Daytripper

Over the long weekend we jumped in the car and headed east, after getting a bit cabin crazy in the teensy apartment. Port Hope was the final destination, since we were on the hunt for Fall colours as well as cute town to wander round in. Well, check and check.

Of course we ended up shopping, how could we not; there are scads of antique and vintage stores along Walton Street and on a couple of the side streets too. The best store by far, and well worth the drive, is Michael Thomas Antiques where Michael, the owner, presents a well edited selection of furniture and accessories. The store is only 2 months old yet already has a very sophisticated vibe and yes, we bought something - A giant round brass tray cocktail table that'll look simply smashing in our new place. Take a look below to get a feel of the place (I think I might be going back for that set of chairs).

More, please

You can never have too much art! The wonderfully quirky artwork below is the latest from Angela Adams, but you might know Angela better as a rug designer (her modern, arty rugs are available through Design Within Reach as well as Home Depot). When this appeared in my in-box yesterday I have to say I was immediately drawn to the colours and almost folky vibe, and then when I checked out the website I was even more surprised - The archival prints, taken from her rug designs, start at an eminently affordable $65 US. Not too shabby, and a delightfully personal way to dress up your walls! Click here to look at the full listing of prints (put me down for Rain in 12"x16").

Oh, and if you're tweaking about the wallpaper - I got word that it's a sneak peek from Ms. Adam's new collection of sustainable contract wallcoverings, available early next year from MDC.

J'adorable

Jonathan Adler is a complete and utter design hero for me. Okay, I'll gush a little more - How could you not love someone that's on a one man mission to bring his 'Happy Chic' vision to the world? His work runs from pottery to lighting, furniture and rugs and is witty, irreverent and always interesting and, on the couple of occasions I've met him, he couldn't have been more charming (I've even received the occasional thank-you note when I've featured his gear in a mag; how nice!). Click here to check out the interior he did for The Parker Palm Springs Hotel - I could so move in.

I was taking a boo at a great website the other day -- PointClickHome -- when I discovered that he'd judged a Happy Chic Home contest. Take a look below at some of the winning results and, of course, read the reason's why they made the cut (click here for more). Happy, chic, and in Jonathan's words - j'adorable.

Keeping calm

For me at least, this is the design equivalent of a one-two punch - Keep Calm Gallery are a Brit firm and one of my total faves for affordable, graphically inspired art (they ship worldwide too). It all started with their 'Keep Calm and Carry On' print, inspired by a vintage WWII poster, that caught on with design types across the globe and has popped up in quite a few house shoots since. I've included their latest edition below, printed in metallic gold (v. on trend), because it's still so fab.

Well, now they branched into the world of tea-towels! Can I hear a woop-woop? Laugh as you might, this has got me extremely excited (click here to read more about my mania). The towels are printed on heavy-duty cotton and have the same smart graphic vibe as Keep Calm's posters - I love!

The towels can be ordered online from their new store The Manicule, and if you're in Toronto, head straight to Up To You to buy them in person. Look below to see 'Stand The Heat' and 'Tea Revives You'.

Totally floored

Jennifer had posted a question asking whether Flor modular carpet tiles shipped to Canada, and yes, thankfully they do. The question gave me a chance to re-visit their site and to take a look at all their new gear (there's lots!). I love their stuff but y'know, I'm not the only one - If you click here to check out the 'Pretty in...' post you'll see Flor tiles in cream looking very ladylike in Samantha Pynn's living room.

Below are my three top picks from Flor's latest selection of patterend tiles, though do make sure to check out all their textures and solids, and don't forget to take a peek at the v. swanky Martha Stewart collection too. From top to bottom - Stitch In Time hits that whole handmade needlepoint trend with a very sweet patchwork twist. Skully is edgy, darker and punky (yes, it's skulls, lol). And finally, Hello Down There stays cool and urban with a satellite view of a cityscape.

Pretty in...

I was searching for a shot from Style at Home of Samantha Pynn's home to include with my interview with her (click here to read it), and of course I came up empty handed, so you can imagine my surprise when one popped into my inbox this morning! Lucky indeed, since it's just the prettiest space, with her trademark shots of pink and a polished feel that's modern with a touch of 40's glam about it. If anything, it puts me in mind of the interiors in one of my current fave films, 'Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day', a frothy flick set in pre-war London that's well worth renting. 

This leads me onto something that'll definitely be worth booking into your calendar this month - The first ever Style at Home Show that'll be debuting down at Exhibition Place in Toronto on Oct 17th. They have quite the laundry list of fab presenters that includes Samantha, Margot Austin, Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan, Sarah Richardson, Lynn Spence and Tommy Smythe. You can book your tickets here, and it looks like you'll definitely be getting your design money's worth.

