Although Urban Barn is advertising their Belvedere recliner as the perfect Father’s Day gift, I’d say that more than just dads would like lounging in something like this.
Belvedere recliner, $1199, Urban Barn
If you’re interested in a chance to win a recliner (or an Urban Barn chair of your choice), go ahead and “like” Urban Barn’s Facebook page and share your story about why your dad is number one.
I mentioned on Twitter a little while ago that I was trying to grow herbs (from seeds) for the very first time. While I ended up killing a lot of the small plants when I tried to transplant them (I thought I was doing them a favour by spreading them out), a few of them actually survived and are slowly growing. While I don’t have enough basil to make pesto and if I break off some parsley for garnish I’d have nothing left, I’m excited to have even just a teeny tiny bit of fresh herbs on my balcony.
But that’s not all! I have also decided to grow tomato plants. I know, I know. Who grows tomatoes on a balcony? Well, I thought I’d give it a try and even though I have yet to see even a smidgen of cherry red, the bit of greenery compliments my herbs quite nicely.
And lucky me РUrban Barn recently sent over some amazing white plant pots (en fran̤ais) to support my cause! Bye bye terracotta, hello white!
my small-but-mighty tomato plants – in Urban Barn’s Le Jardinier pot
Gloxina plant (I think) – in Urban Barn’s Le Jardinier plant pot
There is much more to the Le Jardinier (which means gardener, by the way) collection than the two pots in the photos above. I’ll soon be transferring my herbs into some of the ones below and hopefully they’ll have a growth spurt soon!
Le Jardinier Planter – small : $12.00, large: $22.00
Le Jardinier Handle Pot – small: $7.00, large: $14.00
Le Jardinier Handle Pot – set of 3: $12.00
Photos by Jordana and courtesy of Urban Barn. Many thanks to Robbyn W. for arranging to have these pots sent my way.
Note: If you would like tips on growing herbs indoors, read this article by Sharalee on Chatelaine.com.
Have you seen the latest issue of Canada’s Style at Home magazine?
$5.99, available online and on newsstands now
I haven’t flipped through it yet. Have you? What do you think? I wish they opted for grey instead of blue for the accent colour.
As you know, we’re a big fan of Caviar20 around here. I’m always excited to see what Troy has in store and recently I’ve been drawn to some impressive works of art. The black and white pieces by Canadian artists Harold Town, Charles Pachter and Kent Monkman are of diverse subjects and styles but I think they actually look great together for today’s Friday Five!
Harold Town “Gable & Crawford” Litho, $1400
Harold Town “Yoko Ono” Litho, $1650
Harold Town “Toy Horse” ink drawing, $1500
Charles Pachter “Untitled Portrait”, $3500
Kent Monkman “Study of Apollo & Hyacinthus”, $4500
If colour is more your thing – then be sure to check out Troy’s segment on House & Home TV where he shares his advice for collecting art. Very interesting stuff (even though there’s not much white in the clip)!
With a name like Squish Studio how can I help but be intrigued? This is what the Squish Studio looks like on the inside:
And here is its wicked exterior:
Designed by Saunders Architecture in collaboration with the Shorefast Foundation and the Fogo Island Arts Corporation, this white gem is not only supporting the Fogo Island arts community, but it is also bringing plenty of attention to this tiny part of Newfoundland (area: 110 square miles; population: 2700).
Notes: Images via Tevami. Thanks to CC for sending this my way.
I feel a bit sad that I neglected Issue 5 of The Lab Magazine for a couple of months. I was pumped when it first arrived (many thanks to Tony for sending it my way) and I had a good initial browse through it. But then my life became quite hectic and I have barely been at home to really sit and review it. So this past weekend I made it a priority to spend some good quality time with Issue 5.
I have to admit that even though actor Willem Dafoe is on the cover of this issue, when I first got a hold of The Lab Magazine I was actually more attracted to the large format, the shiny gold lettering, and the quality of the paper of this Canadian (woohoo!) publication. I’m such a sucker for beautifully crafted works.
The magazine’s stories and photos are beautifully and artistically arranged which made it a true pleasure to read. And because I’m not as much of a movie or music buff as my friend Drew (who initially introduced me to the Lab), I learned a lot about the lives of some pretty fascinating actors (e.g., Ty Burrell, Shailene Woodley, Greta Gerwig) and musicians (e.g., Electric Youth, Hey Ocean!). (Have I mentioned before how much I like to learn new things?)
