It’s a big day around here! Not only am I writing my licensing exam (potentially, as you’re reading these very words – gah! Send good juju, please and thank you) but lark & linen turns three today! To be completely honest, I never really knew what I was getting into when I started this journey three years ago, and never in my life could I have imagined what a positive outlet it’s been for me in so, so many ways. Thank you all for following along – I couldn’t imagine sharing it all with kinder human beings. Here’s to many more years! And to celebrate? A virtual sprinkles party (but of course).

Designed, Styled & Photographed by Style Me Pretty Living

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It’s been a little while since I’ve put together one of my inspiration posts, and what better way to break the cycle than with some insanely gorgeous bedrooms.

If you remember my easy as pie DIY from some time ago, you’ll know that I’m no stranger to unconventional nightstands. Whether it’s an adorable stool, stacked vintage suitcases, a repurposed ladder, or $3 wooden wine crates in my case, there’s no shortage of things you could experiment with in lieu of a traditional nightstand.

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I don’t know about you, but I’ve come down with a serious case of the post-holiday blues. The past few days it has taken every ounce of me to not hibernate within the confines of my home. If I’m being honest, the thought of curling up in front of a roaring fire is the only thing that appeals to me at the moment. Hot tea, flannel pyjamas and all-things-cozy is just what the doctor ordered. This mini fireplace round up is helping, if only just a touch – don’t you think?

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Who ever said that Halloween needed to be tacky? Though fake spider webs and caution tape have their respective time and place, a simple black and white approach to the holiday is a surefire way to get it done in style. I’ve never really been a fan of orange anyway.

Happy Halloween you guys!

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Ending the week on a pretty note. Happy weekend you guys!

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When it comes to interior design, I generally subscribe to the notion of using neutral elements for your fixed pieces (tiles, countertops and the like), and bring in colour through accessories that can be easily switched out to suit your mood. That is, until I spotted these beauties. Sometimes you just need to toss out all of your rules and paste your walls in bright pink flowers.

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Patio season is in full swing and I could not imagine a more perfect place to spend my summer evenings. If they looked anything like these guys I would be hard pressed to ever leave.

Happy weekend guys!

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These days I find myself craving an outdoor soiree, complete with fantastic table settings and buttloads of friends. (Yes, buttloads). I’m convinced that warm evenings were made for this very reason.

Happy weekend guys! I hope it’s a good one!

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When it comes to the field of interior design, often it’s the most obvious solution that ends up being the most beautiful.

Happy weekend sunshines!

Today I’m over on Katrina’s blog, Dot Dot Dash.
Click here to see what I’m talking about!

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I’ve never felt more inclined to own my own home than I do now, if only because I feel the sudden urge to decorate its façade in gorgeous flowers and lush greenery. Since that’s not in the cards for the time being, these images will have to suffice.

Happy weekend lovelies!

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I just can’t seem to get enough of this colour palette. The warmth of the ochre set against the freshness of the pink creates a wonderful balance. The perfect spring combination methinks!

Happy weekend lovies!

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To say that life has been busy lately would be the understatement of the year. Between balancing work, the little sanctuary I like to refer to as my blog, and family/friends, there doesn’t seem to be time for much else. My laundry has piled up, our bedroom STILL remains completely undecorated (nearly a year later) and I don’t remember the last time I cooked an actual meal (heating up soup counts, right?) In the few recent moments that I manage to steal, I find myself flipping through design magazines over a cup of tea or making my way through pinterest. If there’s any sort of common theme amongst my current favourite spaces, it’s the fact that I’m drawn to simple, understated, elegant decor. It’s likely that my mind is simply craving a break from all of the mental stimulation, but either way, these sweet, monochromatic vignettes are screaming my name.

And with that, I am off to Halifax for the weekend (it really never stops*)!

Happy weekend noodles!

*not a complaint, swear! 

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There’s no denying my love for all things white (as seen here, here & here to name a few). But when it’s paired with black? Well that’s a combination that just can’t be beat. Simple, classic, right up my alley.

Happy weekend lovelies!

