Our house: before & after

Come check out more of our before & after images over at www.lovelyvelo.ca

House Hunting

On the hunt for our first home over at lovelyvelo.ca

{covet garden...}

Feast your eyes on the third issue of Covet Garden, a new e-mag featuring eclectically designed Toronto homes.

This Kensington loft is my favourite space from Covet Garden so far. The jungle of books and plants are a perfect compliment to the bright and dramatic high ceilings. Need I draw your attention to the bath?! No, you oohed and aahed already, right?

{a room for reading...}

I would love to replicate everything about this room; a perfect example of less is more. The chairs. Where do I find these chairs? Don't you think they must be facing a crackling fire place?
With October bringing cool, crisp days, I would love to while away a whole Sunday here with a good book.

*photo via city sage.

{a home renovation...}

My little sister and her husband just took possession of their new house and have begun renovations on the bathroom and laundry space. While the details of the bathroom are all buttoned down, ideas are afloat for laundry tubs. I think these 2 are awesome, especially the aluminum bucket!

*photos from here and here.

{boomer turns one...}

In celebration of Boomer's first birthday, I am delighted to share his modeling debut ;)

A few months ago, I was contacted by the lovely Fedora from Germany to see if she could use a picture of Boomer for the landing page of her cat furniture website - www.achato.de. Of course, we couldn't resist! Photos of Fedora's furniture and an English version coming soon!

{kitchen envy...}

My pie baking experience last weekend has me anxious to get back into the kitchen. I'll be in farm country tomorrow training for next Sunday's duathlon, so I plan to stock up on heeps of raspberries and blackberries. If only my baskets and I were returning to a kitchen like this one...

Wouldn't you bake more in here?!

* Photo via here.

{white ....}

There are times when a space leaves me completely speechless. This, is one of those times.

*Images from here.

{nooks + crannies in the city...}

Outdoor space in a big city is a rare commodity, but there are some beautifully creative nooks & crannies out there. I'm in love with this sweet little courtyard.

The lovely Bhavna over at An Indian Summer posted this week that Marie Claire Maison images are now available for your drooling pleasure here. There goes my productivity this weekend ;)

{birthday wishes to Miss L...}

Remember the lovely Miss L? It's her first birthday as a MOM today and I'm hoping she enjoys every minute. She just sent me this photo of her old living room. She and her new family moved 1/2 hr north of the city last month and I still haven't seen their new home! If this adorable space is any indication, I'm sure the new space is amazing.

Happy Birthday Mrs. Fergs! Can't wait to see you soon :)

{let summer begin...}

Muggy nights. Patio sunsets. Dinner in the backyard. Welcome summer!

*Photo via Elle Decor.

{a year in C's...}

An exciting day here at lovelyvélo, celebrating one year since my first post! In addition to being inspired by all of you creative bloggers and readers, lovelyvélo has been a collection of many wonderful experiences that all just happen to coincide with the letter "C".

Since the first post, both of my parents, C+C (truly!) turned 60. We celebrated my Dad's with a round of golf and a cozy campfire in the backyard. My Mom's was an amazing week in Mallorca (with pictures to come soon!).

The summer ended with a beautiful garden cocktail wedding and the addition of a new family member - a brother! And no surprise here... he's a C too! (gorgeous couple, non?!)

Then in November, after scoring a new job, my C and I whisked off to Cuba. The ultimate highlight, catching Buena Vista Social Club live... for free!

When we got home, we adopted the cuddly cat I had been wishing for. He was perhaps a little over-cuddly at first but is finally gaining some independence!

Over the winter, I was so lucky to support CANADA in the 2010 games. My parents and I volunteered and my sister and best friend had the amazing privilege to carry the torch. The celebration gave me so much to be proud of!

If you read lovelyvélo often, you know there's a C that appears here regularly. The beautiful bike he built me for my 30th inspired the name of this little blog. We moved into this sweetest blue house in September and since then he's built me a craft studio, a dining table and a garden - the ultimate supporter and inspirer of all things craft!

How does a year get better than this?