Here's that shot I mentioned, snapped by one of Sam's favourite photographers; Virginia Macdonald (make sure to check out her stunning portfolio).

Hot shop

West Elm is finally opening in Toronto and the countdown is on. It's caused quite the flurry in the Flare magazine offices (those gals know style when they see it) and a few editors have already been scoping online so they can make a beeline once the doors open on October 16th in Liberty Village. It's a favourite of mine too, they hit the nail on the head for that modern, fresh and (wonderfully) affordable vibe. I've snagged an invite to the preview and will post a few hot picks as soon as I can, but in the meantime take a peek below to see what all the buzz is about.

Season-less

I thought it would be fun to share one of my favourite shots from work this Summer - It was a Weekend Decorating story for Canadian House & Home that was all about re-working and re-thinking wicker for the home. Morgan Michener and I pulled this story together and it was shot for the July '08 issue by Angus Fergusson (make sure to check out his mah-vellous work). As we move into Fall I wanted to pop the shot onto the blog mainly because wicker, rattan and cane are now on everyone's radar and have moved beyond the 'hot weather only idea' that most of us had. Love the black painted dresser and the silvery metallic cane wallpaper that is super subtle yet super chic.

5 quick questions - Samantha Pynn

Apart from being quite the style savvy gal (after all, it's not for nothing that she's Style at Home's Design Editor and a guest expert on Citytv's CityLine) Samantha Pynn is one of my closest friends. And I have to tell you, anyone that can survive a marathon New York shopping trip with me is a real keeper (as long as we managed to hit Jaques Torres Chocolate a couple of times she was happy). As you might know Sam has been snapped up by HGTV to host her own show - Pure Design - which debuts Tuesday night at 8pm. The concept for the show is 'pretty but with a twist of green', so it's definitely on-par with Sam's real life and her own personal design philosophy (yes, she really does wash her floors with hot water and lavender oil). I thought it might be fun to put Sam on the spot and ask her a couple of questions -

AW: What drives you nuts when you walk into a space?

SP: Floor plans that revolve around the television - let's get back to conversation!

AW: And what's your current favourite colour combo?

SP: These days it's all about lavender and pale grey, but I'll always love all manner of blues and pinks - they'll always work for me. And, recently, touches of orange have been creeping into my work too; it's energetic and full of life.

AW: What's the next thing that you'd love for your your place?

SP: I've had my mind on a custom made octagonal ottoman, upholstered in hemp with a bronze nailhead detail. Textured and polished!

AW: Vintage or new in a space?

SP: It's all about a mix. Vintage is the best way to add personality and to do something unpredictable. Like finding an old wingback chair and covering it in a modern fabric, then painting out the legs in a bold colour. Add that chair to a room and you'll get a beautiful kind of tension with your new pieces, things get layered and sophisticated.

AW: What's next?

SP: I'm on my way to my favourite yoga class - It's one step at a time!

Sneak peek - Crate & Barrel

Today started off with the best of intentions and then slipped into something akin to a Keystone Cops movie, except my car chase involved multiple stops across the city picking up props for a photo shoot while fielding phonecalls and e-mails. Fun? Let's just say I'm glad to be home.

Okay, back to the beginning - The Crate & Barrel press preview this morning! All I can say is that I was like a kid in a candy store, wide eyed at all the beautifully stocked shelves and making mental notes as to what was a 'right now' purchase and what could be grabbed 'later'. I was impressed with the bang-on colour choices and how they really seemd to speak to everyone from contemporary, to trad, to eclectic; and all done with a particular C&B sensibility.

Here are my 3 top picks -

#1 Decorative Globes - Practically every design editor had stashed a bunch of these in their shopping basket. They'd sit v. pretty nested in a bookcase or would look marvy stacked in a bowl (definitely this season's alabaster egg...). From $6.95.

#2 Mistral Pillow - Flame stitch is having a major moment (I'm seeing it everywhere) and this pillow is a smashing example. The colours have a warm Fall vibe, jewel-y but not too much, so grab a couple for your sofa. $46.95

#3 Alpha Table - A kind blogger sent me a link to this (thanks Kareena!) so I was jonesing to see it in person. It has a hot 70's feel (in a good way), but to make it totally mine I would have it sprayed out in white. $995

Petite problem

While we wait on the permit to approve all the walls coming down on the main floor other work has been continuing - Framing has started on the kitchen wall (it has to be pushed out to conceal venting), and the master bath and powder room have been framed too. That powder room has been giving us major headaches, it'll be small, not quite airplane small but we definitely won't be holding a cocktail party in there anytime soon.

