A melhor decoração Home

So where do designers go to treat themselves for fun, friendship and decadence in Ottawa?

Recently we attended a fabulous "City Bites" tasting dinner hosted by foodie Shawna Wagman at the Urban Element event kitchen. The theme :  to learn about the 5th flavor called Umami, basically meaning savouriness. Here is one of our favorite dishes created by chef Steve Wall [balsamic shiitake mushrooms, cauliflower puree and Parmesan tuile] :

Although food was the focus, we of course couldn't help but admire the gorgeous space created by the owners, Carley and Oliver Schelck. The open kitchen, soft lighting and complementary textures [e.g. glazed brick, polished concrete, brushed stainless steel] make for perfect dinner theater - a feast for all the senses.


Here is Steve contemplating in the fabulous cooking theater - check out the gorgeous brickwork [this space was formerly a fire station] slab of marble in the foreground ! :

And just when we were winding down, full and happy and sleepy, a stop at the washroom started a debate about the walls of all things ! Is it wallpaper or is it a mural? Have a look and see for yourself....regardless, the design is sublime :





Thank you Urban Element for treating us to a slice of sensational heaven.!

At the request of the NAC, we were asked to design a funky temporary space for the artists, musicians, filmmakers, etc of Prairie Scene to hang out when not performing. Prairie Scene is an arts/ cultural festival that takes place in Ottawa every two years and that promotes the creative talents of our Manitoba and Saskatchewan friends such as director and film maker Guy Maddin :

So where do these folks hang out when not performing? Well one answer is their hotel room, however the NAC wanted to provide a space they could not only relax in with a book, but be able to grab a coffee or snack during the day, meet with other artists and festival staff and to party !

Our main inspiration was retro -  hipster tavern - geek chic such as That 70's Show, Ace Hotel, Douglas Coupland and Wayne's World.  Here are a few images which were included on the Look and Feel board we presented to the NAC for approval :









Here is a during photo of the set-up...notice the hideous carpet and wallpaper we had to work with at a local downtown hotel where the room is situated...and we could NOT attach anything to the existing walls, ceiling, etc. ! :


They liked all our ideas except for the "rural" aspect....guess the M & S are not amused with being grouped in with farmers and what not...so the appropriate adjustments were made to our design and voila - our temporary cafe/club as witnessed last Saturday night's after party for Guy Maddin's re-make of Tales from the Gimli Hospital :


Notice the billboard-type lit wall panels, bulletin board columns, retro lamps, faux trees and imitation crows.... not shown : hand printed alphabet pillows that spell out S-A-S-K-A-T-C-H-E-W-A-N-M-A-N-I-T-O-B-A

We hope you get a sense of the ambiance we created and hope that everyone had as great a time as we did.
Blogatchlater!

You, our dear readers, are invited to our 1st annual 66 Muriel Street Open House party on November 25th from 5-8pm.

Come and see where we work and talk to us about our latest interior design projects, inspirations and experiences.  We promise to be on our best behavior!  - Carrie, Karyn & Yvonne

Well, in case you haven't figured it out by now, women [at least my friends] are highly sensitive to their surroundings. We need to feel safe and warm and comfortable in general. If you are to have a chance 'in hell' of us staying over night, you must make the minimum effort ! Here is a partial list of ways to make your pad more inviting, from an interior design point-of-view :

1] Buy a 'decent' sofa. By decent I mean something not too big - a 3 seater is ok, a sectional is optimal if you have the room. That way you can each sit on a 'section' for cozy conversation and beverage partaking :

If your living room is small, a love seat is ok if you can add a lounge chair too [there's nothing more embarrassing than sitting too close to someone you barely know!] :



Lastly, you don't have to spend a fortune, but please no scratchy nylon or sweat inducing vinyl. Something soft like us :-)

2] Consider window coverings. Does your living or dining room look out onto a public street or parking lot? If so, window coverings are a nice way to keep the nosy neighbors at bay.



Getting blinds or curtains doesn't mean you are a wuss or Martha Stewart wanna be. Notice the clean gender-neutral color, style and quality of these roman blinds. Simple and functional. Love it !!


3] Get a good floor and/or table lamp[s]. Nothing creates the right mood better than soft indirect light.
Look at how simple, elegant AND masculine this lamp is :



or you can kill 2 birds with 1 stone, i.e. a good lamp and a piece of art [see number 5] like this gorgeous piece designed by Ottawa architect Rick Shean :



4] If you have hardwood floors, shop for an area rug. If not [i.e. you have carpeting] get a coffee table. Or both.  Rugs and tables are great ways to add warmth and soften sounds in a room, thus creating more comfort. They visibly tie a room together which further creates visual comfort and coziness.


Don't be afraid of shag - there are some great affordable and highly luxurious choices out there including the Kymo brand from Alteriors :



5] Treat yourself to something special.  Buying a piece of art or beautiful object d'art says a little something about you and your softer side. Here is a great painting by cky's Carrie Colton painted in 2003 and purchased by Yvonne way before they were partners or even friends !


 And finally a really cool fruit bowl by Alessi
 
There. Now if that doesn't get the girl, you've got the wrong girl...
Blogatcha later,
Y