Spot vs. Rug, Spot wins

The living room rug is a gonner. We had a major attack of the chewing puppy, both yesterday and the day before. Is Spot trying to tell us something (other than the fact he thinks it's fun)? On the first day it looked a bit like a map of Cyprus, and then he finished up yesterday by re-working it into a Mickey Mouse hat (y'know, the one with the ears). Take a look at the blurry cell phone shot below, turn your head 90 degrees anti-clockwise and squint a little. Do you see what I mean?

So, we're going to have to get a replacement rug and I'm thinking that Flor carpet tiles are the perfect solution. Seriously, if he decides to go to town on a particular square we can just pop it out and replace it - And wait patiently for him to get through this chewing phase. He's a perfect chap otherwise, and from what we hear at the dog park we should be lucky he doesn't have a passion for cell phones, remote controls and underwear. That second snap is the Flor carpet that we're considering which, hilariously enough, is a houndstooth pattern called All Bark and No Bite...

Julia Black: Things that make you go oh!

My entertaining plans this year have gone a little gaga - go figure - so I’ve decided to hunt for some witty, odd and outrageous entertaining décor. Having popped into the new Drake General Store (they've opened up on the swanky Rosedale strip on Yonge) I couldn’t help but fall into a playful holiday mood. Inspired by the crazy/cool objects in store I found all sorts of amazing bits and pieces perfect for my jam-packed social calendar. After all, it’s good to poke fun at the uptight and not to take anything too seriously, and with these eye-catching, jaw-dropping and fun-loving accessories I think I’ve managed to lighten up my hostess duties just a tad. Check out their Heffer Pitcher (good for eggnog too), the Unsealed Glass Bowl (who needs plastic?), and the Coffeee and Lipstick Stained Mugs (no need to do dishes!).

To read more posts from Julia click here, and to check out her cool blog click here.

  

Feeling a little rough around the edges

I happened across a totally interesting furniture firm yestreday while researching a Trendwatch feature for House & Home's March 2010 issue. They're called Casamento, they're based in a suburb of Cape Town and well, I think they're all kinds of fabulous. Check them out and you'll see they mix handmade and mid-century with an artist's eye in their vintage and reproduction furniture and upholstery. The folks behind Casamento love the process of stripping down and re-building old pieces, and that's the idea behind their Raw collection, and that sweet re-done vintage chair below. I love its deconstructed look, and almost inside-out construction with the waxed twine stitching proudly on show, and the fact that it's just so relaxed and imperfect. Lovely!

 

I want an axe (no really, I do)

Well, we do have a crappy one that we bought when we were chopping out 20 years of roots and weedy sapplings in the garden. In fact, I lie, that is actually axe number 2, since the first we bought snapped after a couple of whacks. To quote William Morris, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” That is the reason we need an axe from Best Made Co.

I discovered Best Made while working on this piece for the National Post (they've created a special Hudson's Bay Company axe), then realised that they've been featured in a ton of spots, including *Wallpaper and I.D. magazine. Check out a couple of beauties from their Fall /09 collection, Bluerightby and Sam Hain. Below you'll find a snap from the firm's Manhattan workroom, and finally some Axe art (seriously) shot by Adrian Gaut, and available for purchase. For even more Best Made Co you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter, and click here to read how the two owners met in '84 as kids at Camp Ahmek in Algonquin Park. 

                                      

{Giving it} Krouvi Beer Mug

Giving it is all about my take on what makes a great gift. Here's the first off the block, the Krouvi Beer Mug. Designed back in 1973 by Finnish master glass designer Oiva Toikka the Krouvi is all hefty workaday simplicity, marked by that lovely pebbled texture and crisply stamped with a 50cl mark (so you know exactly how much organic brew you've downed). Oh, did I mention it's made by Ittala, is freezer-safe, and that it's on the shelf at Crate & Barrel for under $10? I'll take a half dozen please...

Craft in kind

Okay peeps, have you been to the One of a Kind show yet? I took a super fast runthrough the other day and saw some great stuff, and will be finding time over the next couple of days to head back to grab a few things. The show is such a part of the Holiday season for me, and a wander through always puts me in the mood (let alone sampling all the shortbread). So, if you need any more convincing, just check out the vignettes below - which I can totally tell were shot at photographer Michael Alberstat's studio - and are crammed with lots of cool crafted One of a Kind gear.

Spot meets rug

Spot, our Whippet puppy, just turned 6 months and (as any proud parent of dog or child will tell you) is the smartest/coolest/handsomest kid around. Perfection does have it's price - He's currently a wee bit of a chewaholic and has managed to chew a couple of holes into this rug since, I guess, the looped pile feels extra good on his brand new adult teeth. What a little monkey. Luckily we can probably flip the rug around and hide his handiwork under the sofa (or maybe order a new rug!). Oh, and we've re-directed his chewy energy with an apparently beyond delicious chicken-flavoured rawhide bone.

