Minimal for Friday

Hello weekend! Hope you all had a good week.

I shoot a lot of homes. The best part about it is, I have the opportunity to meet so many homeowners and see their different styles and tastes. It's so interesting, to me, to see what makes a perfect home for someone. Minimal, country, vintage, or maximal (new word?), etc.

This home was shot for Style At Home, propped by Stephanie Vogler (The Cross) and it's featured in the current issue. The homeowners are minimalists, and don't like to live with a lot of stuff. At all. Lots of white and concrete but, with some carefully selected vintage and antique wood pieces, along with their collection of McCoy pottery, it feels warm.

Homeowner, Patty, has a beautiful collection of McCoy pottery and had built in shelves created to  display it all. Still manages to keep it spare looking. 

I actually shot this couple's last home, a few years back, for a magazine called Canadian Home and Country. Take a look at the new issue of Style At Home for a few pics of their last home, mixed in with this one. It's quite a change. 

Do you think you could live minimally? Let me know!

Have a good weekend!

janis

A Perfect Mix

Happy Wednesday! 

I wanted to share a few vignettes from a story I shot with Suzanne Dimma, editor-in-chief, for House and Home magazine - it's in the April issue, out now.  This is the home of actress Kristin Lehman, star of the series Motive on CTV, her husband, filmmaker,  Adam Reid and son Sammy. It's such a pretty blend of new, vintage, and personal treasures. Designer, Nancy Riesco, helped Kristin pull it all together to create a warm and inviting space, with lots of personal touches. I could live here.  

Kristin, Adam and Sammy were so lovely to work with.  

There's so much more to see so, to get the entire story, check out the digital or print April issue of House and Home magazine. 

Have a great day! 

janis

Christmas "Spruce" Style

Happy Wednesday! Hope you're having a great week.

My last post was pretty festive, so I'm just going to carry on with that theme. 'Tis the season, yes?

I've had the pleasure of working with the women behind the fantastic shop, Spruce Collective, a number of times, but I think this shoot might be my favourite so far. They created a festive dining room, complete with DIY ornaments and decorations. They're featured in the current issue of Chatelaine magazine.

I love that they've created a festive setting without screaming 'it's Christmas'! If you're in Abbotsford B.C., definitely pop in and see what they've got happening for the holidays. I promise, you won't be disappointed. 

I'm off to Tahiti and Australia tomorrow, but I do have a couple of posts ready to go and will, no doubt, post something from my travels. If any of you have been to Tahiti, I'd love to know any secret spots that we shouldn't miss. Merci in advance!

Until then, take care!  

janis

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Hello Friday

I hope you've all had a great week. We just returned from an unexpected trip to Australia, so it's been awhile since my last post. It was fantastic being with my husband's family, even for just a short 9 days.

I'm wrapping up this week with a paint-by-numbers of cockatoos, we had to have, painted by "Ted Porter" in 1968. Well done Ted, and thank you! This is a happy reminder of all the family we have in Kyneton. I love that.

Thanks for all your lovely comments and emails about Butter Baked Goods. I haven't had time to reply to everyone, but I plan to this weekend. Looking forward to also seeing what you've all been up to in the blog world!

Have a great weekend!

janis

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Bathroom Prettiness

Happy Friday! Hope you've all had a good week.

I just returned from a camping trip and, on the last day, I have to admit, I was longing for a good soak in a pretty bathroom....this one would have worked well.

I shot this bathroom, designed by homeowner Shereen de Rousseau, with the help of her friend, designer Nancy Riesco, for Style At Home. You can read the entire story with all the little details, and how to get the look her look, here. 

Have a lovely weekend!
janis
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Vintage Modern Pretty

("Love" print by Jen Ramos, Made By Girl)

I do love a good mix of new, modern and vintage styles, and this house had just that with some pretty thrown in for good measure. Designed by Rebecca Lapres, of Riesco & Lapres, it's perfect space for the homeowner and her twin daughters. I had the pleasure of shooting them and their happy home for the current issue of Style At Home. 

The girls have their own little art studio in the basement. They were painting a still life of a bowl of pastel coloured meringues. Very sweet. 

What do you like about this space? Think you could live in it? Would love to know your thoughts.

For more on this house, check out the July issue of Style At Home! 

Janis

T.G.I.F.

