guest blog / Jenn Hannotte: A touch of the RT's

Drumroll! Church bells! Fireworks! It's done! After some finishing touches, I was super lucky to have Naomi Finlay come by to take photographs of the final bathroom reveal, and Arren to help style! I am beyond happy with how it turned out - it's got that Royal Tenenbaum edge, but it's got a lot more of 'me' and a whole lot of this houses' heart in it, too. Here's the complete list of materials and other good stuffs used in the shots and in real life:  

Bancroft toilet, Brockway sink with Cannock faucets - Kohler. Daltile Subway and Octagon and Dot tiles, baseboard, Behr Paint in Ashes - Home Depot. Trim tile - Pollock's. Wild Flower wallpaper - Ferm Living. Fords Mill light fixture - Rejuvination Lighting  (Who, I noticed when I went to grab this link have some AMAZING new product). Towels, bathmat, plate - Anthropologie. Shower curtain - Urban Outfitters. Milk glass vases, vintage fan, MOR soap - Russet and Empire. Vintage pharmacy jars - The Arthur. Molger mirror - Ikea. Kartell Componibilii - Neat.

Click here and here to check out the other posts on the bathroom reno (including the awful before shots), and stay tuned, something else is cooking up at the Hannotte house - pun intended. Wink, wink.

For more of Jenn's take on style click here

Guest blog / Julia Black: A vintage sensibility

Julia Black: I am a confessed scavenger. When on the hunt for just the right thing for a shoot, for a client, for a gift, or even for myself, I will leave no stone unturned. Just about every week I seem to end up rummaging through antique markets, thrift stores and salvaged good shops for those special things that represent an element of old world style; something that brings a measure of antiquity, authenticity and charm. But, when I’m strapped for time and need to shop somehwhere where everything isn't covered in a layer of dust, I’ll turn to a trusted favourite: Anthropologie. On a recent run through I stumbled upon a tremendous collection of all sorts of wonderful home accessories that reflect decades past. This season some of my faves have an Austen-esque Sense and Sensibility feel about them, and include mis-matched bedding, demure ruffles and faux (but romantic) antique books that are actually boxes. Now that's what I call major vintage-inspired satisfaction!

To read more posts from Julia click here, to check out her cool blog click here, and click here to see her new Get Fresh online videos for CTV!

Back in the bathroom

Hey, I'm finally able to share all the shots by Angus Fergusson (including the spooky before snaps) from that bathroom project I did with Canadian Family mag. It's a pretty sweet makeover and, I hafta say, quite the dramatic change from a bathroom that looked liked something out of the Bates Motel into a bright, glossy and very practical space.

Here are the deets: We re-used the perfectly sized vintage sink (after a very good clean that involved Polident tablets), then changed out all the other fixtures and fittings to pieces from Kohler, including a v. smart WaterSense Escale toilet. We subway tiled from floor to ceiling, and then finished the sloped ceiling in tongue-and-groove, both scored at Home Depot. The floor was penny tiled in marble from Saltillo which, apart from being gorgeous, is nice and safe to walk on with wet feet (and yes, the floor was heated too, with a True Comfort kit from Home Depot). Shelving was added in above the loo, and two marble-lined nooks were added in in the bath area (the surfaces were angled slightly so they drain properly). Finally, the pretty shower curtain was custom made by Tonic Living, and the towels and bath mat were a mix-and-match between Anthropologie and HomeSense. What do you think?

Sneak peek - Anthropologie

Last night was the press preview for the new Anthropologie store at the swanky Shops at Don Mills. Okay, I hafta say it's totally worth cadging a ride with a friend and heading up there. The store is bee-utiful, and crammed with the kind of pretty gear that Anthropologie does so well. My focus was the home goods - there's lots, and they're as colourful, eccentric and playfully chic as always - but the clothes and accessories are obviously boffo too, judging at the number of editors taking notes and tripping along with a hanger or two. I could have bought tons of stuff, but my faves, other than their classic latte bowls (which were only $5, btw), is the stunningly eclectic selection of hardware (click here to take a look) and all the odd and unusual vintage finds scattered about the store. And talking of vintage, just check out that wildly cool giant office lamp below. Anthropologie flings opens its doors for the first time today, and I've a feeling it's going to be busy...

   

Happiness is...

I'm feeling the happiness today. The sun is streaming in through the windows and doing a smashing job on all the seed trays we've planted (yay!), plus, news broke that Anthropologie's first Toronto store will open it's doors on April 22nd (double yay!). And while all the smartypants, me included, were swearing up hill and down dale that the first Canadian store from the boho fashion and interiors chain was to be in Yorkville, ummm, nope - It's gonna be at the Shops at Don Mills. Yep, perhaps a bit of a treck for downtown types, though McEwan is opening there in June (chef Mark McEwan's fancy-schmancy gourmet grocery destination, read more here) guaranteeing it'll be even more of a hot spot.

I'll be at the Anthropologie opening, so I promise to report back with cool finds and snaps of the place. In the meantime, here's some sunny day inspiration - A living room from the UK that made my jaw drop, with its white-painted floors, patchwork sofa and round shag rug. Yummy, yummy yummy.

Via Le Brocante and House to Home UK 

NY heat

After an impressive sneak peek at all of Samsung's fab new electronics for the home (look for it on CityLine in the next couple of months) we walked to 5th avenue for some well needed retail therapy. A short and strong Swedish espresso at Fika and then we headed into Bergdorf Goodman, where I had to practically drag the gals away from the gorgeous glass cases filled with handbags so we could head to the 7th floor. As usual it was an incredible visual overload, with surfaces crammed with covetable accessories and perfect vignettes. I think their's is one of the best home sections in a Manhattan department store...

Next stop Anthropologie. Okay, this place rocks a total over-the-top fleamarket vibe in their home decor section, and while I ooh'd and aah'd over mismatched handpainted patterned dinnerware the gals shopped for bargains in the fashion department (Anita, you really should've bought that silk dress...). Fingers crossed for a Canadian store soon.

With the heat and humidity getting to us we grabbed a cab and travelled 30 blocks to today's final destination - West Elm. If you haven't been, well, you really should, since this store has it's finger firmly on the pulse of design. Affordable (love that) and fashion forward, this season West Elm has ditched their happy Moroccan colours and patterns for something more masculine, clean-lined and textured. One swift look and you get a kind of post-industrial arty vibe. Their accessories are always killer, and I already have a spot for these printed silk satin pillows.