Canadian

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!

Real Estate: Multi-Million Dollar Canadian Homes

The latest issue of Toronto Life published another article about Toronto’s crazy real estate game. This time, the article was focused on a section of Forest Hill where home owners/developers/architects are basically one-upping neighbours/competitors and building monstrosities that may or may not fit in with the Forest Hill aesthetic (I guess it depends on who’s judging). The article honestly made me laugh out loud. Toronto real estate is ridiculous, and it blows my mind that a $3.25 million house comes with only 1 garage (for example). It also seems unbelievable that $1.5 million houses are torn down for new builds. Or, even when they’re not torn down, they require unbelievable amounts of money to bring them up-to-date.

The article – and my ongoing fascination with real estate – pushed me to browse the Toronto real estate listings. Here are some of the pricey properties that caught my attention.

500 Wellingston-Toronto 500 Wellingston-Toronto-2

500 Wellington St. PH1001, Toronto, $7.9 million

88 Davenport-Toronto-1 88 Davenport-Toronto-4 88 Davenport-Toronto-3 88 Davenport-Toronto-2 88 Davenport-Toronto-5

88 Davenport Rd. #2401, Toronto, $8.988 million

Glen Rd Toronto -4 Glen Rd Toronto -2 Glen Rd Toronto -5 Glen Rd Toronto -3 Glen Rd Toronto -1

100 Glen Rd., Toronto, $9.5 million

50 Yorkville-Toronto-3 50 Yorkville-Toronto-5 50 Yorkville-Toronto-1 50 Yorkville-Toronto-2 50 Yorkville-Toronto-4 50 Yorkville-Toronto-6

50 Yorkville Ave., Toronto SP 1, $11.9 million

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50 Yorkville Ave., Toronto #2402, $12.995 million

118 Yorkville-901-5 118 Yorkville-901-3 118 Yorkville-901-2 118 Yorkville-901-1

118 Yorkville Ave., Toronto, PH901, $18.9 million

I also expanded my search to all of Canada to see what $10+ million dollar properties looked like elsewhere. Here’s a sample:

650 lowry Lane-N Vancouver-1 650 lowry Lane-N Vancouver-2

650 Lowry Ln., North Vancouver, $10,988,800

2156 marine Drive - Vancouver-1 2156 marine Drive - Vancouver-2 2156 marine Drive - Vancouver-3 2156 marine Drive - Vancouver-4

2156 SW Marine Dr., Vancouver, $11.9 million

13283 56th ave-surrey-5 13283 56th ave-surrey-6 13283 56th ave-surrey-7 13283 56th ave-surrey-3 13283 56th ave-surrey-1 13283 56th ave-surrey-2 13283 56th ave-surrey-4

13283 56th Ave., Surrey, $12.888 million

1116 Highland place West Vancouver 3 1116 Highland place West Vancouver 2 1116 Highland place West Vancouver 1

1116 Highland Place, West Vancouver, $19.7 million

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Magog, Quebec, $25 million (click the link – it’s basically a castle)

And, now, for something a little closer to home…this gem in Kitchener, Ontario is full of white, and it seems like a major deal at only $2.5 million!

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12 Westgate Walk, Kitchener, $2.5 million

What was that about “if I had a million dollars”? Seems like it can’t buy a whole heck of a lot in Toronto (besides Kraft Dinner, naturally).

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.

Travel: Some Things to Do and See in Kingston, Ontario

Yesterday, I reviewed the Four Points by Sheraton in Kingston, Ontario. Today, I’m sharing some of the photos I took of places and spaces around the city.

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lakeside sculpture

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brrr…just a tad chilly!