While each article has its unique appeal, I really enjoyed the Making the Shoot story toward the end of this issue. The Making the Shoot, an international competition, invited photographers to submit their work for judging. The grand prize – a full editorial shoot – is featured in this issue. Marta Dymek, the winner, was flown to Los Angeles to photograph Selma Blair (amazing) and the results of this shoot are beautiful. I’ve included a sneak peek here and as you can see Marta’s photos of Selma are simply stunning in this editorial spread (if you want to see more – buy a copy!).
Kudos to Editors in Chief Justin Tyler Close and Jeremy Power Regimbal and their team for The Lab Magazine! It’s apparent that a lot of thought and effort went into this – and I’m sure every – issue.
Notes: The Lab Magazine is available at Barnes and Noble, Chapters, and news stands across the world. Stay tuned for more of their online presence. Thanks to Tony for sending me this issue. Thanks to Drew Nelson for introducing me to The Lab Magazine. Photos of The Lab Magazine by Jordana.
Yes, it’s true, the Hudson’s Bay Company has become quite famous for its stripes. But I actually think this white city tote would be perfect for carrying my stuff to and from the beach (which I plan on doing a lot as soon as the weather cooperates!).
Hudson’s Bay canvas city tote, $50
p.s. I know it’s called a city tote but I’m not going to let the name restrict its possible functions. Call me crazy.
Ginger’s is one of the top places in Toronto to visit if you’re looking for exceptional bathroom fixtures, gorgeous hardware, and beautiful bathroom accessories. My mom and I popped in a couple of weeks ago and we were inspired by all the white and crystal pieces that filled the store.
You can see why I love this place so much, right? White, sparkle, and a little bit of glam – everything a bathroom needs!
Images by Jordana.
One of my most favourite things to do in London is to have breakfast with friends at The Bag Lady. The colourful kitschy decor always entertains me, the servers are always smiling, and the food is delicious (try the peanut butter cookies – yum!). The plates at The Bag Lady are always mismatched but on one of my last visits I noticed that a collection of white serving pieces formed on our table. I couldn’t resist snapping a photo.
Breakfast at The Bag Lady, price varies but it’s always less than $20
So if you’re ever in London (Ontario), be sure to stop by for a bite to eat at The Bag Lady. Better yet – let me know you’re coming and I’ll meet you there!
adjustable wall display unit at Seven Continents
A few weeks ago I had the incredible opportunity to have a guided tour of Seven Continents. This Canadian company, established in 1977 and based in Toronto, manufactures mannequins, bustforms, furniture and display fixtures for the likes of Victoria’s Secret and Nordstrom. When Brooklyn from Seven Continents invited me to tour the showroom and factory, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. Mannequins might be cool, I thought, and I’m usually up for a new learning experience, but mannequins, really?
mannequin forms on display at the Seven Continents showroom
Anyway, I’m thrilled to say that visiting Seven Continents was a very fascinating experience for me!
Mannequins are everywhere in the Seven Continents building – in all sorts of forms and colours and at every stage of production.
Here are the getSMART and PM Sasha mannequins all finished and styled:
getSMART dressed by Cydelic by Choryin
The PM SASHA with Colette Harmon Jewelry
And here are some mannequins at various stages of production:
Here is Athena – in her most original form:
It appeared to me that the mannequins had personalities of their own and it seemed as though Brooklyn talked about them as if they were real people (I’m not going to lie – it did take me a bit of time to get used to seeing Athena and others all dressed and just hanging out around the building.) The dressed-up mannequins, many positioned as if holding intense conversations, didn’t seem to phase anyone in the office but me.
In addition to the various mannequin forms, Seven Continents designs and manufactures an ever-evolving collection of store fixtures and furniture.
The SPUNBOOTY fixtures, made out of bamboo, is a great collection to feature fashion accessories. The Bodality model is used for purses and the Ovality and Wavality duo is designed to display belts (and are not used as lamps, as I mistakenly thought!).
The SPUNBOOTY Collection
The showroom at Seven Continents includes a handful of pop shops where clients can see how the mannequins and store fixtures might be put to use in store. One of my favourite of these pop shops was the one below. The wall of movable wire arms really makes an impressive visual impact.
Pop Shop at Seven Continents
The factory floor at Seven Continents includes a group of dedicated technicians, engineers, painters, and upholsters who work together in an open, bright, and well-organized space. I was drawn to the rows of fabrics!
And there you have it – a very quick behind-the-scenes tour of the Seven Continents showroom and factory.
a collection of fixtures at Seven Continents
Many thanks to Brooklyn B. and the Seven Continents team for arranging my visit and for taking the time to show me around.
