Behind the Scenes at a Hudson’s Bay Photoshoot

One of my favorite types of projects is creating full rooms from top to bottom. To my extreme pleasure, that is exactly what I get to do with Hudson’s Bay!  Today I am going to bring you behind the scenes of a recent photoshoot that we did to showcase brand new linen collections for spring. As usual, shoots like these are HUGE productions with big crews, multiple photographers and lots and lots (and LOTS) of options.  What do I mean by options?  I mean that for every item that you see in the final shot, we probably brought 4 others to choose from.  And yes, that includes furniture.  Why do we need so many? Because I never know how things are going to look until I see them in the space, with lighting and bedding etc etc.  I would rather have an extra bedside table or two on hand and swap them in quickly than wish I had something different and get stuck.  Options are my best friend when I’m styling…unfortunately they can also be my assistant’s nightmare (thanks Biagio!).  On shoots for Hudson’s Bay I always, ALWAYS bring lots of flowers because there are bouquets in every shot and sometimes it can be a long process to get them exactly right.  We have to consider what looks good in the room, which blooms are seasonal/available (even though we are shooting months in advance), what speaks to the brand, what was done previously and what my clients prefer.  Luckily, flowers are my absolutely favorite thing to do.  See if you can spot our choices in the final images.

Anyway, without much further ado, I present to you images from the Spring Linens Book photoshoot.  Yes, we work really hard BUT we also have a lot of fun.  First is the cover image (you might recognize it from last week’s Globe and Mail insert):

Setting up for the same shot.  Our locations was a super-hip furniture store in the West end.

On the other side of the camera: OPTIONS!!  And my makeshift desk is in there too somewhere.  Yes, it looks like chaos but I swear that we have a system.

Oh there it is! Among the flowers…on the most adorable Bay garden table.  Hey! It matches my phone!  And I always keep my receipts in a chic glass vase. Don’t you?

Biagio and I are in constant contact…and we bring our own phones.

We shot an alternative angle for the Esprit bedding and it included me (in a pink dress!) walking up and down the staircase in the background.  The image was meant to be blurred….LOL!

The last time you might ever see me in a dress this pink:

This is the final shot of new Distinctly Home bedding.  We were going for a uptown Kate Spade style.  I am in love with the gladiolas and the fabulous painted pipe wall! Amazing!  Oh and here’s a tip: garden stools as bedside tables. Why not?

An alternative bike option for the above shot.  Super-chic no?

Here’s amazing off-figure stylist Rodney Smith (with photographer Paul Chmielowiec) creating those fantastic towel insert shots.

A better shot of Paul (the master behind all of the off figure shots in the book):

And who shot all the big room shots you ask?  Michael Graydon of course!  Here he is with our incredible Art Director Rebecca Watson.  Go Team!

All right now a few other random but fun shots. It’s raining chairs! Hallelujah!

Biagio, looking handsome, with “options”:

I love a pretty vignette:
Photo assistant Rudo working on his tan:

The communal inspiration desk:

Oh and here’s me (in my regular clothes) trying to get a handle on things.

What a fun shoot!!  Thanks very much to all involved especially those at Fuel Advertising and Hudson’s Bay.  A very special thank you to our tireless clients Arren Williams and Jen Radway.  Can’t wait to see you all again very soon.

PS: I would be remiss if I didn’t mention bed-stylist Charlene Walton and producer Rosanna Tanti.  Nice work ladies!!!

Indigo Fall Preview

A big part of my job is to keep current and to know what trends are going to be hot before everyone else does. Luckily, most of my favorite retailers hold seasonal presentations of their newest  collections several months before they hit the stores.  It’s sort of like when fashion designers launch their collections by doing runway shows; in home decor they do “previews” in which artfully designed vignettes are styled in a showroom for guests to admire.  A ton of work goes into these presentations because the audience is full of key people who will help move the brand along.  For a stylist, it’s a great opportunity to stock up on ideas as well as a nice time to say hello to some long-lost friends who I haven’t seen for a while.  This morning’s event held by Indigo was a bit of both and I am super glad that I went.  Below you will find images of my favorite items that should be hitting stores in time for fall.  I find that Indigo always does a great job and that the products are of shockingly good quality for the pricepoint (and no, they did not pay me to say that).

