Art

At Home: Styling my Dresser with Posterjack

How is everyone enjoying Family Day (here in Ontario) and Presidents’ Day (in the USA)? I am completely enjoying having an extra day to do, well, not a whole lot! I still have an annoying cough that is really just slowing me down. It’s very annoying.

A few weeks ago, my Posterjack order arrived, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the French photo and the white lacquer framing. It’s a beautiful piece. I placed it in several spots around my home before settling on my bedroom. I leaned it over my dresser, lived with it like that for a few days, and realized it was an ideal place to put it. I played around with some minimal styling, too. Have a look…

Style 1: set of three hourglass sand timers (the colours match perfectly)

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Style 2: vintage and new crystal

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Style 3: classic white

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Thanks to Tim F. & Posterjack for sending me this beautifully framed Parisian photo.

The Friday Five: Hearts Galore

I didn’t actually mean to have such a Valentine’s Day-focused week on the blog this week, but my posts just ended up that way. I wonder if this is when I’m supposed to realize that I should be moving towards using an editorial calendar for my blog posts? I’ve resisted using such a calendar because I have always taken more of a let-the-blog-evolve-naturally-my-life-is-already-over-scheduled approach to blogging. Anyway, I digress…this post isn’t actually about how to be a blogger. It’s about how to live with hearts! It is February, after all! So, let’s get to it, shall we?

Living with hearts…do you? will you? could you? I’d love to know if any of these spaces strike your fancy.

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Bodie and Fou via French by Design

heart-print-chalkboard-Caravan-shoppevia Caravan Shoppe

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Tutze store in the Netherlands via Jelanié

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via Vtwonen

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via The Design Chaser

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! Enjoy your weekend (it’s a long one for us in Ontario…Happy Family Day, too!).

Art: Posterjack

Some of you may already know that Posterjack is a great online resource for photo printing and for photo mounting options that go beyond basic framing (e.g., photo canvases, specialty prints like metal and acrylic). This Canadian photo printing company has certainly grown in popularity over the last seven years, and I’m especially keen on it because it was started by one of my highschool friends, Mr. Tim Faught. I love watching other people succeed!

What I recently learned is that Posterjack has quite an extensive art shop, too. As I’m always on the lookout for interesting art for my home (e.g., in my office), I was thrilled when Posterjack offered me a print of my choice. I spent way longer than I thought I would browsing through the selection. Honestly, just about any keyword search is going to reveal dozens of cool prints. Here are some of my favourites:

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Petra, Jordan by Diak

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Rorschach Test by Akova

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Ears of Wheat by Radist

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Audio Cassette Isolated on White by Hayati Kayhan

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vintage racing car detail by seewhatmitchsee

Placing an order is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3. Customers can easily select a product, select a size, and upload a personal photo or buy one from the art shop. There is plenty of information available regarding finishes, sizes, and photo quality. My order should be arriving any day now, so I’ll be sure to share with you my complete review once I’ve seen the print in person. It’s going to be a pretty one!

Many thanks to Posterjack for sponsoring this post. 

Marketplace: Kaufmann Mercantile

I recently learned about online retailer Kaufmann Mercantile and I subsequently spent more time than I’d like to admit browsing the merchandise. If I had a bigger house, more display space, and an endless supply of money, I’d place quite the order. There are just too many beautifully designed and manufactured pieces that I’d love to own – and give away, too. Here is just some of what I have in my imaginary shopping cart.

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perpetual calendar, $146.70 CAD

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Caran d’Ache ballpoint pen, $23.84 CAD (this is one of my favourite pens!)

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traditional nordic wool blanket, $145.47 CAD

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Japanese drawing pads, $24.45-$36.67 CAD

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enamelware kitchen set, $109.96 CAD

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handmade white pine doormat, $97.19 CAD

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Belgian linen & cotton napkins, $30.56 CAD

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set of hand-pressed glass bowls, $79.34 CAD

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English steel counterweight scale, $341.07 CAD

Art: Prints by Note to Self

I’m rearranging the gallery wall in my office (here’s a before photo), so I’m in the mood to browse art online (and offline, too). I recently came across Note to Self’s print shop over at Society 6, and I basically want one of each print!

