Design

Art: I’m a Ceramics Designer

July 18, 2014 | 1 Commentary

Okay, so I’m not really quitting my day job to become the next Jonathan Adler, but I am currently working on a very cool project which has required me to put on my very first ceramics designer hat (eek – so exciting!). Let me explain.

This fall’s BlogPodium will feature a local organization called Sistering that offers supportive and educational programs to homeless and marginalized women, so that they can develop new skills and have more control over their lives. Inspirations Studio is a division of Sistering that develops participants’ knowledge about crafting ceramics.

This year, I have the opportunity to design a collection of ceramics in collaboration with the artists at Inspirations Studio that will be auctioned off at BlogPodium in September with all proceeds going back to Sistering. Earlier this spring, I met with Victoria at Inspirations Studio, and I shared my designs. Under her guidance and instruction, the artisans are bringing my designs to life (um, amazing!). The process thus far has been really cool and creative, and the items are coming along so darn beautifully! I’m impressed, and I’m eager to see the final products soon (it’s so hard to be patient, but I’m trying).

Inspirations Studio, photos by me

I hope to eventually share stories from the artisans at Inspirations Studio and the full production process, but for now, here’s a very small sneak peek of one of my designs (I can’t give everything away quite yet!).

photo by Victoria

Christine Dovey of Bijou and Boheme is also busy designing items, and attendees of BlogPodium have a chance to win a chance to design pottery of their own! I encourage you to submit your design if you’re attending BlogPodium this September. Read all about it here.

Marketplace: Oh That Coco

July 16, 2014 | Leave a Reply

I’m obviously not the first to recognize Coco Chanel’s influence on the fashion world. Not only have her designs stood the test of time, but so have her words.

Coco Chanel in her apartment at the Ritz, 1937, via Vanity Fair

Coco Chanel at work, via Redbook

via One Fab Day

poster with Coco Chanel quote

pillow with quote from Coco Chanel, $65

Design: Three Kitchens that Shine

July 16, 2014 | Leave a Reply

White kitchens are classic and inviting year-round, but I think they are especially beautiful in the summer when natural sunlight warms the space and the whiteness offers a clean backdrop for colourful food prep.

These three kitchens are beautiful in their own ways. The first is bright, airy, and has an incredible walkout and view. The second kitchen is more rustic than I’m used to, but it’s relaxed, sturdy, and has an awesome espresso machine collection. Finally, the third kitchen barely even looks like a kitchen. Until you spot the wall ovens, you might not even realize that this space is a kitchen. I love that.

via Style at Home

via

via Snob

Art: Citizen Atelier

July 10, 2014 | Leave a Reply

If you haven’t already come across Canada’s art shop Citizen Atelier, let me introduce it to you.

Citizen Atelier was founded by art dealer and PR pro Alessandra Salituri with the help of her web whiz cousin Gabriel McCay. Alessandra curates a highly interesting collection of art from around the world and the pieces in her online shop are certainly unique.

Although there are many dreamy pieces at Citizen Atelier, these are some of my most favourite works that are currently in the shop.

Amy Friend – Atlantic City, 1948, $695-$1495 (Canada)

Amy Friend – They Still Bloom, $695-$1495 (Canada)

Amy Friend‘s pieces are delightfully sparkly.

Georgianna Lane – Versailles Chandelier III, $75-$175, (USA)

Speaking of sparkle, Georgianna Lane‘s collection of photographs from Versailles are so uber-glam and sharp. These images make me want to just go ahead and book a flight to France!

Krysztof Wladyka – Animaly 15, $825-$2850 (Poland)

Krysztof Wladyka – Animaly 22, $825-$2850 (Poland)

Krysztof Wladyka‘s animal prints are whimsical, dreamy, and completely amusing. I love pretty much every one of them because they are so out of the ordinary. Come on, that elephant? Awesome, yes?

Vanessa Paxton – Ballerina I, $120 (Canada)

Vanessa Paxton‘s collection of ballerinas are at once strong and delicate. There’s serene movement in Paxton’s images, and I can see them making a dramatic addition to a bedroom.

I encourage you to go ahead and click on through to the artists’ bios. You will be completely impressed with the artists’ experiences, awards, and educational achievements. I totally was!

So how exactly do these gorgeous pieces of art look in real rooms? Have a look at some of the photos from Citizen Atelier‘s lookbook (styled by Christine of Bijou and Boheme, photos by Toronto-based photographer Ashley Capp).

art by Antonio Mora

art by Ashley Woodson Bailey

art by Michael Wou

Alessandra Salituri

I was thrilled when Citizen Atelier’s owner Alessandra Salituri agreed to answer a few of my questions about her work and approach to design. Read on to learn about Citizen Atelier’s beginning and what inspires Alessandra.

Jordana: How did Citizen Atelier come to be?

Alessandra: I have always had a love for interior design and art. My mother is a painter and I grew up in a creative environment, attending art fairs and gallery openings. Becoming an art dealer was a natural progression. Though even in that line of work, I always felt there few places to purchase art in Canada that fit my style and also offered the option of some affordable pieces. Over the years and through my travels in Europe and the US, I had come across the work of some very talented international artists. I wanted to share their pieces with a Canadian audience.

J: Where did the name “Citizen Atelier” come from?

A: The name was very much inspired by my hometown, Montreal. In the city, having your own atelier where you produce creative work, whether it be art, jewelry and sculpture, is quite common. I too have an atelier where I store and display the work of artists I represent. I wanted the store to feel homey and approachable, as though you were spending an afternoon touring a friend’s French-inspired studio. And I liked the word “Citizen” because I wanted the name to have a little edge to it. Citizen Atelier literally means “the people’s studio.”

J: What three words would you use to describe Citizen Atelier?

A: I would say that three words that I hope define the brand are dreamy, luxurious and accessible.

“Dreamy” because I have always been attracted to art that has a magical quality. A lot of the work in the atelier is surrealist photographs where the photographer explores the inner world of dreams and their intersection with reality. I personally have filled my home with this type of art and find it inspires me to live my best life.

“Luxurious” because I wanted to ensure that every piece in the atelier was special and made with the highest-quality materials, like long-lasting archival canvases and Hahnemühle photo rag paper which has a beautiful smooth surface. I also wanted to offer some pieces, even large-scale statement artworks, at a more accessible price point.

J: How do you go about curating the Citizen Atelier collection?

A: My vision for Citizen Atelier was bringing together both well-established and emerging artists/photographers from across the world. I pick the art based on what I would have in my own home (and my home is actually filled with many pieces from the store!). I found the artists and photographers while visiting galleries, attending art fairs, searching online and some I had previously collaborated with as an art dealer. It took a year for me to curate the initial collection. The exciting thing is the site is ever-evolving and we have some wonderful artists/photographers joining the atelier throughout the summer and fall.

