For Esmé - with Love and Squalor

The author of one of my most favourite texts of all time passed away. This weekend I will be revisiting Esmé, Seymour Glass or Teddy in his honour.

You Bow Me Over

I can be such a girly girl so naturally that includes being drawn to bows in all shapes and forms. (sorry Dave!)

This stunning pale pink silk bow with black Swarovski crystals by Dagworthy is no exception. Pale pink and black is one of my favourite colour combos, (and you can bet this trio will be making an appearance in my apartment) – so stunning!

IDS 10 Recap

As a decorator I am instinctively drawn more to furnishings, finishes and accessories than any items that require mechanical or structural consideration. I’ll happily pick out tiling and stone options, cabinet profiles, hardware, fixtures and a backsplash for a kitchen or bath, but I’d still rather do a living room or bedroom any day! Therefore I found the offerings at IDS 10 to be a little out of my comfort zone, as there were way more kitchen, bath and fireplace exhibitors than anything else. (I guess that’s why it’s called the Interior Design Show and not the Interior Decorator’s Show)

Nevertheless I still took some shots of my favourite finds for you:

This vignette in the featured space by Ink and Mung Leung was quite striking.

I loved the elegant tufted velvet daybed from Roomy Interiors

Klaus by Nienkamper’s pendants had a twinkling sculptural quality

The beautiful Hermes-orange studded console from Snob is divine

Clayton Budd’s interpretation of a tartan in rug form, one of the winners of the Weaver’s Art ERA contest

The creative display of multicoloured shopping carts stocked with eclectic Canadian goodies at the Drake Hotel General Pop-Up Store.

The amazing range of colours available from Viking that pep up your average appliance

The low profile bowls by Katherine Morley 

The fabulous black, grey and yellow sample board from Threadcount

The raw quality of the salvaged wood furniture by North on Sixty

The orchid photo wall from The Art Stylists 

FTL +SC Studio’s interpretation of a garden shed, complete with a fabulous green hide meant to mimic grass

Croma’s Tromp D’Oeil kitchen

What did you think?

Get the Look: Punchy Coral Dining Room

I stumbled across this funky dining room by Roberts Erickson Design and was struck by how inviting the scheme is. It may read overly trendy, but for renters or new owners looking for an instant decorated look, this scheme is easy to achieve.

Start off by hitting consignment shops, your granny’s basement or flea markets for an affordable wooden pedestal table with vintage charm. A diameter of 42” will seat 4 comfortably, so don’t go any smaller than that. If you’re going to buy new, Ballard designs makes a nice wooden version:

Rudolph Pedestal Table in Chestnut, $599

I’m almost certain the chairs used above are the overlapping square dining chairs from West Elm, but you can achieve the same eclectic look by choosing another contrasting style of chair to pop against the darker traditional pedestal table. As long as it’s a bright solid colour, like the Farrah chair below, the same effect will be achieved.

Bungalow 5’s Farrah Side Chair, $645

You can have a lot of fun with pendants and chandeliers in a dining room. The type of fixture you choose can help set the tone. Traditional fixtures with lots of crystal accents create instant glamour while more simple drum pendants read more clean and contemporary. A nice compromise is a brass chandelier with sinuous curves and a touch of glimmer, such as Eric Cohler’s model for Visual Comfort.

Double Twist Five-Light Chandelier, $735 

The chocolate and white zebra area rug used in the photo above borders on overdone. To achieve the same graphic look in a less expected manner, try a rug with a black and white abstract print.

Crate and Barrel’s Ringo Rug 6 x 9, $399

Skip more labour intensive wallpaper and choose to bring the dramatic orange-red coral hue with a few coats of paint instead. If you’re nervous to do the whole room, paint a single accent wall.

Benjamin Moore’s Claret Rose 2008-20

Choosing a grouping of framed prints or photographs with vibrant contrasting colours will make your coral paint pop!

 

Exotic Bird Artwork, $1120

The finishing touch is a pretty white serving bowl to place on the table. A piece with height, such as this pedestal ceramic dish from Pottery Barn even has a whimsical bird detail!

Pedestal Bird Bath Serving Bowl, $49

IDS 10: The Ultimate

My boss's hubby is sick with the flu, so tonight I am her stand-in date for the Ultimate IDS 10 opening soiree.

I'm excited to scope out all of the fresh new products and exhibits from the international talent that attend every year, but even more so, I cannot wait to see Canadian designers, such as Arren Williams and Jason MacIsaac do their stuff in the featured spaces.