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stilettos, $18

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creativity, $18

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tucked, $18

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dreams, $16

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ciao, $18

Gah…I need more walls in my house!

The Friday Five: Gallery Walls

Gallery walls continue to make a major art statement as we near the end of 2014. Do you think it’ll be an ongoing design element in 2015?

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via The Glitter Guide

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source unknown

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via SF Girl By Bay

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via Pinterest

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via Typical Domestic Babe

I am continuing to add to the gallery wall in my office, and I love that that each image reminds me of a trip or special moment.

Photography: Black & White Continued

After I featured these black and white photographs, my friend Kathlyn sent me over these photos of one of the bathrooms in her new home.

ferris-wheel-photography-Paris-2 ferris-wheel-photography-Paris-1Gorgeous, right? The wallpaper is so dramatic, and I love the black-framed mirror. What’s even more special about this space (for me, anyway) is that the black and white photos of the ferris wheel are mine. I took them years ago in Paris and Kathlyn blew them up and framed them. I had completely forgotten about the photographs, so to see them now in a new space is awesome.

 

The Friday Five: #HappiMess with Delta Faucet Canada

My life this fall has been slightly chaotic. Sometimes I do wonder why I decide to take on so much work and extracurricular and blogging activities. Why, oh why, do I do this to myself? Then I realize that I have so much fun doing what it is that I do that I have no reason to complain about my sometimes-overly-packed days. A couple of weeks ago, for example, I headed to Toronto to join the very colourful Tiffany Pratt and about 20 other bloggers and influencers to create a #HappiMess sponsored by Delta Faucet Canada. Here’s my recap in five points…

1. Delta Faucet Canada welcomed us into a very white event space at Andrew Richard Designs. The long white table was all set with artsy materials.

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2. Tiffany encouraged us to create and paint and sparkle up a unique clutch. I was totally frozen when I saw the palette of colourful paints. Luckily, the Tiffany and the PR crew had a spare tube of black paint, and I put it to very good use. I definitely felt more at ease once the black paint made an appearance! (Thanks, team!)

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That’s my clutch! (It sparkles more in real life!)

4. We mingled and laughed and played with paint. And then washed our hands…obviously. Here I am washing up (and pretending to be a hand model):

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 great faucet, right?

3. We nibbled on delicious eats by the Food Dudes and talked about Delta’s collection.

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5. In addition to the painting, the clutches, the food, the drinks, and the Skittles, we filled our Instagram and Twitter feeds with photos of lovely flowers from Blush and Bloom.

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It was a very fun evening, and completely different from my day-to-day university life. Kudos to Tiffany and Delta for bringing out our creative sides (and for showing us how magical sparkles can be!).

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! Do let me know if you make a #HappiMess over the next couple of days!

Photo credit: Koko Photography

Giveaway: Caviar20 + Glenn Dixon Home by KORHANI Home

Well, have I got a treat for you this Monday morning! I’ve teamed up with Caviar20 and Korhani to giveaway a beautiful area rug designed by Canadian design star Glenn Dixon. Excited? So am I! Happy Monday, dear readers!

If you had a chance to stop by Art Toronto this weekend, you may have noticed Dixon’s Korhani rugs in the VIP Lounge designed by Troy Seidman of Caviar20. If not, here’s a quick peek:

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Quite a piece of art, isn’t it? The 8×12 rug would look equally interesting in a bedroom, living room, or dining room. Don’t you agree? Dixon’s Korhani rugs will officially launch in 2015.

Since I worked with Troy from Caviar20 to arrange this post, I just had to think about what pieces I would pick from Caviar20 to pair with the rug. Here are my top choices:

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Robert Sonneman “Aluminum Spot” pair of lamps, $750

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Es Keramik “Zebra Planters”, $175

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Karl and Rose white decanter duo, $475

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Tahir Mahmood “Sarod” table lamp, $495

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Andy Warhol hand coloured flowers screen print 1974, $12,000

Oh, so divine!

