My Backyard of Colour

Posted on by
Reply

I have written about changing a room’s décor based on the change of season.  Adding layers in the cooler weather, removing layers in the warmer weather.  Fresh colours in the spring, warm colours in the fall.  In April I wrote about my fondness of the moment for bright colours – hot pinks, vivid yellows and sky blues and how these spring colours were inspiration for me to change the cushions on my sofa to match the season’s colours.  I accessorized with pink, lavender and chartreuse yellow.  In the spring I also wrote about the trees in my backyard with their creamy white petal-like flowers and bright green leaves; how my backyard was coming alive with ‘natural beauty’.  But now that fall is here the scene in my backyard is very different.  The setting is the same but the palette is very different.  Gone are the white and bright greens.  Now there is a riot of fall colours – gold, bronzes, oranges, deep yellows, greens and bright reds.  Each time I walk into my kitchen and see the view looking out the window into my backyard I am in amazement.  How Mother Nature never ceases to amaze.  Once again I have changed the cushions on my sofa and added a throw blanket to match the orange of the season.  I have accessorized with bronzes and gold.  Earlier I stated “I love spring” but with fall and its entire glorious colour I now say “I love the change of seasons”!

         

         

 

Restoration Weekend

Posted on by
Reply

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

The Ball Chair

Posted on by
3

Last week I was at The Bay flagship store on Queen Street in downtown Toronto with a friend who was looking for the perfect LBD (little black dress).  As we made our way up the escalators to the 3rd floor, Ladies Fashions, I noticed that there was a hubbub of activity going on and the smell of perfume in the air.  We soon discovered that the commotion was that the man himself, Oscar De La Renta was in the store to celebrate the launch of his new fragrance ‘Live in Love’.  Sitting on a small stage in The Room (women’s couture apparel), Oscar was interviewed by none other than Jeanne Beker of Fashion Television.  There was a lot of excitement in the crowd as the legendary designer spoke about life and being in love with yourself.  Great words of wisdom but I soon broke away from the crowd of onlookers as Jeanne and Oscar continued on.  With everyone attending the presentation, the rest of the 3rd floor was mine to discover.  And what did I discover??  Outside the change rooms for ‘waiting’ friends (or husbands) to sit on was a Ball Chair.  Designed in 1966 by Eero Aarnio, the Ball Chair or the Globe Chair as it is sometimes called was an idea that Aarnio came up with when he moved into his first home and needed a proper big chair that was very unique in design.  “After some drawing I noticed that the shape of the chair had become so simple that it was merely a ball. I pinned the full-scale drawing on the wall and sat in the chair to see how my head would move when sitting inside it. Being the taller one of us I sat in the chair and my wife drew the course of my head on the wall. This is how I determined the height of the chair. Since I aimed at a ball shape, the other lines were easy to draw, just remembering that the chair would have to fit through a doorway”.  Interesting….out of necessity comes invention.  And a groovy looking one too!

            

            

                Image 1 via Modmissy    Image 2 via eero-aarnio.com

Convertable Furniture

Posted on by
2

I have been busy decorating a condo in a newly constructed building.  A 1100 sq. ft. condo may sound great and look good on paper but once a homeowner occupies the space they often realize that sometimes the square footage is not exactly in the areas where one wants it.  For example the master ensuite is very large whereas the principal room, living/dining room, could have been larger.  The key to decorating the space is all about the furniture, the lighting and the accessories.  The correct furniture will make the space appear roomier and will also make the space function well.  I love the challenge of decorating ‘small spaces’.  I know that 1100 sq. ft. may not seem small to some people but when a homeowner is downsizing from a much larger space the challenge is in ‘re-programing’ the homeowner to understand how they can still have everything they had before but just in a different way.  They can still entertain 6-8 people comfortably.  They can still have their office space, a media area, a ‘cook’s’ kitchen, a library and a reading nook.  Many times I have said “space is overrated”, it is not how much you have but how you use it.  While sourcing items for the condo I came across some items I thought I would share.  The photos show how a space can convert from an office/ library/media area into a bedroom at the touch of a fingertip, without disturbing everything in the room.  Take a look.

