A New Design Gem Opens in Leslieville

It’s not everyday that a new design boutique opens within steps of my front door and so I can’t help but get very excited, especially for something that is so fabulous that it reminds me of New York a little bit- which is really something to shout about don’t you think?   And what am I so giddy about?  The opening of Black Rooster Decor‘s first bricks and mortar store on Queen Street East, a few blocks east of Carlaw.  Until recently, most would agree that this side of Queen Street lacked luster until an influx of condos and a reno-boom improved everything.  Now, we Leslievillers get to enjoy the fruits of all the change: great stores are coming too.  Hallelujah.

Black Rooster Decor already has a very successful online business so the new store is a natural move.  Their strength is providing great design to clients who are looking for a well curated collection of items ranging from mid-century modern to European antiques.  While most of their business is currently across the border, they are dedicated to like-minded Canadian suppliers and designers.  They also have a personal shopping service which is fabulous for those who need a little inspiration.  See below for my interview with owner Nina Ber-Donkor.

How would you describe the over-all style of the store? A mix of what we sell online with some local items thrown-in to make it special for our Toronto clients.

What makes you unique? We’re really lucky to have some local designers and clients in Toronto that have supported us, so we’re coming in with a perspective of what they like and want to see in-store.

Why Leslieville? It’s our favourite hood and close to home. 

What new products are you most excited about? Discovering new artisans that are making affordable and unique everyday home goods. It’s thrilling to offer something not found at the chain stores, something you won’t see in every home.

Where do you find your treasures? Are you off on buying trips all the
time? Not as often as I would like to… many of our purchases are made from visiting with our suppliers, seeing their new product lines, going to trade shows and sometimes blind trust in a product we’ve never seen but can tell will be awesome based on past experiences. 

What magazines are your go-to’s for inspiration? Domaine, Rue, Lonny. They’re killing it right now. And Instagram is a major source of inspiration. 

Why expand from a successful online business to bricks and mortar 
(when many retailers are doing the exact opposite at the moment)? It’s not an expansion but rather an extention of what we do. No one would question us opening a storage warehouse so a retail store is just as important for our business where customers can come in and chat and look and feel and get inspiration. And it’s really nice to actually talk to people and not sit behind a computer all day. 

Where can you be found? Instagram, Twitter, Website

So long Suzani, it’s all about Shibori.

We all need a little pattern in our lives and when the urge strikes we tend to reach out for textiles made in exotic places.  A hit of lovely embroidered fabric adds depth, character and a whiff of travel to a room that is full of life.  For years it’s been Ikat from Indonesia or Suzani from Persia and as stunning as they are, there is a new kid on the block called Shibori from Japan.  This traditional tie-dying technique is most often done with watery indigo blue dye on white fabric so that the play of light and dark works very well together.  Interestingly, there is a also a bit of an African influence here which I think is wonderful.  Both West Elm and Anthropologie have picked up the trend saving us all from home tie-dying disasters- ahem-I mean adventures.  Anyway, enjoy and let me know what you think!

Photo credits: 1. Heartwear photo by Marie Taillefer, 2. Pillows by Rebecca Atwood, 3. Anthropologie, 4. SF General Store in Venice Beach, Remodelista.com, 5. Indigo and Snow on Etsy,  6. West Elm, 7. Heartware at Merci in Paris, Trendtablet.com

 

Trend Spotting: Distressed Walls

In part three of my Trend Spotting series I’m looking at a type of wall treatment that I’ve seen pop up all over the place, from hip magazine like Living Etc to the showroom at ABC Carpet and Home in NYC.  Essentially, what I’m calling “distressed walls” are rough surfaces (brick, plaster) with chipped or layered paint that create a gorgeous patina.  Some walls even look like artwork themselves.  While wallpaper has had a major heyday in the last few years, things are shifting to a much less polished look- in some circles anyway.  Think New York loft…actually, make that Brooklyn loft.  Or a Parisian atelier touched by time but not by progress.  Imagine a big open space with drafty windows and a rickety freight elevator complete with metal cage that you have to pull down by hand.  Imagine cement floors and sparse bohemian furniture that could either cost a fortune (Anthropology) OR cost nothing (curb-side find).  And imagine stacks of books, frayed rugs, linen everything, and mismatched kitchen dishes.  Get the picture?  The beauty of this look is that furniture really pops.  Here are a few great pics to give you an idea:

Photo credits: 1. Leslie Dilcock; 2. Living Etc; 3. Leslie Dilcock; 4 and 5. Sofa Workshop; 6 and 7.Tom Leighton; 8 and 9. My own from the ABC Carpet and Home showroom.

