Personal Blab, Ink & Reverie, Wish List Wendesday and Art

A few things.

1. I feel like I owe you all a little explanation as to why this...

...has been on a little bit of a hiatus.

At first, I had planned on keeping my personal stuff related to this pause as just that, personal but after a week has passed, I feel like I somehow owe you at least some explanation as to why I haven't been talking #projectdreamhouse as of late.

The long and depressingly short of it is that my husband lost his job last week.

It blows...in every possible way.

Mostly because this was the job my husband has been waiting years for and he loved it...he was so so happy and seeing him that way, made me happy.

Because he's literally the most optimistic person on earth, he is taking it all in stride and I'm trying not to let my personal devastation over the ambiguity of what's going to happen with the new house business cloud his sunny outlook.

He swears the new house is still happening and I so want to believe that it is...I'm trying...really, really hard.

For now, we're looking at different options...the most likely one is that we keep renting the existing house on the lot out until things get settled and then make a decision.

I've learned over the years that most times things happen for a reason and one of the potential thoughts on this track is maybe that lot wasn't perfect for us after all...when hubs a new job as he always does (because PS, he's the hardest working amazing sales guy in the universe...PSS, the roller coaster ride that is working in the telecom industry makes me want to blow my head off) we're talking about the possibility of building a 'spec' house on that lot and then selling it, along with our current house so that we can afford a bigger lot that makes more of my dream house possible.

So...there are options but I really have no fucking idea what one will end up happening...or when...or how.

For now, I'm trying not to stress about it and just really attempting to face each day as it comes.

The sun will come out as they say.....

As a silver lining to this whole things, sweet man is at home with us and it's really so so nice to have him here (don't get me wrong- I need his ass back to work but in the meantime, enjoying the help and company) - partly because it's allowed me to focus alot of my own jobs.

2. On that note, I'm SO excited about what's just around the corner for this blog...I'm re-branding folks...in a large way.  

Stay tuned because thanks to Erika, things are about to get pretty swank around these parts:))

3. Also, I've been doing tons and tons of design work lately, which is super duper awesome.

4. And because I have more than 5 minutes to rug together with an extra set of baby entertaining hands near by, I've been doing lots and lots of painting.

#projectnordic is about to see this 36x48 lady arrive at her door...

Excited about that one.

Also, a fabulously sweet client named Shannon emailed me a picture of one of my pieces in her home...

...which totally made my day.

5. And speaking of day makers, my Stephanie Vovas photograph arrived and well....

...smitten doesn't really cut it.

OBSESSED.

6. Now...and still on the topic of art...and because it's Wednesday...

...first, I'd like to add this SV to my collection of one...

If you haven't already guessed, I luuuuuurrrvvvvv her work.

Next, I posted this picture on instagram a few days ago...

...and was inundated with questions about the artist.

I did some research and found this guy...

...aka... Thrush Holmes Empire.

He's a local Toronto artist and holy Mother tits Therese...LOOK!!!!

NEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDD ONE/ WANT ONE....SO BAD IT HURTS.

An employed husband would help.

Finally, I was reading MFAMB yesterday as I do everyday and was blindsided in the best possible way by Jenny's newest work (which you can buy here...if your husband is employed...or you are etc...but crap, just checked and these are all sold out- no surprise there...lots of other brilliance up for grabs though) ...

I can't even...

These are just too good...almost makes me angry...and frustrated...and jealous.

Mostly they make me sky high though- stunning artwork right there.

And I think that's it for today.

As always, thanks for reading and making it to the bottom of my often long winded posts.

You guys truly light up my life.

Real styles.

xo

Ink and Reverie #3- Exterior Decisions, Ideas and Inspirations...and Paintings

I don't know what's up with me lately...I seem to be constantly a day off my bloggy schedule.

This week is no different but thankfully I can blame the Monday holiday for my mis-step.

So, though it's Wednesday and not Tuesday, it's time for...

Today, I'm going to share some of our newest ideas and inspirations for the project...a quick 'I want it to look/feel like this' sort of thing...the architect's side of things can be fetched HERE.

Happily, Wallace (the architect) and I have officially decided on a white stucco exterior.

Though stucco in its traditional greige form scares the living shit pants off of me...mostly due to my neighbourhood's propensity for sort of thing...

...(aka ginormous/ostentatious Versailles wannabes)...I'm all over the white version...it feels very different from the above...crisper...less ornamental...

[fe.2]

...but still 'fancy'.

In addition, we've also (thanks to my carpenter dreamboat Allen who can source these from the UK for cheaper styles) nailed down this sort of thing for the upstairs hallway...

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We had originally thought or putting a skylight above the stairwell but have now supersized the idea to span the entire length of the hall...I'm beaucoup excited about this.

Also, we've nailed down the look we want for the windows...

[via]

...which basically centers around some type of replication of old steel factory numbers...but in a modern energy efficient sort of way.

As for what's going around the windows...which is properly termed the 'fenestration' of the building....which PS, I can't say with a straight face for some reason...the word takes my brain to somewhere else...maybe because it rhymes with masturbation...I don't know...it definitely sounds like some kind of raunchy term to me...keeping on that theme, the fenestration of this house needs to be sexy lexy.

We're going for this very clean lined modernism on that front...

[via]

...which means really nada around the windows...straight returns, no frill.

The later will come from the stucco work...

[via]

...balustrades...

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(though these make us both nervous because of their potential to visit gody town)

...Corinthian (Wallace taught me all about different types and these are officially my fave) porch columns...

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...and ironwork...