With size and space in mind we've had to re-jig the toilet and sink we'd originally fallen for and plunk for practical instead, though of course they're no less shabby in the looks department. Kohler's Rialto toilet has pretty much the smallest footprint on the market so was the perfect pick, and the Minette corner sink by American Standard is the most petite we could find - Yay for Home Depot! And, since we've been talking looks, I wanted to include a snap of the crazy glam wallpaper I dragged back from Paris; pretty fab no? Quite the steal too, at only 16 Euros a roll (I love BHV!!!). I'm thinking it'll cover not only the powder room walls, but perhaps even the ceiling and the door too.

Take a look below, and to catch up with the story so far on the renovation click here.

And so to bed

Have you ever had a wander round Elte? It's such a treasure trove of a store that just seems to go on for miles and miles, and, with discoveries around every corner, you might just need to stop into their cafe for a reviving shot of espresso. I was scouting there recently for projects for CityLine, mulling things over and generally lollygagging around, when a lovely line of bedding snapped me back into focus.

Clean, crisp and bright with graphic trellis-y patterns they were just a breath of fresh air. The line is LULU DK MATOUK, and it's the latest endeavour from the multi-talented designer Lulu de Kwiatkowski. Take a boo below and tell me you couldn't do with an extra hour or two of hitting the snooze button (I'm totally loving the cool-as-a-cucumber navy and white combo). Oh, and for more Lulu, hunt for her new self-titled book from AMMO Books.

Spanish Eccentric

Maybe it's a Brit thing -  I'm always inspired by eccentricity, and in the design world who better expresses it than one of my current faves - Jaime Hayon. Wacky, surreal and downright fabulous are trademarks of his style; this guy creates his own rules and follows his own very odd heart (can you imagine any other designer having a shot taken wearing a pink fuzzy bunny suit?).

Hayon and Camper Shoes are a smart fit - both are edgy yet iconic Spanish brands - so it was only natural that a sneaker collection from the witty designer ended up hitting stores;  "a sporty shoe with a touch of elegance" is how he descibes them. And, since I'm such a sneakerhead, I'd love one in every colour....

Take a look below at the shoes and check the quilted detail on the sole and how it picks up throughout his work. Following on is a store he designed for Camper in Paris and a v. glam restaurant, La Terazza del Casino, in Madrid.

Just smashing

The ceramic stool/end table has turned into quite the must-have decor item for today's spiffy home. Originally found in a traditional drum shape and patterend in blue and white (or a riot of Asian blooms) they've hit just about every level - Check out the House & Home collection at The Bay for one in white and also the on-trend metallic Convex Drum Table from the soon to open West Elm. And, while these chic multi-purpose stools hit the Eclectic nail on the head, if you're a bit more clean-lined and modern, are you completely out of luck?

Nope! I just checked out Avenue Road (it's a bit off the beaten track but well worth the trip), where they showcase lots of yummy and v. luxe collections, and discovered a new line of tables from Christophe Delcourt. IKO, OKO, OBI, OUM and OUK are the four styles that can be ordered in a whopping range of 18 glazes, including metallics, brights, and, of course, white. Chic and modern indeed.

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The lamp house

As David reminded me, we already have 6 table lamps and one floor lamp in our space-challenged apartment, so why had another one appeared? Well, I explained, we'll soon be in the new house and then we'll really need them, and besides, the one I just dragged home from Goodwill was too, well, good to pass up.

Take a look at the snap below, how could I say no; love that patterned white ceramic base, and all for only only $9.99. And the fabric sitting under the lamp is a recent vintage find too (Value Village) - It's a faux bois design that feels a bit like a Vera print, and will probably end up as pillows or a chair seat. The thing is (and David knows) that I can hardly pass a vintage store, charity shop, junk market, garage sale, church sale, street sale or jumble sale without being magnetically drawn in. It must be genetic, my sister Lucy is the same (you should've seen what she snagged at Porte de Vanves), and my Mum is on par with us except her 'fix' is with auctions. Honestly, it's a problem. LOL. Luckily it isn't all one way - David is always looking to add a gem or two to his vintage LP collection...

Good cause, good design

RugMark is a brilliant organization, working to end child labour in the carpet industry and to provide a chance at educational for kids in India, Nepal and Pakistan. Bev Hisey's rugs (who I've featured before, take a look here) are certified by RugMark, and I was excited to see an e-mail pop up from the wonderful folks at Creative Matters, who are working on a cool project with them.

