Wonder-fall!

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I hate to be the bearer of bad news but summer is officially over.  However following on its heels is Fall with all its magnificent colour and beauty.  I thought I would share today some thoughts of what makes this season so wonder-fall. 

                  GREET.

           GATHER.

          WRAP.

          REST.

         SIMMER.

        SERVE.

       BAKE.

      GLOW.

          LAYER.

 

  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE FALL!

Images:  1, 2, 6, 8, 9 – Pottery Barn   3, 4 – Restoration Hardware   5 – Canadian House & Home,   7 – Martha Stewart,    10 – CN Algoma Central Railway

Coloured Glass

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I had the good fortune of spending almost 3 months traveling around Europe; to take in the sights, sounds and tastes of Europe.  The fascinating history and architectural grandeur of England, France and Italy had me spellbound.  I toured through many cathedrals, churches and abbeys admiring the architecture of these historical buildings.  But it was the massive windows of beautiful ornate stained glass windows and their craftsmanship that was so striking.  The coloured glass made me feel like I was looking through a kaleidoscope of history.  In my own home I have 8 stained glass windows, they are not as grand but I do enjoy looking through them.  Recently I have been noticing a lot of coloured glass for sale except the coloured glass is in the form of wine glasses.  Now I am no wine expert but I thought that to truly benefit all the wonderful features of a wine the drinking vessel should be clear glass.   Legs and colour are just two of many characteristics you note about a wine but would a coloured wine glass not alter that.  I have always found that if I drank out of a blue glass my brain tells me I am drinking something blue.  i.e. blueberry juice??  Green – limeade.  Red – red wine when actually it was white wine.  And a cold glass of milk in an orange glass???  Too confusing!  Personally I would rather look through coloured glass than drink out of it.  How about you?    

Blueberry Juice??

Limeade??

White Wine or Red Wine??

  

Re-cycle, Re-Love

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Many years ago I received a gift from my hubby of a black and white leather jacket.  It was one of those ‘team’ jackets where the body of the jacket is Melton wool and the sleeves are made of leather with an embroidered picture on the back.  The jacket was from the television series Street Legal, a Canadian production which aired from 1987 to 1994. 

            

I wore this jacket for the seven years of the shows airing but afterwards it was relegated to the cottage to be worn as a ‘campfire’ jacket.  This year after spring cleaning my closet I decided that the jacket had its time and it was goodbye.  I am a big believer of: if it isn’t being used enough, get rid of it.  I hate clutter and crowded closets. (that’s another post!)  But for some reason I could not seem to put that jacket in the bag with all the other items that were destined for the donation drop-off centre.  Throughout the summer the jacket got shuffled from one chair to another around the cottage.  I could not seem to part with this jacket for some reason, maybe it was memories.  Finally, I came up with another idea for re-purposing this jacket.  I took scissors to the jacket and cut and ripped it apart, I removed the Legal stitching from the embroidery picture and then had Queen monogrammed in its place.  It now read Queen Street which was appropriate as the scene was that of Queen Street in Toronto of which I live a stone’s throw away.  I then sewed the jacket into a cushion and it now adorns my sofa.  Very reduce, re-use and recycle and my original gift still lives on!

         

         Images via Modmissy

 

Los Muebles Amorosos

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I believe inspiration can come from anywhere.

         

Alessandra black and white upholstered armchair, Los Muebles Amorosos, (Spanish for loving furniture) designed by Javier Mariscal for Moroso of Italy.

          

               Image via Birdman

     Where do you get your inspiration from???????????

