Category Archives: Style

Lilly Factory Towns

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I recently came across this fabulous billboard advertising a new home development in Toronto’s east end.  I thought it was a wonderful departure from the typical billboard for new home developments showing an artist’s impression of lovely homes, mature trees and blue skies.  Nice enough, very typical but not head turning.  Or the classic billboard of a future development showing a happy couple in a big embrace with huge smiles on their face making me think that possibly this to be an advertisement for teeth whitening!  The Lilly Factory Towns sales centre billboard is a colourful and unique display of creative, outside-the-box thinking.  Sixty four colourful cups are lined up in the shape of a huge cup on a glossy black background.  Some of the lettering is also in bright pink.  Very fun and catchy; made my head turn.  The Lilly Factory Towns development has been named in tribute to the Lily-Tulip Cup Corporation factory that had stood on the property for many years.  The famous Lily paper cup was manufactured at the factory that became a well-known community landmark because of its huge two-story white cup marking the entrance into the building.  A definite head turner.  As a child whenever I saw this building I imagined it to be a place where cups of pop were handed out to anybody who knocked on the big white cup door!  Just as the huge white cup was distinctive so is the new billboard.  Which now makes me wonder, “Does each of the colourful cups hold a cold drink in them too?” 

        

            Image via Modmissy

Rock Inspiration

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A friend of mine vacationed this past summer on Georgian Bay, Ontario with her family.  Each summer they tour around the lake in their boat and set up camp on one of the many 30,000 islands in Georgian Bay.  The marvel of the ‘sixth Great Lake’ is the beauty to behold in the windswept pines, the endless beaches, the majestic towering cliffs and the granite rock formations. The rugged beauty of the area inspired the artists of the Group of Seven to paint the Canadian landscape and thus started the first major Canadian national art movement.   Part of Georgian Bay sits on the southern edge of the Canadian Shield of granite bedrock exposed by glaciers at the end of the last ice age approximately 11,000 years ago.    While hiking across Beckwith Island my friend found a rock, probably granite that she immediately fell in love with and decided to carry it for the rest of the hike.  She even had to swim with the rock out to where the boat was anchored.  Although the rock was grapefruit-sized, it became very heavy to carry after a few hours.  But determined she was.  The rock made its way back to the city and took up residence on her fireplace mantle.  The colour of the rock, the sheen, the organic-ness of the rock became the inspiration for my friend’s living room makeover.  Each time there was a question or query as to what her direction or style was my friend looked to the rock.  In came a new deep grey sectional, a ‘greige’ shag area rug, and large matted, white framed prints for over the fireplace, new white drum shades on the black lamps, and a natural stone-topped cocktail table.  A white leather chair is on order and the hunt for a mid-century wood chair to place in front of the fireplace has begun.  The end wall in the dining room was painted in a deep grey as a stunning feature wall.  Accessories in silver and glass have been added also.  The room looks fabulous.  My friend is thrilled with her results.  And all this from a rock!

                  

Loosing 25 Pounds

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I have a secret to share….. I lost 25 pounds.  But that is not the secret.  On Sunday I went to the William Ashley Warehouse Sale in Toronto and finally purchased white dinnerware for my kitchen.  I bought a 12 place setting of white bone china which included round dinner plates, sandwich plates, bowls and mugs.  I have always wanted white dinnerware for my kitchen (which to a designer is the only colour to have) but I already owned a good set of stoneware in a 12 place setting.  Although the stoneware was in a ‘colour and pattern’ that had matched a previous kitchen, I could not justify getting rid of it as it was in excellent condition.  Finally my chance to un-guiltily depart with this dinnerware came along!  My MIL (mother-in-law) needed a larger set of dinnerware for her new Condo.  Yeah.  The 3-R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle – not reading, writing and ‘arithmetic) were on my side.  I quickly packed up the stoneware and out of my kitchen it went, off to MIL.  Now don’t feel sorry for me wondering “my goodness…what will she eat off of now?”  This is where the secret comes in.  After unpacking my new, lovely, white dinnerware and wanting to place them proudly in my kitchen cupboards I removed all the other ‘extra’ dishware which amounted to 30 dinner plates, 20 bowls and 15 mugs!!   And that doesn’t include the stoneware I had already gotten rid of.  For years I have been telling clients/friends/family to get rid of clutter and to not have so much stuff, especially extra stuff in their homes.  Well I was just as guilty.  In compensation for not having white dinnerware I had so many other occasional plates, bowls, mugs that when I removed them I literally lightened my cupboards by 25 pounds.  Hubby was always worried that the cupboards were going to come crashing down off the wall because of the extreme weight.  But not now.  Now I no longer have the need for anything else but my new white set.  And oh, doesn’t my food look better now!