Here is a gorgeous wall of mix and match dinnerware with smooth shapes, a rustic feel and dark, inky colours that are great for fall.

I loved the new line of napkins that look as if they have been hand-dyed with natural pigments.  They are meant to look a bit rumpled so no ironing required!  I think I might snap up the lush purple ones for myself come fall. Who wouldn’t want a mug that says something sweet every morning?Chic desk accessories can be hard to find, believe you me.  Poppin is a new line from New York that will be sold exclusively in Canada at Indigo.  I like the white the best but there are also tons of peppy hues. A book after my own heart (and start in the theatre oh-so-many years ago).   I loved how they table-scaped this coffee table with heavy, sexy books.  Oh and the luscious roses didn’t hurt either.  Take note all you bare table people! Indigo is putting a push on integrating the world of books and words into it’s home decor category.  I think it’s a clever blending and makes the home products seem so…well… at home. Love these little framed sayings (which also come on toss pillows and will be top sellers). And of course, the wall of scarves, jewelery and handbags.  I have made a bee line for this stuff several times this year when a last minute gift was required.  First stop, scarf and notebook; second stop gift wrap and cards; third stop, done! Okay so now some time for personal shopping: these lavender pillows are going to look great on my sofa!!  

I thought these glass decanters with gold tops were so simple and elegant.
Last but not least, the wooden kitchen accessories are just a gorgeous as ever.  I love the cutting and cheese boards the best!Well that’s my tour for now…I’m sure that you will see all of these things on your own in the next few months but isn’t it nice to get a little sneak peak?

Marcel Wanders: Design Poet

I had the incredible honour of meeting international design superstar Marcel Wanders last week at an event held at Klaus in Toronto.  The party was fantastic, but more importantly I got inspired to find out more about what makes him tick and dive into as many images as Google will provide (countless, it turns out).  While I already knew about his work with Mooi and loved his imaginative style, there is so much more to admire than I ever knew.  

Wanders places a great emphasis on communicating whimsy, magic, daydreams and wonder (in fact, his twitter handle is @wanderswonders).  His designs are like Alice in Wonderland does Elle Decor with exagerated propotrion, pop-out textures and enchanted  motifs.   He creates everything from high-end hotels to private residences to table-top to furniture and accessories.

Here are my top 10 stunning images of Wanders’ interior design work.

The first one is from the glittering lobby of the Andaz Hotel in Amsterdam; a magical constellation that connects travelers to the heavens above.

The bell theme continues in the Mondrian Hotel in South Beach.  Wanders thinks of bells as the original vehicle for mass-communiction.

Also from the Mondrian, this gorgeous poolside is incredible:

Wanders designed this private Mallorca residence in mostly circular lines, including this sofa (by Poliform). This was his first full residential project and he calls it “unavoidably exuberant and unabashedly outrageous”.  There is a real tension between the modern elements and classic hits like the little black table with antique-style legs.

This is the outdoor courtyard at the Kameha Grand Bonn hotel.  The giant gold pots and cross-word puzzle looking tile pattern visually fill the wide space without restricting it.

Also from the Kameha Grand, this lobby shot is to die for.  Again, the bell theme comes back but this time we get disco balls, a killer black ceiling and oversized decorated pillars.

A bathroom shot from the same hotel.  I love how the gold tile wraps down on to the floor:

Shifting to another private residence In Amsterdam, this not-so-huge space required a dedication to organization that is typical of Netherland style.  Despite the desire for streamlined minimalism, every inch of it still sings a wild tune.  Note the decorative ceiling, wallpaper, floor, furniture, partition…etc etc. This works well because amongst all the texture there are also simple surfaces (couch, table, pendant) to give the eye a break.

