Punchy Papers

I'm loving these eco-friendly wallpapers from Madison & Grow! The nature inspired patterns are hand drawn by principal designer & owner, Teresa Grow. These colour combos are to-die-for! I love the pop of one bold colour against a grey background, like in these first two papers. Grey, after all, is the best colour to complement any other colour. If you love the prints, but don't dig the hues, Madison & Grow offers custom colour options to prospective clients.

Image Credit: Madison & Grow

Artist Profile - Nava Waxman

What is a room without art? Bare walls equals boring in my book. Luckily there are talented artists, like Nava Waxman, who create such beautiful and interesting works that I can design entire rooms around the art alone. This local lady resides in Toronto and her work can be found at Engine Gallery in the Distillery District. I first fell in love with Nava's mixed media works a few years ago at The Artist Project Toronto. Using paper, wax, found copper objects, and whimsical imagery, she creates paintings that can't help but hold your attention. Her layered, sepia-toned style is full of surprises. Every time I enjoy a piece of Nava's work, I discover something I've never noticed before.

Image Credit: Nava Waxman

Cute As Can Be Clocks

How sweet are these handmade clocks from Decoylab? The first three are crafted from screen printed, die-cut paper and the remaining clocks are bamboo & acrylic. So soft, feminine and pretty, hang one of these on your walls as functional art. The sculptural quality of these make them just so interesting to look at. I'm loving the last few for a nursery or child's bedroom. I even think that the owl clock would work well as a quirky addition to the kitchen or living room!

Image Credit: Decoylab via Magpie Lovely (first 3 images), Decoylab (remaining images)

Trend Spotting - Graphic Tile

I keep noticing organic and floral tile patterns popping up in magazines, etc. This motif is best achieved with mosaics, but I have also seen it done with the pattern printed onto larger tiles. In my sourcing, I've found that Trend (believe it or not, that's actually their name...how appropriate) has the best selection of organic and floral patterned mosaic tiles. While I think it takes guts to try out something this daring, I'm not usually partial to using "trendy" design elements in a quite so permanent way. But, who knows? None of us expected the comeback of wallpaper to last as long as it has. Now it's a staple again. Let me know what you think of this trend.

Image Credit: Trend

Wall Decal Roundup

Wall decals can be a great way to add some low-comittment interest to a wall, not to mention how much easier they are on the budget compared to wallpaper. Here are my fave online shops for fun and graphic decals to suit every decorating style.

Don't have the money to invest in quality furniture right now? Don't buy something of poor quality, just because it's less expensive. Try out one of these headboard decals from Blik to fix the problem temporarily while you save up for the bed you really want! 

These decals from Elephannie are right on trend with this chalkboard craze that we're experiencing. What a pretty way to leave notes for loved ones or keep track of grocery lists...way better than a whiteboard!

I'm loving these wall tattoos from Surface Collective! Their collection is so fun and artistic. I think these would be a great solution for renters who want to express their style in a removable way.

Not just for walls anymore...Uppercase Living offers all kinds of decals for all kinds of surfaces. These laundry and recycling decals are sure to please the domestic goddess in you! Little ones will feel like true artists when you display their creations on these fun frames.

Gotta love what happens when you don't sensor your imagination. These decals from Domestic are sure to start some conversations. This french floor compass would be so fun in an entryway, though I wonder how it would stand up to wear and tear over time.

Image Credits: Blik, Elephannie, Surface Collective, Uppercase Living, Domestic