That week disappeared quickly. Not enough time to get it all done these days! I've been working on a few exciting projects and they're taking up most of my time...but I'm not complaining ;) One is for a beautiful new(ish) British magazine, preparing for the Etsy event at West Elm and a fun d.i.y. and food story with Poppytalk, to name a few. I plan to get back into full blog mode soon, with d.i.y.'s and baking tucked in there as well. 

 Looking forward to catching up with many of your blogs this weekend. Have a fun weekend all! 

janis

Weekend Observations & Links

How was your weekend? Hope it was a fun one!

Mine made me feel very ladylike which, generally, I'm not ;) Here's a bit of my weekend...

Had pretty much the best high tea ever at the new Butter Tearoom, here in Vancouver. Rosie, you've done it again. The mini buns with tuna and a layer of potato chips, were my favourite. 

I always love shooting "before and after" stories, of all kinds. Gotta love a good transformation. This one was shot for Canadian Living magazine, and designed by Colleen of Vintage Home. She took a run down old shed, some beaten up furniture and accessories, above, and transformed them for a tiny guest cottage. The whole story, with all the little details, is in the new issue of Canadian Living. 

A little link love too:

•Loved this d.i.y. round up at Poppytalk
•I know it's uber trendy, but I do love a little modern cross-stitch. Spotted this at Hege in France
•I've mentioned my Zaishu before, and now I feel it's time for a new one! Take a look at the new designs at Zaishu. 
•Hanging houseplants can be great...in moderation of course. Loved some of these at Decouvrir Design

That's it for today! Back soon.
janis

I Could Live Here

Heirloom is a fantastic vegetarian restaurant here in Vancouver. It's located in an almost century old apartment block, and it's been freshened up by the team at Evoke International Design.  All art work was custom designed by them as well. The mix of vintage cabinets, modern chairs, old brick walls and beautiful tile, does it for me. It's one of those places that I could live in....

Do you ever walk into a restaurant or shop and imagine living in it? Think you could hang out in Heirloom? 

Have a good day!

janis

A Little Neon for Friday

I'm a fan of neon. I wish I could step into a time machine, and see what Vancouver looked like 50 years ago. Full of neon. If you're in Vancouver, and wondering what to do this weekend in side-ways rain, pop by the Museum of Vancouver and check out "Neon Vancouver/Ugly Vancouver", a permanent exhibit.  The M.O.V. still seems to be the best kept secret in this city. ;)

I took this picture on a chilly evening, while on a search for neon.By the way, Dayton is a Vancouver company that calls itself "stubbornly Canadian since 1946".  Love that, and I love those boots.

Have a great weekend!
janis

Weekend Observations

I hope you had a great weekend. If you're in Canada, you're probably still in weekend mode due to "civic" holidays. I'm heading out for a mini camping trip but, before I hit the road, here's a little of what my weekend looked like....

Checked out Duchesse, a lovely new "vintage and such" shop located in Chinatown. If you're in the Vancouver area, it's definitely a must see. Owners Anna McLean and Anna Maclellan, have put together a fantastic collection of vintage clothing, accessories, home wares, and furniture. The shop was designed by their friend, Ricky Alvarez. The shop itself has so many inspiring design ideas.

I love the chevron wall, made with various tones of plywood. 

A great shelving unit made of old school chairs, showcases vintage office accessories, shoes and lamps. 

Played around with a sunography kit. Have you every tried sunography? I did a little of this kind of printing as a kid. I still think it's magical. You just lay an object on top of the paper and allow to sit in full sun for about 10 minutes. Rinse with cold water and, voila, you have a print. 

Made a few origami boxes for tea lights in the back yard. I love the glow of colour. 

What did you get up to this weekend? If you're in Vancouver, did you manage to check out the Pride parade? Heard it was a good one! 

I'll be back next Friday. Until then, have a good week!

janis  

Weekend Mode

It's Victoria Day in Canada, so the weekend is still on. Love holiday Mondays. Happy Birthday Queen Victoria!

My niece is currently sitting beside me, working on her writing project, asking me about Terry Fox and how to spell "institute". I hope I've spelled it correctly ;)

This is a bit of what's gone on this weekend....

 

By the way, I don't believe in ironing pillow cases.  Way too much work.

 

 

Frames found at Stepback. My husband painted the woman enjoying a mai tai. Not sure if it was a mai tai, but I like to think it was.

What did you get up to this weekend? Still enjoying the weekend?

Have a good day! Back soon.

Janis