Fashion tech

First off, thanks to the witty and well dressed folks behind Fashion File's cool blog for giving me a mention. Check it out for their behind-the-scenes insight on what's happening on the street and on the runway!

More on the fashion front - HP hooked up with designer Vivienne Tam on a swanky new Special Edition clutch-sized laptop that debuted in Tam's NY Fashion Week runway show. I'm loving the signature red case with it's funked-up floral motif (imagine it as wallpaper, mmm) that picks up on prints in the collection - definitely more chic than geek. The word is that you'll be able to get your well manicured hands on it in October.

Home work

"What's up with the house?" Every Tom, Dick and Harriet have been asking, so here's the up-to-date deelio with where we're at on the reno front. Nothing too picture worthy unfortunately, though lots of behind the scenes stuff has been happening to move everything forward.

Cera Stone, our fab contractors, have had the electricians in to completely re-wire the house (we had aluminum wire which had been crazily jacked around in a previous reno), so there have been tons of decisions on lighting (where to put the pot lights), switches, outlets and phone and cable. I was hoping for an elegant solution for oullets in the master bathroom, since I'd like them hidden in cabinetry, so we'll see how we do with that. The re-wiring is almost done and is waiting on construction to start before it can be completely finished.

On the 'major' side of things we've had the architect in to draw up plans for the main floor since we want to, umm, remove all supporting walls. That means beams, baby. One huge steel one and perhaps two wood ones tied in, all concealed in the ceiling (we'll lose about a 3/4"). Once the plans are in with the City we'll be waiting on permits to get on that stuff (more picture-worthy for sure!).

So, we're pretty much on-schedule - But, will we be cracking open the Veuve on New Years in the new place?

To take a look at all the before shots on the house click here, and to check out all the story so far on the reno click here.

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.

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?

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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Does it come in white?

Yesterday was a very bad day. I cracked my laptop screen (don't ask), had a very dodgy haircut that I had to 'fix' by hacking at it with a pair of kitchen scissors, and then discovered that a very lovely Kohler sink I needed for a kitchen reno was smashed and had to be replaced asap. Bad things definitely run in three's...

Luckily for me David is an IT superstar and managed to get everything off the old laptop and onto a storage drive, all the while with only a 2 inch square bit of screen that was still visible. So we hit Best Buy , where I was blown away - since I'm of course thinking 'design first' - by all the laptop colour and styling choices available. One with a swirly pattern was quickly dismissed, and then I was trying to wrap my head around the HP Special Edition Thrive in Dynamic Bronze (more of a coppery tone really) when something else caught my eye - It was the v. cool HP Special Edition Influx in Ceramic White (glossy white with a subtle pattern). No more boring old laptop for me, and of course I've promised not to break this one.

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.

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.

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 -

Quality workmanship

When our new place was built in 1965 they really knew their stuff, but ever since then everything that has happened to the house has been, well, weird. Apart from the obvious (a shower off the kitchen) we've been finding lots of evidence of what I can only describe as quality workmanship. When pulling out the walls in the master bath we found Coffee Time coffee cups and bits of drywall and wood shoved into the walls - was it for insullation? Nice, but nothing compared to the delightful mess that was awaiting us in the basement.

Previous owners, the ones who had the brainwave to brick up the garage door, also did lots of other 'smart' renos in the rest of the downstairs. We had no choice, all the drywall had to come down so we can re-route services up to the second floor, but boy, did we have a suprise or three. A dropped ceiling suspended from hundreds of bits of old wood - including a chair leg - hid a spiders web of wiring so spookily bad that our contractors, Cera Stone, said it was sheer luck that no-one had been electrocuted. Then the wall came down. Behind it we found more 'insullation' in the form of garbage, part of an old fence and a few plumbing parts from a toilet. All lovely of course, but one day soon this will be quite the fab laundry room. Take a look here to catch up with the story so far on The House Project.

Pretty clear

Well, fortunately/unfortunately we made it back from Palm Springs - Oh, to be stuck there for just a few more days, lol. I'll be posting more pics and info on PS soon.