Giveaway details:

1. To enter, leave a comment letting me know what piece from Caviar20 you think would look perfect with the white marble rug.

2. For an extra entry, tweet about this giveaway (e.g., I just entered a @KorhaniHome + @Caviar20 giveaway on @WhiteCabana).

3. Giveaway ends Friday, October 31, 2014. Good luck!

Note: Winner will be required to pick up the rug from Caviar20‘s Toronto location. If the winner cannot pick up the rug in Toronto, we can arrange to have the rug shipped at winner’s expense.

Get going, enter now!

Many thanks to Caviar20 and Glenn Dixon Home by KORHANI Home for sponsoring this giveaway.

Art: Black & White

I currently have two large canvases leaning against my office wall waiting for me to paint. My parents commissioned me. (Can I pretend it’s a real art gig?). While I’m not quite ready to paint them (lack of free time as of late), I am ready to share some of the interesting pieces art I’ve been eyeing lately.

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Jenny Andrews Anderson – Moontower, $625, via Citizen Atelier

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Jenny Andrews Anderson – Pearlseed, $625, via Citizen Atelier

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Robert Mapplethorpe – Bike Couriers, $4500, via Caviar20

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Jenny Holzer – Top Secret, $3500, via Caviar20

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Joseph Albers – I-S VV 1, $4000, via Caviar20

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Berenice Abbott – Sumner Healy Antique Shop, New York, 1936, via 1stDibs

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Keith Carter – Boy with Bee, $1600, via 1st Dibs

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Mario de Biasi – Trattoria Le Pergola, Milano, $2000, via 1stDibs

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Life – Natural Curiosities, $1988, via Domino

There’s more black than white in most of these pieces, and I love how different they are from one another. The “top secret” piece is so amusing (to me, anyway).

Marketplace: Skoope Home Paper Goods

So, is that it? Summer is officially over now that Labor Day has come and gone? Say it ain’t so!

How’d you spend the long weekend? Do tell. I slept, cleaned, worked, hopped around the city, brunched, hammocked*, read, BBQed, socialized, and finally turned on my air conditioning (finally). I also spent a decent amount of time browsing the web and Instagram. On one of my Instagram travels, I came across this card that made me smile:

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Moneyless, $4.50

Like any good blogger, I followed the link back to its owner, Skoope Home. Oh, jeez, the extended card collection has some real gems. Here are some of my favourites:

SISTER

Sisterly Love, $4.50

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Missed It, $4.50

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I Texted You, $4.50

I love it when conversations are taken offline and put into snail mail.

* lounging in the hammock for an extended period of time

Design: Dalmatian Dots

No, I’m not getting a dog. But I do think dalmatians are beautiful, and I love how dalmatian dots inspire art and interior design.

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via Houzz

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Dalmation stapler, $24, Anthropologie

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via Pinterest

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dalmation photograph, $27, Etsy

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Naomi Campbell, photo by Peter Lindbergh for Vogue US 1990; source

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dalmatian tote, $225, Milly

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via Twirling Clare

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Dalmation print, $7, Chapters-Indigo

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via Inside Out Design

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via The Design Files

DIY: How to Make an Inkblot Gallery Wall

My big bathroom was a disaster when I moved in to my house last year, but I knew I couldn’t spend a whole lot of money on a full bathroom reno. Instead, I opted to make minor, but high-impact changes, to the space. I ripped off the silvery wallpaper (ugh!), painted out the wood trim on the 80s vanity, installed a new countertop and over-mount sink, and replaced the faucet, mirror, and lighting. I also cleaned the heck out of everything. The renos definitely improved the space, but the grey/cream linoleum flooring and the grey tub and tile surround were distracting. Rather than trying to change these things, I decided to create a high-impact gallery wall to divert people’s (and my) attention. I think it’s working, too!

I’ve been slowly filling in my Rorschach-inspired gallery wall as I come across frames of different sizes in thrift stores, yard sales, and stores. When I’m out and about, I try to find frames that might fit an empty space on the wall. When I have a few frames, I start painting the inkblots. And then I hang them where I feel they might look best (I only created one extra mistake hole so far…yay). I can be quite impatient so I didn’t wait until I had all the frames/art to start hanging them up. I constantly add to the wall. Here’s what it looks like now:

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The upper left corner still needs to be filled in. Other than that, the wall is just about done.

