turquoise shed

2011-03-20T19:14:00.000-07:00

We've committed and got a proper website! Check out our new site and blog here! Thanks for stopping by!

Carly and Melissa

my new favorite etsy shop

2011-02-07T17:49:00.000-08:00

lackluster co. specializes in vintage and industrial home decor and I've saved most of the store's goods as favorites. Vignette- tastic. I need more space in my house for all these ideas.

I love these. In my daughter's room? As the alphabet or a little poem?

I'd like these framed please with coloured matting, please/thank you.

I'd consider displaying these prominently on my kitchen counter to keep everyone on their toes.

porcelain river depth marker

Vintage art deco metal sign letters. Who the hell is tom though?

in turquoise, please.

So I can remember my phone number.

too much?

my sofa saga

2011-02-07T05:33:00.000-08:00

I found a couch that I absolutely love the lines of. It is used but in amazing condition. It's worth reupholstering and considering the costs involved (sofa alone was only $75!), it will be a completely custom, quality piece for a less than I would pay for a cardboard couch at a big box store. But when you love so many things, it's really hard to make a decision.

I recently went through a green couch phase. For a while I was settled on velvet. And every where in between. Now I'm thinking black body and this fabric for the couch cushions- I have two little ones and can't have anything too precious.

Too much? The price is right!

maybe something textured for the body? I would look local for something like this though.

Here's some inspiration.

love this shop. if they would only ship to my corner of the world... I'd have to up my credit card limit for everything I'd have to buy.

lovely lattice.

oops. I don't know where this is from. I love the contrasting piping.

A black and white idea.

But maybe a pink sofa would be better?

Oh, man. Back to the drawing board.

mine.

2011-02-05T16:25:00.000-08:00

Eileen Gray, an Irish furniture designer born in the late 19th century is hailed as a pioneer of the modernist movement. You may recognize her E-1027 glass and tubular steel table (creative designer but when it came to naming the table, she kind of mailed it in):

She's now regarded as one of the most important furniture designers of the 20th century, a front runner in the Bauhaus movement. Yadda yada yada.... here are some of her most noticeable pieces:

folding table Jean

day bed. love.

monte carlo sofa.

non conformist chair. only so-so not conformist because it does still have a seat, right?

roquebruno chair. more conformy, yes?

Anyway, I found such scores at Value Village that I don't feel guilty about buying my (obviously not the real deal) side table. And obviously it will stand the test of time. I'll just leave it to my kids. No, I like it so much that I'll take it with me.

be bold!

2011-02-04T18:05:00.000-08:00

In case you're torn between going big or toning it down, check out this lesson in the AWESOME POWER of colour that I came across on The Lennoxx.

Here's a room designed by Tobi Fairley for the cover of House Beautiful. This is the edited photo.

Amazing blue on the walls.

Here is the unedited photo. What a different mood and feel!

Edited bedroom.

And unedited. Still glamorous but without the blue, it's quite different, isn't it? Check out the bed side lamps! The pink flowers in the edited picture make such a difference! No wonder Tommy Smythe says in the latest issue of In Style that fresh flowers in his space are non negotiable.

I'm not saying one is better than the other, I'm just saying that the blue one is... better. But the other is still great! But come on! Go for it- be bold and pick colour!

turkish towels

2011-02-04T17:22:00.000-08:00

I don't know who was talking about these to me lately, or why but I came across them on Etsy and now I can't remember what I went to Etsy to find because all I can think about are these towels. How many should I get? What color? Pattern??! SIZE?! I need these.

The store is called well, Turkish Towel and they sell hand woven traditional Turkish bath towels, called a Peshtemal.

I guess this is a man who makes them? Apparently these towels are as absorbent as my bland towels are and they dry faster. And they're versatile! If you get bored of using them as towels, you can use it as a table cloth. Their idea, not mine. I say pick a side and stay there. But I do like options.

I would use this as a table cloth.

It would be my new favorite thing that I own. And we just bought a new car.

I put these in my cart.

Then I saw these and had to look at them all before I could commit.

I've never felt like this before.

Either this towel is gigantic or those are tiny shoes. Regardless, I need this. And then I'll have to redo my bathroom to make it as nice as my towels. Now that's one hell of a towel!

Virtual Design for our Australian Client

2011-02-04T13:34:00.000-08:00

We just finished off working with a virtual design client in Australia and we thought we'd share the process!
She started off telling us a little about her style and her family dynamic. She has two sons aged 6 and 9 and really wants to turn their basement into a media/games room that the boys will enjoy spending time in. She sent us pictures of the space the way it is being used now and told us about the pieces she wanted to keep (none!).
Next we created a mood board for her with what we were thinking and awaited her feedback on what she liked and what she didn't.

She liked the polished concrete floors but thought they were too cold for the space. Loved the artwork and some of the fabrics but was unsure of the orange and really doesn't like brown. This whole scheme felt a little too busy for her and her family. So we moved along!

This one met with approval for the sofa, the flooring and the media cradenza but didn't have enough umph or colour for the boys. So the following was completed taking everything we had learned into consideration.

Third times a charm! Almost perfect now. Bright, fun, colourful fabric, cool white furniture pieces and artwork inspired by her boys' love of surfing. Only a couple of changes to be made...the striped rug is being swapped out for a solid navy blue rug and the large shelving is being downsized to a white sofa table to save on space. More storage will be added under the stairs with built ins.

Next Step! A floor plan and ideas for where to place the elements seen in the mood board.

Our client said that she will be happy to send along pictures when the room is completed and of course we will share them with you.

Thanks for taking a peek at how our virtual design works!

chalkboard wall

2011-02-04T11:04:00.000-08:00

consider a this: an entire wall dedicated to your to-do list? And perhaps some room on the bottom for your kids to show off their artistic skills (which they obviously got from you)?

I painted a chalkboard wall on an otherwise useless wall that jutted out slightly in my kitchen. And don't picture some old school house green chalkboard taking up valuable real estate in my kitchen! You can get chalkboard paint tinted in any colour (tip: it's not advertised that you can get chalkboard paint in any colour but if you tell your paint expert that you don't mind if they try anyway, you can usually get what you want).

I found this moody chalkboard wall on apartment therapy. I definitely want to copy this picture frame idea for visual interest and also to house my most important reminders.

Alright, this one is so great that I feel self conscious of my utilitarian version. Happy medium: I'm keeping the to-do lists (I need them.) and adding the empty frame but adding ever changing 'art' inside the frame- a smaller scale of this awesome wall.

showoffs.

cute. But not advised if you like to sit up and read in bed. I'm so tired by the time I force myself to go to bed that I'm not at risk for chalk head.

well. who wouldn't love a pink chalkboard wall??

V-Day

2011-02-01T05:06:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it but January is over. And although you wouldn't know it if you saw how many people still have their Christmas lights up in my neighborhood, Valentine's Day is only a couple of weeks away. I came across these 'diminutive delights' and can't get over how cute they are! I want to buy one for every special friend I have- and that's a lot. I'm not bragging or anything, I just have great friends!

the cranes are my favorite.

Soooo cute

A touch of gold ;)

Tiny message in a bottle: "I love every little thing about you"

"a little love to you"

I want every last one of these.

what about meeeeee?