J: What is the best part of your job?

A: The best part of my job is definitely meeting and connecting with the artists. They are all such creative and kind individuals who chart their own path. There’s also such a thrill in finding new artists and photographers whose portfolio takes my breath away. And getting to work with my only cousin who does the website design and development is such a blessing too. We were born one week apart and live on opposite ends of the country. It allows us to keep connected on a regular basis!

J: What is the most challenging part of your job?

A: The most challenging part is probably balancing it all! With Citizen Atelier, I wear numerous hats: creative director, marketing manager, (learning-as-you-go) financial officer! I also work as a public relations consultant for a Montreal firm. It requires a lot of organization and long hours. At the end of the day though I am lucky to be doing work that is creatively stimulating and makes me happy. You’ll often find me at my favourite coffee shop on a Sunday brainstorming on how to make Citizen Atelier the best it can be. I do try to fit in as much downtime when I can, whether it be playing tennis, dinners in Montreal’s Le Plateau neighbourhood or relaxing with a pile of magazines and my dog!

J: Describe your favourite space in your home.

A: My favourite space in my home is definitely my bedroom. It has a monochromatic palette with a lot of white and textures like faux-fur throws and wood furniture. I wanted to keep the design minimalist and serene to have a quiet place to relax in at the end of the day. My room faces a local park so my favourite part is definitely feeling like I live in a cozy little treehouse!

***

Alessandra, thank you so much for sharing the Citizen Atelier story with us. I appreciate your approach to curation and commitment to a balanced work life. Like many of my readers, I’m sure, I am inspired by places and people I come across in my travels, and I love how art completes (or inspires) a space. How fun (and difficult) it is to fill your shop with such beautiful pieces of art!

Many thanks to Alessandra.

Marketplace: Industrial Chic at Etsy

July 2, 2014 | Leave a Reply

How do you all feel about “industrial chic” style? I could pretty much move into any of these rooms even though I generally prefer things to be a little more delicate.

via Trendenser

via Soft & Chic

via Pinterest

via House to Home

Warm woods and soft textures do effectively tone down hard-core industrial spaces. While I’ve never really embraced this style, I do sometimes find myself drawn to industrial-type lamps and accessories. If you type “industrial chic” into the search bar on Etsy or Pinterest, you’ll get pages upon pages of industrial items and ideas. Here are some from Etsy that I found interesting:

vintage industrial pendant light, $215

New York water tower print, $29

L-shaped desk, $2087

vintage molds, $15

vintage door knob & hardware, $35

shelving unit, $2384

So, tell me, what’s your take on this approach to design?

Marketplace: Hamel Broom Co. in St. Jacobs, Ontario

June 26, 2014 | Leave a Reply

In a couple of days, I’ll be celebrating my one year anniversary of home ownership. Yay! The past year has been rewarding, happy, and full of hard DIY work. I’ve loved it! Sure, it’s been a year, and I still have artwork to hang, and walls to paint, but my home has been transformed and I’m so pleased with the progress.

I didn’t quite know what to expect when I moved to Waterloo a year ago. I think I had only been to visit twice before I started house shopping! I had zero sense of direction, and I really didn’t have a clue as to what the city or region had to offer (no, not a scary move or house purchase at all). Thankfully, I have really enjoyed discovering this region of Ontario! The people here are so nice, it’s easy to get around, there’s no traffic (except maybe from 5-5:30pm on some roads), and my quality of life has been pretty darn great.

The village of St. Jacobs is about 10km from where I live. Tia and I rode our bikes there recently (along paths from Uptown Waterloo – amazing!), and I try to make regular trip to the St. Jacobs farmers’ market and antique shops.

When my parents came for a visit a few weeks, I took them to the village of St. Jacobs. I was completely amused when they picked up their walking pace and headed quickly into Hamel Brooms. Apparently my parents love corn brooms. Who knew?

I had never been into Hamel Brooms, and I was completely mesmerized by the broom making process (owner John Davenport makes them by hand!). I encourage you to watch this video of broom making.

screen shot from video

If you’re in the area, I encourage you to visit Hamel Brooms (and buy a broom, too). It is in the old blacksmith shop, and the floors in the place are crazy cool. Unfortunately, I don’t have a really good photo of them, but just imagine almost flattened chunky trees (knots and all).

Photos by Jordana and video from JLM.

Furniture: Settees

June 25, 2014 | 2 Commentaries

The photos below show the versatility of the settee. The small dainty piece of furniture looks perfectly in place whether in the hallway, bedroom, dining room, or porch. Have a look…

via Pinterest

via Houzz

via Pinterest

via Cup Half Full

via Greige

via Design Sponge

via Every Day Pretty

via Decor Pad

If you’re looking to make a purchase, you might want to visit Black Rooster Decor, Jayson Home, One Kings Lane, Restoration Hardware, or 1st Dibs. I’ve also seen some lovely options at Home Sense. If you really want to go for an authentic French settee, I’d recommend making the trip to Paris’ Marché aux Puces to view loads of settees there (Why not dream big?).

20 Below: Style at Home and House & Home Magazines

June 17, 2014 | 5 Commentaries

Here are 2 magazine issues that I think everyone should own:

Style at Home – The White Issue, $5.99

House & Home – Decorating with White, $11.95

Thanks to all friends, family members, and readers who have been sending me emails, tweets, and texts letting me know that they bought them/thought of me when they saw the magazine/think these issues were made for me/etc. It’s been really fun to hear people’s responses to these two issues!

FYI: I own the Style at Home magazine (and it’s great), but I haven’t yet bought the House & Home special issue. Shocking, I know!

Design: Manhattan Home on Style Me Pretty Living

June 17, 2014 | 6 Commentaries

I’m thrilled to announce that my sister and brother-in-law’s Manhattan condo was featured on Style Me Pretty Living yesterday! Can you believe it? SMPLiving is such a well-curated, well-respected online blog and it is ridiculously cool that the SMP team decided to feature my family’s city condo. Crazy cool, in fact! Even though I knew the post was coming, I was still kind of surprised to see it online yesterday afternoon. Just. Too. Much. Fun.

Here are a few photos of their place, but I encourage you to read the full story and flip through all the photos. I’m so impressed with my sister and brother-in-law’s approach to art and design (and, yes, they like white too).

Thanks to Caroline Frost for taking such lovely photos and to Jacquelyn Clark for putting this all into motion.

Design: Art in the Bathroom

June 5, 2014 | 5 Commentaries

Today I’m wondering which of the following two bathrooms you prefer.

