Design

Design: White Paired with Refined Antiques

I feel like the next pieces of furniture I invest in are going to be more on the refined side. For a while now, I’ve been wanting to incorporate some traditional refined wood pieces into my home. I adore the contrast between modern, minimalist white and delicate, intricate antiques. This is sort of what I’m talking about:

Bathroom+Furniture+PB4 via

I’m on the lookout for great deals (obviously), so this design plan may take some time…

Event: High Point Market in North Carolina

My apologies for the lack of posts over the last few days. I didn’t mean to step away from my blog, but life has been hectic, and I couldn’t find even a minute to write. I have loads to share, but I’m not quite sure how quickly my news will come. My week is absolutely hectic (MBA life and work life are completely overwhelming this week!), but I’ll do my best to keep on writing!

Last week I had the pleasure of attending High Point Market in North Carolina. Oh man, was it ever interesting! I was only there for one day, so there was absolutely no way to see everything. That said, I had a fully productive High Point adventure, and I’m happy to share my recap with you.

I found High Point Market to be a very well-run operation. Getting to Market was completely effortless as was the parking and shuttle situation (side note: my TomTom came in handy once again and I discovered even more features that I like). After we parked our car in the free parking lot organized by the market, my sister and I hopped on the shuttle trolley which took us directly to the centre of Market. Effort-less.

I have quite a bit to share, but for this post, I’ll begin with what I discovered as I walked through the showrooms at the International Home Furnishings Center.

The furniture and accessories at Noir were cool, modern, and had a rock-n-roll vibe. Some of the accessories reminded me of Kelly Wearstler designs. I was smitten with the bookshelves and some of the side tables.

White-Cabana-HPMKT-Noir-4 White-Cabana-HPMKT-Noir-5 White-Cabana-HPMKT-Noir-2 White-Cabana-HPMKT-Noir-3 White-Cabana-HPMKT-Noir-1Selamat was chock-full of bamboo pieces, and the quality of the metal bamboo pieces really surprised me.

White-Cabana-HPMKT-1 White-Cabana-HPMKT-2I wanted just about everything at Europe2You. As soon as I stepped in the showroom, I felt like I had traveled to France. The displays and styling were absolutely gorgeous, and the showroom staff was friendly. In this showroom, I was drawn to a lot of the art installations. I think the cameos (see photo below) are especially interesting and unique.

White-Cabana-HPMKT-Europe2You-2 White-Cabana-HPMKT-Europe2You-1 White-Cabana-HPMKT-Europe2You-3Speaking of all things French, Eloquence had a bed and a daybed that I adore! (and I realized only recently that I already featured the bed here). It was such a pretty and feminine space.

White-Cabana-HPMKT-Eloquence-2White-Cabana-HPMKT-Eloquence-1The acrylic pieces at B. Pila Design were unexpected, unusual, and definitely hip. They were unlike anything else I saw in my short time at the market.

White-Cabana-B Pila Design-High Point MarketFinally, Currey & Co. was full of so many beautiful items. Their selection of lighting fixtures was sort of overwhelming, but I was drawn to all the pieces that had shells on them. I think I need a beach house. As an added bonus, Currey & Co. generously offered food, so we were able to enjoy delicious bread pudding (among other things) while we were browsing the showroom goodies.White-Cabana-Currey and Co-High Point Market-4 White-Cabana-Currey and Co-High Point Market-5 White-Cabana-Currey and Co-High Point Market-2 White-Cabana-Currey and Co-High Point Market-1 White-Cabana-Currey and Co-High Point Market-3

As you can observe, High Point Market includes items from across the design spectrum. Traditional, French, delicate, modern, rock and roll, refined, quirky…there was something for everyone!

To wrap-up today’s High Point post, I thought I’d share six trends that I spotted at High Point Market (regardless of the design focus). They are:
1. books without covers on them
2. navy
3. gold
4. shells (including oyster shells) on mirrors, furniture, lighting, etc.
5. bamboo
6. acrylic

Later this week (I hope!), I’ll share news about Visual Comfort & Co. and Jaipur, which ended up becoming my two favourite stops on my High Point tour.

Note: High Point Market takes place twice each year. The spring market is scheduled for April 16-20, 2016. Will you attend?

Photos by me.

Event: High Point Market

In just a few days, I’ll be joining crowds of other design enthusiasts at High Point Market in North Carolina. I’m pumped! I’m excited to see what’s up-and-coming in the design industry, and I’m hoping to be amazed by cool pieces of furniture and textiles. For anyone writing about, talking about, or dreaming about design, this is the market to attend.

In preparation for the trip, I’ve read these handy High Point Market tips-and-insights articles (avoid being overwhelmed by the scale of the market; map out secret places to eat), and I’ve browsed the list of exhibitors. I’m also keen to follow #designbloggerstour, which is a hashtag that a group of design bloggers will use as they explore the market. I also found this Rue article to be quite useful as well. Can you tell I like to research?

High-Point-Market-1image via High Point Market

High-Point-Market-2images via High Point Market

09-25-15-Sponsor-High-Point-MainSliderimage via Rue

High Point Market has just about 12 million square feet of space to shop. 12 million! This boggles my mind. (Note to self: wear comfortable shoes.)

I’ll be sharing my High Point Market highlights on Instagram and Twitter as quickly as I possibly can. I’ll also be sure to share my experiences right here in a few weeks.

In the meantime, if you’ve been to the Market, please do share your advice!

Marketplace: Essential Items for your Bedroom

Last week I featured five beds, and while I think this is the major component of a bedroom, it’s not the only thing that makes a bedroom special. Here’s a round-up of ten other items that I have – and really enjoy having – in my serene white space.

White-Cabana-bedroom1. bedside lamps (via Ralph Lauren Home)
2. crisp white bed linens (via Zara)
3. collection of white containers and platters to corral jewelry (via CB2)
4. carafe (mostly for show, if I’m being honest…I don’t actually use mine, but it does look neat) (via CB2)
5. vintage dressers and vanity (via 1stDibs)
6. a selection of comfortable pillows (via Bed Bath & Beyond)
7. mirrors (via Crate & Barrel)
8. collection of vintage silver trays to collect bits and bobs (via 1stDibs)
9. flowers (as often as possible) (via The Crafted Life)
10. a down duvet (via Ikea)
(See what else I love about my bedroom right here.)

What are your bedroom must-haves?

Travel: The Fearrington House Inn in Pittsboro, NC

Pittsboro, North Carolina is a short drive (25 minutes) from Chapel Hill, and it’s a very pretty and quaint town. It is also home to a gorgeous Relais & Chateaux property called The Fearrington House. The property includes an inn, a spa, a restaurant, and beautifully manicured gardens.

Look at the classic decor at the Inn. I love the use of tone-on-tone fabrics.

20130926_42-688x377 20130718_145-688x377 20130718_116-688x377The bathrooms at The Fearrington House Inn are bright and fresh. Can’t go wrong with an all-white bathroom, right?

20131023_02-688x37720130719_58-688x37720130718_124-688x37720130926_33-688x377If I can make it to Pittsboro on my upcoming visit south, I’ll be sure to stop by to check out the property first-hand.

Images via The Fearrington House Inn.

20 Below: Style at Home November Issue

Today’s 20 Below item is really an exciting one!

1115_Cover [Print];30_View.inddStyle at Home, $5.99

The Style at Home November 2015 issue has a beautiful white cover featuring a tablescape by blogger Monika Hibbs. Not only that, but it features design work by my fellow design-savvy bloggers: Tim (Design Maze), Jen (Rambling Reno), and Christine (Bijou & Boheme). Each of them styled a holiday scene, and their styles are very distinct.

This issue also highlights Sarah’s (The Curated House) beautiful laundry room (a reno that was completed in only 6 weeks) and some gorgeous homes across the country.

Honestly, folks, it’s a good issue!

