IDIBC by Amber Kingsnorth

 

In preparing for our up-coming meet-up of Vancouver Island IDIBC members and potential members, Ivan was kind enough to ask me to write a little something about why designers would want to join this group.  Good question, Ivan!

 

What many people may not know is that IDIBC has recently changed their membership categories and requirements, making it more accessible to a larger group of designer’s and design-related industry professionals.  There are four main groups of membership available:

 

Professional – This level of membership is reserved for Interior Designer’s who have passed the NCIDQ exam and maintain a specific level of Continuing Educational requirements set out by the Institute.  Professional members are permitted the use of the designation of Registered Interior Designer (RID).

 

Provisional – These are members who are currently working in the field of interior design and who have completed the educational requirements for eligibility to write the NCIDQ exam.  These members must also meet Continuing education requirements and must have plan to write their NCIDQ exam following the required years of experience.

 

Student – Members who are enrolled in an approved educational program for Interior Design.

 

Associate – This is the new member category allowing those working in design or related fields to be a part of IDIBC.  These members do not have to meet the educational requirements of the other categories but are selected by the Board of Directors based on their submitted resume and portfolio.  This is a welcome addition to the IDIBC member group since there are so many talented and vastly experienced designers in BC who previously were not eligible for membership.

 

Although the presence of the Institute on Vancouver Island has not been strong over the past few years, Kyla and I are not alone in feeling that this is a great time to shake things up and get involved! There has been a major resurgence in the cooperative spirit of the design community recently (for which we thank Ivan among others), which is a great inspiration.  Not to mention that Vancouver Island is home to one of only two Interior Design Bachelor Degree programs in BC, at Nanaimo’s Vancouver Island University.

 

There are many benefits to becoming a member which you can read about on the IDIBC website (www.idibc.org) but as with anything, you get out of it what you put in.  The more active members that we have on the island, the more attention island designer will get!  This is a great opportunity to expand your support network, connect with the community, keep up to date on trends, techniques and innovations and did we mention have a great time?  

 

We have had a great response for this Friday’s event, which will be taking place at Only Human Modern Furniture (616 Yates St.) at 5:00pm.   This will be an opportunity to discuss how a Vancouver Island Chapter would operate and what the members would like to see the chapter undertake.  If you’re interested in attending this or up-coming events we would love to hear from you.  Please email amber@inouidesign.ca for more info or to RSVP to Friday’s event. 

Color Inspiration : Pink and Orange

Awaken your senses... Pink and Orange is a refreshing color combination with zest!

Original watercolor paintings and prints available on Etsy.

If you are new to BB&B, thanks for joining! Be sure to sign up for the complimentary newsletter out this November {to your right}, and enter the fabulous giveaway hosted by Pillows and Pillows.

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photo: lauratrevey.com, bhg,com

VMFA ~ Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso, Paris

Now is the time to visit the newly renovated Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia. I was so happy to hear that in February 2011, The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will host the most important exhibition in its history, Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris. VMFA is the only East Coast venue for the exhibition’s seven-city international tour. The exhibition, which will be on view from February 19 through May 15, 2011, is co-organized by the Musée National Picasso, Paris and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Interesting fact: It is rumored that Picasso’s first spoken word was, "piz," short for lápiz, the Spanish word for pencil. The first clue that this baby would grow up

to be an artist!

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Fall Mantel {Salon Edition}

 

Some of you may know I am a Cosmetologist by trade.  I really enjoy the art  and creativity of doing hair and makeup {and may even do it again one day}, but once I had babies, I was lucky enough to get to stay home with them.

Our family (my Mom & Aunt) own the cutest salon and they so kindly let me sell some of my creations in there and also have me decorate. *My mom could do it all herself because she is so talented, but sooo busy*  It is an old historical (built in the 1930’s) home that has been transformed into a salon.  This makes for such an inviting and warm atmosphere for the stylist and clients.  I love it!

One  day I will share a tour of the whole salon because it has such charm and character, but for now I want to show you the Fall Mantel.

Like I said, the original details in this old home are amazing and I love the fireplace.  You have heard me cry about not having my own traditional mantel, so getting to play with this one makes me happy! 

I made the wreath last year for the salon and I love how it brings attention to this great mantel.  I found some thrift store books and simply tied these little pumpkins to the top with just twine, which is repeated throughout.

 

       

I wanted a natural organic feel, not only to continue the inviting warmth to the clients, but to also compliment the original feel of the home. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m hoping you’re all feeling the cozy fall feeling I wanted to invoke with this mantel.  Thanks for taking a peek!

p.s.  In case you are wondering, I was going for an aged appearance on these pics…hm…not sure if I am lovin’ it. ;)

 

Linking up…

 The Nesting Place Fall Mantel Party

Anthology Magazine

Have you heard of the new Anthology magazine? It's a new quarterly shelter and lifestyle print magazine that takes a narrative approach to its coverage of home décor, travel, design, entertaining, and culture. I am instantly drawn in by the wonderful front cover!