It's nice to know there are other dog nutters out there. Check out the Doug Meyer designed space below, which is barmy and cool and punctuated by a large portrait of his furry best friend. I'm a big fan of Meyer's ballsy style, and to read more from the man himself check out a recent interview here. If you're ever in Miami you can check out his latest project, the Lace Nail and Beauty Labs, which he descibes as "Miami Beach 1968 meets Dorothy Draper meets Tangier of the 1970s." [Image: Mark Roskams]

Julia Black: Judging a book by its cover

I just love buying books! I love finding stunning hardbacks to put on display, dusty classics to refer to (or to remind myself to read someday), and style books that always inspire. Most especially I love buying books in the holiday season because they make a wonderful gift. So, when I discovered that Penguin had released a new classics collection of gorgeous clothbound books I knew I could check off tons of names on my gift list. A senior cover designer at Penguin, Coralie Bickford-Smith, has designed these beautiful book covers, and its her admiration for vintage printed ephemera that distinguishes her designs. Whether she uses literal or symbolic references to drive her work, the alluringly dramatic covers are the perfect reason to revisit and rediscover a bit of Jane Austen or Oscar Wilde. The only problem is choosing which title to buy, since they certainly are lovely as a set!

To read an interview with Coralie click here, to snap up the books at Indigo/Chapters click here and, if your a total bookophile check out Penguin's fun blog here. [Image 1: Liam Goodman via Vogue.com. Image 2 & 3: via Coralie Bickford-Smith]

For even more of Julia's point of view check out her cool blog here.

861 or 80?

Are you a square feet or square metre person? Do you count rooms and then add a 1/2 for a bath, and never include a basement? Oh, the strangeness of real estate... This space by Italian firm Poliform revels on the smaller side of things with an 80m squared plan (or 861 feet squared, depending on how you're feeling). Love the look of the place, though their assertion that it's a low budget project might not wash with everyday peeps like you and me. For more, check out the website here to see the rest of the interior, though be warned, the site is rather annoyingly wiggly.

 

  

Popping and shopping

Just a quickie, since I so have to be somewhere else like right this second (I'm totally in the midst of wrangling my IDS10 project). Anyhow, people have been asking whether Bev Hisey is having another of her magic sample sales, and the answer is - Yes! So, check out the cool little flyer below, and expect to find Bev's trademark pillows, throws and rugs at sweet discounts.

Oh, and talking of what's happening, it seems we are having a bit of a pop-up shop mini craze. At least two swell affairs have landed in my in-box in the last couple of days that look definitely worth a check-check-check out. Holt Renfrew is appearing at the Fashion House condo (560 King St W) with racks of fashionable must-haves from Dec 2nd to Dec 6th, and then you'll find a whole slew of folks from the worlds of fashion, beauty and design setting up for the Burroughes Designer Department Store (639 Queen St W) from Dec 3rd to Dec 6th. Happy shopping!

F&B's 4 takes on '10

Here we go, a bit of a look forward (hopefully past lots of nasty wintry weather) into the gorgeousness that will be 2010 from Farrow & Ball, since the nice folks there have come up with 4 key colour trends for next year that all sound - and look - simply lovely.

From the top, Industrial: A strong but fragile fusion of colour which slides tradition up against modernity and is inspired by industrial architecture. Next on the block is Aquatic: A soft, watery palette inspired by the elements which is a palette that starts out with an inky blue then softens to something more tranquil. Then we move into a stronger, more fashion-forward and graphic direction in dramatic plums and greys for Urban Decay: A vibrant scheme with an unpredictable twist. Finally, on the more opulent tip of things you'll find Glitz & Glamour: A decadent look that celebrates excess with lots of gold and hints of Middle Eastern influences.    

     

   

Cute, and still snappy at 50

Oh, I do love that touch of vintage, so I hafta say that the new Olympus Pen E-P1 camera in white has 'my cup of tea' written all over it. The Pen line of cameras debuted back in 1959, making the latest digital version - available in silver and black, as well as the yum white tint - the grand old age of fifty. Apart from the fact that there's no more fumbling with film, the Pen now comes jammed with all the latest technological bells and whistles and includes a slew of Art Filters. Oh, and if you're going for it, you might as well go all the way and spring for the white leather neck strap (don't forget the matching body jacket) shown in the shot below. Click here for more info, and click here to watch a series of short films on the Pen anniversary.

As for the original Pens well, just take a boo at the first image, they were quite the hit in the late 50's through into the 60's and are now a prized collectible. Oh, and when I stumbled across that second shot I knew I had to include it, it's a scan from one of the original Pen manuals teaching you 'how to hold a camera' (found here).

