powder room refresh

 

first up on the 2019 list of projects for modest house is a powder room refresh! what inspired this refresh was the need (ok, want) for a vanity. it is a rather large space & the previous pedestal sink offered zero storage. years ago when we viewed the home, the powder room was a very plain & bare addition. i was actually happy that it was so basic though, because it meant i could put my own style & design flare to the rather empty space.

the first thing we did was add a bold & colourful wallpaper to the room. i know colour is not something you often see from me, but i wanted the powder room to be a unique space. the wallpaper in the space is by trustworth designs & the print is called "apothecary garden". i love it as much as i did when i picked it three years ago & as long as i am in this home, the wallpaper will remain (i promise justin). trustworth designs is run by artist, david berman. he sources vintage prints + fabrics & then turns them into the most beautiful wallpaper patterns you will ever see. you can find all of his other wallpaper designs here! hey diddle diddle is one of my favourites.

now.. lets talk about that vanity! the vanity that inspired the rest of the design is the mid century "marquam teak single vanity" beauty from rejuvenation! adding an element of wood to this space was a must for me. i can't believe how switching from a white pedestal sink to a wood vanity makes as big of an impact as it did. it looks like a completely different space & feels so much more inviting. i am pretty obsessed with it to be honest, justin is too. the vanity comes with a solid white porcelain counter top with an integrated sink. for the handles, you get to pick between different brass, black & silver hardware. brass was a must in this space, especially with that wallpaper! it is like the vanity & wallpaper were made to go with each other.

moving onto those faucets that give me ALL the heart eyes! with the mid century vibes from the vanity, i wanted to pull in a simple, clean & modern facuet. we went with the "west slope faucet" from rejuvenation, which is made in USA by a luxury faucet company called watermarks. the quality of these faucets is like nothing i have ever seen before & because it is an aged brass finish it won't pantina over time.

lastly, the lights & mirror! again, i stuck with brass because.. brass. i know everyone is loving the mixed metal trend, but sometimes i think sticking to one finish looks more cohesive. truthfully, i am not big on mixing silver & chrome finishes with brass. it just isn't my style! for the lights, i went with an oversized sconce light, which is the "oswego 9 inch opal dome wall sconce" from rejuvenation. i love the traditional 1920's style of the lights, but the oversized looks gives it a modern vibe. just like the rest of the powder room! we went with an oval mirror, which is the "west slope oval pivot mirror" from rejuvenation. because of the beadboard going so high, the pivot mirror was a must as it does not sit flush with the wall. we originally planned to go with a round mirror, but the oval fit much better in the space.

there you have it! the first project of 2019 is complete & the powder room is forever complete. i can't think of a single thing that would improve this space. right down to that japanense waffle linen hand towel, i am in love! now lets not get me going over my obsession for waffle linen! i could do a post on that alone.

all sources are linked below. xo

golden matcha milk

 

it has been so snowy & so cold here, i need all the warm drinks to cozy up with! i feel like justin & i have been in hybernation all month long, but it has been a relaxing winter so i can't complain. now let's talk cozy drinks! for those of you who love a matcha latte or golden milk, you are going to love this golden matcha milk. it is the perfect blend of flavours, including matcha, tumeric & ginger which makes this drink so good for you too. i won't get into all the details, but all three ingredients bring amazing health benefits. so enjoy this in the afternoon as you watch the snow fall outside!

for the drink itself i use aiya's organic matcha powder & freshly ground tumeric. using a quality matcha powder is very important, as it is the main flavour in this drink. while i recommend a blend of coconut milk & almond milk, use which ever type of milk you prefer! i personally like the creaminess & hint of coconut flavour that the coconut milk provides. although, i am also obsessed with frothing oat milk lately too. so many dairy free milks to choose from! what is your favourite?

ingredients

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons aiya's organic matcha powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground tumeric
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground ginger
  • 1/4 cup hot water
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
  • 3/4 cup coconut milk
  • 3/4 cup almond milk

directions

  • in desired mug add the matcha powder, tumeric & ginger. pour in the water & whisk constantly until well blended.
  • whisk in the honey or maple syrup until mixture is smooth.
  • add the coconut milk & almond milk to desired milk frother. warm & froth to desired consistency. pour into mug & enjoy!

fig, honey + ricotta waffles

 

this post was created in partnership with saputo! the opinions on this blog, as always are my own. you can follow ingredients by saputo on facebook, instagram + pinterest for more recipe inspirations.

are you a sweet or savoury breakfast lover? while i fall on the savoury side of things, i can't resist waffles! i love piling them high with fruit, syrup & whipped cream. always a little whipped cream! this season i will be partnering with saputo to share two of my go to entertaining breakfast/brunch recipes. first up are these crispy ricotta waffles made with saputo's ricotta florella. the ricotta makes for the fluffiest waffle & you don't need to go through the hassle of separating the eggs. no whipped egg whites required! i added walnuts to the batter for a little crunch, sweetened them with honey & topped them with a mound of fresh figs. i've said it before & i will say it again, figs are *so* pretty. i can't get enough of them! they make just about any dish present beautifully.

stay tuned next month when i share my go to savoury breakfast bake! hint: it involves bacon & spinach

ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1/4 cup cornstarch

  • 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar

  • 1 tablespoon baking soda

  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt

  • 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted

  • 1 cup saputo's ricotta florella

  • 1 cup whole milk

  • 2 large eggs

  • 2 tablespoons honey, plus more for serving

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 1 cup walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped, plus more for serving

  • 8-10 fresh figs, quartered

  • whipped cream, for serving

directions

  • in a large mixing bowl whisk together the flour, cornstarch, sugar, baking soda & salt. set aside.

  • in a separate large mixing bowl whisk together the butter, ricotta, milk, eggs, honey & vanilla until smooth.

  • add the ricotta mixture to the flour mixture & stir until combined. do not over mix, a few lumps are okay! fold in the nuts.

  • let batter rest while you preheat the waffle iron. spray waffle iron & cook according to your waffle iron directions.

  • top with fresh figs, a sprinkle of nuts, a generous drizzle of honey & a dollop of whipped cream.