      

      

     

     

   Images via: 1 & 2 – Studybed.co.uk    3 & 4 – Bonbon Compact Living Solutions

William Morris

Posted on by
2

I just finished reading the classic and well-known book, Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw.  It was on the pile of books my son is required to read this year for his English class.  Written in 1912 as a play, later adapted as the musical and film, My Fair Lady, Professor of phonetics Henry Higgins makes a bet that he can train a lower-class Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, to pass for a duchess by teaching her impeccable speech and thus giving her an appearance of gentility.   In Act Three, Eliza is introduced to Henry’s mother.  The scene takes place in Mrs. Higgins drawing-room in a flat on Chelsea Embankment.  Shaw’s writes of the room’s setting with great detail; “In the middle of the room there is a big ottoman; and this, with the carpet, the Morris wallpapers, and the Morris chintz window curtains and brocade covers of the ottoman and its cushions, supply all the ornament, and are much too handsome to be hidden by odds and ends of useless things.”  The ‘Morris’ that Shaw writes about is well-known English textile designer, artist and writer, William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896).  Morris founded a design firm in partnership with the artist Edward Burne-Jones and the poet and artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti which greatly influenced the decoration of houses and churches into the early 20th century.  Furnishing textiles were an important part of the design firm.  Morris taught himself embroidery, tapestry weaving and textile printing.  Morris had his first repeating wallpaper pattern manufactured in 1864.  Almost 150 years later, William Morris textiles and wallpaper designs remain as ever popular which is a great testament to the enduring appeal of his work.  And Morris’s golden rule, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”.  A very wise man!

   

Beach Bicycles

Posted on by
Reply

In past posts I have written about bicycles, Bikes for Bikes – July 12, and signage, Keilhauer Sign – September 13, but this time I am going to write about bicycles as signage.  This past weekend was the fall Beach Studio Tour in Toronto.  The tour is advertised in magazines, local newspapers and this year the event was advertised in a new, very creative format – on painted bicycles.  Many brightly painted yellow bicycles with yellow signage were positioned throughout the neighborhood.  Some bicycles had baskets containing flowers and pamphlets attached to the handlebars.  I thought this was a great way to advertise versus the usual and common A-Frame sign (the kind you usually see Real Estate open houses advertised) or flyers stapled to telephone poles both of which I never even take notice.  The signs even had a QR Code for obtaining further information.  Advertising is the key to the success of the event and the key to advertising success is getting noticed by as many customers as possible.  I believe these bright, eye-catching, fun bicycles made you turn your head and take notice.  The yellow bicycles were a wonderful departure from the ordinary and as Bill Moyers, White House Press Secretary, news commentator, journalist, once said “Creativity is piercing the mundane to find the marvelous”.

    

Progress Giving Back

Posted on by
1

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

Posted on by
4

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

Riverside Architecture

Posted on by
Reply

It may seem that I have a preference for contemporary architecture and that I lean towards the mid-century modern style but I do appreciate other eras.  Recently while on a search for the perfect orange coloured fabric (time to replace the chartreuse yellow cushion on my living room sofa – see post April 7th) I ended up in the Riverside district, located just east of downtown Toronto.  It was such a beautiful day and while looking up and admiring the bright blue sky I also happened to notice the great architecture that was around me.   At the corner of Queen and Saulter, is an outstanding example of some of the older architecture in Toronto.  Built in 1913 and designed by architect E.J. Lennox, (who also designed Toronto’s ’Old City Hall’) the building originally housed a post office, then a Town Hall and now it is home to the Queen/Saulter Library.  The building is truly ‘photo worthy’ and so I snapped away.  If I had not told you that this building was in Toronto you may have thought I had just returned from a vacation in Europe. 

      

Across the street I spotted another ‘photo worthy’ example of older Toronto architecture.  At the corner of Queen and Boulton St is the Poulton Block.  This building was constructed in 1885 for William B. Poulton, a painter and a Mason, as a Masonic Orient Lodge.  The building was designed by Kennedy, Gaviller and Holland Architects in the Gothic Revival style.  From 1888 to 1910, Toronto’s first library east of the Don River was housed in rooms at the back of this building.  Once again I snapped a bunch of photos.  Through the wonders of technology I was able to view the photos asap and noticed that the shots of the Poulton Block made the building appear as if it existed as only one wall!  It was as if you looked right through the windows and out the back of the building but actually it was the reflection of the sky from the very tall windows. 

    

I like these photos and am thinking about enlarging them to black and white or maybe sepia toned and framing them.  Actually a friend has been looking for some architecture prints for above her sofa so I may consider that too. 

All Images via Modmissy

 

Preparing Your Home for Fall

Posted on by
Reply

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!