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Funnily enough, as a child I thought the idea of gold anything was repulsive. It was only recently that I began embracing it in all its glamorous glory. Whether it’s in the form of twinkling lights, perfectly wrapped parcels* or oversize mirrors, this metallic hue always adds an instant hit of class. These days, I just can’t get enough.

*to date, my grandmother is the only one I know who still refers to any wrapped box as a parcel. I kind of love it and I’m secretly hoping it will catch back on.  Note: she also refers to pants as slacks and the couch as the chesterfield. I love grandparents. 

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There’s no denying my love for all things Christmas. When you combine a great idea with my very favourite holiday it’s like my mind explodes. Whether you’re an apartment dweller and don’t have room for a full sized tree, or you’re just looking for an excuse to utilize those extra Christmas tree bits (you know the ones), here’s a great solution. These teeny Christmas trees are the perfect example of a little bit of festive decor that goes a very long way.

found: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 

They’re the perfect spot to organize and showcase your dishes and found treasures, while giving your kitchen some interest. I can’t imagine many things more satisfying than a set of well designed open shelves in the kitchen.

Ok, I lied. The fact that Starbucks Christmas cups are out is slightly more satisfying. That, and fluffy puppies. Starbucks Christmas cups, fluffy puppies and then open shelving displaying pretty kitchen things. In that order.

found 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 

Whoever said that Halloween decor needed to be tacky? Stray away from the go-to black and orange  palette and opt for a touch of gold instead. Some black feathers, a few white pumpkins and a hint of moss? Instant glamour and a lot of class!

found 1, 2, 3, 4 

As of this moment, I envision a wooden bathroom counter in my future. They instantly add that touch of warmth to a space that would otherwise feel cold and stark.

ps. head on over to Simply Irresistible where the sweet Lara has asked me to share a few of my fav Toronto spots.  

found here, here and here

Today marks the official first day of fall! I’ve found myself in a place where I’m more than ready for it. And for those of you who are not quite there yet, perhaps this collection of comfy knits, warm salted caramel pears and mugs full of hot deliciousness will sway you.

Happy weekend lovelies!

found (clockwise from top left) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

I’m so pleased to be one of over forty bloggers participating in Megan & Katie’s “Surprise Party”. They’ve recently curated this event to announce what I know will be a hugely popular venture. Head on over to The Fresh Exchange and The Pink and Blue Blog to take a look at their new endeavour and take part in some great giveaways (you know you wanna!) While you’re there, see if you can spot my post. Hint: it’s chalk-full of pink-party-goodness.

found here, here, here, here & here

found here, here, here, and here 

Flipping through my Pinterest boards, I’ve noticed that I’ve recently strayed from what was once a love for anything and everything white and bright. I’m just going to go ahead and chalk it up to the summer season that begs for long, leisurely days complete with brightly coloured fruity drinks on a patio filled with multi-coloured pillows. While I may not incorporate any of these particular rainbow inspired schemes into my decor regimen anytime soon, I can’t help but be drawn to this series of technicolour dream spaces.

Oh, and then this happened:
found here

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While perusing the interwebs for inspiration for an upcoming project (more details in the coming days), I couldn’t help but drool a little over this collection of black and white stripes. I think it’s safe to say that I will never tire of stripes. Ever.

found here, here & here 

With summer just around the corner (I can feel it, I tell you!) I can’t think of a better way to spruce the place up than with a bright and cheery, colourful front door. While the graffiti flowers may be a little much, it still makes for some wonderful eye candy, don’t you think?

found here (via april & may) & here

My love of any and all things Eames is no secret (as witnessed here, amongst many other Eames-related posts). But did you know that their rocker came in pink? Because I, for one, did not. And now, I am so very happy.

ps. if you haven’t had the chance to enter the pi’lo giveaway, click here. There are only a few days left!

found via pink to green, a merry mishap, lolalina

Happy St. Patrick’s day friends! While I’m not technically irish (well, not to my knowledge; perhaps it’s there somewhere in my lineage), I do enjoy an Irish token on occasion. These tokens include but are not limited to beer, lush greenery and thick accents. I figure, what better way to celebrate than with a handful of green-inspired spaces. Amiright?! I thought so. Now go out and enjoy yourselves some green beer (which may or may not be even better than green spaces. But I’m an interior designer so don’t tell anyone that I just said that).

