November 2013

Home / Archives for November 2013

My Beach House - The $38 Budget Room

Posted by om 0 comments

~ style on a budget - get the look ~

Let me introduce you to my temporary WIR on a $38 budget!

It was the old laundry but it was gutted and the old back door was pulled out.

A skylight was cut out and a sliding door into the master bedroom was installed ~

so for the first time in my life I have my very own walk-in-closet!

This was the last priority on the list so when the budget run out

my beautiful floor to ceiling joinery and shoe racks got ditched.

Along with the ensuite it's now part of stage II of the reno, which all happens next year.

In the interim, I had the task of making it look presentable on a shoestring.

I bought 2 wheelie racks from Ikea for $19 each and that was it.

The bookshelves I salvaged from my husband's shed.

They were covered in paint, nails and oil stains

but after a few coats of glossy, white paint they came up shiny and new.

Paint really does work miracles!

The rest is just stuff I've collected over the years.

I now have a lovely home for my favourite things which include ~

my Chanel make-up and shoes, my LV handbags,

my favourite mags, books, perfumes and candles.

When I'm working out my day's outfit I'm in heaven.

The Megan Hess Chanel print is one of my treasured pieces.

I think it just goes to prove a tight budget can still produce stylish results!

Melissah xox

Photo : Matt Lord Photograohy for Coastal Style Blogspot, moodboard by Coastal Style

Check out Coastal Style Pinterest

My Beach House - The Hobby Room

Posted by om 0 comments

My little Hobby Room is a temporary space. Late next year it will become the Ensuite for our bedroom but in the interim I have this gorgeous little room to keep all my 'stuff'. I love pretty, girly, crafty things so this is where I keep my ribbons, scrapbooks, design books, cards, favourite magazines, shells and sewing machine. There's a sofa in the corner, out of camera view, which is a perfect spot for reading on a sunny afternoon. The pinboard is full of ideas, favourite clippings, paint colours, party ideas, fabric swatches and anything else that takes my fancy. It was the starting point of the colour palette for the house. The trestle-style desk with it's glass display case is great for displaying my favourite things and was a steal from Ikea. The lime washed open bookshelf from Globe West is great for both display and storage. I love Swedish designer Kikki K for her beautifully co-ordinated range of boxes and stationary. They look stylish, get rid of the clutter and keep me organised! The room is always full of scented candles and fresh flowers and is a lovely spot for blogging!

Melissah xox

Photos by Matt Lord Photography for Coastal Styl Blogspot, moodboards by Coastal Style

Check out Coastal Style Pinterest

My Beach House - The Kitchen

Posted by om 0 comments

My bright, light filled sunny kitchen is an absolute pleasure to cook in.

When I'm chopping vegies and glance up ~ everywhere I look is cliffs and ocean.

My husband's vintage surfboard gets pride of place so he loves the kitchen too!

In order to keep to a tight budget we kept one bench.

We went over the chipped Laminex benchtop with a 6mm reconstituted stone overlay from Amerind

and put on new vinyl wrap doors.

This saved us a bomb but it still looks and feels brand new.

The far side bench is all new.

Things were sharpened up with new appliances and a glass splashback.

The old vinyl flooring was stripped and the boards were polished.

Antique Chinese bar stools add character and stop it from looking too clinical

I now have a dishwasher and a walk-in-pantry,

two things I've never had in my adult life so I'm in kitchen heaven!

Before the purchase


That's the back of me chatting to the real estate agent at the Open for Inspection

The fun and games of renovating!

Melissah xox

Credits: Matt Lord Photography for Coastal Style Blogspot, moodboard by Coastal Style

Check out Coastal Style Pinterest

The Holidays Aren’t Just For People Anymore! Here’s a Dozen Holiday Traditions to Share with Your Canine Pal

Posted by om 0 comments

Many of us have favorite holiday traditions we celebrate with our dogs. Dogs are part of our families and many families include their dogs in their holiday festivities. In some cases, their dogs are an integral part of the events.