This year the theme is ULTIMATE, which means the chosen designers created their spaces around their own personal definition of the ultimate in design.

I'm a big fan of Arren, who is a stylist, designer, and trend consultant, aka some of my fave activities in the world wrapped into one!, and I also love Jason's store, Ministry of the Interior. 

After going through the madness of a featured space myself last year I am so excited to see what they've come up with!

PS- Don't they both look quite dapper in their press shots?

The Room Wins Store of the Year

Unless you've been living under a rock, Toronto fashionistas know that this year the Bay relaunched The Room, which once upon a time was considered the spot to shop for couture.

Newly appointed CEO  Bonnie Brooks chose internationally renowned interior design team Yabu Pushelberg to helm the project, and this week it was announced that the team received the coveted Retail Design Institute’s (RDI) prestigious “Store of the Year” award.

The space is totally glamorous yet modern with plenty of mirror, sharp white and gleaming metallic finishes. Congrats YP!

(photos by Evan Dion)

Inside a Chic Miami Beach Hideaway

Over the break, I was lucky enough to get the chance to snap some photos of a project that was recently completed by Miami-based designer Marcel H. Ruiz. The 3 bedroom condo was renovated to accommodate a fun-loving family who use the property to escape cold Canadian winters.

The elevator opens up into a small foyer with an accent wall painted a deep blue-grey. Ceramic flower sculptures are hung on the wall and are reflected back in a beautiful mirrored cabinet by Jalan Jalan.

The foyer opens to a spacious family room bathed in fresh white, and pea green with the slightest touch of sherbet. Light warm wood pieces, including the Isa chandelier by Oly Studio and a custom media unit, mix with iron and mirrored accent tables. Stunning fabrics by Brunschwig and plush soft furnishings from Lee Upholstery create a welcoming casual vibe that invite you ro sink right in after a long day at the beach.

A fabulous feature wall created using painted horizontal stripes in different widths is set off beautifully by a modern white dining table, drum pendant and sea shell prints.

The kitchen is fresh and clean with white cabinetry with simple mouldings and a pale blue backpainted glass backsplash.

The girls' room has a stunning pale green upholstered headboard with contrast welting of the same blue damask fabric used on the adjacent slipper chair. A subtle tone on tone damask wallpaper is used as a feature wall for the rest of the calming white bedroom.

The boy's bedroom has a blue grasscloth feature wall with vertical seahorse prints flanking a seagrass headboard from Pottery Barn. Rich wood furniture from Mitchell Gold + Bob William's Mao Now collection plays off the beautiful bordered white and blue linens and fresh white walls.

 

The shared bathroom features beautiful carrera slab countertops and a mosaic-inlaid floor.

The master bedroom is almost complete, but the obvious star is the white canopy bed with elegant pale blue and sand-coloured linens by Barbara Barry. (Oversized ceramic lamps are due to arrive any day now!)

The stunning master bath and vanity are luxurious and spa-like with tons of carerra slab, beautiful fixtures and a sea-shell encrusted mirror.

Golden Globe Red Carpet Winners

There were some serious stunners hitting this year’s Golden Globes red carpet.

First prize goes to Drew Barrymore who donned an ethereal Atelier Versace creation to accept her award for the fabulous Grey Gardens. The sea urchin-esque shoulder and simple elegant hair and make up was breathtaking!

Also drop-dead in a stunning nude sparkling Versace, was Jennifer Garner. Could she be anymore perfect?

Anna Paquin looked dazzling in a gold sequined Stella McCartney that was super glam with a little rock’n’roll thrown in.

Cameron Diaz was ravishing in red Alexander McQueen

Prettiest prego award goes to the shiny happy Amy Adams who wore a lovely peacock Carolina Herrera

There were plenty of violet vamps that made me want to break out a big tub of purple paint and jump right in. (left to right: Jan Krakowski in Jay Mendel, Sandra Bullock in Bottega Veneta, Rose Byrne in Lanvin)

I have to show some special love for the glee girls who looked beautiful and got to celebrate a win for best comedy to boot! Lea Michele looked so sophisticated in Oscar de la Renta and Dianna Agron seemed to float on air in Reem Acra

Lastly, Anna Kendrick looked like a mini wedding cake  in Marchesa (and I mean that in a good way!)

(photos via in style and celebrity gossip)