Amped up

Here is a funny little tidbit about me:

I have a major thing for ampersands. Car buffs might have a thing for vintage Aston Martins, and me, well as a designer I have a love affair with type. I don't know what it is about the ampersand....but it probably has something to do with the limitless ways it can be stylized and represented:

...it gives any text some personality....what would Koo & Poppet be without it?

Few words are represented by a symbol as universally recognizable as the ampersand. For a little conjunction, and sure gets dressed up.

this one is brilliant in its simplicity and ingenuity (designer epiphany, no doubt):

red & black, rock & roll:

images via here

Home Reno - halfway point...

When we moved into our house in October of 2009, we knew we had our work cut out for us. At first glance, it was difficult to see past the rustic wood siding, stained carpet and marbleized seashell sinks. The house was built in 1979 and it's not hard to tell.

Still, it had a comfortable layout and a great yard and Scott and I saw some potential in this split-level country house. We could picture ourselves living here and we could also imagine digging into some home improvements. We're about halfway there, and have been in construction mode for more than a year now. A lot of the work to date has been mainly cosmetic updates, but a few walls have been built or demolished here and there. We probably have another 2 years to go! But it's been a lot of fun to see the transformation this house is going through.

Most of you have seen the results of "Phase One", my Koo & Poppet World Headquarters ;-),

The office before:

and after:

Split stair before:

Stair after (not quite done yet):

Living room before (yikes!):

Living room after (what to do to add some more interest around the fireplace? any ideas?):

Living room and entry on the day we moved in:

and after:

Dining room before:

Dining room after - just needs some new chairs and a little more colour:

Now we are diving in to the family room downstairs. This room is in dire need of a makeover! The plan is to have this room ready by the time the baby is born this summer. I'll post photos of the finished result soon....

After this room is finished, it's on to the bedrooms upstairs.....I'm dreaming up a nursery design right now....details to follow!

And finally.....the big ticket items: KITCHEN AND BATHROOMS. And we have big 'ol plans for the kitchen. It's preeeetty bad right now. But fully functional, so one can't complain too much :) Sometimes I remind my self that there's no rush for all of this....we have walls, heat and a roof over our heads and really, I'm just grateful for that. And then I re-acquaint myself with those seashell sinks and I'm all OKAY SLEDGEHAMMER NOW, RETRO CHARM MY A$$.

and did I mention that Scott and my Dad have done all this work by themselves? They are superstars.

Ingredients!

I could look at these compositions by Swedish photographer Carl Kleiner all day.
From what I've read, these photos will be used in a recipe book by IKEA (available in Sweden only - oh, Scandinavia, you have such great style so please share it with the rest of us). This is an example of something I love about the internet....coming across little gems like these and posting them here on this blog. Who needs baked goods when you've got eye candy like this?

I love the orange peels in this one:

Do you have a favourite? There is more to see here.

Koo & Poppet at Onlyhuman, Victoria BC

Well hello there, Gary. Stop your sleuthing around.


I am so pleased to tell you that Koo & Poppet is now available at Onlyhuman in downtown Victoria. Located at 616 Yates Street (the former Design House location) the showroom is a bull's eye for unique design and exquisitely crafted contemporary furniture.
The Koos are so very honoured to be included in the studio's eclectic mix of novelty designer items.
If you're in Victoria, definitely put Onlyhuman on your list of spots to visit this spring.
To read more about the store's philosophy, check out Meade Design Group's interview with owners Chris and Christina here.

Clockwise from top left: Summer, Gary and Christopher (a seafaring bunny)

Esmerelda prefers to keep to herself. Perhaps you can help socialize her?

Christopher and the piggy are fast friends. Good luck separating them. They're like dogs at the SPCA (except much more chic) who form a bond and have to be adopted into a new home together.

All of the new Koo & Poppet designs shown here are also available in the online shop.

My thanks to Chris and Christina at Onlyhuman!

http://www.onlyhuman.ca/

Koo & Poppet World Headquarters

At long last, my home office reno is complete!

Scott prepping the trim for new window installation (also the answer to the photo riddle a few posts back.....the images were of paint-covered plastic in place of the glass).

I'll post an overall room view when the light allows.

Let's review - here are the before shots:

Just a cold basement room when we moved in.

You wouldn't believe some of the school photos we found in the demo'd walls. Mullets and braces and bangs all a-feather!

Progress.

And after:

Ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Bear calendar by The Sis Crew

Circus prints by holli

bird collage by Pinn Studio

Hazel checking out the view.

Liam gettin' all up in yo' face.

Strawberry girl in the boss's chair.

San Francisco poster: Ork

Paris Metro photo: Irene Suchocki

rain cloud collages: Cabin + Cub

ink sketch: Koo & Poppet

And still, she watches.

Marvelous Mousepads

I stumbled upon these dressed-up mouse pads today....just some gorgeous fabric is all it takes to turn the mundane into a thing of beauty!

There's more beauty to behold at SHIM + SONS' shop.

Ork - City Neighborhood Posters

I love these Ork Posters.

There's at least a dozen U.S. cities to choose from (Toronto is "coming soon"), each with several colour schemes.

I've got my eye on SAN FRANCISCO. It might be a great way to honour the city where Scott and I were engaged. I'd love to go back there soon.....the food, the shopping, the vistas, oh my! It is one of my top three places I'd like to live one day.

What about you? If you could live anywhere else for one year, where would it be?

Lovelies (things found while browsing the web)

linen curtains: anthropologie

fleur-de-lis tumblers: anthropologie

owl clock: decoylab

nest bowl: Chintz

wall decals: PopWall

curtain rod: umbra

side table: available at Only Human

initial pendant: pyrrha

towels: anthropologie

(I promise there will be more Koo & Poppet updates soon. For now, I'm a little overwhelmed with all the goings on around the house, so be warned that this blog may be inundated by home improvement posts for the next little while! )