IDS Design Weekend with Arren Williams {giveaway}

Well this should be fun! The lovely folks at the Interior Design Show have organized a fantabulous prize for the much anticipated IDS11 happening Jan 27-30. Yep, you've got the chance to win an IDS Design Weekend with Arren Williams (errr, yes, that's me!). Along with 2 tix to the Opening Night shindig, you'll get 2 tix to my Arren Williams Up Close & Personal Talk (presented by Graham & Brown and Crown Wallpaper & Fabrics) which also include entry to the show, and 2 swanky nights at the InterContinental Toronto Centre hotel!

Here are all the deets:

To enter for a chance* to win an IDS Design Weekend with Arren Williams (2 IDS Opening Night Tickets, 2 tickets to the Arren Williams Up Close & Personal Talk, and 2 nights stay at the InterContinental Toronto Centre), follow these easy steps: 

1. Leave a comment below the contest blog post (please include your email where asked) explaining why you'd like to win, before Monday Jan 24th at 12pm EST. 

2. The winner will be chosen by a random number generator and will be announced by email and as an update to this post on the morning of Tuesday Jan 25th at 9am EST. Good Luck! 

NOTE: The prize does not include transportation.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  Void where prohibited.  Odds depend on number of applicants who participate.  Retail value of prize $518.00. Participants may enter the contest by following the steps mentioned above by Monday Jan 24th, 12pm Eastern time.  Applicants must be of the age of majority in his/her province or territory of residence or older at the time of entry to participate and win. Contest open to Canadian residents, excluding residents of Quebec. Contest winner will be announced on ArrenWilliams.com, contacted via blog post comments, and must correctly answer a skill-testing question to win a prize.  Contestants may send a self-addressed stamped envelope to 10 Alcorn Avenue, Suite 100 Toronto, ON  M4V 3A9 to enter for a chance to win.  Rules are available upon request. MMPI Privacy Policy.

On the (main) level

Yep, the August issue of House & Home is finally out (with our place in it), so I thought it was high time to finally share the heinous 'before' and the lovely 'after' of the main floor of our house! So you can get your bearings, that first pic is me standing pretty much where the coffee table is now, looking back towards where the kitchen ended up, and all before the walls came down to finally open the space up. For more scary before shots click here.

Here are the deets on those glossy after shots, photographed by Angus Fergusson -

In the living room the sofa, chairs, tables and ceiling fixture are all vintage. The ottoman is from Bev Hisey, a couple of the pillows on the sofa are from The Rug Company, the Montigo fireplace is from Odyssey Fireplaces, and the rug is from Sears. Spot looks awfully cute in this next shot, against the brill Manderley wallpaper from Graham & Brown. That's a Besta cabinet from Ikea (crammed with records), topped with a turntable, a Tivoli radio and a vintage lamp. I made the dining table out of scaffolding planks and a vintage table base, and all the chairs were super-cheapy vintage finds refinished by Beresford's and, all the doors and windows in the house are Jeld Wen. The KraftMaid kitchen cabinets, Corian countertop, glass tiles and Quality Craft bamboo flooring are all Home Depot, oh, and the stools are vintage. The fantastic stainless steel slide-in gas range with downdraft (no need for a range hood!), dishwasher and French door fridge are from Jenn Air. In the powder room, the wallpaper was dragged home from BHV in Paris, and the teensy sink is from American Standard. And finally, a major shout out to our contractors, Cera Stone!

 

5 quick questions: Laurence Llewelyn Bowen

If you like a bit of lavish and lush, then you'll definitely enjoy a slice of designer Laurence Llewelyn Bowen, who first popped up on screen close to 15 years ago on the Brit makeover show Changing Rooms. He was, and is, unapologetically theatrical and over-the-top, though unlike Hildi Santo Tomas on TLC's Trading Spaces, I don't believe he has ever glued grass to some unsuspecting homeowner's walls... Recently LLB has been busy, designing wallpaper collections (his Helsinki pattern is one of my faves) and launching a new 32-colour paint range in the UK for Graham & Brown, as well as publishing Decorating with Laurence Llewelyn Bowen, his new book. With all that on the go, I'm super happy that he found a spare minute to answer 5 quick questions.

Arren Williams: What's inspiring you right now?

Laurence Llewelyn Bowen: Gothic.

AW: Is there anything that drives you crazy when you walk into a space?

LLB: When people have decorated a room in delusions of blandeur.

AW: What's the next thing you have your eyes on for your own house?

LLB: I am always looking for unusual and original pieces of artwork.

AW: How would you describe your look, and has it changed over the years?

LLB: I love design that fuses traditional and historical elements and up to date contemporary style.  I sometimes deviate from the balance slightly but it is a preoccupation of mine to bring historical style alive.

AW: What's next on the horizon?

LLB: My new book Decorating with Laurence..., which has just hit the book shelves and is having phenomenal feedback. The book celebrates my personal style, a lot of pattern, a lot of colour and an enormous amount of wall space.

