Mlle Magpie

My New Shabby Chic Chairs

 

 

 

My new Lila chairs from Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture arrived today!

 

 

 

 

Since we got our new sofa, our old armchairs no longer worked in the living room. We took the old Ikea Ektorp armchairs to the farmhouse where they look great with our huge white slipcovered sofa in the living room there.

 

 

 

 

I searched high and low to find chairs that I liked and that would work with the new sofa. These Lila chairs were on sale so even paying for the shipping and the customs duties (we're in Montreal, Canada), it worked out well.

 

 

 

 

I'm very happy with them! And there's our Molly checking them out... I think Daddy will like them too when he comes back from his week-long business trip in San Francisco.

 

Mlle Magpie

Rachel's Shabby Chic Store in NYC

 

 

 

If you guessed Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Shop as my favourite store in New York, you know me well. This store is smaller than her previous one in Soho, but still utterly pretty and delightful.

 

 

 

 

Love the vintage bicycle in the front window display with pretty ribbon-wrapped gifts.

 

 

 

 

A most eco-chic way to deliver one's Christmas gifts. Indeed, completely practical as there was no snow in NYC when we were there right after Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fabulous large inspiration board a la Rachel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Could have spent a lot more time browsing and enjoying this shop but I was with my teenaged son :)  I did manage to get my bestie a couple of small things that she wanted and I got some ruffled white bedding for myself that had been on my wish list for a long time. Sigh. So romantic and dreamy...

 

Mlle Magpie

Happy New Year's Day!

 

 

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year's Day. May this first day of 2012 start to bring blessings to all of you that will continue throughout the year.

 

I somehow made it to Christmas relatively intact. Did you know that I danced in my ballet studio's Nutcracker performance in December?  Both of my daughters danced in the production as well. I was an angel and even got to dance the angel dance with my 11 year old daughter - how cool is that?!! My seven year old was a party girl and my older daughter also danced the Chinese dance en pointe. I was so proud of them.

 

On the homefront our new living room sofa that we had ordered arrived just in time for Christmas. Also, the snow arrived on cue a couple of days before Christmas so everyone was happy that it was a white Christmas. As for getting "everything done" by Christmas, I did not, but c'est la vie. For example, the Christmas tree never really got decorated very much, but on the bright side, much easier to take it down :)

 

We enjoyed the holidays here at home with my family from Toronto. A couple of days after Christmas I flew to New York City for a few days with my 15 year old son for some much needed one-on-one time. We did quite a bit of walking there and it aggravated a little knee injury that I had so unfortunately I ended up hobbling around Manhattan with a terrible limp. Not very cool, but kinda funny. 

 

I'm going to post about my favourite shops in NYC soon. Can you guess what they could be?

 

Mlle Magpie

 

p.s. hope you got to celebrate more than me last night - I had to drive the family to the airport at 5:30 (!) in the morning for their ski vacation in Fernie, British Columbia, where my husband used to go skiing while growing up in Alberta (I'm not a downhill skier so I didn't go; also, I've got that knee injury now which makes it hard just to walk...)

Serendipity and Sibella Court

 

 

Actually, I think I would have to say that my favourite find while in London was "Etcetera", Sibella Court's incredibly inspirational book. This book is no where to be found in Canada and I had sort of given up on getting what may be considered a cult classic tome on living with vintage finds and personal collections. So it was serendipity when I saw it on the shelf of a bookstore that I was browsing in while in London. I was over the moon when I pulled it down from the bookshelf! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sibella particularly speaks to the vintage loving former biologist/scientist in me.

 

 

 

 

But I think you would find it inspirational too!

 

 

Mlle Magpie

 

Favourite Nooks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1, 2, 8 - jeannedarcliving.dk, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 - pinterest.com, 7 - myshabbystreamsidestudio.blogspot.com)

 

 

 

Adore this inspirational collection of little nooks and sweet spots. 

 

Mlle Magpie

 

p.s. B.F. is on vacation in the French countryside. She was planning to go to flea markets and brocantes while there. Hope she is having a most fabulous time en vacances!

 

 

Stylish Studios/Home Offices/Craft Spaces

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1 - Atlanta Bartlett, 2 - unknown, 3 - unknown, 4 - marieclaireidees.com, 5 - Atlanta Bartlett, 6 - countryliving.com, 7 - dottieangel.com, 8 - fancyfarmgirl.com, 9 - karina-elbeso.blogspot.com, 10 -unknown)

 

 

 

I love all of these spaces for different reasons. In fact, I would have several work areas spread out over my dream house. I hope you find some inspiration here too.

 

Mlle Magpie

 

Beautiful Bedrooms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1 - greatinteriordesign.com, 2 - Maria Carr of dreamywhitesblogspot.com, 3 - daisypinkcupcake.blogspot.com, 4 - rightbank.wordpress.com, 5 - housetohome.co.uk, 6 - stylist Eva Lindh, 7 - jeannedarcliving.dk, 8 - elizabethanndesgin.com , 9 - mialinnman.blogspot.com, 10 - jeannedarcliving.dk, 11 - style-files.com)

 

 

 

My favourite bedrooms are of course, all white. I like romantic bedrooms that above all evoke a feeling of peace and serenity. On my personal bedroom must-have list: a chandelier, white bedding, vintage and flowers. Oh, and there would be a pile of books and magazines on my night table.

 

Mlle Magpie

 

Bathroom Beauties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(all from pinterest.com, except 1 - countryliving.com)

 

 

 

Each of these bathrooms has vintage touches. I find them all to be pretty, soothing and stylish in their own little ways. Love the claw foot tubs, pedestal sinks, vintage mirrors, chandeliers, shabby chairs...and flowers in the bathroom, of course! 

 

Mlle Magpie

 

p.s. favourite inspirational bedrooms will be next

Wonderful White Kitchens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1 - livingetc.com, 2 - houseofbliss.blogspot.com, 3 - houseofbliss.blogspot.com, 4  adelightfuldesign.blogspot.com, 5 - everythingfab.com,  6 - canadianhomeandcountry.com, 7 - pinterest.com, 8 - pinterest.com, 9 - styleathome.com, 10 - prairie-rose-herper.blogspot.com)

 

 

All of these kitchens have some or many of the elements that I love for a kitchen. My dream kitchen would have a fabulous Viking stove, a farmhouse sink, marble countertops and a kitchen island. Of course the cabinets would be white, as well as the walls. I would generally have no overhead cabinets (it's a European thing) as I like the openness and airiness of not having them. Fabulous French doors would let in a lot of lovely light. I would put a vintage chandelier in there as well - not very practical, but a little bit of glam for such a hard-working room is a wonderful idea if you ask me. We're not in a position to renovate our kitchen yet but whenever we will get the chance, I already know what my dream kitchen will look like more or less...  Good to be prepared, I say  :)

 

Mlle Magpie

 

p.s. coming up next will be bathrooms

 

 

Divine Dining Rooms

 

I have started an inspirational room series and am now continuing with a few favourite dining rooms...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1 - littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com, 2 - flickr.com, 3 - unknown, but looks like Maria from dreamywhites.blogspot.com, 4 - unknown, but looks like Rachel Ashwell)

 

 

Love all of these. Slightly formal, yet very relaxed and comfortable dining rooms.  Again, lots and lots of white with vintage and/or antique elements. Other essential ingredients on my list are: a chandelier, a mirror and flowers. 

 

Mlle Magpie

 

p.s. next up will be white kitchens - get ready because I have a LOT of inspirational kitchens to show; as a family that cooks all the time, the kitchen is a pretty important place in the home for us