{a perfect chair for reading...}

Calling all you décor gurus out there! I know you've got the design chops to help me find a similar chair for a much more.... um... modest budget. I love the worn leather, the deep seat, the studs (oh the studs!) and the wheelie feet. Must. Read. In. This. Chair!

Speaking of reading, I was up until the wee hours last night finishing Kathryn Stockett's The Help. It reminded me alot of my favourite book, The Poisonwood Bible, in that they are both told from the perspective of several different women. I've suggested The Help to my bookclub as it's a great conversation piece; and soon coming to the big screen!

* chair by Ralph Lauren

{a blog award from splendid willow...}

I am long overdue to thank the lovely Monika over at Splendid Willow for honouring me with a very sweet blog award. I have been oggling Splendid Willow for months and was delighted to see little lovelyvelo appear on her list.

Now, I am tasked to share 7 things about me that you don't already know, so you won't find anything in this list about pretty hotels, lovely bicycles, paper, or reclaimed wood ;) Hope you enjoy these random little facts.

1. I was born in beautiful British Columbia. Although I love living in Toronto, I am a West Coast girl at heart and miss the ocean, mountains and stunning forests.

2. Maybe because I hail from Vancouver, I feel happiest when it's raining and I have a killer collection of umbrellas!

3. Rain or shine, I love a good game of cards. I grew up playing cribbage with my grandpa and a night with my cousins rarely ends without a game of Traveling Rummy.

4. I speak Chinese. I went to a High School for the arts where most of my classmates were from Hong Kong. They got to take Mandarin, so I decided to join! I lived in Beijing and think China is one of the most fascinating countries in the world. These characters say: Women dou shi yi jia ren... We are family.

5. When I travel to China, I can't come home without pillowcases. I have 2 antiques made by the Naxi women of Lijiang in southern Yunnan province. These pillows with my posing kitty Boomer are from India.


6. I absolutely can not go a day without chocolate. The best chocolate cake I've ever had was in Zhongdian, China on the border of Tibet!

7. I have traveled to 29 countries. I was aiming for 30 before I turned 30, but I'll have to set a new goal. I'm turning 31 next month.

In the past year, I've stumbled upon so many lovely and inspiring blogs. I'd like to pass this lovely award to this list that always make my day a little brighter. Folks below, feel free to share 7 unknowns with your readers and to pass along this beautiful blogger award ;)

416cyclestyle

An Indian Summer
Cannelle et Vanille
Cookie Cutter
Copenhagen Cycle Chic
La Maison Boheme
Lanalou Style
Life in the Fun Lane
London Cycle Chic
Pacha Design

Riding Pretty

The Flowerchild Dwelling

Photos: Capilano Suspension Bridge; Girl in the Rain; Playing Cards; Chinese Characters; Boomer photos by me; Chocolate; Me in Cuba by C.

{folk art in alabama...}

Delayed for hours at the Newark airport last week, I found tucked in the Home and Garden section of the New York Times, the wonderfully quirky home of Butch Anthony. So, what does the house of a man who wears exclusively denim coveralls (he has 25 pairs!) look like? Feast your eyes here...

*photos via The New York Times

{weekend agenda...}

Aside from hitting the racetrack (C is warming up the horses tomorrow night!) and choosing the cover paper for an invitation booklet I'm working on, there's just one thing on my weekend agenda - a nice, long, bubble-filled bath...

*photo from here.

{harvest table & chairs...}

I'm considering purchasing these 4 chairs for our dining room - I have always wanted a mix-matched set. The question is whether or not they will match the harvest table C and I are going to build this summer that is a grey-ish wood like the image above. I could always paint the chairs white...? Suggestions welcome!

{reclaimed...}

I recently discovered Pacha Design -gorgeous furniture and home accessories made from reclaimed wood and metals. Owners and designers Glenn Rushbrooke and Samantha Robb spend heaps of time sorting through heaps of tossed timber and scrap metal to create these eco-saavy pieces with a japanese twist.

I simply cannot get enough of these leaf lanterns made from plant fiber and skeleton leaves... so pretty!