This powder-room has a glass door. I’m not sure I would want to hide that tile either….

A door detail with Wanders’ signature logo.

 

For more inspiration watch this little video:

Hudson’s Bay Beauty Book

Well, it’s been a while since my last post but life and work have been a complete whirlwind for the last few weeks!!  Hopefully, that means I’ll have some great new images to post and tell you about.  Speaking of which, the Hudson’s Bay Beauty Book came in my Globe and Mail this morning and I can’t resist doing a mini-blog post to show you the image as well as a few behind the scenes tid bits.  This was a lovely project for me in which I got to collect as many pink peonies I could find -which was no easy task in January- and then sew them onto a pretty bandeau to fit directly onto our model.  I used a mix of real blooms and silks that blended together perfectly to create a gorgeous texture, not to mention a heavenly aroma!  I also placed flower in her hair, and shot individual blossoms for the background and page insets.  The sewing wasn’t always easy since natural flowers are so delicate and the final touches had to be sewn while the model was already wearing the “garment” but I think it turned out great.

FYI: Production by Blu, Photography by Christoph Strube, Makeup by Jackie Shawn and Hair by Justin German.

Here it is, take a look:

Designing an Exclusive Product Launch Party for Unilever

A few months ago I was asked to style a major product launch event for Unilever, makers of products such as Dove, Tresemme, Nexxus, Vaseline and St Ives.  It was a huge undertaking and the party was a success for all involved.  This is me tired but relieved to be almost done the 12 hour set-up:

Each product had it’s own concept space to give party-goers a chance to sample.  Tresemme wanted a “backstage” style area for touch-ups and it was a huge hit.

The next one was for Clear Men and was meant to be a welcoming space for guys.  I love that they included a high-ending racing bike.

Clear Women wanted a pink and purple space with this high-impact tree image as a focal point.

I loved this one. So fresh and girly.

Another “man-space”.  These lockers came in so dinged up and rusty that we had to paint them on the spot and blend the paint to make it look natural.  And no, the sporty dude was not in the original plan.  Sometimes added touches are the best!
A special thank-you to my unbelievable assistants on this project: Sean Mulcahy and Biagio Galle.  Aren’t they gorgeous?

Most photography (ie the good ones) by Garrison McArthur Photographers.

IDS 2013

Today was Trade Day at the Interior Design Show and I thought I would take a few pictures  of my favorite booths to watch out for.  Whether you’re planning to attend this weekend or want to experience the best in show from home here are five of my faves:

1. Cocoon

I loved this booth.  It was glam, elegant, chic and so, so perfect in every way.  Lots of people ask me to describe my personal style and I would say this design is pretty darn close. Can’t you just picture me moving in?

A great example of bookcase decorating!
I love the proportions here: classical and symmetrical with a little bit of messiness.  I like that the stools don’t match and the books are plain white and gold. So pretty.

Oh and guess what? That’s a rug back there! What a nice way to add texture and warmth.
Decorating with fruit and flowers is the easiest and most cost friendly way to refresh a room.  Make sure to pick colours that match your decor.

A giant mirror is stunning in this vignette:  I like that it’s off centre and on the floor.I never liked orange as a wall colour that much…until today.  2. Ikea

This booth is always a major showstopper and this year was no exception.  People were talking about this non-Ikea copper bathtub… too bad it’s not available at your local store.  Enjoy it here as a luxurious rustic retreat fantasy- filled with floating orchids no less!

 Ohhhhh the drama.  Have a tall ceiling?   Like a really, really tall ceiling? Add some potted trees to your kitchen counter and a huge grouping of pendants.  Okay…I guess this is just an inspiring concept but what an impact!

I always love the styling of the Ikea booth.  In the past, master prop-stylist Neil Asselin designed the booth from top to bottom and I don’t know whether or not his team did it this year BUT I have a feeling that he did.  His magic fingerprints are all over this.