      

Restoration Weekend

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It has been such a busy week and I am looking forward to a quiet and restful weekend.  A time to re-charge and re-store.  If I could I imagine myself lounging on Restoration Hardware’s daybed sofa (Belgian Roll Arm Daybed Sofa) in front of a big television with a roaring fire at my side.  The time-worn look of the wood cabinetry and flooring will give a feeling of comfort and ease.  If the sun is not pouring in through the beautiful French doors, I will light the space with gentle lighting from the two fabulous sconces (Loire Architectural Railing Sconces) flanking the fireplace.  If I choose to read I will have light from the floor lamps (Polished Nickel Floor Lamp) on either side of the daybed sofa.  I am also envisioning some great fireside snacks.  And if you knew me well, popcorn would certainly be included.  Crunch, crunch.  I hope your weekend is great and that your space is restful.

     

        Image via Restoration Hardware

Progress Giving Back

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Whenever I am in my car driving I have my radio tuned to a ‘talk’ radio station.  I find that it is a great time to get my update of news, current events, etc.  For me it is my ‘newspaper on the go’.  The other day I heard an interesting question put forth by the radio host, “What would you like progress to give you back?”  I liked this question; it made me stop and think.  (But not in the middle of traffic!)  In these days of up-to-the-minute advances and have it all abundance……What do I miss???  Well, the computer has provided me with an infinite source of information so I will never miss out on not having the answer to any question.  I can easily travel to faraway places so I will never miss out on knowing what is on the other side of the world.  I will never miss out on hearing the sound of a loved one’s voice because I can carry a communication device in the palm of my hand.  At the push of a button I can cook my food, wash my clothes, heat my home and turn on a light.  I can stay healthier, look younger and live longer.  Hmmm!?  I often write about the Mid-Century Modern era because I am quite enamored by the furniture design, architecture and style of that era.  An era where the word ‘modern’ truly existed because changes did not happen daily.  Items that were ‘new and improved’ stayed new and improved and were not outdated almost overnight.  I also become very nostalgic when I think of my childhood, when things were simpler and life moved at a slower pace.  When people strolled instead of ‘go, go, go’.  But would I go back now to the 1950’s, 60’s or 70’s?  Would I miss all the modern conveniences or inventions of today that I have come to depend on?  My octogenarian Mother-in-Law said she would like progress to give back “politeness”.  My teenage son said he would like progress to give back “a healthier planet” because earth has really taken a giant ‘kick’ from the effects of progress.   So, what would you like progress to give you back??  Let me know.

          

Thrift Shop Swap Party

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Having posted many times about my ‘great finds’ from thrift shops, antique shops and curbside I thought it would be fun, not to mention interesting, to see how other friends are ‘thrifting’.  Thrifting is often one of those things that people don’t like to admit they do although in these days of ‘green’ and ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ it is becoming less of a taboo.  Last night I hosted the first ‘Thrift Shop Swap Party’.  It was a lot of fun and their certainly was lots of laughter.  On the invitation to everyone I explained that the item should be something that you love, something that you would like to receive.  I had everyone wrap their gift up so that the item was a secret, hence the swapping frenzy.  We all picked numbers and in order began the choosing or stealing of a gift.  As each gift was unwrapped and revealed the gifter told their story as to how they came to choose/find the item.  Curbside, antique shop, thrift shop, rescued from a pile after a hotel fire, neighbour to neighbour passed item, there was every imaginable source.  With a variety of people, females and males, I knew there would be a good assortment of items appearing.  There were a couple of great chairs, a white French country-style end table, some beautiful pieces of ceramic and pottery, a whole box of current books and lots of other gems.  I believe everyone went home quite happy with their new-found treasure.   Move over Tupperware party, here comes the Thrift Shop Swap Party! 

       

             

              

                      

                           All Images via Modmissy

Preparing Your Home for Fall

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Summer has faded away and autumn has officially arrived; the days are getting shorter and the air is turning cooler.  The crunching of leaves underfoot will soon turn to the crunching of snow underfoot.  Thoughts of warmth and cocooning come to mind at this time of year.  The change of season also leads to a change in décor inside your home.   Spring and summer’s cooler and pared back décor changes to layering up rooms with texture, pattern and rustic finishes adding warmth to a home.  As we prepare for the advance of chillier weather and of more time spent indoors here is my list of preparing your home for cooler weather. 

1.   Switch up your summer bedding, adding layers of comfort and warmth.  Pamper yourself with cozy bedding.  Put the cool cottons away until next spring. 

2.   Introduce seasonal colours into what you already have, choose warmer   shades of yellows and reds, earthy browns and greens.  Replace summer cushions with luxurious velvets and faux furs.  Indulge in seasonal flowers and rustic arrangements.

