White, no. Pink, yes.

I'm having kind of a bananas week involving styling for Harlequin romance novels, photographing weathered barnboard, sourcing vinyl banners, walking the One of A Kind show and having a slew of furniture sprayed at Beresford's - the fantastic spray shop I use. So, I've been snapping away with my phone to capture a couple of cool things as I run around. In that first pic below you can see the in-between of the two vintage chairs I'm getting re-done (here is the before) at Beresford's. I've picked a lovely dark smoky grey for them, the white is just the primer, and can't wait to see the results. Well, lovely after Tim has kindly pried off the fiddly applied carving that sits on the frame at the head and below the seat. Don't they look better already?

The other snap I took on the fly after admiring the fantastic job my friend Bev Hisey has done on her place. This is her fab looking front porch (with a bit of unseasonable snow still hanging around) that has been painted in a charcoal and gussied up with a new door - that's one of Bev's die-cut wool Botanical table runners hanging behind the glass for privacy - new numbers (from Lowe's), a new light and vintage shell chairs that were transformed from old rust buckets with a quick sandblast and a powder coat in ultra-bright bubblegum pink. Brilliant.

Guest blog / Jenn Hannotte: Feeling scrappy?

Jenn Hannotte: In our last house, we got a little creative and made a scrap-wood wall in our upstairs-kitchen-cum-nursery (take a look at the first snap below). We found all the wood in the rafters of our garage and cut them down into different sizes and just screwed them into the plaster. The result was a little unusual for a nursery (or a kitchen!) but it really gave the whole room a really warm, rustic vibe. We toyed with the same idea in our current house - in our actual kitchen - but fancied more of a cleaner Scandinavian cottage kinda feel (more on that soon...).Needless to say, I'm a big fan of the whole raw-wood look, so when I saw this wallpaper by Piet Hein Eek I got a little flustered. 

Scrapwood is a series of paper's that give the illusion of...well, duh...a scrap wood wall.. but without all the hassle of the cutting and screwing AND in perfectly complementary hued woods. So while I think of some where to hang my latest obsession, take a look at these images and figure out where you'll want to use it, too.'Cause you will - Obviously.

For more of Jenn's take on style click here.

{that one great thing} Michael's Blue Willow dishes

I totally get people who are kind of nuts about collecting, and Michael Penney from House & Home is just one of those kind of nuts. I bet you've seen his stories in the mag, or on the H&H blog, as well as on Design*Sponge. In fact, you'll see his new house featured in H&H's upcoming June issue, where I'm sure you'll catch a glimpse of a wall filled with his that one great thing pick - Blue Willow china.

Michael Penney: My one great thing is my growing collection of Blue Willow china. It started as a love of all things British and cottage-y in style, but I've since decided I like it with almost anything. I love the story behind the pattern (of two young people in love escaping a disapproving father, their souls flying off into the distance represented by two birds) and how the narrative is told on the plates and platters themselves. The clear blue glaze mixed with the time-worn creams and whites is perfection, as are any chips or blemishes that occur over time. This makes the piece look all the better to me!   

I bought a whole lot of dinner plates this past summer at Antiques USA in Kennebunk Maine for very little and have continued collecting everywhere from thrift shops to Cynthia Findlay Antiques (where I got this gorgeous platter). I've since hung the plates on my dining room wall in a symmetrical, geometric pattern radiating out from this central platter. I love the way they look en masse and they really have a big impact that way too. 

I also pick up blue and white ginger jars and vases when I can, and even small bowls and things in Chinatown. I guess I just can't get enough of this English, WASPY staple!

