Happy Hols one and all! I'm off for a couple of days of turkey and rest, after we dig out the car from a snow drift, lol, and head out of the city. Below is the Peace Bird, a collage by Christopher Bettig for Artists to Watch (a fab greeting card company), and my card of choice this year that I snagged at Urban Outfitters - I loved the design and since it was printed with soy ink on recycled paper, how could I resist? Cheers!
Lawdy - Making it through this time of year without major stress-related meltdowns or pulling the blankets over your head takes one thing - a good espresso. It's the kick in the pants to get my day going and then again at 3pm when I'm fading and need another jolt (I'm rocking a shot of Nespresso Mandarin as I type).
Funnily enough I got on the caffeine train rather late; I started drinking it when researching a coffee segment for Citytv's CityLine and haven't looked back since. I found our current coffee and espresso cups at Zellers (suprisingly chic and modern glass numbers) but passing time and the fact that they break at the drop of a hat means I'm on the hunt for new options.
Here's what's on offer across the board - #1 A smart and simple heatproof glass from Williams Sonoma. #2 Mod and off kilter cups from the Cuisine line at Crate & Barrel. #3 Comfortably squished and sculptural Supple cups from Alessi. #4 A glam and gold sparkler from Zara Home. #5 Taika by Iittala feels cool and a bit chintzy in black and white. #6 Handmade and a touch 50's feeling by EmmaLitten of White Doll Arts on Etsy. #7 Nobody does pretty granny chic like Anthropologie with their Amelia cup and saucer. #8 Illy's latest from the Art Collection is a set designed by artist William Kentridge.
This was honestly too good not to share. The LA Times took top interior designer Kelly Wearstler shopping at Cost Plus World Market (a cheapy/cool Pier1-esque decor retailer) and and dragged one of France's most iconic designers, Philippe Starck, to a Big Lots (a massive brand name closeout store) and let him loose. From her big box sojourn Kelly came up with a concept for a rustic glam beach party, while Philippe looked for authenticity in design and constructed a black and white table setting for just a few bucks. Read about Kelly's adventure here and check in on Philippe's purchases here. [images: Al Selb / Los Angeles Times]
I do like it when trad companies like Wedgwood get a little subversive. In place of all the lovely gear they normally do with folks like Martha Stewart and Barbara Barry they've taken an edgy side-step to collaborate with illustrator Will Broome on a line destined for Flash - a swanky yet short lived pop-up restaurant that has appeared in London, at The Royal Academy of Arts Burlington Gardens, as part of the Academy's GSK Contemporary Season. The restaurant closes for good on Jan 19th (click here if your heading to the UK and want to try and get a table), but the Will Broome collection, limited to 1000 pieces in each style, will continue to sell through Wedgwood until they've all found a good home.
'Tis the season for sample sales, and here's one that's definitely worth hitting - Bev Hisey, maker of fab carpets and cushions (yes, admittedly she's a friend but I do love her stuff; see more here) and Charlotte McKeough of Brave Brown Bag (a line of indestructibly chic bags that come in tons of colours) are getting together to hold a Winter Solstice Sale at Bev's studio space in Toronto. Head down to 1066 Dundas Street West on Dec 19th and 20th, between 10am-6pm, to score major discounts on some really wonderful gear and to meet them both.
Blue and white has been stuck in my head recently, but not in an old fashioned granny kind of way. There are elements of that (check that Delft plate - it's actually a rug) but the palette speaks to me more of a Danish / Moroccan combo more than anything else. It feels fresh, light and modern, and even a touch wintry, especially with that hit of berry red in the Marimekko print.
The inspiration shot is an interior styled by Moooi (available at Klaus by Nienkamper, who btw, are having a special discounted shopping night on Dec 16th, from 5-9pm). Next up is that laughably cool and surreal Moooi rug, Carpet 1. Then we move on to Marcel Wanders splashy take on trad blue and white for an exhibition called Fragiles. We couldn't have not included Madeline Weinrib, with a vinatge chair covered in Ikat and a Suzani pillow (the MW line is available through Y&Co). Ikea's collection for the Holiday's, Kallt, has note cards that are chic enough to make it way beyond the end of the year. And here's that sweet Marrimekko print - Pakkanen.
I've had a soft spot for the Drake Hotel in Toronto ever since we held my 40th birthday there a couple of years back (it was a raucous, well-attended affair with a hot playlist from DJ D Parie, all jammed in the Underground bar). Now, apart from all the regular goings on at the Drake too numerous to mention, they've taken it upon themselves to open the Drake Hotel General Store in a vacant storefront next door.
The space is so fresh they haven't even had an opening party yet - that happens tonight - but fear not, they're already packed to the gills and the paint has dried. It's kind of a corner store / art installation / quirky design gallery all mashed into one with vintage shop fixtures that look they were grabbed from Goodwill and given a quick wipedown before being pressed into service.
