Category Archives: Style

My Desire for Pink

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This spring I have had a real desire to decorate with colour – especially pink.  I have never been a ‘pink’ person but I have been imagining my décor with hits of this bright hue.  It could be that the neutral colours of winter have me wanting anything but taupe, linen and grey.  I have been imagining how fun it would be to have something like this bright pink sofa from www.jamesstuartduncan.com and decorate a room around it with other hits of colours like juicy orange, sunshine yellow and chartreuse green.

So this past weekend I went shopping…..but for clothing/shoes/accessories.  Something I love to do!  A session of retail therapy always works wonders.  Of course a change of season is always a good excuse to go shopping too!  My subconscious mind must have been preprogrammed because the first thing that I found was a pink (actually raspberry) patent purse from www.badgleymischka.com.  I realized that my desire for colour had transferred over to my wardrobe.  It was way over my budget but I had to have it so I justified it by the fact that it cost a lot less than the pink sofa.

This purse became the ‘springboard’ for the shopping adventure that followed.  Those who know me will agree that generally I dress in black and white not bright colours so this shopping spree was a departure from the norm.  My eyes scanned the racks of clothing looking only for pinks, oranges, purples and chartreuses.

So this is what I came home with.

Whereas had I gone furniture shopping I would likely have come home with this – same colours, different pieces  Funny how that works!

Sofa and Chair: www.jonathanadler.com  Bouquet Chair: www.moroso.it    Lacquered Trays: www.westelm.com    Striped Pillow: www.roomandboard.com  Chartreuse Pillow:  www.westelm.com

 

 

 

More Fence Designs

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Last fall I wrote about my fence design dilemma. https://modmissy.com/2011/10/14/my-fence-design-dilemma.  Well the dilemma is still ongoing as I have not yet decided on the design of the fence that desperately needs replacing in my backyard.  Last weekend I decided to hang out in the city or as I like to call it I was a “tourist in Toronto” and took the opportunity to visit many different neighborhoods.  No sense travelling to other world cities if I don’t know my own city!  While walking through various residential areas I made a point of looking for interesting fence designs.  This is a great time of year to do some research as the greenery that will soon hide fences has not yet started to grow.  I noticed a design theme emerging with many of the style of fences that I came across – horizontal fence boards.  With my camera in hand I took photos of my findings.

One of the first fences I came across was this one and I liked it for a few reasons.  I liked the framing effect of the horizontal boards giving the appearance of panels; like a Shoji screen.  And I like the colour.  Definitely a good contender.

Next was a fence with horizontal boards that was not framed.  I really liked how the fence mirrored the design of the garage door.  Not to mention the fabulous contemporary house!  Although I thought that if it were not for the garage door this fence could have appeared less residential and more commercial-like.

 

Then I came across this unique fence that appeared both traditional and contemporary in design.  Built into a brick wall were panels with horizontal wood.  Breaking up the hardness of a solid brick wall the wood gave a soft relief to the fence.   This fence felt like English Garden meets Zen Garden.  I think this backyard would be interesting to ‘room scape’ in the summer.

Then I came across this fence that also had horizontal boards but the boards were staggered.  Being built in sections with very tall fence posts I felt that the mix of horizontal boards with prominent fence posts was a juxtaposition of styles.

So after a day of research I think I have come a little closer to solving my fence design dilemma.  Or maybe not!

All images via Modmissy

 

My Stay-cation Weekend

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Today marks the start of March Break also known as Spring Break.  A week off to enjoy doing whatever pleases you whether that be a vacation to a warm destination, a skiing vacation, or a stay-cation.  I have opted for the stay-cation and plan on spending time being a tourist in my own city – Toronto.  But for today I thought I would choose a place I would like to spend time in this weekend.  This bright living room feels like I would be ‘getting away’.  Floor to ceiling windows flood the room with sunlight allowing me to feel like I was in the sunny tropics not to mention the possibilities of night-time star-gazing.  Lots of comfortable seating planned with different conversation zones in mind.  Good lighting for reading.  A couple of poufs/ottomans for extra seating.  A variety of tables to hold a book, drink or snacks.  And the pool!  What’s not to love about walking outside and taking a soothing dip in your private pool overlooking the village below.  Enjoy your weekend.