 

Julia Black: Capturing Heidi Leverty

One of my favorite aspects of working on Pure Design is searching for local artists to feature in each episode. Several of us on the team would brainstorm and research that perfect creative type for each episode at hand, and with countless talented and passionate artists out there discovering them was such a memorable journey. One of my absolute faves this season was Heidi Leverty, an astounding photographer and enlightening artist. Her exceptional ability to convey, through her lens, the beauty in discarded objects is amazing. Within her four collections of photographs, Heidi shines a light on transformations, cycles, and lifespan, which causes us to reconsider and appreciate the value and beauty of all that is around us. Take a close look and you’ll see the ordinary material of our everyday routines becomes an extraordinary photograph. You can catch Heidi's inspired work on this week's episode of Pure Design on HGTV.

For even more of Julia's point of view check out her cool blog here.

5 quick questions: Tommy Smythe

If ever you want to meet someone with airs and graces, who looks down their nose and is the dictionary definition of pretentious, don't go knocking on interior designer Tommy Smythe's door. You definitely know Tommy from his work (and his wit) with Sarah Richardson on HGTV, and also from seeing his fab spaces in Canadian House & Home Magazine (check out the kitchen below, picked by the H&H editors as one of the most memorable rooms published in the mag's history), so I thought it would be fun to put him on the spot to answer 5 quick questions. He graciously agreed, and scooted along all the shots below, snapped by the talented Michael Graydon and featured on the pages of House & Home. Lovely, no?

And, to check out more 5 quick questions interviews with a slew of v. interesting folks, click here.

Arren Wiliams: What's inspiring you right now?

Tommy Smythe: Malachite, amethyst, The High Line, my sister Christie Smythe of Smythe Les Vestes, Yves St. Laurent, D Squared, peacock feathers, King Tut, Grace Coddington, Yoko Ono, London - New York - Palm Beach, Crayola crayons, poppies, Glee, Thom Browne, Miles Redd, flags, blogs.

AW: Is there anything that drives you crazy when you walk into a space?

TS: Fake.  Anything fake, really.  I'm the kind of guy who would (and has) survived on noodles and Gatorade for a month to be able to afford the real thing.  Knock offs are not fair and they're not design.

AW: What's the next thing you have your eyes on for your own house?

TS: I saw an oversized crystal and sterling match striker (I collect them) at a shop I love.  It's over $400, so I walked away, but I've been thinking about it a lot.  I have a crush on it.  I am waiting until I can get up the nerve to walk back in.  Then we will be together.  I'll just have to live on noodles and Gatorade for a few days....

AW: How would you describe your look, and has it changed over the years?

TS: My look has definitely changed over the years!  It's always evolving as I learn and travel and get exposed to more.  I have always liked an eclectic mix of things - the right balance of vintage, or antique and modern things.  I like rooms that have the feeling of timeless elegance and gracious living.  Style and comfort reflected in furniture and art curated with a sense of personal history.  I am really big on nostalgia...real comfort comes from there.

AW: What's next on the horizon?

TS: For the world of design:  I am so glad to have no idea!  What I love so much about this field is the surprise of it all - creative direction is so delightfully unpredictable.  That said, I think we can all expect to see quite a lot of plaid in the near future....

For me:  I am just about to begin shooting a brand new series with Sarah for HGTV Canada.  We're focusing on the building blocks of a room from top to bottom.  It's a '101' sort of a thing with our usual fun approach.  If it's not fun, it's just not worth doing - life is too short!!!

    

Inky and pretty

In my line of work I get to see gorgeous stuff, well, almost on a daily basis, but every now and then I get completely gobsmacked by something that's just so jarringly lovely that I'm rendered speechless. Hello, did you take a look at the shots below? Are they not completely fantabulous? All that colour against that inky black wall is just so inspiring - let alone the vintage pottery and all the other collectibles - it just makes me want to grab a paintbrush and a gallon of Farrow & Ball's darkly glam Railing and paint over all our white walls. Let's give a big gold star to both the brilliant photographer Janne Peters and stylist Maria Grossman, who collaborated on this project, and thanks too to both of them for letting me share the images with you!

Colour correction

Okay, I'm all for good taste, but every now and then I think I might just barf if I have to look at another classic white linen drum shade. Jeez Louise people, let's break out of the beige box and have some fun! Anyhoo, along the lines of that mini rant I want to share the work of Rie Elise Larsen. This Danish stylist stepped out in the Spring of '08 to create her own line of completely gorgeous housewares, paper goods and fashion accessories, all with a light, bright and intensely colourful sensibility. Me likey, especially the be-ribboned paper lampshades and colourful lamp cords shown below. Click here to check out the rest of her beautifully photographed and v. charming collection.