Follow Anthology on twitter to receive giveaway notifications they are offering to promote the launch this October 2010 and you can subscribe here.

If you are new to BB&B, thanks for joining! Be sure to sign up for the complimentary newsletter out this November {to your right}, and enter the fabulous giveaway hosted by Pillows and Pillows.

You know it's bad when...

... you pull in the driveway and see your kid's tricycle and consider painting it. 

Or even getting another for Christmas...  

We found Christian's tricycle in the trash by the side of the road a couple of years ago (yes, I pick from the trash) and it's missing that cool thing in the back where we could have pushed him so it didn't get much use until he learned to pedal it on his own.  The colors are totally faded but the fact remains that it works and he loves it.   It's now parked in the front of the driveway (which is in front of our house) because he uses it so much and I have to be honest, it's irking me.  Not driving me crazy by any means, but every time I pull into the driveway and wonder if I should just spray paint the thing black or something, anything to get rid of the faded plastic and blue that just stands out like a sore thumb to me.  As much as I would love to say we could put it away in the shed every night, I know we won't.  Life just isn't like that for us right now.  

I know this is one of those things to let go, but it has my OCD-design head twitching.

We also have a toddler plastic slide/ gym thingy in our back yard...  it too makes me a little nutty and I can't wait to replace it.  

I know toys will be part of our lives for a while now...  and I have to say that I'm so much less bothered by the classic toys than the new plastic ones.  It's crazy that I care but seriously, I'm so much more okay with a bunch of cute little wooden cars on the ground than a bunch of plastic ones...

{Christian's trucks}

We try to limit the toys coming into our house...  When new stuff comes in, something else leaves.  There just isn't room and we don't want our kids to have a million toys they never use.  If something's not getting played with enough, we put it away and take it out a few months later. 

I know I sound like a freak.  What are your thoughts?   (Not on my freakishness, on toys ;)  And, any tips for spray painting a plastic bike?   Maybe just the blue parts???

 

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

New Watercolor by Laura Trevey

Spruce up your favorite nook, work space, or bookshelf with a splash of color!

Original watercolor paintings and prints available on Etsy.

If you are new to BB&B, thanks for joining! Be sure to sign up for the complimentary newsletter out this November {to your right}, and enter the fabulous giveaway hosted by Pillows and Pillows.

Wine Barrel Plaque {a knock off}

Oh, drive by garage sale finds…how I love thee!

I love garage sales, but it seems like my weekends are crazy and I usually don’t end up making it to Saturday morning sales. 

Excitingly enough last Friday,  as I was driving back from getting my first pumpkin spiced latte of the season {heaven in a cup}, I saw a Friday morning moving sale!  If you follow me on twitter, you may have seen my pic of all the loot I scored for only $4!

Lemme show ya what I did with one of those amazing steals…

Have you seen the lovely wine barrel plaques from Ballard?    I noticed them a while back, thinking ‘oh, I wish I could find and old barrel lid like that’.  Well, I have yet to find one.  So what do you do if you can’t find something you want? 

You create it!!

So here are Ballard's barrel lids.  Pretty nice huh? They are three different sizes but the smallest is 14” in diameter and 4” deep.  It sales for $69.00.

Enter my $1 garage sale find. 

Um, what is it?  Maybe a drying rack of sorts? 

Fill me in if you know.  All I saw was my barrel lid project!

So I started with the lid and just stained it with gel stain I had from my trunk makeover.  Next I stenciled on the words I wanted.  I started with Pinot Noir because it’s my fave and the numbers are Mr. Husband’s and my anniversary.  A little fleur de lis stamp for some softness, and there ya go. 

A custom piece for a DOLLAR!

   

The lower parts had slats so I had to add in some cardboard.  I painted it all out in black, almost dry brushing, to give it an aged rustic appearance.  I stenciled on the words and numbers and free handed the shield and leaf in the center.

 

What do you think about 2 custom pieces for a dollar?

How about 3 for a dollar?!

  

For this one I used cardboard again and painted it all in Heirloom white.  I then stenciled on my words, freehanded some designs and lightly sanded & glazed it.

 

I quite like them.  Mine measure 12” in diameter and 2” deep, so they are a tiny bit smaller than theirs, and just a little cheaper.  Just a little. ;)

 

I hope this inspires you to think about things differently look at that garage sale “junk” and see past what it is,  to what it could be. 

Linking up…