2011-02-01T04:44:00.000-08:00

O.K. I'm not going to rest today until I find the right pendant light to replace my very hideous gold fan/light combo that the previous house owner so generously left behind. I don't take these decisions lightly.

This one can be played around with to look a little bit different and it's made with recycled paper AND it's only $40! A strong contender. I found it here!

Switching gears from the modern Mariella light above to this vintage enamel fixture from an old gas station. I love this one! Only $90 and I want it. It's from here. Do I even need to keep looking?

This white clay light gives off the prettiest light. I love the feel of it but the price is out of my range at $1,200. I found it here.

Here's a chandelier we're putting in a really fun and colourful little girl's room that we're working on.

We added this white lucite chandelier to an office we're working on but I also have my eye on it, too.

I think I've made my decision. I'll post pics when it arrives and is installed! Let me know if you have any other ideas, please!!

Year of the Bunny Rabbit!

2011-01-28T10:48:00.000-08:00

Since we are ushering in the year of the rabbit, we thought it was only appropriate to share the trailer for a brand new preschool webseries, Bunny Bop! It is by the creators of The Big Comfy Couch and is super cute. Turquoise Shed painted the lil' furniture and loved every minute of being a part of the creation of Bunny Bop!

Enjoy!

double the fun?

2011-01-27T18:37:00.000-08:00

We're working on adding a bunk bed to a girl's room we're designing. There's something comforting about a bunk bed, isn't there? I think of sleepovers and camp. But now we're thinking of how to pretty them up, too. Bunk beds have come a long way. Proof:

There's hide-a-beds and then there's hide-a-bunk-beds.

Oooh. Bunk bed built-ins. They look like they're on a fancy ship. Or a band's tour bus. A really clean, classy band.

When I was a kid I begged my father to build me one of those bunk beds that had a desk and closet under it. Basically, a whole room in a bunk bed. It never happened. There's a hole in my heart because of that. I would also loved this in a different colour.

As you can see, ladders have also come a long way.

Let's hope this next one isn't the bunk bed of my relationship's future:

Here's an ad for bunk beds. Not sure what's going on exactly?

mini home

2011-01-27T17:14:00.000-08:00

Who says you need a big space to make a statement? I love this little house! And the best thing about it? It's too small for the rest of my family to join me. Looks like it's alllll for me.
Kidding.
Ish.

The style of this house is called Pigeonnier, from France. They were used to house- you guessed it- pigeons, and also as low rent apartments. Hopefully, not both simultaneously. Eww.

I'm not sure what's behind door number one. Bath? Kitchen? Combo? Regardless, what a cute lil' house! I love all the original wood and the pink and well, everything.

Love the painted brick. If she had left the brick unpainted, it would have been so much darker, gloomier and pigeon poopier, no?

Love it. That ceiling is way nicer to stare up at than one of those boob lights.

(boob light. sad.)

I found this house here and I heard about it from a talented micromom.

I want.

2011-01-24T17:40:00.000-08:00

We would both love to build our own houses. I always find myself drawn to industrial spaces, barns and the like. Of course, it would have to look like this killer barn. I love the staircase/library. And it's so bright! Drool.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-08T18:59:00.000-08:00

We are super busy working on a new aspect of our business- interior design! We also have a new website in the works complete with a new online magazine/blog heretofore referred to as our magablog because we like the way that sounds. We are managing to squeeze in some pieces for our own line and here is a sneek peak! What do you think?

We sold our fuschia desk that we had redesigned for our own use and we thought we would try something different (read: NOT bright pink). We like how the colours are on the masculine side but the shape and hardware are feminine. Like Melissa and I. Just kidding. Oh! We also painted the lamp. We can do that for you, too. Add a crisp shade and voila! Updated lamp to suit your decor.

This upholstered bench is in our showroom and we swear it makes sense in the space! If you don't believe us, check it out for yourself. Now, we really like it in our showroom but if you have a hankering for turquoise faux alligator vinyl, we might be able to part with it...

I just realized that these sneak peeks are of pieces that are for our own use but at least you get a look at what we're working on. We have some side tables, mirrors, lamps, and coffee tables that we're working on and we'll post the pictures soon.

some things we're working on...

2010-11-28T20:05:00.000-08:00

I was going to email Melissa my picks for some projects we're working on but I thought I would post them and maybe get some feedback just in case my ideas are way off!

We brought in a round pedestal table to our showroom because meeting with clients at our desk wasn't working out anymore. For one thing, it was a little too cozy. The clincher was that we sold our pink desk. That was the real basis for the change, really. Ha! We want to use one of our custom fabrics for a table cloth and here are my picks:

I mean, it's turquoise!

I still love faux bois. Also, I like it because we're covering up a wood table. How droll.

A. It's turquoise. B. there's some black which will tie in nicely with some black pieces we have available. I like the white as well.

Also, turquoise. I like the flow of the pattern but I'm not sure about the beige?

We're also working on a mini recliner for our own line. It's so cute but how cutesy to go with the fabric?

I love this fabric! I think it would look so cute and fresh and if it found its way into your living room, it wouldn't be hard on the eyes. I think kids would get a kick out of it, too!

This damask ikat isn't childish but that's why I like it for the chair. The lil' owner would feel very mature as he or she reclined and flipped through the Complete Works of Dr. Seuss.

We're also working on a twin bed and a little stool to go in a little girl's room. We're having an upholstered panel added to the headboard and footboard and this is my pick for the fabric:

We painted the bed a Benjamin Moore colour, Pale Avocado. It's a lighter green than the leaves are but I like that because it is soft and feminine without being too predictable. The background colour looks pink on my monitor but it's actually more of a cream.

Free(ish) Fridays! The Holidays!

2010-11-26T05:30:00.000-08:00

I... can't... stop... obsessing over holiday details!! Here are some more lovely ideas for this week's Free(ish) Friday.

It's harder than you'd think to find diy's for ornaments that aren't penguins made with toothpicks and other cutesyness. I like these though, and the colours. This diy comes from Martha Stewart.

I love, love, love the string of recycled cards. I would love it on the banister or the tree. Also, from Martha Stewart.

So, I guess this is the Martha Stewart post but I'm not going to apologize. These ornaments remind me of a diy lamp project we showed you before. You could practice with these first and then tackle the lamp in the new year!

I read somewhere that tree toppers are out. Blah, blah, blah.

I love this. And not just because it's pink. But that has a lot to do with it. Also, it is SO easy! Here are the instructions.

Maybe this is too much? But say you're like Sara Richardson and you have more than one tree in your house to decorate and this one is in the family room maybe? I would love this. The key is wired ribbon and it is easy!

The wreath. Maybe you picture the traditional fir wreath, which are great but if you want your door to stand out from your neighbors', try this diy felt wreath.

You wouldn't want to put this on your front door but you might want to leave it up all year. Here's how to make one for yourself!

It's so easy being green

2010-11-23T19:21:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's because it's almost December and the grass is officially covered with snow but I want to scrap my original idea of reupholstering my couch in a dark gray and go for green instead. Here's some green to remind you of what's going on under all the snow.

Dear Alisha

I want this couch, hold the leopard pillow. Not my taste but I admire someone who goes for it. I do like unexpected touches.

josiebird

You know what else I love about this picture? The neat pile on the table, aka the vignette. I love an arty pile. I'd like to publish a coffee table book of nice piles. Something feels weird about saying pile so much?

curbly

Nice couch. But the windows are just so-so, right?

