Celebration: Make it a Langdon Hall Wedding

So I’m not getting married. And I don’t work for Langdon Hall. But…seeing as I love pretty things, delicious food, flowers, gorgeous interiors, and parties, it seems very fitting that I bring you news of weddings at Langdon Hall. Right? Yes!

Last weekend, I was invited to attend Langdon Hall’s wedding preview day – a day where Langdon Hall dresses up in its best wedding attire, hosts vendors (makeup, music, florals, planners), and brides, grooms, and their families can tour the grounds and book (or confirm) a Langdon Hall wedding.

Or, if you’re like me, you’re a local blogger who can’t seem to stay away from Langdon Hall, so you attend the event and snap a gazillion photos of all the beauty.

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This visit was extra special because Langdon Hall’s new event space, the Firshade Room, was finally revealed! This new addition can host parties up to 120 people. I was impressed that the space has the traditional coffered ceilings, traditional furnishings, and walls of windows that make the space bright, modern, and inviting. Well done, LH crew!

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Any good party has a dessert table, am I right? Kitchener’s Cake Box – and owner Yvonne – were showing off some beautiful creations. The sugar flowers really caught my attention, and the cake “dripping” with icing was my favourite. I learned that there are many couples who are very much interested in the chalkboard effect on their cakes. I thought it was interesting how the chalkboard trend is popular in home and cake design.

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creations from Cake Box

Chef Jason Bangerter took me on a quick behind-the-scenes tour of the state-of-the-art kitchen in this building (still a bit of a construction zone – I wore a hard hat). The kitchen is done in stainless and white Corian, and the industrial stoves, fridges, and ovens are mighty fine! Chef has big plans for this kitchen, and I’m definitely looking forward to following along.

White-Cabana-Langdon-Hall-12 GE appliances will be working hard in hereWhite-Cabana-Langdon-Hall-10

I lost count of how many burners and ovens were in this kitchen

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a brand new kitchen (still covered in packaging!)

Chef and his team were serving up several delicious nibbles, including mini croque madame, beet-dipped quail eggs, and cucumber soaked in rose water and topped with powdered raspberry.

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Chef Bangerter serving up his creations

Beyond the new Firshade event space, other areas of Langdon were decked out for the day. The Orchard Room was bright and inviting with florals created by Tina of Living Fresh.

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guests can be spoiled by gorgeous views and fresh florals in The Orchard RoomWhite-Cabana-Langdon-Hall-19

a special table set-up for the happy coupleWhite-Cabana-Langdon-Hall-20

Tina and Katrina of Living FreshWhite-Cabana-Langdon-Hall-21

me and Tina (loving our black and white)White-Cabana-Langdon-Hall-22

delicate calligraphy on the prettiest paper by All Things Lovely Paper Co.White-Cabana-Langdon-Hall-23

the makeup artist’s tools – makeup application can be arranged for bridal parties via  Langdon Hall’s Spa Services

Vendors were set up in other rooms around the property, and I was drawn into so many of the florals! I appreciate floral design so much!White-Cabana-Langdon-Hall-24

by The Event Firm

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by Inspire Event Rental and Design

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by The White Book

Inside the main house, two rooms were done up beautifully by Elaine of From the Potting Shed in Cambridge. Elaine is the house florist for Langdon Hall, and I very much enjoyed chatting with her about flowers, Paris, food, and the parts we love most about Langdon Hall! I hope to visit her studio soon, so stay tuned.

In Colonel Langdon’s dining room and conservatory, Elaine set up a lush floral garland down the centre of the dining table and had blooms in old-world vessels throughout the room. The conservatory was set up as it might be for a ceremony with chairs and a rose petal-lined aisle.

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ranunculus place settings and a garland (or flower train!) filled with hydrangea and rosesWhite-Cabana-Langdon-Hall-31

Elaine and Chef JasonWhite-Cabana-Langdon-Hall-32

picture perfect floralsWhite-Cabana-Langdon-Hall-33

The Conservatory – all florals by From The Potting Shed

Elaine also worked on the decor in the Red Room and conservatory, and while the space is much too colourful for White Cabana, it was stunning and made quite the impression. You can see Elaine’s creations in this Instagram photo and this one, too.

So much gorgeousness, right? It was so nice to wander through the rooms, see the decor, and enjoy the new event space. On top of all this goodness, it was a pleasure to meet Langdon Hall’s elegant owner, Mary Beaton. One of the things that I really enjoy about Langdon Hall is that it’s absolutely normal for the owner and the head chef to be mingling with their guests. On top of this, the staff I have met on my various visits are friendly. I am impressed when I am greeted by name, and I enjoy learning about each staff person’s role at Langdon Hall.

If you are planning a wedding – or a party – Langdon Hall might be one to consider (and book!). Its weddings have been featured on Style Me Pretty here and here and here.

Thanks to the Langdon Hall team for extending a warm welcome to me!

Photos by me.

Marketplace: Playing Chess

Do any of you know how to and regularly play chess? My dad taught me how to play chess when I was a kid, but I rarely play. Heck, I don’t even have a set, so how could I play? It’s too bad because I think chess is quite a good game. Maybe if I had one of these gorgeous sets, it just pull you in?

3422592_zScacchiera chess board by Rosa, $940

2979232-1Kelly Wearstler dichotomy chess set, $17,000 (yes, $17K!)

HCH7NMF_axJonathan Adler acrylic chess set, $795

Two for Tuesday: Introducing a New Series

After several years of sharing items that are less than $20 in my 20 Below series, I’ve decided to give it a break, and start something new. Woah. Change. Are you ready?