 

Trend Spotting: Pendant Lights Go Low, Low Down

One of the most common things that I do on set is to hang lighting- which is always a bit of a challenge because I have to find the exact perfect height for each light to make the room look appealing and real.  There aren’t any steadfast rules so it’s a matter of using one’s eye and making an educated guess.  I won’t lie, it usually takes a few tries to get it right.  Fortunately, I never have to call an electrician since most of our fixtures are of the temporary”hang-it-off-a-long-pole” variety.  BUT for those of you who are seeking something new to do at home, a trend has shown up in a few places that I’ve visited recently: very low hanging pendants.  Where did I see it? Fashion and home decor mecca, Merci, in Paris; Toronto’s Interior Design Show and ABC Carpet and Home in NYC.   I guess I feel like I might be on to something when it pops up three un-synchronized times in three unbelievably trendy cities.    Of course, placing furniture under the pendants is key but you’ll see what I mean in the following images:

This first one is from IDS- it’s a concept space designed by Williams Craig.  For a low-slung lounge space the glass pendants worked really well.  My next examples come from ABC carpet and home.  Please forgive the photography- I was a little too excited to slow down and frame up my shots properly.  Notice how low these are- the whole showroom was full of them.  It was raining fixtures!

Here are more cute example I found online:

Best Decor Stores in Montreal

Going to Montreal and wondering where to shop?  Let me help you.  Typically, Montreal is very well known for trendy clothing boutiques and amazing restaurants but it is also chock-full of fabulous home decor destinations that are both inspiring and unique.  On a recent trip I scoured the city for the best-of-the-best in order to bring you this mini shopping guide to use on your next visit.  There is lots here so get ready to have a bit of fun, grab a bagel along the way and pick up a few words en francais.

Zone Maison

4246 rue St Denis  http://www.zonemaison.com/

Absolutely brimming with modern decor finds this store is the mothership of Montreal style. The accessories are fantastic, the furniture pieces affordable and the store itself is bright, airy and full of possibilities.  You will find a million things that you want to take home so for that reason, it’s a must see.

Style Labo

5765 Boulevard Saint-Laurent  http://www.stylelabo.com

This store is a more of a concept-space than a livable environment BUT you will find cool pieces that add personality to your home.  It’s part antique market, part junk-shop, part  trendy downtown workshop.  I imagine adding any number of these things to a modern space to jack up the creative content and provoke conversation starters for dinner parties. LOVE the illuminated letters!

Maison Corbeil

1215 Boulevard Cremazie Ouest http://www.maisoncorbeil.com

This is the biggest and most furniture-oriented store that I visited.  Maison Corbeil carries the big lines like Ligne Roset and Cattelan but also offers a variety of less-expensive choices that are fantastic.  It has a warm yet minimal feel and covers all the bases.

V de V

5042 Boulevard Saint-Laurent http://www.vdevmaison.com/

This store is a cosy little boutique full of warm and friendly Quebecois things.  Or maybe that’s just because I visited in mid-November and they were all decorated for the holidays.  Either way, it’s a fun treat to visit and you’ll find lots to see.  Cabin-chic at it’s best.

Lambert et Fils Luminaires

156 Rue Beaubien Est. http://www.lambertetfils.com/

I don’t know about you, but I can get very bored of seeing the same lighting fixtures over and over again.  Which is why I am soooooo excited about finding this amazing small custom shop that makes everything on-site.  The lights are modern, elegant, simple and (best of all) unique.  They aren’t cheap, but they aren’t break-the-bank crazy either.   Love, love, love this place.

That’s all for my adventures and I’m sure there are many, many more.  Please write to me with other ideas and I will check them out on my next go-round.  What a fantastic, fantastic city.  Au revoir mes amis!

Paris! A design-love story.

I had the amazing opportunity to go to Paris for a week and spent the whole time walking, looking, ooing, ahhing and most of all eating!  But that’s for another type of blog.  Here, I want to show you a few of my favorite moments that have an element of design.  As you can imagine, it’s very hard to narrow down the images but I will do my best.  As infamous street fashion photographer, Bill Cunningham says, “you go to Paris to re-educate the eye”, and that is really what it’s all about.  While some shopping is a fun thing, I think that the most valuable gift I get from travel is a shift in perspective.  I need to visit other places to see what other people are doing and wearing, to soak up art that I can’t see anywhere else, to find treasures big or small and to let myself open-up.  While I love Toronto, too much of the same thing can feel like a tight little box sometimes.  So!  Escape is essential and escape I did.

Word to the wise about traveling to Paris in August: the weather is sublime, the people are happy and there is an atmosphere of summertime fun everywhere BUT there are also lots of tourists and many (many, many) of the home-design shops are closed.  With September comes slightly cooler temps and the big Maison and Object design fair, so if I did it again I would opt for after labour day.