Waterloo: KW Symphony at the Centre in the Square

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to attend one of Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony’s Beethoven concert at the Centre in the Square, and I’m pretty excited to share my experience with you. This was the first time I had ever been to a symphony. I have been to the ballet, I go to random concerts, and I’m a regular theatre goer, but the symphony…I was a total newbie! Was it ever good!

The Beethoven concert that I attended was the first of a three-part Beethoven marathon. It covered his piano concerto no. 1 in C major and no. 4 in G major. The second and third shows, which occurred on the Saturday, covered additional concertos. Full disclosure – I don’t really know much about Beethoven or his concertos…even though it may have just sounded like I do!

White-Cabana-KW Symphony-Centre in the Square-1

The evening started off beautifully with an appearance by the Grand Philharmonic Choir. With them leading (and taking centre stage), we all sang O Canada. From there, the Symphony’s conductor, Edwin Outwater, welcomed everyone, and began the concert. Obviously, I couldn’t take pictures during the performance (obviously), the photos I’m sharing here are pre- and post-concert. They should give you an idea of the orchestra’s organization and presence on stage.

White-Cabana-KW Symphony-Centre in the Square-2I am convinced that pianist Stewart Goodyear has magic fingers. Watching him play (via a close-up video streaming on a screen) was incredible. He was completely poised, played without any sheet music, and really seemed to love every moment of the concert. I really enjoy watching people who are so passionate about their art.

I have always appreciated the arts, but watching this talented team of musicians work together so seamlessly was pretty amazing. I know actors do it on stage, but this seemed like a completely different approach to team work, you know? Alone, noone could have achieved what was created as the whole.

White-Cabana-KW Symphony-Centre in the Square-11Version 2I enjoyed the concert for more than just the music. The traditions and routines of the performance also caught my attention. The fact that the musicians wore black made their wood instruments really stand out. The pianist, wearing tails, artfully took his place at the piano on a black tufted bench. The conductor graciously thanked his orchestra for the performance and made certain that they shone throughout the evening.

White-Cabana-KW Symphony-Centre in the Square-10the view from my seat – amazing!

Now, as Waterloo region is a major tech hub, we were treated to yet another something special. A while ago, the region hosted a 36-hour hack-a-thon in collaboration with the KW Symphony. Hackers came together and worked with the musicians and the space to create new experiences. The winners of the hack-a-thon were Adam Fancey and Justin Safa who developed Fractal Orchestra. Essentially, they recorded the performance and ran it through a too-complicated-for-me-to-figure-out program which created algorithms-or-something-equally-complicated that then led to pretty images. Pretty images – very cool. I know I’m not doing justice to their complicated work, so if you’re interested in the details, I’d encourage you to visit their new website. Here’s a look at some of their creations:

Fractal-Orchestra-1 Fractal-Orchestra-2images via Fractal Orchestra

I know the images aren’t as clear here as they are in real life, so I’d encourage you to learn more here. They really are interesting pieces of modern art.

Now, on to my initial thoughts of the venue. This was my first time attending a show at the Centre in the Square, and I was pretty impressed by the architecture and decor. The stage was wonderfully lit, the wooden seats were modern and well-maintained. The reception areas outside of the concert hall surprised me, too. They were full of over-sized loung-y grey casual sofas and sleek gold side tables. The audience definitely made use of these spaces pre- and post-concert as well as during intermission. It was really good to see the large space filled with excited audience members.

The lighting was also something to note. Totally modern! Completely hip! Who knew? Kitchener-Waterloo continues to surprise me with its approach to design and architecture. I feel proud to promote this city (read this).

White-Cabana-KW Symphony-Centre in the Square-5White-Cabana-KW Symphony-Centre in the Square-6White-Cabana-KW Symphony-Centre in the Square-8  White-Cabana-KW Symphony-Centre in the Square-7  White-Cabana-KW Symphony-Centre in the Square-9 White-Cabana-KW Symphony-Centre in the Square-3At some points throughout the concert, I caught myself thinking about how great it is to live in Kitchener-Waterloo. Attending the symphony at the Centre in the Square was easy, convenient, and approachable. I’m curious about whether or not my Waterloo region readers have had similarly positive experiences. Do tell!

Many thanks to Kari at the KW Symphony for generously arranging my visit. Learn more about the events being held at Kitchener’s Centre in the Square.

Marketplace: LA’s Garde

I can’t remember where I first came across Los Angeles’s Garde, but its online site instantly drew me in. The carefully curated product lines are sleek and unique, and the website features them beautifully. Garde’s collection includes textiles, jewelry, bath items, art, lighting, furniture, and more.

Garde-1Minza black stripe throw, $275

Garde-3Madeline Weinrib Rafa rug, $4600Garde-4

Max Lamb crockery tall vase, $150

Garde-5O glass carafe, Laurence Brabant, $150

Garde-6silver narrow cuff, Holly Westhoff, $285

Garde-8Michael Verheyden potte vase, $1295

Garde-9Alpaca knit wall hanging, Caitlin Emeritz, $325

Garde-10Dante small nightingale lantern, $895

The Friday Five: PM Lotto Oakville Showhome + Brunch with Brian Gluckstein

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to go on a tour of the Princess Margaret Lotto Oakville Showhome. As Canadian readers may already know, the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre’s Welcome Home Sweepstakes is a huge fundraising event with incredible prizes to be won. Tickets are $100 each, $250 for 3, or $375 for 5. Each year, many local residents, Princess Margaret supporters, and the generally curious crowd anticipate the reveal of Oakville Showhome. The home is always in an exclusive Oakville neighbourhood (Oakville is about 30 minutes from Toronto, for the non-local readers of this blog), it includes top-of-the line electronics/appliances/gadgets, and it is designed by one of my all-time favourite Canadian designers, Mr. Brian Gluckstein.

For the past few years, I’ve been lucky enough to preview the home, and each year, I’m blown away. This year was no exception. Mr. Gluckstein – or Brian, as I like to call him (um, first name basis with Brian!? Crazy!) – and his team worked magic once again. The house is beautiful. Rooms include traditional lines, soothing colour stories, beautiful artwork and objets, and a few surprises thrown into the mix as well.

I know I’m a day late with this week’s Friday Five, but here are five things that I learned about this year’s Princess Margaret Oakville Showhome:

1. A white bedroom is always in style, and when it includes a gorgeous lucite table, it becomes a little more special.

White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-1810 pillows – how many do you have on your bed? (I have 5)White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-17seating area with lucite coffee table in the master bedroom

2. Art is essential. Brian’s designs always include some stunning pieces. Here are some of the ones that caught my eye.

White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-12art in the kitchen

White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-6art beside the massage room (see #3)

White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-5art in the hallway

3. A massage room is a ridiculously luxurious room to have in a home. I have never had a massage myself, but if I had a room for it, you can bet I’d be taking advantage of it! I adored the fully-lined walls in this space. The wall curtains are made of terrycloth fabric, and Brian told me that it was only around $3 a yard. Adding texture to the wall in this way is brilliant, in my opinion.

White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-10the massage room

White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-84. Brian makes interesting lighting selections for the Oakville Showhome each year. This year, three pieces caught my attention. First – the kitchen light was formerly black and brass, but Brian (or his people) sprayed in white. Yes! Second – the light in one of the bedrooms had a pretty scallop which made it a pretty addition to the already-delicate room. Third – the chandeliers that lined the entrance hall are light and airy. Floating cubes of goodness, really.

White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-11white pendant in the kitchen

White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-13scalloped light in a bedroom

White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-3airy chandelier in the entrance hall

5. I am the first to admit that wallpaper makes me nervous. I much prefer plain walls and art work to wallpaper. I’m pretty sure it’s because I was traumatized by the 80s wallpaper chaos that I had to deal with in my own home. The wallpaper designs that were included in some of the bathrooms in the Showhome, however, caught my attention.

In the jack-and-jill bathroom, the wallpaper is whimsical yet serene.

White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-14Hi there!

The blossoming wallpaper in the master bathroom creates a cozy nook around the stand-alone bathtub.