Photos by Jordana.
Ah…Monday morning. I’m feeling a bit jealous of those people who have an extra day off today!
This weekend I learned that when my mom was growing up in Italy, Easter Monday – la Pasquetta – was a day for packing up the Easter Sunday leftovers and taking them to a space al fresco (outdoors) to have a picnic with family and friends.
I think Lorea Sinclaire’s Tiffin lunch kit would be perfect for a beautiful Easter Monday picnic, don’t you? Mind you – the way Italians tend to feast, we would need quite a few of these!
The Tiffin Lunch Kit by Canadian artist Lorea Sinclaire, photo taken at IDS2012 by Jordana
I would love to continue this tradition but work calls instead. How about you? Do you have the day off today? What are your plans?
p.s. I can’t believe I didn’t know about this Italian tradition before yesterday.
Some people like bunnies, some people like money, and some people like both…
White Bunny Bank, $19.50, Chapters-Indigo
One of our favourite eco-friendly Canadian stationery companies, Artistry Cards, has recently released a couple of sweet cards for Easter.
Origami Rabbits Easter Card, $4, Artistry Cards
Easter Egg Card, $4, Artistry Cards
Easter cards, $4 each, Artistry Cards
Good news! Artistry Cards is offering White Cabana readers a 10% discount on purchases made before Easter (April 8th, 2012). Enter ARTIST (all caps) at checkout. Click here to start shopping.
As a blogger I sometimes get the opportunity to do some pretty cool things. Most recently, I was invited to visit the Toronto offices of GlucksteinHome. (Hooray!)
I feel so grateful that the GlucksteinHome team stopped their work for a while (don’t tell Mr. Gluckstein) to show me around their all-white space. And of course I am thrilled to be able to share my photos with all of you.
White artwork at the GlucksteinDesign offices
GlucksteinHome product planning
Now, if you know the work of Brian Gluckstein, you know that he’s pretty much a traditionalist. Gorgeous neutral fabrics, rich woods, and perfectly placed accessories come together to create the most inviting spaces. What you may be surprised to learn is that the office space of the GlucksteinHome division is a super sleek, well-designed, modern, all-white work space that is filled, almost floor-to-ceiling, with IKEA products.
GlucksteinHome work station
Corner cabinet at the GlucksteinHome office
Amazing storage solutions at the GlucksteinHome office
A perfect meeting space
Organized Pantone colours for upcoming collections
Gorgeous fabric swatch
A lot of white paper at GlucksteinHome
Even the pushpins at the GlucksteinHome office are white and clear
Product designer Lauren hard at work
Lauren, me and Cheryl, the GlucksteinHome PR pro
Me at the GlucksteinHome office – with a little bit of Pantone colour
Yes – even the ceiling and wires are white. This makes me smile.
I feel so lucky that Cheryl, Lauren and the whole GlucksteinHome team welcomed me so warmly into their work environment. I have to admit that I’m pretty envious of their lovely white space. But of course, with Brian Gluckstein at the helm why should I expect anything less than perfection?
Many thanks to Cheryl and the whole team at GlucksteinHome for welcoming me in, showing me around, and treating me to an all around fabulous afternoon.Â
Photos by Jordana.
It has been one year since Nonno, my grandfather, passed away after living a very long and healthy life. One of Nonno’s favourite things to do was to go the library (St. Clair branch) to pick up the latest issues of Oggi and Gente. He always spoke so proudly of the librarians who helped him and of the things he got to read for free.
Today I’m encouraging you all to get a library card (or renew yours), to visit the library, to take a child to the library, and/or to donate $20 (or more) to your local public library.
membership to your local public library, free
It makes me so angry when I learn about libraries shutting down, denied funding, and being inaccessible. This is one resource that I don’t think we can afford to lose.
To donate:
Kingston Frontenac Public Library
Please leave direct links to your local public library in the comments section. Thank you.
Hello Monday! I’m getting energized this morning with a little music from Canadian-born, London-based, electro pop band Au Palais. The band, made of up of duo Elise and David, has recently released their video for Tender Mercy and it is just full of white – yay!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC-Hfm0oyOc&w=640&h=360]
Au Palais will be at SXSW later on this week so if you’re in Austin, Texas be sure to check out the performance. You can also follow the band on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter.
Thanks to Mark C. for introducing me to Au Palais.
