Tag Archives: style

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.

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!

         

 

The Christmas Tree

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Have you ever wondered about the Christmas tree?  Not so much about the history of it but rather just the idea of it.  The thought of going to the all the trouble of bringing into your home a big ‘dead’ tree and then decorating it!!??  Think about it.  I mean at some point I am sure you have had a vase of flowers that have been in the house way too long and you think, “OMG, these flowers are so dead they are gross” and disgustingly throw them out.  But for some reason we continue on with the Christmas tree.  Our first Christmas together, hubby and I had no living room furniture as we would rather wait until we could afford what we really wanted.  Therefore the Christmas tree was huge, filling the space.  When we finally got furniture there was no space for the tree.  So because I did not want to rearrange the furniture to allow for a big tree we got a ‘Charlie Brown’ tree which I totally loved.  Mind you the tree was quite tall but very ‘scant’ and could hold no ornaments!  This year I really wanted to find a new alternative; something different in regards to the Christmas tree.  Some ideas I came across were from CB2 www.cb2.com.  There is the chalkboard tree. 

Or the picture frame tree.

Or the outlined in lights on the wall tree.

Of course I could always go with one of the numerous ‘artificial’ trees that are available in an array of colours (white, pink, silver, blue, green etc.) and material (feather, tinsel, PVC).  But lack of storage space is a problem at my house.  I am now thinking that next summer I will venture into the woods up at the cottage and find a ‘Christmas’ tree and start trimming the tree into maybe a topiary or a cylinder-type shape.  But this would take planning and who thinks of Christmas in July??!!

 

 

Black Friday

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Today is ‘Black Friday’….let the shopping begin!  Considered to be one of the biggest shopping days, Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States.  Apparently the name originated in Philadelphia where it was used to describe the heavy and disorderly pedestrian and vehicle traffic that would occur on the day after Thanksgiving Day.  More recently the day is better known as the day that puts retailers ‘into the black’.  In honour of Black Friday I thought I would share a few of my favourite black items and some of my own black items. 

Black Leather Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman

Jonathan Adler Black Sprout Vase

Black Slate Mongolian Lamb Pillow – West Elm

Black Wall Clock

My Black Wall Sconce

My Black Bertoia Chair

My Black Tizio Lamp

 

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

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!

      

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

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

 

IKEA Catalogue

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Well it’s that time of year again…….when the new IKEA catalogue comes out!  IKEA’s first catalogue was published in Swedish in 1951 and is now published in 55 editions, in 27 languages for 36 countries.  Full of anticipation, I open the catalogue and start leafing through the pages looking at all the new items and am reminded of similar feelings I had as a child when opening the new Sear’s Christmas Wish Book.  Remember?!!  Although now on my Wish List there would no longer be an Easy Bake Oven but probably a fabulous new IKEA kitchen!  This year’s catalogue focuses on IKEA’s love of creating smart spaces and their clever solutions to making life at home better for their customers.  Something I found interesting in this year’ catalogue is IKEA’s descriptive headings of ‘Timeless and Simple’, ‘Natural and Graphic’, ‘Earthy and Industrial’, ‘Bold and Minimal’.  The master of flat packing is now speaking to the customer as ‘designer’, who makes purchases based on knowledge of style and beauty and then of course low price.  The IKEA catalogue is always full of inspirational room settings and interpretation of their products multi uses.  IKEA  helps the customer think outside of their proverbial box and find their way home with a flat pack box!  Pick a catalogue up or visit IKEA at www.ikea.com.