Into the Home: Mari

This story was originally posted on the Freedom Reconstructed blog that Karen and I work on together.
It features a story of one of our customers who came to the store in hopes that we may assist in giving her home the same warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you enter Freedom Clothing Collective…



Mari, our customer ,who also lives in the neighbourhood came in a few days before Christmas looking for gifts for her friends and family but, as we discovered later, also for herself. She mentioned how she loved the store and the comfy cozy feeling of it and how she would love to replicate it in her home and asked for assistance in helping her create that same vibe. We told her when she was ready we were 100% on board.

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A few days later, Mari came back determined to take home items that would help her transform her already beautiful house into a space that her family will find playful and inviting. She came in on the day Karen was in and the two of them made a nice selection of things to help her start the process.

BEFORE



MIDWAY

Next thing we knew, there were initial pictures of Mari's home transformation in our inbox. There were mirrors, chalkboards and frames on the walls. She even painted a shelf to store her kids' shoes and helmets a bright yellow to match the mirror she got in our store. We loved the direction she was going in and helped her out with some more suggestions.

One day later a new batch of pictures arrived with the prooof of Mari's hard work. We were thoroughly impressed. Within 24 hours Mari turned her blank walls into colorful display of art.
And here is the proof.....

AFTER

colourful stairway to heaven!

bright happy groupings! 

A friendly welcome in, check your lipstick, and put away your outside gear!

House entrance with nice large practical hooks for all the kids coats, plants, ingoing and outgoing mail,
with yellow door!

Love this shot! It shows art work and an up cycled shelf from Freedom as well as
Mari's embroidery hoop display in the dining room and sweet birdcage incorporation.

soft tonal hues in the dinning room via her embroidery hoop display

inspired by a wall area we have at the store Mari recreated her own version

Mari was sweet enough to let me roam around her beautifully curated house and I could not help but take as many pics as possible. She told me wonderful stories about all the different pieces she's collected over the years. From a laborious quilt she made while pregnant to her grandfathers paper cranes that are each imbued with a personal wish or prayer.

Mari is clearly a lover of animals as you can see they are scattered throughout her house
via pillow or statue, print or drawing  

Mari went wonderfully overboard over chalkboards that she painted
one whole wall in the kitchen with chalkboard paint! Yay!

Lulu showing us how to get on the bunk bed in Oli's room

just stunning!

A little girl's dream bedroom - LOOK at that storage wall!

Her grandpa sent her cranes each year which are incorporated into these charming mobiles
 and scattered throughout the house.

Even her craft and sewing table is sweet and friendly!

Lulu and Pepper followed me around making sure I gave them pets every few seconds and here they are chilling out while I take pics of the bedroom. Nothing makes a space a home like sweet loveable pet companions!

We want to give a BIG thank you to Mari for letting us into and sharing stories of her stunning home! What an inspiration.

If you have a similar dilemma and would like us to share our two cents with you, we are here to listen.

a happy warm home :)

Mustard Yellow Writing Desk (yet another milk paint project)

I sat on this piece for a while unsure of which direction to go with it. Original thought was grey, then that changed to green and once I fell in love with the mustard yellow milk paint finish I knew that nothing else would cut it. So here it is, all mustardy and elegant with an unexpected touch of folky painted knobs. For more info and dimensions, check out my Etsy shop.

Milk and Latex Paint Combo Piece

This dresser marries the old with the new. Old world lines are complemented with the modern design. Base colour is milk paint and the triangles in white, deep grey and gold are painted on with latex paint. A touch of unexpected design has brought this dresser to the 21st century and then some. All pulls are original to the piece.
And as my amazement with milk paint continues to grow, there are two more pieces in the works. Both yellow and one of which will be revealed later this week.

Sneak Peak of an Upcoming Post

Full image of the piece that successfully married milk and latex paint will follow tomorrow evening. Until then, this is a little tease to keep you wondering. Apologies for the less then perfect image quality, this is s super cropped version of an image taken with my phone.

New Milk Paint Project - Green Dresser

And so my love affair with milk paint continues. This is the latest completed peace also featured in my Etsy store. And this is not where it all ends my friends, the next peace to be completed will feature a milk/latex paint combo, something I will be working on this afternoon and hopefully have ready by early next week.

Midnight Blue Bow-Front Dresser - More Milk Paint Projects

I think I have officially caught the milk paint bug. This is my 4th milk paint project completed within the three week span with another one that will be ready for reveal by the end of the week.
What I love about milk paint is that the result is unpredictable, the finish looks velvety soft, is all natural with  zero VOC and smells like earth after a Summer shower. Heaven if you ask me.
This dresser is currently listed on my Etsy site, but if you are local to the GTA you can come see it in person at Freedom Clothing Collective (939 Bloor Street West).

White Dresser with Painted Triangles

I have been sitting on this dresser for some time now and it is only now that I get to share it with the rest of the world. Built of solid wood with drawers that offer a fair share of storage and with a vibrant finish I think it would brighten any room, not to mention that it may make you smile every time you see it. It is now listed in my Etsy shop and is up for grabs.

Blue Tall Boy Dresser - another milk paint project

I finished and photographed this dresser on the first day of this year. I posted it on Etsy and within 5 hours it found a new home. If the year is to be judged by the first day, I am hoping that this may be a good one. There is another blue piece in the works and I will make sure to stock up on this paint colour as I think it largely contributes to the look of the finished product.