Today I am happy to share two beauties from Canadian favourite GlucksteinHome. Chrome and white are a classic combination and Brian Gluckstein doesn’t let us down with his latest art-deco inspired collection, Regatta.
Regatta bar stool, $89.99, GlucksteinHome
Regatta lamp, $89.99, GlucksteinHome
These products and the entire Regatta collection are available exclusively at Home Outfitters. The GlucksteinHome line of home furnishings is available at the Bay and Home Outfitters in Canada and at Lord & Taylor in the United States.
Images via GlucksteinHome.
On my most recent trip to IKEA (dinner date with my dad!) I joined the IKEA Family. To tell you the truth, I always considered myself part of the family because I’ve been a life-long fan. But now it’s official. And I have a card to prove it.
IKEA coffee and IKEA Family card, free, photo by Jordana
One of the main benefits of becoming part of the family is the exclusive access to special discounts on products. Members also get a free coffee at the IKEA restaurant…and if you’re anything like me, no trip to IKEA is complete without a coffee break. Oh – and membership is free!
(Please note: I can’t seem to find the IKEA Family website for Canada or the USA. If you have the direct link, please post it in the comments. Thanks!)
I had the opportunity to meet Montreal-based designer, and leader of the TOMA design studio, Anne Thomas in person at last month’s Come Up to My Room event in Toronto. She was there showing off the prototype for one of TOMA‘s latest designs, the Inside Out closet. White, functional, and very cool.
So while we wait for the closet to appear in retail spaces in Canada and abroad, we can be on the lookout for some of TOMA‘s other well-designed products, including this newly released shadow clock which are printed and die-cut out of synthetic paper.
Photos by Maude Chavin via TOMA. You may purchase TOMA objects in these stores.
I was at The Bay recently and I checked out the latest collection from GlucksteinHome, which is brought to us by Canadian interior designer Brian Gluckstein and his team. The full GlucksteinHome collection includes a good selection of furniture, bedding, bath accessories, and cooking items but at the moment I seem to be most drawn to the smooth lines of these three covered pieces.
GlucksteinHome covered butter dish, $24.99, The Bay
GlucksteinHome cake plate, $99.99, The Bay
GlucksteinHome cheese dome, $49.99, The Bay
I love this lovely poster from Beatrice, a crafty blogger and the owner of the Canadian Etsy shop Chocolat & Cherries. Sometimes simplicity is really the way to go.
poster, $15, Chocolat & Cherries
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Ideas. Inspiration. Innovation. What more does one event need?
My experience at this year’s Interior Design Show began with The Party, continued with BlogPodium, and ended with a lot of photos and information about what’s new and exciting in the design world. Mix these elements up with designer talks, the Studio North exhibit, and a crowd full of beautiful people and it’s no wonder that I’m still on an IDS high.
Reports and reviews of cool design, innovative products, and designers’ takes on trends have been circulating around the web for a few days now and hopefully you’ve had time to read some of them. As for my recap? Well, here it is…all in white!
At the entrance to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, event goers were greeted by Strip Tease, the collaborative effort of RAW and Mark Tholen. Not only were the hundreds of white felt strips interesting to look at, but they doubled as a projection screen. A white welcome…yes, please!
La Cl̫ture is a hold all for coats, hats, mail, umbrellas, and anything else you might want to drop off Рor pick up Рat the entrance to your home.
La clôture, $149.95, Six Point Un
It was wonderful to see Tahir Mahmood’s beautifully crafted pieces in person and I appreciate having the opportunity to chat with Tahir about his background, his design process, and his plans for future projects. While many of his designs are colourful, my eye was drawn to this wood and white spinner.
Spinner by Tahir Mahmood
Like almost everyone at IDS, I fell in love with the space designed by Italian architect and designer, as well as International Guest of Honour, Piero Lissoni. Ah – those books!
While many of us are now used to our stainless steel appliances, Jenn-Air is bringing back white and making it super sleek and simple.
I can always count on IKEA for injecting a dose of white into a space and this time was no different. The white kitchen (with black counters and back splash) was in classic IKEA style – storage galore, simple design, and repeated forms. I could really use a wall of cabinetry like the one below for my growing shoe collection.
The display at Eurolite was gorgeous overall but it was this white fixture’s layers and form that really caught my eye.
The Hansgrohe faucet is sleek and sophisticated. Gorgeous.
The texture on the chairs at the Andrew Richard Designs exhibit was just lovely.
patio chair at Andrew Richard Designs
The Magus Julius chair was transformed by a selection of designers for Cherish, an auction in support of the ONEXONE non-profit children’s foundation. I wonder who were the winners of these two white chairs.
