Shine in the New Year with Multiluminaire

Today I'm collaborating with Multiluminaire, a brand many of my Canadian readers will recognize as a leader in affordable and stylish lighting.  Fun fact: do you remember the modern ceiling fans we bought for the townhouse?  They were purchased at Multiluminaire in Ottawa and I remember being so thoroughly impressed!  The ceiling fans were already a great price but because we bought three and asked nicely, we were even given an additional discount and someone helped carry them to our car.  The showroom was so inspiring, with so many modern light fixtures.

Replacing light fixtures is my go-to move for updating a space.  With both the townhouse and lakehouse, after we took possession I marched in with a 5-gallon pail of white paint and new light fixtures - which was a great way to kick start both makeovers!  I just love lighting, it's like jewelry for the home, but it also creates the perfect ambiance.  I don't feel comfortable in a house with a clear glass boob light and fluorescent bulbs.  I love a statement-making chandelier on a dimmer for intimate dining and strategic table lamps to enhance to coziness.  I appreciate when designers take the atmosphere a light fixture creates into consideration, like a pendant light that casts a beautiful shadow or a bathroom sconce that flatters with soft lighting. 

Here are some of my current favorites from Multiluminaire.

I love a statement-making light against a white wall (like these geometric pendants):

The pendants linked above are definitely a splurge, but check out these modern black pendants - they're currently $99!

Even more affordable are these simple pendants for only $44!

I've been reading 2018 trend predictions with some amusement - it seems like everyone predicts something different!  One common theme is that brass is (I'm sorry friends) on its way out.  You know I'm a firm believer in loving what you love - it's why I hugged on tightly to silver throughout the entire brass trend - so who cares if it's not going to be as trendy.  But it is interesting to see that black/dark finishes are predicted.  I loved black faucets and light fixtures in the townhouse, so I'm happy to see it catch on - like this sleek and modern chandelier.

According to some predictions, chrome will also be big in 2018.  Chrome is a classic, though - demonstrated by this timeless chandelier:

And this chrome floor lamp:

Multiluminaire still boasts an incredible selection of modern ceiling fans that fit any budget - like this beauty:

When we moved to the townhouse, it took us awhile to get our bearings so we didn't find out about Multiluminaire until we had already purchased some of our light fixtures and I wish we had discovered the local store location sooner because I struggled with our main bath light and Multiluminaire has a great selection of bathroom lighting, like these modern sconces (mounted on a mirror - which you know I favor):

Another gorgeous choice for a bathroom is this modern light that doesn't even look like a light (and is that teal tile???):

 
This textured flush mount works in any room, but I really love how it sparkles on this bathroom.

Speaking of texture, how mesmerizing is this light fixture's organic vibe?

These are just some of my favorites - there are hundreds of gorgeous light fixtures for every budget and style. 

This post was sponsored by Multiluminaire, but all thoughts, opinions and editorial selections are my own. 

Colourful Mix and Match Bedding from bedface

When bedface (an online bed linen company headquartered in Vancouver, BC) reached out, I was excited to try the "best damn sheets on the internet".



I am deeply committed to all white bedding and although I've replaced the sheets often, the pin tucked duvet cover in the bedroom is the same one we've had for years.  I wasn't ready to explore non-white duvet covers, but I welcomed the opportunity to try some brighter sheets.  The "Bed Maker" lets you test out different colour combinations and add friends (I chose sheep).  I opted for a duvet cover and flat sheet in white, but went wild with Alarm Clock Orange for the fitted sheet and Aqua for the pillow cases.  Hubby is thrilled that the bedroom has another secret shot of orange and I'm a lot more relaxed about getting turquoise hair dye on the pillows.  You can also shop by popular sheet sets if picking and choosing is too much pressure (it took me an hour!).

One thing to think about is washing:  I washed the orange sheet and aqua pillow cases separately to avoid bleeding.  It's not a problem, because I just divided the bedding among my other laundry loads, but if you like doing the sheets in one big load, consider putting together a set in similar colours for easier laundering. 

My bedface bedding arrived quickly, with a bag of popcorn to boot!  I was bummed when one of the pillowcases was sewn wonky, but bedface promptly shipped over another pair.

At first the cotton felt very stiff - I immediately thought: hospital linens - but the linens softened up after the first wash.  Now they feel soft and smooth, with substance - which I've grown to like!  The premium, breathable long staple cotton feels like a really durable, high quality cotton that should wear very well.  Thread count isn't the best way to assess sheets so I usually slide my hand in the packaging and go for the smoothest, silkiest cotton I can afford, and this cotton feels more sturdy than what I normally gravitate toward.  But bedface is so confident in the quality of their product that they offer a 100 Night Guarantee!  These sheets are supposedly very breathable, thanks to their looser weave, so I'm looking forward to sleeping on them during the hotter summer months.   

