Author Archives: Mandy Forbes
Ikebana for Mother’s Day
Katsuko Thielke via ikebana.org
Flowers are a staple of Mother’s Day, but before you stop by the florist for a bouquet consider giving her a true work of floral art with an ikebana arrangement. For those who don’t know, ikebana is a specific type of Japanese floral arranging that aims to bring humanity and nature together. Ikebana is an art form that is exceptionally powerful because of its impermanence.
Another idea would be to get together with mom so you can both try your hand at Ikebana inspired floral arrangements. Gather the materials beforehand, purchase some wonderful teas and spend the afternoon centreing yourselves while creating flower arrangements.
It takes years to learn and master the art of ikebana but here are a few of the basic principles and materials you will need to get started.
A few popular styles of ikebana are:
Rikka- meaning standing flowers.
Nagiere- a non structured design the often features a tight bundle of stems and an asymmetrical triangular shape.
Seika- where three main branches represent ‘ten’ heaven, ‘chi’ earth and ‘jin’ human.
Jiyuka- a free form design that often utilizes materials other than flowers.
This website gives a good overview of the various styles with pictorial examples.
Japanese Flower Vase from Doug Smith Pottery
Materials:
Container- the container you choose should be cohesive with the type of arrangement you’re trying to create. Don’t be afraid to use an unconventional object as a vase.
Kenzan- also know as a ‘floral frog’, is a small disk with pins protruding from it that sits at the bottom of your container. It will hold the stems or branches in place which will help you achieve your desired shape for the arrangement.
Flowers, Grasses, Vines and Branches- Really any kind of plant life can be used, but some popular choices are orchids, long grasses, cherry blossoms and branches of Japanese Maple.
Small Garden Shears- a pair of small pointed garden shears will be helpful for trimming and cutting plants.
ikebana by junko
When you’re finished creating your masterpieces mom and you can exchange them so you each have a memento of the day.
Happy Friday everyone and Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s out there!
Backyard Hideaways
Who needs a place for tools and a lawnmower, wouldn’t you rather have a summer sleeping cottage with a pretty view? The luxurious building above was originally a prefab greenhouse that was modified with solar panels and wood floors to make it a backyard retreat and guest residence.
This is not the only example of homeowners and designers rethinking how outdoor spaces and outdoor structures can be used for a variety of purposes: like relaxing, working, sleeping and even bathing.
Office Pod via demilked
For people who work at home and are short on office space a backyard office like this one could be ideal. The best thing about this is the reduced commute time to and from the office. The size of this particular model is a miniscule 2.1m x2.1m, meaning that in most areas you won’t even need a permit to build one.
image via demilked
Here’s a pic of the interior of the office pod so you can get a sense of its ingenious design.
Having a dedicated place to hold parties and get-togethers would be such an amazing thing. Love the mix of bright colours and vintage pieces in this inviting and cheerful space. For someone who does a lot of entertaining this would be a dream.
backyard playhouse from natalme
This gardenside playhouse looks like fun for the kids, and would be a welcome edition to the backyard for modern-design-loving parents. It’s the details like the bench, planter and moon shaped window that give this structure its personality.
This shed-turned-relaxing-backyard-retreat reminds me of one of those tiny churches you find in the American south. If I had this shed in my backyard it would be my designated place for reading and drinking tea in the mornings.
image via sunset
Finally, how would you like an outdoor room for seasonal bathing? This shed came into being because the homeowners wanted to compensate for their too-small master bath. Instead of renovating inside the house they decided to repurpose an old shed on their property, turning it into a charming outdoor bathhouse.
Here’s a picture of the inside. It does not feel like an outdoor space at all, and that antique tub leaves me speechless. It would be like having your own private spa right outside your door.
Would you consider creating an outdoor living space? What would your dream backyard hideaway be?
Weekend Project: Turn a Globe into a Lamp
Photographs by Eric Cator
This weekend I was out exploring with my husband and I had just finished telling him that I could never be a minimalist because I can’t resist a good find when I spotted a garage sale sign. Cut to ten minutes later and I am walking home with a vintage globe. I almost passed it up because it was sans base, but it was free and I loved the pastel colours. So home with me it went and here is what it became.
It was just the thing for my son’s room, and overall I’m pleased with how it turned out. In case you want to try making one of your own I made up a small tutorial.
What you’ll need:
Globe
Light fixture with cord
low wattage or LED bulb
white paint
paint brush
exacto knife
pliers
Step 1: Decide Where to Cut
First, take your globe and decide where you want to cut your hole. For simplicities sake I chose a latitude line that was already there but if you want a larger or smaller hole you can draw one using a compass.
Step 2: Cut Bottom off Globe
Next, cut the bottom off your globe. I found that making a series of shallow cuts using an exacto knife worked best for getting the cleanest edge, as the globe was too thick to cut through in one pass. My apologies to those living in southern New Zealand or the South Pole, they couldn’t be spared.
Step 3: Measure and Cut Hole for Cord
Measure the width of your plug and draw a circle with the same diameter on the top of the globe. Using the same shallow cutting method as before, cut out the hole. I encountered a small metal ring at this stage, but was able to pull it out with pliers.