I’ll start with the first thing that I saw in Paris: the adorable flat that my friend and I rented in Montmartre.  It was a fifth floor walk-up (fun on the first day- not so much after day five) with a gorgeous view over the Parisian rooftops and a rustic/chic Parisian decor.  Things to note: herringbone floors, huge mirror above the mantle, industrial mixed with antiques and art everywhere.  Oh and the view of course!! The next noteworthy place would surely be my favorite fashion/design store, Merci. This multi-story boutique is a MUST for anyone interested in home decor trends and fresh ideas.  The style is laid-back and unpretentious and looks as though it has been thrown together over time.  There are mismatched chairs, signs of wear and tear and inventive chandeliers or pendants with everything.  While they certainly aren’t re-inventing the wheel, I was impressed by a varitety of chic finds like great table and chair options, big lush linen sofas (wrinkles be damned!), great table top and lots of hip lighting.  Here are a few faves:

 Next I will take you to one of Paris’ most famous flea markets, Clignancourt, where you can find everything from 1920s fashion magazines to oil paintings to antique daybeds to buttons and ribbon.  It’s a decorator’s dream come true and I found myself overflowing with joy many times.   While some vendors yelled “no photos!” and chased me away, I did manage to get a few shots.  There are things there that I have never, ever seen anywhere else and I couldn’t help but wish I could work in Paris! Oh the things I could do….

The other super inspiring store that I found was (gasp) one of the big department stores of Paris called Bon Marche.  What a well curated space!  The home floor was elegant with an incredible flow of movement from department to department and a large selection of the most important things like table linens, lighting and furniture.  I was very, very impressed with the quality being offered here and bolstered by the sophisticated tastes of the Parisian shopper!

I would be remiss if I didn’t include at least a few of the gorgeous ornamental details that I found at Versailles.  As much as I love the laid-back chic of the contemporary stores, and the slightly worn antiques from the flea market,  I also adore gold gilt and rococco details.  Who wouldn’t? Any well-rounded look at Paris includes both so feast your eyes!

That’s all for my little tour.  There is just so much to see and do in Paris that I barely sat down for five minutes- unless it was to eat several croissants at a time over coffee in the morning or sip a glass of rose while admiring the view in the afternoon.  I’ll miss it and look forward to next time.  Thanks for joining me!

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:

Developing Personal Style: a brave act in a trend-mad world.

“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” Sheryl Sandberg, COO Facebook

After watching the gorgeous documentary Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel I’ve been thinking a lot about personal style and the bravery it takes to allow oneself to be fully free.  Ms Vreeland was a one-of-a-kind fashion editor for both Harper’s Bazar and Vogue in the 40s, 50s and 60s and had full artistic control over both publications.  She was a free-spirited, workaholic, exaggeration-prone, mad genius of style who loved all things visual and had a wonderful no self-censorship policy.  She lived everyday in head-to-toe dress-up and designed her home (with help of legendary designer Billy Baldwin) to be a fashionable lair to match her personality.  What would happen if we all let ourselves be as free?  What if we all worked to develop (and maintain!!) an exterior look that matches our interior lives?  How do we summon the courage to choose a style when everything we see and read dictates trend over personal taste? It’s a tough one.  I struggle with it all the time: do I prefer casual Californian decor with linen couches, raw wood and white walls OR Parisian antiques, high ceilings and chevron flooring?   And clothing is a completely different story!  Since fashion trends change so much faster than home-decor, there are so many more choices to boggle the mind and empty the wallet.  What to do?   In this, as with all things, a few role models might be key.

So in order to bolster myself (and hopefully you) towards more confidence in the self-decoration department, I’ve chosen three wonderfully courageous women who chose consistent looks -with subtle changes and updates of course- for both their wardrobes and their homes in equal proportion.  And guess what?  All three of these ladies will be remembered for bravely exposing what they truly love and their own personal sense of beauty, trendy or not.

Special note: I am NOT suggesting eschewing all current taste and fashion…just a little more playfulness perhaps.

I’ll start with Diana Vreeland.  It seems that she never skipped a day dressing to the nines:

Her design brief for her living room (below) was “I want this place to look a garden, but a garden in hell”.  I think she got her wish: with floor to ceiling scarlet chintz and Persian flowers and red carpeting her salon was an incredible expression of personal style.

Out on location with Harper’s Bazaar; sometimes the photographers would forgo the models and shoot their Fashion Director instead.  No fear, no second-thoughts.

My next inspiration comes from a movie called “Coco and Igor”, which came out way back in 2009 but I finally came around to recently.  I was struck with the consistency in Coco Chanel’s look for both home and wardrobe.  She was meticulous in her choices and built a full-fledged persona that changed fashion forever.  In fact, she was the opposite of a trendy-dresser, creating a whole new silhouette.