White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-21  White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-19 White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-20Bonus: Since it’s Saturday, I’m going to make the executive decision to add one more item to today’s list. I could not leave the living room out of today’s Showhome recap because it is such a magnificent space. The oversized windows mean that light fills the room, the walls are a beautiful tone of grey, and the furniture placement (in true Brian fashion) is symmetrical. This room also includes a mirrored coffee table with a perfectly-arranged collection of silver boxes and luxurious drapery to match the wall colour.

White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-1White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-23  White-Cabana-PMLotto-Gluckstein-2There you have it – five six things I adore about this year’s Princess Margaret Oakville Showhome designed by Brian Gluckstein. The golf room and library fascinated me, too!

Photos by Jordana. For more photos of the preview event, check out #BrunchWithBrian on Instagram and Twitter. You can’t win this house if you don’t buy a ticket – tickets can be purchased here.

Travel: Edson Hill in Stowe, Vermont

I saw photos of Edson Hill on Erin Conner’s Instagram account, (such a pretty bedroom) and I flipped out. The place looked stunning on my little ol’ iPhone 4S, and I was eager to check out Edson Hill’s full site and offerings. (I obviously have traveling on my brain these days…my mind easily wanders to hotel and travel websites!)

The rooms are very well-appointed with a mix of modern and classic furniture, pretty lighting, and cozy linens. The fireplaces add warmth, and the mixed collection of art adds interest to each space. The bed in the first photo below definitely caught my eye!

fireplace-room-14-2.jpg.1360x678_default guest-house-room.jpg.1360x678_default img_7308a-1.jpg.1360x678_default fireplace-room-12.jpg.1360x678_default fireplace-king-with-aday-bed.jpg.1360x678_default dining-room.jpg.1920x807_0_9_10000 fireplace-room-14-1.jpg.1360x678_default img_7303a-1.jpg.1360x678_default img_7381a-1.jpg.1360x678_defaultPhotos via Edson Hill.

 

Fashion: Clare Distenfeld’s Fivestory in Manhattan

I read about luxury boutique Fivestory in Elle Decor‘s October issue, and I was enticed to browse through its online collection. Fivestory, owned by Clare Distenfeld, is located on Manhattan’s upper east side and it caters to those looking for diverse high-end  brands including Roland Mouret, Alexander Wang, Nicholas Kirkwood, and Rosie Assoulin.

Before I share some of the shop’s collection, let’s just have a quick look at the sleek interior of the 5-story (get it?) townhouse.

smallmainentrance_217237d70d66Fivestory-0892via Life and Times

Fivestory-0871via Life and Times

Fivestory-7And here’s some of what Fivestory carries:

Fivestory-1Dreaming of Diamonds eye mask, $110, Morgan Lane

Fivestory-2ziptop pouch, $495, Anya Hindmarch

Fivestory-4georgina pouch, $747, Anya Hindmarch

Fivestory-3metallic leather suede PVC pumps, $745, Gianvito Rossi

Fivestory-5starburst peal drop earrings, $250, Fallon

Fivestory-6fringe cube charm, $255, Pierre Hardy

Images via Fivestory unless otherwise noted.

The Friday Five: Animal Kingdom

I have featured my growing menagerie around my home here on the blog over the last few years. While I haven’t added any new pieces to my collection recently, I do still keep my eye out for interesting items.

dragonFurstenberg dragon glass, $236, Luisa Via Roma

35251156_007_belephant earrings, $14, Urban Outfitters

35874809_010_dwhite owl costume, $94, Urban Outfitters (I’m keeping this in mind for Halloween!)

504051113_1_tabletoppolar bear beanie, Eugenia Kim, $225, Barneys

811770029050_hiblack and white lion art print, Christian Meerman, $35, Chapters Indigo

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Travel: Luxurious Hotels in Charleston, South Carolina

Next month, I am going to be traveling to the southern United States, and I just cannot wait! It’s been a year since I’ve been to North Carolina, and I have several items on my agenda for this visit.

I’ll begin with a visit with my family in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and then High Point Market in nearby High Point. In addition to these two stops, I’m planning on visiting Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia. Eek! So darn excited! Road trip, here I come!

One of the best parts of travel planning for me is researching hotels, and let me tell you, there are some amazingly beautiful ones in the south! Let me share with you where my Charleston research has taken me thus far.

Planters Inn is traditional and full of creams and whites. The tone-on-tone decor definitely works for me, and the poster beds are so very charming.

PlantersInn_RoomsGallery_9 PlantersInn_RoomsGallery_3 croppedGallery_GuestRoom_6 PlantersInn_RoomsGallery_6 PlantersInn_RoomsGallery_2 PlantersInn_RoomsGallery_5 SpoletoSuite_website2 PlantersInn_gallery7 croppedGallery_PlantersInn_5 PlantersInnThe Spectator promotes its rooms as being “spacious, gracious, and utterly unforgettable”. I’d agree.

the-spectator-hotel 2241284-The-Spectator-Hotel-Guest-Room-3-DEF CTH1519_Spectator_Premier_Suite_307_01-631x355The Market Pavillion Hotel is another stunning property in Charleston. The guestrooms look large, and the bathrooms seem to be the ultimate in luxury.

king_lgcornerbath_lg guestbath_lgUp next is the Belmond Charleston Place. Warning – it’s another stunner complete with classic wood furniture, luxe linens, and beautiful bathrooms.

ocha_1366x400_room_premier_luxury04 ocha_1366x400_room_premier_luxury01 ocha_1366x400_room_premier_bathroom01 ocha_1366x400_room_premier_room03 ocha_1366x400_room_premier_king_balcony01Zero George Street‘s website draws me in, and I’m sure the hotel would, too, in person. This property is modern, airy, but most definitely southern.

2013_Zero_George_08021-1100x514Zero-George-Veranda-King Zero-George-Harbor-Room-3 2013_Zero_George_0787-380x220 2013_Zero_George_0600-380x530 ZG-Anson-Suite-Web-1100x514Can you now see why I think hotel planning is so fun? So dreamy!

Design: Pantry / Workroom Storage Planning

There are always a few items on my renovation to do list. Even though my fireplace is currently ripped apart and waiting for my attention, my pantry/workroom is also on my mind. The room is an absolute mess. It’s a disorganized dumping ground for my tools, supply remnants, and random pieces of just about everything.

The plan is to turn this room into a more efficiently organized workroom and a cantina. A cantina, for all my non-Italian readers, is a cold storage room (or pantry, I guess). The cantina is basically the second heart of the home for Italians (2nd only to the kitchen). This is where we store thing like jars of Nutella, homemade jams, and extra household supplies. (It’s a gem of a room, let me tell you!)

I love that my house has a room that I can dedicate to being a cantina.

So, I’m currently doing research about the best options for storage racks for both my workroom materials and cantina items. I would really like this one room to serve both purposes. I’m totally inspired by the spaces below, but I know that recreating most of them is not realistic for my home. Just dreaming…

34-garage-workbenchvia The Design Files

d69adbe6f950bc62d66d1b4e98cab114Ina Garten’s pantry, via House Beautiful

pantry3via The Vintage Wren

4via Deuce Cities Henhouse

CL0203068t_2_vvia My Home Ideas

Travel: A Day in Stratford, Ontario

A couple of weeks ago, I took a day trip to Stratford, Ontario. The drive is about 45 minutes from Waterloo, and it’s an extremely easy and pleasant ride along one road (basically). As has become the norm, my TomTom came along for the ride and proved to be very useful especially for navigating the streets of Stratford. I’ve only been to the city a couple of times, so I’m still not familiar with the roads.

The main purpose of my visit was to watch Stratford Festival‘s production of The Sound of Music (How do you solve a problem like Maria?), so that’s where my afternoon began. I found free parking along the lake (such a bonus!), and walked over to the beautiful Festival Theatre. The architecture of this place always interests me. The pointed rooftop, the pretty front rose garden, and the round stage (it’s open on three sides which makes viewing from all angles a pleasure) make this place stand out.