Shelter Furniture

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I recently visited Shelter, www.shelterfurniture.ca  a shop in Toronto’s west end.  Shelter sells Mid-Century, Bauhaus, Danish and Italian modern furniture.  So often one can be intimidated by this ‘design-type’ shop, feeling nothing in the store is attainable, too expensive or for ‘designers only’.  But as I strolled through the store looking at all the fabulous vignettes admiring the sofas, sectionals, chairs, tables and accessories what I found really interesting were all the ‘writings’ on the walls.  Shelter is housed in a warehouse lending the shop a relaxed casual atmosphere and the first thing you see as you walk through the doors: LIVE WITH THE THINGS YOU LOVE painted on an entire wall in huge, fun letters.  I liked that; sometimes we just need the obvious pointed out.  Another wall sign stated that: ‘Compelling designs are a right rather than a privilege. Where an ordinary space becomes an expression of who you are’.  Good design is attainable!  And written on the wall behind the counter: ‘We recognize your individuality and are sensitive to the space you envision for yourself’.  Shelters motto surely seems to be that they sell to ‘you’ not to who they think ‘you should be’.   Webster’s Dictionary defines shelter as: a refuge, a haven, something that provides protection.  Shelter just wants you to put a      Mid-Century piece in that haven.

             

              

             

                Images via Modmissy

Modern McDonald’s?

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Have you noticed anything new on the horizon of late?  Ok, I will narrow that down a bit.  Have you noticed the new, re-designed, contemporary-looking McDonalds’s?  The world’s largest hamburger chain that serves millions of people around the globe every day is having a makeover, a facelift.  Keeping in line with their ‘forever young’ brand, McDonald’s restaurants are losing the plastic-heavy, childlike look and presenting a more contemporary, youthful face.  Gone is the signature mansard roof, the bright red and yellow colours and the loud tell-tale golden arches.  I always associated the restaurant as a ‘jungle gym’, romper room type of playhouse; not a place to eat.  Instead the new design of the exterior presents a building with contemporary architecture that is subtle and clean lined.  The roof is now flat and partially cantilevered; the colours are grey, white and a muted red.  Materials include natural and cultured stone.  Very nice touch.  The golden arches are still present but not as big of a focus.   Even the outdoor seating is more edgy and hipper looking.  Although I have not made it inside to check out the interior re-design I am told the old plastic seating has been replaced with leather furniture, plasma televisions and fireplaces.   The ‘new’ McDonald’s is much more architecturally interesting with greater curb appeal and I confess that it now gets my attention.  But would I falter from my claim to fame of “I have never in my life eaten a McDonald’s hamburger”?  Hmmmm?  But hey, I like the ‘tasteful’ new design!

    

          The BEFORE and AFTER Photos.  What was vs. What now is!

     

      Image via Modmissy

Keilhauer Sign

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We decorate our homes and dress ourselves each day in a style that reveals who we are.  Whether it is classic, casual or contemporary – our décor or our   attire indicates our personality and how we are perceived.  The ‘sign posts’ to our character.   Our personal advertisement.  Similarly in the commercial world, a company’s advertisement is key.  A company’s signage not only reveals the product or service but identifies the personality of the company.  A company who I have always admired is Keilhauer  www.keilhauer.com a manufacturer of high quality commercial seating.  Well regarded in the design industry, Keilhauer’s signage encompasses their identity – subtlety and sophistication; an insight to their values of respect and integrity, the cornerstone of their business.  Located in Toronto’s east end, Keilhauer head office is advertised by 9 identical vertical signposts evenly spaced in a perfectly straight line with each letter,           K-E-I-L-H-A-U-E-R, individually written in white on a black background.  Very unobtrusive, not garish or competing. The sign was designed by Michael Vanderbyl, an internationally acclaimed ‘practitioner, educator, critic and advocate of design’ with expertise in graphics, signage, interiors, furniture, textiles and fashion apparel.  In today’s society companies compete for your attention with so much intensity that we become bombarded with signs causing some serious visual overload.  To Keilhauer’s advertisement style of less is more, I say well done and thank you!