Don't try this at home

Getting a custom sofa made is normally a looong process, landing somewhere between 8-12 weeks is pretty standard, and hey, good things are worth waiting for right? Well sometimes I get thrown a curve ball and have to get things done in rather more of a crunched timeline. Take the set I did for the recent revival of RapCity on MuchMusic, where we decided to go with kind of a messed up but cool 'gentleman's club' feel. I'd found the perfect chair at UpCountry - the diamond tufted Kensington armchair in Vintage Cigar leather - and they happened to have two that I could snag, but the sofa was another matter. The one I fancied was the same style, the Kensington, but wasn't ready to go in the colour I needed (a slightly aged red) so, ummm, I had to get it custom made - in 10 days - to meet the show's launch date.  

After a bit of convincing the lovely team at Silva – who make the fabric version of the Kensington for UpCountry - said it could be done, and I have to say they did a stellar job. No surprise really, since over their 30 years in business they've worked on projects for the likes of Brian Gluckstein and Sarah Richardson (as well as a gazillion other great designers). So, without further ado, here are the results. And yes - major PHEW - everything was delivered in time. Devon at Silva kindly snapped a few shots for me of the sofa in progress, just to give you a bit of an idea of what’s under all that fabric (all those strings in the shot of the back show just how tedious and time consuming it is to pull and tie each button into place), and then the final screen grab shows the sofa and chairs on set with RapCity host T-RexXx, interviewing Cory Gunz.

Big thanks again to everyone at Silva and the crew at UpCountry for making it all happen!

Guest blog / Julia Black: Art Interiors chat and giveaway

Julia Black: For nearly 18 years, Art Interiors in Toronto has been shining a light on emerging and established artists. What started in their parents’ basements has since grown to become one of the most influential galleries in Toronto, if not Canada. Owners, long-time friends (and busy working moms), Lisa Diamond Katz and Shira Wood continue to bring us accessible, enlightening art, and kindly shared their expertise with me in a quick chat, as well as let me in on the art of buying art. 

Julia: Art Interiors is so welcoming to those of us who aren’t art collectors and who frankly, know very little about art. Do you find people are intimidated by art? 

Lisa: Absolutely! Huge intimidation factor with art! People fear judgment for what they put up on their walls- they feel it’s a reflection of them, which it sort of does, but hey, you have to be who you are, and like what you like- you have to live with the artwork, so it should appeal to you! We try to encourage people to buy what they respond to, not what matches the room or fits the space necessarily. 

J: Do you feel there are any rules to follow, or to break, when it comes to blending artwork, or different styles and mediums? 

Shira: No rules! Buy what you like and it will all work together. We encourage an eclectic grouping involving many different artists work, styles, genres, and mediums. It shows your personality and shows confidence. Mix up your frame choices as well! Too much of the same can be dull and boring!

J: Are there any areas in a home that aren' appropriate to hang art, or build a gallery wall? 

L: No way! You can put artwork up in the laundry room! The only caveat is a small steamy bathroom- works on paper or on canvas can get damaged by the humidity. But you can hang smaller works that won’t buckle or crack. Just ask when you buy it. 

J: Finally, for all of us who are looking at introducing art into their lives, any words of wisdom? 

S: Don’t be intimidated when buying art, original art is for everyone and is easily accessible through local art fairs, community centres and hey, our gallery! Educate yourself and ask questions when buying what you like. Starting small is an easy way to begin. 

S: And Canadian artists are so undervalued! They are the best deal in town! 

GIVEAWAY: Aaron Emerson Jones Glory (Revisited)

California native, Aaron Emerson Jones, came to Canada to study Fine Arts at Queen’s University, and over the years has exhibited in New York, Miami, Los Angeles and throughout Canada. His passion rests in creating dreamy landscapes, composed of layers of paint and photographic images suspended in multiple pours of high-gloss resin.  This young artist is undoubtedly one to watch for - Read more about Aaron on Julia's blog here.

Prize: One grand prize of Glory (Revisited) by Aaron Emerson Jones. The 24" x 24" artwork is valued at $550 and is pictured in the last image below.

1. Just 'Like' Art Interiors on Facebook here before Thursday March 24th, 2011, at 12pm EST, for a chance to win. The contest is also open to all Facebook peeps who have already 'Liked' Art Interiors.