Image via B&B Italia

Electricity – Food for Thought

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This morning when I sat down at my computer…..no internet service.  Arrrggh!!  I got it up and running after a while but not without a little frustration.  Soon after while researching for today’s post I came across a photo I had taken.  The photo actually stopped me in my tracks and made me reflect.  I had risen this morning to the sounds of my clock radio.  I had turned on the light in the bathroom to brush my teeth.  I had plugged in the kettle to make a cup of tea.  I had cooked my oatmeal in the microwave.  I had started the dishwasher.  And of course there is always another load of laundry to do so I started that too.  So by the time I sat down in front of my computer, with or without internet service, I had used electricity several times; without even thinking about it.  I had subconsciously assumed it would be available to serve me in all my requirements.  And it had.  So when I saw this photo I realized how fortunate I am to have electricity.  Most houses were connected to electricity in the 1920’s to 1930’s.  This photo showing an advertisement from the February 1925 issue of The Ladies Home Journal magazine stating “Does the Home You Love Love You?”  gave me a reality check.  With the introduction of electricity into the home the method of boiling water, cooking food, ironing clothing, cleaning house, heating bath water or warming baby’s milk became as easy a “pressing a button – or pushing a plug into a handy convenience outlet”.  In the advertisement Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company asked if your beautiful home gave you anything back in return for the love you bestowed upon it.  “Does it make your days easier and your evenings brighter?  It both can and does, if it is an electrified home.”  Remarkable!!  Could you imagine life without ‘appliances’?  And I was annoyed because my internet was slow. 

All images via Modmissy

Fur Throw

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Okay don’t shoot me.  I know wearing fur is politically incorrect but it was the 1980’s when I bought my fur coat; big hair, shoulder pads and fur coats were in.  I had just started my first full-time job and even before I bought my first car I bought a fur coat.  I guess I thought that standing at the bus stop at 5a.m. and taking 2-hour rides on public transit each day to work was not an inconvenience if I wanted that fur coat.  I still remember the day I purchased my coat. I was with my Mother.  We headed to Spadina Avenue in downtown Toronto where there were numerous furriers to choose from.  I selected a mid-length coyote trimmed in fox.  (I know, I know, even as I write this I am feeling bad!)  Truth is I never ended up wearing the coat very much as I always felt a little suspect.  Years later the coat still hangs in my closet.  I do not wear it and probably never will.  I can’t justify having a fur coat but I also can’t justify throwing it out.  So I keep it.  But recently I have been noticing in home design/décor magazines the appearance of furs as throws.  I would like to think that no recent animals were hurt in the process and that these furs are vintage.  So I have pulled my coat (now vintage) out of the closet and lay it across the sofa – in tribute.  And oh, by the way, I bought my first car soon after the purchase of the fur coat.  A 1974 VW Beetle – but no animal was hurt in the process.

PS. Sorry, no photo.

Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery

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Yesterday I was in the District of Muskoka, affectionately known as ‘Muskoka’, located in Central Ontario, about 2 hours north of Toronto.  With almost 1600 lakes, numerous picturesque towns and villages and many lakeside vacation spots, Muskoka is an ideal ‘cottage country’ and tourist destination.  Not to mention – extremely beautiful.  Muskoka also includes the western border of Algonquin Provincial Park.  We stopped in the town of Baysville and had lunch at Miss Nelles, a café and antique shop that is in a charming building originally built in 1872.  

After parking the car and having a look around, I noticed on the side of the building a mural of The Pines by the Group of Seven artist Lawren Harris. 

              

I soon discovered that this mural (painted by Gerry Lantaigne) is part of the Muskoka Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery; a self-directed tour that is located throughout Huntsville, Lake of Bays and Algonquin Park.  The ~100 murals painted by some of Canada’s top mural artists whose mandate was to re-create the masterpieces, as close as possible to the originals painted by Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven.  Gerry Lantaigne, founder and artistic director of this outdoor gallery, writes, “These murals represent our natural landscape, and so fittingly help us tell a story about ourselves.  Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven were spurred on by the ideals of Algonquin Park and the Canadian northland, this group of friends ventured into the wilderness as voyageurs with their canvas and paints, and discovered their expression for their Canadian ideals in art.  The works in the collection are an homage to these painters, and the goals they achieved.”  There are 5 murals in Baysville so this summer I plan on returning to Muskoka to try to view the 95 other! 