found via French by Design, Pinterest (x3)

I would love to convince myself that winter is slowly coming to an end, but it’s just difficult as I watch the snow slowly fall outside our office windows. With spring somewhat, sort of, in the nearish to far-off distance, I keep trying to remind myself of all of the reasons why I love winter so I don’t go completely batty. These images of neatly piled stacks of wood appease my inner organizational nerd all the while reminding me of the satisfaction that comes from a simple winter evening curled up in front of a fire with a good book.

found via pinterest, sarah illenberger, mi casa revista

While perusing through my inspiration folder recently, I noticed that my subconscious seems to be drawn to the Acapulco chair. I’m not sure if it’s the delicate nature of the piece or the fact that I can just imagine myself lounging in it poolside with a piña colada in hand (twirly straw and little umbrella will naturally be present as well). Whether it’s the simplicity and beauty of the piece, or my desire to escape the cold for just a little, I’m totally on board with this chair.

found via pinterest, fantastic frank

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I’ve recently upgraded from a double to a queen bed (you may remember my new mattress: Isodora. Is it weird that I’ve now spoken about her three times? Probably.) With the switch came the need for a new bed frame. My ikea metal frame and headboard has been good to me throughout the years, but I’m happy to say that she is no more. Hoorah! After purchasing this guy (just the frame) to support sweet, sweet Isodora, not to mention the expense of a new mattress, unfortunately a new headboard just isn’t in the cards right now. Originally this idea was a little unsettling but after seeing the lot of these headboardless beds I think I’m finally okay with this! Apparently the trick is a beautiful chair, some wonderful art (books count as art you know) and some fun and funky lamps.

found via Alexandra Campbell & Remodelista

Today just so happens to be the coldest day we’ve had to experience so far this winter and as a result my bones are literally chilled all the way into their very centres. I would love to spend the day in one of these concrete bathtubs, filled to the brim with piping hot water in order to rectify this. Since this is not an option at the moment, please excuse me while I peruse our office to find some suitable layers as an alternative.

found via a merry mishap, wood wool stool, style files, fffound, emmas design blog & simply grove

Sometimes a non-traditional Christmas tree is more satisfying than a real one. Only sometimes though.

found via tumblr, unknown, the beautiful soup

Things have taken a turn for the omg-I-can’t-believe-how-much-I-have-to-do-right-now. So please enjoy these beautiful spaces, their soaring high cathedral ceilings and crisp white walls in my absence.

found via shappacherwhite, style files, unknown, decor mag

Simple, elegant, and adds a little touch of fun and whimsy to any space. The idea of the chalkboard wall is especially great for those of the likes of me who have trouble making any permanent decisions. With new ideas constantly evolving it’s difficult to settle on one, knowing you may find something better tomorrow! Well, a chalkboard wall is interchangeable, evolving and all you need is some creativity, and a little chalk.

Disclaimer: I should note that I’m very good at making decisions for other people, but when it’s my own space? Well it’s hard!! I totally get why people hire interior designers.

found via Unknown & Sacramento Street

Some pretty bedrooms for your Thursday morning.

ps. If you haven’t voted yet, or if you would like to vote again, please click here to help lark + linen out! The good news? Only two more days of me bugging you guys like this! I appreciate it guys. Your tweets and retweets and facebook posts and votes mean more to me than you know.

all images found via unknown (unfortunately these are from an old file, and I did not save their sources. If you know where they’re from, please let me know so that I can credit them)

found via Design is Mine, Aimee Herring, Style Files & unknown

I’m loving the use of materials used to create these unusual headboards. Whether it’s pressed tin, bamboo, an old barn door, or simply painted mdf, it just goes to show you that there are no bounds! Put your creative cap on, and go nuts! (Is there such thing as a creative cap? I’m thinking I just coined that term.)

images found via Trouvais, FCUK, This is Glamorous, Sugar Paper & This Neck of the Woods via Black Eiffel