Making inkblot art is super easy. Here’s my step-by-step process:

1. Find a frame (I only use black frames or borderless frame).
2. Cut a piece of white paper to fit inside of the frame. (I tend to use bristol board because it’s strong and thick and the paint won’t seep through.)
3. Fold paper in half.
4. Plop/drip/spread gobs of black paint on one half of the paper (I use artist’s acrylic paint, but craft paint from a dollar store also works fine).
5. Refold the paper in half.
6. Rub your hand over the folded paper. Smoosh the paint around through the paper.
7. Unfold the paper. (I love this step!)
8. Surprise! What do you see? (This is the best part!)
9. Let the paint dry.
10. Frame your art.

What do you think? Do your eyes – or your brain – hurt from staring at the wall too long? What do you see in the inkblots on my wall?

Art: I’m a Ceramics Designer

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).

white-cabana-ceramics-inspirations-studio-2 white-cabana-ceramics-inspirations-studio-3 white-cabana-ceramics-inspirations-studio-1 I hope to eventually share more stories from the artisans at Inspirations Studio-4

 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!).

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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.

Art: Citizen Atelier

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

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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.

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

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

Amy Friend‘s pieces are delightfully sparkly.

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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!

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

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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?

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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).

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art by Antonio Mora

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art by Ashley Woodson Bailey

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art by Michael Wou

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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. 

Design: Manhattan Home on Style Me Pretty Living

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).

Corie-NYC-apartment-Caroline Frost photo Corie-NYC-2-apartment-Caroline Frost photo Corie-NYC-condo-Caroline-Frost-photographyCorie-SMP-Caroline Frost

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

Design: Art in the Bathroom

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.

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Manhattan bathroom

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

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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.

Fashion: Sophia Costa’s Scarf Menagerie

Why let the French have all the fun? They’re known for making scarves look effortlessly chic and have taught the rest of us quite a bit about how to tie one on. From about September to May, you can usually find me wearing a scarf – light pashmina in the fall, thick cashmere in the winter, soft silk in the spring. I recently learned about the Sophia Costas collection of scarves and I love that they are available in various fabrics (lightweight rayon or heavier wool, for example). More importantly, the Sophia Costas scarves are all handcrafted in fair-trade work environments (in Nepal, for example) that aim to preserve traditional artisan practices.

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Sophia Costas – modal sheep scarf, $29

elephant-scarf-Sophia-CostasSophia Costas – rayon elephant scarf, $39

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Sophia Costas – lightweight wool elephant scarf, $59

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 Sophia Costas – wool penguin scarf, $129

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Sophia Costas – wool llama scarf, $129

These and a full selection of colourful scarves are available online at Berglund and Flying A NYC.

Thanks to Flying A NYC for sponsoring this post. Thanks also to Xena & Liz.

Art: The Diver

I spotted a version of the photograph below on One King’s Lane a while back. Although I was too late for the sale, I keep coming back to stare at the image. It’s thrilling, calm, fun, and scary all at the same time. What do you think?

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Diver II

I hope everyone is having a great week. I’ll be sharing photos from NYC as soon as I finish uploading them! I did post a few on Instagram, if you’d like to have a look. I hadn’t been to Grand Central Station in a few years, so I went a little photo crazy in there. Such a gorgeous (and very busy) place!

 

Travel: Fabergé Presents The Big Egg Hunt New York

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.

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B by Emma Clegg (current bid: $8000)

Shantell Martin-egg

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

Zaha Hadid-egg

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

Debbie Millman-egg

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

Marc Quinn-egg

Untitled by Marc Quinn (current bid: $16000)

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

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Dollop by Katherine Kokoska (current bid: $500)

David Ling-egg

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

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

Rachel Hovanian-egg

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

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Untitled by Suydam Lansing (current bid:$1150)

See all the eggs here.

Thanks for telling me about this event, Mom!

Celebration: Rabbits

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.

