Herringbone Heaven and a Marvelous Marble Mantel

I mentioned in the last post that I wanted sophisticated interior details for my home that would evoke a traditional Parisian pied-à-terre. Two of those elements that I had my heart set on were herringbone wood floors and a marble fireplace mantel.

Herringbone hardwood floors are pricey due to the high labour cost (hello perfect angles and intense installs), so we splurged only on the formal rooms of the home and went with regular plank flooring everywhere else. I worked with Mare Flooring, who did a beautiful job installing white oak in a herringbone pattern with a simple border running the perimeter of each room to deal with any tricky angles.

When it came to choosing a stain colour, I debated between espresso and walnut, ultimately deciding to go with the richer medium brown. I felt like this would be not only more forgiving for wear and tear, but would also be a more timeless choice.…Read More

Living Room Before and After: Part Two

Yesterday was the first look at my living room, and now here is part two of how it all came together.

With the furniture in front of the fireplace and by the bay window completed, now there were only the corners by the dining room entrance to address. I took the opportunity to purchase a couple of vintage items that I have always had my eye on for some time: a brass-detailed bar cart and swooped back statement chair.

The Aldo Tura-designed bar cart was a serendipitous find at Era Antiques. After seeing so many versions of this iconic mid-century design in Miami that were out of my price range, who would think I’d stumble upon such a bargain right here in Toronto? I loved the rich swirling brown tones of the lacquered goatskin and of course, went mad for the brass details. Topped with vintage barware I sourced in Palm Beach it is party ready!

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