Pattern, Pattern, Chair

A fun part of my schedule this week was shooting remotely at home for Citytv’s Cityline. The subject was our principal bedroom, a space that had a forced renovation due to some major construction we endured over the summer.

Things have definitely changed in the space, and for the better for sure. I can’t wait to share the results with you, and it’s extra fun looking back at how the space looked when it was shot by Angus Fergusson for House & Home magazine more than 11 years ago.

Cheers, Arren


Dots and squares, oh my! Just say yes to this rather fab collab between creative consultants and 3D designers Terzo Piano and Or.nami wallpaper, which playfully toys with trompe-l'œil to stunning visual effect. Think simple graphic shapes and drop shadows inspired by architectural design.

Available in either vinyl or rather covetable silk, there are 4 designs in different colourways to whet your whistle - I’m already dreaming and scheming of a space where I can use them.

Terzo Piano X Or.nami - Pattern 2

Terzo Piano X Or.nami - Pattern 2

Terzo Piano X Or.nami - Pattern 3

Terzo Piano X Or.nami - Pattern 3


While one of my current projects includes a chic little bathroom in white and grey, this brand new collection by artist and designer Nathalie Du Pasquier for Mutina tiles definitely has me drooling.

More is definitely more here. Du Pasquier’s wonderfully barmy layering of pattern on pattern is key, with a perfect mix of fifties modernism and vintage designs all thrown together with gay abandon. And, if the 41 tiles in the Mattonelle Margherita collection aren’t enough, there’s also 11 coordinating paint colours for all you OCD design fans out there that want everything to match. Seriously.

Oh, and the art direction for the collection’s launch? It’s all feeling very cinematic and inspirational, and honestly I could happily post every single shot, but will show some restraint with the three faves below. Scope out the rest of the collection, here.

Wall: Star, Stripes, Marghe Black. Floor: Double Red, Stripes.

Wall: Star, Stripes, Marghe Black. Floor: Double Red, Stripes.

Wall: Marghe White, Frame Black, Marghe Half White, Marghe Half Black, Line. Floor: Petals, Line. Margherita Paint: Sand Matt.

Wall: Marghe White, Frame Black, Marghe Half White, Marghe Half Black, Line. Floor: Petals, Line. Margherita Paint: Sand Matt.

Wall: Marghe Light Blue, Stripes, Star, Kite White, Square Black, Marghe Black. Floor: Marghe Light Blue, Double Red, Stripes.

Wall: Marghe Light Blue, Stripes, Star, Kite White, Square Black, Marghe Black. Floor: Marghe Light Blue, Double Red, Stripes.


Am I the only person that dreams about chairs? This one in particular sent me down a bit of an internet rabbit hole, to be sure.

I first spotted the vintage originals in this stunning apartment in Florence, with masterfully edited interiors by Massimo Adario (click here to see more). Though they couldn’t look more at home in this space with views across the Arno, these spectacularly curvy seats were originally designed by Czech architect Jan Bočan for furnishing the Embassy of Czechoslovakia in Stockholm in 1972.

While the originals, made for Bočan by Thonet in lacquered bentwood and cane, deservedly fetch a pretty penny, I was fascinated to see that new versions of the chair are de rigueur in all sorts of chic interiors in Australia.

Available in both black and natural from the folks at Worn, and stunningly well priced I might add (I did the conversion), the sad news is that they won’t ship outside of Australia. But, kudos to Worn for their commitment to ethical sustainability, since their Cane Loungers are made of non-chemically treated materials harvested from sustainably managed plantations. Plus, for every chair sold a native tree is planted to help offset carbon emissions.

Brownie points to whoever can send me a source closer to home…

Photo: Laura Fantacuzzi and Maxime Galati-Fourcade

Photo: Laura Fantacuzzi and Maxime Galati-Fourcade

Worn’s Cane Lounger in Black

Worn’s Cane Lounger in Black

Inedibly gorgeous

I was explaining this morning how the Holidays are making me feel - Christmas is the iceberg and I am the Titanic. I guess I'm feeling a bit of seasonal stress, lol. It's been a busy week taping a CityLine - you can catch the show this coming Monday - shooting book covers in studio and one outdoors on location (in a very balmy -10C), plus gearing up even more for the Interior Design Show. Oh, and not to mention I have a pile of cards that have to be written, addressed, stamped and posted. Oy.

