Sweet petite

Who doesn't love a makeover? Canadian House & Home must've figured out that just about everyone does, as their Makeover special issue has just hit newstands with a resoundingly pleasing thud. There's ton's of great stuff to check out, but my fave is the feature produced by design smarty-pants Stacey Smithers. It's a quiet riot of creamy greys, warm acidy yellows and spicy pinks (yummy) that all adds up to quite the chic look - I could totally move in.

Now, fairs fair - Stacey is a mate of mine (I can hardly think of anyone else I'd rather share a highly calorific meal with, lol), but this place is quite the marvel compared with it's grubby past. You'll have to check the mag for those scary before shots, but take a peek below to get a taste of a young couple's sweet new home. Photography by Donna Griffith.

Looking for real

Yesterday was a difficult day - Plumbing issues on a reno I'm working on (we only need 2 handles in the shower, not 3!) and then hours and hours spent walking the halls at the Toronto Gift Show, aka the CGTA. As usual I found some great, beautifully designed authentic gear, more of which you'll see later, but, also as usual, there was tons of terrible stuff. It's almost as if a great idea gets photocopied again and again until you're just seeing a sad ghostly image of the original. So, when I saw a bad rip of Eva Zeisel's fab Century Dinnerware (the real thing is available from Crate & Barrel) I knew it was time to call it a day.

I've heard the word 'authentic' alot recently and it's been really resonating with me - Whether it's things or experiences I think we're all looking for the real deal. Ilse Crawford is someone who I admire greatly, a designer and creative director who I think has that concept down in spades. She started Elle Decoration UK back in the day, and I've been avidly following her work ever since. Her company, StudioIlse, works on some amazing projects, including a recent store design for Aesop, restaurant and hotel design, and also show flats for Notting Hill London. Take a look at one of the flats below.


Chic and easy

By now everyone and their best friend has had a chance to peruse the new Ikea catalogue and dog ear pages, me included. I thought I'd post a couple of favourite roomsets that get my vote for their lashings of inspirational style (love those Kelly green closet doors) as well as being super affordable. Chic and easy on the wallet - Who can beat that?

The first shows the Grimen bed, that rocks a way Italian vibe at just a smidge of the price, the second shows just what a bit of imagination and a few Ribba frames can do.

In the details

 

After a frustrating week with the new house and a bumper crop of deadlines to get through (look for Style Scout in Saturday's National Post, Post Homes section) I could do with a bit of relief. Lawdy I need this long weekend like nobody's business.

Today an e-mail popped into my in-box from photographer Angus Fergusson, who'd kindly sent me through a couple of detail shots - one of the dresser in the bedroom, the other of a shelf in the bathroom - from the Canadian House & Home shoot of our old place. If you flick through the mag (Feb '08) you'll see they didn't make the cut, but still, I thought it might be nice for them to see the light of day. That mirror has travelled with me since the age of 12, when I first started collecting Art Deco, and the shelf in the bathroom is an Ikea classic (the Lack) that we customized with a piece of mirror.

  

My other house is a castle

I'm not really sure what it is about this shot that draws me in. Sure, the e15 Shiraz sofa is chic, simple and just slouchy enough to be truly lounge worthy, but it's more the vibe of the shot - kind of a 'Granny left me this castle, but I'm a modern gal' feel that's just so refreshing.

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