It's all in the architectural details

At first blush this entrance hall looks so simple. Stunning but simple.

McGill Design Group

It is deceptively simple looking. Seems easy to achieve doesn't it? But look closely. This room is a study in details; look at the architectural detailing. From the wall paneling to the deep baseboards and appropriately deep crown molding. 

What makes this entrance stunningly warm and inviting is the layering of clean and simple furnishings over the formal, traditional details of the home. Imagine the walls bare with only standard baseboard and crown molding. The room would look cold, bare and unfinished...as if something were missing. 

Architectural details can not be overlooked. When you are considering decorating a room start with the walls themselves and build upon the architectural details you add. The furniture is one of the last things you need to think about. Almost an after thought.

I love :

• The Robert Abbey semi-flush fixture, called 'Bling', just visible at the top of the photo. It's on my list for the atrocious home we are in. 
• The contemporary wall sconces are lovely and almost unexpected in an entrance foyer.
• The millwork...on my list. It will run up the stairwell, as in this photo and throughout the 2nd floor hall. 
• These dark stained treads draw your eyes up the stairs and give a greater sense of depth to the entrance. Again, on my list. We have 'honey' oak stained stairs. Hideous!
• Hardwood floor, natch. We have 12'x12' ivory ceramic tile covering about 1/2 of our main floor...I'm so embarrassed! And my little piggy's are always freezing! 

For the suburbanites in the cookie cutter homes many of us live in this single photo is an excellent example of a jumping off point to take your blah builder basic to a show stopping shelter mag worthy home. Put the builder's model homes to shame! Show the builders and neighbours (I'm Canadian, eh.) how it should be done. 

• As the nosey parker that I am I love that the mirror allows us to see in to the kitchen. Wouldn't you just love to live here? Nothing is over done it is simply...perfection.

For the modest investment of cash and a couple of weekends of work for 2 you will always be excited for the moment you walk in the door. Sure wallpaper would look fabulous but will it appeal to a future buyer? Not likely. Wallpaper would cost about as much as the millwork but would date your home and potentially reduce the value...unlike this home. 

Sophisticated never goes out of style.

Nothing Could Be Finer Then...South Carolina?

We are just making plans for our summer trip to South Carolina. We can not wait to get back. Last summer we were there for 3 weeks.

We would *love* to buy a home in Charleston:

I can't remember if this stunning property was on S. Battery or Murry Blvd. But I'd buy it...if I won the lottery.

But I'd perfectly happy with:

Yep, that's me in the photo...being nosey. See it had a for sale sign and was vacant. Turns out it had been purchased. It had been used as a rooming house (horrors) and was going to be reno'd...in to what I don't know. But I think I look perfectly at home. We can't wait to see what has been done with 'our' Plantation style home south of Battery.

I love the bridge in to Historic Charleston:

I love the old cobblestone roads:

I miss the magnolia trees in full bloom AND with leaves at the same time. FYI:  In Toronto we get the flowers for about 3 weeks then about a month later the leaves come in.

Can't wait for July!

Low Country in the North Country

A beautiful canopy bed at {this is glamorous} led me a to a post at Beautiful Things to Share about a home Photographer Ashlee Raubach shot and blogged about.

Be sure to check out these posts.

I was inspired to showcase a home I fell head over heels with which was in the February 2010 issue of Canadian House and Home magazine.

On the Ganaraska River's edge in Port Hope, Ontario Alan de la Vigne found a ramshackle 1830's home which had been butchered over the years by bad "fix up's".

Obviously Mr. de la Vigne is a man of vision...and style!

This outstanding home looks like it was taken from downtown Charleston SC with the beautiful loggias. 

I miss the Low Country. I'm definately a Southern Girl at heart.

The interior is not to shabby either.

Thank you House and Home. You never fail to inspire me with each and every one of your editorials.

Be sure to subscribe to H&H's digital issue! I gaurantee it will be a worthwile investment. And you'll get to see the rest of the de la Vigne home's interiors.

*bisous*

Dane