Free(ish) Fridays! The Holidays!

2010-11-19T18:12:00.000-08:00

Oh, I love the holidays! And with Christmas being just over a month away, it's time for me to start obsessing over everything about the holidays. I'm sad to admit that we will be putting up a fake tree again this year. I would love a beautiful, full, fragrant tree but my better half thinks that the kids will try to eat the needles and then choke and ruin Christmas? It's a battle I can't win. Hopefully, next year will be my year. Moving on, I'm getting excited and want to share some holiday DIY ideas and some other goodies... Let us know if you have any good ideas or if you tackle any of the ones below!

I love this. I wouldn't use yellow post it notes but I love these ones and you can throw in some special cards that you've saved and maybe some family pics from the past. Maybe a pic of something on your wish list, to remind everyone?

I found this on poppytalk.

O.K. I obviously don't want anyone to have a real tree either. I love this though! I think we'll get this together for next month's showroom window. I came across this image on Desire To Decorate, which I love.

Switching gears to these cute homemade stockings that I found here. Here is a link teach you how to make your own!

It was harder than I thought to find some some stockings that weren't your typical Christmas colours and patterns. But then I found these and I want them all. Perfect idea: I get all of these stockings and two are for my kids, one for my paranoid husband and the rest will be stuffed with extra presents for me!

So, these aren't free or DIY but I can't resist them. I found them at Plum Cushion on Etsy

breaking news

2010-11-17T18:56:00.000-08:00

Grass cloth is nice and all but I want this.

by: www.weitznerlimited.com

It's made from recycled newspaper and it costs about as much as one million newspapers. Oops. I meant, but it costs about as much as a million newspapers. There's always something, isn't there. Sigh. Well, even though it's hundreds of dollars per roll, it fades in the sunlight. Who said design is always practical (see: white sofas).

The winner of a complete makeover is...

2010-11-10T20:35:00.001-08:00

The telephone table! Congrats! It was a tough call but this vintage table's potential brought it to the front of the line. We can't wait to see the 'after'!

Thank you to everyone who entered a scary piece in our first Halloween contest! We had so much fun picturing what the pieces would look like with new paint, fabric and hardware. I wish they could have all won but between Melissa and I, we have three kids to put through university... We'll be posting the transformed telephone table as soon as it's all spruced up!

Ta-da! The top finalists in the Turquoise Shed Halloween Contest!

2010-11-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

Woo hoo! We received so many entries for our first ever contest! Our expectations were exceeded. Thank you to everyone who entered!

Check out the top five finalists below, followed by our two pics for honourable mention. Check back to read our esteemed judges' comments and soon we'll announce the winner of a complete make over, courtesy of Turquoise Shed!

Speaking of our lovely judges... check them out:

Katelyn Fraser is a talented photographer and intrepid entrepreneur. Please check out her beautiful work and to get an inside look at what it takes to be a photographer, follow her blog.

Kelly Casely is a fashion designer and owner of The Green Man- Vintage and Vinyl. Her store boasts the best vintage fashion and carries creations by local artisans. You can learn about fashion on her blog greenmangirl.

Sara Fraser is an insightful reporter on CBC's Compass. She also designs pillows that are made with vintage fabrics. You can get her pillows at The Green Man.

THE FIVE FINALISTS!

2010-11-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

According to its owner, this chair is a death trap. That's spooky. More importantly though, the chair is a reminder of a dear friend who passed away. It needs a makeover! Nobody should risk their lives sitting at their computer (as its owner does) and with a little (alright. Maybe a lot) of elbow grease, extra support, some paint and a new cushion, this chair could sit proudly and safely in the home of a young professional who just moved back to the Island.

Our Judges' Thoughts:

Kelly: Hmmm...what can I say really? Needs work? Yeah. This chair NEEDS work. No wait, this chair NEEDS WORK! It's got good bones though. A little turquoise Shed magic and this could be a great little piece, and no longer a risk to the owners health and safety.

Kate: At first glance I thought this was an ultra funky chair with a cowhide
seat...but upon closer inspection, I see it is just the opposite, it even looks
like someone has been munching on the seat! This chair must be chalk full of
sentimental value because it's definitely void of style value. I agree that it
could look great with some honest work.

Sara: I just love the big finials on top of the back (I think that part of the chair is called a "stile") and the turned spindles. It looks like it was a quality piece at one time- which is likely why it has lasted to long! The slipseat should be easy and fun to re-upholster. With just a little TLC I think this chair could look like an expensive show piece!!

THE FIVE FINALISTS!

2010-11-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

This desk has been with its owner for many years and in many apartments. Now, the desk sits behind a door in its owner's first home. There must be something that keeps this desk around, throughout the years and all the moves. It deserves some love and attention so it can be on the same level as all the other beautiful furniture in this stylish house. At least it deserves to get a better view than the back of a door! It's only fair.

According to the judges:

Kate: I love this, the idea of a covered desk is genius... five o'clock, time to
close the desk! I agree 100% that this piece deserves a better view (and a
fresh coat of paint and pulls).

Sara: For the secretary-style desk, I would leave it the colour it is- just refinish. I love the wood and I don't think anything would be added to this style of desk by painting it.
So on the desk: as the Dragons say on Dragon's Den: "I'm Out".

Kelly: I heart this desk. Such mystery concealed within. So many romantic little notes to be penned(I'm already picking out new stationary in my mind)...but not as is, and not behind that door! Imagine this piece in a bright bold color with some new hardware! Oh! Imagine if it was one color on the outside and another inside! Such joie de vivre! Ah, be still me beating heart.

THE FIVE FINALISTS!

2010-11-04T11:26:00.000-07:00

The owner of this chair moved into her first house and it's completely updated and stunning. This chair needs a face lift in order to fit in with its fabulous surroundings! I love mid century chairs and this one would sing with some new upholstery and maybe, just maybe two buttons?

What say you, judges?

Sara: The mid-century retro chair is slightly less deserving in that it was a cheaper piece to begin with. That being said these modern silhouettes are making a big comeback.
So well worth a makeover. I would paint the legs and upholster it in something fun and cosy like (fun) fur or chenille.

Kelly: This is potentially a great chair. It looks like it once was a great chair, came by some hard times(the recession hit everyone hard), but was unwilling to admit even to itself, that it was time for a bit of a face lift. A modern print in a bright color and two buttons and this chair becomes a sought after piece once again.

Kate: I have been seeing these chairs all over the place, they look so stylish
when updated! Two buttons may be a tall order, but I am sure Turquoise Shed can
deliver.

THE FIVE FINALISTS!

2010-11-04T11:18:00.000-07:00

This thrift store score comes from someone stylish who desperately needs somewhere to perch while she puts on her fabulous shoes. Her glamorous wallpaper is a like a pair of Christian Louboutin heels and the telephone table is a ratty pair of flats from Payless. It's just not right! This piece needs a makeover!

The judges weigh in:

Kate: The bench is a find and a half, a little style makeover and it will
compliment this accent wall very nicely. It may have been Grandma's bench, but
it doesn't have to look like Grandma's bench.

