Before & After for Friday

Hello again! That week flew by, didn't it? Is it just me?

I'm wrapping up a busy shoot week, with a little before & after inspiration brought to you by Peter Wilds, a great designer and pal. This is his office/studio, located in the Gastown area of Vancouver. I shot this story for Style At Home and it's in the current issue.

That's it for now! I'm off to Australia tonight, but I plan on posting from down under. I plan to do a little catching up with all of your blogs on my Christmas break too! 

Have a great weekend! Back soon.

janis

x

City Living in Gastown

How was your weekend? If you're in Vancouver, did you enjoy the warm sunshine? Ahh.

Thought I'd share another lovely home with you, to start off the week. I shot this huge space for Style At Home, for the current issue. Designed by architect Omer Arbel, it's filled with light and all kinds of beautiful details. Here's a peek...

The bedroom overlooks one of my favourite spots in Vancouver - Blood Alley. Intriguing name, isn't it? 

Great use of an antique cabinet. Perfect in the master bathroom. 

The kitchen can open up to this indoor/outdoor patio. 

The "living" wall is filled with strawberry plants. 

Think you could live in a space like this? I think I could. For the whole story, check out the March issue of Style At Home. 

Have a great day!

Back soon,

Janis

Sunday Observations

Oh Sunday, you always seem to appear out of nowhere. We had a bit of summer today, so we took advantage of it. It was a great day! These are a few of my observations for today...

VanDusen Botanical Garden has been around since the 70's, but is now in the middle of a huge rejuvenation project. The image at bottom left, is a model of the new Visitor Centre. Apparently it will be 

Canada's first certified "living building". It's quite an amazing project. Click here, for more info.   

The Found and The Freed, is a fantastic "pop-up" shop here in Vancouver. It's in Gastown, and will be there until July 16th. If you're in the area, I highly recommend it! Lots of great stuff. I found a really well used, "hovis" bread tin so, naturally, I had to buy it. They've sold heaps, but will be adding more great "found and freed" stuff over the next week. See you there?

At the end of the day, we popped by our favourite neighbourhood shop, Walrus, to visit with our friends, 

Caroline and Daniel. Couldn't go empty handed, so we shared a bottle of Prosecco with them. Nice way to wrap up the weekend! While there, I noticed they have a great selection of "plants in a bag, bottle or box". Love the hydroponic herbs (top right), in a recycled wine bottle, and would love the "gingko tree-to-be". Any of these would make a perfect hostess gift...or any kind of gift for that matter ;)

One last thing: I did a post for Poppytalk today. A little long weekend travel inspiration for this summer. Check it out, if you have a moment. Have you been to Tofino BC? Let me know!

It was so nice to just hang out this weekend and relax. What did you guys get up to? Fill me in!

Back soon!

Janis

Vancouver Neighbourhoods

How's your week going? If you're in Vancouver, do you have a voice left after the game last night? 4 more to go!

I shot a story, for Sunset Magazine, about one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Vancouver - Gastown. It's actually in the June issue, which is out now. It does have a touristy side, but it also has some of the best shops and restaurants in the city. Here are a few of the places I shot for the story.

Meat And Bread is a very popular lunch spot. Arrive at door opening, as the line-ups are long!

The Diamond is a fantastic "cocktail parlour". Josh made a real cocktail and I drank it after I shot it. Lesson learned. Don't drink on an empty stomach while shooting a story. ;)

L'Abbitoir is a great little restaurant that was Vancouver's first jail in the 19th century. Love that. It's a busy place, so reservations are recommended. 

That's my mini tour of Gastown! Definitely check it out next time you find yourself in Vancouver.

Have a great day! Back soon.
janis

A Shop I Could Live In - Old Faithful

How's everyone doing? If you're into the Christmas thing, I hope you've wrapped up your shopping (literally), and are now just enjoying the season. I've got to get on to this part. ;)

I thought I'd share a fabulous Vancouver shop with you. I shot this place a couple of months ago for House and Home - it's in the current issue.

I love shops that sell great product, but that also have an interior that I could live in. Old Faithful is exactly that. It's full of reclaimed wood goodness. One of the owners, Walter, also makes a lot of what you see in terms of furniture. They're located in Gastown, in a heritage building. Beautiful. By the way, you can now shop online. Whoohoo!

 

 The owners, Walter and Savannah.

 

This office chair is perfect! You may not think it looks too comfortable, but it is. Love the laptop pouch as well. 

The perfect doorstop. 

 

Jean Pierre makes shopping at Old Faithful even better. I love him.

Have a good Thursday! Back soon.
janis

Shopping Around

I've been a bit lax with my blogging this week. Busy shooting days have left my eyes falling out of my head. I hope to make up for it, next week!

I had a shoot in Gastown today, so afterwards I did a little shop around. Orling and Wu opened earlier this year, and I actually shot them for House and Home magazine this past summer. Thought I'd share some of those images with you, plus some new items they're carrying.

They carry several items from Fog Linen (3 images above). Love this line. 

New from Jonathan Adler: Needlepoint paper weights, and cushions. 

Love these stools and light fixtures.

My obsession with paper continues. Anytime I see a note book made out of "rescued" paper, I buy it. 

I love making my own as well. Click here for a little how-to I posted at Poppytalk.

That's all for now! Have a great weekend, and happy halloween!

janis

x

I love games

I've been tagged by the lovely Sarah of Flourish Design + Style. Thanks Sarah! This is an easy game. All you have to do is post the 6th picture you ever posted. Done. Here she is. The Europe Hotel in the Gastown area of Vancouver. I love an easy game.

If you'd like to take part, I'm tagging:

Felix Wears Frames
Little Blue Deer
something white
small acorns
Hope you can all play along!

Thought I'd add a new pic to the post. Dogwoods are in bloom all over the city. It's our Provincial flower. I love it.

Almost Fall

It's been pretty busy since I returned from my shoot in the Kootneys, now it's the weekend. Looking forward to sleeping in.

The other night, I checked out the Comrags trunk show in Gastown.  Comrags is a Canadian fashion label - beautiful clothes.  I went with my friend Nikki, and we actually behaved ourselves. I've been to these kinds of shows before. On one occasion, I woke up the next morning to find a cute little shopping bag containing a very tiny dress, a few plastic wine glasses, and a pencil with the name of the new shop on it, beside my bed.  My memory was a bit hazy, so I gave the dress a go but I couldn't get it past my shoulders.  Let's just say the refund policy wasn't good.  This episode was the on set of my post purchase doubt syndrome (P.P.D.S.). I never drink at these things now.   I would love the following two frocks though.

Well, as we head into a beautiful weekend, I leave you with a shot of a rusty, vintage bicycle I saw while having a day in the country with my friends Heather and Midge (a.k.a. Lily).

Have a lovely weekend!