Option 1 – What do you think of the gallery wall in this bathroom? The wall is packed floor-to-ceiling with colourful artistic goodness, but the rest of the bathroom is simple and white.

Manhattan bathroom

Option 2: This bathroom has two small pieces of art that are simply framed and placed above the mid-height tiled walls.

via

Thoughts? What kind of art do you have in your bathroom? I opted for a full-on Rorschach gallery wall in my upstairs bathroom and it’s doing a good job distracting me from the too-grey-for-me tub surround and floor.

Design: The Chanel Pylon

June 4, 2014 | 1 Commentary

Now this is a fancy pylon…

via

I wonder if it has a hefty price tag attached to it.

Design & Fashion: Signs of Summer

June 2, 2014 | 4 Commentaries

The weather in Waterloo has been unbelievably perfect these last couple of weeks and I wish the easy, breezy, sunny days could stay all year long. I’m in a much happier mood and I love living most of my non-working days outdoors. The arrival of spring (and summer in no-time, I’m sure) means that people are craving lighter, brighter spaces. Current issues of Style at Home and House & Home have fully embraced white and I have the impression that more people appreciate my white-loving tendencies at this time of year. It’s awesome.

I thought I’d round-up some of my favourite spring/summer items for those of you who may normally lead a colourful life, but who may also want to inject some white into your homes and wardrobes.

I’m one of those people who has flowers at home all year long. I love taking care of my plants and bringing cut flowers into my home instantly makes me happy. I’ve been a long-time fan of white flowers – as a teenager, I loved calla lilies, and in my adult life I’ve alternated my preferences for hydrangea, carnations, and roses. I know everyone is pretty obsessed with peonies at the moment (I am too, let me assure you), but I hope people aren’t forgetting the loveliness of flowers like lilacs and lily of the valley. I’m currently loving dahlias and have planted a couple pots of them for my balcony. Apparently they’ll grow all summer long, just as geraniums do.

via

White linens are perfect for any time of year, but they’re especially welcome in the springtime. A crisp white table cloth sets the perfect backdrop for a delicious meal, preferably outdoors. Table settings can be brightened up with colourful napkins, candles, or glassware, but I still tend to prefer something neutral, like the setting in the photo below.

photo via Food Studio

When I was living in London, Ontario, I didn’t use my bike at all. I walked a lot and drove a lot, but I never really felt like it was a bike-friendly city. Kitchener-Waterloo has surprised me with its lengthy, smooth (and flat) trails and I’ve been trying to get out on my bike a few times a week. It’s been glorious. I don’t really like biking on busy roads, but many of the roads here have bike lanes so I feel pretty safe. My bike is an old pink Raleigh mountain bike with a basket on the front (so handy), but I’m pretty sure my next bike will be a stylish white one. Biking is great exercise and it’s a great way to discover new places. If you don’t want to invest in something expensive, pick one up at a yard sale (like I did years ago!).

photo via Favim

In terms of fashion, I love picking up a few new pieces in white to freshen up my wardrobe. I can never have too many white shirts, and for spring, I like something that’s a little lighter and airier than a classic oxford. The lightweight tuxedo shirt from J. Crew below would look great with jeans or colourful pants. It would also look chic paired with white jeans – another staple for your spring wardrobe.

swiss-dot tuxedo shirt – J.Crew

white jeans – Gap

Now that our boots are all packed up, it is time to lighten up our footwear. While I don’t wear sneakers or flip-flops at work, I usually spend my downtime in them. They’re easy and comfortable, so what’s not to love? I’ve recently purchased a pair of white Superga (to alternate with my Converse), but I think they’re 1/2 a size too small, so I may have to return them or pass them on to my sister. What was I thinking? Word to the wise: make sure you really test out shoes before buying them. Regardless, buying a new pair of shoes seems like a necessity in the springtime. Don’t you agree?

white Superga sneakers

When I was in New Orleans a few years ago, I picked up a Panama hat. It’s been one of my favourite summer accessories ever since. It’s chic, classic, and, best of all, it protects your face from the hot sun. Perfect.

straw Panama hat

What are your spring traditions? Do you change your decor with the seasons?

Marketplace: Luxury Birdhouse

May 21, 2014 | Leave a Reply

Apparently birds appreciate good design too!

wooden Cape Cod birdhouse, $74.90, Plow & Hearth

The Friday Five: Shoe Storage in Style

May 16, 2014 | 1 Commentary

Have I been doing it all wrong? Shoe storage, that is. I’ve got my shoes in these and these, but maybe I should put them in places that look like these:

Recycled Consign & Design via Pinterest

Jamie Chung via Elle

Tabitha Simmons via Escapade

Whitney Port via The Coveteur

Yeah, right. My shoe collection would look ridiculous if it was anywhere but in the closet. Nobody needs to see my classic ballet flats or practical rain boots leaning against my crystal stemware.

Hope you all have a have a wonderfully luxurious long weekend!

In the Kitchen: The KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer

May 12, 2014 | Leave a Reply

Although I’ve been thinking about the KitchenAid stand mixer for some time now, I only finally bought myself one last week. Everyone and their brother/mother/sister/friend seems to have one and they all rave about how great it is, so I had little doubt that it would be fabulous. There are plenty of colours to choose from, but it was an obvious choice for me. I’ve used my KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer twice already and it’s worked out very well! No surprise there, right?

The first thing I ended up baking with the stand mixer was the brownie recipe that was listed in the instruction/information booklet that came with the mixer. It was very easy and straightforward and the end result was ab fab chocolate goodness. I also made madeleines and they turned out perfectly. I love the fact that the mixer can do the work while I measure out the ingredients. The convenience factor is awesome!

I used the plastic pour guard at one point, but I didn’t really need it. I was just trying to use as many gadgets/attachments as possible. I used the paddle attachment (above) for the brownies, but I used the whisk attachment to whip up the eggs for the madeleines. Switching the attachments is easy and quick, as is cleaning them.

I am very happy that I opted for the lift-arm mixer rather than the bowl-lift mixer. The arm lifts at the flick of a switch and the bowl attaches securely and simply to the base.

Here are the brownies before I put them in the oven:

It’s a stylish machine, yes, and it looks wonderful on my counter (a stylish appliance? really? this is what I’m talking about these days? how old am I?), and so it seems I’m joining the “it’s so great, everyone should have one” club. I’ll share a few more photos in the upcoming weeks as I’m eager to try the pasta roller/cutter attachments!

Blog Spotlight: My Mom’s Favourite Blogs

May 8, 2014 | 2 Commentaries

Last year my mom shared with us her favourite websites. I’ve asked her to do the same this year. Here they are…

The Enchanted Home

My French Country Home (design)

Mom says that she always reads “those two forsure” and she reads the following ones “mostly every day”.