Say hello to Amy and Kelly

Well, here's a nice sneak peek at the brand spanking new Graham & Brown wallpaper collections designed by Amy Butler and Kelly Hoppen that'll be launching this weekend at the ICFF in New York! First up are Amy Butler's deliciously patterned Temple Tulip, Georgia and Fountain. Next are Rose, Hicks and Vintage Flock, all from top Brit interior desiger, Kelly Hoppen. Oh, there's more, but that's all I can get away with showing you for right now! Any faves?

Money is an object

If money was no object I would be flying to London today so I can be well rested in time to wave a bidding paddle at tomorrow's Phillips de Pury & Co Design auction. Alas, money is an object, so instead I'll be staring longingly at pictures of the following lovely items which are up for sale - The fantabulous Georges Jouve circa 1952 table lamp, which I would give my eye teeth for (since I can't afford the cool $22,500 estimated sale price). There's a really fab set of painted stainless steel cutlery designed by Alessandro Mendini for Alessi which, hmmm, I thought was a relative bargain until I realized the eye-popping price tag is for a single place setting (the pattern reminds me of this cool wallpaper by Basso and Brooke for Graham & Brown). Finally, after all that rabid gotta-have-it bidding, I would happily take a snooze in that handsome and rare painted steel and suede 70's armchair by Mario Cecchi. Oh, there's lots more to swoon over for sure, so take a look here at the 220-page catalogue, and thanks to Raymond Girard for pointing the way on Twitter.

Champagne every day

Where did Tuesday go? Oh yes, it started off with me having fun talking about Graham & Brown wallpaper on ABC 7 News in Chicago, and then slid straight downhill with an 11 hour trip back to Toronto. It was the weather. Lovely. Though highlights of the trip home included picking up a bunch of Vosges Bacon Chocolate bars at O'Hare, and downing a v. good Gordon Biersch Hefweizen beer in Cleveland (which really did have hints of clove, bubble gum and banana).

I guess I'm slightly on an alcoholic roll with today's post - The Champagne Lamps designed by Sascha Kipferling, found over on fun Brit site Supermarket Sarah. Yes, they're pricey (though as SS explains, the shades are vintage and there are lovely finishing details like the fabric-covered cord), so you might want to have a go at one yourself with this kit, and an empty bottle of Veuve Clicquot.

IDS10: The storm before the storm

Nope, that title isn't a typo. While that single snap below doesn't give too much away (and makes it all look rather calm), things have been a little on the crazy side as the clock ticks down to the IDS10 Gala opening. Today all the Graham & Brown wallpaper made it up (after a slight meltdown on my part since we were trying to avoid mudding the seams between the plywood wall panels - and yes, of course we couldn't avoid it), all the Kohler fixtures were set in place and all the furniture and accessories were loaded in (thanks for the hand Meg!) and everything was covered in drop cloths to avoid a mammoth dust job early tomorrow. Ah yes, and talking of tomorrow there is still a ton of spit and polish before the space is done. Maybe cloning actually works? I'll have to look into it...

5 quick questions: Barbara Hulanicki

You possibly won't stumble across too many folks who have launched a capsule fashion collection for Brit fashion fave TopShop, as well as rustled up a stunner of a wallpaper line (all gorgeously flocked) for Graham & Brown and designed the interiors of a slew of hotels in Miami, let alone had someone write a musical based on your life, and have a documentary about you debut to rave reviews. I'm talking fashion and design icon Barbara Hulanicki, who first stepped into the spotlight in the mid-Sixties when she opened the doors on Biba - her incredibly influential boutique - in London, and who kindly said yes to answering 5 quick questions.

Below you'll see a couple of snaps from Flock, her swish collection for G&B which - yes - includes flocked skulls, as well as Marie Antoinette-ish portraits. You'll also spot a pic of the kind of inlaid bone furniture that's inspiring Barbara right now (found here), as well as a trailer for November Film's Beyond Biba documentary.

For more on Barbara Hulanicki click here, and to check out the rest of the 5 quick questions interviews click here. And! Be sure to check out the Interior Design Show in Jan '10, when I'll have the pleasure of talking design with Barbara on stage. 

Arren Williams: What's inspiring you right now?

Barbara Hulanicki: The tropical weather and Indian bone inlayed furniture.

AW: Is there anything you hate to see when you walk into a room?

BH: A white sofa.

AW: What's the next thing you have your eye on for your own house?

BH: A Colombian sisal rug which has a silver metallic weave.

AW: How would you describe your style, and has it changed over the years?

BH: I am very eclectic. I become a chameleon with each client or project.

AW: What's next for you?

BH: I would love to start coordinated Biba Home shops!

    

We'll be right back after these messages...

