Hi! I'm back from vacation! I had a really wonderful time. It was relaxing and I came back totally refreshed.

As you may see in the title - i'm moving...maybe. And it's not what you're thinking.

You see, for the past month or so I've been keeping another blog. Yes, I have. And I'm finding it quite hard to maintain 2 separate blogs...especially since some of the posts overlap each other. While this blog you're reading now is 98% decor focused and focused on me decorating my first apartment - sometimes I want to post about other things. Maybe a bit of fashion, maybe more about my travels...sometimes some personal stuff like what's going on in my life...or just random things I want to chat about. So I have another blog that allows me to do that. Don't get me wrong. I still talk a lot about decor but sometimes in a different way. So, for now, I'm moving there and I hope you all join me.

My new blog is called I'm Not Really A Diva (because...I think sometimes people think I am! Plus, it was a fun title that came to me after some thought. It's at www.imnotreallyadiva.blogspot.com or you can just click here. I really hope you join me - and if you do leave a comment so I know you're there!

So what are you waiting for? Head over to my new blog - I've posted a recap of my vacation...in Panama!

Note: I'm not sure what I'll do with this blog. So there will be no updates to this site for one month. On June 18 I'll post here with my decision - I may decide to keep it going somehow or I may move the posts over to I'm Not Really A Diva...we'll see!

Hi bloggers and lurkers;)I'll be off-line for about a week as I take a much deserved and much needed vacation in Central America. See you next week - have a good one!

Okay, I thought we could play a little game of guess who...unfortunately I don't have any prizes :( but it can still be fun...right?

So...you may recognize it because it has been featured in a magazine before but - guess whose home this is? Clue #1 - its the home of a grammy award winning musician.

I know it's been a while since I've posted - my apologies.
Look at this bed I've come across on craigslist! I think, I think, I may have found the correct key words to search for. It's reminiscent of this bed that I love - no? Too bad it's a double and not a queen!

I can see it reupholstered in the beautiful pink raw silk I've been saving...the colour changes slightly depending on the light...sometimes it looks pink-y sometimes a bit gray. Or perhaps a fantastic print...*sigh* I'll have to continue to keep my eyes open and be patient.

I have tons of inspiration photos on my flickr page and a handful of photos I've favourited as well. I went through them and picked some of my absolute favourites. They have the style, feel and look I want my apartment to have. I think they're gorgeous and well put together not TOO styled and totally liveable. I noticed that most of them have a few things in common - neutral colours, a certain roughness BUT a certain softness as well, the colour pink, something unexpected...

Don't you love these pics?!?!
What key elements do you see that I could bring into my own home and how? What STYLE would you call this - how would you define it? Modern Eclectic Chic (I made that up and quite like it) :) Modern Ethnic? Comfortable Modern? I dunno...help?

This time, one year ago, I had boarded a plane, solo, to fulfill one of my lifelong dreams and cross of on thing on my 'lifetime to-do list' - to visit Egypt. You see, I've had a long-standing love affair with Egypt for many, many years. Ever since we were introduced to the country in gr.6 and learned to write our name in hieroglyphs I've been...obsessed with the country and knew that one day I'd visit the land of pyramids, lost Queens, and mummies. Since that day in gr.6 I fell, hard, for the country and have taken every (well, most) opportunities to learn more about it and it's fascinating history: I'd watch every TV special that aired, I'd buy books, I'd visit museums to check out the Egypt exhibit. So I knew it was only a matter of time before I visited the country.

Sick and tired of waiting for someone to get 'serious' or to save up money to join me I decided to just do it. My mom didn't believe me, maybe because I brought it up quite casually on some random day in January - just two months before my decided upon departure date...

scene: watching tv or some other random thing

me: 'so, i'm gonna go to Egypt'
mom: 'huh'
me: 'Egypt. I think i'm gonna go'
silence
me: 'did you hear me? i'm going to Egypt'
mom: (totally humoring me) 'when?'
me: 'ummm. end of march. yeah, that sounds good - end of march'
mom: 'with who?'
me: 'ahhh. i think by myself'
silence
me: 'did you hear me? i'm really going. in march'
mom: 'mmm-hmm'

And that was it. Until I came home with my ticket in-hand. My mom still didn't believe me until I showed her the physical ticket (which I was shaking when I bought). Then she was concerned.

why Egypt? you don't know anyone there? why by yourself? why don't you wait? what the %^@#?