I love how the pillow case has a flap to completely envelope the pillow and the snaps on the bottom of the duvet are nice - the button holes enlarged on my other duvet cover, so sometimes it comes undone.  I didn't realize, though, how much I rely on the ties inside my duvet cover to keep the corners of the duvet firmly in place - I might have to add some to my bedface duvet cover.  The flat sheet is generously sized - in length and width - which I love!  Too many times I've splurged on expensive sheets, only to find that the flat sheet is super short, or weirdly wide - the variation in sizing for bedding drives me bonkers. 

My only complaint is that the fitted sheet is not designed to fit very snugly.  Our mattress is fairly old and not one of those envelop-you-in-pillowy-softness-pillow-tops, but it still felt like there was just barely enough fabric to cover the width of the mattress.  The elastic is somewhat loose, making it a struggle to fit in snugly on the mattress.  But we eventually got it all tucked under!  Many of the colours have sold out, though, and the reviews from customers are glowing, so it's entirely possible that I have unusually rigorous expectations of a fitted sheet.  The return policy is outstanding, so I think you can shop with confidence from bedface.

If you want to try sleeping on the best damn sheets on the internet, use "danslelakehouse" at the checkout to receive 15% off your order - the coupon code will be good for two months.

Two months bring us to back-to-school shopping, and I keep thinking that these sheets would be a really perfect gift for a student heading off to college or their first apartment.  The packaging and branding is fun and youthful, so they don't feel like a boring gift - it was fun to receive my parcel in the mail.  More importantly, the sturdy cotton will surely hold up to the rigors of college life, where the bedding sees a lot more wear as the bed becomes a place to study, eat pizza, and watch movies!

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PlaidFox

As a blogger, a lot of the sponsorship and collaboration opportunities that come my way are geared more toward my American readers.  I have a certain fondness for America because I grew up - and have recently returned to - a border town, just minutes from Minnesota.  I have logged many hours stateside and the majority of my readers are actually American!  Love you guys!  But I'm also super proud of being a Canadian and am always especially thrilled when I can work with a brand or company that is uniquely ours.

I'm really excited to introduce PlaidFox, a chic Canadian company comprised of wholesale designers, buyers, and salespeople dedicated to bringing Canadians designer home furnishings - always at a price lower than the MSRP.  But this isn't just a simple online shop!  PlaidFox is committed to helping you get the most out of your space.  They don't just want to sell you something pretty, they want to help you find your look and help you love your home.  I recently took a tour around their newly launched website, starting with their Style Test.  

Normally I hate quizzes (three decades of education will do that to a person), but this one was chalk full of gorgeous spaces and felt more like my Pinterest boards were having a conversation with me.

Unsurprisingly, the PlaidFox Style Test was spot on: Mid-Century Modern.  My secondary style?  Coastal!  If you're curious, take the quiz yourself and let me know your style.  I'm really curious to see how many of my readers will have the same style as me...

Once you know your style, you can exclusively shop that look, which is an easy way to sift through all of the beautifully curated items to narrow in on the pieces that will complete your space or define your style.  Here's a sample of a few of the items recommended for me:

Black Tweed Teddy Bear Chair & Ottoman:

Colorful Scale Pattern Pillow (down fill):

Angelholm Walnut Veneer Table:

One of each, please.  You can also search by product, if your style is too eclectic to capture or you're on the hunt for the perfect dining chair and can't be distracted by dinosaurs and cog mirrors (I'm seriously pining for that mirror, and trying to work it into my bathroom plans because Hubby is equally smitten).

Not in the mood to shop? 

Then check out The Den, where you can explore inspiring spaces and find sweet DIY projects like this (you'd-never-guess-it-was) potato stamped pillow:

Take a peek at PlaidFox, whose style I would describe as quirky, Canadian cool.  The website is beautiful, and definitely worth a peruse whether you're in a shopping mood or not.  They're just getting started over there too, so expect more great finds and exclusive designs.  American friends, don't worry, PlaidFox ships to you.

 
This post was sponsored by PlaidFox but all opinions, editorial decisions, and commentary are my own.  I actually went a little nutty pinning things from the shop to my Pinterest boards and I started following them on Instagram - neither of which were requested for this post.  I'm just genuinely excited about some of their products and can't wait to see this online shop take shape.  Full disclosure: there's a chance that 2% of my appreciation for PlaidFox stems from my love of foxes (exhibits A and B).  Their logo is so adorable!!   

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