Sara: I adore the little phone table/bench. And it needs help. SOME help. Maybe re-upholstered in gray tweed with red piping to match the owner's decor? And a coat of black paint (I love black furniture right now). But again... although down-at-the-heels, it is not on its last legs.

Kelly: I love vintage anything. But sometimes vintage pieces can be helped along with small updates here and there. Like this telephone table. No longer a necessary piece for most home owners(the exception being the few die hard rotary users, we do exist!), but very cute and potentially stylish none the less. Imagine the long romantic calls that could take place while you perch elegantly on the edge of the seat slipping on a pair of cute kitten heels. New fabric! Bright paint! And new hardware! Judging by the wallpaper the owner is not afraid of a bold statement, so lets go bold!

THE FIVE FINALISTS!

2010-11-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

This rocking chair 'came from away'. And the owner has come a long way, too! From her days of having to use boxes covered with wrapping paper for her decor, to being married and living back on the Island- she's ready for a more sophisticated look. That's where we come in! I love this rocker- the whimsical curves of the wood. I think it would look great painted and with new cushions upholstered in a mature, graphic print. But that's just me. I'm not the judge.

Stylish judges, what say you?

Kelly: I once lived with one of these rocking chairs. Sigh. It is no longer with me. Which in the long run might be a good thing. Because if this rocker gets refinished and mine didn't I would be very upset. Very, very upset! My only fear here is that if you recover this chair, you're going to have to keep going. The couch will pale in comparison to the newly accented curves, the curtains will look drab and boring, new rugs! new lamps! Lets paint the walls and buy new end tables!...i guess what I'm trying to say is this: the rocking chair would look amazing after a good old fashioned Turquoise Shed fix up!

Katelyn: I likes me a good rocker, and this one is no exception, the curvy wooden
details would really come alive with a fun, fresh colour.

Sara: The Bentwood rocker certainly needs a major facelift and I agree a coat of paint and new upholstery would be just the ticket. BUT, alas, it is not quite scary enough.
The upholstery needs to be un-usable.. then it might be a winner. Maybe by the time the SECOND Annual scary furniture contest rolls around?

Honourable Mentions!

2010-11-04T04:05:00.000-07:00

This entry deserves mention because of the clever DIY behind it. It's almost always better to try and find another purpose for a piece, rather than toss it out. This piece was used as a change table and after that was no longer needed (lucky. I'm up to my eye balls in diapers...), it was given a coat of paint, some hardware and fabric behind the glass fronts for hidden storage and is now used as an entertainment unit. Clever!

Thanks for entering! Check out the next post for our other honourable mention...

Honourable Mention!

2010-11-04T03:56:00.000-07:00

These chairs are unbelievable. If anybody needs any foam, these chairs have some to spare. The lucky owner just bought their first house and were short on furniture. A friend selflessly parted with the chairs in order to help her out. Awww. But seriously, these chairs could be great! The rocker could be functional and quirky piece in a nursery or family room.

Painted in a pale green

And comfortable cushions upholstered in a fun print, with crisp white piping. Cute.

Thanks for entering!

Halloween Make-Over Contest!

2010-10-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

(click poster to enlarge)

We are so excited to announce the first annual Turquoise Shed Halloween Make-Over Contest!

Please email us...

- pictures of your awful furniture piece (which will be posted here for all to be horrified by!)

-a brief history of it (where you got it, where it resides in your home, why you think it is so terrible!)

-your complete contact info (full name, general address and phone number)

The winner will be decided by three fabulous, local guest judges

Kelly Caseley of Green Man Vintage and Vinyl. She has style and a flair for retro pieces. You can follow her at

http://greenmangirl.blogspot.com

Katelyn Fraser of Katelyn Fraser Photography has an eye for beauty and knows how to capture it. You can follow her at

http://katelynfraserphoto.tumblr.com/

and CBC's Sara Fraser. She can spot a good story when she sees one! She also designs and sews pillows from vintage fabrics! Buy them at Green Man Vintage and Vinyl!

Contest closes at the witching hour! Midnight, Sunday Oct. 31st.

The winner will be chosen, announced and contacted by Friday, Nov. 5th. The lucky winner will have their completed piece displayed in our 102 Queen Street window to show off its successful recovery!

for entry or questions contact us at...

turquoiseshed@gmail.com

Fabric Story

2010-09-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

Here's your Fabric Story, A!

We love the colour green on your accent wall, and think it is a great place to start with your room makeover!!

Okay! For the ottoman....

We're suckers for a graphic pattern and the grey and white are modern, fresh and would work with your sofas.

Grey and yellow are a great combo. Yellow piping would really pop on the ottoman and would look so very fresh and citrusy with the green. We'll come back to the lemony yellow with the pillow fabrics.

To keep the green relevant, some small to medium sized toss cushions in this fun bird print would be great...and would bring the grey from the ottoman back around!!

Then...for some bigger, comfy, maybe down filled pillows, one of these would be stunning...the piping or trim detailing on this pillow fabric could be white or grey. (The second fabric comes across as having a cream background but it is actually white.)

Then for a bit of something to bring that green back in, even one bolster, or something long and rectangular would be great!

This is what the whole room would feel like with these suggestions!

Thanks so much A for the super fun opportunity to do a virtual makeover on your living room!!

Think outside the box... clever storage solutions

2010-09-20T17:12:00.000-07:00

I often joke that my better half would have us sitting on milk crates if the home decor decisions were left up to him. I came across this picture while I was reading Design Sponge today and it made me wonder if maybe I've been to harsh? Perhaps there is room for milk crates and cinder blocks in a stylish home?

Image: Design Sponge

Top of the mornin'!

2010-09-17T05:21:00.000-07:00

Since technology won't let me send out a refreshing glass of o.j. to you through our blog, I thought I'd show you the closest thing to it in furniture form. We spruced up this little side table for a client who loves orange for all the juiciness it stands for. Orange is also supposed to stimulate conversation and communication. So, here's the side table. Discuss.

A Turquoise Shed

2010-09-06T06:21:00.000-07:00

I recently came back from the Magdalen Islands Quebec, where colour inspiration abounds...homes are painted in two or three shades of vibrant unexpected combo's. Of course somewhere along the way I was bound to spot a Turquoise Shed...and that it was situated in a field of golden yellow was as far as I could tell....perfection!

Before & After!

2010-08-25T08:16:00.000-07:00

No big deal. Just a little side table. Until we got our hands on it! We added new handles to reflect the detail on the drawers, fixed up the burn on the top, added some new paint in our favorite shade of turquoise, some high gloss and voila! A fun statement piece. Look around! What ho-hum piece is waiting for you to breath new life into it?

orange has moxie

2010-08-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

I'm looking for an orange floral fabric for a client and have found some that I think are perfect for her space. My appreciation for the colour orange has blossomed after looking at so many. It has so much personality.

I came across this fabric tonight and it doesn't work for this situation but I love it. Find it at Heather Ross Fabric on Etsy.

Before & After!

2010-08-17T11:10:00.000-07:00

Photographer Louise Vessey contacted us to source a large chair that she could use as a prop when photographing wee ones. We found this one, painted it white and reupholstered it with white vinyl (in case there were any wee accidents). Check out her website!

to paint or not to paint....whatever makes the furniture suit you and your home!