Step 4: Paint Inside White
Paint the interior of the globe white. You could try painting it a different colour, but I chose white because it offers the most light reflection. Let the paint dry for at least a couple of hours.
Step 5: Install cord and hang.
Enjoy your new light and brush up on your geography at the same time.
That’s it! The trickiest thing might be finding a globe that you’re willing to repurpose. I’ve found they often turn up at antique stores and flea markets, but there are a few places online that you can also purchase them from.
Happy Friday Everyone!
Mother’s Day Gift Guide: Home Sweet Home
Papercut Mother’s Day Card by Ashley Pahl
Mother’s Day is less than a month away. Have you figured out what you’re getting your mom? If you haven’t there is no need to panic. I’ve rounded up a few ideas for design conscious mothers who wants to bring a little beauty into their homes. Skip the bubble bath and flowers and give her something that will show how amazing and stylish you think she is.
Penguin Books Deck Chair via art meets matter
For the literary mama who likes nothing more than relaxing outside with a good book one of these deckchairs printed with classic Penguin Book covers will be a welcome surprise. Made in England, these elegantly crafted chairs are perfect for the patio or deck.
Melona Glass Plant Topper via Design Sponge
This geodesic plant topper from Melona Glass is like jewellery for house plants. Designed to capture and reflect sunlight, this topper will be good for her plants while adding some sparkle to her home.
Three Tier Cake Stand from Merchant No.4
Is the mom on your list a baker with a love of minimalist design? Then give her this three tiered wooden cake stand. When it’s not being used to serve appetizers or desserts it will look beautiful in her kitchen.
Treehouse Fabric Bucket by Jenna Rose
Jenna Rose’s printmaking completely inspires me, as do the beautiful housewares she constructs from her hand-printed textiles. Whether the lucky mom who receives this needs somewhere to store her knitting, her magazines or anything else, a beautiful fabric bucket will be much appreciated.
How about this gorgeous hanging lamp from Brooklyn ceramics artist Farrah Sit? The porcelain casts a warm glow perfect for a bedroom, or anywhere that needs a little bit of illumination. You can also customize your light by adding or subtracting bulbs.
Painted Spoons Tutorial via House of Earnest
DIY Painted Spoons
Of course I need to add at least one DIY idea; it’s my secret mission to turn everyone into a crafty dynamo. In all seriousness, even if you’re not the least bit craft-inclined this painted wooden spoon tutorial will be a cinch to pull off, and what a gorgeous gift for a mom who likes to bake or cook. You can find the directions here.
If you’re planning on purchasing a gift online for Mother’s Day I’d recommend doing it as soon as possible to ensure that it will ship in time for the big day. I know many online shops will offer expedited shipping prices but it’s always best not to leave it till the last minute.
Happy Friday Everyone!
The Utilitarian
Mudrooms, laundry rooms and pantries; these are the rooms that help keep the whole household running smoothly, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also be as stylish as the rest of your home. Today I’ve rounded up some examples of utility rooms that maximize storage, style and function. In a small home or apartment the utility room can do double and sometimes triple duty, so you’ll see a few rooms that serve multiple purposes, and I’ve also pinpointed a few tips and tricks that can be easily implemented in your utility space immediately.
Here we go!
This apartment laundry room really shows how much can be accomplished with a tiny space. By painting the wall behind the washer and dryer with chalkboard paint the room is given some character. The oversized hanging shade also emphasizes the fact that lighting can bring atmosphere into even the smallest room.
Doing laundry is much more enjoyable when you can imagine you are in the French countryside while washing a few loads of clothes. This combination laundry/flower room makes the most of a laundry sink and plenty of counter space, it’s a beautiful place to put together a bouquet or fold clothes.
Mud Room via hgtv
Wouldn’t a mudroom like this be a dream come true? Wall to wall cabinetry is a cure-all for the cluttered and messy entryway or mudroom. The bench in the centre of the room gives everyone a place to sit while pulling on boots or a place to rest bags on the way inside. For an outdoorsy family a small sink for washing up after playing outside is a definite perk.
image via mochatini
A mudroom in the entryway of your home has to be inviting as well as useful. Built in benches and a black and white colour scheme make the most of the natural light in this corner mudroom. A trick to take from this room is to create overhead storage for seasonal items like helmets, ski equipment etc.
image via mochatini
via curbly
The pantry is technically a part of the kitchen but for many families it is multi purpose space so I have included it in my list of utility rooms. At its most basic a pantry is a place to store food, cookware and dishes, but as you can see in the stunning room above it can be so much more. In this pantry, storage and decoration are perfectly balanced, and compact work surface gives additional room for food prep.
via shelterness
I love the look of a rolling library ladder in a pantry (or anywhere else for that matter) but this antique ladder is a more accessible alternative. Creating shelves all the way up to the ceiling means maximum storage space and you can place more frequently used items on lower shelves and lesser used items on the upper shelves.
Do you have any clever tricks for making your utility room or space work more efficiently? If you do I’d love to hear them.