The following images are a shots from the movie -and I realize that the set-design could be an interpretation by the film’s designers (and I can’t find any information on accuracy)- but my point is that Chanel painted her world with her tastes and preferences- so much so that her clothes and her home were equal representations of her style.  At this point in the story, it’s 1920 and Art Deco is raging.  Instead of colour, she went with black and white.

Next is one of my personal style icons, India Hicks.  I discovered Ms Hicks when I visited Harbour Island in the Bahamas where she has her home. She is truly design-royalty and has crafted a whole lifestyle out of Island Living (and also a wonderful book of the same name).

“Island Style” caused ripples all around the design world and created a trend: casual yet elegant with loads of antiques (decor) and flowing, printed fabrics (fashion).  India Hicks’ design choices are authentic to her taste and experience and are so very inspiring to me.

I have had many a client ask me whether or not it might be best to design their homes like the pages of House and Home and leave it at that.  And while I love and admire the magazine to no end, I also try to encourage people to think outside the box and do something different.  Beige couches are great, but what else is there?  And if you are lost, there are tons of people out there who can inspire you by styling your home or giving your wardrobe a facelift.  Do you think Chanel did it all herself?  No way. Help is just around the corner. Drop me a line and I would be happy to send you a few names.

Anyway, I hope this gave you a boost on this dreary November day.  Next time you’re out shopping, give something new a try.  What would YOU do if you weren’t afraid?

Fresh Floral Creations: A Holiday Wonderland on the Danforth

Many people will recognize the big pink sign that hangs over the door at Fresh Floral Creations on the Danforth but have you ever been inside??  I was invited to a sweet holiday-themed event at the store today and was swept away!  What a fabulous place!!  It’s a floral-themed wonderland so chock full of blossoms and creative ideas that I recommend stopping by tout de suite.  Creative genius Bruno Duarte wows with a riot of colour, organic-shaped vessels in all kinds of materials and a display that changes often.

 As a nod to this season’s hottest hue, Duarte covered the ceiling with orange baubles tied to rings of playable wood.  The effect is breathtaking (and must have taken about a million trips up a ladder).  Love it.

There is a tropical vibe to the store that is expressed through the bright-hot shades of red and orange.  Mix-in fresh evergreens or sprays of berries to add a festive touch.

These gold gourd vases look like sea-creatures from Neptune’s garden. So fun.

Planters can be found in all kinds of imaginative materials.  Use them for the holidays and then re-use all year round by replacing fresh evergreen boughs with a potted palm.

On this special afternoon, Duarte led a workshop to demonstrate how to build a simple festive arrangement made with hydrangea, amaryllis and orchids.  His (ahem) pupils did their best while sipping peppermint schnaps spiked hot chocolates and nibbling rum cakes.   Not a bad way to learn no?

Here are the required materials: cube vase, stapler, pre-soaked oasis and water sticks (for the orchids).  Oh and some flowers will help the situation…

Start by rolling your leaves into cute cigar-like shapes and stapling them in place:Cut and insert two hydrangeas into the oasis (don’t be shy about pushing the suckers down deep):Drink some schnapsy hot chocolate:Insert a beautiful amaryllis into the centre, group silvery berries on one side, add 2 rolled leaves into the left and 1 to the right and finally add 2 white orchids wherever they look the best.  Et voila!  A Fresh Floral Creations style arrangement perfect for any table.

And last but not least, you must check-out the amazing installation in the front window (so wide it wouldn’t fit in my frame).  Yes, those are real cherries still on the stems woven with orchids, moss and bare branches.  So, so beautiful.  Reminds me of how much you can do when you let your mind wander into it’s most creative place. Bravo Bruno!

Special thanks to Faulhaber PR for a another fabulous event.

Fabulous EQ3 Store Launch

A brand new EQ3 store opened-up in Liberty Village this week and I was invited to the swishy launch along with my friend Alexis Honce, fashion stylist.  The space is gloriously air-filled and spreads over two floors.  It’s a big improvement on the King Street store and is an excellent brand extension for the modern condo-style retailer.  One of the most hyped features is a Marimekko mini-boutique on the main floor that has bolts of their signature bold fabrics, tablewear and accent furniture.  It’s worth checking out for sure.

There were lots of interesting pieces and Alexis and I spotted these wood-stopper decanters that are so perfect for a modern home:

We also loved these one-of-a-kind wooden stools that are so rustic and cool:

 

We found these fun mirrors up on the second floor and couldn’t resist (design note: hang multiple mirrors in a vertical pattern to add height or fill a big wall):

I also really liked this dining vignette for it’s big rustic table, pretty white leather chairs and simple settings:

Great swag bag filled with goodies.  Thanks EQ3!  What a lovely evening!