Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Glammest Easter Eggs You'll Ever Meet

How couture are these easter eggs that Jennifer Bartoli created over on the Style At Home website?


Using matte paint and pearl and rhinestone stickers, she turned a couple of hum drum eggs into easter decorations I think even Karl would appreciate. Check out the article for instructions and for some more easter egg projects.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Happy Hunger Games: Get The Look

If you’re a die hard Hunger Games fan, you can consider the odds are now ever in your favour because I have sourced out some of the set design elements used in the dystopian trilogy’s first film so you can get your own Panem fix right in your own home.

image

For the record I’m not into the jumble of concrete and neon that they call the Capitol, and I was overwhelmed by the abundance of deco furniture in the train car, (declared mahogany no less, to Effie Trinket’s dismay when Katniss stabs the dining table), but it’s a dystopian society, not a a Parish-Hadley interior, so I’ll commend set director Larry Dias on a job well done and point out a couple of my favourite elements used in the set design:image

These seatbelt chairs are used in the dining room where the District 12 tributes dine while prepping for the games. In the past I‘ve seen them at L’Atelier in Toronto in a vibrant orange colour as well.

image

Hanging in the train car is a crystal cube chandelier similar to this popular design available at ELTE which is perfect for a transitional space looking for a hit of glam.

image

Also on the train car is a tubular metal bar cart, reminiscent of this beautiful Ralph Lauren version which has lovely deco leanings.

image

And while we’re on topic, I couldn’t help but tweak over the likeness of a glammed up Peeta, played by Josh Hutcherson, to Mike Hindert, known as Mike H or Dirt, bassist of The Bravery. Like scary!

Happy Hunger Games!

Monday, March 19, 2012

Latest Obsession: Silk Orchid Rugs at ELTE

P1040844

Originally introduced at IDS earlier this year, I am still swooning over the silk orchid collection that ELTE has brought in.

image

The newest incarnation of the idea behind the super popular second-life rugs, I brought one of them on CityLine in January and it got a fab response from the audience and why not? what’s not to love! The colours, the ultra-soft hand, the global-chic patterns… Plus it’s as chic as upcyling gets. Each rug is made with recycled vintage sari silk dresses from India that have been unravelled thread by thread and hand knotted into the one-of-a-kind rugs.

P1040845

What I wouldn’t give for this particular beauty to provide the foundation for my master bedroom. The ochre yellow with the hits of royal blue and green are not something I would normally gravitate to but I still can’t help dreaming about the concept I would build around it. Unfortunately the collection isn’t exactly priced within our budget ($11,750 for just under a 9’x12’…they are 100% silk after all) – so someone please go out and buy it so I can live vicariously through you. Thanks.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

20 Questions About My Hood

image

Want to know my fave neighbourhood haunts and what item I am currently coveting for the reno? Head over to the delightful Chestnut Park Realty blog to find out in their fab “My Neighbourhood” series. While you’re there, be sure to read Tommy Smythe’s Q&A too for some great Cabbagetown antique shop recommendations.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Return of the Jessie

After a few months of recuperating post-wedding and working hard at my position as design editor at Style At Home, I am happy to write that I am going to take a crack at keeping the blog up amidst the craziness that is my life. It will be a fun way to give sneak peaks of what I’m working on at the magazine, the progress of decorating projects I have on the go, and more of the same old jessica claire’s world shenanigans that you have so enjoyed over the past 4 years.

image

To bring you up to speed, the wedding was simply divine. I hope to share more photos with you eventually, but until then these snapshots from the amazing Storey Wilkins will suffice.

P1040501

As if being a newlywed wasn’t exciting enough, Dave and I also bought bought a house in a wonderful neighbourhood. The catch is that it needs some major reno’s (the photo of the log cabin which was transplanted into the basement sort of speaks for itself, no?) The house hasn’t been touched in decades - we’re talking no central air, knob and tube wiring, asbestos…the works! – so you could say we have our work cut out for us. I can’t wait to dig in and get started so I’ll be sure to update you on the madness as it progresses.

image

In the meantime, here are some of the latest CityLine episodes I taped this year, including segments covering spring decorating and entertaining ideas, a creative shoe display idea and other stories inspired by the current issues of Style At Home.

image

Happy viewing!

(wedding photos by storey wilkins)