Love and Lemons (food)

The Pink Pagoda (design)

La Dofina (lifestyle & design)

Pretty Pink Tulips (lifestyle & design)

After my mom told me about these blogs, our conversation went something like this:

Mom: Do you know Maitai’s Picture Book? She writes about Hermès.
Me: Oh.
Mom: Ines de la Fressange is doing a collection for Uniqlo, did you know?
Me: No.
Mom: If you go to an older post, you’ll see. Preppy Empty Nester is funny. And do you read Tone on Tone Antiques?
Me: No.Mom, do you still have time to read White Cabana?
Mom: No answer. (she’ll deny this, I’m sure) Manger is another one.

And there you have it – the 2nd edition of My Mom’s Favourite Blogs! What’s that they say about “Mom knows best”? Go and have a read through these blogs and let me (and my mom) know what you think!

Interiors: Open Shelving in the Kitchen

May 7, 2014 | 1 Commentary

I had open shelving in my kitchen for a couple of months while I waited for a few cupboard doors to be made and installed. I didn’t quite work for me. Sure, there was one less barrier separating me and my plate, but the overall look was much too messy for me (yes, even considering my dishes are white and neatly stacked). But when I look at the kitchens below, I think the open shelves look completely fine and liveable.

white kitchen with open shelving, via Southern Living

white kitchen with open shelving, via Happy Hour Mom

white kitchen with open shelving, via House Beautiful

white kitchen with open shelving, via The Simply Luxurious Life

white kitchen with open shelving, via CocoCozy

white kitchen with open shelving, via Maria Killam

white kitchen with open shelving, source unknown

Event: Wine, Thai, & Blogger Time

May 1, 2014 | 2 Commentaries

Last weekend, a bunch of bloggers got together at Melissa’s (The Sweet Escape) fun and colourful loft for a wine tasting event sponsored by local favourites Union Wines and Linda Modern Thai. Lucky us, right?

The first wine was Union Gold and this stack of white plates didn’t stay empty for long.

Andrew von Teichman from Union Wines was on hand to teach us about four varieties of wines (gold, white, noir, & red) and to make sure our glasses were never empty! Union is a virtual winery owned and operated by Andrew and his partner Allan Jackson (former owner of Jackson-Triggs), and it sources all grapes from the Niagara region. All Union wine varieties are less than $20 a bottle and are available at select LCBO stores.

The chefs from Toronto’s Linda Modern Thai served up some delicious nibbles that paired extremely well with the four wines we tasted over the course of the afternoon.

Union Wines and Linda Modern Thai made an excellent pair.

Melissa’s home has so many beautiful vintage details.

Melissa’s milk glass collection looks amazing on her floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.

Read Melissa’s recap of the afternoon (her photos are much more colourful than mine) and see her beautiful home in Covet Garden Home. Thanks for hosting, Melissa, and thanks for spoiling us, Union & Linda!

Photos by Jordana.

Uptown: Kitchen Counter Style

April 29, 2014 | 1 Commentary

Now that all the reno dust has settled in my kitchen, I get to play around with my countertop displays. On one side of the kitchen, I’m housing my toaster, kettle, and knife block. I’ve left a large part of the counter free of gadgets because it’s a nice long workspace. On the other side, on the counter between the stove and the fridge, I added my new little white radio, but the line-up isn’t as good-looking as I know it could be.

I put a little request for style advice out on Instagram and the IG community had some great responses (thanks Giulia, Anita, @TouchofPink2012, @erinpconner), so I tried them out.

First, I tried gathering some things into a small tray…

Next, I tested out a larger one…

I had the trays in the house already, so it was no big deal to test them out. I also have little containers in a variety of materials that I played around with – they’d be perfect for holding sea salt (not that I really ever cook with a whole lot of salt, but this is not about practicality, it’s about style!).

Finally, I placed a piece of artwork behind my radio and Soda Stream. The painting that I leaned against the wall might be too big for the space; I also think that I want to hang it on one of the kitchen walls.

And that’s about as far as I got. I need more styling practice. I also realize that I never actually use paper towels, so it’s really pointless to have them taking up valuable counter real estate. More changes ahead!

Erica Cook is such a styling master and I would like to follow her lead. I’ve been on the lookout for fancy black & white bottles of cooking supplies (what I would use them all for is beyond me), but I’ve had zero luck as of yet. Take a look:

Erica Cook’s IG

I am really enjoying being on the styling stage of my house reno. It’s about time!

Update: I just found this article about how to style a kitchen countertop on The Everygirl. The photos are beautiful. I’m afraid of styling the countertop too much – I’d rather have an empty counter so I have space for food prep than a countertop full of cookbooks and bowls of just-for-show lemons.

Design: Collecting Collections

April 28, 2014 | Leave a Reply

I’ve written about my collections fairly regularly over the years. Each collection is slowly growing – especially now that I have a whole house to fill – and I love each of them. My Eiffel Towers are currently housed on top of my dining room buffet, my menagerie is sort of spread around the house as is my silver collection, and my milk glass and Sophie Conran pieces have a new spot in a glass-fronted Billy bookcase. I also have an expanding collection of DIY inkblot paintings and mugs. How many collections is too many?

Covet Garden Issue 40

As I was reorganizing one of my kitchen cabinets this past weekend, I noticed that I also have a collection of espresso makers. How’d that happen? They’re such handy little things, so I guess I find them hard to resist.

espresso makers – photo by me

All my collections have their place in my home, so I feel as though it’s okay to keep adding to them. When I run out of room, I guess I’ll have to stop. Then again, I could always move into a larger home?!?

Interiors: New York City Apartment

April 25, 2014 | 8 Commentaries

Over the last decade, I have made countless trips to Manhattan. I feel so lucky to have visited the city’s attractions, to live like a real person, and to have explored so many different parts of of this truly inspiring city. Sure, I could do without the crowds and the grime, but Manhattan is like no other. The city is so energetic, and New Yorkers just love their city. My regular trips to NYC, however, have come to an end now that my family is moving out of the city. I had my last visit over Easter weekend and I had to say goodbye to my family’s gorgeous apartment in the heart of Manhattan. They basically gutted the place (awesome before & after photos!) when they bought it. The 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment is white and bright and spacious enough (yes, really) for a family of 6 +1 (me, yes, it’s true). It was truly wonderful to live (I sometimes feel as though I lived there, too) 8 short blocks from Central Park (that’s a 5-8 minute walk, depending on how much jay-walking you do), about the same distance to Times Square, Lincoln Centre, and Rockefeller Centre. Would you like to have a look at their beautiful home?

master bedroom

living room

kitchen

dining room

bathroom

office

My sister and brother-in-law have put up their apartment for lease, and I know that the future tenants are going to fall in love with the apartment, the building, the doormen, and the location as my whole family has!

p.s. I couldn’t post the second bedroom because it’s a colourful kid’s room. 🙂

Photos by Corie.

