Gone Girl Lake House

via Maurice and Walter Jennings

If the book and movie wasn't thrilling enough for you (it was for me), then go see the movie to look at beautiful homes, at least. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and movie and apparently, this is Desi's lakehouse:

via Maurice and Walter Jennings

For Nick and Amy's home, you can find a perfectly researched blog about it here:

http://onscreenstyle.com/2014/10/gone-girl-movie-nick-amy-house-interior-design/

I blinked and it was winter!

Summer fun, summer blues, turned 50 in Hawaii and BAM! Winter arrived. That's when it gets back to the house and all that needs doing before we put it on the market next Spring. On my mind? Rugs! Why the heck are they so hard to find in Toronto?
Looking for one to go with this room and thinking 1st and 4th:

Pottery Barn

Neighbourhood rug clearance

Beach House & Pinterest

My new infatuation:

After 12 years, two daughters growing up with summers waterskiing, tubing, wake-boarding, camping, swimming and marshmallow roasts, we've decided to put our woodsy cottage up for sale. The girls have grown up and now we find ourselves on the brink of empty-nesting. I turn my attentions to our future and where we can grow into our golden years a little less ruggedly. Enter the Beach House idea! My Pinterest addition is facilitating this new infatuation, so I'll only give you a taste of it here

JoAnn Barwick Interiors

via http://www.pinterest.com/tnolfi/ibeachsunocean/

My Beach House Board: 

My Rooms Bloom Board:

Carrothers and Associates Architects - Reno

A Carrothers & Associates project was selected as a finalist in this year’s 2014 OHBA Awards of Distinction held in Ottawa. (Most Outstanding Home Renovation Category $250,000 – $500,000) https://www.ohbaaod.ca/finalists.php
Check out the before! WOW!

Great DIY from Houzz!

Make a Custom Nautical Mirror for Less Than $30

Styling Part 2

Imagine this photo without the greenery and flowers. Now take away the chair by the fireplace. Mmm, now it's lacking, right? The chair, while breaking up the symmetry, adds its own interest to the room and how inviting a spot to sit! The palms and flowers gives this otherwise straight-laced living room, an almost tropical feel, but more safari...worldly.

JSA INTERIOR DESIGN 

Styling Tips from Houzz

To continue on my quest for great house photos, and as promised, here are the styling tips I found on Houzz (various articles). I tried them out on my kitchen, after hiding almost EVERYTHING!!! See what you think...oh, and these tips go for all rooms.

STYLING

• Put the lid down (yes, that is what they mean...in Bathrooms.
• Hide everything - my kitchen is never this sparse.
• Put shiny, new, lidded pot on the stove - check.

• Use flowers - the more dramatic, the better. I didn't have dramatic, but I did have cute Oxalis aka shamrock.
• Play with tablescape arrangements.
• Tell a story - now, I feel that if I replaced the bowl of fruit with a wooden cutting board, lots of colourful peppers and a bottle of balsamic vinegar, that would have told a story, a yummy one. 

• Declutter.
• Go for symmetry.
• Simple dining settings (I have a hideous old antique table which I'm saving to replace, so I saved you from that sight)
• Pull out chairs at a workspace.
• Place a tray with books and bowl or vase on ottoman.
• As previous mentioned, use natural and artificial light, but no flash. Unfortunately, I got on the phone with my sister and missed the morning light, but you can see that shot here, along with the progress shots.
• AND use rule of third (don't point camera so corner is at the centre of photo).

Happy Saturday!

Joanne xox

Photo tips from Houzz

As we are either selling or renting our new home, I've been taking photos or each room to determine what it needs. I have to say, I haven't been thrilled with the shots, though I have a beautiful Canon EOS SLR camera. Thankfully, Houzz has some wonderfully articles on how to take great home decor shots that I share with you, here today:

1. Shoot 40" off the floor, straight on, without centring corners - use the rule of thirds.
2. Use natural light and turn off the flash. Mix artificial light (not flourescent) with natural light.
3. Turn on TV (be choosy about what is freeze-framed there), turn on gas fireplace too (oops, I forgot to), arrange and accessorize furniture (see notes next post on Styling).
4. Shoot mirrors on an angle.
5. Use tripod ($20) for nice, slow f-stops (f/8-f/22) - honestly, I'm not that far advanced with my camera, but plan to read the manual.
6. Set EV to +1 to +2 - that I can do.
7. Set ISO to 800 to appear lighter - again the manual, as my film speed sets automatically.

So armed with this new info, I tidied up and took the following shots:

Rug needed

Mirror or painting above sofa needed.

Rugs needed.

Picture above bed needed

Less bottles out next time!

Next will be Kitchen and Library, and various other rooms and Styling Photo tips. Until then, I hope your enjoying a beautiful Spring day!

My White Kitchen

The inspiration:

via Houzz

The bare bones kitchen and view into the Sunroom:

 Progress....Oooooo, exciting. Why is this the room most women are so focused on? Is it because it's the hub of the house? I like to think so.

Then came the counter choice. I was infatuated with Marble. Nice white Bianco Carrera marble, but hubby said no way; too porous. We've agreed on most things and played the give and take game when we don't agree. This one was tough, as I knew granite was a better choice. But where to find the whitest granite? I researched like a dog with a bone and, yes, they do exist. Then I found Snow Flakes at Olympia Tile. Love at first sight - also called River Rock because of the linear effect. What you don't see is a dot of raspberry here and there, which will hide a little drop of red wine.

Then we put it all together with sink and lovely faucet and came up with this:

Now to get a professional to photograph this!

HOUSE TOUR: FRANK MUYTJENS OF J. CREW HOME

Cool and inspiring interior of J Crew's Menswear Director from Elle Decor.com

5 Spring Projects

Don't we need to get this long winter over with already? Here's 5 Spring Projects to do just that:

1: Paint Furniture a cool colour

2:Build a Potting Bench:

Head over to Between Naps on the Porch for a DIY Potting Table, inspired by Pottery Barn.

3: Plant a Terrarium:

via bhg.com

4: Knit a bikini:

 Free Pattern via joanneyordanou.com

5: Sew cheerful throw pillow for your Adirondacks"

or buy from Pine Cone Hill

Laurel Canyon: Hollywood Hills

A memorable movie for me; I think because if it's easy boho lifestyle and Frances McDormand is a fav. But mostly because of the cool house she lived in. Which, by the way, is impossible to see on a google search. You'll just have to watch the movie. Here is a shot of the pool area and you can just make out the house in the background.

via

Then I found this cool, boho bungalow that appealed to my creative side. Easy living in Laurel Canyon. I might redo the kitchen.

all via 

 Love this airiness!

 Lots of natural light.