Blog | Page 2 of 18 | Michelle Binette

Artist Spotlight: Lee Lessem

I’m so excited to be launching our “Artist Spotlight” blog series, where we’ll be featuring two new artists each month. By now you probably know how much I love art. My father is a professional artist, so I know how important it is to support artists, as well as get to know a bit more about them and their craft. Back in November, I went to a event hosted by Tara Gavin of On The Wall framing (a trade-only framing partner I work with regularly!), and she was featuring Lee Lessem‘s art. Her walls were filled with Lee’s art and they were absolutely stunning. Lee is not only talented, but also hilarious which made me love her even more. We were all lucky enough to leave with a limited edition print (the first one you see below). I’ve got a few places in mind for where this gorgeous piece will live in my home. Let’s get to know Lee Lessem… Tell me a bit about your journey, were you always an artist? ALWAYS 🙂 My parents were fond of telling the story of my first “creation” – barely able to stand, I found my older sister’s crayons and covered our bedroom wall with my “art”. As designers we see an evolution in our style and aesthetic, I assume the same holds true for artists. What was your evolution like? How has it evolved? Born on a farm in Africa and surrounded by the majesty of natural beauty, from as far back as I can remember, painting has been something I simply HAD TO DO. Painting has also been an excellent medium for me to test the tension between the real and the abstract – what we perceive and that which truly exists. I am, and have always been, an abstract painter – constantly excited by everything that we all see but most often don’t notice. There is a delicate balance between fluidity and structure, softness and vitality, transparency and solidity, mystery and clarity in my art. The only “evolution” would be in perfecting my technique – my subject matter (NATURE in all its glory) has never changed. What is the message behind your art? What do you want people to take away or feel through your pieces? I hope to inspire people who see my work to look more carefully at the world around them…

If you’ve been following the blog or Instagram, then you probably know that our renovation finished in October and we’re slowly adding the finishing touches. As a decorator this is my absolute favourite part, I obsess over every detail. And I love every second of it! The other day my mother-in-law the other day remarked that she was surprised that we went with such a dark wall colour in our living room. This is a bit of an unconventional choice for me, given my love of white walls. But I’ve been using dark walls in some recent projects and I really love the vibe it creates (this project for example). Aside from loving the vibe through, there were strategic reasons for choosing a dark wall. A big change in our living room was moving the TV from the fireplace mantel to the opposite wall. We rarely watch TV in this room and I hated that the TV was the focal point. Good design is all about the details, and that includes many, many elements, but today I want to talk about sight lines. I consistently see sight lines being overlooked, particularly sight lines from other rooms in your home. Like this one. This is the view to the living room from our music nook, and a big reason why I choose a dark wall. As decorators and designers we’re making thousands of design decisions for our projects. Some we make because it feels right, or simply because we like something. But the majority of design decisions are about tricking our eyes into thinking something is balanced when it’s not, or downplaying things we don’t love. And just like I do with clients, sometimes I have to crush my own dreams, because the design or element I hoped for just doesn’t work in the room. No room is ever about one specific item, it’s about the way all the elements in the room work together to create a mood, balance and please your eye. The green wall you see above is where our TV is moving. Side note, I also happen to love when colours peek through doorways, so this is an added bonus here. The dark wall downplays the TV by minimizing the contrast. Even with the minimal contrast, I still felt the TV would be too predominant even on the dark wall, so that’s what I decided to incorporate…

This year’s holiday decor took a vintage inspired turn unintentionally after finding some vintage stockings and snowshoes from Elle & Eve. I love the how it turned out, in spite of still needing some art on walls (in our music nook and dining room) and much needed rug in the living room. Photos by Heidi Lau Photography 2017 Holiday Home Tour | 2018 Table Setting

‘Tis the season for dinner parties, you’ll want to read my holiday table setting tips to make your table setting extra special this year. 1. Find one piece of inspiration as a jumping off point. Last year I fell in love with these wooden Christmas trees at Homesense and they inspired my napkin design. 2. Use cloth napkins for an elevated look, and find beautiful ways to fold them. Google “holiday napkin ideas” for lots of ways you can wow your guests! 3. Always include a placemat. This year I’ll be opting for a neutral placemat instead of the typical red or green. Possible a creamy linen or rattan, which will add sophistication and texture. 3. When it comes to dishes, opt for classic white. We’re excited to be using our gorgeous new silver trimmed China. Bonus points for vintage! 4. Candles create atmosphere. They aren’t just for romance they provide the ambiance for any guests! 5. Use real stems like lilac, evergreen or poinsettias. Place them in vases or directly on your table. I like to also place a small clipping with my napkin. 6. Don’t forget about a focal point! You can incorporate existing holiday decor on your table setting like these beautiful gold pinecone trees. 7. Don’t ignore your chairs! Add a festive touch with simple ribbon. If you’re interested in getting some help with your table setting or holiday decor this year, shoot me an email and I’ll reply with some package options for how we can make your holiday decor extra special this year.

We’re week three into our reno, and I’m proud to say that Dave and I have not broken up yet. To say he’s been the toughest client to date is the understatement of the year. Love the guy, but mother of sweet Jesus, he’s impossible to please! In our now 10 years together (whew!) we’ve only had one blowout and we rarely ever fight in any real way, but let me tell you, this renovation has made this a feisty relationship! That said we’ve worked through the struggles and we’ve come out on the other side, so far anyway. Real talk time, as I do. The thing that has been hard with this reno is that I feel an insane amount of pressure on the final outcome. Pressure I’ve put on myself of course. Like, somehow our home is the one and only time or place where I can completely showcase my true aesthetic and point of view. My true self. I won’t lie, I wish I could do that, if I was flying solo and designing this house alone, it would look different. But the truth is, I’m not alone, I’m sharing my life with my partner in crime who has been there and continues to be there for me in hard times, through a career change all while being my biggest supporter (even if his push-back and opinions on our reno make me question that from time to time!). There’s two of us here, turns out he has strong opinions (and yes, to those who know him, it’s as confusing to me as it likely is to you that he even cares), and like I do for my client’s it’s important that our home reflects who we are, not just who I am. I now realize that our new home will represent my aesthetic, but an aesthetic that also considers the ideas and preferences of the person who matters most to me in my life, because I’m not designing my home, I’m designing our home. I also put pressure on myself when friends and followers on social media comment and say things like “I can’t wait to see the end result, i’s going to be so amazing.” Insert terrified face here. My brain can’t help but feel like it’s going to disappoint or not live up to what people expect. Remember when I said “real talk time”? I…

Newer

Older

Artist Spotlight: Lee Lessem

How I’m using a gallery wall to downplay our TV

My Vintage Inspired Holiday Home Tour

Tips for a Stylish Holiday Table Setting

Our Reno: That time I (and my partner) became my client

Good design gives you life.

WWMBD VIDEO SERIES

Michelle Binette Design