2. One grand prize winner will be chosen by a random number generator and will be announced via Facebook and as an update to this post on the morning of Friday March 25th, 2011, at 9am EST. Good Luck! 

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY  Void where prohibited. Odds depend on number of applicants who participate. Participants may enter the contest by following the steps mentioned above by Thurs March 24th, 2011, at 12pm EST. Applicants must be of the age of majority in his/her province, territory or state of residence or older at the time of entry to participate and win. Contest open to residents of the US and Canada, excluding residents of Quebec.  

Just a little rad

So thank heavens for the thaw and rising temps, because it meant we could finally get a slew of art hung. Let me explain - Our big ass extension ladder that we keep outside was finally un-frozen enough to drag in and tackle hanging close to a dozen pieces around the house. The big plan was to take on the blank wall in our mondo stairwell, since the other wall has been looking peachy and art-filled for ages so it was high time that we balanced things out.

We found space for stuff picked up in (and dragged home from) Glasgow, London, Buffalo, Tokyo and Hawaii, as well as gifts from friends and vintage finds from our local Goodwill. I love them all, but special mention goes to the largest piece, which is the gorgeous Brooks Brothers Suit (black line) by illustrator/printmaker - and sweetie - Alanna Cavanagh, while another fave is the small RAD print by artist R. Bennett that we grabbed from Chinatown Boardroom in Honolulu. Art is good!

{that one great thing} Lynda's clock collection

Check in on Covet Garden's 'About Us' page and you'll see that stylist Lynda Felton - one of the 3 folks who started the online mag - is in charge of Style Stuff. No big grand title for her or, for that matter, her two compadres Jessica and Rhonda, which is refreshingly laid-back and just how these 3 talented women roll. I asked Lynda a while back for that one great thing, and this gorgeous vintage collection showed up in my in-box. No surprise, since ask her to descibe her house and she'll say - "It's all old clocks, wasps nests, framed insects, and beat up furniture over here." Lovely!

Lynda Felton: My first clock belonged to my grandfather (the Westclox Big Ben, third from the left, with the silver ring on top) it is over 100 years old and still works perfectly. I love the sound it makes when it is ticking -  gentle and reliable - like my grandfather. The Lux Claridge (second from the right) is from the 30's and it was my grandmothers. My grandparents collected clocks and it was my job to help wind them  - all 37 of them, no matter how hard I tried I could never get them to go off at the same time. It felt like there was always a clock chiming off somewhere in the house.

When I see the old clocks I can't help but think about who might have owned it. What was that person doing in the 20's, 40's? Did this clock get them up for work? What kind of work? Most people had these clocks by their beds, they touched them everyday. These old timers have seen a lot.

My biggest splurge was my Early Bird clock (first on the left). I couldn't resist this fabulous little gem, the bird bobs up and down, pulling the worm out of it's hole in time with the ticking - come on - you have to admit that is pretty neat. See for yourself here... Other than the Early Bird I've never spent more than $5.00 on one and I'm always on the look out for a good deal.

TGIF with LTD

Ah, Friday, the best day of the week. And I'm ending it on a high with a new store that's opened up in my neck of the woods - Love The Design. Stationary designer/photographer Christine Flynn is the talent behind the place, which is jammed with tons of covetable gear - both vintage and new - and with walls filled with Christine's photography. I'm loving the shots of Levi the horse in that last snap, not to mention all the burlap upholstery and that newspaper wall (yum). LTD has been open for less than a week and already there's been a nice bit of buzz about the place (the folks from Covet Garden also stopped by), so it's definitely worth a peek. Ah, and talking of Covet Garden, keep your eyes peeled for a that one great thing post from one of the founders next week! Love The Design is at 1362 Queen St E in Toronto.