I wanted to whet your appetite a little, as we lurch into the post-Labour Day headlong rush into Fall and then (brrrr!) Winter, so here are a couple of very pretty food shots that I propped for art director Jason Kang and photographer Felix Wedgwood. Unfortunately the (obviously) v. fab food stylist who worked on these luminous shots has slipped my mind and so I'll have to get back to you on that - apologies!!! This was a 'creative' - a project dreamed up by Jason to showcase what we can do (when left to our own devices).

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 -

The getaway

An oppurtunity came up to escape the daily grind in Toronto and head to Palm Springs, California, (thanks T,D and J!) and we jumped at it. We're back at a fave place The Horizon Hotel for a couple of days, and well, we're loving it. The hotel was designed back in 1952 by architect William F Cody and was quite the spot for Hollywood starlets in it's day - it's all low-slung black and white buildings surrounding an anguler pool - V. cool indeed, and if you're ever out this way we highly recommend it.

Looking around I'm very inspired, so I'm trying to find ways to make our very dumpy back yard (look here) have the same feel. Hmmm, we probably can't do palm trees and cacti, a pool would blow the budget, and our view is of the back of a victorian semi, not the mountains...

Tick tock

Fonts, lettering and any kind of graphic layout just always get my attention when it comes to design. Back in my teens I had to choose between graphics and fashion - I chose fashion (fool!) and now look where I am, lol. Our old place had a few great graphic pieces that always got lots of attention, like the Last Night A DJ artwork that hung above the fireplace (take a look here). I guess the graphic thing runs in the family; my brother is head of Typography & Design at a top London ad firm (thanks again Christian for the sweet logo design you did for the blog!). He's also responsible for buying us the Last Night A DJ print as well as some other great pieces he's found for us over the years, hmmm, perhaps he should consider a second career as an art adviser?

The pic below shows a very modern take on an old fashioned flip-style digital clock that has a scattershot approach with lots of different fonts. The Font Clock is from Established & Sons, an ultra edgy Brit firm, and is designed by Sebastian Wrong. In Toronto check out Ministry of the Interior, they carry the line, as well as a mondo selection of other interesting gear.

Sweet petite

Who doesn't love a makeover? Canadian House & Home must've figured out that just about everyone does, as their Makeover special issue has just hit newstands with a resoundingly pleasing thud. There's ton's of great stuff to check out, but my fave is the feature produced by design smarty-pants Stacey Smithers. It's a quiet riot of creamy greys, warm acidy yellows and spicy pinks (yummy) that all adds up to quite the chic look - I could totally move in.

Now, fairs fair - Stacey is a mate of mine (I can hardly think of anyone else I'd rather share a highly calorific meal with, lol), but this place is quite the marvel compared with it's grubby past. You'll have to check the mag for those scary before shots, but take a peek below to get a taste of a young couple's sweet new home. Photography by Donna Griffith.

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!

Bare bones

That's just about where we're at with the new house; back to bare bones. After two stellar days when Manuel, David's dad, came to lend a professional hand we've made major progress. Before Manuel's arrival we were removing the drywall by literally smashing it with the sledgehammer, errr, fun but not exactly the smartest route. Now we use the jimmie, jimmie, lever technique; which brings a whole sheet down at a time. Who knew? Though, like high school calculus, we might not ever have any real-world application for this in the future (fingers crossed).

We're onto skip number 4 (the neighbours are counting, lol) and have pretty much hit a brick wall - All the old flooring is up throughout the main and second floor, we're back to studs on all walls that we're hoping to remove and the main floor ceiling is down too. Removing the strip wood flooring is the biggest pain ever, mainly because each and every nail has to be pulled out by claw hammer and - there -are - thousands - Ugh. We've just about crawled over every inch of sub-floor on nail patrol.

Next step is for our on-the-ball contractors Cera Stone to draw the plans, permit, and then execute setting a steel beam and two wood beams that will support the second floor.

The first couple of pics show what's left of the main floor living area, and old main floor shower room. The second couple show the master bedroom with the closets knocked out and the master bathroom sans tub, toilet, and wall. And, take a look here at the work on the house so far.