And if photos with Santa
is what you’re feeling,
come to our event
mid-December.
It’s for a terrific cause!

We would like to share some holiday traditions with you and even learn about some of your traditions so that we can share with other dog lovers.

Here are some of our favorite holiday traditions to share with dogs:

Pick Out a Tree Together. There are tree farms that allow you to walk around and tag your tree. How about doing it with your dog? What a wonderful tradition!
Holiday Paw-di-cure. How about a holiday pedicure for your pooch? You can be creative and paint the nails alternatively red and green just for fun.
Pet Parade. Some towns or pet stores sponsor a dog event -- even a dog parade. Dress up your dog in his favorite bandana or Santa cap and take part.
Hang a Dog Stocking. Why not? If you have a stocking -- your dog should too. Many of the dog lovers I know have stockings for each of their dogs.
Go See Santa. How about a photo of your dogs or you and your dogs with Santa? This also makes a great holiday card.

Happy Thanksgiving

Posted by om 0 comments

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you guys! We hope all of you are enjoying the day in whatever way you like.

Me and Aaron really have a whole bunch to be thankful for this year both in our regular life and artful life. And all of you guys who are our friends...old and new...have been such a big part of the great changes and growth that we've experienced over the past year. We can both honestly say that we cannot remember feeling this positive in a very long time. And for us, we gauge our happiness and positivity by our interactions with the people who matter to us. We really believe in "you get what you give."

We've been trying hard to give more and more of ourselves in the best ways we know how...and as a result we've been showered with friendship, kindness, and opportunity. The whole concept seems so simple...but it's probably even more simple to forget how easy it is. You can lose track of things in the busy day-to-days of life.

We seriously want to thank you guys for not letting us lose track! We try to put our best selves forward...and in return you guys have given us your best selves. Thanks So Much!!

Again, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours...ours is So much better just knowing that you are all a part of it!

xoxo, Jenny & Aaron

Holiday Care for Your Canine Best Friend

Posted by om 0 comments

Want the best care possible for your canine buddy? Here are a few tips from a professional pet sitter.

Remember: the holidays are busy for everyone, so book early if you can. This time of year, we dog sitters become inundated with last minute requests for pet-sitting. Please keep your pet care requirements in mind when you are making your vacation plans. I highly recommend you book peak vacation times (Christmas, Spring Break, Easter, etc.) as far in advance as possible to ensure your favorite sitter is available to care for your pooch!

Before you go away on your next business trip or family vacation, remember to speak to your family vet and forward an Absent Owner Consent form or ensure you have filled out the one we keep on file at Love on a Leash. In the event of an emergency, your wishes will be met and you will know that your pet will be able to get the care you would desire as quickly as possible.

The following list will help you make sure your dog get the best of care while you are away:

Ensure all your dog’s daily requirements will be met: food, water, medication, walks, kisses & hugs.
Inform your family vet you are away and who your pet sitter will be.
Discuss your pet’s current health concerns with your vet and your wishes regarding the care of your pet while you are away.
Ensure your pet-sitter has the following information: How to get hold of you while you’re away, vet contact details, pet emergency preferences, and adequate supply of medications and full disclosure of your dog’s health history and concerns, plus financial information for emergencies.

Remember that all pet sitters are not the same. Ask for references and credentials. Ideally your pet sitter should be licensed with the city they are working in, as well as bonded & insured. Your pet sitter should be certified in pet first aid and belong to a professional organization such as Pet Sitter’s International or the All Canadian Pet Sitters Network and your sitter should have a website that lists information and rates in a professional and concise manner.

As an accredited pet sitter, I can tell you that we take our job seriously and will do everything in our power to ensure your dog’s stay with us is as comfortable, safe, fun and as loving as possible for your dog.

At Love on a Leash we truly adore our doggy clients and they love us right back! See our review page on Yelp and see client testimonials on our website.