In the meantime this e-card popped into my in-box this morning and was too delicious not to share. Cupcakes, yes, but look closer and you'll realise they're all made of fabric (though I think I still got a sugar high looking at the shot). Maybe Lelievre, the swish French fabric house behind the shot, should get into the buttercream icing and baking business?

Where I would rather be...

Well, today has been rather busy, and I still feel pretty darned awful from the cold I caught on my way to Italy last week. This morning I taped a CityLine, which will air next Monday (be sure to keep a eye out for it!), and tonight I'm off to Ottawa for a spot of work. Really, I'd rather be in bed - see inspiration shot below - dozing off between daytime tv, reading a good book or flicking through a mag.

Those lovely LOVE pillow cases are available from Lush Designs, though if you're a die-hard French- speaking cycling fan you could always switch them to spell VELO. I could have sworn that Urban Outfitters had something similar, but those guys seem to be doing a brisk business in Tiger, Elephant and Owl pillows instead.

Thieving from family

I've had a boffo couple of days, bombing around town in a truck filled with Thonet chairs, cafe tables, wedding bouquets, picnic blankets, apples and coffee cups for a shoot with Michael Alberstat, as well as shooting the reveal on a fantabulous (if I say so myself) condo makeover for CityLine. It has definitely been busy.

In the meantime, a few thousand miles away, my sister has been hanging out in Paris. It's work for her, but she still gets to head out to all the stylish places, including Merci, which she thinks is definitely worth a visit. This lovely must-see store has four floors, one for fashion and three for home (yay, I love it when home trumps fashion!), including a rather smashing courtyard with a dinky red Fiat, a cafe, bookstore and florist. Take a boo below at the shots to get a taste of the place. Yup, whenever I'm next in Paris (sadly, not anytime soon) I'll definitely be stopping in. Oh, and check out my sister's blog for Blink London - her fashion reporting service - here.

     

Gray matters

Luckily the weather has been grand, so bombing around town with the windows down and the stereo blaring the Black Kids has hardly been a chore over the last two very busy days. I taped a CityLine yesterday with Jeanette Hlinka and Karen Kayne that will air next Tuesday, have sorted out a Style Scout feature for this Saturday's National Post, as well as nailed down an upcoming Trendwatch for House & Home and worked on the Hershey's Milk Chocolate space. Phew.

Last night I spent an inspiring time at the Fall /09 womenswear preview at Holt Renfrew that included a capsule show by designer Joseph Altuzarra. I love hearing Holt's Fashion Director Barbara Atkins' presentation since she always puts everything clearly into perspective for the season, hitting on trends and high notes across all the lines that they carry (80's, big shoulders, statement necklaces, silver sequins, lots of leather and boots higher than you can imagine). But, if there's one thing in fashion that will definitely be having an effect on interiors, it's the prevalence of grays in every shade. I've waffled on about gray before here but wanted to share a bit more since we'll obviously be living with it for quite a while. In fact, I've picked Ralph Lauren Paint's dark and stormy Palais Royal for our media room.

The snap below shows a cool image by artist Damien Blottiere for Intelligent Life and is their pick of the perfect gray (Slate III by Paint & Paper Libray), which they contend can rub shoulders with any look, period or style you might pick for a space. What do you think?

A nice little before and after

Taking some mucky old thing and giving it a new life it quite the most fun side of my job. I'd mentioned a while back here that I was working on a nursery for CityLine and we'd scored a great vintage teak rocking chair through Kijiji (that involved a late night drive to someone's garage in the 'burbs, and it was a steal...). Well, the project is almost finished - the baby is due in 3 weeks! - so I'd popped in to pick up the chair at the upholsterer's, Mieda Design, and I hafta say; I do love how it turned out! The fabric we picked is definitely on the fun side, but remember people; it's for a nursery.

I heard from a few folks that the rocker might be by Georg Jensen, though we didn't find any labels when it was pulled apart. Dan from Mieda was super impressed with the construction; only four screws hold it together and the seat is counter-weighted with poured concrete (!). So who knows... But if you'd like one for yourself there's one on 1stbids currently up for sale here (if anyone has an account, could they let me know what they're asking?). Anyhoo, here are the shots!

  

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.  

 

Up Next

Monday brings the early morning craziness that is CityLine. I say craziness because there is nothing like setting up for a live tv show in 45 minutes! Kimberly Seldon is guest hosting which should be fun; I'll be covering a few super-cool electronic items as well as showing a fab 'before and after' weekend project.