My New Job - Sarah Richardson Design

Hi my loves. You may be wondering why I have been blogging so little lately, and I felt I owe you all an explanation. If you follow me on instagram, then you might have already picked up on this.

I recently started a new {absolute dream} job, working as a junior designer for one of my biggest career influencers and role models, Sarah Richardson. I still can't believe it! When I first moved to this city just over 2 years ago, I dreamed of something like this happening, but did not actually believe it to be possible. I have been watching Sarah's shows for as long as I can remember, and now to be a part of her fantastic team and learning the ins-and-outs of the business from people who I respect and admire so much is such a dream true. Every day is a new adventure and I wake up happy and excited to head to work.

I am still also doing school full time until June, so between the new job and school I don't have much time for blogging at the moment. After Christmas my course load lightens up a bit and I should be able to resume a more consistent blogging schedule. I hope that you will bear with me until then! In the meantime, I will continue to post whenever I get a chance!

Sarah and her team have been responsible for some of my very favourite rooms, including this one which I just had to draw. The warm colors were calling my name on a chilly October day last week. It was such an honor when Sarah shared this rendering on her facebook and instagram over the weekend!

via House and Home

I'm so excited for Sarah's new book, Sarah Style, where she shares her tips and tricks with all of us, and you can see this and many more gorgeous rooms. Did you get your copy yet? If not, click here to get your copy of Sarah Style today! 

xox
 
 

In my Sketchbook: Living Room by Sarah Richardson Design

As you might have guessed from my post about 3D CAD rendering, I'm at a point in design school where we have moved away from hand rendering and into digital rendering. I love hand rendering, however, and in an effort not to lose this capability, I have started sketching some of my favourite rooms designed by some of my favourite designers.

Today's room was designed by Sarah Richardson and was featured on Sarah 101 a couple of years ago. I have talked about this room before, here and here. It is a space I seem to keep coming back to.
I can't get enough of the palette! For me, it felt only natural to keep rendering skills fresh by illustrating this lovely living room.

image via HGTV

I hope you enjoyed this peek inside my sketch book! More to come.
xox

Evolution of a Drawing: Modern Industrial Reception Area

It's been a little while since I shared my drawings with you guys, so I thought today I would show you the process of drawing this:

The first step is always the pencil drawing, in which you set your vanishing point, horizon line, and objects. Then I trace over this with a fine tip black architectural pen:

 After this is complete, I go in with varying shades of Prismacolor French Grey markers and add depth with shadows. I always love how this looks at the end and get nervous to add any colour!

Finally, I go in and add colour to get to the final result.

Next week I will be sharing the entire project! Stay Tuned!
xox

Term 5 Final Project: Advanced Residential / Piano Mansion

Do you all remember me talking about my major studio project for the fall, and then basically disappearing off the face of the blogging earth? Well, let's just say that this project consumed and challenged me more than any project to date, but that the satisfaction of completing it (and getting a great mark) was well worth the long hours, piles of discarded ideas, and even tears.

If you recall, my original concept for the house was the piano (as the client is a family of musicians), but as I developed the project further, I moved away from such a literal shape and idea into a larger concept of the stage and performance, into a liveable concert hall idea. I kept some of my original concept, such as the pitched roof, but basically, I wanted the home to capture and reflect the feeling of grandeur associated with attending a night at the theatre, as well as creating a liveable environment that was simultaneously conducive to entertaining, parties and performance. Here is the final result (click on photos to see them in larger format):

I was basically architect, structural engineer, landscaper and interior designer for this project and I also had to consider barrier free elements as one family member is in a wheelchair...did I mention the plot of land we were given was on a cliff like hill? That's a lot of hats to wear in ten short weeks, but I am so happy I pulled it off and proud of myself for not giving up!

Here's to a new term! xo

A Look Back at 2013

Can you believe another year has almost come to and end? I thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of my favourite moments of 2013. It was quite a year - new job, saying goodbye to old relationships and hello to new ones, new love, and some very exciting moments both academically and professionally.

 ^ My apartment really started to come together with some great scores, including these bamboo chairs off craigslist and this rug from an estate sale. I've been here a year and a half now, and it's really beginning to feel like home! Stay tuned for some more updates in the New Year...I just did a mini-makeover around here and can't wait to show you all!

^ My blog's name went up in lights when my logo was featured on this giant billboard in Times Square in New York City!

^ I never announced this on the blog, but I was very excited when Tia and Tamera pinned a picture of my apartment to Pinterest directly off my blog. I grew up watching these two! It's quite an honor. See the pin here!

I worked on some school projects that I am extremely proud of. I've learned so much as a design student! Learning to render has been especially fun!:

Term 2:

Term 3:

Term 4:

Term 5 (full project coming to the blog next week!):

 And last but certainly not least, I met and began dating a man who makes my heart so happy! He has been my biggest support system the past couple of months and I probably wouldn't have made it through my term five final projects without his encouragement.

 I can't wait to make more memories with him come 2014.

 What is your biggest moment from 2013!?