White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontario-4 White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontario-11White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontario-10White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontarioi_12

The Sound of Music was a highly entertaining show, and since I was lucky enough to get centre seats about 10 rows from the stage, I felt completely spoiled!. I watch the Sound of Music once a year (it’s always on around Christmas, isn’t it), so I was quite excited about seeing a live performance (I am 16, going on 17…). I was itching to sing along to every song, but I resisted.

White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontario-7White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontario-8White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontarioi_17

Stephanie Rothenberg was stellar as Maria, and the cast of von Trapp children were absolutely unbelievable. Beyond the impressive acting and singing, the choreography was fun, and the stage and set design were cleverly put to use. It amazed me to see so much variety and action on a relatively small stage (These are a few of my favourite things…). Pre-performance, I was curious about the whole curtains-into-clothing transformation, and the play got it spot on (Do-Re-Me)! I loved watching the set transform (simply and seemingly effortlessly) with each scene. That’s part of the fun of live theatre, isn’t it?

2015playbill_SOM_089_recsm 2015playbill_SOM_182_recsmphotos via Stratford Festival

There’s plenty to see at the Stratford Festival, so there really is something for everyone (festival shows and schedule here). I’ve heard good things about The Alchemist and the Taming of the Shrew. Shows run into the fall, so there’s really no excuse to not plan a visit!

A matinee worked beautifully for my Saturday schedule. Post-theatre, I was able to walk around town, pop into some shops, and stroll lazily about before dinner. I’ll show you a bit about how I spent the rest of my day, if you’d like to see…

Balzac’s is a beautiful coffee shop in a charming building with detailed ceilings and lovely lighting. It also serves up some delicious coffee! Imagine that! I love it when places get decor and food right. The Stratford location was Balzac’s first, but it is also has opened up locations in Toronto, Guelph, Kitchener, and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Collectable posters represent each location.

White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontario-5White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontario-6Bradshaws has just about every kitchen item you’d ever want. After touching just about every cool kitchen gadget, I got stuck staring into the case of Alessi items. Oh, and I also found a lot of pretty white things…

White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontario-12The Artful Badger is a well-designed men’s barbershop-beauty store shop devoted to “classic shaving goods and other affordable luxuries for the modern gentleman” (I’m obviously not as eloquent in my description as The Artful Badger website!). The store carries face care and beard care items from the UK and United States along with stylish scarves and umbrellas. This is the perfect store to visit pre- and post-Movember. This gentleman’s store is unlike anything I have seen in Kitchener-Waterloo, and I absolutely loved how all the products were neatly displayed. White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontarioi_16 White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontarioi_14 White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontarioi_13Rhéo Thompson makes an extremely delicious chocolate mint smoothie chocolate. If you’re in Stratford, you must go pick up a box of these gems! They’re unlike any chocolate I’ve had, and on my next visit to the city, I’d really like to go on one of their tours. Chocolate…who can resist?

White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontario-3After a tour of shopping, it was time for dinner. I feel very loyal to Pazzo (Taverna and Pizzeria) as I’ve always had great service and excellent meals (at both restaurants; Pazzo Taverna is upstairs, the Pizzeria is downstairs). If you go during the theatre season, I’d recommend that you make a reservation in advance. On this visit, I dined at the Pizzeria, and I was once again impressed. Service was spot-on, and my meal was delicious (mushroom toasts, margherita pizza, Pimm’s Cup, wine, espresso…all very tasty with fresh ingredients). (side note: Pazzo means crazy in Italian).

White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontarioi_15And there you have it…a bit of a tour of Stratford, Ontario! I just have one more photo to share with you before I let you go enjoy your day…

White-Cabana-Stratford-Ontario-1I spotted this white brick wall and knew it would make a good backdrop for a jump (dress and jump last seen here).

Do let me know if you go for a visit! I’d love some more recommendations for my next trip, too!

Thanks to Ann and Amy from the Stratford Festival for helping to arrange my visit.

Travel: One Fine Stay in Paris

No, no, I don’t have a trip planned to Paris (yet), but I do enjoy a good accommodation browse every so often. On my recent tour of the Internet, I landed on One Fine Stay‘s selection of vacation rentals, and my jaw dropped. I want to stay in almost every apartment! Let’s have un coup d’oeil, shall we?

TRI220-TAKE-01-244Rue de l’Arc de Triomphe

CHE435-TAKE-01-179Rue du Cherche Midi V

VCL321-TAKE-01-7077VCL321-TAKE-01-7079Rue du Vieux Colombier (2 photos above)

cafe8e1e69be9e3d963f0b42d32ba4b012ba318f 543ae85df266daf740dd001ea47feb23a566b02957c5e7d6af7613ec63538c8f9c02aecfff423559-1Passage Saint Antoine (3 photos above)

e895d9a7e569077bdf30646411ab20ecf6e05ef4Rue de la Faisanderie

3105e11c71c2bbe18f89ba1da297c9024a389b78Rue Sainte Dominique

BRD294-TAKE-01-224 BRD294-TAKE-01-269 BRD294-TAKE-01-259 BRD294-TAKE-01-254-Edit BRD294-TAKE-01-142-EditAvenue de la Bourdonnais III (5 photos above; check out those views!)

These places are pretty incredible, aren’t they? Don’t you just want to book a flight (and win the lottery)?

The Friday Five: On Sale at Elte, Toronto

Elte, one of Toronto’s finest furniture stores, is currently having a summer sale. I bought my Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams couch from Elte, and if I lived in Toronto, I’m sure I would be popping in quite often. The prices at Elte are typically high, but so is the quality of the pieces. If you’re in the market for something fabulous, you might want to check out the sale. Here are my five pics from the sale (although I’d snap up every Kartell chair if I could!).

chair-kartell-lizz-elte-saleKartell Lizz Side Chair, $206 (originally $406; also available in black)

vase-white-gold-eltegold mid glaze bud vase, $17.97 (originally $29.95)

Ojai-sconce-Elte-saleOjai sconce, $215 (originally $365)

moroccan-wedding-pouf-elte-saleMoroccan wedding pouf, $238 (originally $595)

ceramic-stool-lattice-elte-saleceramic lattice stool, $120 (originally $195)

If you’re in Toronto and you go to the sale, let me know!

Design: Two Bathrooms That Caught My Attention

As I was browsing through some of my daily and weekly reads (cue blogroll), two bathrooms caught my attention. I thought I’d share them with you in case they haven’t yet made their way to your computer/laptop/other device. Feel free to weigh in on what you like or dislike about each space.

The first bathroom was featured on Sue’s The Zhush. The bathroom (and home) was designed by Irene Lovette of Designstiles. I adore the marble in this bathroom as well as all of the fixtures. The shower is stunning, and please hop on over to see the bathtub. Just gorgeous!

While the colour palette here is simple, neutral, and white, the space is interesting because of all the patterns of the various marble pieces. This bathroom does not shy away from mixing metals either, and I think we are going to continue to see this in interiors in the years ahead.

main.original.585x0-9(photo by Sabra Lattos Photography)

I spotted the second bathroom on Jacquelyn Clarke’s Lark and Linen. It’s one room (of many) in Calvin Klein’s Miami beach house, and it is very minimalist in design. It was designed with super straight lines, one colour scheme, and only faint lines of pattern (e.g., marble on the side table). The shower luxe curtain and black curtain rod certainly got my attention.

calvin-klein-beach-house_7-480x720Zillow via Lark & Linen

Furniture: High / Low Comparisons

One of my favourite features in magazines like Style at Home is the high / low spread. Essentially, the magazine styles up two very similar versions of a room and leaves it to the reader to guess which version is expensive / affordable (before revealing the true prices on a later page). Anyway. I love this feature and I get sucked into the guessing game every. single. time.

If you love this as much as I do, go ahead and read on. I have prepared a similar high / low challenge for you.