         

         Image via Modmissy

Colour Ties

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The importance of colour in respect to choosing the right one for your walls, furnishings, carpet, drapery, accessories etc. can become a huge decision.  Colour means so much to us in our interiors.  Colour can calm a space, enliven a space, and make a space feel larger or make a space feel smaller.  The correct colour can make a room feel warm or keep a room feeling cool.  Heck, the ‘right’ colour in our homes can just plain make us happier, and who doesn’t want to be happier.  The psychology of colour in the branding of corporations is also very important.  Tiffany & Co. is so well-known for their colour ‘Tiffany Blue’ that the colour is protected as a colour trademark and the colour is produced as a private custom color by Pantone Inc.  Hermès is famous for their orange.  And what company is best known for red? Coca Cola. Brown – UPS.  So it was no surprise last week when President Obama’s decision to wear a purple tie (a departure from the usual red or blue) during his speech to the joint session of Congress last Thursday made the headlines.  A lot was at stake for the President as he tried to sell his $447 billion plan.  Creating a positive and trustworthy image amongst voters was important and apparently the colour of the tie would indicate this.  Synonymous with royalty, wealth and status, the colour purple projects power and authority.  In these financially unstable times one can only hope that the message of stability and trust was felt in the colour of the tie.

                   

Back to School

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I am heading back to school!  Actually I’m not really going back but just thinking about the possibility is so exciting.  What excites me is all the wonderful stuff now available to set up a dorm room or residence; to make your space your very own.  Living out of Rubbermaid® boxes may be good for some but for those students heading back in style there are so many great ideas out there.  Of course top marks go out to IKEA www.ikea.com because they have everything for the back-to-college student; Dream Dorms, Made by Students, Designed by IKEA is their motto.  IKEA has affordable multi-purpose futons, bedding, desks, task lights, storage units etc. etc.  Just check out the photo below and imagine yourself spending semesters in this space.  IKEA believes that any study space can be beautiful and that an organized, functional, and efficient work space leads to an uncluttered mind.  Definitely top of the class thinking here! 

                (Image via IKEA Canada)     There is also Crate and Barrel www.cb2.com who have taken the bean bag chair to a whole new dimension for the style-savvy mobile student.  CB2 has the Tie-1-On over-scaled bean bag chair that can be tied together for an ever-changing social arrangement.  Tie 2 chairs together for a loveseat; tie 3 chairs for a sofa.  Makes moving the student back to college a cinch.  The chair is covered in heavy-gauge polyester so spills can be wiped up.  Plus, it’s pretty cool looking.   (Image via CB2)  So whatever your requirements for heading back to school are, do it in style.

         

Leuty Lifeguard Station

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What makes a building or structure so iconic?  Is it that the architecture is a marvel and a masterpiece?  Or does a renowned individual have to lay claim to its design.  Must the building be very unique and exclusive in its style and construction?  Or is it essential that the building be award-winning and internationally acclaimed?  Often a building or structure will singularly define a city and/or country.  Paris is known for its Eiffel Tower, Australia for the Sydney Opera House, New York City for the Statue of Liberty, London for the Tower Bridge, Dubai for the Burj-Al-Arab, India for Taj Mahal and Egypt for its Pyramids.  The list is lengthy.  But sometimes an ‘iconic’ building is simply no more than a building in a neighborhood that has become embedded into the hearts of the local residents.  One such building in my neighborhood is the Leuty Lifeguard Station.  Built in the 1920’s the small, simple wooden structure sitting at the water’s edge has stood the test of time.  It is still used every summer as a lifeguard station to monitor swimmers at the lake but it is also a spot well-known for “I’ll meet you at the lifeguard station” destination and the place where a ‘first kiss’ often occurs and where many great ‘photo ops’ are shot and a favourite scene for artists to capture.   A few years ago a S.O.S. (Save our Station) went out as a massive restoration $$ was required.  The local residents rallied and the Station was saved.  Couldn’t let an old friend down!  So what building is iconic for you?  Let me know.

          

         

           Images via Modmissy