 

{that one great thing} Michelle's store clips

While I'm wrapping my head around a particularly difficult bit of writing today (oh, deadlines), I thought I'd hand things over to the talented Michelle Carangi of Montreal design firm, Holley & Gill, who, along with her husband Conrad Buck, creates gorgeous cushions and headboards with hand-printed patterns - love their Feathers design - in water-based inks on 100% cotton. Anyway, after meeting Michelle at the Interior Design Show I bugged her into contributing that one great thing, and she picked some very handy-dandy vintage clips.

Michelle Carangi: On becoming home owners almost seven years ago, Conrad and I have collected many special little items that have allowed us to inject some personality into our decor. 

Most of our finds have been vintage as of late simply because our taste tends to sway more towards the traditional and classic. Having been lucky enough to have traveled quite a bit over the last couple of years, we’ve collected so many different postcards, business cards and photos from places we’ve been and from people we’ve met. And so, when I found this set of vintage wall-mount store clips from Etsy shop AM Radio, I knew it would be the perfect solution to display them all. 

We need to be surrounded by what we love, and we’ve learned, sometimes the hard way, that buying things because they’re on trend will result in pieces that have no meaning and ultimately end up collecting dust. Whenever I walk by this display, I walk by all of our happy and unique memories and can add to it forevermore.

A little bit of B&W

This a.m. - before I headed out to give a talk to design students at Humber College (thx again Jo!) - I discovered the snap below of an Ikea dining table that had been tricked out in a black and white checkerboard. I have to say, I like the look. The hi-contrast combo of b&w seems to be one of those trends that's on the rise again (or did it really ever go away?), so it's kinda fitting that recently I got to play around with the clean and minimally styled Olympus XZ-1 that just happens to come in a lovely white-lacquered body with black detailing. Gorgeous? Yes. And for all you photography wonks out there - It comes fitted with a super-bright built-in 4x Olympus iZUIKO lens, the first ever built-in Zuiko lens on a digital camera. Oh, and just in case white isn't your thing, the XZ-1 is also available in matte black. [Image 1: Ikea/Livet Hemma]

 

More chair business

Sheesh, you would think that I have a one track brain and it's all about chairs. Today I was checking in on fabric options for the wonderfully kooky vintage pair below, scored by my client/friend Marija who obviously has a really great eye. Of course we had to buy them, since they were so darned cool (as well as amazingly well-priced), but it's taken us (as in me) a while to get the fabric options together. We'll be simplifying the design a fair bit - no tufting - and I would love to see if the refinisher can hack off that little glued on moulding detail before they're re-sprayed (probably in a cream or soft grey). The first fabric pic shows a few samples from the racks at DFO, the second is a slightly more luxe collection of possibilities found at Kravet in Designer's Walk. Do you have a fave? Currently the random Greek Key-ish pattern in the middle of the first snapshot is the front runner, though that herringbone from Thom Filicia could be very handsome.

Reidar on my radar

Yesterday I was doing the un-fun part of my job that always happens after a big photo-shoot - Returns. So, after getting that business out of the way at my local Ikea, my consolation prize was to walk the store and see what was new. And I'm happy to say that my chair-a-holic addiction was suitably jonesed by Reidar, one of the latest intro's in the dining department. Designed by Ola Wihlborg, the aluminum chairs come in five colours all together (the white and orange aren't shown below), are stackable, and can handle being both outdoors as well as in. Sweet!

{that one great thing} Marie-Eve's cabinet

I miss Montreal. In fact, I lived there for 3 crazy/fun years before moving to Toronto. Fellow blogger Marie-Eve Best of Lake Jane calls Montreal home, and I must admit to being more than a wee bit jealous, not to mention that I'm also a tad envious of the lovely little cabinet that Marie-Eve picked as that one great thing. Oh, and if you're planning on heading to MTL any time soon (and you REALLY should) be sure to check out Marie-Eve's Montreal Design Guide that she created for Grace at design*sponge.