2010-08-12T06:23:00.000-07:00

Now this make-over I'm sure is controversial...this piece was already GORGEOUS! The wood was in great shape and it was a stunning piece of furniture...but it didn't match our client's style. So, with a new glossy turquoise finish it was perfect for her, and of course we LOVE it. So keep in mind that even a piece that is already beautiful but just doesn't fit with your style and your home can be given a makeover.

BEFORE

AFTER

---------------------------

Here is another make-over...this one is not as hard on the wood purists. A simple solid wood headboard gets pretty for a clients guestroom.

What it looked like when we first spotted it,

What it looks like now! You can really use your imagination. Just because there wasn't existing upholstered panels, doesn't mean that there can't be!

Before & After!

2010-08-11T17:29:00.000-07:00

Here are some early Turquoise Shed before & afters! Take a look around and get inspired with the possibilities, contact us, if you see potential but need some help; set up a consult, or demand that we see your vision through to the end!

Before: These chairs were in a sorry state. Luckily, they were given a second chance.

After: Our client picked a recycled fabric that matched her kitchen. Let's eat!

BEFORE & AFTER

2010-08-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

I lurve a good furniture make over. I should. It's my business. Why we haven't posted our own before & afters yet is beyond me?? Well, I tend to forget to take a pic before the paint is sprayed or I deliver a custom piece and drive away only to realize that I didn't document the change. I've turned the corner though. Today I pulled over and took a chair out of the trunk so I could capture the 'after' before I dropped it off. Close call.

Before: a client's hand me down chair.

After: Hey! Our custom fabric looks great! This occasional chair is now sitting in the entry way of a beautiful home.

Why, hello? Would you look at what we have here? We happen to have two very similar chairs and this is how they turned out. Dear chair lover: we only have one left, xoxo.

fake wood, aka faux bois

2010-08-10T06:08:00.000-07:00

This rug is really expensive, as any rug worth having is...

This one is actually many little floor tiles put together and is much more affordable.

Alas, we have a 3 year old who eats cereal in our living room, a beautiful cream rug isn't gonna happen....maybe when he moves out I'll be able to afford the expensive one....

curtains

2010-08-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to decide on the curtains for my living room. If only I liked the swag look. How easy would that be?? But I don't.

Ruiner

2010-07-14T17:11:00.000-07:00

If you think it sounds like a nice idea to get your toddler out of bed to see a beautiful, complete rainbow: THINK AGAIN. This is probably the universes' way of telling you that it's also not a nice idea to take your kids out of school on a cross country trip to show them the world. Because before you hit the interstate, you realize that you're stuck in a metal cage with nowhere to go and nowhere to sneak off to smoke. I read you, Universe. Loud and clear. I won't be doing anything stupid by trying anymore fancy parenting ideas.

hidden rooms

2010-06-07T19:28:00.000-07:00

I want a secret, hidden room! I have a big mouth though and would probably tell everyone about it, so it wouldn't be much of a secret. If I managed to keep it to myself, I'd probably mostly use it hide my dirty laundry when guests came over. Literally. I mean my dirty laundry and not crimes I've committed in the past. Here are some of my favorite hidden rooms that I've found and intend to bring to my architect whenever we build a house and I get an architect.

This looks like a secret bathroom. I would love to have a secret bathroom that my husband didn't know about. I'd also love that light fixture...

That looks like one hell of a secret room. It has pillars!

This is the most dramatic entrance to a hidden room that I've come across. No one ever thinks to try and move the stairs! I could keep all my diaries from junior high and high school safe forever in there.

Harry Potter's boudoir.

I saved my favorite for last. Some genius cut the back off of an old armoire and had it fixed to the doorway of his kid's playroom. I would have loved this/I would love this! (apartment therapy)

Free(ish) Fridays! Paper!

2010-06-04T19:19:00.000-07:00

This week's Free(ish) Friday! is inspired by paper. Here are some fun/cute/free(ish) ideas that you can do this week end! And then your next task is to send us the pictures of your finished product. We have faith in you.

Pretty. I don't think mobiles are just for babies. But maybe don't hang it over your bed, low enough to bat around. Or, maybe you should do that? Check out the Origami Club for how-to help.

Click here to get free origami paper downloads in nice prints like these ones!

Pinwheels are right up there with cup cakes as cute and whimsical favorites. We came across this DIY on Once Wed. You don't need to have a wedding to enjoy them though (there's no ring on my finger). I want one in my window box.

Cute. This would be great for a party. Like, for a dynamo who happens to be turning thirty this summer? Anyway... we found this idea on Lora Jean's Magazine- here's how to make your own. Feel free(ish) to use those origami prints for your banner flag.

This last one promises (according to Apartment Therapy) to be quick, easy and free(ish). Here's how! I love the variations too. Or, check out these free silhouettes.

Glassy crystal sparkly shine

2010-06-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

Melissa is in the process of redecorating her room. Or, decorating it, rather. She moved into her first house a while ago but the bedroom wasn't decorated as much as their hand me downs were placed in the room. I thought the room was lovely but now it's really great. She told her fiance that the accent colour for the room was sparkle and she wasn't kidding. Here's some sparkly inspiration for you:

I love this Round Glass Knob in polished nickel by Restoration Hardware. We love topping off a redesign with some glassy sparkly shine.

Mmm... mercury glass. Anything that bounces the light around is good in my books. These antique mercury glass tie backs do that and add a lustrous patina. (Country Living)

I mean, it's called a 'sun burst' mirror. There's light, there's mirror, there's sparkle... (Elle Decor)

Ooh! A sparkly picture! A Sort Of Dream by Integrity Studio.

Why, hello. It's our own blue storage cabinet with sparkly knobs. What a coincidence...

Free(ish) Fridays!

2010-05-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

This week's free(ish) Friday post is one I'm taking advantage of as I type. I came across this PDF a while ago on Kind Over Matter and have been waiting for an excuse to use it ever since. I will finally get to use them tomorrow night for Melissa's bridal shower!

These labels were intended for use on Valentine's Day but I think they suit our sources just fine. Oh, and we'll be using them on wine bottles because wine is way more fun than water. Click here to get the PDF!

Colour Inspiration: TEAL!

2010-05-27T10:02:00.000-07:00

We're currently painting two custom side tables in a beautiful teal- reminiscent of a peacock's feathers. I'm falling for the colour. SICO paints picked teal as a top colour trend for 2010. In case you're not convinced, here's some teal inspiration for you.

I love this upholstered headboard. The tufted buttons, mirrored side table, sconces and bedding make the room luxe. The bold, graphic window treatments keep the room from being too stuffy. (idealhomemagazine.co.uk)

This home owner isn't being shy. Way to go for it! Teal walls- bold choice and I love it. It doesn't hurt that the room has beautiful high ceilings. The darker ceiling helps to ground the room. If you don't have that 'problem', try painting your ceilings a shade or two lighter than the walls to create the illusion of a larger space. (styleathome.com)

Our clever client pulled the teal for her side tables from a treasured painting. In this room, the lamp shade colour is pulled from the art. It's a handy way to add a punch of colour to your room without letting the room feel frenetic. (Domino, November 2007 via furniture-stor.blogspot.com)

And for the love of all that's decorate-able, don't forget the exterior. My friend Michelle suggested I paint my door a bold colour when I was thinking of just going for white (I'm going for a lot of white lately). Good advice! As soon as my garden is in, I'm going to pick a colour from it for inspiration and have fun with it.