Magis Julian chairs in white (right: with lights; left: textured)
And, of course, the people were great!
Troy Seidman, Mazen el-Abdallah, Suzanne Dimma at the How do you live? exhibit
So, there you have it. My recap in white. What are your thoughts? Did you attend IDS this year?
Photos by Jordana.
Canadian design bloggers have got it going on!
From their blogs, I already knew my blogger colleagues were a dynamic group of talented individuals. But meeting some of my blogger friends in person at two recent events – BlogPodium and the Canadian Design Bloggers Meetup – confirmed the fact that this community of bloggers is also friendly, supportive, stylish, and smart.
BlogPodium is the first and only Canadian conference series for design bloggers. I was delighted to attend the inaugural event at IDS2012 in Toronto. The founders, Jennifer Flores and Lindsay Stephenson, set the bar high and achieved success with this first event. They put together a wonderful panel of presenters – Margot Austin, Kimberley Seldon, Kate Moore, Jennifer Flores, and Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault – who shared their opinions about blogs and the media. The talk was informative, engaging, and entertaining, and the crowd of design bloggers eagerly soaked up as much information as they could. I think it is safe to say that we all wished it would have lasted just a little bit longer!
Left to right: me; IDS Founder Shauna Levy; The Panel: Kimberley Seldon, Kate Moore, Margot Austin, Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault, Jennifer Flores (photos by Jason Hudson)
The event was well-designed, well-orchestrated, and best of all, it was fun! Many thanks to Jennifer and Lindsay for organizing this event and for making us all feel so welcome. Many thanks to the presenters for their candid advice, their approachability, and for making us laugh. And of course, thank you to the many sponsors, including Delta Faucets and House & Home, for supporting our design blogger community!
***
As if BlogPodium wasn’t enough, I also had the pleasure of attending my second Canadian Design Bloggers Meetup at Brassaii in Toronto. Vitania and Daniella continue to amaze me with their dedication, their style, and their optimism. They designed a warm, welcoming, and entertaining evening of blogger fun. The meetup included talks by Cameron MacNeil and Lisa Murphy of House & Home, as well as Cassandra Lavalle of Coco+Kelley. Oh – and I must not forget the surprise speaker – Brian Gluckstein. It was great to hear the speakers’ different perspectives on the world of design blogging, the potential for collaborative opportunities, and what inspires them.
Clockwise: Cameron MacNeil, Lisa Murphy, Brian Gluckstein, Cassandra Lavalle (photos by Alessia Lamonaca)
The meetup also gave us bloggers a perfect opportunity to mingle with people who we’ve only known in the online world. For me, chatting with people whose blogs I enjoy was a real highlight of the event. So many people are doing such interesting things – hosting workshops, teaching classes, writing for magazines, designing products – the talents of this group of people is really inspiring!
Clockwise: Welcome to the meetup; Sponsor GlucksteinHome (photos by Alessia Lamonaca); Lindsay, Sharalee & me; me & Troy
Again – let me take this opportunity to thank Vitania and Daniella for organizing such a classy event, the speakers for sharing their experiences, the sponsors for their continued support, and to my fellow design bloggers for being such a cool group of people to hang out with online and in person!
Look at what one of our favourite Canadian stationary shops, Artistry Cards, has in store for Valentine’s day.
Three Red Hearts card, $4
Tweet! card, $4
Finally, here’s a treat for you! Artistry Cards is offering White Cabana readers a 10% discount on all their products. Enter ARTIST (all caps) at checkout. Click here to start shopping.
Each February, the gorgeous Gladstone Hotel in Toronto gets taken over by talented artists who transform twelve rooms with their innovative, creative, and jaw-dropping installations. The event, Come Up to My Room, began in 2003 and was co-founded by Pamila Matharu and Christina Zeidleris. I had a chance to see the installations in person this past weekend and I was impressed by the talent of the artists, designers, engineers, and architects at this year’s exhibition.
Among Bruno Billio and Sam Mogelonsky’s mirrored room with shiny spinning things, and Matthew Blunderfield and Skanda Lin’s hanging installation exploring the disposable nature of the digital world, there was plenty of whiteness to be seen.
Did anyone get to Come Up to My Room this year? What was your favourite exhibit?
Photos by Jordana.
Now – is this a chair, or is this a chair?