On Tuesdays, I’ll be writing a Two for Tuesday column. Here, I’ll feature two items that are two-of-a-kind – similar in some special way. The two items might be a parent/kid comparison, a home/fashion mix, a high/low feature, or an art/object highlight. I think the possibilities are endless, actually, but there will certainly be some connection between the two items.

For the first post of the Two for Tuesday series, I’m going the high-low route:

Moderna-shag-Moroccan-ruglow: Moderna Moroccan shag rug, 9″x12″, $483.99

Pasagard-rughigh: Pasagard Moroccan lamb’s wool rug, 9’4″x12’4″, $3160

 What do you think? Are you sad to see the 20 Below series end? Are you ready to embrace something new for your Tuesday reading of White Cabana? (I hope so!) Please share!

Design: The Buffalo Check Trend

What’s black and white and square all over? Buffalo check, of course! While the pattern does come in just about every colour, I’m obviously most drawn to the black/white/grey versions.

It seems like buffalo check just emerged on the design scene within days. Seemingly suddenly, I’m seeing this pattern on everything from chairs to table cloths to settees to clothing.

Buffalo check works with a lot of existing styles – traditional, modern, country, shabby chic – as you’ll see in the interiors below.

pancakes-pajamas-2016avia Rambling Renovators

buffalo-check-homevia Studio McGee

buffalo-check-chair-studio-mcgeevia Studio McGee

7754128ccb0e2c40f79d91872d0d0606via Steward of Design

main.original.640x0cvia My Domaine

buffalo-check-hunted-interior-makeovervia Hunted Interior

7130026_origvia Cottage Decor

5-600x890via Interiors by Studio M (that dog!)

MSI_5040via Mustard Seed

kitchen-427x640via Atlanta Homes

Now that you’ve seen some inspiring interiors, here’s a round-up of items available in the marketplace just in case you’d like to include some buffalo check into your own home (and wardrobe).

jackchairwindowpane_1518Jack chair, $1500, Schoolhouse Electric

36248219_018_b1Kimball check, $1598, Anthropologie

XXX_0055_1000219th C. classical carved American empire recaimier, $7500, 1st Dibs

berta-ruta-fabric-black__0137764_PE296491_S4Berta Ruta fabric, $9.99/metre, Ikea

Product_FRL12108_Image_1buffalo check tea towels, $33, One King’s Lane

882709236689_hibuffalo check throw, $34.99 (on sale), Chapters Indigo

36115822_018_gsweater, $119.99 (on sale), Urban Outfitters

John-Galliano-buffalo-check-dressJohn Galliano dress, $1850, 1st Dibs

eroad3000292855_q1_1-1._QL90_UX336_Emerson Road PJ set, $95

3564154064_2_3_1check shirt, $45.90, Zara

And for the men…

3894400064_2_5_1check flannel shirt, $19.99 (on sale), Zara

hmprodplaid sweater, $19.99 (on sale), H&M

hmprod-1check pajama pants, $14.99, H&M (hello!)

A nice way to end the post, eh? Yeah, you’re welcome. Happy Monday!

The Friday Five: Coffee Table Styling

Online vintage furniture retailer Charish recently asked me my opinion about the following questions:

1. What essentials does everyone need for their coffee table?
2. How do you properly layer the items?

I think I might be out of the ordinary on this one, because my coffee table is quite empty and unstyled. I have a small basket that holds my remote controls, coasters, and a few kinds of lip gloss (you can never have too many).

White-Cabana-House-Tour-3-1024x740my home

But there are so many inspiring interiors that do beautiful coffee table styling. Calgary-based designer Erica Cook, for example, is a master stylist in my opinion. I love how she pulls items together on her coffee tables.

coffee-table-Erica-Cook-1via Erica Cook

coffee-table-Erica-Cook-2via Erica Cook

coffee-table-Erica-Cook-3via Erica Cook

As I browsed through Charish‘s coffee table inventory, I thought about what I might display on particular tables. Here are five of the tables that caught my attention and the items that I might use to style them up pretty!

On this woodsy timber coffee table, I’d use a few stacks of beautiful books (with cream and white covers, of course). I’d arrange them symmetrically to follow the squareness of the table, and I might add some brass trinkets to contrast the wood.

coffee-table-Charish-6timber coffee table, $700

On this brassy number, I’d add a collection of cloisonné bowls because it reminds me of what my mom would do in her traditional living room. I’d increase the fancy factor because that’s what those curves are calling.

coffee-table-Charish-3brass ring cocktail table, $925

The mid-century coffee table below would have minimal styling. Perhaps I’d add a tray or two with some books or objets neatly placed inside.

coffee-table-Charish-5vintage Florence Knoll coffee table, $585

I don’t think this modern glass table actually needs anything on it because it already has so much to offer what with its curvy lines and such, but if I had to opt for something, I’d include a carefully curated stack of books with a simple, but interesting, object on top to complement the table rather than compete with it.

coffee-table-Charish-7tempered glass coffee table, $250

Finally, I think this simple travertine gem would look beautiful with a collection of colourful floral arrangements on it. Who could ever go wrong with flowers? Am I right?

coffee-table-Charish-8travertine coffee table, $1200

For those of you who may not know, Charish is an amazing source for vintage furniture and decor (yes, including coffee tables). It currently only ships in the United States, so here’s hoping it considers shipping internationally very soon so that the rest of us can benefit from the unique inventory!