Life is Good!

Morning all! It's been over a month since I've last posted, but here I am, back again!

I didn't plan to take these few weeks off from blogging, I've just been super busy lately, and to be honest it's done me good to squeeze in a little downtime.

I'd like to say I've been doing lots around the house, but that would defeat the purpose of taking a break, now wouldn't it?

No, instead I've been taking advantage of this beautiful summer by swimming, doing pilates outdoors twice a week, and spending plenty of time with friends and family.

Yep--life is good!

Even with a little more time on my hands, just keeping up with our small household has felt like a huge job--one that'll only get harder to manage with a few weekends away throughout the rest of the season.

The one thing I did do to better the look and function of our little home was to replace our makeshift "cubby" bookshelf/drawers with a huge and very blue, eight-drawer Hemnes dresser from Ikea that MLo and I built a few weeks ago!

BEFORE

AFTER

You like? 

It looks small from this angle, and I'll likely replace the hardware down the road, but what an improvement, eh?!

This piece provides much more storage than we had before and it suits our space perfectly.

It's hard to believe we let a "temporary" solution like that cubby last just over two years in our bedroom, but that's what happens when you have a modest budget and what seems like a million more pressing things on your list to tackle!

Since I've left more than a couple projects undone over the last little while, I'm hoping to get back on track and also write posts more regularly again. So stay tuned--there's more on the way from the Nook of Wellington! 

KLI | NofW

"The Boutique"

Right before I moved in with Marc, I bought a terrific walnut dining table with a secret built-in leaf that I absolutely loved. Since my last apartment didn't really have much room for a table, this was a huge thrill!

It was the right price, thanks to an Ikea "Wacky Wednesday" sale, and it fit the space perfectly, but without chairs to sit on it was still a little tricky eating at the table...

I didn't want to spend an arm and a leg on a brand new set, so my Auntie Lisa suggested I head over to what our family now affectionately refers to as "The Boutique".

The Boutique is a dingy hotel furniture liquidation store located in the northeastern part of the city, where millions of new and gently used pieces are just sitting there, marked down to decently low prices and begging to be revamped!

Whether you have your eye on modern pieces of furniture, antiques or misfits like these, a little imagination and the ability to look past slight wear and tear can end up making all the difference in the world to your space and style.

In Auntie Lisa's case, a little paint went a very long way for a couple of dressers and a nightstand, and most recently she's reupholstered a [now] gorgeous pair of club chairs. These finds alone were inspiration enough to get me in the car and headed north to hunt down chairs of my own!

With Marc's help, I ended up taking home four simple wooden chairs (like the one pictured above with worn navy fabric) that suited our table perfectly.

For over a year now they've served their purpose, and haven't looked half bad, but with the new fabric we finally picked up this past weekend they're sure to look even better in no time!

Stay tuned!

KLI

Simple Pleasures - Our Floating Bookshelf!

Last night marked the fourth year in a row that I've attended the Giller Light Bash with my girlfriends.

It's become something of a tradition to attend each fall, and as usual we had a great time schmoozing with publishing folk, dining on tiny delicious h'ordeuvres, and joining in on the excitement as the Giller Prize winner was announced.

[Photo By: Dominique Lamberton for the Toronto Standard]

This year's event was held at The Burroughes Building, right in my neighbourhood, and as far as my dancing shoes and I are concerned, it was a huge success!

I've never been a huge reader myself, and only pick up books here and there (usually with a recommendation from one of my sisters or friends) so when I do polish off a new novel it becomes something of a trophy for me and I adore having "my books" around me or on display around the house.

I'm fairly sure everyone in my family has the ever-reliable Billy Bookshelf from Ikea, myself/Marc included, but this past year we bought into a cool new way of displaying our books...

The floating shelf!

[smartfurniture.com]

This shelf cost a whopping $15 at Indigo and while we only have one of its kind at the moment, not a soul walks into our house for the first time without asking about it.

It's just one of those silly things that catches your eye or makes you think, but most importantly adds a little fun to your space!

What do you think? Do you display your books in a way that thinks outside of the typical shelf or coffee table box?

KLI

Simple Pleasures - My Ikea Catalogue!

After a deliciously blustery and relaxing weekend up north with my girlfriends, my chaotic Monday just about did me in. All I wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep my bad mood away. 

And then I spotted my Ikea Catalogue.

Even though I can go online literally any time I want, and see virtually every single item the moment it's available for sale, there is something particularly special about receiving my hardcopy in the mail.

It's not unlike the excitement my sisters and I experienced at the arrival of our beloved Sears Wishbook as kids. Only instead of sifting through page and after page, looking for toys and super hot leggings with stir-ups, I now lust after shelving, lamps and bedding with the exact same fervor!

I'm not sure I can pin point what I love most about Ikea... the simplistic Scandinavian designs and the reasonable prices? Or the fun of assembling everything myself? (I'm not kidding) Maybe it's their awesome Wacky Wednesday sales or the fact that I can get a plate of Swedish meatballs or a full breakfast and a beer for literally, like, $4...

Whatever it is, it's fantastic.

Now it's time to simultaneously doggie-ear my way through the catalogue and burn my way through what's left of my 100 pack of tealights... all for an excuse to head back to the happiest place on earth my local store! 

KLI