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the beautiful half-frozen lake

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impressive entrance at City Hall

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limestone walls at City Hall

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a gorgeous vintage set of drawers

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the Grand Theatre

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pretty architectural details

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stone laneway

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a meal at Pan Chancho is a must

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drinks at the Red House

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chalkboard art at Tango Nuevo

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classic Italian food at Olivea

White-Cabana-Kingston-16the market square skating rink and City Hall

Travel: Review of the Four Points by Sheraton – Kingston, Ontario

A couple of weekends ago, I drove myself over to one of my most favourite places in Ontario – Kingston. I love this little town. The downtown is quaint, it’s easy to navigate, and the lakefront location is pretty darn perfect. I hadn’t been to Kingston for over a year, so I was very eager to plan a little getaway.

I booked myself into the Four Points by Sheraton Kingston because it’s centrally located – just a block away (barely even a full block) from the market square and city hall. It’s a block up from the lake and tourism office in another direction, and it’s a couple of blocks away from the park in yet another direction. The location is ideal for a city visit!

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The rooms are very well-appointed; plenty of towels, a bathrobe, a fridge, and a microwave certainly come in handy, even for just an overnight stay. My king-size bed was ridiculously comfortable (I am now looking into the possibility of ordering a Sheraton mattress! Thanks for the advice, Rox-Anne!) and I very much loved the view of the lake (even though it was icy and snowy).

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king size bed – I want one!

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super white bathrooms make me happy

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sitting area (or place to dump my clothes) with a view of the lake

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I brewed some tea.

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I watched some TV.

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I wore the robe.

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I did not make the bed. 🙂

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some handy guides

The only thing I didn’t enjoy about my stay was the cappuccino I had from the hotel restaurant (King Street Sizzle). It just did not suit my tastebuds. Then again, I am sort of particular about coffee.

If anyone is heading to Kingston, I would definitely recommend booking a room in the Four Points by Sheraton. If you would like my advice about some things to do in the city, come back tomorrow as I’ll be sharing my weekend recap.

Although I did in fact book a room at the Four Points by Sheraton Kingston, the hotel surprised me with a complimentary stay. Thanks to Erin and her team for making my experience at the Four Points extra special!

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

vintage-racing-car-PosterJack

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. 

20 Below: Heart Pouch

I am so impressed by Indigo’s latest home and style collections. When I was in the store last week, I was thinking about how the store’s approach to its lifestyle collection has changed over the years. Stores slowly made room for some carefully curated items for the home, and now the home/style/beauty/jewelry section (in my home store, at least) seems to expand with each new season. At the moment, there are so many black and white products under $20. Case in point – this sweet heart pouch:

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lace heart pouch, $16, Chapters-Indigo

Christmas: White Trees

We all know that I’m addicted to white. Yes, it’s true. When it comes to Christmas, however, I can’t resist adding green and red to the mix. I know, I know, it’s shocking. I love having a real live green tree (mine is from Ikea, and it smells so good!), and my colourful decorations remind me of the places I’ve travelled. That being said, when I saw this white tree at Rona last weekend, I wondered if I should give a white artificial tree a try one year.

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I probably would end up just putting lights on it and calling it a day. Maybe I’ll wait for it to go on super sale, and then try it out next year.

I thought these Christmas decorations were also pretty cute:

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Interview: Deborah and David from Green Light District

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Deborah and David Peets, owners of Toronto’s Green Light District. The shop carries beautiful furniture and accessories from around the world, and it holds a prominent place in Toronto’s Roncesvalles area (Roncy, for short).

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Loves Me, Loves Me Not

Read on to learn about more about this duo’s approach to curation.

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J: How did Green Light District come to be?

D & D: We restored a 160 year old country inn and ran it for a dozen years.  When we sold it all the furnishings went with the sale which left us with a completely empty condo to fill. We saw a need for something different and thought why not fill that need!

Where did the name Green Light District come from?

Our neighbourhood in Ottawa had formerly been a red light district but it was changing quickly and we were part of that change so we thought let’s be forward thinking (green=go) as well as referring to the home furnishings we were offering.

I believe the original Green Light District was in Ottawa, yes? Why did you make the move to Toronto?