But my mom knows I'm responsible and once she knew I'd made up my mind i think she was...impressed. I'd done my research and showed her maps, pictures from the 'net of what I would soon see with my own eyes, plus she knew this was a dream of mine...

When I arrived in Egypt...I experienced a million and one emotions: i'm here, i did it being two of the most overwhelming.

I had realized a dream 14 years in the making.

The next 2 1/2 weeks were spent discovering the past and present of Egypt.

I wondered how??? as I gazed upon the
pyramids and the mighty Sphinx.


I spent over 3 hours in the Egyptian Museum -
including 5 minutes in silence, bymyself, with royal mummies...


I ate like an Egyptian.

    
I walked among kings at The Valley of the Kings...


and remembered a great Queen who had tried to be erased...


and explored ancient temples with faceless reminders of the past.


I challenged myself physically and climbed Mt. Siani at dusk
(this is a day shot - didn't take a good night one)...


to watch the sun rise at dawn.

    
I visited the Citadel - for a famed view at the city of Cairo from its courtyard...


and within its walls said a prayer at the Mosque of Mohammad Ali.


I went snorkelling in the Red Sea...


and saw the moon as I had never seen it before.

        


I stood amazed as I contemplated 5,000 year old art that I could touch and that looked like it had been painted only
a few months or years ago...(first image taken inside a tomb!).


I travelled as the ancient Egyptians had -
by felucca on the Nile...


and gasped at the view of it from my balcony by day.


I stood in the shadow of King Ramses II at Abu Simbel
(and several other places)...


and before the Crypt of the Holy Family.

And after all of that and so, so, SO much more, at the end of my journey I realized one important thing: I had barely scratched the surface and would have to return again one day.

And so now, 1 year later, I remember my time in Egypt fondly and with a sense of accomplishment. I never tire of speaking of my experience and I still speak of the country with a sense of awe and wonder.

I still watch every tv special that airs.

I still buy books about the country.

But I longer visit the museum to check out the Egyptian exhibit...because it just doesn't compare to the real thing.

Just wanted to pop in and quickly post an art project I've been working for some time now...I'm almost finished - just thinking of some more quotes that resonate with me.

Not bad, eh?

One of my favourite blogs/sites is Apartment Therapy...I visit it daily. There are so many helpful tips there and its a great way to learn about new design trends, concepts and just good ol' useful decor tips that you can incorporate into your own home. I also love the house tours - this is when people submit photos of their home with descriptions and you get to 'tour' their home. I like seeing how other people decorate their space, the design choices they make, and how they deal with various issues...like small budgets and small spaces - this I can relate to! So I was thrilled when last week I stopped by AT and saw that their annual 'Smallest, Coolest Apartment Contest' will be starting up soon!

 

I love the 'Smallest, Coolest, Apartment Contest.' There are usually some pretty great entries...and some not so great entires (but if you can't say something nice - don't say anything at all, right?) From the spaces below, and others, I've gotten ideas on everything from colour schemes to furniture placement to organization.Here are some of my favourite entries from years past...

2007 - Ron's Hotel Sweet
Can you believe this is a 500 square foot studio! So chic.



2006 - Harkl & Jili's Bold Bright Moves
The yellow stripes on the wall - tape! Genius.



2005 - Patrick's Cosmo-Urban Studio Rental
Another fabulously chic studio - only 485 square foot!

 

2007 - Randi's Post Loft Sophistication
I like the furntiure placement in this 415 square foot studio

2006 - Jane & Darko's Cozy Thicket
Lot's of creativity in this 645 square foot walk-up

If you think you've got what it takes (and your home is under 850 sq ft) why not enter your apartment into the contest? The prizes are usually pretty good. But warning! Some of the people who comment can be quite rude - so thick skin is a must!

Perhaps I'll enter the contest next year.

