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.

Good shop, good cause

Everyone is buzzing about Crate & Barrel opening in Toronto at Yorkdale this week, on the 25th to be exact. I'll luckily be getting a sneak peek , but if you fancied a swanky night's shopping in advance of the hoi polloi on Thursday morning then I've got a bit of news for you.

Crate & Barrel will be hosting a special Private Preview Party to benefit Toronto's Ronald McDonald House on the evening of Wednesday Sept 24th. A $50 ticket will get you cocktails and appetizers, with a little music to while away your shoptastic time and complimentary valet parking (so you won't be struggling across the lot with all those bags). Click here for more info (the page link is on the right) and to buy your tickets.

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.

Laundry Love

So, I have to admit, while pulling together Style Scout for Saturday's National Post - all about the sudsy world of washers and dryers - I ended up shopping for our new laundry room. Sleek design, smarty-pants features, seductive colours and of course energy efficiency and water conservation all came in to play.

It really was love at first sight with the just launched GE Profile SmartDispense laundry pair. Their SmartDispense dishwasher had caught my eye a while back (read a TreeHugger review here) - and this new washer is just as jammy: it only needs to be topped-up with soap every 6 months. Add in Stain Inspector to take care of everything from grape juice to motor oil, and CleanSpeak, which lets the pair 'communicate' to seamlessly figure out how best to dry a load, and you have a winning combo. And finally, by switching out an old top loader for this Energy Star darling you'll save up to 14,000 gallons of water a year (that's like 3,000 showers). Need I say more?

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.

French dish

Today I was at Maison & Objet, an amazing trade show with the best of the best from the world of home decor (and the reason of my visit to Paris). It was quite the slog since not only is it jam packed with just the most amazingly inspirational and, well, cool stuff ever (like jellyfish chandeliers, hand-painted wallpapers and covetable accessories) it's also massive - Each hall is at least the size of a couple of football pitches and there are, ummm, seven plus to zig-zag through, lugging more and more catalogues as you go. I'm now physically and visually exhausted - so much to see and so far to walk!

Of course walking in Paris is the key thing to do, since you never know what you might discover. Meandering along rue Saint-Honoré we came across what looked like a store right out of the late 19th Century, with old wood shop fittings, cracked plaster walls and the smell of beeswax. Of course, nothing was as it seems, since this was the retail location for Astier de Villatte, and the shelves were piled with some of the most gorgeous and unusual handmade white dishware I've ever laid eyes on. Take a look below (I just can't get over those star plates...), and in Toronto check out French Country for the line.

Quick pick

I have to tell you, this little monkey has been quite the handy tool during all that demolition. The Stanley FatMax Wrecking Bar is smaller and easier to handle than a full-size crowbar - perfect for getting into tight situations - and the banana yellow colour means it's easy to spot, even under a layer of dust and debris. Hit the Home Depot to pick one up, and stick it into your tool box for safe keeping - You won't be sorry!

Global view

I have a feature coming up for the National Post's Post Homes magazine for September that I've spent a fair bit of time working on this week. Much of that time has me searching through online catalogues to see what's new and what will fit the feel and direction of the story. Mostly it's point, click, snore - especially when I can't find exactly what I'm looking for. Design Within Reach is always a go-to site for me because, well, they just have the right stuff - A well edited and stylishly modern collection of 'tools for living' (I cribbed that from their website, lol, but I think it says is all!).

The globes below are new additions at DWR, and I'm very glad for their arrival. Set on a vintage credenza or stashed in a bookshelf, they're just the ticket for a well-travelled, modern design object. The mint globe has a slight 40's feel, while the black is all business.

Update on 2008-08-24 23:35 by Arren

Update! Talking of Tools for Living - That's the appropriate moniker for DWR's just announced new housewares store that'll debut in SoHo, NYC, next month. Defintely worth checking out!

Hot shot

I love a good espresso (not expresso, please, lol), and starting my day with a shot is quite the best thing since sliced bread. We have the Nespresso Le Cube espresso machine in white, which looked awfully posh in our last kitchen (take a look here) and now sits rather snugly on our teensy temporary apartment countertop. Apart from the fact that it's practically idiot-proof (the foil capsules take care of that) the design is clean, simple and modern - All you need in a countertop appliance.

Now Nespresso is jacking things up for Fall with more choice in their colour finishes. A racy and kinda Eighties hi-tech matte Black and a v. lovely Bronze Patina (which would look very swish with Jenn-Air's Oiled Bronze appliances). Plus, and this is a big plus, they're also intro-ing a larger sized milk heater / frother; the Aeroccino Plus. Which (again with the idiot-proof) does a masterful job of making the kind of cappuccino foam that a seasoned barista would be proud of. All this new gear is available in September - check out Nespresso online, or visit one of their two Canadian boutiques at The Bay in downtown Toronto and Vancouver. Take a peek at the Le Cube Bronze Patina and Aeroccino Plus below.

Quick pick

After a long drive to Cambridge to check out a bedroom for a makeover I'll be doing for CityLine (look for it on the show mid-September) I had to get to business and do the un-glamorous side of my job - Returning things bought for shoots. Honestly, my car is usually jammed with scads of shopping bags waiting dolefully for me to get around to lugging them back to the stores. Ugh.

At the cash of Home Outfiiters, staring off into space, the Rakku Shoe Wheel caught my attention. Now, while we're nowhere near the Imelda level of shoe obsessions we do have tons of sneakers (currently filling 2 drawers of a large filing cabinet and smothering the floor of the coat closet); maybe this is a solution?

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.

Style blender

While you might think that I have completely my own way with the way the new place will look, think again. It's the same for us as for most couples - Compromise. Ugh, such a dirty word (lol). And David, who's quite the comedian, has given some thought on a design direction and has decreed that it should be Robot Chic. Robot Chic? Honestly, if he had his way we'd be living in a Daft Punk video wearing crash helmets with LED lights flashing across the visor. Cool, perhaps, but maybe not so livable (I think I might get a headache from all the glaring lights).

In an effort to be understanding I've found the perfect item that'll meet halfway between Robot Chic and, well, reality - The lampbase (very him) and shade (very me) are both available through the always edgy Urban Outfitters.

  

Swedish present

After that construction nastiness let us speak of other things, of cabbages and kings. Well, more importantly, my excitement for the new Ikea catalogue!

I was at the launch last night which was a huge laugh, take a look at the pics below (thanks Madeleine). The smarty-pants at Ikea have taken over a downtown Toronto storefront, on swanky King Street, to showcase all their new gear. Highlights include lots of black in both matte and gloss finishes, new kitchen cabinetry in Pop-y colours and cowhide rugs. In fact, it's open through the weekend, so if you want to take a look head to 143 King St East - I'm going to have to go back and check it out without the hordes of people. 

  

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.  

 

Pretty quirky

More packing today, oh joy, as we near the end of the move between the old house and the semi-1 bedroom. Will this ever end? Today it's the basement and all the tabletop props and fabrics I hang onto for when I'm styling (have a look at the Portfolio to see some of the gear in action).

The other day I ended up in Lucca, a great linen store on Yonge St in Toronto. Pattern and colour are the stores trademarks, my favourites were pieces from John Robshaw. Now I'm a huge linen junkie and in the habit of collecting teatowels (maybe it's a British thing) so at Lucca I was in nirvana. This is of course isn't helped by my sister designing for The White Company, which has unfortunately given me a taste for the finer things when it comes to bed linens.

I headed home and checked out John Robshaw to see what else they had on offer and found these pretty yet quirky handpainted pillows. Just the thing to wake up a tired old blah beige couch.