 All images via Modmissy

Peace

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Peace.  John Lennon sang about it, “Imagine all the people living life in peace.”  Carlos Santana said “The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace.”  And of course Mother Teresa’s words of inspiration, “Peace begins with a smile”.  Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s my lexicon of idioms included ‘groovy baby’, ‘mod’, ‘cool’, dig it and of course ‘peace’.  ‘Mod’ has definitely stuck around for me and ‘peace’, well I love that one too although I no longer go around saying, “hey, peace baby” but I do love the peace symbol.  The internationally recognized symbol for peace was designed in 1958 for the nuclear disarmament movement.  The symbol is a combination of the semaphore signals for the letters ‘N’ and ‘D’ representing nuclear disarmament; semaphore being the system used for conveying information at a distance by means of hand-held flags. 

  

I must confess though I still love things with the peace symbol on them.  I have a black vest that I purchased in the ‘80’s (that I won’t part with) and a belt buckle that I recently purchased with the symbol.

          

           

So it was no surprise that when I came across Jonathan Adler’s www.jonathanadler.com Mod Peace Footstool I fell in love.  The handmade, 100% wool, needlepoint top on a fabulous green stool is a sure way to bring the thought of peace to your home.  Peace baby!

         

 

My New (Old) Chair

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As I previously mentioned my MIL (mother-in-law) has just downsized and moved into a beautiful new condo.  Unfortunately, not all of the furniture she previously had in her home was able to fit into her new space.  Fortunately, (for me) I became the owner of a new (old) chair.  The chair I acquired is most likely from the ‘60’s era; very Mad Men-ish with long legs, a curvaceous shape and body hugging fabric!  I envisioned this chair in my home as an occasional chair that could be put to service in any room.  The existing fabric was a light orange colour that had faded over the many years it sat in my MIL’s living room. 

Yes, I love orange but I knew this chair needed reviving to boost its style quotient.  My décor is on the contemporary side so I did not want this chair to look as though it was a ‘hand-me-down’ or an afterthought.  The new upholstery had to be a fabric that could seamlessly fit into any room décor but still uphold the chair’s uniqueness.  What I decided upon was cowhide.  I purchased an entire hide that is the colour of coffee cream with hits of black and white.  I stayed away from any hides that would have made the chair look like a ‘cowboy’ chair – not the look I was after. 

I enlisted the services of David Upholstery www.davidupholstery.ca and was thrilled with the results.  David took extra measures to add details that made the chair look fabulous.  Only upon close inspection does one notice that the chair is upholstered in cowhide making it a very subtle detail.  Nothing worse than something that yells, “look-at me, look-at me”.  I love my new chair with its edgier 1960’s charm and I’ve been having some fun moving it from room to room. 

All images via Modmissy

A Very Mod Merry!

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First, I want to wish everyone health and happiness for 2012 and hope that this year may be your best.  Before I close out the ‘holiday theme’ I thought I would share one last Christmas post (do I hear groaning!?) to make mention of the very mod Christmas gifts I received.   Bear with me here.  Observing the ‘Modmissy’ theme my SIL (sister-in-law) gave me a retro-inspired stool/side table that looks like a big white mushroom.  Made of fiberglass with a high gloss white finish, this stool is the perfect addition next to my white leather sectional.  It adds that bit of whimsy to the room.  From my teenage son I got a very ‘groovy’ acrylic tray.  The 70’s-inspired pattern with lime green, pink, yellow, turquoise and of course orange is the perfect tray for sitting on my white credenza.  And of course whenever I shop for others I always find something for myself so I picked up a Ball Chair and Egg Chair.  Only these are miniature versions that don’t sit next to my desk but rather on my desk.  Colourful and inspirational! 

  

  

  

All photos via Modmissy