Keira-anne.com

When my brother and I were children, my mom would sometimes bring home giant rolls of paper. I’d map out entire towns for my brother’s Hot Wheels cars. And when you were drawing rainbows and happy sunshine faces, I was taking pencil to ruler and sketching out floor plans. I’ve been fascinated with the layouts of homes for longer than I can remember. That said, you can imagine how excited I was to discover the basic blueprint for the infamous Skybreak House.

Located in The Warren, Radlett, Hertfordshire area of the UK and built between the years 1964-1966, it can be most easily recognized as HOME in A Clockwork Orange. Though the exteriors featured in the film are not that of the Skybreak House, this is one home that has me salivating at its interior design. If money weren’t a factor, I’d replicate it while simultaneously blowing up the square footage and maintaining the ratio.

My TV-watching hours are usually dominated by shows such as Property Virgins, Love It Or List It, House Poor or Take This House And Sell It. Room transformations are nothing short of addictive. Being that I’m hoping to upgrade to a larger and more permanent suite in a year’s time, the designs are becoming highly influential. Beyond gray paint and focal walls, I’m gathering some unique ideals. And if the Skybreak House wasn’t amazing enough already, it also features my latest obsession: barn doors.

Using chalkboard paint on a smaller wall surface charms, thrills and kills me.

Clearly a girl with kitchen savvy needs a workspace to reflect that. Given the choice, I will always choose stand-alone pieces over installed cabinetry because I prefer working in functional kitchen spaces. Some of my “I freakin’ wish” must-haves: butcher block island, industrial-sized porcelain basin, open concept storage and gas cooking.

I adore minimalist design in each and every room because it provides the perfect canvas for incorporating colours and pieces that inspire.

I’m kind of in love with platform beds but feel the pull into a torrid love affair with oversized headboards – particularly pseudo ones derived from art pieces or headboards of the upholstered variety. They make my heart go ga-gung.

Complimentary lamps and candles are not only essential but also add amazing beauty. Nothing, however, can top the perfection of natural light.

You will never, ever find the following in any home I ever live in: trinkets, shiny black appliances, anything made of oak, the colour yellow, enclosed entertainment units, paisley prints, bedding with a thread count below 400 or hutch units. Buffets, on the other hand, are not only acceptable but actually encouraged.

While I’m about 1,667 paychecks (and a lottery win) away from recreating the Skybreak House with some serious Keira-Anne styles, a girl’s gotta dream. After all, my body needs something to keep the adrenaline coursing between basketball games.

Photos top to bottom: Bloody Disgusting; Bloody Disgusting; inhislight07; Remodelista; Peach and Pearl; Brightest Young Things; Yossawat; Home Design | Decoration | Lighting; Wonderlane on Flickr; Author’s own; Author’s own; this_could_be_my_house on Flickr; Modern Luxury Homes; ExinteriorDesign; Apartment Therapy; Martha Stewart Living; me*jo on Flickr; Crate and Barrel; Crate and Barrel; Crate and Barrel; Crate and Barrel; Trendir

Being that I’ve made trips to both Canadian Tire and Ikea in the last week in an effort to create some order out of chaos in my apartment, it was interesting that I received an e-mail from a reader two days ago. She wanted to know how I keep my home clean and clutter-free. Want to know a secret? Up until today, it definitely wasn’t clutter-free.

Aside from the bathroom, my 434 square-foot apartment was busting at the seams. I had cereal boxes and mixing bowls stacked on top of my fridge, no drawer wide enough for a cutlery tray, all my spices were balanced on the top edge of my stove and a dogpile of shoes was hangin’ out in the closet.

You know how most kitchens have a junk drawer? I had three. All my cupboards were crammed with pots, pans, packages and plastic containers. Each time I’d quickly shut one, I’d breathe a quick prayer hoping that it wouldn’t pop open and spill its contents.

