Am I Coming In Clear?

Take it from  Madge  in this 2005 Versace ad :

You want some lucite and acrylic furniture in your home. In huge doses it borders on tacky, but in the right context, adding a touch of the hard clear stuff is a great way to add some retro playfulness to your design scheme.

Lucite and acrylic are especially great for small spaces as they don't take up a lot of visual room. The clear pieces dissolve into the atmosphere, allowing you to focus on other design elements in the room. The unobstructed view gives the impression of openness while still providing function and style.

Here are my own clear picks:

Aaron R Thomas Boutique Ottoman, $1,250.00

 

Louis Ghost Armchair, $410.00

Trunk, $295 

 

Crenelle Lucite Desk by Craig Van Den Brulle

Helena Rubenstein Chair, $3,200

Fancy Bench, $145

Lucite Side Table

 

Aaron R Thomas Acrylic Nesting Tables, $385.00

Charles Ghost Counter Stool, $253.00 - $280.00

 

French Bench XL, $2,250

Lucite Vanity Chair in Platinum Fabric ca. 1955, $2,200

 

Karim Rashid Magino Side Table, $473 

 

Jordan Capella Side Table, $1,110

 

(Madonna ad via Apartment Therapy and Zebra carpet and buddha ottoman photos via Desire to Inspire)

 

 

Lean Green Design Machine

House and Home's May 08 issue focused completely on eco-conscious design, but there was one home in particular that really jumped out at me.

Not only is this lakeside Ontario abode environmentally-friendly, but the entire home maintains a spare yet fashionable modern aesthetic that suits the needs of its large family to a tee.

Designed by owner Tina Tymchuk (who doesn't have any formal training), the two-storey house has the smallest footprint possible without compromising the contemporary, yet individual style.

The cushy white couch and the hide (typical me) are so inviting and as Cassandra from Coco + Kelly would say, the coffee table is totally orGLAMic!

The kitchen's dining nook is my favourite part of the house. The dramatic black chandelier juxtaposed against the bright white walls and cushioned banquette seating with additional clear Louis ghost chairs is absolutely fabulous!!

I love the industrial yet spa-like feel of the bathrooms. The teak floor and woven baskets add warmth to the metal shelving and the unique porcelain sinks add even more visual interest.

When you look at this stylish design,  you wouldn't scream "green" (besides the obvious metal exterior of course)... so what makes this house so eco-chic?

Besides the common use of compact fluorescent bulbs, no VOC paints, energy star appliances and low-flow bathroom and kitchen fixtures, the house has these earth-friendly features:

• metal siding and roof that can be recycled
• radiant in-floor heating with a high-efficiency boiler means no need for a gas-burning furnace
• heat recovery ventilation system
• polished concrete floors that retain warmth in winter and stay cool in summer

Good work Tina and great work House and Home for sharing so many inspiring designs that are green and gorgeous!

DWR in Toronto!!!

Imagine my delight on Monday when I discovered a pretty little striped book on our front hall console with the rest of the mail.

Upon further inspection, I discovered it was a bound Design Within Reach mini-book/catalogue announcing that DWR has opened downtown!

And the cherry on top was a promotional card advertising $100 off the first $1000 purchase!

YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY!

I'm not really sure how the catalogue ended up in our mail box, but I'm not complaining! My mom and I had fun looking at the interesting modern designs and considering we're embarking on a first floor reno next week it couldn't be better timing! Our home is very traditional but something from DWR may be what we need to spice it up!

To celebrate DWR's Toronto launch, here are my favourite picks that are apparently now available within my Canadian reach:

Cellula Chandelier, $2,340

Murano Glass Chandelier, $2,880

Hudson Counter Stool, $1,525.50

LC4 Chaise Lounge, $2,889

 

Saarinen Tulip Armchair , $1,476  and Saarinen Dining Table, $3,622

 

And of course, everyone's favourite:

Louis Ghost Armchair, $410

 

Fellow Ontarians, read more about DWR's new outpost here.

There is a grand opening event on March 13th but I can't go as I have my own event I am throwing at a cool gallery space in China Town. There's more to come on that later so stay tuned!