My trip to Miami was filled with some great shopping scores.
For instance, I snapped up this Urban Outfitters Silence & Noise Printed Poplin Skirt on the clearance rack for less than 25 bucks! It's probably as close to the IKAT trend as I'll get and I loved the bright hits of violet too!
This beautiful mahogany piece is going for a cool $2,995 at Elbers Antiques & Refinishing on Queen East:
It looks to be in tip-top shape so even though I’m dying to refurbish an antique secretary, I don’t think I could bare to make over such a beautiful original a la Eddie.
It’s not often I walk into a retail space and sigh out loud with pure contentment.... but such was the rare case at Stemz.
The warm smell of spring flows through this open concept floral studio on Queen East but the delight goes way beyond your olfactory bulb...
When you enter the narrow sun-lit space you are literally presented with a visual feast of fauna styled against a historic brick wall, chalkboards with price listings and an elegant cold storage framed in classic mouldings.
You can see the creativity by looking at the innovative and interesting containers used for the arrangements, and the linen-covered setee, white-washed mirror and vintage sink add extra charm.
Stemz services customers walking in off the street looking for some blooms to take home, but their real bread and butter is weddings and special events.
There are also workshops offered for people looking to develop their floral skills (perhaps a sweet mother's day activity to try...)
Visit Stemz for yourself at 783 Queen Street East.
While the select pieces Williamson designed are fun and flirty with his signature bold use of colour, I don't think they're necessarily worth the unusually-inflated H&M price tag. If I was to pony up the cash though, it would be for this rich chocolate leather biker jacket! Fierce!
(photograph by Tara Walton/ Toronto Star)
Established in 1980, Texas-based Jan Showers & Associates turns out spectacular livable interiors with a dash of the unexpected. Showers' elegant use of colour, pattern and texture results in multi-layered rooms that look comfortable yet chic. Even the more traditional looks read fun and delightful, as opposed to fussy and dull.
In addition to her design practice, Showers also runs her own showroom in Dallas which sells unusual antiques, decorative pieces and her own line of furnishings, lighting and accessories.
Here are some of my favourite spaces from her website:
I just went to Miami with the boy for a few days. I promise I'll have plenty of fun posts in the upcoming days - including some great photos from a few of my favourite Miami shops!
Greek key is the key to my decorating heart. There is something slightly retro but contemporary about the linear design. It's both graphic and glam and literally pops on drapery, bedding and towels.
Here are some of my favourite current greek key pieces:
Matouk Greek Key Linens, $56-720
1970s Mastercraft Dining Table, $5,500
Jonathan Adler Greek Key Round Rug, $600
Italian brass armchair with Greek key armrests, $3,500
One can never go wrong with a standout piece of costume jewelry that makes them feel like a billion ornamented bucks. The statement necklace has fulfilled that job for many, but I haven’t seen that many chunky necklaces that I’d try out myself.
I spotted local designer Franklin wearing a version at an event and I commented on how much I loved it – but little did I know she had made it herself!
For more information on Tenielle Franklin's jewelry, check out Tenielledesign.com or visit her etsy store to purchase.
Angus and Co, the high end home shop owned by designer John Angus, is a welcoming and homey spot off the corner of Dupont and Christie . The bright-lit space houses vignettes that look like they were torn off the pages of a design glossy, making you feel right at home while browsing from the various home wares.
The two-storey shop stocks a hodge podge of antique and contemporary furnishings and decorative objects, but the overwhelming ambiance of the store feels more heritage and heirloom than mod design pod.
The collection of vintage-looking silver accessories makes a great gift and the classic collection of glassware, table lamps, end tables and accessories are good treats for yourself too!
Here are my favourite picks from Angus and Co:
The Ritz Pitcher, $123 and simple silver Tray $79 are elegant classics
This Nautica Lamp, $575 has striking lines
I am obsessed with this set of handcrafted arrows on an aluminium stand, $231 - what a great way to add edge and height to a vignette!
This simple -Gilt Iron End Table, $425 takes up little visual space
This Ornamental Starfish, $28 is the perfect finishing touch to a stack of books on your coffee table.
Visit Angus and Co for more information.
Aching to make your seder super groovy? Do as Susie Fishbein does and skip the same old seder plate and put the symbolic foods in a bento box instead! You may not be able to eat sushi for 8 days, but you can at least go Asian in your presentation for the traditional meal.
For more cute Passover ideas, check out Fishbein's cookbook, Passover By Design.
Chag Sameach to you all and I wish you a happy and healthy Pesach!