I have these two to thank for adding the words: fierce, fabulous and flawless to my vocabulary. Well, the words fierce and fabulous...and only when I write - not when I speak. Because that could get tres annoying I imagine.

I've always loved Tyra Banks - the epitome of fierce, fabulous and flawless.



Christian from Season 4 of Project Runway.
Seriously. Just look at his picture - do I need to say more?

April's issue of In Style magazine featured the sprawling 5,000 square foot home of hotel heiress Nicky Hilton. Yes, I said 5,000 square foot...and she lives alone. Gosh, to have 5,000 square feet of living space all to myself!

I've flipped through issue a few times...looking closely at her home but in the end I come to the same conclusion - something's just not working for me. In theory, it should work. Individually, I find the pieces to be quite striking, unique and pretty fabulous (except the sofa in the living room...WTF??) but together...it doesn't quite 'click' for me. It's another example, to me at least, that tons of money does not necessarily equal style.

I think one of my main issues with her home is that it's very 'black & white' (pun intended). It's very rare that I'm drawn to a space that is executed in just two, or three, colours - period. I find when people use a very limited colour palette and stick to it 100% - it just looks off to me. It's very hard to execute correctly I find. I mean, did everything have to be black or white? Maybe it's just me but I'm not into that kind of literal interpretation.

But I do give credit where credit is due and admit, again, that most of the pieces are fierce. The black vinyl headboard? Fierce. The mirrored dining room table = fab-u-lous. The breakfast nook chairs, the wall paper - lovely! Her fabulous vintage Chanel serving tray is also pretty great...

And I do love ♥ her shoe closet...I love chic flats!

So...I'm going about my normal internet routine which consists of checking into several blogs that I visit regularly and I drop by 'Desire to Inspire'. What I love about 'Desire to Inspire' is that the Australian & Canadian duo behind the blog post so many inspirational photos or rooms and various items for the home that I'm always...inspired! Anywho, I drop by and begin to scroll down and notice a post called Easter Reading Guide...basically it's their guide to other blogs they've recently discover to keep people entertained over this long weekend. I love posts like this because I love discovering well written, good blogs design-related or otherwise.

As I'm waiting for the images of the blog titles to appear I think "Ha, wouldn't it be cool if mine were there?" but, being that I live in a little place called 'the real world' I laughed off the thought. I mean...my humble little blog getting recognized by one of the big players? they probably don't even know DFS exists!

But I was wrong. My mouth dropped open when I saw my blog title appear on the screen.

Decorating From Scratch had been recommended. Wow. Double-wow. Look, I took a screen image to prove it!

Do you see it? Third from the top on the right hand side???

I'm truly speechless and want to thank the duo behind 'Desire to Inspire' for finding my blog worthy enough of inclusion. You've made a blogging girl in Toronto very, very happy.

If you aren't familiar with 'Desire to Inspire' please check it out, you'll be inspired.

And for those of you dropping by for the first time - welcome! I hope you enjoy your stay and come back to visit :)

Happy Easter (and happy long weekend!)
I don't know about your family but in my house on Easter it's a bit of a tradition (courtesy of our Jamaican background) to eat fried fish and bun & cheese. And it's customary for it to be cooked the day before...not on Easter day itself.

Now, it's not your regular type of bun...but I don't know how to describe it so you'll just have to trust me on that one lol.

Hope you enjoyed your day and enjoy the rest of the weekend too.

I can't believe it's been 1 week since my last blog. I feel bad; I was doing so well! In my defense I've been super super busy with work and some personal projects I'm working on. Combine spending time with my family, my puppy (I still must introduce him to you all), birthdays...and I've barely had 'me' time - my hair is a wreck and my skin is starting to show the results of not enough sleep and relaxation and tons of stress. My wheels are totally spinning as I try to keep everything together...I wish I were here:

taken from a little Nubian restaurant
overlooking the Nile - Aswan, Egypt


taken at sunset on the Nile


chilling out by the Red Sea in Dahab, Egypt

So please, bare with me. I will have a much better post up on Friday. It's a long weekend and I'll finally, I hope, be able to have at least a day for myself.