Jordana sitting on the Peacock chair, at the Interior Design Show, Toronto
The Peacock chair is the result of a collaboration between UUfie architectural firm and DuPont Corian (yes, as in the countertop material) which was completed for IDS 2012. If you can believe it, the Peacock is made from a single sheet of DuPont Corian which has been cut, bent and folded through a process of thermoforming (sounds like quite a process, right?).
If you want to see the Peacock chair up close, be sure to get yourself to IDS this weekend.
If you’re in the Toronto area this weekend, then may I encourage you to spend a day at the Interior Design Show. The general admission tickets are just below $20 and the event is sure to offer plenty of inspiration.
general admission to IDS, $19, purchase tickets
Image via IDS.
If you’re still thinking of gift giving today, then perhaps you’ll consider making a donation to a favourite charity in honour of someone you love. There are so many wonderful causes to support but here are five wonderful organizations that I contribute to at this and other times of the year.
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Hospital
To which organizations do you contribute? Please share.
If the shoe fits (on the tree)…
shoe ornament, $5, Urban Barn
Holidays are a-comin’. Is your tree decorated yet? If you’re looking for some extra sparkle & shine, perhaps you might consider some of the ornaments up for grabs at Urban Barn.
feather ornament, $3
horn ornament, $5
silver key curve ornament, $4.50
acrylic bird, $4
Fantastic alternative digi-press BlogTO recently featured archival treasures of our city’s establishments.
Much more can be found at the City of Toronto’s Flickr website.
Here are a few of my favourite shots:
Special thanks to Eric for the story tip.
I just love these two pillows from Bouclair. One is shiny and bright and the other is fuzzy and warm. Which one would you go for: diamonds or fur?
Brillo cushion, $29.99, Bouclair Home
cushion, Bouclair Home
Store that open bottle of wine in style with one of these cool porcelain bottle toppers from Urban Barn. At only $6 each, you could buy all three for under $20.
bottle toppers, $6 each, Urban Barn
A few weeks ago I gave my photographer friend Joel the following challenge – to take photos of white things in London, Ontario. Nothing so complicated, right?
Joel accepted the challenge (even though he admitted that he doesn’t love white as much as I do) and he recently sent along this photo and title:
Advertising: White Cabana Style
photo by Joel Lopata
Clever, Joel, clever.
Eco-friendly stationery company Artistry Cards is ready for the holidays with its selection of toque-toting birds. Aren’t they sweet?Â
holiday card box set (in blue & red), $12
holiday pocket notebook (in blue & red), $12
holiday card, $4
holiday card box set, $12
You may have already gathered that Artistry Cards is a Canadian company. I mean, I used the word “toque”. Does anyone else in the world use that word? (It means winter hat in case you were wondering.)
Great news – Artistry Cards is offering White Cabana readers a 10% discount on all products. Enter ARTIST (all caps) at checkout. Click here to start shopping. (Discount is valid until December 15th.)
We do love good Canadian design here at White Cabana so today I am happy to share some great pieces from Vancouver-based Fleet Objects. Designed by Zoe Garred, Fleet’s line of ceramics is simply beautiful.
I recently had the chance to have a close-up look at the Eyelet ornament. I just love simple design and this one is made by hand so what’s not to love? Perhaps you’ll think about sending one of these ornaments to friends this holiday.
photos by Jordana
Although I prefer the Eyelet hung in a bowl shape, it can also be hung with the opening on its side where you can hide a special treat. Zoe, creative as she is, also suggests stitching the holes for decoration.
Eyelet ball ornament, $28
I think Fleet Object‘s range of products would make lovely gifts so if you’ve already got holiday on the brain, then definitely have a look at what Zoe has to offer.
Pools 1, $16
shell lamp, $100
Canadian photographer Tina Beynen of Joie de Vivre has really got an eye for beauty. Based in London, Ontario, Tina’s catalogue of photos includes everything from London landmarks and seasonal landscapes to architectural elements from her travels.
photo by Tina, Joie de Vivre
If you’re in the London area and would like to see Tina’s work in person, stop by The Met downtown.
Do you know what would make me so happy? If everyone would donate $20 this month to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Make a difference.
photo by Jordana
By now you may know that we’re fans of inVU Drapery Co. here at White Cabana. The selection of drapery, fabrics and home accessories is gorgeous and the service is top-notch. We also love the fact that it’s Canadian, eh?