We originally were from Toronto but had been away for 20 years in the Rideau Lakes & Ottawa but wanted to come home to be closer to family. A larger audience to sell to certainly helped make that decision!

Describe Green Light District in 140 characters or less (hashtags are accepted).

Personally sourced home furnishings; unique designs that are functional & timeless with a significant hand made component #warmcontemporary

What is your favourite piece currently in the shop?

Oh that’s easy! We just got in a hand stitched saddle leather Acapulco chair with a solid iron frame. It’s incredibly comfortable and you know it’s just going to get better with age.

How often do you travel to source products?

We’re big travellers so while sourcing is hard work it’s always thrilling going to Buenos Aires, or Paris or Cape Town …. We travel somewhere every year or two, sometimes multiple trips.

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hand-stitched leather and oak bench

What is your favourite travel destination?

South Africa has a special place in our hearts. We first visited over 20 years ago and were blown away by their unique sense of style back then! The landscape, the people, food & wine but most of all their designs – so sophisticated, yet cool with just a whiff of Africa.

What is the best part of your job?

Sourcing in person of course. We knew it was important to get to know our suppliers; to see how and where their furniture & accessories are made. Every piece has a story to tell – then we found out how important it was for our customers too – to feel that personal connection as well – through us.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

Finding well made, hand crafted furniture & accessories that people will love at an affordable price – the search is never ending.

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large open bowls

I know you actively engage with Twitter – this is, in fact, how we first met – and so I’m wondering if you have any social media advice for other small business owners. How has social media impacted your business?

There isn’t a better way than social media to get your name and business out there! I’d have to say firstly be true to yourself, be consistent in the amount you tweet or Instagram or blog, engage regularly with others on topics other than your business that interest you. Be helpful. Remember that is how we connected? Two women obsessing over fiddle leaf ficus and other indoor plants. Imagine – we connected via plants which led us to our love of design!

I am having so much fun with social media I’ve decided to take it to more of a personal level by visiting someone once a month in the city that I’ve connected with. It’s the reason we’re all on board right – to help promote each other!

***

Thanks so much for sharing a part of your story, Deborah and David!

Readers, browse Green Light District and find Deborah and David on Twitter and Instagram.

Design: The Princess Margaret Oakville Showhome Designed by Brian Gluckstein

Brian Gluckstein. Damn, he’s good.

This past weekend, Brian Gluckstein and the Princess Margaret Welcome Home Sweepstakes invited a group of bloggers to attend Brunch with Brian at this year’s Oakville Showhome. Our private event included an detailed tour led by Brian, delicious food by Chef Logan, drinks from Pluck Teas and Rosewood Wine, and an amusing Q & A session with the man of the hour.

So, let’s go on a photo tour, shall we?

The foyer and grand staircase in the Oakville showhome is beautiful. It reminds me of entrances I’ve seen in France. I love the iron railing and the massive windows. The light in this foyer – and throughout the house – is enviable.

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front foyer with grand staircase and herringbone porcelain tiles

Just off the foyer is one of my favourite spots in the house (but too dark for White Cabana). Believe it or not, the all-black powder room really caught my attention. Luckily, the dark powder room has natural light coming through, which makes it more moody than dreary. The tile work also reminded me of European homes. (Sorry, I don’t have any photos to post. You’ll have to go to the showhome to see what I’m talking about!)

Just to the left of the foyer is the grand living room. The see-through fireplace that connects the front foyer to the living room is a beautiful addition. It was manufactured in and shipped over from Portugal. Classic shades of cream made this space bright and classy, and the floor-to-ceiling windows are impressive.

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white mantle in the front living room

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the see-through mantle in the front foyer

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bright and white in the living room

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the living room and dining room viewed from the staircase

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Q & A session with Brian Gluckstein

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How many pot lights around the perimeter?

Everyone and their sister is talking about the indoor tree in this showhome. Yes, an actual tree…planted in the ground! I was fascinated by Brian’s explanation about the amount of thought went into this tree; flooring, ventilation, etc. were all considered when Brian designed this room around the tree. I’m such a sucker for offices, as you may know, and this one is stunning.

