Art Deco Crown Molding via Inviting Home

So one of my neighbors has the most amazing original molding in her house - this post from desire to inspire reminded me of it and got me thinking about what I can get my hands on for my own home...

I googled it up and found these beautiful examples via Inviting Home...

First up is the Miami Art Deco Crown Molding -




Second is the Los Angeles Art Deco Molding -



And finally (I have to admit it is my favorite) is the New York Art Deco Crown Molding -





To be honest, I think the Miami style would look the best in my home. I already have stepped molding around the doors and baseboard. There's another coved style but I want something a bit more geometric. What do you think?? (also note, this is more mental masturbation than anything else).

Stair Inspiration

I don't know where I found these stairs, but I love them. Are they too much? For some reason, I think they are from Elle Decor.

Edit! Found the info: Photo by Polly Wreford.

The New York Real Estate Brochure Collection - A floorplan database

Heard about this wonderful resource via curbed - The New York Real Estate Brochure Collection

About the Collection

The New York Real Estate Brochure Collection was donated to Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library by Yale Robbins, Henry Robbins, and David Magier in 1986. The collection consists of over 9,200 advertising brochures, floor plans, price lists, and related materials that document residential and commercial real estate development in the five boroughs of New York and outlying vicinities from the 1920s to the 1970s.

Guide to building a trailer for two (tear drop design?)

I want to build a trailer for two.

Le sigh.

My rejuvenation dreams

At night, I dream in lighting. ha!

So here's the breakdown of what I want for my living room (in nickel finish with ivory glass) - all from rejuvenation (of course!):


The pembrook - for over the living room seating area.


The glide - to frame my fireplace.

and finally - the blairmont, for over my dining room table.

I've been dreaming about these lights forever, eventually I will have the cash to buy them. I hope!!!!

Bridgehead - An Art Deco lobby in Ottawa

So this art deco lobby sits inside of this building (previously featured!) on Slater and Albert. Next door is the Bridgehead coffee shop, where I go to often and spend way too much on a cup of joe (but hey, I look good doin it). The shot above is taken looking in to the lobby. Here are some great detail shots:

Vent cover

Inside the elevator

Stair details

View from the bottom of the stairs
(check out the cool light fixtures, the marble floor, the art deco madness!)

Original clock

On a related note - here are some of the details from inside of the coffee shop:

My floor runner? Maybe?

Okay so I saw this photo (I'm 100% sure that I have the related magazine but no idea where it is). I WANT THE CARPET. Oh Carpet, where did you come from? How do I find you and buy you? Of course it has to be designed by Kelly Wearstler, it's her closet (featured in Canadian House and Home apparently).

I have no idea where to find this (is it even possible? Custom job? something equally inaccessible?)...


But I want want want that carpet for my stairs going to the second floor. It would be a dream, really.

Image from destination inspiration.

How to cover a fabric lamp shade via Intrigue Design

I found some great How to advice here - when I have the time, I'll have to figure it out.

Inspiration via Curbed

How have I not noticed curbed before? I have no idea. In June of 2008, they posted this wonderful picture from a house that once belonged to Kelly Wearstler...


I love it, want this for my own deck (to be built next year? who knows)

Okay, okay. I know I haven't really talked about the house

So here's the deal, I've decided to write about my ongoing reno projects on another blog (most, not all). I haven't had the time to write my bio/provide a picture/get started over there. Part of our agreement is that I won't duplicate posts here and there - but I will let you know here when I post something. It's not paid, it's not some big Blogger Move. It's a collaborative blog for people crazy bout lighting.

I know, I know, you want to read about it here! The thing is, the other blog has more than 30 readers and some of them are crazy art deco people that leave comments. So I really want to write about the renos there and get advice from their readers. I promise I will tell you more soon! Like this week or next week!

That said, I doubt they want to hear about my landscaping so I may keep that to this place. So that leads this back to being my place to dump inspiration photos/info for my current projects/etc etc etc.

I have to admit, I prefer collaborative blogs...anyone interested in combining efforts for Otown? Lemme know :)

My dream staircase design

So our stairs to the second floor are very dark and cave-like (you can check out the light info here). At the top of them sits a linen closet. I dream of ripping it out and installing a window - I had even talked about it with my hub when I saw this on My Favorite and My Best...


It's from Muriel Brandolini, isn't it beautiful? Ah! I want it right now. Now!

Oh Legacy, why you cost so much?

Remember this door?


Yeah, it's like $800 CDN. Not a deal from my perspective though perfect for my house. Le sigh. And did I mention this?


No? I know, it would be perfect for the side porch I want to have one day but at $55/square foot, I think I'll be dreaming about that for a while. Legacy, please make me a deal! Or usedottawa, come through for me! oi.

Anyone have any advice on finding architectural antiques locally???

How to Install a Laundry Chute | The Family Handyman

How to Install a Laundry Chute | The Family Handyman

Who wouldn't want a laundry chute? The key question - is this legal in OTown??

A while ago I went to Toronto

I went to TO a while ago - while there, I bought a whack load of marble tile and oggled buildings. I took a ton of inspiration photos and then promptly forgot about them. So here, late and just for you! We got lost at one point and I noticed this hot streamline gas station.


Isn't it cute?

More advice from Effa

I realize that my scanning skills leave something to be desired. The book is fragile, on its last legs! That's my excuse for not editing.


Thoughtful advice and images via "Designs for Living" by Effa Brown.

Yellow? Yellow.

We are going to be renoing up our sunroom this summer, part of the deal is a makeover of the exterior as we are replacing alllll of the windows. As we will (and I really mean my hub) be ripping down the vinyl siding, I have started to contemplate options. I love the yellow Kingston house and want to embrace something like that for my addition. With that in mind, I started wandering round the great internet and found this pretty photo via Canadian House and Home.

Practical Suggestions for Home Decoration

A few months ago, I found this wonderful little paper magazine/book publication titled, "Designs for Living" by Effa Brown. It boasts that it will provide you advice on "How to make the best use of what you have" and includes illustrations. Published in 1942, I'm not sure if copyright still applies so I thought I'd share some of the images with you.


I love that the furniture is perfect for the time period that the book was published. Seriously, this is the era of my home! Love it.

Comment moderation

I hate to do it but I have turned on comment moderation to kill all the spam bots that have been posting crap to my blog. I don't really care what you write, as long as the comment isn't full of spam I'll approve it (I promise!).

More Oak Park Inspiration

I can't remember the name of this house - though not an official Wright House, it is one that he worked on and where he fell in love with the woman he left his wife for (who was later murdered...). The landscaping on it was wonderful - I especially loved the greenhouse.


The wonderful herringbone pavers...


And the fruit trees as fence. I want!