Ahh... I love paint. It's such a simple solution and you can't go wrong! Well, you can go wrong but then you can just paint over the wrong to make it right.

It's a good thing that the internet is just a fad. There's too much to distract me from my work!

2010-05-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

I defy you to go to Etsy to find something specific and actually stay on task. It's very difficult! I went to my Etsy account in order to reply to inquiries and here's what happened instead. (P.S: sorry if you are waiting to hear back from us! Can you blame me for being distracted?!)

I'm just going to take a peak around Etsy and then I'll be able to focus on work. I love my boss! I also love this "Bubble Chandelier by Jean Pelle" by Lighting

I love these "Little Darlings" and everything by Rosebud Beads.

I'm just settling into my coffee now anyway so then I'll be perked up enough to work. Till then...

Cute. I need this to put my stuff in. Like those Little Darlings earings... "Vintage Faux Jewel Turquoise Tin" by B.Inspired Vintage

Alright. I'm starting to get that feeling like I should get down to business but instead I found this shop and piece:

"Work Hard Sleep Hard- Graphic Design Print", by Hue Concept

I can take a hint. I should put this right above my desk. Plus, I just spilled coffee on my new shirt. Bah.

Free(ish) Fridays!

2010-05-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

I first heard about Vintage Printables from the Nov.'09 issue of Style at Home in their High/Low feature and have been a steady stalker of the site ever since. The site is organized by topic and colour and you can spend hours scrolling through the images, from palmistry to lion tamers. Buy some large frames with a generous matting and frame an image that catches your eye or create your own grouping with a complimentary theme or colour story. Et voila! Art that is interesting, unique, easy and free(ish)!

GREY

2010-05-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

A friend is painting her new place and was contemplating grey. Some people have been trying to talk her out of it. Now, I may be biased (because there is a lot of grey in my house) but I love grey. Here are some examples of grey rooms that prove that grey isn't boring, dark or drab. In fact, it can easily be calming, crisp, luxe and chic. So, there.

I love grey + yellow. And with all that pattern and texture, you can't say it's boring. Well, you can do whatever you want. But you'd be wrong.

(Dwell)

Grey can be luxe. Which is not boring.

(The Lennoxx)

NOT boring/bland/dark. Thank you.

(Elle Decor via The Lennoxx)

I mean, come on! Grey AND turquoise?!

(Domino via House Of Turquoise)

Case. Closed.

(via bkkhome)

NO EXCUSE....really, I'm not even going to try...

2010-05-04T18:43:00.002-07:00

YOWSA...it's been a long time since either of us have been here. Pretty bad I know. Anything I say would just be an excuse so let's just not go there...

I figure the best way to actually get back to this, is coming on here and telling you,that we are now committing to being back! There now, it's out in the cyber-world, and there will be too much public shame if we go away this long ever again!

Alright, now that's said........

I'm OBSESSED with weddings right now...as I very well should be. Mine is in 2.5 months. So you can imagine that making sure every detail is just so is always on my mind. I'm taking the full on Turquoise Shed approach...making the old new, fun and current again, with ever present vintage touches.

Anyway I thought I should share my currant obsession with you all, so I can get it off my chest and back to this integral part of the monstrous project that is Turquoise Shed!!

Free(ish) Friday! Also, it's my blog and I can ramble if I want to.

2010-04-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

Since it's Free(ish) Friday and since it's our blog, I'm taking the opportunity to combine a freeby and to shamelessly talk about Turquoise Shed. I'm nothing if not efficient.

The freebie is Panache Magazine's Spring Issue! Panache is high gloss and fashion loveliness and is available for free to us locals. If you aren't lucky enough to live on our Island, you can download it (for free!) here! It just so happens that Turquoise Shed has a bedroom before/after spread in the new issue. Here are some pics that weren't in the magazine. You'll have to check out the magazine to see the article and all the great content. It's a before/after theme! Which I love. Who doesn't love a good makeover?

Here is the before. The room was dark and seemed small and dingy. Note the painted sun border that is also on the fan. That is attention to detail. Which brings to mind the old adage about how the Devil is in the details...

As we mentioned before, this is what we decided to go for.

And here's what we ended up with!

We started by deciding which of the client's existing pieces we would keep and then spruced them up. We sourced a used headboard that we made-over with a custom paint job and had upholstery panels built and added on, topped off with our custom fabric.

We sourced some new pieces like lamps, a mirror, bedding and art for the design details and finishing pieces. Sometimes you can't find what you imagined, used or new, and so with some DIY know-how we built a shelf to display some art purchased on Etsy.

The inspiration for the room's palette came from our custom fabric that we used for curtains. Voila! Good-bye 90's sun border and hello new, fresh bedroom for a young couple who just moved into their first home! Or, how about this; hello new, fresh bedroom for a fresh couple who just moved into their new home? OR, ...for a young couple to get fresh in their new home? Ahem.

Side note: Turquoise Shed is accepting applications for a blog editor. Maybe I should get Melissa to sign-off on all blog updates before I publish them? TOO LATE!

New Stuff by Turquoise Shed

2010-03-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

Check out some of our newer pieces! You can make an appointment to view them in our showroom and you can check them out at our Etsy shop, too. We love finding furniture that needs refreshing and deciding what we want to do to it to make it sing again.

A pair of slippers... chairs. Seafoam upholstery and buttons and yellow No VOC paint.

Set of Lyer Back chairs. Gray and upholstered with Joel Dewberry fabric. Have I mentioned lately how much I love gray? I'm going to do a post all about it because it's my favorite colour right now. It's my neutral. Well, turquoise too. Hmm... which I also love. I just love colours. Except maroon. Not a huge fan of maroon. Anyway...

If this dresser could talk (and I assure you it cannot so don't be nervous about bringing it home with you) it would tell me that it loves me because it was a wreck that was overlooked and forgotten but we saved it from obscurity. It's now painted a cheerful pale pear colour. And because it's sometimes hard to say good bye, we let it keep it's original hardware.

We thought we'd try something new because so many people contact us for custom pieces to fit their decor. This is our Chose Your Own Adventure Coffee Table. This airy table is hard wood and is topped with glass for sparkle and durability but the rest is up to you! It's ready whatever colour you can imagine for your space! Email or call us if you would like to set up a custom design for this table or discuss some ideas and we can make your vision a reality.

And, thank you once again to Katelyn Fraser for her great photographs!!

WE LOVE __________ !

2010-03-25T17:09:00.000-07:00

Faux Bois! I really do. In order of loves in my life: family, friends, T.S, and faux bois. I might have left some things out but you get the point. What's not to love?

I'll start by sweetening you up to faux bois with these cupcake toppers by hellofrosting.

This one is a no brainer for me because it combines three things I like: faux bois, Joel Dewberry fabric and lighting. Check out the DotandLine's etsy shop!

This faux bois is a convenient magnetic message board by shabby vintage mom.

You'd probably only fool Mr. Magoo into thinking these mats were actually hardwood under food but that's not the point! These faux wood mats are made of Plynl- (a stain/water resistant combo of vinyl and plastics) and are created by textile designer Sandy Chilewich. That's right. I used a Mr. Magoo reference.