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

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

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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-Easter

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

Marketplace: Shopping at Etsy

Like many of you (I’m sure), I think one of the coolest online shopping sites is Etsy. It has grown incredibly over the last decade and it’s definitely one of my go-to spots if I’m looking for something really unique – vintage or handmade. We are now seeing some Etsy sellers moving offline and into stores like Chapters-Indigo and West Elm, and I have no doubt that these types of collaborations are going to continue.

Etsy is also a company that supports – and wants to work with – bloggers. One of the ways that it works with bloggers is through its affiliate program. I’ve known about the program for quite some time, but I only recently (um, this past weekend), pulled up my blogger socks and got my Etsy act together. This is why you now see the Etsy ad on my sidebar (well, would ya look at that!), and you’ll see me featuring Etsy items every now and again on the blog. Heck, I regularly featured Etsy in my posts sans the affiliate program, so you’re likely not going to even notice a difference in my posts. I just thought I’d let you know that I’m now embracing my Etsy affiliate membership.

So, let’s get to some cool Etsy sellers and products, shall we? Here are my latest faves in the categories of design, art, and fashion…

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Polaroid camera, $35, Old Vintage Goodies

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crystal white hexagon stud earrings, $15, Vivid by Esther

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original geometric painting, $100, Nathaniel Gibson

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geometric circle print, $12, Sweet Peony Press

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fine art print – seagull, $35, Jorey Hurley

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 piano garland, $15, Elisabeth Nicole

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organic cotton pillows, $36 each, Little Korboose
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Converse illustration – print, $20, Kendyll Hillegas

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cheers acrylic tray, $55, Khristian A. Howell

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Charles Eames for Herman Miller chairs, $505.21, Frankfurt Minimal  

If you’re a Canadian blogger, and you’re interested in becoming part of the Etsy affiliate program, click here, and be sure to read Jen’s post and Melissa’s post about the program.

Marketplace: Hunter’s Alley

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.

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

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

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

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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?

Celebration: Happy 5th Birthday Duke!

My oldest nephew is 5 today! He loves tornadoes, books, forts, printing words, and Nutella. His most recent love, just like almost every other kid out there, is the Disney movie Frozen. Here’s the whole Frozen gang – Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and Kristoff.

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Frozen colouring page 

Happy Birthday, Duke!

p.s. For those readers who are looking for a Frozen art project – have a look at Jen’s Frozen peg dolls.
p.p.s. Is it odd that I know the names of the characters, considering that I’ve never seen the movie/commercials/ads, and I don’t have kids. Is this normal?

Fashion: It’s Mayhem Time

Little Mayhem‘s popularity is rising.  The dresses she creates with her mom are pretty darn cute, but this one is my favourite look.

fashion-by-mayhemFashion by Mayhem

Apparently, the day Mayhem and her mom created this ensemble, she requested “All white today. And a fabulous headpiece too.”  She just rocks that headpiece, doesn’t she?

Marketplace: Cuckoo Clocks

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.

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Black Forest pendulum clock by Trenkle Uhren, $48 USD

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carved cuckoo clock by Anton Schneider, $227 USD

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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.

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modern cuckoo clock by Rombach & Haas, $447 USD

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modern cuckoo clock by Rombach & Haas, $604 USD

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modern cuckoo clock by Rombach & Haas, $873 USD

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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.

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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.

 

Design: Elephants in Rooms

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?

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

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elephant walking print, art.com

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via Lonny

elephant table - one kings lane

via Pinterest

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elephant teapot, $20, Urban Outfitters

elephant-pillowcase-urban outfitterseastern elephant pillowcases, $34, Urban Outfitters

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Annada Hypes elephant print – Quiet Places, Minted

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via Pinterest

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papier mache elephant, $99, West Elm

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via Pinterest

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

The Friday Five: Uptown Update

So, it’s been a while since I’ve shared an update from my home uptown. You would think that because I have completely hibernated this winter, I should have been able to tackle a lot indoor projects, but with the evening darkness and my general laziness, I really didn’t get that much done. Plus, I am dealing with the most ridiculous kitchen cabinet maker (more on that one day soon), which has stalled much of the work that I needed to get done in the kitchen. Nonetheless, I have made some progress and here are a five updates:

1. Kitchen: The last time you saw the kitchen, it looked like this. Since then, one of the new cabinets was installed, and my dad installed my over-the-range microwave. This made a huge difference in the kitchen as it freed up a whole counter section and really makes things feel lighter.

