My Studio Deck

 It's where we spend the most time that means the most to us, and this is the case with my studio deck. It's covered, comfortable and cool on hot days. With the nice weather we have had recently, I have already started using it quite a bit. The cushions are a Sumbrella Fabric and the furniture is from HomeSense. The little white tables from Ikea...the tray comes off the top...great idea! I got the banded rug from Overstock, the outdoor pouf from Target, and the patio lights from Pottery Barn. 

The deck is a nice size, and the bedroom and LR that stack on top are exacly the same dimensions. It's a space I switch around often, in floor plan and materials. I can change out to more muted tones by changing the pillow covers and the rug, the green working with both. My bedroom deck above is used for lounging, furnished with a double lounge, and the LR deck's function is a table and comfortable dining chairs.

I'd like to screen the studio deck in one day, but the bugs aren't too bad, and many glasses of wine have been had till the wee hours under the patio lanterns without issue.

What little part of your home have you claimed as your personal space?

 

 

Noguchi's 20N Table Lamp

Sometimes it's not the most expensive items, but the best designed ones that get my attention. Hence the 20N table lamp from Isamu Noguchi at just 155 dollars! It's a paper lantern 24 inches high, 16 inches deep and looks quite simple at first glance. I got mine at Gabriel Ross in Victoria.

I brought the flat box home, and started to put it together- first I opened the flat pack box, noticing the lack of materials both in the lamp and the packaging, a good thing. Then lifted out the lightweight shade and very thin legs and frame. The socket and cord are the bulkiest thing in the 3 inch deep box. I love the colour of the shade and the sound when it is touched. The spacing between the ribs is random, yet ordered, like nature. The black metal legs are very thin, and the frame is tall, creating a flimsy framework...until.

I really started to appreciate the design of the lamp when I put it together wrong. The shade is made to fit through the legs, not like the imitation. It's assembly is a design feat in itself. You have to lift up the shade from the legs, tightening just enough to slide the harp on the threaded post, securing it on the top of the frame. I can imagine the design hours going over the materials, construction and assembly considerations of this simple lumminaire.

The legs are super slim, and have some give to them. They are capped off by dainty little rubber feet, spherical and working together with the legs offering a dynamic yet stable base for the paper lantern, all slight on their own, yet strong as one peice when tightened and assembled (properly!).

After placing the lamp on my entry console and turning it on from the base of the socket, noticing the little red stamp at the bottom of the shade and standing back to adore it next to my Brent Comber Alder Disk, I feel the design story is complete.

Now I have simple layered light in the first room you enter, dimmers with narrow and wide spots highlighting the disk, natural light from lots of windows and ambient light from the lantern. The light is amazing! Paper is so flattering. And it's not just the function of this lamp...its the form...the beautiful, organic, make me smile every time I look at it, form.

Most of all, the exercise of assembling this piece of art was an essential part of owning it...one wonders if that was Noguchi's plan.

M

Antwerp 2012; Beautiful!

Before and After - Janette's Reno

Corner Fireplaces are tricky...this one needed more room to breath. Taking down the wall between the Living and Dining Rooms was a good start, and working out the proportions of the fireplace, creating returns back to the wall, and finishing it in drywall and paint brings it up to date.

Design and Rendering by Michelle Morelan

 

 

 

working things out in SketchUp

some details have to be precise

The fireplace now looks in proportion, doesn't take up too much visual space, and with the removal of the wall, can breath, not feeling crowded.

Much better...nice job putting it all together Janette :)

10 Recent Design Crushes

10 Recent Design Crushes

1. The Cherner Chair
http://www.chernerchair.com/index.php

I've had my eye on this lovely for a few years, and the new cream leather lounge chair is just so amazing! This bar stool version with metal legs looks great, but I'm partial to the wood legs. Like the Wishbone Chair, I would likely go with Walnut.

2. The Fiddle Leaf Fig

interior by Joe Serrins photo by William Waldron

interior by Peter Dunham photo by Grey Crawford

3. Dark Brown
http://www.thebay.com/eng/hbccollections-blankets-Millenium_Point_Blanket-thebay/156994

I have this blanket on my spare bed; I love the weight of it, especially when paired with my duvet...warm :)

4. Terrariums
http://www.paulahayes.com/terrariums/gallery.php?g=2&i=6

Paula Hayes produces pieces of art for exhibition, like this- wow

5. Linen Sheets
http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod2060009&categoryId=cat1580065

these sheets are so nice on your skin...they are rubbery in drape and come right out of the dryer, onto the bed

6. Transparency- My David's Tea Teapot
http://www.davidstea.com/the-glass-teapot-with-removable-strainer?&TF=8215E1C9208C&DEID=

interior Michelle Morelan, photo Heather Ross

7. Fraser Fir Collection by Thymes
http://www.thymes.com/Fragrances/Frasier-Fir/

nothing like your west coast home smelling like fir! we use the dishwashing soap, kitchen spray and handsoap

 8. Serge Mouille Lamps
http://www.sergemouilleusa.com/

interior Kevin Carrigan photo by Tim Furzer

9. Anything Platner
http://www.knoll.com/products/product.jsp?prod_id=75

the lines are so yummy, and the new colours are just right :)

10. Crusceet
http://www.lecreuset.ca/

they are popping up everywhere...the LeCreuset dutch oven...in the greatest colours

cheery yellow...and passed down for generations...my mom has an orange one

my new LeCreuset shallow dutch oven...love that they make it in green :)

A Soft Place to Land - White Rock Condo

When you move from a large family home of 3500 square feet, to a third of that, and into a condo, it's a huge change. My client Nancy, who's condo was furnished a couple of years ago was missing that third layer, the "stuff", which completes a space.

Here's that last layer; it's a thrill as a designer to get to this spot, to express the original intention. Most of all, it's a thrill to see a client so excited! I find this layer has the most impact of the overall project. Design is in the details, after all. A long trip to get here, and a soft place to land.

photos by Heather Ross, Interior by Michelle Morelan Design

Before

Before

 

Wallpaper Installed at the Lake House

It's taking some time, but I found a great Wallpaper installer on the island. It's Sloan Painting and Paper. Michelle was a pleasure to work with, and I will definitely be using her on my next project. The seams are practically invisible, and she has great attention to detail.

Still a few things to do...I'd like to paint a prominently green canvas, that's wall size on the largest wall, and need to install a little shelf somewhere, a fabric blind over the working one, and find a nice little waste basket.

I like the twigs with the concept of the home, and especially like when you walk out of the powder room, and look at the Brent Comber disk in the entry, they tie together nicely.

Have a great week!