P.S - see more of Miss Vu's inspiring desk-scapes here.

{Photos: 1- Miss Vu on flickr, 2- via

Discovering Fuschia- l'epicerie fleur, has had me thinking about all the wonderful possibilities in Montreal and exploring some of their beautiful boutique hotels. The Hotel St Paul had such a contrast of warmth and cool, fire and ice - a little bit of drama flair that seems to suit the city so perfectly.

Visit Fuschia in Montreal, and here online.

{Photos: Fuschia}

This room is so wonderfully light and airy in bright white and light grey. Wispy shear curtains and ornate mouldings make make it almost feel like you're up in the clouds.

If the images over the past few days are any indication, lately I've been growing impatient waiting for Spring and longing for warm breezes, light fabrics, simple forms and bare legs (and no coat!). The Spring 2011 collection by Tibi fits the bill just perfectly - classic, timeless designs in neutral shades with a few pops of bright, saturated colour (including an orange-red - my favourite for summer pedicures!)

There's an incredible feeling of light and air in this beautiful bedroom, I can almost feel a soft breeze flowing through the sheer canopy. A simple yet dramatic space, with floating steps ascending to a walk in closet in the loft. So pretty in all white with a crystal chandelier floating above.

While I've flirted with maximalist tendencies, more often than not in recent times I keep coming back to the notion that simple is best. Often one or two things in a space carry more impact and allow you to appreciate them fully when they're not competing for attention with other objects. Much like a page with one or two statements will force you to contemplate each word and often carry more weight than a whole page full of writing.

 The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs seems to be a wonderfully laid back escape. Like visiting your cool hipster friend's cottage. Built on the foundations of an old Howard Johnson it's been transformed from generic chain hotel into something unique with a character all of its own. Each suite is furnished with vintage furniture pieces andunique touches of art and memorabilia, casually pinned on the slatted wood frames. Some rooms even feature vinyl record players en suite.

Earlier this week, I was excited to have a chance to visit some of my favourite antique and thrift shops, always one of my favourite ways to spend an afternoon. While I came home empty handed, there's still something so fun just in the process of looking, hunting for that hidden treasure.

I am feeling quite envious of these little treasures found in the Paris flea markets by Garance Dore - a vintage camera and YSL scarf, and a rather elegant sculptural lamp.

As tiny glimpses of Spring begin to appear, I'm starting to resist winter a little less, knowing it'll be over soon enough - and trying to savour the special moments that only seem to come during this season.  Enjoying the crisp air and coming in to a comfortable chair in front of a glowing fire. There is a certain coziness about winter that different from any other season - and always the perfect excuse for another cup of tea.

Right now I'm craving a little breathing space for my busy mind. Somewhere clean, calm and without distraction to unwind. I love the simplicity of these spaces - uncomplicated but still interesting.

{Photo: 1-VT Wonen, 2- MarieClaireMaison}

Stylist Lili Diallo's Brooklyn loft has been one of my all time favourite spaces since I first saw it on the pages of Domino. There's a freshness and feeling of life and vibrant creativity that permeates it. Clean all white with pops of bright colour that let your eyes dance between the carefully crafted vignettes. Lili who is originally from Paris, has definitely brought her French sense of je ne sais quoi and being able to mix styles, eras and colours with a comfortable ease that make it almost look accidental.

...all you really need is love.

Suede All you need is love pillow by Honey Pie Design

{Photo: Honey Pie Design}

Nothing ever beats a handwritten love letter. On Valentine's Day, or especially when it's unexpected. Seeing the message in someone's own handwriting, no matter what it looks like, makes it feel much more heartfelt. I love the idea of spreading your secret message over a few days with a series of postcards. It'd be a fun way to surprise them, and keep them guessing...

Feng shui experts believe that you need at least a little of the colour red in your bedroom to ignite romance and passion. I've always opted for soft soothing tones of blue, grey and lilac (exactly the opposite of what they recommend.) To be honest, I really can only handle red in smaller doses, the idea of an entirely red room just seems so heavy and a bit too intense for me.  While I doubt I'd ever paint the walls red, I'd never even considered the idea of a red ceiling. I just love the soft warm glow it gives the room. This is a fun way to introduce spot of bright colour without too much of a commitment.

While I'd almost forgotten about it, it seems a certain holiday must be upon us, as blush pink and bright red tones can be seen all around. These pretty pillows by Scholten and Baijings seem to fit perfectly with the holiday colour theme. A lovely way to add a rosy glow in the middle of this cold season. The simple stripes make them a little less girly.