Travel: Fabergé Presents The Big Egg Hunt New York

April 16, 2014 | 3 Commentaries

While you may already be familiar with backyard Easter egg hunts, I’m sure you’ve seen nothing quite like The Big Egg Hunt that is currently happening in New York City. Artists have designed, sculpted, and transformed huge eggs and their creations have been placed around the city for us to find. The event is sponsored by the grand dame of gorgeous eggs – Fabergé – (obviously, right?) and every egg is up for purchase at auction. If the eggs are too big (or too pricey), mini eggs are available for purchase.

B by Emma Clegg (current bid: $8000)

Are You You by Shantell Martin (current bid: $700)

Liquid Skyline by Zaha Hadid (current bid: $31000)

Egg White by Debbie Millman & Kevin O’Callaghan (current bid: $900)

Untitled by Marc Quinn (current bid: $16000)

The Rose Palace Egg by Marchesa (current bid: $1000)

Dollop by Katherine Kokoska (current bid: $500)

Cracked Egg by David Ling Architect (current bid: $600)

The Egg of Light by Indira Cesarine (current bid: $2411)

Narcissus Egg by Rachel Lee Hovnanian Leila Heller Gallery (current bid: $3400)

Untitled by Suydam Lansing (current bid:$1150)

See all the eggs here.

Thanks for telling me about this event, Mom!

Marketplace: Zebra Pillow

April 16, 2014 | Leave a Reply

In case you wanted to buy a Zebra pillow to match your inflatable Zebra, I found one for you.

Zebra pillow, $65, Hunters Alley

Marketplace: Chapters-Indigo Spring Collection

April 14, 2014 | 1 Commentary

Chapters-Indigo is one of those stores that is continually improving. Each season brings new home decor, fashion, beauty, and food and entertaining items, not to mention a variety of new and interesting books. I know I’m not alone when I say that spending an afternoon at Chapters-Indigo is really relaxing. If only I had more time, I would read every one of those best-selling books!

Anyway, I headed to Toronto’s Eaton Centre a couple of weeks ago to attend Chapters-Indigo spring kick-off. I snapped some photos of some of the things that caught my eye.

Mugs…why am I such a sucker for a good typographic mug? I’ve got most of the ones featured in these photos (I spoil myself regularly, it seems):

The fashion/style department is the largest I’ve seen it, what with the jewelry, scarves, totes, clutches, and watches. The items are super cute.

Chapters-Indigo has partnered with Etsy and has featured collections from 8 Etsy designers. Way to support artists, Indigo!

I was surprised to see the Nest thermostat in the electronics department. Then again, I shouldn’t have been that surprised considering what a hot product it is for the design conscious customer.

The selection of gourmet food and home decor items seems to be expanding. I loved the little jars of salt (reminds me of the jars I picked up in France earlier this year).

And some books…of course…wouldn’t be a bookstore without a great selection of books!

Chapters-Indigo-Spring-White-Cabana-books

Photos by Jordana.

Celebration: Rabbits

April 10, 2014 | Leave a Reply

Easter is just around the corner. While my Easter revolves around chocolate eggs, I know others out there enjoy decorating their homes with any and all types of rabbits. Here’s my round-up of rabbits that are easy to grab a hold of.

Hunter’s Alley: white handmade finger puppet, $19; recycled metal rabbit, $68; modern ceramic rabbit sculpture, $39

Crate & Barrel: Eleni’s bunny cookie, $11.01; papier mache bunny, $34.55; bunny plate, $8.81; bunny place card holder, $5.47

Etsy: stuffed bunny toy, $25; bunny iPhone case, $42.60; Easter bunny baby hat, $25; Herend rabbit, $95; white rabbit earrings, $8.62; white bunny party picks, $4.99

Williams-Sonoma: sculptural bunny spreaders, $26.48; sculptural bunny tiny taper holders, $26.48; white ceramic bunny 12-egg platter, $59.65

Marketplace: Hunter’s Alley

April 7, 2014 | Leave a Reply

One King’s Lane has a sister! She’s called Hunter’s Alley and she’s fabulous! Hunter’s Alley has all sorts of cool one-of-a-kind vintage pieces of furniture, art, accessories, jewelry, books, lighting, and more. The online company also allows people like you and me to sell our own goods on the site (listing is free). It’s an incredible online marketplace and I encourage you to go have a look. For now, though, here are some of the items that have caught my attention.

white cauliflower coral, $95; white elk coral, $132; natural white coral specimen, $99; white cup coral, $95; Palm Beach natural coral cluster, $75

large white concrete male bust, $499; vintage tulip pillow, $265; Shreve Crump Lowe gurgling cod pitcher, $68; white wire basket, $29

king sleigh bed, $599; white campaign-style chests, $995/pair; white security task lamp, $250; 1970s French coffee table, $680

white beaded fold-over clutch, $225; Miriam Haskell vintage white earrings, $56; Kenneth Jay Lane white enamel earrings, $100; Karl Lagerfeld sketch for Carrie Donovan, $200

Don’t you think these items are pretty unique – and offered at very reasonable prices?

Design: Blog Headers 16

April 2, 2014 | Leave a Reply

If you’re looking for more blogs to add to your blogroll or Bloglovin’ feed, read through these beauties:

One Sheepish Girl (DIY)

Casey Leigh (lifestyle)

Le Catch (fashion)

Thanks, I Made It (DIY)

Free People Blog (lifestyle)

The Glam Lamb (design)

Cocorrina (design)

Interiors: Laundry Room Design

April 1, 2014 | 3 Commentaries

Have a big family? Need a heavy-duty laundry room? Have a look at these.

via Liz Marie

via enpundit

via Liz Marie

p.s. I hope my sister reads this post (she and her husband have 4 kids under the age of 5).

p.p.s. Check out this amazing closet/dressing room/laundry room.

Flowers: Magnolias, Dahlias, Tulips – Oh, My!

March 31, 2014 | 3 Commentaries

Ah, now that the weather is almost spring-like, I’ve been in the habit of spending some time each Saturday morning at the Kitchener market. If you’re in Kitchener-Waterloo, it’s definitely worth a visit (or several). The food is fresh, the people are nice, and it’s a really lively place. In addition to the usual fruit and veggies purchases, I’ve been spoiling myself with flowers each week. Now that the current home renos are (almost) dust-free, it’s a good time to fill the house with flowers. While I don’t always buy white flowers, they really are some of my favourites. Tulips, hydrangea, carnations, roses – they’re all just lovely in white!

via Kari Herer

via Marshall Watson

via

via HGTV

via Colin Cowie

via La Maison Poetique

via Brides

Happy Monday, everyone!