Bake at 350 for 15 hours...

Here's a few snaps - and a bit of a sneak peek - of one of the 12 Trees of Christmas at the Gardiner Museum. This witty and minimal Brobdingnagian cookie cutter-meets-tree was designed by the talented duo of Boychuk+Fuller, and fashioned out of aluminum by a local metal firm. All 12 trees will be on exhibit until Dec 10th, though tonight, if you hit the Gardiner's swanky gala, you'll have a chance to bid at a silent auction to snag one for your own place (or donate it to your fave charity). And yep, it's for a good cause with all funds raised supporting programming and education at the museum. Oh, and I might be a wee bit biased, lol, since Alana and Tristan of Boychuk+Fuller are working with me on my Ultimate space for the Interior Design Show.

   

   

Julia Black: Wet, cool and green

Hey one and all, I've asked the v. talented Julia Black (you might know here from HGTV's Pure Design!) to start up as a weekly contributor on my blog. Here's her first post - Over to you Jules!

Whenever I discover anything Canadian I feel a lovely patriotic glow, so when I recently came across an outstanding Canadian company making a positively stylish difference I wanted to share the pride. Tap Water Bottle has created a reusable - made of 100% glass - chic and sleek water bottle that is more than a water bottle, it's a fabulous everyday accessory. I just love the crisp design and practical flip cap, and of course, the sassy message written in a refreshing white font reminds us why you're smarter for choosing an environmentally friendly material for storing your drinking water. Considering how much hideous litter plastic bottles create, and how much money it costs to stay hydrated with H2O these days, investing in reusability is the smart thing to do, so cheers to Tap Water Bottle founder Racquel Youtzy, who has a strong mandate to make the world a cleaner place to live! To grab a few Tap Water Bottles (they're a snappy Holiday gift as well as perfect water decanters for your next swanky 'do'!) click here. [Image 1: Peter Ovesny. Image 2: Michelle Quance]

For even more Julia check out her cool blog here.

5 quick questions: Barbara Hulanicki

You possibly won't stumble across too many folks who have launched a capsule fashion collection for Brit fashion fave TopShop, as well as rustled up a stunner of a wallpaper line (all gorgeously flocked) for Graham & Brown and designed the interiors of a slew of hotels in Miami, let alone had someone write a musical based on your life, and have a documentary about you debut to rave reviews. I'm talking fashion and design icon Barbara Hulanicki, who first stepped into the spotlight in the mid-Sixties when she opened the doors on Biba - her incredibly influential boutique - in London, and who kindly said yes to answering 5 quick questions.

Below you'll see a couple of snaps from Flock, her swish collection for G&B which - yes - includes flocked skulls, as well as Marie Antoinette-ish portraits. You'll also spot a pic of the kind of inlaid bone furniture that's inspiring Barbara right now (found here), as well as a trailer for November Film's Beyond Biba documentary.

For more on Barbara Hulanicki click here, and to check out the rest of the 5 quick questions interviews click here. And! Be sure to check out the Interior Design Show in Jan '10, when I'll have the pleasure of talking design with Barbara on stage. 

Arren Williams: What's inspiring you right now?

Barbara Hulanicki: The tropical weather and Indian bone inlayed furniture.

AW: Is there anything you hate to see when you walk into a room?

BH: A white sofa.

AW: What's the next thing you have your eye on for your own house?

BH: A Colombian sisal rug which has a silver metallic weave.

AW: How would you describe your style, and has it changed over the years?

BH: I am very eclectic. I become a chameleon with each client or project.

AW: What's next for you?

BH: I would love to start coordinated Biba Home shops!

    

Emergency hot fudge sundae

It has been one of those weeks where I've had occasion to have at least one emergency hot fudge sundae. I guess it's part of the fun of working from home, but in just a few minutes I can cobble together hot fudge sauce with a shot of espresso, chocolate chips, and a spoon of peanut butter, all nuked in the microwave. Toss in a healthy scoop of vanilla frozen yogourt and the world is kept at bay until I get to the bottom of the bowl.

One of the things that got me worked up enough for an emergency HFS was the terrible news that Metropolitan Home mag is closing its doors. December will be the last issue. Sheesh. So to take my mind off things I had a poke around PointClickHome, which MH mag shares with Elle Decor, and discovered this cool little makeover. It's Carrie Fisher's dressing room at Studio 54, the nightclub-turned-performance space where she's performing her fantabulous one-woman show Wishful Drinking. Anyways, check out the beastly before, and then see what wonder was wrought by designer John Gidding in what must have been a dizzying 2 weeks. For more, click here for the full story. [Images: Joshua Thomas]