Theirs is quite the kooky selection of goods, from ultra saucy x-rated colouring books to lollipops, clothing and accessories. My quick faves are below - The rhino, grizzly bear and moose shot glasses in goth black glass, the gnome dishware (yes, there's more than the pitcher) and mini wind-up music boxes that play 'Singing in the Rain' and 'Stairway to Heaven'. In other words, while you won't be popping in for a carton of milk, the shelves are stocked with the kind of cool finds that you didn't know you needed, but really, really do. [Images 2 and 3 by Justin Adam]
Not content with launching shockingly affordable collections from the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and Comme des Garcons (which always sell out in munutes) H&M is set to debut it's own home collection in Feb '09. But, before you get too excited, the bad news is there are currently no plans to bring it to North America; H&M Home will only be available online in select European countries. So, check your family tree and shoot off an e-mail to that long lost cousin of yours in the Netherlands if you're hell bent of scoring some of this ultra fresh gear.
Of course the looks are totally on trend- #1 is edgy and urban in black and white. #2 shows the slide towards a natural eco feel. #3 is all about youthful colour and pattern (love that Lisolette Watkins designed pillow!). #4 is a classic combo of navy and white realized in a fresh un-stodgy way.
Via Husmusen
Toronto's bi-annual One of a Kind Show is quite the handmade, craft and artwork institution, so much so that the folks behind the show have now brought One of a Kind's to Vancouver, New York and Chicago. I can't remember the last show I missed and walking it, other than the excercise (lol), is always so inspirational since there's just such a feast for the eyes.
As always, I've ended up picking out a few best-in-show that I thought would be worth sharing -
Wendy Walgate's world is dreamy, odd and Alice in Wonderland-ish. My friend Morgan turned me onto her work, and I must say I became an instant fan - I love how her artwork plays with memories, collections and colour.
Flakes stationary has a collaged feel that I totally get (love those Holiday cards). Ashley Stapleton's work is witty and pretty and her new calendars, debuting at the show, are smashing.
Kyla Francis caught me with her hand-printed enamel sneaker design as well as that hilarious mug inspired by haircuts spotted at the One of a Kind. She has such an irreverent, modern and young take on decorative work.
The show runs until Dec 7th, so make sure you get down there and hit the aisles!
Last night was the official opening 'do' for the AGO's Shop, so I headed down for a peek at what's on the shelves. I know, I should really have arrived early and toured the whole AGO, and I will - promise - I'm not quite as crass as infamous PR flack Edina Monsoon (of Ab Fab fame), who firmly believed that museums would be so much better if everything was on sale...
The store has quite the selection of fab stuff - I loved all the Frank Gehry pieces on show as well as the witty/cool references to all the Douglas Fir used in his design of the gallery, like the curly-whirly trivet below, and let's not forget the slew of artist designed limited edition t-shirts either (put me down for one of those) as well as tons of pre-framed art and a whole section with creative gear for the kiddies too. (Exterior image courtesy of the AGO)
You might have guessed from reading the blog, and if you've seen me working the aisles at charity shops hither and yon, that I am seriously bananas about vintage furniture and accessories. It's an innate thing for me, having been dragged happily along to antique markets and church rummage sales from a v. young age (I started collecting Art Deco at the age of 12). So you probably won't be surprised to hear that I used to live above a vintage store - Zig Zag - in Toronto's Leslieville. The apartment was ridiculously cheap; freezing cold in the winter, boiling in the summer, with only a dribble of water pressure and a crack house for neighbours. Needlesss to say I spent lots of time downstairs in Zig Zag, hanging out with Joe, the owner.
Joe recently closed his last store and moved Zig-Zag a block or so west where he re-opened this past weekend at 985 Queen Street East. He has such a great eye, which is why I was drooling over a pair of swanky mirrored end tables that would look fab in my new place. Joe, can you put them on hold for me? lol. Take a boo below at some of the gear on offer.
'Tis the time of year for puffy coats and woolen scarves, at least in our neck of the woods. And, if you're like us, you've got a petite hall closet that's already crammed to the gills. So heaven forbid anyone pops over for a cup of hot cocoa - Where on earth are we gonna put all their bleedin' coats?
I've spotted a few solutions around town and thought I'd share: Urban Outfitters offers a bit of a retro classic with their Coming and Going coat rack that's available in a veritable rainbow of 7 colours. West Elm gives it with a natural, branchy feel for their sculptural Tree coat rack. DWR goes modern classic and wall-mount with the slightly Sputnik looking Eames Hang-It-All. And finally, for a trad touch check out Home Depot's Pewter Wall Hooks by Nystrom, all for the princely sum of $17.97 for the set of 4.
Now you've no excuse for hanging coats on the floor...
Yesterday afternoon I arrived waaay too early for an appointment at Farrow & Ball on Yonge Street so had to tool around a bit and, after stopping in at Putti (jammed with glam and sparkly gear) and Constantine (gorgeous and eclectic as per usual) I ended up in French Country, where I fell in love with a moose. Glitter covered deer and reindeer yes (I even own 3 or 4), but moose, um, huh? It was such an oddly endearing find, and so Canadian, that I had to share.