Friday Five: Getting Ready for April Showers

March 28, 2014 | Leave a Reply

So, after many many months of snow, we should now be prepping for April showers, right?

clear plastic hat, Hussein Chalayan

markable umbrella, Muji

clear plastic mac, TopShop

white rainboots, Tretorn

transparent camping tent

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Design: Penny Tiles in the Bathroom

March 27, 2014 | Leave a Reply

I love penny and hex tiles, but then I may also be biased because I installed them in my own little powder room.

via West End Cottage

via Me & Alice

via The New York Times

via Celeste Umpierre – CU-A

by CCS Architecture, via Decoist

penny tile backsplash via The Design Chaser

via Lonny

Marketplace: Zebra in the House

March 25, 2014 | Leave a Reply

Just in case you need an oversized inflatable zebra, you can get one at Urban Outfitters for $400.

oversized inflatable zebra, $400, Urban Outfitters

Marketplace: Cuckoo Clocks

March 24, 2014 | 1 Commentary

When I was little, my parents took us (me and my sister) pretty much all around the world. I don’t really know how they did it, but I do wish I remembered more of the details of these trips. Our family photo albums are pretty amazing to look at, that’s forsure. Even though I was a toddler when we travelled, I know that one of the reasons that I love to travel so much now is because many of our family dinner conversations revolved around travel. Why am I sharing all of this now? Well, on one of our trips to Germany, my parents bought a grandfather clock. It’s been in their house since forever and I have always really liked it (even though when I was 7 years old it almost crushed me because I pulled on the weights the wrong way – oops). Anyway, between my childhood trips to Germany and my adult trips to Switzerland, I have seen some pretty traditional clocks – both of the grandfather and cuckoo varieties.

When Cuckoo Palace sent me news of their cuckoo clock collection, I could help but chuckle. They’re such funny little clocks, aren’t they? The chalet cuckoo clocks and the carved cuckoo clocks are very traditional and many people in southern Germany, I learned, own them. I can definitely appreciate the detail that goes into each piece, can’t you? I guess in recent years, the cuckoo clock has been getting some makeovers. You can now buy traditional brown clocks in a variety of colours, including white.

Black Forest pendulum clock by Trenkle Uhren, $48 USD

carved cuckoo clock by Anton Schneider, $227 USD

cuckoo clock by Rombach & Haas, $323 USD

In addition to the colour change, some newer cuckoo clocks look drastically different. Their function and general clock workings remain the same, but they look so completely modern.

modern cuckoo clock by Rombach & Haas, $447 USD

modern cuckoo clock by Rombach & Haas, $604 USD

modern cuckoo clock by Rombach & Haas, $873 USD

cuckoo clock by Rombach & Haas, $356 USD

The intricate carving of this cuckoo clock is really amazing, isn’t it? I think it combines both traditional and modern elements.

carved wood cuckoo clock by Rombach & Haas, $439 USD

As you will have noticed, these German cuckoo clocks can get pricey. I spotted some that are over $1000, but many hover around the $300 ranger. Some play music and all of the clocks are authentic made in the Black Forest. Has anything caught your eye? International readers may be interested to know that Cuckoo Palace offers flat-rate worldwide shipping, so you don’t have to go all the way to Germany to buy one!

Many thanks to Cuckoo Palace and Christina B. for supporting this post.

The Friday Five: Side Tables

March 21, 2014 | Leave a Reply

I need two little side tables for my living room. Preferably really cool and interesting ones. Here are five that have caught my eye recently. They look like they’d fit in my space beautifully.

molded brass side table, $299, West Elm

faceted mirror side table, $199, West Elm

hex side table, $179, West Elm

Simone end table, $199, EQ3

Tate end table, $99, EQ3

Design: Elephants in Rooms

March 20, 2014 | Leave a Reply

Even though it’s the year of the horse, let’s talk about elephants, shall we? I see them coming up a lot lately – in a variety of forms – and I’m thinking that we’re going to see more and more of them over the next year. What do you think? Is my prediction spot on or way off?

an origami elephant (from one sheet of paper!) by Sipho Mabona

elephant walking print, art.com

via Lonny

via Pinterest

elephant teapot, $20, Urban Outfitters

eastern elephant pillowcases, $34, Urban Outfitters

Annada Hypes elephant print – Quiet Places, Minted

via Pinterest

papier mache elephant, $99, West Elm

via Pinterest

What’s your favourite elephant form – table, artwork, sculpture, bedding, ceramics? Do you already have an elephant collection?

Charity: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Home Lottery

March 19, 2014 | Leave a Reply

If my recap from the Vaughan show home hasn’t convinced you to buy your ticket, maybe this video of me talking about it will.

Learn more about the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Home Lottery here.

Design: Blog Headers 15

March 18, 2014 | Leave a Reply

The blog headers in today’s list have one thing in common – they’re written in capital letters. They use very different fonts, but they’re all capital letters. Which one is your fave? Why?

The Alison Show

Come & Take It

Melissa Easton Design (photography & design)

The Fabulous Design File (design & DIY)

Lealou (lifestyle)

Design: Mirrors in the Princess Margaret Home Lottery Showhome

March 13, 2014 | 3 Commentaries

What did you think of yesterday’s tour of the Princess Margaret Home Lottery Vaughan showhome? One thing I didn’t mention was that the house was full of mirrors! Just full of ’em. They were practically calling my name and screaming “selfie, selfie”. Ha ha. I couldn’t resist taking a few…

white, black, and gold in the dining room

unframed mirror in an ensuite bath

framed mirror back in the kitchen’s desk area

floating, back-to-back mirrors in the master bath

roman numeral framed mirror in the stairwell

sleek rectangle mirror & small grey tiles in the teen retreat

studs near the laundry room

I’m so bad at taking iPhone selfies (I seem to always need both hands), but I love that, with these photos, I can highlight the mirrors and show off tiles and other design details through the reflections.

Design: Princess Margaret Home Lottery – Vaughan Showhome

March 12, 2014 | 2 Commentaries

Earlier this week I was invited to attend an event at the Princess Margaret Home Lottery Vaughan showhome. The evening included a tour with designer Jack Celli of Greenpark Homes, as well as wine tasting lessons from Krystina Roman of Rosewood Estates in Beamsville/Niagara, and delicious food and cooking instruction from Steve Gonzalez of Toronto’s Valdez (and Top Chef Canada – Season 1). Laura was our happy host for the evening, and design and food bloggers mingled and ate in a $4 million home. Not bad for a Monday night, right?