Beds

1a.panel bed-1

1b.panel bed-2

Lights 1

2a.41098-71_4

2b.soneca-frosted-pendant-light

 

Dressers

3a.2532262-13b.white dresserBenches

4a. $_57

4b.Mongolian-fur-bench-whiteLights 2

5a. 02575003_L5b.hg147409_1So? How do you think you did? Check the prices (and see the sources) below.

Answers:

1. a. Parallel bed in walnut and leather, $5800; b. Piper wood panel bed, $1149
2. a. glass ball mini pendant, $69.98; b. Soneca frosted pendant light, $229
3. a. matching Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin white lacquer chest of drawers, $3800; b. Malm six-drawer dresser, $199
4. a. Jennifer Taylor white Mongolian fur bench, $550; b. Jonathan Adler Mongolian lamb bench, $1595
5. a. 1-light pendant fixture, $23.90; b. Greene pendant large, $595

The Friday Five: Gorgeousness at Anthropologie

Anthropologie (online and in store) always ropes me in. The store always has an eclectic and interesting mix of items for your closet and home. Here are five things that recently caught my attention.

4130275871414_011_bSila wrap dress, $29534886150_010_bCrescendo link necklace, $78

H34467332_010_blacquered regency three-drawer dresser, $149834737775_010_b

radiant alabaster floor lamp, $69834530279_010_bPeacock Alley Overture sheet set, $88-188

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Art: Beach Vibes with Minted

While I was in Florida last month, I took a bit of time in between beach walks to zhush up the dining room in my parents’ beach-front condo. Minted, one of my long-time fave destinations for art, stationary, and (now!) fabric, lent a generous hand to this project, so I’m giving the company and its designers a major shout-out here!

Here’s a before of the space:

Florida-before-dining room-2 It’s a mess, isn’t it? Beach towels are everywhere, the lamp and dried flower arrangement serve no purpose, and the buffet is serving as a sunscreen station.

I knew I wanted to get rid of the lamp and flower arrangement tout de suite and hang a large piece of art above the buffet. I was looking for something light, bright, modern, and beachy. After reviewing Minted’s website and lookbook, I landed on Anchor in Ink by Two if By Sea Studios, and I knew it would be just perfect!

MIN-UU4-GNA-007_A_APZAnchor in Ink (available in black, navy, fuchsia, and aqua)

While I would typically be drawn to the black version, for this condo, I knew that navy would be the most suitable choice (how cool is it that it comes in different colours?).

White-Cabana-art-Minted-Florida-3In addition to the art, I added some fabric (Sailboat Splash by Lindsay Megahed) to my cart. At the moment, I used the fabric as a table cloth, but my mom will soon be sewing it up into pillows for the living room. Since the living and dining room are open to one another, the future sailboat pillows will work nicely with the anchor print.

White-Cabana-art-Minted-Florida-6 White-Cabana-art-Minted-Florida-4    White-Cabana-Minted-art-Florida-7 White-Cabana-Minted-art-Florida-5This is the first time I ordered fabric from Minted, and I have to say that I’m impressed with its weight. It’s heavier than I thought it would be. It will definitely be perfect for pillows.

Many thanks to Becky L., Molly B., and Minted for supporting this project.

Design: Round Mirrors

Round mirrors are so versatile. They’re great above bathroom vanities, bedroom dressers, and foyer consoles. Perhaps these photos will inspire you to use one in your own home.

52938cbcdbfa3f634900c962._w.540_s.fit_via Apartment Therapy

decor+pad+(14)via Me and Alice

img86cKensington pivot round mirror, $249-$299, Pottery Barn

img84oShagreen round wall mirror, $995, Williams-Sonoma

iipsrvreflection round mirror, $149.99, Urban Barn

songe-mirror__0107577_PE257249_S4Songe mirror, $49.99, Ikea

ninna-white-wall-mirrorNinna white round wall mirror, $199, Crate & Barrel

Travel: Kobe Kitano Japan

Ever since my visit to Langdon Hall, I’ve been hooked on the Relais & Chateaux website. Relais & Chateaux hotels are the finest from around the world; they have some of the best restaurants, incredible service, and extremely well-appointed rooms.

One gorgeous Relais & Chateaux hotels is the Kobe Kitano Hotel in Japan. Stunning!  4-0024-0034-0044-005I’m adding it to my “must see in Japan” list. I’m also going to buy a lottery ticket.

Fashion: For the Love of Chanel

Chanel + 1stDibs = a great way to spend a few hours* online

Chanel-1stDibs-WhiteCabana-1 Chanel-1stDibs-WhiteCabana-21. Chanel Camellia diamond and gold ring, $5100, 1st Dibs
2. Chanel vintage shoulder bag with tassel, $1966, 1st Dibs
3. Chanel 90s white caviar duffle bag, $1700, 1st Dibs
4. Chanel white fluffy coat, $5500, 1st Dibs
5. Chanel Garden flap bag, $4450, 1st Dibs
6. Chanel black and white quilted tweed 2.55 fringe trim flap bag, $2200, 1st Dibs
7. Chanel barcode black and white lego boy brick bag, $16,500, 1st Dibs

I would take any of the above. I’m not picky.

*I spent so many hours browsing 1stDibs recently. Oh my goodness! Does this happen to anyone else (please say yes!).

Design: Manhattan vs. Chapel Hill House Tour

A few of my friends and loyal blog readers have been curious about my sister’s move (with her husband and four kids) to North Carolina last fall. Their Manhattan home was featured on Style Me Pretty Living a year ago (eek!), but since then, a lot has changed. They’ve been renting a home in Chapel Hill while they kept their eyes on the housing market. Since they were renting, my sister and brother-in-law didn’t make any drastic changes to the house. They did, however, change up the lighting and unpack just about all of their furnishings in order to make the house feel like a home (even if only a temporary one). I thought it would be interesting to show you how they translated their Manhattan style to their Chapel Hill home.

Living room: Manhattan

The Manhattan living room was fairly spacious, and it had to function as a very multi-purpose space (extra bedroom, play room, TV room, etc.).

53879e4d464ff$!900x Living room: Chapel Hill

In Chapel Hill, the living room is a proper living room. The kids play and watch shows in here, but the living room doesn’t have to be a multi-purpose space. My sister and brother-in-law didn’t purchase additional furniture for this large space, but they did make slight changes to their art and accessories collections.

24271178Kitchen: Manhattan

By Manhattan standards, the kitchen was large. They did a lot of cooking in here, and the kids made a lot (a lot!) of messes on these gorgeous wood floors. The kids climbed on the cabinets, opened and closed every drawer and door a thousand times each day. Thankfully, the carrara marble and the Ikea cabinets held up nicely. My sister made the art. Nice, right?

53879f55ca627$!900xKitchen: Chapel Hill

The Chapel Hill kitchen is large and bright! There’s a seat-up bar as well as an eat-in area. My sister and brother-in-law added new furniture to this room (stools, table, chairs, etc.) and installed a new pendant light.

2427118024271186Master Bedroom: Manhattan

Again, by Manhattan standards, the master bedroom was large. That’s a king size bed in there! Plus night stands! It’s pretty luxurious as far as Manhattan bedrooms go.

53879eef98afb$!900xBedroom: Chapel Hill

In Chapel Hill, my sister and brother-in-law hung the art from their Manhattan kitchen in the bedroom (the ceilings are so high!), and kept everything else the same as in their Manhattan bedroom. There is a lot more space to move around the bed in Chapel Hill!

24271205Kids’ Bedroom: Manhattan

In Manhattan, the kids’ room included many fun books and toys, and everything was so neatly organized (until the kids started taking everything out of the shelves…an every day occurrence!).

53879fb379af3$!900xKids’ Bedroom: Chapel Hill

In Chapel Hill, the kids have a lot more space in their bedroom…and they have a dedicated play room, too. As you may remember, the Land of Nod really helped my sister add some interesting pieces and decorations to personalize the room for the kids. The initial pillows are still a favourite of mine, and the kids do actually use the bench. Isn’t it cute? I think they added another crib since the Manhattan tour (who can keep track of all those kids!).