I'm having a bananas week that has already included a couple of amazing days in Chicago working with Graham & Brown and meeting up with Cindy Dampier of the Chicago Tribune, Janelle Laban of Apartment Therapy, as well as doing a piece on wallpaper for ABC7 News. Hi to Gita, Dana and Kavi for making it all happen! All fun, fast and furious (Chicago is one hot/cool/interesting city) and thanks to Porter for making flying in-and-out such a treat.

Back in 'real life' and I've been contending with deadlines and meetings galore, and tonight I'm MC-ing a launch for Jenn-Air for a yummy new collection of appliances. Double phew. In the meantime my mate Rowley from Rolo sent the latest through that he'll be selling in his store. A Canadian crew called Cube Works that pulls together artwork of people, places and things created using Rubik Cubes. Pretty cool, no? And check back tomorrow, when there'll be at least two fresh posts waiting to inspire you...

Design on the double (roll)

Okay, I can't tell you how jazzed I am about getting to check out Graham & Brown wallpaper's HQ in Blackburn yesterday. Not only did I get a totally in-depth and fascinating behind the scenes tour of the company from Ian Brown (who, btw, is quite the expert on sustainability) I also got to meet up with G&B's lovely design team, who let me in on their design process and trend research (2010 looks brill already!). I also got a couple o' major scoops on what's coming down the pipe - In September there's a new capsule collection launching by design icon Barbara Hulanicki that has to be touched to be believed (more on Barbara here), and the ink is drying on a deal to produce a line of wallpaper with the fantabulous Amy Butler. In other words, watch this space...

Below you'll see a sneak peek of one of G&B's latest patterns; a dramatic fuchsia bloom on a black background, whizzing v. speedily through the gravure press.

  

Puzzle piece

Hmmm, do I have room for another wallpaper in the house? lol. Maybe... When I saw Puzzle from Graham & Brown in person I immediately started planning where and how it could fit into our scheme. It's quite the hardwearing little monkey - splash resistant, UV resistant and scrubbable - and the faceted textured hi-gloss pattern is really quite fantabulous. Oh, and sneak peek alert; I'll be visiting G&B when I'm in the UK soon, so I'll hafta let you guys in on whats coming down the pipe in print and pattern!

People, places, palette

For the next couple of days I'll be in the wilds of Wisconsin at the Kohler Editor's Conference, learning all about the history of the brand and checking out all their fabulous kitchen and bath products. I'm not alone, since Kohler has kindly invited a slew of design editors from around the world including, yay, a great bunch of Canadians - Janette Ewen (who you'll know from CityLine), Danny Sinopoli (the Globe & Mail's Design & Decor Editor) and Cameron Macneil (House & Home Design Editor). We had a meet and greet last night where I tasted a bunch of delish Wisconsin cheese and had a lovely chat with Pramiti Madhavi, Editor of Elle Decor India.

While I'm here eating cheese, lol, things are moving along on the home front. The fabrics have finally been dropped off at Mieda Design so the upholstery can begin and we've finally plunked on a wallpaper for the living room. Take a look at the palette below for a rundown of what's what - The background shows Graham & Brown's Manderley wallpaper in Golden, the next fabric is David Hicks Hexagonal House Chenille in Stone by Groundworks which'll be glamming up a headboard for the bedroom, that tweedy fuschia will totally revive this vintage gold sofa, and the teal velvet from DFO will completely sort out these vintage aluminum chairs.

Going with Vandyke in the bedroom

The last few days have been nailbitingly bananas. I've basically been living on Hershey's new Milk Chocolate, and let me just say there's been plenty to go around, lol. This is all, of course, for the chocolate inspired hotel suite I've been working on with Karen Sealy.

After the carpet was ripped out Sunday night, and the bedroom was wallpapered with this Graham & Brown paintable paper, the painters stepped in early Monday morning and lickety-split primed the old vinyl wallcovering in the living room and then painted throughout (I went with Para's Steamy Hot Chocolate for the bedroom, which is absolutely perfect in so many ways!). Then it was time for the carpet to show up and I get a phonecall saying the truck has broken down - aaagh - though Carpet One was beyond brilliant in dispatching another truck to rescue the stranded wall-to-wall and keep us on schedule.

Tuesday was the the everything else day; a whack load of furniture from Elte, carts filled with frames and accessories from Ikea, and both myself and Karen showed up with cars packed to the gills with bits and bobs. A few crazy hours later of non-stop lugging, unpacking, tidying , installation of drapes (thanks inVU!) and ironing of bedding - one of my least favourite things - my room was done and looking, imho, pretty darned peppy. Both spaces were shot this morning, so I'll be posting the snaps soon, but in the meantime I wanted to spill part of the beans and show the furniture line I picked for the bedroom. I love its handsome modern lines, great proprtions and on-trend brushed brass detailing; though my fave surprise is when you pull open a drawer and discover it's painted a zingy tomato red inside. The Vandyke line by Mitchell Gold+ Bob Williams is available at Elte. And oh, you just have gotta try the Hershey's Black Cherry and Almond bar (it totally rocks out).