A little faux bois can go a long way. I love this idea to gussy up a simple side table.

From Knack Studios (but this image was glimpsed on Poppytalk).

And here is an entire blog dedicated to fake wood! Just in case you questioned my enthusiasm. Check it out: It's (K)not Wood!

Turquoise Shed's Serious Fabrics

2010-03-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

Turquoise Shed's Serious Fabrics are for those who aren't afraid of colour and pattern. Seriously! Make an appointment at our showroom to view our line of fabrics and to discuss your projects!

Our fabrics are available in:

quilting weight cotton
organic cotton sateen
organic cotton interlock knit
bamboo cotton rayon
upholstery weight cotton twill
linen-cotton canvas

Happy Belated Free(ish) Friday!!

2010-03-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

No More Blank Walls waiting to be filled!!

This weeks free-ish inspirations are to help fill those big empty walls with personality and style without having to go out and spend big bucks on "real" art. We all want "real" art filling our walls but until then these ideas will fill the void and will help you become the "real" artist!!

Carly and I are doing just this in our own spaces right now...trying to fill big spaces creatively and as inexpensively as possible...we'll let you know which ideas we go for!!

These ideas come from Do-It Yourself magazine which has some really great suggestions for all things diy...they have ideas for EVERY style so it may feel like a lot of searching when you are looking through their many many inspirations but every now and then you hit pay dirt!!

I love this idea! In the lighting section of your local hardware store they will have a selection of ceiling medallions...just pick a few styles and sizes, a paint palette, paint, and hang randomly for a fun, funky wall.

Frame some fabric with mismatched frames, (this project is great because the frames don't need glass and that is easier to find at flea markets!) add some pretty push-pins or even nails and hang your lovely jewelry, with a pretty mirror for admiring yourself!

Find a table cloth in your colours (or get inspired for your room colours by a great table cloth!), cut it into pieces to fit into a variety of frames, paint the frames to coordinate and voila!

Hang the whole thing!! This could also be done with a curtain rod mounted to the wall and curtain clips.

These shutters are available all the time at Habitat for Humanities Re-Stores, sometimes they are already a great colour, sometimes not. Paint it out to match your room and fill it full of pretty things...

It is hard to cut up books...it is I know! But just tell yourself (and this is true) that the pretty pictures you find in them will be more fully enjoyed on your wall then stuffed onto your shelf! Even better if you can find one that is already damaged in some way....guilt aside this is a very cheap and easy way to get some fantastic art! Below is a grouping of text from a children's book which is very graphic and pretty as well.

How will we ever choose!!!

WE LOVE ______ !

2010-03-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

Chevron! Well, any bold, geometric pattern, really. Chevron is a mainstay in design but it's been tweaked along the way. There's only so much you can take in one space (I guess) but the more inspiration you have, the better you'll be able to edit your vision. Here's some zigzag- stripe inspiration for you.

The pale colours of this Chevron Lamp Shade by Home Sweet tones down the pattern. Zigzags can be subtle.

Chevron can be snail mail. These Kate Spade Green Chevron Notecards are available from Pixel Impress.

Zigzags can be practical. These Black Chevron Cork Tiles are available at Black Kettles.

Oooh. Chevron under foot. I love this wood flooring.

(photo courtesy of nestdallas)

Zigzags can be on the crazier side. But I still love it.

(photo courtesy of simple creative inspiration)

You couldn't miss this painted statement wall. I love chevron in all colours but classic black and white lends itself nicely to many styles. One could say that the zigzag is versatile? Check out this wall's story at Apartment Therapy.

Turquoise Shed's line of kinder fabrics

2010-03-15T18:21:00.001-07:00

When you're transforming a treasured piece, customizing a new- to- you find or accenting your home's existing decor, fabrics play a huge role. Check out Turquoise Shed's line of fabrics and think about sprucing up your dining room chairs, ordering a customized/modified upholstered headboard, curtains or table linens... the possibilities are limitless. Well, I wouldn't recommend using our fabrics to make a rocket. You could try? But it probably won't get you to the moon. Anyway, our fabrics are available in:

quilting weight cotton
organic cotton sateen
organic cotton interlock knit
bamboo cotton rayon
upholstery weight cotton twill
linen-cotton canvas

Because I just had a baby, I'm going to start with our kinder fabrics. I love them and dream of curtains, pillows, upholstered furniture and bed linens in all of the fun colours and patterns...

Make an appointment to view our kid's fabrics and discuss the fun projects you have in mind for your son or daughter's room!

902.314.6748 or turquoiseshed@gmail.com

Free(ish) Fridays!

2010-03-11T18:51:00.000-08:00

This week's Free(ish) Friday is dedicated to the new on-line design publication: Lonny Magazine. I can't say enough good things about it. And, as you can see below, I lost all control when it came to picking images from it's pages to show you.

The magazine's mission is to make design accessible to everyone with tips and advice to help you achieve the looks you see in it's pages. Also, it's free! Sounds like the perfect combo for Free(ish) Friday to me. And because it's paperless, you don't even have to feel guilty about pouring over it from the time you park it at your desk until it's time to punch out.

All in a hard day's work!

2010-03-07T06:36:00.000-08:00

Well I have baby's on the brain this weekend and have been scouring for inspiration pics of nursery's because..................Carly had a beautiful little girl on Friday evening! Being the best, most hardest working business partner out there, Carly was pounding the pavement Friday morning looking for a dresser to re-design for a client and at the hardware store picking up some clear coat for another job....then off to the hospital to have perfect little Margo....all in a hard days work!

pom mobile, pom love
bird map decals, the candy shoppe
diy pendant lamp, apartment therapy
rattan elephant hamper, homedecorators
quilt, Rachel Berry, Made With Love and Glue

It's Free(ish) Friday

2010-03-05T13:42:00.000-08:00

Well, free(ish) because what can you really get for free? Especially for home decor... Anyway, today's theme is pendant lamps. It might not even be budgetary concerns that send you DIYing. Sometimes, it's impossible to find what you want when you live say, on an Island... I love these ideas. They're simple and inexpensive and could be done this weekend!

This pendant lamp was revamped to look like Haldane Martin's

Ostriche Chandelier for a total of $12! Click here to get to Apartment Therapy for the how-to's.

I may be getting a head of myself here but Spring is only 15 days away... I love this simple outdoor planter pendant lamp from Design*Sponge! You could paint it any colour, and use different sized planters alone or cluster them together.

You could do this this weekend. Make it any size and colour you want. But no pressure. Here's how.

Make an appointment to visit our showroom in downtown Charlottetown...

2010-03-02T16:35:00.000-08:00

Our lil' showroom is jam-packed with all of our own re-designed pieces and custom fabrics. Make an appointment to peruse or to discuss the pieces that you'd like to have re-designed for your home. call 902-314-6748 or email Melissa or Carly: turquoiseshed@gmail.com

All of the showroom pictures are courtesy of Katelyn Fraser Photo. Thanks, Katelyn!

View our custom fabrics!

The floor project we took on in the eleventh hour. Crazy? Maybe. But we love it.

With such a small space, we had no choice but to go vertical. We had shelving installed to take full advantage of every square inch.