24271248Office: Manhattan

They transformed a deep walk-in closet into an office for my brother-in-law in Manhattan. While I was scared of the black walls at the beginning, I ended up really liking this small space. It looks really clean in the photo below, but, trust me, it didn’t always look this way.

5387a0362649c$!900xOffice: Chapel Hill

In Chapel Hill, my sister and brother-in-law converted the dining room into an office space, and they have been really happy with this decision. They each have a desk, and the new bookcase helps them stay organized. The mirror was originally in the Manhattan master bedroom, and the light and rug were in the Manhattan dining room.

24303508And that’s the tour for now. I think it’s really fun to draw the comparisons between the two homes. In New York, they really needed to think carefully about small space living, and in Chapel Hill, they have a bit more room to spread out. It’s so nice to sit together at the kitchen table (or on their outside deck), and I’m thrilled that there’s an actual guest room for me (and their other guests, too)!

My sister and brother-in-law will be moving again, and I have been excited to share some design advice (as if they need it) with them. The place is already beautiful, but there are going to be some really great changes ahead.

Travel: Langdon Hall in Cambridge, Ontario – Part I

I learned about Langdon Hall last summer when I Googled something like “fancy hotel Waterloo,” and it came up in the search results. I thought I had just discovered an unknown treasure, but when I began asking others about this “fancy hotel” so close to where I live, everyone already knew about it. Where had I been living that it was unknown to me? (Kingston, London, Toronto, Europe…that’s where).

DSC_0028DSC_0034Fast forward a year, and I finally took the 20 minute or so drive to Langdon Hall, and I’m so glad I did! What a beautiful place to spend a morning (or longer). Rox-Anne (from Celebrating this Life) and I drove over early Saturday morning a couple of weeks ago to meet our host, Kate, for breakfast and a tour.

DSC_0041DSC_0045 DSC_0044 DSC_0047Everything at the country breakfast buffet was beautifully presented, and looked to be absolutely fresh and delicious. Rox-Anne opted for the lobster omelette, and, because I have such a sweet tooth, I couldn’t resist the pain perdu (French toast). The smaller slices of bread were not soggy or too sweet. The topping included slivered almonds. Yum! Chef Jason Bangerter – you’ve got my thumbs up for this meal!

DSC_0048DSC_0058 DSC_0061I followed the pain perdu with a croissant (why not!?). I honestly wasn’t sure I wanted to try the croissant because I’ve been spoiled by Golden Hearth’s croissants, but I did. And it was delicious. It was more buttery than Golden Hearth’s, but it had a beautiful texture, lots of layers, and was the perfect mix of soft and crusty.

After breakfast, Kate led us on a tour (had to walk off those calories, of course), and I was absolutely blown away by the architecture, decor, and details in each and every room. The main floor rooms include beautiful millwork, coffered and paneled ceilings, rich deep colours, and warm textiles in a mix of cohesive patterns. Brass, gold, and blue & white also make their appearances in almost every room.

DSC_0067 DSC_0065 DSC_0064above: one of the dining rooms (with walk-out to the conservatory) set up for a wedding celebration

White-Cabana-Langdon Hall-9White-Cabana-Langdon Hall-10above: a bright lounge with walls of windowsWhite-Cabana-Langdon Hall-8White-Cabana-Langdon Hall-7above: Wilks’ Bar

The fireplaces in the rooms in the main house really caught my attention. They would be so pretty (and warm) in the winter. They’re giving me inspiration for my own fireplace re-do that I’m planning on tackling this summer. The smaller tile set in a brick pattern are classic.

White-Cabana-Langdon Hall-1fireplace in the pool room

White-Cabana-Langdon Hall-2fireplace in one of the guest suites

Let us take a closer look at a a couple of guest rooms, shall we?  White-Cabana-Langdon Hall-5White-Cabana-Langdon Hall-6creams, blues, and rich woods make this suite very inviting

DSC_0091such a charming space

Look at the well-planned closets (and the fluffy robes!). A fridge and coffee station are not pictured.

White-Cabana-Langdon Hall-3The bathrooms have a spa-like feel; they’re white, bright, and have lush towels.

White-Cabana-Langdon Hall-4DSC_0089Before I leave you for the day, here are few more photos from around the mansion:

A row of paneled doors in the basement bathroom:

DSC_0097

A gorgeous stairwell in the main house:DSC_0149 DSC_0151

Commemorative plates neatly lined on the paneled walls:DSC_0152

A pretty place to perch:DSC_0154

Langdon Hall thinks of everything, so guests can really relax:DSC_0155I have a bit more to share, so come back tomorrow for Langdon Hall – Part 2.

Many thanks to Kate at Langdon Hall for arranging our visit. All photos by Jordana.

Design: The Claska Hotel in Japan

If I do make it to Japan like I have been planning to, I would definitely like to check out the Claska hotel. It looks ridiculously clean and calm. The 21 rooms are designed in 5 styles: modern, tatami, contemporary, DIY, and weekly residence.

The Modern:

japanese_room503_slide1-thumb-1260x840-453japanese_room503_slide2-thumb-1260x840-454-1The Tatami:

tatami_room605_slide1-thumb-1260x840-457 tatami_room605_slide2-thumb-1260x840-458The Contemporary:

contemporary_room704_slide2-thumb-1260x840-462 contemporary_room704_slide1-thumb-1260x840-461The DIY:contemporary_room701_slide1-thumb-1260x840-493 contemporary_room701_slide2-thumb-1260x840-494The Weekly Residence:

weekly_room602_slide1-thumb-1260x840-501Images via Claska.

Real Estate: A Villa with Views in Alicante, Spain

I have recently featured some gorgeous properties in Puslinch and Toronto, but now I’m taking you all the way to Alicante, Spain to view a beautiful villa with incredible views.

Have a browse through the photos and let me know how much you think the property is listed for!

The-Cliff-House-Blueport-Altea-08-850x1133The-Cliff-House-Blueport-Altea-12-850x478 The-Cliff-House-Blueport-Altea-10-850x566 The-Cliff-House-Blueport-Altea-13-850x1133 The-Cliff-House-Blueport-Altea-11-850x478 The-Cliff-House-Blueport-Altea-09-850x477 The-Cliff-House-Blueport-Altea-10-3-850x477  The-Cliff-House-Blueport-Altea-07-850x1133The-Cliff-House-Blueport-Altea-04-850x1133 Isn’t it amazing? This house is currently on the market for 5.8 million Euros (about 7.8 million Canadian dollars).

Images via Meg van Amstel International Realty.
Read all of my real estate posts.

Design: Classic White in Chapel Hill

My sister recently sent me photos of her friend’s home in Chapel Hill. I nearly fell off of my chair when I saw them. It’s gorgeous! It is clear that the homeowners designed each and every room with thought and care. The colour combinations, the furniture pairings, and the rugs especially grabbed my attention. That said, the homeowners have kept some rooms (kitchen, laundry) very classic with the use of white. I think this was a smart move because full renovations to these spaces can be costly. While it’s relatively affordable to change furnishings and paint, kitchens are much more expensive to renovate.

Okay, enough of the chit chat. Let me show you what I’m talking about. kitchenkitchen3kitchen2laundryYou must check out the whole home. Aren’t the kids’ rooms beautiful? I’m also loving the rattan chair in the master. Such a beautifully designed home, don’t you think?

Photos by Corie.

Update: Yesterday, The New York Times published an article about Chapel Hill that may be of interest to those of you who have been to the area or who are planning to visit: 36 Hours in Chapel Hill-Carrboro, NC.

Entertaining: Outdoor Must-Haves

On the Sunday of the long weekend, I had friends over for a BBQ. After a few dish casualties, I realized that melamine dishware and serving ware exists for a reason!

Here’s a round-up of some outdoor pieces that I’m considering for my summer patio:

Outdoor-entertaining-CB2-Ikeamelamine dinnerware, swirl acrylic glasses, pendant, melamine serving bowl, stacking acrylic wine glass, melamine tray, ground stake light, acrylic bowl, chair

The Friday Five: Vaulted Ceilings

Okay…I’m a day late with this post…but hopefully the gorgeous interiors I’m featuring today will make everyone forget the fact that today’s Saturday.

