Cottage Chic

With the upcoming long weekend just around the corner, my hubby and I decided to take advantage of it and plan an extended long weekend at the cottage (ie: 5 blissful days relaxing in the sun and swimming in the lake). This cottage has been in my family for over 30 years. And, most likely, has had the same decor since then. It's rustic, cozy, and very much how a cottage is meant to be. I love it! I have so many great memories here from my childhood - spending every summer there with my grandparents, playing with the neighbours' kids, and spending all day swimming.

So, this got me thinking about bright, beautiful cottage interiors. Take a look at these summer-inspired cottages...

The colours in this cottage interior designed by Sarah Richardson were inspired by the blues of the surrounding lake. It feels so airy!

Source

I love the mix of blue and red in this traditional cottage bedroom. Breakfast in bed + this bedroom = complete relaxation!

Source

Source

A vintage garden bucket makes a perfect vessel sink for the bathroom (side note: this would make a great DIY project!)

Source

Imagine having a bathroom this large and luxurious at the cottage...

Source

The over-sized corbels holding up the wall shelf reminds this modern kitchen of its country charm. And check out the marble inlay behind the stove - the natural stone complements the cottage feel perfectly!

Source

Source

How will you be spending your upcoming long weekend?

Powder Room Reveal

I promised you that I would reveal my stenciled powder room. But first, let's recall what it looked like before (sorry about the poor quality cellphone pic - it's the only picture I took of the powder room when we first took possession, and I forgot to take pics before I started the makeover, oops)...

You'll see the builder-grade countertop, sink, faucet, and mirror in this shot (and for obvious reasons, these all needed to be swapped out).

And this is the AFTER...

Looks like a completely different room, right?

I am beyond thrilled at how the room turned out. I used the Moroccan Dream stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils, and it took many many hours (I mean, like 25 hours over a 4 day long Easter weekend!!). That means that it also took a whack load of patience, hugging a toilet to stencil behind it, contorting my body into various positions that I didn't think I was capable of, and standing over a steaming hot flood light for hours on end (I had to remove the bathroom light to stencil properly).

I don't have any in-action shots, but I can rundown the process. It was lengthy -  I definitely don't deny that. I am 100% certain that it wouldn't take most people this long to complete a teeny powder room wall stencil. But, I have my reasons:

(a) I decided to use a stencil brush instead of a small roller. Which means that I had to dab every inch of paint on the wall, rather than simply rolling it on. I found that the roller wasn't providing the coverage that I needed since the paint just soaked into the foam. The brush let me have the control that I wanted.

(b) Since I used a metallic paint and I had to remove the bathroom light, it was difficult to judge what part of the stencil had enough paint and which parts were missing some. Depending on the angle you look at, the metallic shines differently. That made for lots of bending down and standing up while analyzing the glimmer of the paint in the light.

(c) I had a lot of obstacles in my way - toilet, cabinet, odd corners - which means trying to line up the stencil as best I could, which had then become stiff with paint, was definitely problematic. There were several moments that I had to fake it adjust it as best I could.

I can now officially call this room done! (and it's the only room I can say that about, ugh - it's going to be a long road ahead).

Here is the source list for the powder room:

granite countertop - River White granite
sink - Artisan
faucet - Price Pfister
mirror - Home Outfitters
cabinet hardware - Hickory Hardware
shelf and candle holders - Bouclair Home
light fixture - Martha Stewart
Art - Home Sense
base paint - Amazon Stone by Behr
stencil paint - Champagne by Folk Art

Tickled Pink

Candy colours are popping up everywhere this season in clothing, but they are also popping up in home decor. Pink, especially, is being used in a variety of ways to lighten up rooms. Since pink comes in so many different shades - salmon, pastel, fuschia, neon, etc - it's no wonder that more people are accessorizing their homes with this classic colour.

Source 

Source

I love how creative the use of turning the closet into a desk area is. And you can't go wrong with a disco ball hanging over your desk.

Source

One of my favourite rooms by Sarah Richardson. Oh, who are we kidding? I love everything that Sarah does.

Source

Even the toys in the basket beside the couch brings in a pop of pink.

Source

Another Sarah Richardson beauty. Floor length curtains in a bathroom just screams luxury!

Source

Source

Do you think your home could use a little "pink pick me up"?

Stencils, Stencils, Everywhere

I'll let you in on a little sneak peek of a DIY project that I actually finished months ago, but since I just started this blog, you wouldn't have had an opportunity to see it...

The above pic is from my powder room which I'll be sharing with you in an upcoming post. It isn't wallpaper - it's a wall stencil, if you can believe it! It is the Moroccan Dream Stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils.

The great thing about wall stencils is that they can easily be applied to the wall and can also be easily removed when you want a change by simply painting over it. They come in all different patterns, sizes, and uses - borders, murals, allover prints, and even stencils for backsplashes and fabric.

Think about the possibilities! Better yet - let me show you the possibilities!

Source

This birch wall stencil is one of my all-time favourites! This would be so pretty in a nursery.

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Do any of you have a blank wall staring at you that could use a little help from a stencil?


(I actually just ordered another stencil for our master bedroom. You'll get a chance to see it when I reveal the master. That is, once I find time to stencil).

Gorgeous Gold

I'm pretty sure that all of my life, I've never liked gold. I always found it too flashy and over-the-top, and almost old-fashioned. I've always been a silver girl. Until lately that is. Now, I'm adoring all things gold. It seems to just brighten up any room. Take a look at the following gorgeous gold room decor...

I love the gold accents and sea foam wall colour - check out the peek of beige and cream wallpaper in the foreground. So elegant! (check out the gold poofs at the end of the bed - they make me happy!)

Source

Timeless, elegant gold and cream living room. 

Source

I love the portrait gallery of gold and black frames. The black anchors the room so perfectly. 

Source

Source

I have seen this dining room a million times online, and every time I see it, I love it a little bit more. I also luurve the buffet lamps, and the buddha is the perfect accent piece.

Source

Purple and gold is so regal! And the wallpapered accent wall is amazing! (side note: an upholstered ottoman for my living room is on my mile-long to do list I'll get to... someday!)

Source

Source

I think I could get a lot of work done in this office...

(can you see the amazing gold sputnik chandelier in the reflection of the mirror? I'm starting to see these chandeliers everywhere lately).

Source

Any new found lovers of gold out there?

Pilot Post

Welcome to my blog! I have thought about starting a blog for a long time, and even longer have I wanted to do interior decorating. So, I've decided that there is no better time than the present. I read a lot of blogs online about interior decorating and DIY projects, and I'm always amazed at how creative some people are. It definitely gives me inspiration for my own home.


So, a little about me. I'm a 28-year old married lady who works by day in an office, and my evening and weekends are spent dreaming up new things to do around my house. My husband and I moved into our single "forever home" in October 2011. It was a brand new build, and even though everything in the house was new, we quickly started making it our own. We made some major changes to the kitchen and changed out the sinks and counters in all the bathrooms. I can't help but dream up a slew of ideas to make this home into exactly what I want. I think of this house as my canvas. (Good thing I have a very supportive husband who is okay with letting me make these changes around the house).


Although I work in an office, I have wanted to start interior decorating work on the side. And recently, I made that decision. One of my best friends and her husband bought a brand new single home and hired me to decorate the interior! After presenting the design boards, getting their stamp of approval, and starting the design work, I very quickly realized that this is something that I needed to do.  So, KM Decor was born!


This blog will include my design inspirations, progress of my current projects, and loads of pretty pictures. I hope you'll join me on this journey!