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And finally, we're hoping to inject a blop of modernism with the garage...because it's going to jet out and is only a single story high, the garage is a bit awkward...instead of fighting its weirdness, we're going to embrace it with a giant unexpected warm (or cold in this case) hug...concrete box styles...

[via]

All very exciting....and terrifying...as subconsciously evidenced my dream last night where I listen to my husband tell me how he's lost his job and how we have no money and have to ditch the dreamhouse in favour of a cardboard box;)

To combat the money anxiety/fears, I've been painting like a Busy Betty lately...

['Neve'...soon to be seen in #projectvicarious]

[yet to be named...in progress]

On that note, check my shop for an influx of new items soon...I suspect I'll be doing a LOT of painting these next few months;)

Stay tuned for all of it my friends.

xo

Ink and Reverie #2 - Finding Reality in a Dream

It's Tuesday, which means...

...time.

Today, Wallace and I thought we'd start where any store should, at the beginning.

For me the client, the start of the whole thing obviously began WAY before the architect and I ever met...to say I've been dreaming about this house for my whole life would perhaps be a bit of a stretch, I think it's fair to say I've been hatching and plotting about this thing for more than just a few minutes...or years;)

[via]

As designers, I think we all fantasize about starting from scratch...building something from the ground up that truly reflects our vision, our style and our voice...



[via]

I of course, am no different and the fact that this all actually seems to be happening, well it's totally a 'unicorns shitting rainbows' sort of event for your truly.


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Trouble is, like with everything in life, sometimes your dreams are just that...life can be a very different and sometimes harsh reality.



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And when it comes to designing a home, 'life's ugly reality' often takes the form of things like GFA (gross floor area,) total square footage, budgets, lot setbacks, height restrictions, building codes etc. etc.

Let me back-up a minute and explain.

Way back in August, Wallace and I decided to set aside Thursday mornings as our meeting day.

After a few of these brainstorms, we really began to get at what it was I wanted...what my 'reverie' for this project really was.

Wallace took my grand ideas/very looooong wish list and plotted it all out in some early layout concepts.

On August 30th, he presented this...

...which PS, signaled my ideal dream house scenario...to me, this plan was 'happiness in a field full of wild spring flowers' love joy...

[via]

Only trouble, I couldn't have it...not in that form anyways.

Note that pesky 48' width measurement...the lot this pretty is going on is only 50'...doesn't leave much room for you know, getting to the back yard.

The square footage was an issue as well...1760 on the main floor means a house that was itching towards a total of 4000 sq feet as a whole and well, mama can't afford that sort of business when the cost of building is let's say $300-400/sq foot...with the finishes I know I'll want that is.

Also, there's the increasingly annoying set back and coverage stipulations...according to the zoning by-laws in my area, my house can be a maximum of 2900 sq feet and needs 4' clearance on either side...and that's if I have a built in garage...those side set-backs and square foot measurements diminsh if I choose to forgoe a house for my car.

*** editorial note/PS, when I say 'my' and 'I' ...I really mean 'our' and 'we'...this is not just 'my' house;) ***

So, the reality of it was, the initial dream concept as it stood, couldn't happen...not in that exact form anyways.

Cue early design #2...you know...the one that totally can happen...the one that sticks to all the rules...the one that makes all the by-law people happy but PS, doesn't excite yours truly the client...not in the same way dreamboat #1 did anyways.

...no offence Wallace;)

So...what happened next...well, a lot of meetings that's for sure....I think we've had about 10 since these initial layouts were presented...at least...there's also been a large consumption of coffee...and plenty of times I had wished our chats were in the evening so I could have guzzled some vino instead.

Thankfully, we've moved forward and are now well within the design development phase.

I don't want to give away the golden egg before we've met the handsome chicken but I will tell you that concept #1 is what we've moved forward with...with some (but as few as possible) reality adjustments of course.

[via]

I'll take you through the long and windy road of layout evolution next week.

For now, hop on over to wjbdesigns and read all about how Wallace viewed this early dream vs reality battle...if you ask me, I totally give round one/early concept development' to team reverie;)

xo

Ink and Reverie- Take One

After some looooong deliberations as to what we (i.e. me and the architect) were going to call this thing, I'm pleased as punch to welcome you to a new co-blogging series called...

And what's this all about?

Well my friends, I invite you to join me here every week (Tuesdays thank you please) as I uncover the ins and outs of designing a new house...all from my blogger/perspective.

Now I know you've already had the chance to follow the progress of #projectdreamhouse via
'The Dream House Diaries' (don't fret...it will continue as the place where I share my ever expanding boatload of project inspiration)...this new one though is going to be the real nuts and bolts of the thing...layouts, elevations, materials, finishes, processes, demolition, before/afters etc. etc.

And...to further amp up the fun, my brill architect Wallace is going to running the series over on his blog as well...only when you skip over there, you'll be reading about the project from his perspective...and lord knows, when you contrast my mucho 'reverie' take on things...aka 'building my dream house is going to be one giant unicorn and rainbow party where the ugliness of budgets, lot restrictions, building codes etc. doesn't matter'...



...and then flip over to see how the more logical, process orientated 'ink' sees it all....i.e. 'we have to make all this fantasy shit make sense and function and PS, fit on your 50' lot!'...

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...we're in for some good yin and yang business.

What I can tell you about the weekly planning banter Wallace and I have enjoyed so far is though we are definitely coming at this project from different angles, working together has already pushed both of us to think outside our respective 'dreamboat' and 'practical'  boxes.

In the end, I know it's precisely this divergent ideology that will create the dream house my family and I are after...and hopefully the kind of entertaining blog series you boys and girls enjoy.

So stay tuned...it's going to be a fun ride;)

xo