I was planning on writing a post featuring stunning beach houses, but then I got distracted by vaulted ceilings and exposed beams. Check out the homes below and you’ll understand why my post plan altered.

jcs-esertsstudio-montecitoresidence-14Montecito, California, photo by Jessica Comingore

Winchelsea_023beach studio, East Sussex, UK

casa-sanchia-5Casa Sanchia, Cape Town, South Africa

dormitorio_principal_-_cama_484x519El Noque, Spain (via Inspiring Interiors)

b2lgThe Lighthouse, South Africa

Aren’t these spaces gorgeous? The high ceilings make them so breezy.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Marketplace: Draper James Makes its Debut

Reese Witherspoon’s latest venture is Draper James – an online marketplace featuring classic southern style. Browsing the site makes me want to move south, sit on a rocking chair, and sip on a mint julep. It’s a shop full of very pretty items for your closet and your home.

Here are my top picks:

For the home

GF0013_silver_2_10sterling silver magnolia bowl, $400 (USA)

DK0012_horseshoe_1_10horseshoe objet, $98

TX0006_sayings_1_4southern sayings cocktail napkin set, $85

GF0016_custom_1_12custom mint julep, $85

For the wardrobe:

LG0003_put_your_face_on_1_8canvas powder room pouch, $65 (import)

DR0002_magnoliawhite_front_98eyelet love circle dress, $285 (import)

LO0001_DJ_front_28kiawah cover up, $200 (import)

I was curious to see what items were actually made in the south (or in the USA), and I didn’t find too many. I feel as if production was in the USA, this would really be an American brand. Don’t you?

Design: Land of Nod in the Kids’ Room

My sister recently sent over some photos of the progress she has made in her kids’ room. The Land of Nod helped us personalize this bedroom for my 3 nephews and niece who currently share it down in North Carolina.

First…a couple photos of the cuties… White-Cabana-Land of Nod-Children-2 White-Cabana-Land of Nod-Children-3Now, the room:

The youngest kiddo is in a crib, the second youngest is in a toddler bed, and the older two share a bunk bed. On the window wall, you’ll see the crib and the toddler bed. White-Cabana-Land of Nod-Children-6The Bon Voyage luggage storage cases are filled with the kids’ goodies (but I’ll admit that they rarely stay neatly piled on the chair as in the photos). My sister hung the half dot rainbow garland across this wall to add some fun colour. It also ties in very well with the two pieces of art that my sister painted. White-Cabana-Land of Nod-Children-7 White-Cabana-Land of Nod-Children-8 White-Cabana-Land of Nod-Children-9

(so much colour for White Cabana!)

Each bed has a letter pillow to personalize them for the kids. In the above photos, you’ll also notice the flea market bench (the kids are also sitting on it in the photos above). We love this kid-sized bench, and the munchkins actually use it to play, read, put on socks, etc. Here I was thinking that it was going to be a just-for-show-bench! Nope – they actually use it!

My sister created (most of) the artwork in the bedroom, including the scattered colourful squares and the kids’ silhouettes. The art hung on the clipboards? Those are the kids’ masterpieces! It is their room after all!

Thanks to The Land of Nod for sponsoring this post.

Design: Alessi Gets Dressed

By now, you may know that I am a collector of Alessi. This Italian company works with designers around the world to produce collections that are classic, useful, whimsical, and statement pieces.

The Juicy Salif citrus squeezer designed by Philippe Starck is still one of my most favourite Alessi pieces. It’s such an unusual design and noone else has attempted to recreate anything quite like it. The trays and bowls are functional and friendly, and I have a few pieces hanging around on my sideboard (you can see one tray in this photo). I dare you to come to my home and resist touching my mini Anna G. corkscrew. It’s so cute! I remember buying each piece of Alessi that I own, which makes each purchase quite special.

So what’s going on with Alessi these days? Well, when I saw the newest collection by Marcel Wanders called Dressed, I was pretty excited.dressed-sugar-bowl-Alessi

Dressed sugar bowl, $121

dressed-butter-dish-alessi-marcel-wanders

Dressed butter dish, $99

dressed-egg-cup-marcel-wanders-alessi

Dressed egg cup, $66

dressed-table-set-Alessi-marcel-wanders

Dressed table set, $121

dressed-spoon-Marcel-Wanders-Alessi

Dressed spoon with soft boiled egg opener, $44

dressed-biscuit-box-Alessi-Marcel-Wanders

Dressed biscuit box, $198 (there’s a bell on the lid!)

These are just some of the pieces in the Dressed collection that I think would pair well with my existing pieces. I mean, that biscuit box with bell, how great is that?

Marketplace: Angus and Company in Elora

If you live in Toronto or you read House & Home magazine, chances are you already know about Angus and Company – a beautifully curated shop for housewares, owned and operated by designer Michael Angus. angus-and-company-logoWhen I was putzing around Elora a couple of weekends ago, I was completely surprised to stumble upon Angus & Company in its new home in Elora. How did I miss the news of its move?

The store is so well-styled, and I could easily take it all, transport it to my home, and be very happy. I was able to chat with Mike for quite some time, and he seems to be very happy about the new location of his store. I mean, it backs on to the water and faces the town square, so it seems pretty ideal to me!

Angus and Company_Elora_1 Angus and Company_Elora_2this hutch is a beautiful shade of blue and it is filled with the shiniest pieces of silver
Angus and Company_Elora_3 Angus and Company_Elora_4

Angus & Company carries a mix of new and vintage home wares, furniture, and art. This bright white store has so many pretty vignettes, and it easily draws you in. And Mike’s styling is enviable.

If you end up sitting on the couch and flipping through a book while you’re there, I’ll understand. Even though the store is certainly filled with some very luxurious blankets, antique consoles, oil paintings, and scented candles, it is casual, easy, and inviting. I just love the mix.

Thanks, Mike, for taking the time out of your day to chat with me! I wish you all the best in your new home!

Design: Real Estate Toronto

After years of watching the Toronto housing market, I shouldn’t be surprised by what I see. But, I am.

This place in Toronto has some gorgeous bright white rooms. How much do you think it is listed for?

52-Shaver-Ave-Toronto-5 52-Shaver-Ave-Toronto-3 52-Shaver-Ave-Toronto-2 52-Shaver-Ave-Toronto-1 52-Shaver-Ave-Toronto-4 52-Shaver-Ave-Toronto-652 Shaver Ave. S., Toronto

This modern rebuild in Etobicoke (near Kipling subway station) is listed for just about $1.8 million. Yes, that’s right, almost $2 million dollars. How close was your guess?

Thanks to Daniela for sending this my way.

The Friday Five: Marble Herringbone Tiles in the Bathroom

I’ve been making progress on my foyer tiles. After quite a bit of thought, I ended up with my first choice: herringbone. I’m making good progress, and so far I’m loving the look. Since I’m doing this project on my own, I’m going pretty slow. I hope the foyer will be completely finished in a week or two.

In the meantime, let’s have a look at how marble herringbone looks in these gorgeous bathrooms.

8daf9722e52b8bfef73e487e6482f306via Home Adore

marble-herringbone-bathroomvia Decor Pad

herringbone-main-picvia PDTM

54c4a1a4af989_-_01-hbx-etoile-shower-system-0914-s2via House Beautiful

bath_1via MPression

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Marketplace: Elora Antique Show

It’s not very often that I hop in my car and drive somewhere other than Toronto. This past Saturday, however, I took a 25 minute drive over to Elora. I have only been to Elora once last summer, so I was happy to make a return visit. The drive through the countryside from Waterloo is easy and enjoyable, especially when the springtime sun is shining. The reason for my trip this weekend was the Elora Antique Show. I wasn’t on the hunt for anything (besides a gorgeous French bed, which are impossible to find!), but I was interested to see what the dealers had in store.