3.   Switch up your clothes closet: pack summer items away, bring forward    fall/winter clothes.  Indulge in a cashmere sweater. 

 4.   Add a throw blanket into a room; wrap yourself up in warmth. 

 5.   Update your pantry with comfort food.  Spoil yourself with seasonal goodies.

 6.   Wear some chunky wool sweaters and decorate with chunky wools.  

7.   Re-arrange your furniture to make a room feel warm and inviting, group furniture into intimate conversation areas. 

8.   Cover bare floors with area rugs that feel good and provide warmth underfoot. 

9.   Create a cozy reading spot.  Read a great book.  Sip on warm tea.  Pour a glass of wine. 

10.   Light some candles, evoke a peaceful mood.

Cooler weather, or rather down right cold weather, is a time to indulge, pamper and spoil self.  Let the good times begin!  

   

                   TIME TO COCOON!

Hudson – Un Style de Vie!

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This past weekend I had the pleasure of spending time in Hudson, Quebec.  Truly a story book town; quaint, charming and picturesque.   I felt I had stepped back in time and was strolling through a Dickens novel.  Located along Main Street which ran parallel to the river was the town hall, churches with bell towers, the barristers’ office, bakeries (with the most amazing goodies), ladies attire shops, the village playhouse, farmers’ market, the newspaper office, a school and many beautiful homes built of stone or brick that were well over 100 years old.  And gardens! Everyone took such pride in their gardens.  The gardens around the shops, churches, businesses and homes were spectacular.  Many homes had tall cedar hedges instead of fences which made the town feel very green.  Colourful flowers were abundant.  But stepping back into the 21st century Main Street also had the conveniences of today; a grocery store, realty offices, pizza takeout, video shop, car dealer, salon and spas and many restaurants all housed in period-looking buildings.  As a banner hanging on Main Street identified exactly what I felt, “Hudson, A way of Live/Un style de vie!”  I knew I could live in this idyllic town forever and be quite happy.

      

               

                  

                  Images via Modmissy

Hudson, Quebec

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I am heading out for a gal’s weekend to beautiful Hudson, Quebec.  The picturesque town (population ~5000) located 60 km west of Montreal was once voted as one of the top places to live in Canada.  Originally settled by French Canadian farmers and “voyageurs” in the early 18th century, the region became known for its large English farming community in the early part of the 19th century. The immigrants were mainly from northern England, with others coming from Ireland, Scotland and the United States.  Nestled on the Ottawa River (Lake of Two Mountains) surrounded by farms and forests, Hudson is known for its large, turn-of-the century homes, various boutiques and antique markets, wonderful restaurants and hiking trails.  I believe a trip to the well-known Finnegan’s Market will be on the agenda to check out the ~100 vendors offering antiques, handicrafts, organic produce, home baking, local wine and lots of seasonal goodies.  Cheers!

         

Eaton’s Catalogue

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I recently came across a 1976 Spring/Summer Eaton’s Catalogue.  Truly a trip down memory lane!  The T. Eaton Co. Limited founded in 1869, was once Canada’s largest department store that became a national institution in Canada.  Eaton’s issued their first catalogue in 1884. For 92 years the Eaton’s catalogue was a household fixture but due to financial reasons the 1976 Spring/Summer catalogue was their last catalogue ever issued.  It was really fun to look through the 700 page catalogue of very retro fashions and to see what the trends of the mid-70’s were.   For clothing, denim/stretch denim was hot, as were caftan dresses, tube tops, platform shoes for men and women and Speedo® bathing suits were just being introduced.  What I found really interesting was the home furnishings and décor.  Of course the popular colours of the time were harvest gold, avocado and brown in everything from appliances to bedding.  But it was the fabrics that were being used for bedding and drapery that had me so interested.  The 1970’s were all about “easy care” with fabrics that promised “permanent press, no-iron, machine washable, carefree, wrinkle-shy, resists the harmful effects of heat, humidity, sunlight and smoke”.  Synthetic materials were opted over natural fibres as they “eliminated chores”.  Fabrics being used for bedding were: ARNEL, AVRIL, MODACRYLIC, FIBERGLAS, FORTREL, DACRON, LANESSE, and TERGAL.  Arnel was the trademark name of a synthetic fiber developed in the 1950’s but was discontinued by the manufacturer in 1986 due to concerns about the toxicity of a chemical used to manufacture the fiber.  Modacrylic (modified acrylic) was produced in 1949 by Union Carbide Corporation.  And Fiberglas?  When it comes to the cyclical nature of fashion (and home decor) isn’t it nice to know that some things are left behind?