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2. Kitchen: Since I took the above photo, I finished installing the backsplash (thanks to Tia and Jeff for cutting the tricky ones for me), but I still need to grout it (hopefully after work today).

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3. Big Bath: I have shared a small peek of my big bath and a couple of before photos here. A lot has changed in the big bath. In addition to the tearing off of wallpaper, new paint on walls and ceiling, and new towel bars, I now have a modern rectangular sink on top of a new laminate counter and updated vanity doors (thanks to the power of paint!). I wanted to keep the current reno cost down just in case I want to plan a bigger reno down the road (ideas, ideas!). I’m still looking around for lighting options and I have to hang up the mirror. It’s by no means a beautiful room (yet), but it’s a big improvement from day 1.

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4. Big Bath: It has taken me quite a while to figure out what kind of art to put in the bathroom. At first, I thought I wanted something huge and loud. But then I couldn’t find anything that I liked, and I wasn’t sure I had time to paint something myself. As I unpacked my old gallery wall, I thought I could put it up in the big bath. But when I laid it all out, I felt it was too colourful. Then I leaned my DIY Rorschach-like art against the walls and I kind of liked it. Left it there for a few days to see if my thoughts would change. They didn’t. I painted up some more Rorschach-types, framed in frames that I already owned, and then hung them up on the bathtub wall. I’m really really liking the black & white art wall and I’ll continue to add to the grouping.

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5. Dining room: I hung up my white doily art on one of the dining room walls. I lined up the bottoms as I had done in my last apartment, but I just read somewhere that art should be lined up from the top. Have I made the biggest faux-pas ever?

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Bonus:

6. Entryway: I used Capture to give the carpet in my entry a refresh. It worked! Here’s the before (top) and after (bottom).

White-Cabana-Uptown-reno-4So, that’s a quick update from Uptown to end the week. My to do list is look pretty great – even though I keep adding to it. Here’s where I stand (see original to do list):

– change all the door locks to these Schlage locks
– remove wallpaper in all three bathrooms – one left!
– choose a paint colour
– paint the whole house white (the walls are currently brown, beige, burgundy, pink, and green)
– plant hostas
– install a new vanity in the powder room and upstairs bathroom & install these gorgeous Delta faucets
– install a screen door off the kitchen so that I can open the door to the deck without letting in all the bugs
– buy a Ficus plant
– break the big wall down that exists between the living room and dining room
– break the small wall down that exists in my kitchen
– patch up the walls after so much destruction
change all the light fixtures (I started with this one)
– buy a new couch (looking at these ones)
install new kitchen countertops
– install a shower in the basement bathroom
– buy tiles for backsplash & install backsplash

Here are some of the new additions:
– paint touch-ups (all over)
-office organization
-office art wall
-install fire smoke alarms (again)
-plan patio

I LOVE seeing so many things crossed off the list! Yay for progress. This spring I’m looking forward to (learning how to and) installing a stone floor on my small back patio and watching my hostas grow.

Have a great Friday & happy weekend, everyone!

The Uptown series documents my experiences as a new homeowner. Fun times ahead!

Design: Mirrors in the Princess Margaret Home Lottery Showhome

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…

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white, black, and gold in the dining room

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unframed mirror in an ensuite bath

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framed mirror back in the kitchen’s desk area

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

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roman numeral framed mirror in the stairwell

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sleek rectangle mirror & small grey tiles in the teen retreat

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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

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.

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first floor hallway

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details in the dining room – moulding & art

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main floor family room – beside the kitchen

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open concept kitchen

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white bathroom ensuite – 2nd floor

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the elevator (yes, an elevator!)