There must have been about 50 or 60 dealers carrying things like: sparkly jewels, vintage dolls, woolen blankets, wood dressers, Pyrex, silver serving pieces, blue and white, cloisonné, quilts, books, and paper goods. There were a couple of mid-century dealers that caught my attention, and there was a gorgeous booth full of glassware. If I had an endless supply of money and space, I would have scooped up a few cake stands, pieces of milk glass, and silver bowls. There were a lot of pretty pieces!

Here are a few photos from the show:

Elora-Antiques-2 Elora-Antiques-1 Elora-Antiques-3 Elora-Antiques-4I also spotted some gorgeous cloisonné (I’m seeing more of it recently), classic teacups, and this pretty green dinnerware collection (someone help me out – what is this style called?).

The next Antique Shows Canada event will be in Orillia on Sunday, July 26th. Are you planning on going?

Uptown: Installing Marble in my Foyer

Before I tackle my bathroom renovation, I thought I would get a smaller project out of the way – my foyer. It’s a small space, and all I have to do is install some marble tiles. Yup, that’s all. This project, however, is likely going to take a few weeks. It’s funny how the seemingly small projects take an extraordinary amount of time.

My dad was kind enough to rip up the old linoleum (bye bye linoleum!). I then used my newest gadget – a handy dandy jamb saw – to trim the door jamb frame and the frame around the stairs. (Sorry, I don’t have photos of the process, and I can’t even find a photo of the exact jamb saw I bought online. It’s Dewalt brand and it was $14.99 from the Home Depot.)

We then cut and installed a new sheet of plywood. This step was essential as it provides clean base to install my tiles. Since the space is small, installing the plywood was a real pain in the arse. After a bit of cursing, some deep sighs of frustration, and lots of discussion about the best installation approach, we got the plywood in, and it’s a nice fit, too!

Now comes the fun part – tile installation. I honestly love installing tiles (tile project 1: powder room floor; tile project 2: kitchen backsplash). I think I like it because the adhesive mixing and spreading reminds me of icing a cake, and installing the tiles is like a giant puzzle.

I bought marble tiles (for a crazy good price at the ReStore last year), and I spent a bit of time in between other weekend chores dry fitting them in different patterns. Dry fitting is an important step for me on this project because I really want to be sure of the pattern and the tiles that I’m going to lay down (e.g., I’m going to avoid using the darker shades).

I started with a herringbone pattern where the lines are perpendicular to the door.

White-Cabana-marble-2Option 1: vertical/horizontal herringbone

All I could see in this pattern were the vertical and horizontal lines, and it was not making me happy.

I then tried out a classic brick pattern.

White-Cabana-marble foyer-6Option 2: Brick

I think it’s pretty, and, like several Instagram friends, the variation in each piece of marble stands out. I’m not against the brick, but it seems sort of normal and expected. This pattern would definitely limit the number of cuts and reduce tile waste.

Back to the herringbone – the horizontal/vertical lines were annoying me, so I switched the layout so that the herringbone V pattern  (or zig zag) would be perpendicular to the door. Do you see what I’m talking about?

White-Cabana-marble-3Option 3:Herringbone V along the width

This looked instantly better in my opinion, but I released the photos to Instagram and let my friends weigh in. I LOVED reading everyone’s comments! Most people still opted for one of the herringbone patterns over the brick.

A few friends (and my mom via phone call) suggested I switch the direction of the herringbone so that the V shape would run lengthwise (i.e., parallel to the door). I ran with this suggestion and end up with this:

White-Cabana-marble-5Option 4: Herringbone V along the length

Much better. I did this quickly, so I didn’t actually verify that everything was lined up, but you can still get the idea of the shift of direction. I find this easy on the eye and flattering for the space.

A few people suggested inserting a border, so I tried that too.

White-Cabana-marble-4Option 5: Herringbone with simple border

I don’t actually think the space is large enough for a border (or carpet as I like to call it), but I can see how people like this option. It sort of finishes things off. It reminds me of colouring within the lines. All the fun happens inside the boxed border. For this foyer, I feel like the carpet style would just make the area feel smaller.

Shannon (8Foot6) suggested I try a basket weave, so I did. Here’s how it looks:

White-Cabana-marble foyer-6Option 6: Basket weave

I thought I was going to hate it because the basket weave reminds me of outdoor patios, but I don’t mind it. It’s certainly tidy, and it would require very few cuts, but I’m not sure that I love it for this space.

What do you think? What’s your vote? I’d love to know!

What was that about it takes a village

To everyone who follows me on Instagram and offered input – thank you!

Marketplace: Celebrate Quebec design with Etsy

Etsy is currently celebrating Quebec design with The Etsy Design Awards: The Best of Quebec. Etsy artisans are so incredibly talented, and I’m happy to share some of my favourite pieces from Quebec designers.

il_570xN.737810674_t8mlfeather ring – Annie Lesperance, sterling silver, $32.28

il_570xN.626432891_3islscribble dress for babies and kids – Double Yellow Line, $60

il_570xN.754228481_d2zowhite handmade bowl – Looks Like White, $22

il_570xN.755179547_ny85handmade bead embroidered bracelet – Antonietta Presti, $125

I also think this pink birdhouse is sweet, this abracadabra patch is cute, these earrings are great for summer, and this lobster print makes me laugh.

If you’re interested in supporting Canadian designers and Etsy owners, check out the finalists and cast your votes!

Interiors: What Do You Love about your Bedroom?

My bedroom is white, casual, comfortable, and full of things that I love. My collections include silver trays and platters, white ceramic bowls, and some crystal, too. I like to keep my bedroom clear of clutter (as much as possible), and full of little luxurious.

White-Cabana-bedroom-8A new bed is certainly on my wish list, but my existing bed is completely decent. My duvet might be the best part of my room. It’s thick, warm, and cozy. And, yes, these pink pillows have found their way into my home. For now.

White-Cabana-bedroom-6

I recently read this article in Rue, which led me to the Parachute bedding sets.

Parachute-DuvetParachute duvet

The Venice sheet set-parachute

Parachute sheet set

cashmere throw-parachute

Parachute cashmere throw

Isn’t the cashmere throw gorgeous? I would totally put that to good use! I’d probably end up wearing it as a scarf/cape/shawl/wrap in winter months.

 

The Friday Five: White Orchid Plants

I ended last week on the blog with white tulips. This week, I’m sharing five gorgeous photos of white orchid plants. Orchids are such a great floral option because they bloom and rebloom if you take care of them. I have a couple of orchid plants at home and at work, and they’ve rebloomed numerous times. I water them weekly with a bit of water and keep them in sunny spots. When the last bloom has fallen, I trim the stem back about halfway just above a node. I’ve also cut the stem back all the way so that it’s only a few inches tall. I honestly don’t know which option is best, I don’t pay too much attention to it.

moth-orchids-x

 white orchid plants via Southern Living

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via JK Kling

droomhome_orchidee_etagere_orchid_twister_francois_hannes_wit_plant_potten

via DroomHome

americana designs 251

via Kelly McGuill

IMG_7833b_zps5064fe45

via Adalmina’s Secret

 Have a wonderful weekend!

Marketplace: Moroccan Wedding Blankets

I first posted about Moroccan wedding blankets back in 2010 (here) and then again here. They continue to hold a prominent place in people’s homes and in the design community.  At one time, they were nearly impossible to find, but now they’re available in blanket and other forms in mainstream stores like West Elm and Anthropologie, and there’s an incredible number of items available on Etsy.

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via Bohemian Life

Suburban-Faux-Pas-Moroccan Wedding Blanket

via Krystin Lee

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Moroccan wedding blanket, $1349.07

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Moroccan wedding pouf, $298, Anthropologie

moroccan-blanket-basket-West-Elm

Moroccan wedding basket, $79, West Elm

img3oMoroccan wedding hamper, $149, West Elm

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Moroccan wedding blanket pillow, $165.82

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Moroccan wedding blanket, $1004.02

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