RugMark's annual fundraising raffle features a gorgeous hand knotted wool and silk carpet, custom designed by Creative Matters, and valued at $5,350. Called 'Hariti' (Tibetan for Protectress of Children), it was inspired by a snap that Creative Matters partners, Carol Sebert and Donna Hastings, took while visiting Nepal. Take a look at the folds of fabric and sparkle of a pin in the little girl's jacket and you'll see the inspiration for the rug design on the right.

One ticket is $25, or buy two for $50 and you'll be paying for a year's worth of schooling, uniforms and textbooks for a child. Click here to buy (lots) of raffle tickets.

Paris address book

For whenever you might get there, here are my picks for favourite (and affordable) places to hit in Paris -

La Touristique:

The Palais Royale is well worth finding to take a stroll through it's formal garden and art installations, all wrapped by an arcade filled with vintage stores, galleries and fashionable spots. And, for a respite from all that shopping in the Marais district, make sure to stop in at the Musée Carnavalet. The museum covers the history of Paris, but it's the manicured gardens that are well worth seeing.

Le Shopping:

BHV

A hilariously odd department store, and Parisian institution, with a huge hardware filled basement and lots of cheap and chic decor on the 4th floor (I found some fab wallpaper here). Call me strange, but I love to check this place out! 14 rue de Temple

Marche au Puces, Porte de Vanves

My fave Saturday morning antique/junk market, especially since it’s less pricey on the whole than Les Puce de Saint-Ouen at Porte de Clignancourt; it’s totally do-able by the time it’s done (1pm), and has the best selection come rain or shine. Avenue Georges Lafenestre & Avenue Marc Sangnier (Metro Porte de Vanves - line 13)

Habitat and Zara Home

Habitat is a fab UK home store with cool design-y product that’s priced a bit higher than Ikea (they’re owned by them); I could fill a couple of suitcases from this place. Despite the address change Zara's decor store - Zara Home - is right next door and has a fashionable, well travelled vibe and again - inexpensive gear. 30, Boulevard Capucines and 2, Boulevard de la Madeleine

Fauchon

Quite the most glam grocery store you might ever come across, their packaging is extra swanky (love all the hot pink) and their decorated eclairs are magnifique! Place de la Madeleine

Maison Berthillon

An iconic French ice cream maker on Île Saint-Louis, and a great place for a tasty treat after visiting the Notre Dame de Paris cathedral. 31, Rue St Louis en l'ile

Below are snaps of the Palais Royale, the garden at Carnavalet, the Vanves flea market and a window display of those marvellous eclairs at Fauchon.

Chaud spot

One must-see Parisian spot, kindly offered up by Nelly Rodi as her favourite interiors store, is Caravane. It chicly hits the mark between modern, ethnic and handmade with deep and simply styled sofas upholstered in linen, brightly patterned pillows and unusual accessories.

Caravane has three stores to check out - There is the first store at 6, rue Pavée, then Caravane Chambre at 19, rue Saint Nicolas and finally Caravane Emporium at 22, rue Saint-Nicolas. All very inspirational! Look for more on Paris, and where to shop, coming soon.

Funny business

Yesterday morning I was getting grubby, and covered in stray sparkles, dressing a Christmas tree in downtown Toronto for a shoot, and now I'm jetlagged and just getting back to my Paris hotel room after a press event held at the top of the L'Institut du Monde Arabe (an incredible Jean Nouvel designed building on the Left Bank). It's a funny old business for sure (and look for more from Paris shortly).

Talk tonight turned to the subject of colour. Myself and friends were chatting with trend powerhouse Nelly Rodi about what's she's seeing next for both fashion and decor - always an interesting subject - and I was reminded of a great shot I had seen from Anthropologie that is just smashingly gorgeous, showing their utter commitment to colour and pattern. Take a look -

Splash pad

With all the stuff I'm working on right now, things are varied to say the least - In no particular order (and without giving too much away); fairies, christmas trees, bedrooms, bathrooms, sofas and washers and dryers. Ah, the life of a freelancer!

Other than all of the above (it's making my head swim) I've had my mind on bathrooms. We have 3 in the new place to re-configure, re-design and re-consider. Size, space and style are all at play, let alone actually deciding on fixtures and tiles. Phew. So, I'm on the hunt for inspiration and found quite the sophisticated spot while flipping through Home Depot's new DreamBook magazine. Love the dark grey stone tiles and that free-standing bathtub is definitely an ultra glam statement. Take a look -