This week we had the pleasure of touring the Silver Leaf dream home, the grand prize in the the Dream Lottery in London Ontario. This beautiful black and white masterpiece was built by Bridlewoods Homes and designed by 12 | 26 Design Co. There is something so sophisticated about any black and white design plan. The composition allows for the most dramatic contrast, the focal points are overemphasized and foregrounds are layered to perfection. Let's explore this home and the striking black and white interior design inspiration.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined House & Home magazine would be interested in my renovation project but friends let me tell you, dreams can come true. Last December House & Home contacted me to inquiry about filming my renovation project and I was in shock. I couldn't say yes fast enough. This project has been such a labour of love, this House & Home video is the icing on the cake. 


When they arrived on the day of the shoot I was so nervous but the H&H crew made me feel comfortable and relaxed. There is no rehearsal or practice for this video, they come into your home, set up and start asking questions (I prefer it this way because too much formal prep makes me nervous). On the other hand, I did turn into a bit of a "Chatty Cathy", as my husband would say, so I was happy they were able to piece it together in such a lovely way. Check it out and let me know what you think. Special thanks to House and Home for selecting my renovation project to feature on their site.

2. The 90's Are Back
90s trends have exploded in the fashion world and in many ways have been simmering in the interior design world for a few years. In 2019, 90s trends will have agency in interior design and, as with previous revivals, will come back fresh and inspired; we’re talking chintz florals, hollywood lighting, deep veined marble, chunky valences and puddled curtains - it’s all headed our way in 2019.


3. Take It To The Max
In 2019 maximalism will be a fair-weather trend, not for the faint of heart. With bold unabashed layering of prints, styles and eras the juxtaposition of the unexpected is at the heart of this trend. Throwing the rule book out the window giving credence to repetition and excess. We will see florals on florals, tartans on tartans, stripes on... well you get the idea. Plus, metals of different eras, an abundance of accessories and a focus on surfaces rather than storage. This wall to wall, floor to ceiling trend is expected to make a statement in 2019.


4. Wowzo Terrazzo
This composite marble is going to be big in 2019. You may remember it from the floor in your high school back in the day. Today's terrazzo will vary in size, colour and shape and will be used in floors, countertops and accessories. For an easy way to add terrazzo into your home check out these DIY terrazzo plates I created last month.


5. Canopy Beds
Renaissance canopy beds will be an unexpected micro-trend. They are turning heads and slowly making their way into our master bedrooms. We’re seeing these beds fully enclosed or with box-like crown canopy's adorned with ornate passementerie and curtains.


Looking forward to seeing how this all transpires in 2019. Be sure to follow me on Instagram for more trends, tips and tricks throughout the year. Happy New Year!

While our small business is still very much in the early stages we have learned a lot coming out of the gate, things we have done well and things we would have done differently.

Over a year ago I left my corporate job, took an interior design diploma course, built-up my blog, and set my sights on house flipping as a side business. In discussions with my husband, who was branching out in his career as well, we felt it was time to register Harlow & Thistle as a company. The process to make our business official wasn’t easy and it definitely wasn’t always clear if we were headed in the right direction. Between government sites and business structures, accountants, and lawyers, our heads were spinning. It took quite some time, but after some research and advice from family and friends we eventually figured out how to register our company.


If I were to do it again, I would have 100% used a service like Ownr, which is a new service  that helps make registering or incorporating a small business quick, easy and affordable. They cut through the confusion, making it straight forward and clear - plus they even do a name search for you.

If you’re like me, when you’re starting something new there’s usually some anxiety that comes with it, “should I do it?” “is it right?” and if things don’t go somewhat smoothly at the beginning you might take it as a sign to turn back. I’m sure the old confusing process of registering a company has deterred a few aspiring entrepreneurs from even getting started.

I’ve partnered with Ownr to help make the experience even smoother and I’m offering my readers an additional discount off registration or incorporation. Use the promo code HT-REG30 for $30 off registration and HT-INC60 for $60 off incorporation. Take advantage of these now before they expire on July 1st!


Stop putting it off, launch that side hustle! If you have any questions about starting a business, leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to help!

When it’s the coldest day of the year it’s hard to keep the kids entertained without succumbing to cabin fever. We just got back from a quick family getaway to the Deerhurst Resort over the holidays. Deerhurst packs their schedule with activities for the family during the holidays and March Break. Everything from snowshoeing to bouncy castles so we almost didn't even noticed the cold.

It was the coldest two days of the year. I guess that’s not saying much considering it was only January 4th but in any case it was too cold for this Canadian girl. What better way to spend time inside than at Deerhurst? First of all the landscape is gorgeous so cuddling up with a good cup of coffee and staring out the window could have been enough for me... well it could have been if the kids weren’t constantly pulling at my arm to go do something.



We arrived just in time for Splash and Boots (included with our stay). My kids aren’t big dancers but when splash and boots came out my kids rushed the stage like a 90’s mosh pit and danced the whole time.


The next day we had the buffet breakfast. It’s important to note, this was no ordinary buffet. We’re talking eggs benny, waffles and omlettes. The food was good and the service was lovely. It was a great start to our day.





 Next, we decided to try the ice skating trail at Arrowhead National park. I grew up figure skating so this was a bucket list kind of thing. Unfortunately it was so cold we were only able to stay out long enough to snap a pick and jump back in the car.


When we got back to the hotel we decided to go swimming (and hot tub to warm up). Our room was in the main building so we didn’t need to go outside to access the pool which was nice.


Next, we hit up the Arcade and Fun Zone. Basically, Deerhurst filled their giant conference room with 5 bouncy castles! I was so happy when I saw these I almost cried. My husband and I were able to sit back and relax while our kids played until they couldn’t keep their eyes open. PSA - This Fun Zone is at Deerhurst during the holidays and March Break - Just saying.

I recently had the pleasure to attend "The Art of Entertaining" Homesense media event. The space was so beautifully decorated I wanted to move in. Each room had a different vibe and there were little vignettes displaying holiday decor for Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas. There was so much eye candy I had a hard time staying focused. And the cinnamon rimmed cider Prosecco was icing on the cake.

After I posted some Instastories, a few of my American friend's messaged me wishing they had a Homesense in the US (add Homesense to the list of reasons to be a proud Canadian). Check out the pics below to see what's in store for @homesense this fall/winter season.









I drop by my local Homesense on the regular so this event was a real treat for me (especially sans kids). With the holiday season just around the corner it was inspiring to get ideas on how to entertain without spending a fortune.

Until next time!