I had plans of painting the frame yellow but against a dark grey wall, I think the white frame will look quite nice. Perhaps something similar to this blue room seen on Design*Sponge.

I wanted to keep the big pieces pretty neutral and bring colour in in the form of seating and accessories. I think two slipper chairs would be perfect under our large south-facing window and in my corner of the room, a fun coat rack would be a great place to hang clothes we intend to wear again.

I have plans to make three map art pieces inspired by a photo seen on Pinterest and I'd like to hack the Ikea RAST 3-drawer chest so that we can split up our current matching side tables.

Source: everythingfab.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

We are going to keep our big dresser but I would like a fun new (king sized! We tend to fight over the covers) duvet cover like this Lucia duvet cover from Crate & Barrel. A gift card I received for Christmas will go a long way in off-setting this cost. (Thanks Elaine!)

Maybe one day we can bring in a small writing desk to place under the window and change out the lamps, but for now I think this is a pretty good start to making our bedroom feel like a sanctuary. Here are a few rooms that are fueling the inspiration.

Source: srgambrel.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: day-lab.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Have you painted any rooms in your house lately? Yearning for a change?

Dining room dreaming

If I could I'd have a giant dining room table like this beauty from Crate & Barrel

 | Pacifica 87" dining table |

and a Wegner Wishbone chair in every colour!

| Image from Jamie Meares |

What a happy dining room that would be!

Christmas mantles

So here's the thing. I LOVE Christmas. I love the festive spirit, I love gathering with family, I love watching the faces of my loved ones as they open gifts, I love holiday TV specials and I love decorated mantles. My mantle? Not decorated (aside from stockings). *sigh* In order to get my fix, I went searching Flickr. Here are some of the pretty pictures I found.

 | boxwoodcottage |

 | megrje |

 | boopsie.daisy |

 | PollyPainting |

| bancroft&ivy |

Is your mantle decorated? Post a link to a picture!

Merry Christmas!!

Spotlight on: Elle Design

Today I am shining the spotlight on another extremely talented interior designer from Calgary. LeAnne Bunnell is the principle designer at Elle Design and says she has been designing since she was a little girl! I'll let LeAnne tell you about herself in her own words.

"My design training has been mostly self taught and in hands on work through many personal renovations and work for friends.  I did take the certificate program at MRC (when it was MRC back in the day) before I launched my business, but I have been ‘designing’ for years.  I recently ran across drawings for my bedroom that I designed from the IKEA catalogue when I was 10.  I even had a spec sheet and all the details for the installation worked out in the plan.  I have apparently been into project management for a looong time!

My particular style when I complete projects for clients?  Hmmm. I always try to use my clients as my muse (of course), but I would say I have a clean and classic filter through which my client’s personality shines through.  

I love working with fabrics, and merging finishes in kitchen and bath projects, although I am hesitant to say it is a specialty.  

The best thing about what I do is that is a completely different job every day, from hour to hour, and from client to client.  And I have the best clients.  Eventually, through the progression of a project, I think of them all as friends."

I find it so exciting to see all of this fantastic talent in my city. I personally think that LeAnne has an incredible future ahead of her!

All photos courtesy of LeAnne Bunnell.

Spotlight on: Linda Trenholm Design

Next up in my Calgary designer spotlight is Linda Trenholm Design.

Linda Trenholm, a graduate of Mount Royal's Interior Design Program (can I just say that the MR program seems to be giving Calgary some serious design talent?!), has been creating inspired spaces for clients for the past 10 years. While she calls her own style "contemporary with an Asian feel, very organic" she's designed spaces covering a wide range of styles and enjoys traditional design with a contemporary twist.

Love, love, love the blue in the above two images!

All images courtesy of Linda Trenholm Design.

Local designers donate services to non-profits

I picked up the October issue of Avenue Calgary yesterday and came across an article about some local companies and designers that donated their time in order to renovate three local non-profit spaces.

 The renovated "spa room" at Hospice Calgary made a huge impact on the comfort of residents.

The three organizations that were highlighted are Hospice Calgary, Aspen, and Highbanks Society. One of the designers that donated her time was Jacqueline Corea who I recently featured here.

What a fantastic cause and use of local talent!

Read the whole article in the October issue of Avenue or on their website.

Spotlight on: Corea Sotropa

If I had a touch more talent, education and drive there are two careers that have long peaked my interest, the first being chef and the second being interior designer. I am truly in awe of those that can look at the bones of a room and instantly have a vision and the means to execute it. On that note, I decided to spotlight four Calgary interior designers/firms.

Up first is Corea Sotropa Interior Design. Lead by principal designer's Jacqueline Corea and Reena Sotropa, both graduates of Mount Royal's Interior Design program, they take on projects as large as full home renovations and as small as furniture placement. Judging by their portfolio, these are two incredibly talented ladies!

All images courtesy of Corea Sotropa Interior Design.

Drowning in bedding

Now that we have two guest bedrooms to furnish and dress I have been on the hunt for bedding.  There are some amazing options out there and, of course, most of what I like is way out of my price range and will remain firmly on my wish list. If you, however, are willing to shell out more for a duvet cover than I am, here are some lovely choices.

 I will forever be in love with this Draper stripe in ash set from DwellStudio.

 Persian bedding collection from John Robshaw Textiles. Hand printed in India!

 This flower blossom duvet cover by Orla Kiely is another favourite.

This Kew Green duvet set is just one beautiful offering from Blissliving Home.