I have never liked the burglar bars over the windows, but I am going to embrace them. I still do not know if they are a necessity or a precaution. They are everywhere in Barbados and my new place has them. I have been strongly advised not to take them off.
Home décor would not be complete without a tour of Pinterest. I noticed several beautiful walls done with a harlequin pattern. A series of diamonds that looks curiously like my burglar bars.
Starting with the large living room window, I blocked off a pattern with painter’s tape. I am a recovering perfectionist and am fighting against the tendency to map everything out. This was not a good time for that. It took me a long time to lay out the pattern according to the eye. I broke down and got out the measuring tape to mark out an equidistance between the lines. Measure twice, cut once, as they say.


My new place is very beige/cream. It is beautiful in a minimalist, clean sort of way. I wanted more colour. I looked to my surfboard for inspiration.
Last year, my surfboard needed to be repainted. Kate designed a pattern and colours that complemented the ocean. I have been sitting on that board on the waves and want to bring that calm into my home, so am using that colour palette for the main room.


There is a smaller window in the main room, at the end of the hallway into my apartment. It needed something to detract from the burglar bars and create a focal point as you walk in. Back to the diamond pattern and with a dash of colour, the line of sight completely changes upon entry to my home.
When I would do renovations in Canada, there was so much choice for materials between Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Rona alone. Here, on the island, choice is restricted. I thought I would hate that, but it turns out to be much more efficient. I turn off my need for perfection, because besides it being an illusion, I am probably not going to find the ideal that I picture in my mind. I am ok with that.
Things in Barbados are simple. You embrace what you have been given and work with what you got.
Where do you draw your inspiration?
I love the painting ….
Amazing what a little bit of colour can do to a beige room!