Our muse, Miss Mabel Love (superim)posing with our office chair!

DIY shelf that Melissa whipped up using honest- to- God power tools. Sometimes, it's hard to find even a simple, white floating shelf here and so you need to move on to plan B.

Fresh flowers go a long way. And thanks to Kelly Clements- Genis from Think Feel Be for the beautiful tulips!

Our Showroom! We finished right in the nick of time. It was close but we had everything ready for the Grand Opening and were able to relax and enjoy all the visitors.

The Grand Opening! Melissa and her family...
photo courtesy of Leigh Elliot

Carly and the fam. Did I mention lately how pregnant I am?
photo courtesy of Leigh Elliot

Action shot of Melissa. Photo courtesy of Leigh Elliot

End of the night. Awww.... great friends/business partners! We're so lucky! But we couldn't have made it to this point without the help of our friends and families. Thank you everyone!

Two Little Girls' Room!

2010-02-27T05:28:00.000-08:00

Here is a little inspiration for two little girls' room we're collaborating on. They aren't 'girly girls' so we stayed away from pinks and bows and so on. These two modern girls had new bed spreads in aqua blues and white and we went from there!

Free(ish) Fridays!

2010-02-26T16:37:00.001-08:00

You don't need to break the bank when you're redecorating your space. And every Friday, we're going to prove it. You have all weekend to take advantage of these easy and inexpensive projects and then you can procrastinate getting back into your workday routines by sending us pictures of what you've done. Ahem. Hint, hint.

Download these PDFs from kind over matter and frame them for your kid's room or family room. Maybe a shower or bday gift? I don't know, you tell me. I love them though and I'm going to print them all off and put them in my daughter's room. It's in desperate need of personality, she loves animals and I have big plans for her to become literate. So, win-win!

If you have a window that needs a little privacy but you don't want to lose the light, this DIY idea is for you. If you're confident in your artistic abilities, you can use a paint pen and draw right on the glass. Otherwise you can use contact paper. This idea is courtesy of Design*Sponge. Click here to get the full instructions.

Maybe you can't afford that large scale art piece that you dream of *yet* but that doesn't mean that you should have an empty, lonely wall. Click here to see how Canadian House and Home says you can turn your photos into art using a painted corkboard and your black and white pics.

I love wallpaper. There are a million things you can do with wallpaper without making your house look like your Grandmother's house. Or like a house on Coronation Street. All the houses on that show are covered in wallpaper! Anyway, a little can go a long way and wallpaper remnants are much more affordable than papering a whole room (or house!).

Easy and cheap ideas: told you so!

Turquoise Shed is featured on myvintageaddiction.com!

2010-02-25T18:30:00.000-08:00

We love this site and we love that we were asked to be featured! Check out the article and explore the site!

Fresh Shop :: Turquoise Shed Vintage

Posted on February 25th, 2010 in living quarters | Author: Courtney Chesley

Bedroom Makeover

2010-02-23T15:24:00.000-08:00

Who wouldn't want to see their work on the glossy pages of a magazine?! When we were asked to do a before and after spread for local magazine, Panache, we didn't have to think twice. The issue comes out mid March and we're really excited for you to see it. In the mean time, we thought we'd share our inspiration for the room.

After consulting with the client, we did up a mood board that reflected the atmosphere and aesthetic feel that she was looking for. Like a lot of us, she was more sure of what she didn't want than what she wanted. That's a great place to start, too! After we determined that she wasn't interested in anything too "stuffy" or "serious", we moved toward what she did want for her room's feel: light, simple and fresh.

Our inspiration came from a custom fabric and the colour palette fell into place. It was a lot of fun gathering the design details for the client and she was really excited to get her new room finished! Stay tuned for the Mid March issue of Panache for the before and after pics!

picture credit:

Paint chips Behr-California Dreaming & Ocean Kiss

Yo-Yo Pillow by Amy Butler

NewEngland Potrait Mirror

Living room by decorpad.com

John Lewis Seersucker Duvet

Art...Photos by ara133 found on Etsy

2010's Colour of the Year

2010-02-21T05:39:00.000-08:00

Carly and I thought this was a good sign for TURQUOISE SHED when the following article was released in January!! We have often joked that Turquoise is a neutral for us because we think it goes with EVERYTHING and here is back up from THE colour guru's at Pantone!!

Pantone Unveils Color of the Year for 2010:

PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise

"Pantone is pleased to announce PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the Color of the Year for 2010. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise inspires thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing.

In many cultures, Turquoise is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that to many people, Turquoise represents an escape, taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting – even if it is only a fantasy.

Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.

"http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=20706&ca=10

A little info on Pantone...."The Pantone Color Matching System is largely a standardized color reproduction system. By standardizing the colors, different manufacturers in different locations can all refer to the Pantone system to make sure colors match without direct contact with one another." Wikipedia

Light and Vision Photography

2010-02-18T18:21:00.000-08:00

Photographer Louise Vessey of Light and Vision Photography contacted us to source and refinish a chair for her to use as a prop and here it is! While we can't take credit for the super cute baby or the beautiful picture, it does bring a tear to our eye to see our chair all grown up, being a productive member of society. Sniff, sniff. They do grow up so fast... Check out Louis Vessey's wonderful work on her site lightandvision.com and her blog

Our Showroom Window!

2010-02-18T17:00:00.000-08:00

Our Grand Opening was a smashing success and we're so grateful that:

a. we had so many well-wishers stop by
b. our friends and family were there to support us
c. it's over! What a lot of work but it was so worth it! We love how our showroom turned out!

One highlight of the day was setting up our store window. Here we are getting it set up. Poor Melissa had to do the bulk of the work while her eight and a half month pregnant business partner (me) mostly watched from the side lines. I'll be back in the game soon, I promise Mel.

Miss Mabel Love

2010-02-12T19:52:00.000-08:00

At this moment Carly and I have been on the phone coordinating our new Etsy page and photos for 2 hours and 37 minutes all after a 14 hour day of racing around town trying (and succeeding) to get our showroom ready to go for tomorrow night's GRAND OPENING EXTRAVAGANZA! To say the least my ear is hot...

But this is all very exciting, our work will be on display for friends, family and interested strangers to see and we can't wait for the feedback.

We would like to introduce you to Miss Mabel Love...this picture states so simply what we are doing with Turquoise Shed...putting the beautiful classic old, and the modern fresh new together for something quality and unique.

Katelyn Fraser Photography

2009-11-18T18:09:00.000-08:00

Some people aren't afraid of colour- which we love! Katelyn Fraser is a talented photographer and her new studio is now home to three colourful Turquoise Shed chairs and a crisp white desk. It was a pleasure making these fun pieces for Katelyn. If only the whole world wanted turquoise, fuchsia and green chairs!
Check out Katelyn's beautiful pictures on her site: katelynfraserphoto.com and follow her blog: katelynfraserphoto.tumblr.com

welcome!

2009-10-27T18:20:00.000-07:00

Our Etsy store www.turquoiseshed.etsy.com is a the place to visit to purchase our pieces but we decided that a blog would be a great way to show you pictures of furniture, rooms, trinkets, ribbons, papers, and shiny things that have inspired our own collection. We'd love you to drop by often to check out the gallery of our newest creations!