The Vaughan showhome is far…in the country…north of Woodbridge…almost in Barrie? Joking…it’s just north of Woodbridge, but it’s definitely in the countryside (and just over an hour drive from Waterloo). The massive showhome is surrounded by other massive homes and a beautiful landscape. The house is full of white so, naturally, I went a overboard with the photos. Black and gold are accent colours throughout the house.

first floor hallway

details in the dining room – moulding & art

main floor family room – beside the kitchen

open concept kitchen

white bathroom ensuite – 2nd floor

the elevator (yes, an elevator!)

substantial doors throughout the home

high ceilings & crown moulding

Greenpark‘s Director of design – Jack Celli – in the master bathroom

Rosewood wines: Riesling, Semillon, Mead (honey wine)

chef Steve Gonzales in the kitchen (cooking up things like ceviche, arepa, & chorizo…yum!)

Danica (Country Chic Renovator) & me with our Rosewood honey

beautiful view from the lanai

hakwood floors & oversized armchairs in the library

winged art sculptures

one of the 2nd floor bedrooms with ensuite

master bathroom (the size of a football field – well, almost)

his & her toilet rooms in the master bathroom

door & floor details

the runway room

half a dozen switches in the master bathroom

While the house is much too fancy for my taste, it has a good layout, it’s really airy, and the lanai off of the kitchen & family rooms is a beautiful space that can be used year-round. I also quickly noticed – and liked – how substantial the doors, moulding, and trim was throughout the house.

I loved the Hakwood flooring throughout the house. My favourite room in the house was the library – it is currently set up with four large comfy chairs and shelves of vases and other interesting objects. If I lived there, I’d obviously fill those shelves with books. The room has good light from a large window, it’s near off the main foyer and living rooms, and it has a mini-kitchen beside it. How handy.

So, are you interested in this big ticket item? Have other prizes caught your eye? Have you bought your ticket?

Thanks to Laura Z. for being such a wonderful host and event coordinator.

Photos by Jordana. Additional photos here.

Travel: More Photos from Paris

March 10, 2014 | Leave a Reply

Okay, so over the last week and weekend I spent some time uploading my photos from Paris. It seems like the trip was ages ago, but I’ve only been back in Waterloo for two weeks. I’ve got another few things to share, hope you’re enjoying the recaps as much as I am!

I saw this photo image on a wall sort of near the Musée Picasso. Possibly a Banksy? What’s his trademark?

I loved this ceiling in the children’s shop Bonton.

I came across this doorbell somewhere in St. Germain. I thought it was pretty.

I stumbled upon the Swedish Institute in Le Marais and I liked the tidiness of the café tables.

This is the view from the Sacre Coeur. So cool.

This white-on-white-on-white building was in Montmartre. The cobblestone streets are so charming, but can really wear down shoes.

While I was eating lunch outside one day (yes, in February!), I spotted this guy. I was impressed by how he managed to transport the table (it’s white, how perfect) on his Vespa. Who needs a mini-van?

I took very few typical tourist shots on this trip. Regardless, I hope you enjoyed another collection of things I spotted in Paris last month.

Photos by Jordana.

The Friday Five: Place Des Vosges

March 7, 2014 | Leave a Reply

Place des Vosges in Le Marais is one of my most favourite places in all of Paris. It’s beautifully rosy and completely symmetrical. The archways are lovely to walk under and the centre courtyard is the perfect place for throwing a frisbee (not me, but I’ve seen others do it!), lounging around, and taking a break from the noise of the city. It is the oldest planned square in the city and it has a long and interesting history (going back to 1604!) that included several name changes (Place Royale to Place des Vosges and back again). At one point it was simply a lawn for hosting duels. People like Cardinal Richelieu (French prime minister) and Victor Hugo (author) lived in the apartments of Place des Vosges (during various centuries). Like all of Paris, this place has a story to tell!

White-Cabana-Place-des-vosges-Paris-5 Place des Vosges, Paris, photos by Jordana

Happy Friday everyone! Have a wonderful weekend!

Marketplace: Merci in Paris

March 6, 2014 | Leave a Reply

I was really looking forward to visiting the design store Merci while I was in Paris. One morning I walked from St. Germain to the Haut Marais and found Merci at 111 Blvd Beaumarchais. The trip took me along the Seine, through areas of the Marais and Les Halles. It was such a sunny day and it gave me the perfect excuse to eat one of Paul’s pain au chocolat along the way. (Any excuse is a good excuse!)

Merci is located in a beautiful, large, light-filled historic building, and it is definitely very high on design. It reminded me a bit of Colette (before it got so famous and busy). The various floors showcased everything from tiny dainty rings and necklaces to classic French linen scarves to notebooks and books to furniture to kitchen gadgets. The selection of products also included some lovely leather handbags, place settings, and lighting. Within the space is a restaurant and café that looked pretty cool, but I didn’t feel like hanging out there (probably because I already had my pain au chocolat).

What I loved most about Merci was the cool ribbon exhibit on the first floor. The exhibit included books of museum-worthy ribbons that weren’t for sale, and boxes of ribbon sample booklets in protective plastic sleeves that were for sale. It was beautiful. I could have spent hours flipping through all the ribbons. I bought a couple of booklets that I’ll frame. That was really enjoyable.

What didn’t I like? Well, I really was expecting to see some beautiful made-in-France or made-in-Europe items, but a large majority of what I picked up was made in China. And priced really high. I don’t know, it just wasn’t for me. I was disappointed. I think I’m also spoiled because of all the time I’ve spent in NYC…I’ve seen quite a few of the items there already and I was looking for some more innovative European collections. Regardless, I feel lucky that I was able to visit Merci in person and I am looking forward to seeing how it evolves. I have no doubt that it’s here to stay.

Travel: Design Details in Paris

March 5, 2014 | 2 Commentaries

I feel so lucky to have spent so much time in Paris in the last decade. I’ve gotten to know some of the areas quite well, I’ve seen a lot of the major tourist attractions, and I now love to just wander the city. The store windows are inspiring, the architecture is unbelievable, and there is always always always something exciting going on in the city!

This post highlights some of the small(er than the Eiffel Tower) design details I captured in Paris.

1. This crazy cool light fixture that was in the Grand Palais gift shop.

2. Angelina’s was a new stop for me this year. My friends and I stopped in for a rich hot chocolate and dessert. The interior was gorgeous and we had a really happy and friendly waitress. In between sips of hot chocolate, I looked up and noticed that Angelina’s has the same light fixtures as me!

3. More amazing chandeliers were to be found at the Marché aux Puces. Amazing. There were hundreds (or thousands?) of crystal chandeliers around the market stalls and they were all brilliantly shiny. Oh man. So lovely.