3. Montauk

The makers of everybody’s dream sofa pulled off a very cool booth this year.  All of those papers are photos of Montauk’s gorgeous pieces.  And P.S. have you seen their catalogue? So nice.

4. Binss Kitchen and Bath Design

This was hands-down the best kitchen concept at the show.  I loved the finishes, and the sleek styling.  Check out this huge range hood:

They also did a fantastic built-in shelving unit.  Yes, everything needs to be perfect all the time and no, ugly dishes are not allowed.

5. Earth Inc

My friends at Earth Inc are always one of the best.  They mount tranquil garden rooms for IDS that are created with such ingenuity.   This concept space showcased a modern romantic notion of what outdoor living can be.  It’s hard to capture the feeling in a photograph…imagine the sounds of a water feature and smell of beautiful green things.

That’s all for now and I hope you enjoyed my mini tour.  I’d love to hear from you so let me know what your favorites were!

Trend Rating Part II: My Pics and Pans of the 2013 Design Forecast

In part 2 of my trend-rating series I am looking at three things: “beige”, “brass” and “outdoors-in”.  There are some winners and one very obvious looser and as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Trend One: Beige

Some say that Toronto suffers from an over abundance of off-white but I say that beige is an essential shade that can be updated and changed to keep up with the times.   I love how a room can feel tranquil and quiet when it’s done in layers of white, cream and taupe.  Elle Decor has proclaimed that “Beige” is one of the top trends for 2013 but has it ever gone out of style?  Yes, this is a backlash against many coloured rooms that we have seen recently but I think perhaps that beige is timeless rather than trendy.  For me, this is a 10 out of 10.

For a perfect update, add hits of caramel like in the example below (courtesy of Elle Decor):

This is a look that Restoration Hardware is doing extremely well right now and keep in mind it can be toned-down if this seems over the top:

Trend Two: Brass

Trends in metallics are always shifting from decade to decade and we have seen tons of brushed silver and nickel in the recent past.  With the 70s making a comeback (for better or for worse) designers are using brass and tarnished gold in everything from drawer pulls to coffee tables.  I like this trend and welcome the appearance of a warm metal: 8 out of 10.   Below is an image from Elle Decor featuring an interior designed by Kelly Wearstler:

Coffee table by Mastercraft from the 1970s: A brass mirror from Elte:

Trend Three: Outdoors-In

Next let’s move on to one from House and Home: “Nature Comes Inside”.  I am going to break this one into two parts: architecture (a winner) and decor (not so great).  H & H describe the trend as ”breezy architecture and nature-inspired accents bridge the indoor-outdoor divide”.  For the record, I love this one and feel a great sense of joy whenever I see a house designed with big windows that open up on a terrace.  It’s a beautiful idea, but is it trend-specific to 2013?  Frank Lloyd Wright designed Fallingwater in 1935 with this exact principle in mind and has it really ever disappeared? Maybe, maybe not (I am pointing at you 1980s) but either way, I adore this look in architecture wholeheartedly; 10 out of 10. 

Fallingwater:

A modern example:

House and Home also encourages using outdoor adornments like moss-filed urns and garden lanterns to decorate inside citing Anthropolgie’s Terrain collection of woodsy-inspired furniture and decor as an example.   Some things I like and others should be left in the shed. Because there are so many bad examples, I give “outdoors-in” decor a 5 out of 10.  Here are a few examples of things that I think could integrate into a good-looking modern home:

Now here are a few very bad examples.  It seems as if Anthropology is using the trend factor to majorly over charge.

This rusted old child-size chair is $300:

This scrap wood cabinet could be found in the back of countless barns across the country.  And guess what? They are charging a whopping $2400!
This is called the “antique swedish table” for $1498.  Unbelievable.

Like I said, there are great ways to bring nature inside like fresh flowers, lanterns, planters and drift wood.  And I do believe that it can be done tastefully and without spending a fortune.