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substantial doors throughout the home

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high ceilings & crown moulding

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

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

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

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

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beautiful view from the lanai

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hakwood floors & oversized armchairs in the library

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winged art sculptures

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one of the 2nd floor bedrooms with ensuite

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

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his & her toilet rooms in the master bathroom

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door & floor details

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the runway room

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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.

Marketplace: Merci in Paris

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).

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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

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.

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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!

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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.

Pont Neuf-Paris-White-CabanaAnd there you have it – another Paris update. See more here.

Fashion: Cartier Exhibit in Paris

I was pretty thrilled when I learned that there was a Cartier exhibit at the Grand Palais in Paris during my stay. I arrived on Saturday and the last day of the show was Sunday. Naturally, after dropping off our luggage at our apartment, my friends and I walked over (through the Louvre, tuileries, Concorde, etc.) to the Grand Palais. I had never been to there before this visit. I could have stared at the architectural details of the building for hours, but I had diamonds to see so we headed directly into the show.

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The diamonds, and the rest of the Cartier collection (books, designs, templates, forms, clothing, paintings) was unbelievably beautiful. The diamonds sparkled brilliantly (well, that’s pretty obvious for a diamond that is 40 carats, right?). The collection included diamonds worn by Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, and Queen Elizabeth, among others. The show took us through the historical journey of Cartier, including the sources of design inspiration for Louis-Francois Cartier all those years ago. By the end of the show, I became pretty good at picking out the Tutti Frutti pieces – they’re too colourful for my taste, but oh so gorgeous to look at. Heck, I wouldn’t say no to Cartier. Who are we kidding?

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Unfortunately, the exhibit was very crowded on the Saturday afternoon that we were there, and it wasn’t a very enjoyable show to attend. The jewelry cases were quite close together and people did not flow easily around the small(ish) space. It’s too bad, actually, that it wasn’t more pleasant to wander around the exhibit. I know I missed a lot of up-close views of many important pieces. Perhaps I was also just a tad tired from the trip over (and I’m too impatient to deal with crowds).

Nevertheless, it was pretty cool to be in a room with so much sparkle!

Thanks to the Grand Palais for supplying my show ticket.

Design: Blog Headers 14

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?

golden-diamonds-blog-header

The Golden Diamonds (fashion)

b5

Brunch Blog (design)

de-lune

De Lune (fashion)

tumblr_static_header_jafb3-1

Just Another Fashion Blog (fashion)

logo-header-new-new

Jou Jou Villeroy (fashion)

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

Design: Lalique

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-Lalique

2 flowers perfume bottle, $395

Lalique-daisies-pintray

daisies pintray, $250

Kazak-paperweight-Lalique

Kazak paperweight, $165

grapes-panel-Lalique

grapes panel, $210

100-points-decanter-Lalique

100 Points decanter, $990

On the (really) high end of Lalique:

spiral-bowl-Lalique

spiral bowl, $5.9K

reverie-bookends-Lalique

reverie bookends, $5.8K

Lalique-Equus-vase

Equus vase, $26K

Lalique-bucephale-horse

Bucéphale horse, $48.7K horse-head-Lalique

 

Horse’s head, $48K

Raisins-bed-cover-Lalique

Raisins bedcover, $15K

masque-de-femme-sofa-Lalique

Masque de Femme sofa, $44K

champs-elysees-chandelier-lalique

Champs Elysée chandelier, $57K

oak-roundtable-Lalique

Oak roundtable, $149.5K

cactus-double-table-Laliquecactus 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!

Art: Paper Croissant by Justina Yang

It’s easy enough to find recipes for croissants online, but “how-to” videos like the one below by Vancouver-based artist Justina Yang of Fiber Lab are extremely rare and a big treat for the viewer. Can you believe that Justina’s medium of choice is paper?

Paper!!!

I came across it last night after reading Grace’s feature of Justina’s Valentine’s Day video on Design*Sponge. Oh man – I’m so blown away by this girl’s talent! She combines her math and art skills so beautifully. I’m extra excited to feature Justina here because she’s a graduate of the University of Waterloo (an institution right here in Waterloo! You know, the one where Chris Hadfield will teach).

Learn more about Justina and Fiber Lab.

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