Oh, and the swanky new wallpaper I got a sneak peek of at F&B will be debuting in March /09, so you'll have to hold your horses on that!
I've featured some pretty amazing interiors in Flare Magazine, but the one below is a total favourite. In fact, when I first scouted it, I accidentally let slip that I might move in and change the locks, lol. This gem of a house, hidden away in a Toronto suburb, is owned by photographer John Cullen and his talented wife, Martine Blackhurst, who's a stylist and vintage shopper extraordinaire.
Of course John shot the place, capturing beautifully all the light and colour that fills each room. Martine is responsible for the wit and style of the interiors; she snagged much of the furniture and accessories from thrift stores, eBay and antique markets, lugging stuff home from as far afield as Mexico. The house has great architectural bones, and luckily most of the bells and whistles hadn't been ripped out or mucked up over the years - like that skylight-topped teak coffered ceiling in the living room, and the old-school glam mirror tiled wall in the dining room (there's another skylight in there too, sigh...).
Click here to take a look at the rest of John's portfolio - his shots of India are mah-vellous. And y'know what? I still might move in...
Apologies for posting later than normal, today has been a bit nuts-o. The steel beams arrived at the house early this morning so I was hanging around watching the install as long as I could before totally freezing my you-know-whats off (I'll be posting shots of the install later). Now I'm back at my laptop and have just polished off Style Scout for the National Post after running to grab a door handle for a shoot for House & Home. Phew, no rest for the v. wicked...
I thought it would be fun to post a couple of recent vintage finds. The first is a totally cool teak rocker that was quite the steal from a seller on Kijiji. It's destined to be re-upholstered for a mod nursery makeover that I'm working on for CityLine. The second are a pair of beyond fab Foo Dogs grabbed from a local Goodwill. $12 each, you can't beat that with a stick. They'll be used in an upcoming shoot I'm working on with a photographer friend of mine Stefano Barbera. And don't worry, I'll be sharing the shots once they're done.
Affordable art alert!!! Art Interiors (yes, they are one of my fave galleries) is just about to debut their latest show, the 15th Annual Festival of Smalls. Prices start at a way affordable $30 and max out at $250 at the top end for all sorts of beauties. Click here to shop online, and take a peek below at a few of my picks by Beverly Owens, Lizzie Vickery and Susan Fothergill.
Finding gear that's cool enough to be instantly giftable takes up a fair bit of my grey matter this time of year. Myself, and many of the folks I know, have been exhaustively hunting for the unusual and new, the special and the intriguing. In other words, gifts for the person who has everything.
Roseland Gallery is definitely worth a visit if you've hit that proverbial present wall. The place is always quite the cabinet of curiosities and this season is no exception - Françoise and Dante have tracked down scads of artful goods that include quirky snowglobes from artist Jeff Koons (whose gigant-o sculptures have recently graced the roof of the Met in NYC), standout vases by Mendini and Gatti and a flock of sweet pewter birds. You can put me down for a snowglobe, or maybe a pewter parrot...
The scent of a wood fire is one of those memory triggers that I always associate with this time of year. It's rich, warm and comforting, despite my mother's attempt at burning the house down. She only did it once, but once was enough - One chilly and damp British evening (is there any other kind, lol) she decided to get a fire going to warm things up. No kindling could be found, instead, the remains of a christmas tree were discovered and tossed into the hearth, closely followed by a match. Needless to say that seconds later the fire brigade was called to douse the chimney fire that was roaring like a jet engine, shooting up sparks and flames and billowing smoke. She personally apologized to every fireman who walked through the door.
Woodsmoke scented candles can now be found for those of you with less adventurous mothers, and make for a perfect hostess prezzie. The Henri Bendel Firewood scented candle smells delish and is available from Bath & Body Works, while the sophisticated hand-poured Diptyque Feu de Bois candle is available from Bullet.
Am I out to wallpaper the world, one wall at a time? Maybe, lol. I'm always happy when more of the good stuff is available so news that Graham & Brown is debuting a collection of papers at Lowes made me perk up my ears. Fashion for Walls is a collection of highlights from G&B's Superfresco Easy, Umbra and Monsoon. Patterns are fashion forward, styles are in-stock and application is a snap (all are Paste The Wall products).
Check out one of my faves below, Colada from Canadian design firm Umbra - love the black and white modern mash up of that historical motif. Get shopping!
Christmas comes early in my business, way before snow is on the ground and usually when most people still are in flipflops and shorts. Yup, the Holidays, for me at least, start at the end of Summer. The tree below, my first for the season in fact, just popped up in the latest issue of Canadian Living magazine - it was shot right at the beginning of September by Luis Albuquerque - along with four other dazzlers (you'll have to pick up the mag to see the rest). The tree and decorations are both a sneaky look at what you'll see from PC Home this season, and that tree top scarf and those sparkly mary janes are from Joe Fresh Style. I feel an eggnog coming on...