All that changed today. The truth is, whether you’re a Monica or a hoarder or somewhere in between, when your apartment is this short on space, organization solutions are a must. I’m a minimalist by nature so the process was an easy one for me.

Keep only what you need or use on a very regular basis in your space. If you don’t use it or need it, throw it in storage or get rid of it entirely.

The smaller the space, the greater the waste. Just because a surface is empty doesn’t mean you have to utilize it. Storing items on window ledges, the tops of bookcases or, in my case, the top edge of the stove only lends to making the space look more cluttered.

I’ve learned that there really is a place for every item, but sometimes you have to think outside of the box. And sometimes you need to bring new (furniture) boxes into your space. I completely adore the metal rack I picked up for less than $100. A small investment can make the biggest difference.

I swear the space in my kitchen has doubled. Cooking and baking will be fun again (and even more fun once I buy myself a KitchenAid stand mixer very soon).

A minimalist space doesn’t have to be short on personality. These frames were only a few dollars each at Ikea and allow me to showcase a few of my favourites. I’m also big into colour and fabric. While almost a year later, I still haven’t decided on a piece of art for above my couch, my apartment is still warm and inviting with a few plush throws and cushy pillows.

My foyer closet, while spacious, was a disaster zone. Cookware, shoes, lighbulbs, a candle stash, tools, towels and laundry supplies and whatever else you can imagine were taking over. A hanging ironing board, hanging shoe caddy and proper bins for everything have made a world of difference.

And finally – finally – I have all my CDs and DVDs within reach of my fingertips in the Drona boxes from Ikea. Perfectly enough, their dimensions accommodate both forms of media in large volumes.

Any questions?

Finally, after seemingly endless days of eating, cooking, baking, wrapping, unwrapping, smiling, drinking and running around, I’ve had a day to do nothing. It’s 4:20 p.m. and I’m in my pajamas – still. I briefly dressed myself long enough to take the dogs for a long, long walk, after which I could feel the workout in my ass and thighs. Nothing has felt tight in days, except perhaps my jeans. I love winter weight.

Lately I’ve become pitiful at taking photos of things as they happen. That’s not to say I haven’t snapped any, but this is all you get. Let’s begin with three photos of my niece intriguing herself with one of the gifts her favourite auntie bestowed upon her, shall we?

It’s a musical octopus. Each tentacle plays a different note in the music scale. The best part? It’s lightly vanilla-scented (no word of a lie).

Years ago my mom was happy to resign herself from baking and cooking duties, leaving the responsibility to myself and my sister-in-law. While Laura took care of Christmas Eve, I pulled out the stops on the big day. I like to call it my Ziggy Stardust Christmas Banquet Table. Yes, that’s gold lamé that’s blinding you.

I also managed to bake four dozen fluffy buns from scratch, roasted a turkey, chopped and cooked sinfully delicious stuffing with sides of yams, garlic red-skinned mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and roasted brussels sprouts with walnuts. You get the picture.

Kinda excessive, no?

Chillin’ with my buddy.

Each Christmas, my mom gives my brother and I an ornament that’s usually reflective of the past year. This one’s pretty self-explanatory.

This one represents my love of the ocean…

And apparently I enjoy shopping from time to time.

Anyone who knows me (and by that I mean knows me) understands the inexplicable affinity I have with First Nations culture. I have, in fact, been known to leave the First Peoples Gallery at the Royal BC Museum in tears simply because of overwhelming feelings. A few years ago my mother gave me a Haida sun from the reserve in Comox.

Daddy-O still joins us every year. I think he kind of looks like Jerry Springer.

Oma and Opa are always there too.

I’m basically obsessed with everything and anything that’s made by Wilton for baking. Sprinkles in my stocking.

My aunt bought me the last two seasons of my favourite sweaty, naked and incarcerated men. It’s HBO at its finest.

I have a plan for these…

Jordy matches everything at my mom’s house.

