I’m so pleased to bring you back with me to my girlfriend’s new rental home where the makeover continues!

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Where thou art, that is home.

– Emily Dickinson

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My friend had the good fortune of acquiring this beautiful white, leather couch from another beloved friend.. so that meant the massive, burgundy rental couch needed to be moved out to make room for something light and airy. This gave us the opportunity to begin with a lovely neutral palette, made all the more peaceful by switching out the generic rental art for pieces my girlfriend already had purchased at a Samantha DaSilva Studio moving sale years ago. As much as possible we used the hooks already placed in the wall to avoid further damage to the drywall. So while placement of the paintings aren’t ideal, they’re pleasant nonetheless. It is a touch crowded by musical instruments, but it makes for a creative and inspiring retreat.

Colourful pillows and white linen cases were picked up at IKEA and the white enamel tray was a purchase two years ago at Pier One Imports. End and coffee tables plus the rug were already part of the rental furnishings and were all left in place.

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These brilliant sweet peas were a lovely market find!

{ As a little girl I would poke little wells in the soil and plant sweet pea seeds on the south side of our home, so I definitely have a place in my heart for these humble, fragrant blooms. }

I found the pretty blue bud vase for her on one of my strolls at a favourite flower shop, Peaseblossoms. They had been ordered in vast quantities for a wedding so the remaining few were offered for sale. I was so pleased to find the perfect, cottage inspired striped throw on a lucky wander through Home Sense.

My girlfriend is saving up for a White Moroccan Leather Pouf, but in its place this pair of stacked IKEA wicker stools add a bit of a bohemian, relaxed feeling to the space. They’re actually quite affordable and sturdy, made with a metal frame inside.

Finally, the oversized “easy boy” chair made way for a vintage inspired chaise picked up at Peridot a few years back.. and it’s become a beloved spot for my girlfriend’s dog to sit and watch the passersby. The massive dog cushion on the floor nearby is also a favourite place for her pup to curl up and snooze. I’m told this is now the cherished retreat where my girlfriend sips her coffee, read emails and write as she watches the sun rise while cyclists spin by in the wee hours of the morning.

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The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.

-Maya Angelou

It is always a challenge to make rentals “feel like home”, but with a few new pieces of furniture { make sure you look on Kijiji }, art and accessory changes you’re on your way to creating a restful place to hang your hat for an extended stay. Just make sure the items you pick up are those you’d love in any future space when you move again.

Home is where you feel at home and are treated well.

– Dalai Lama