Marie-Eve Best: My grandfather worked for the Post Office in High River Alberta for over 15 years. In the 1970's, the Post Office did some renovating and they discarded many of the old pieces of furniture that had been around for decades. My grandfather rescued this antique set of drawers used for storing stamps from being thrown into a garbage pile. He brought it home and it became my dad's bedside table/record stand. Later on, my dad added oak legs to the piece and it became a side table in my parent's living room.  As a child, I remember being so impressed with its automatic locking system. You have to open the bottom drawer in order to unlock the top ones - It still works today! 

When I moved out, I inherited it and used it in almost every room. It was an entryway catch-all, a bedside table, a TV stand, a tiny vanity… Now it sits in our living room and is mostly used as a catch-all for receipts and cables.  Although the piece is over 70 years old, the wood has just the right amount of wear and tear. It's a quirky little item filled with sentimental value.

A small look at design history

The other day I got a chance to check in on a v. cool small exhibit that's recently shown up in Toronto. Dimensions Of Design - 100 Classical Seats features perfectly scaled Vitra Design Museum miniatures that range from the 19th Century Windsor Chair at #1 all the way to the 1991 Philippe Stark designed Louis 20 at #100, and is a fascinitaing glimpse into the history of design, not to mention the vagaries of fashion and taste. The exhibition, which runs until March 9th, is housed in a pared back industrial gallery space in the Consulate General of Germany on the 25th floor of 2 Bloor St. East and has, as an added bonus, incredible views of the city that'll definitely make you want to get snap happy. Click here for deets, and check, check, check it out. Oh, and yes, if this exhibit turns you into a raging miniature chair-a-holic fear not, since you can buy them direct from Vitra here or, if you're in the city, pop in to Plan B for a quick fix.

{that one great thing} Troy's Panton

My e-mail inbox gets clogged up on a daily basis with all sorts of rubbish, but numbered among the few things I actually enjoy opening are the regular mailings from Caviar20. It's simple really, since Caviar20 mailers are always jammed with drool-worthy collectibles sourced by Troy Seidman. I bumped into Troy at the recent IDS and bugged him to let me in on that one great thing, so hear goes.

Troy Seidman: As a 20th century design dealer, the distinction between what belongs to Caviar20's inventory and my own personal collection is sometimes unclear. It's a pleasure of the business to get to live with beautiful objects. Sometimes pieces are in my life for only a few days... sometimes years. Of course I'm happy when pieces sell quickly, but I can also feel a bit melancholy when I don't get to spend more time with pieces, as I only buy things that I'm passionate about.  

I acquired this amazing Verner Panton panel about a year ago. About 8 months later, I thought it was sold to a collector in France and so removed it from my site... but then it was never paid for. So I've been happy to keep it for myself... for now.  

Most people who see it in my apartment assume that it's a contemporary work. For a piece that's over 40 years old, the colours are incredibly vibrant and the overall piece is in very good condition. Most importantly, the composition and the choice of colors feel very fresh (I'm a big fan of deep purples). Other panels (in scales of orange and brown) from this series have perhaps not aged so well.

The piece has a dual significance for me, since it's both aesthetically powerful/decorative while simultaneously being an important piece from Verner Panton's oeuvre. Panton is best known for his iconic cantilevered eponymously named chair, first made in 1967 from a single-piece of molded plastic. It's possibly one of the most popular (and copied) chairs from the 20th century. He designed quite a bit more than chairs (Panton's "Cone" "Heart Cone" and "Relaxer" are also staples of his design canon) including lighting, other furniture and accessories. His aesthetic is a bold intersection between space-age and 60's pop.  

In 1969 he created a number of highly graphic and groovy designs for the Swiss company Mira X applying his geometric compositions to rugs, upholstery fabric and single tapestry-like panels. This period was arguably the apex of his career and around the time he created his "fantasy interiors" (where these graphic fabrics were essential elements in the overall design of the projects). 