I really need to hurry up with this blog post so I can get moving on to more important things. I’ve opted for SNES with The Legend of Zelda.

You can’t actually tell, but the skirt of this dress was in three layers, each with a different pattern. I saved up many weeks’ allowance to buy it from Zellers. Be jealous. Be very jealous.

Guess who.

We popped open Christmas crackers with dinner and I found a blue fawn in mine. I’m thinking it’s a sign that my cake just might win the Interfaith Baking Competition.

Mom gave me a grey knit endless scarf for Christmas. I think I’m in love.

My brother and me.

This is how we roll.

Clearly I have a lot to look forward to in the next year, so I’m not filled with that dreaded “what now?” thought that usually takes over like a tryptophan nap. One thing I’ve traditionally done in January is execute a mini makeover in my home. This year I’m picking up an industrial shelving unit, storing all my cooking and baking wares on it to make more room in my too-cramped kitchen. In a few months it may be present time to me. My current lease is up at the end of March. With that, I’ve decided to stay another year in the studio I’m currently calling home before moving to a more spacious casa with a large kitchen and an actual bedroom.

It’s time to end the rambling and save the princess.

It’s one of those perfect Vancouver evenings – the kind where the weather assures us that Autumn has arrived but also that Winter will very soon come blustering in without much warning. It’s perfectly cozy.

The rain is falling in sheets, the wind is whipping around the City’s towers and whistling in the elevator shafts, leaves slick the sidewalks (and the boots that tread them), the coffee-pimping mermaid has decorated her shops in red, white and sprinkles and your humble narrator is once again blogging in her leg warmers.

Did I mention that I set up my Christmas tree last night?

While I had planned to wait until returning from Phoenix, I found myself sipping on a perfect peppermint latte yesterday afternoon. The taste created inspiration and my mind snowballed from there.

I got home from work and cleaned every inch of my 434 square-foot apartment before hauling three bags and a box from my storage locker. Tree, lights, sparkly ornaments, a shining star and a fistful of Christmas CDs.

Call me crazy but wouldn’t you make the most of something you loved so much? Christmas comes only once a year and it’s absolutely my favourite, so I’ll milk it for all it is worth.

I’m going to walk three feet into the kitchen and fry up a garlic and grilled cheese sandwich with squash and nutmeg soup for dinner. While I do that, you can stay here and check out my little man…

“MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

That’s what Tania asked after all was said and done.

Blame it on my insatiable desire for season three of Oz. I burned through the remaining episodes of season two last night and asked Tania if she wanted to quickly hit up Future Shop. After a stop there and at IGA for a few groceries, we made our way home.

I have a habit of yanking my keys out of my purse a block or two from home, though always careful to hook the ring around a finger or two. I guard my keys with my life – they’re my only set and a key fob replacement is $100.

Rounding the corner at Richards and Seymour, what I never guessed would happen happened.

Photo: Ctd 2005 on Flickr

It was as slow as slow motion can be. I felt the key ring gently slip off my right index finger and watched as gravity sucked my keys towards the ground and in between the cold steel bars of a storm drain.

“Oh my god – what do I do? What do I do?” was all I could exclaim. It’s fuzzy now but I’m sure some expletives leaked out too. My first instinct was to hunker down, grab the bars and pull. No go – welded shut. The keys were only swimming in a few inches of water about two feet below street level but there was no way to get into the grate.

A few people that passed by suggested flagging a cop or calling the City of Vancouver. Tania tried to reassure me that we could easily have building security give me a new fob, but there was no way I was leaving the access to my whole life on the side of the street.

I thought “no way!” to myself and squatted down again, grabbed the bars and pulled. With some sort of superhuman strength, the grate budged and I gleefully yelled at Tania to help me. We lifted it off, put the grate to the side and I didn’t waste a second laying my body down on the curb to reach down. My fingers searched the murky water, grabbed the keys and hopped up. Thankfully, a young man nearby offered to replace the grate lid for us.