So today I’m not only featuring fabulous new products available at inVU Drapery Co. this fall, but I get to tell you about the generous giveaway inVU is sponsoring. Hooray! One lucky reader will win a $100 gift certificate to be used at any of inVU Drapery Co.’s locations. Great, right? Read on, my friends…
Athena chandelier
left: Demetra Steel; right: CobiStyle Smoke
acorn & pinecone decorative accessories
Franco Bench
Urbina chair – front & back
To welcome in the fall season, inVU Drapery Co. is hosting an inSTORE event. Learn how to decorate your home for fall on Saturday October 1st from 11am-12pm and 1pm-2pm at the Mississauga location. Enjoy a one hour discussion with a design expert, learn about fall trends, surround yourself with gorgeous products and – get this – enter a draw for a $1000 store gift certificate. Oh my!
Okay – and now for the giveaway details. To enter the giveaway for your chance to win a $100 gift certificate to be used in store, simply leave a comment below!
For extra entries you can:
– follow White Cabana on Twitter
– follow inVU Drapery Co. on Twitter
Be sure to leave a comment for each extra entry!
This giveaway ends at noon on Friday September 30th. This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only.
We’re always keen to see what’s new and white at Canadian retailer Urban Barn. This fall bring some brighten up your home with an owl lamp or take a seat on the Jack stool and pour yourself a drink at the bar. Here are five great new products to look out for on your next visit to Urban Barn.
Owl Glow lamp
Perele Table lamp
Jack Stool, $199
Owl on a bike cushion
penquin cushion
Images courtesy of Urban Barn.
I’m completely settling in nicely to summer now that some amazing weather has come my way. I love spending time on any sort of patio…especially if it has comfortable seating. If I had a large enough patio of my own I would seriously consider this piece from Canadian outdoor furniture company Andrew Richard Designs. And a matching footrest would be nice too.
teak & stainless steel Sillouette Lounge Chair, $3995
p.s. For some outdoor inspiration, check out Andrew Richard Designs’ project portfolio page.
The fabulous and talented Debbie Travis rounds off today’s Friday Five. Technically, she’s a Brit, but she’s been part of the Canadian scene for so long that she must surely have citizenship here. I just had to include her in today’s series…accent and all.
Her first show, Debbie Travis’ The Painted House, aired in 1995 and it was here that I learned all about faux finishes. I clearly remember watching her create this Fornasetti dining room and this wild blue wall. It was because of Debbie that I added words like crackle varnish, anaglypta, and battik into my vocabulary.
Debbie Travis is an accomplished artist, designer, author, and business woman. In addition to Painted House, her more recent shows, Facelift and From the Ground Up have been successful in Canada and abroad. She has written many books and has won several prestigious awards. She also has a line of products available at Canadian Tire. Needless to say, Debbie is a woman who wears many hats.
Debbie Travis’ designed kitchen and bathroom
Debbie Travis Expo Cut mirror, $39.99, Canadian Tire
Debbie Travis Tie-Up shade, $24.99, Canadian Tire
Debbie Travis lantern, $34.99, Canadian Tire
In recent years, Debbie has headed to Tuscany and now hosts a Debbie Travis’ Girls’ Getaway. The experience includes 7 nights accommodation at her Italian villa (wow!), delicious meals and drinks, winery tours, and more. La dolce vita, I’d say!
You can learn more about what Debbie is up to on her blog or you can follow her on Twitter.
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Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. Happy Canada Day!
I hope you’re enjoying today’s series of posts and that you’re learning a little bit more about Canadian designers.
Next on the list are Steven Sabados & Chris Hyndman. It’s a two-for-one post because these guys are such a dynamic design team and I just couldn’t bare to break them apart for the purpose of a post.
Johanne & I quickly met Steven and his partner Chris after a Toronto taping of their show, Steven & Chris, a couple of years ago.
Chris, Jordana, Johanne, Steven
Like Brian and Candice, I first learned about Steven Sabados’ talent for design via CityLine (Have I been a long time fan of that show or what?). Steven & Chris were the original Designer Guys and are now the hosts of the Steven & Chris show. In addition to their TV hits, this pair has designed a line of furniture, linens, lighting, and wines, yes wines! These guys are busy!
Trend wines by Steven & Chris, available at the LCBO
I like these guys because they’re friendly, personable, charismatic, and their clean design aesthetic definitely works for me. There’s no fussing around for this duo. Oh – and Steven also spent time in London, Ontario (which is where I am now living). Bonus.
Who doesn’t love Sarah Richardson?
She’s a favourite among many designers, bloggers, and TV watchers. Her home transformations are gorgeous and appeal to so many viewers and DIYers. Sarah’s got a TV show for everyone! Have you seen Sarah’s house, Sarah’s cottage, or her recent installation at the Interior Design Show?