As for my Mira X panel, I might be willing to part with it (provided - this time - it's paid for). The fact that I've only been able to find one auction record, (Philips in London, 2004) for an identical panel makes it that much more special and rare. 

Me and Mr Millan

I'm ending Friday as happy as a clam because, yep, Spot and I got the chance to fulfill just about every dog owner's dream this week - Hang out with Cesar Millan, who'd made his first ever trip to Toronto to talk about Swiffer and creating a clean and calm pet - and people - friendly home. But not just Cesar, since his gorgeous and incredibly calm Blue Pitbull, Junior, was also on hand for moral (and hand licking) support. And yes, of course I peppered him with tons of questions on Spot's bad habits which, no surprise, mostly came down to training, and letting our mischevious little Whippet know exactly who's boss...

That first shot shows Spot relaxing in his smart black Chilly Dogs coat before our meet-and-greet. The next shows me and Cesar chatting on the couch (I totally get what he said about not making cleaning stressful, and how your dog can pick up on those cranky vibes). And then the final snap caught Cesar in mid "Tsst" when Junior and Spot were getting a tad too rambunctious. Major thanks to writer/photographer Laura Muir (check out her cool blog here) who kindly came along and took all the pictures.

  

Tables, eggs, milk, bananas

Oh I am so getting into the it's-almost-summer spirit, especially since I got to check out all the new PC Home outdoor gear yesterday. My faves were the 3 styles of occasional tables below, all available in peppy colours as well as good old white, and all affordably priced between $25 and $29. If you ask me, they're useful and cool enough to look smashing both indoors and out. Keep your eyes peeled, since the full collection - and there's loads more - will start hitting select Loblaw's and Real Canadian Superstores in the next couple of weeks (I'll definitely be tossing a couple of the tray tables into my cart the next time I go grocery shopping).

 

{that one great thing} Jennifer's chandelier

You guys might know Jennifer Flores as the smarty-pants behind that great blog, Rambling Renovators, while I've gotten to know her better as the tireless organizer - along with her husband Sean - of the always interesting and inspiring Pecha Kucha design talks that happen at the IDS and throughout the year (which, thanks to Jennifer, I have loads of fun hosting). You can find more about Pecha Kucha Toronto right here, and below you'll get the scoop on Jennifer's fave piece in her home in my series, that one great thing.

Jennifer Flores: This chandelier is my favourite thing in our house. Its made of translucent capiz shells edged in metal. I love its mix of hard and soft, masculine and feminine. Capiz comes from the Philippines so having this in my home reminds me not only of my heritage but also brings back fond memories of those kitschy capiz lamps and souvenirs scattered about my parents’ home in the 1970’s. 

I bought the chandelier on eBay seven years ago for $60. It was such a beautiful piece that I didn’t want to hang it just anywhere – so for most of the last seven years, it sat packed away in a box! I first hung it in a bedroom in my old condo when I needed to stage the room to prepare the condo for sale. The condo sold quickly so only two weeks later the chandelier went back into the box, no real time to enjoy it. 

Since then, it has survived two moves and only recently found a permanent home. We renovated our master bedroom and essentially planned the space around the chandelier.  Can I tell you how much I love lying in bed looking up at it? It was meant to be there all along.

Under the covers with Tracie

Last night I was whipping through The Bay, scouting for quelque chose for a shoot, and was stopped in my tracks by a delovely set of linen. This little wonder is called Sienna and hails from an Aussie firm, Aura by Tracie Ellis. The collection, smashing in black and yellow, was inspired by Victorian wallpaper and IMHO would be quite the bedroom statement maker. Loves it. Oh, and I included a close-up of the bedside table, since it has a fab nutty vibe with its mix of a Moooi Rabbit Lamp and a Patricia Urquiola designed T Table for Kartell (not to mention the great matte black wall). Here's hoping the nice peeps at The Bay bring in more of Tracie's line.