4. Lighting wasn’t the only thing that caught my eye. I am fascinated by Paris architecture. This wall and window and clover-detailed window grate was on a wall behind the Sacre Coeur. While everyone else was staring at the magnificent cathedral, I was taking photos of lesser-known walls around Montmartre. Can you imagine lifting and laying each one of those massive stones?

5. This little detail was on a rather simple building in St. Germain (on Rue Cherche Midi). It was just sitting up there over the doorway. Love the bow.

6. I think this next simple white door and wall was around Place des Vosges in Le Marais. I like that all the straight lines are broken up by a round window.

7. I only just noticed that above the face is “J’écoute” (I listen). This was also above an entry way and I am impressed by all the details…look at those flowers. How, how, how did people do this kind of thing centuries ago?

8. The Sacre Coeur. Okay – so I lied in one of the above comments. Just like everyone who visits Montmartre, I stared at the Sacre Coeur. It’s too incredible. And very white. It’s made of self-cleaning stone.

9. My friends and I attended Sunday mass at St. Sulpice. It was beautiful. No surprise, right? The organ concert after mass was incredible. Did the Da Vinci code mention the organ?

10. A few bridges in Paris are getting filled up with padlocks-of-love, but I think Pont des Arts definitely has the most! I hope the bridge can handle the weight of them all.

And there you have it – another Paris update. See more here.

Travel: Paris Apartment in the 6th

February 28, 2014 | 6 Commentaries

Phew. I think I’m just about over jet-lag. Took almost 6 days! The snowy cold weather is certainly not helping. Doesn’t matter, spring is almost here. I have loads of photos and stories from Paris to share, and I thought I would start with the absolutely gorgeous apartment we stayed in. It. Was. Perfect.

As we were staying in Paris for 8 days, and we knew we wanted a bit of space to spread out, my colleagues and I decided that an apartment rental would be the best option for us. I started the apartment search on sites like AirBNB, VRBO, and new-to-me sites Haven in Paris and Time and Place. After the first apartment we wanted to book got snatched up, I landed on this apartment via RentAVilla.

photos via RentAVilla

Gorgeous, right? Yes! And this Rue Bonaparte apartment was just as beautiful in person. It was large, comfortable, clean, and the location in St. Germain des Prés could not have been beat.

The design details in this apartment had me staring. The artwork was creative, the lighting was unusual, and the kitchen was so high-tech and functional. So functional in fact that my colleagues and I ended up hosting a dinner party one night. Yes, a dinner party in our Parisian rental apartment. It was hilarious and fun!

There are two bedrooms (4 twin beds), two bathrooms (including 2 separate showers, one tub, and a separate toilet room), a large living room, and a large kitchen. The apartment has all the conveniences of home – laundry, dryer, dishwasher, wi-fi, a Nespresso maker (is that what people like these days?), and plenty of comfortable pillows and blankets. Fixtures and appliances include some of our favourite names in design – Franke, Liebherr, Miele, and Gaggenau. It was such an pleasure to spend 8 days in this 6th arrondissement beauty.

I want to go back! Can you blame me?

This was the first apartment rental I’ve done in Europe, and I would definitely opt for another one. It was really nice to have a decent breakfast at home before spending the day exploring the city (or conference, in my case). It was also really special to host guests in Paris. Finally, it felt like we lived like normal Parisians for a week rather than always-on-the-go tourists.

Over the next week or so, I’ll continue to share more photos and stories from my trip, including my recap of this exhibit and my final decision about the circle ring (any last minute guesses?).

For now, I’m wishing you all a most wonderful (and warm?) weekend. Thanks always for stopping by White Cabana!

Design: Blog Headers 14

February 25, 2014 | 1 Commentary

What type do you prefer: all capital letters like the first few blog headers, or hand-written script style letters like the latter couple of blog headers?

The Golden Diamonds (fashion)

Brunch Blog (design)

De Lune (fashion)

Just Another Fashion Blog (fashion)

Jou Jou Villeroy (fashion)

p.s. Paris recap is coming…I just need a bit of time to get organized!

Design: Lalique

February 24, 2014 | Leave a Reply

My jaw dropped as I browsed the Lalique website. Of course I was already familiar with Lalique glassware, but I had no idea the diversity of the collection, and how high the prices went. They go really high. As in, the price of a house high. Crazy! Lalique is one for movie stars and gazillionaires. Yes, them. Although I don’t have money to for a shopping spree at Lalique, I can certainly appreciate the artistry of the company’s collections.

On the low(er) end of Lalique:

2 flowers perfume bottle, $395

daisies pintray, $250

Kazak paperweight, $165

grapes panel, $210

100 Points decanter, $990

On the (really) high end of Lalique:

spiral bowl, $5.9K

reverie bookends, $5.8K

Equus vase, $26K

Bucéphale horse, $48.7K

Horse’s head, $48K

Raisins bedcover, $15K

Masque de Femme sofa, $44K

Champs Elysée chandelier, $57K

Oak roundtable, $149.5K

cactus double table, $240K

How do Lalique owners feel if anything dropped/chipped/broke? I’d cry. Surely insurance coverage on Lalique items is a must!

Design: Christofle

February 20, 2014 | Leave a Reply

Keeping up with the French theme, today I’m featuring some absolutely impressive items from Christofle. Why are beautiful French objets so darn pricey? Luxury doesn’t come cheap, right?

butter dish, $400

set of four butter spreaders – Malmaison, $495

pastry stand – Jardin d’Eden, $1160

rectangular tray – AG47, $370

magnifying glass – Alibi, $215

candelabra, $1950

bowl – Transatlantique, $1750

necklace – Onde d’argent, $1650

necklace – Palmaceae, $2400

bangle – rivage

champagne cooler, $1700

Gorgeous, right? Oh, just so lovely!

Design: Merci Paris

February 19, 2014 | Leave a Reply

I hope to get to Merci on this trip to Paris. I’ve read so much about it, and I’m eager to have a look for myself. Wish me luck!

White metal A chair, Tolix by Xacier Pauchard, €190

salad servers, €16.90

1L teapot, €79

table lamp with hinged arm, by Bernard-Albin Gras, €415

golden bell pendant – Artek by Alvar Aalto, €379

Design: Hermès

February 17, 2014 | Leave a Reply

In honour of my trip to Paris, I’m turning White Cabana into a French-filled blog over the next week or so. I’m starting with a biggie – Hermès.

While I’ve had my eye on Hermès for, like, ever, I only recently added Hermès pieces to my wardrobe this past fall to celebrate my PhD. I bought a classic black cross-body Evelyne and a beautiful (and colourful) carré. They were big purchases but I had been thinking about them for quite some time. I do take my luxury goods purchases very seriously.

Let’s have a look at some of the French goodness, shall we?