I like Sarah because she seems friendly, she’s got an awesome sidekick (hello Tommy Smythe) and she also looks a whole lot like a good friend of mine. Oh – and she wore Smythe jackets long before the Duchess of Cambridge did.
Here are some of the white rooms she has designed.
mid-century family home
oceanview estate
Sarah’s house – hallway
Sarah’s house – bathroom
(all photos via Sarah Richardson porfolio)
Like the other designers I am featuring today, Sarah has also worked on some beautiful product lines (honestly – where do these people find time to do all of these things?). In partnership with PARA Paints, Sarah has created a designer paint palette of 75 colours. In addition to this colourful endeavor, Sarah has a beautiful collection of indoor and outdoor furniture.
Alexander
Harry
Claremont
Click here to find out where to buy these and other Sarah Richardson products.
Read Sarah’s short diary entries here.
The second designer for today’s series is Candice Olson – designer extraordinaire and all around funny lady.
I have been watching Candice Olson’s Divine Design since the very beginning. I love the interaction between her and her crew and I especially like her room sketches.
In addition to her TV and interior design work, Candice has been busy with her various product lines – lighting, fabric, rugs, and more! Here’s a quick peek:
Candice Olson sofas – Bette, Brady, Floyd – ready for fabric
Candice Olson furniture: Hollace daybed & Jean chaise
Candice Olson wall covering, Kravet
Candice Olson drapery, Kravet
Candice Olson paisley wallpaper, York Wallcoverings
Happy Canada Day!
In honour of today, Canada’s 144th birthday, I’m going to be doing something a little different with the Friday Five. In a series of five posts throughout the day, rather than in one single post, I will be featuring five fabulous Canadian designers. These designers, and many many other talented Canadians, bring creativity, beauty, and good design to diverse spaces in Canada and abroad.
First up is the talented Brian Gluckstein.
Brian Gluckstein’s classic aesthetic caught my eye when I first “met” him on CityLine back when Marilyn Denis used to be the host. I am always impressed by his professionalism and style. He has been been named Canada’s favourite interior designer by the readers of House & Home which may not come as a surprise to many readers who know his work.
Forest Hill bathroom
Georgian Estate
Neoclassical home
Brian has a collection of homewares which are available at The Bay. Click here to see the full Gluckstein product line.
Peyton
Studio
As if his interior design company and home collection isn’t keeping this guy busy enough – Brian’s blogging too – see what he’s up to here.
photos via Gluckstein Design Residential Portfolio & Gluckstein Home
Canadian design bloggers have really got it going on!
photo by Leah
Last weekend I had the pleasure to meet and mingle with an amazing group of design bloggers at the Canadian design bloggers meetup held at Brassaii in Toronto. Vitania of Verdigris Vie & Daniella of Dress Design Decor organized a most beautiful event with the help of generous sponsors (IKEA, Delta, CIL, as well as House & Home, Crate & Barrel, Style at Home, Kravet, and Rowenta). The party was full of style.
at Brassaii, photo by Jordana
The very stylish Tommy Smythe shared some photos and stories from his recent trip to Scandinavia and kept the crowd laughing (photos here).
IKEA + prosecco = two of my favourite things
The event was beautifully organized, very well-attended, and it was an inspiring evening to say the least. I’m already looking forward to the next meetup – as I know many of the bloggers I met are too!
If you’ve been reading White Cabana for a while then you will have noticed my fascination with white doors. On my recent trip to Fredericton, however, I was struck by the number of windows, not doors, on buildings around the downtown core and at the University of New Brunswick. This architectural detail really allows for maximum exposure to the beautiful outdoors.
a wall of windows at a Fredericton home
sunroom windows on a Fredericton home
plenty of windows at the University of New Brunswick
Currie Center at the University of New Brunswick
I hope you enjoyed this week in Fredericton. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.
Photos by Jordana.
After my visit to Gallery 78 in Fredericton, I walked over to the Ingrid Mueller gallery.
Ingrid Mueller logo
This modern gallery with white walls and a striking black ceiling definitely caught my attention. Inside, works of artists from the Atlantic provinces hang on the walls. Pieces of pottery and jewelry are also housed in this beautiful space.
Jennifer Mackleur
Many thanks to Aidan for taking me on an art tour here and for sharing stories about life in Fredericton.
Many thanks to Stacey at Tourism Fredericton for arranging this visit.
Photos by Jordana.
