Anna Justine

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Found this gorgeous mid-century credenza in the Craigslist free section! Ready for the challenge to fix it up ;)

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this-is-glamorous

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How to: Add flare to traditional pieces Nothing a little spray paint can't fix! Re-invent drab pieces by spraying them a solid colour. We scoured vintage stores to find these unique labras. Tie the room together by choosing colours complimentary to your space. 

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Happy Easter!  This year we painted, dip-dyed, marbleized and bedazzled over two dozen eggs. Now that crafting is (somewhat) out of our system, let the long weekend begin!  xoannajustine 

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Good morning!  I can see the sunshine out there but don’t feel the warmth. Here’s a little spring inspiration by Emily Henderson. 

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How To: Reinvent the Pantry

Anna’s pantry was starting to look pretty boring compared to her bright and colourful space. Living in a loft her kitchen shares a room with the living room, dining room and workspace: everything on display. It’s easy to see how this uninspired cupboard can stand out amongst her creative décor. She needed a change, and quickly found some DIY inspiration. 

Step One: Supplies: Pick a paint colour and grab some pre-pasted wallpaper, a sander and a screwdriver. Step Two: Clean and Prep: Clear pantry and prepare for a mess. Lay down newspaper and open a window. Step Three: Check the surface. If it's a veneer and not solid wood you will need to sand it down so the paint sticks, if it's regular wood you're good to go!

Step Four: Wallpaper. We chose pre-pasted paper from Wal-Mart. Cut your pieces to the exact size of the surface. There's no need to get fancy!

Step Five: Apply wallpaper. We soaked ours in the sink for 10-15 seconds, place it on the shelf and smooth down the surface so it doesn’t bubble. Hint* Use ModPodge to glue down any reluctant edges. Step Six: Remove doors and hardware and PAINT! Final: When all is dry, put that big guy back together. Try this with any paint-wallpaper combo and tag it on Instagram as #annajustine. We'd love to see other creative pantry ideas.

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We are what our environment makes us, and if our environment is such as to produce excellent health, beauty, joy and comfort, it will reflect immediately in our lives.

Rudolph Schindler

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Spotlight: Yoshitomo Nara

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Growing up the dining room table was always the centre of our home. More than a place to eat, it was a gathering spot to meet, work and play.

At any shape or size the main table should be a statement of your lifestyle. Here are a few ways to stand out: Go Rustic: A large harvest table adds warmth. Mix raw materials like iron and reclaimed wood for a realistic feel.  Mix n' Match: Why stick to symmetry? Make your seating as creative as the individuals you hope to bring to it. Mix styles: bench, stool, rustic or traditional to add interest.  Lighting: The final touch, lighting pulls together the entire look. A unique pendant will highlight your design choices, and compliment your style. 

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Colour Story: Grey I'm in the process of painting a few accent walls in my condo dark grey and am continuously surprised by the mixed reactions this receives. It seems that many people view grey as a poor choice for paint, claiming it's too cold, dreary or dull.  I couldn't disagree more.  More than just a current trend, grey is dynamic. It's many shades can be:

masculine/feminine 

romantic

dramatic

elegant 

& calming

  Grey is the perfect background for pops of colour, or to highlight the design of a room. Check out future posts to see our progress and let us know how you use grey in your home. 

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Do-it-yourself sloth, a self portrait by Natalia Stawecki. 

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Perfection. #teak #decor #design

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Pop that colour. #diy #decor #design

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DIY Birdcage After falling in love with CB2's La Cage we decided to get creative and make one of our own. It was a simple and fun process that really anyone can do at home: Step One: Choose your birdcage. We love the thrill of the hunt and would usually scour the city's vintage stores for a unique find. Being on a budget, we decided to go with two inexpensive cages from Michaels . Pick a cage of any shape, size or price point.  Step Two: Spray paint. Don't be afraid to play around with colour. Vibrant hues will showcase the cages intricate details. We recommend doing this outside but, as it's winter, we covered our condo in newspaper and went for it (windows open of course.) Step Three: Accessorize. Candles, plants, jewellery. Hang it, place it or put it outside. Go crazy. What will you do?

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Ishknits Yarn Bombing- American Hipster presents #12. Feeling pretty badass about knitting right now. 

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Canadiana-inspired design has been popping up everywhere. Is the Hudson Bay Company responsible? Whatever the reason, we're obsessed. Embrace the true Nord and our British heritage with the HBC Multistripe Point Blanket. These primary colours were made popular by the ever stylish Queen Anne (also, see the Queen Anne chair.) Commissioned by HBC in 1800, the blanket has reached iconic status. It's never left our list of lust-worthy items.  What better way to re-invent the stripe than with a DIY upholstery project?  A future Anna Justine challenge? Wait and see. ;)