I'm sure many of you have already seen the home of designer Michelle Smith (of the fashion label Milly) blogged about on countless blogs as well as the October 2007 cover of Elle Decor. However, I just recently discovered her space and became absolutely smitten with the entire apartment. I love all of the choices she has made and would not change a thing...literally, not - one - thing. These photos will definitely go into my inspiration folder as this is the exact feel and look I want my apartment to have. I love the way she has mixed bold patterns, punches of colour, gold (my fave!), eclectic pieces and modern pieces to create a home that is totally chic but also totally liveable. That's how I judge really good design/designers/interiors - does the home look liveable? Usually, I see beautiful homes but it looks like a museum. I could not picture anyone living there - can't imagine getting home and kicking your feet up on the couch and just...relaxing. But this space - perfection! In her interview she said "I knew it was the perfect apartment when I realized the Christian Louboutin shop was right across the street." How much do you love that??

"We wanted the overall mood to be a young, sexy feeling," Smith says. "Like moving into Grandma's apartment and making it modern and whimsical, but still classic." Take away tip #1: stick with a neutral colour sofa (everyone has heard this already right?) that way you can add pops of colour with simple cushions. Take away tip #2: add at least one 'hold-your-breath WOW factor to the room' in this case the stunning 50s brass-and-crystal chandelier (that looks like a giant dandelion - love it!) AND the large portrait of a nun over the sofa do just that (btw - is it just me or does the nun look like Jessica Biel???). Vintage chairs in zebra striped silk, vintage mirror and 19th century Chinese cabinet add a touch of unexpected and a dash of exotic to the living room. Take away tip #3: zebra print (though pretty trendy right now) is always a sure fire way to add a touch of chic and the unexpected - but zebra print in a colour other than black & white, in this case yellow, is REALLY unexpected and totally hip. The graphic black and beige (with gold highlights!) David Hicks wallpaper adds major punch to the entrance hall. Take away tip #4: go bold in a small space! Perhaps, if I have my apartment has an entrance hall, I too will add a really graphic wallpaper - a thought I've had but am even more sold on now. Golden floral wallpaper (did I mention I love how she's used gold in her apartment!), art-deco table, mid-century chandelier and 1940's chairs take the tiny dining room from so-so to wow. Take away tip #5: in a small space, with not a lot of architectural details (did you notice there weren't any windows) go for the wow factor! If you're brave enough...why be small and timid when you can be small and f-i-e-r-c-e?!?! "Sensual and playful" is how the rooms are described by Smith. Note the curves on the mohair bed. Take away tip #6: quietly suggest moods/feelings with shapes and lines. The curved headboard and mirrored bedside table whisper, not shout, feminine and sensual. Less obvious than a bedroom decked out in florals but just as effective - if not more so I think. Pretty simple and straight-forward the bathroom is timeless and chic. Take away tip #7 when in doubt black & white is always right. I love the pop of hot pink and the wicker basket totally adds warmth to the space (plus storage!)

The common thread? "A little unexpected flourish or sparkle," says Smith. Take away tip #8: a little bling never hurts :) I find gold metals warm up a space and add a sense of age & history whereas silver is a bit more cold and 'modern/future-esque'.

Kudos to her designer, Shaun Jackson, who did a fantastic job. (I've tried to find a website for Shaun Jackson but can't...if anyone knows it please tell me it! I'm curious to see more of his/her work)

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and picked up some handy tips!

Recently spotted on craigslist - hopefully I've acted quickly enough. It would be a great entertainment centre - enough room on top to house the TV and all of the drawers and DVDs would hide all the electronics, DVDs, CDs - heck even some books and other stuff. It's in pretty bad condition but a little, okay a lot, of elbow grease and I think I could whip it into shape (I'm inspired by this recent transformation - before and after - seen on Apartment Therapy...I mean look how totally gnarly the wood was before compared with the after).

Plus, it's only $65! If I totally, TOTALLY scew it up and it ends up on the curb...it was only $65! On the other hand, if it ends up looking great - which it would ;) - then what a steal at $65!!! And it's teak.

Finger crossed I've acted quickly enough - we all know how MY luck is with this kinda stuff :)