And so, only minutes after I nearly melt right down, we were on our way home once again. Extending them an arms-length in front of me, I asked Tania if she wanted to smell the keys. She didn’t.

I’ve spent four nights in my new apartment, and sometimes it feels like the last place I lived in never even existed. My tower in the West End was far too much like a college dorm and less like a home that I felt comfortable in. It seems likely that I’ll be in this new place for a few years, but had you asked me six months ago where I’d be today, this apartment would’ve been the furthest thing off my radar.

I finished unpacking the last of the boxes this afternoon, put a lot in storage and tried to organize it as simplistically as I can. This place needs a few more touches like some fresh flowers, more books, another plant and some storage baskets for my wall unit, but I’ll get there. In the meantime, here’s a quick look…

I can’t even begin to find enough adequate words to describe the kind of pain my back is in right now. All afternoon I hauled boxes, bags and furniture with Rebecca, Tania and Angie. Somehow we managed to load up my entire life in three pick-up truck loads and haul them across town. And now, I’m “home.”

Photo: miss604 on Flickr

I don’t have on ounce of regret in leaving the apartment I lived in for so many years. It was time for a change and time for something new, and this new place is lovely, Hubbell. There is a sea of boxes around me, but I’ve managed to set up my bed with clean sheets (albeit low-down in hopes of bringing a dog home soon), my new couch, new Ikea furniture and new TV.

Tomorrow I’ve decided to take another day off work to tackle all my belongings and put them in their spots. I have a sneaking suspicion that another trip to Ikea will be very necessary soon. I’m someone who hates to have too much out of order, so the sooner I can unpack, the better. And besides, my darling Ashley is coming to spend a wonderfully gin-tastic weekend with me, so this place need to be presentable.

Another huge, huge thank you to my ladies for all their help today. Beer and pizza isn’t much to show my gratitude, but when it’s your turn, “I’m there for you, babes.“

Today is Raymi’s birthday.

She is there and I am here.

Big sigh and little tear.

Happy two-six, Raymi. ♥

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P.S. I need your help! So much about my move tomorrow has fallen into place beautifully, except this: I have all these wooden-framed Ikea mirrors stuck to my concrete walls with double-sided tape and can’t get them off for the life of me. It’s ridiculous. I tried using a blowdryer to heat the tape and it didn’t work either. I need a quick fix and fast! Doesn’t Mike Holmes read my blog?

Sit back in your chair, clear your mind and breathe deeply. Now ask yourself the following question:

“Does anything in these three pictures appeal to me?”

Photo: Conductive on Flickr

Photo: Jaako on Flickr

Photo: Aaron Landry on Flickr

That’s what I thought. I’ve spent all afternoon boxing up more of my life (and tossing other parts of my life) and will be moving out of this apartment in exactly one week. It’s a bit of a juggle as I have to move all my belongings out of my apartment and into storage in the basement on the 29th, and then move it all again into a truck on the 1st to set up my new apartment.

Here’s where your chance to score some good karma for yourself comes in…

Next Sunday afternoon, I need some strong arms to help me take a few loads down the elevator to get everything out of my apartment. I’ll be supplying ice cold Island Farms milk and my favourite cookies made of deliciousness from Capers on Robson – they’re to die for!

On Wednesday, April 1, I have a few happy helpers (Rebecca, Angie and Tania) to trek it all to the new place, but one or two more would be even better. There’ll be frosty bottles of beer and piping hot pizza once all’s said and done!

So throw your hand in the air, yell “oi!” and tell me you want to help.

I think you do. There are only two weeks left until moving day and I have a ton of furniture and household items to clear out. They’re all listed on the Craigslist Vancouver ad I just posted this evening, so check that out here to see what I’ve got up for sale.

None of the prices are firm and I’m definitely open to reasonable negotiations because everything has got to go! It’s all in great shape, like new, and completely perfect as starter pieces.

DVD player and VCR are not for sale.