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a house built around a tree

This house is full of interesting art and gorgeous skylights.

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one of the many beautiful pieces of art

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 one of the many skylights

The kitchen’s toaster wall is completely unique. The collection of toasters from the 1930s turned into a beautiful art installation and feature wall in the reasonably-sized white kitchen.

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toasters – just for looks

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there’s a fridge behind these doors

Of course, the La Cornue stove adds to the beauty in this space. I could make killer scrambled eggs on that gem, I’m sure!

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La Cornue + Pluck Teas

There is more delight upstairs. The master bedroom is big and airy. The white bedding and layers of pillows add luxury to this space, the sofa adds comfort, and the walk-in-closet is, well, pretty much perfect.

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white linens in the master bedroom

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creamy details in the master bedroom

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Who wouldn’t love this closet?

Brian is a wizard when it comes to bathroom design. The tile work in each bathroom in this house (I lost count of how many there actually are…six maybe?) is something to really note. The master bathroom is generously sized and the layout is flipped. Here, the vanity is in front of the windows and the bathtub is floating on the other end. I loved it when Brian talked about the affordable route he took to install the vanity mirrors. Brian and affordability – not the combo you’d really predict, right? Although it looks like the mirrors are framed in steel, they’re actually framed in painted wood. The bars are made of shower rod holders and pipes. That’s where the affordability ended, though. The cast iron Kohler bathtub costs a pretty penny! It’s the same one that Brian has in his own home.

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here I am in the master bathroom

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double vanity surrounded by natural light

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white monogrammed towels in the bathroom

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floating Kohler tub in the master bathroom

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floor tiles in the master bathroom

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my favourite light fixture in the house

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the jack-and-jill bathroom vanity

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here I am in the white jack-and-jill bathroom

Also upstairs is a sweet little office. Brian maximized storage in here with floor-to-ceiling shelves. In fact, this space was originally a hallway, but Brian suggested that the walls be bumped out (and a foot taken from each of the rooms on the other side of the walls) to make it a useable room. The skylight provides loads of natural light. And, yes, I could see myself working in here as well. I’m a sucker for offices, remember?

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a white hallway leading to the office area

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a bright place to work on the second floor

Another one of my favourite spaces in this house is the wine cellar. Just look at it.

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I want one.

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 Brian, the wine cellar, and the exercise room

You can work off the calories you drink in your private exercise room.

The basement family room is darker than I normally like, but I’m wondering if this is something I should consider for my own basement. Would I dare go dark? The white matting on the gallery wall art brightens up the room as does the sofa and the lighting.

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the basement family room (it doesn’t feel like a basement, does it?)

The white and grey laundry room in the basement is spacious and has top of the line machines. The cabinetry, we learned, is from a big box store that was painted and framed with additional moulding.

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laundry room details

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the spacious laundry room in white and grey

Brian was kind enough to take photos with all his blogger fans. Here we are…

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 Brian Gluckstein and Jordana

Other things I learned during #BrunchWithBrian that might interest you:

1. Brian eats the same breakfast every day: yogurt and berries. Brian, I eat the same thing every day, too (toast, berries, and a latte).
2. Brian enjoys Pinterest just like the rest of us!
3. About 60-70K people come through the Oakville showhome each year.
4. Brian can’t imagine a space without art.
5. Brian reads the blog The Blue Remembered Hills.
6. Brian’s design influences include Billy Baldwin, Jean-Michel Frank, Edwin Lutyens, and Kalef Alaton.
7. It took less than a year to buy the Oakville showhome lot, demolish the original house, build a new house, and decorate it.
8. Brian did not shy away from mixing metals in this house.
9. Brian is as classy, approachable, and intelligent as you may imagine.
10. The foyer drapes are 30 feet in length and the trim is made of one continuous piece.

As if you need any more convincing! Order your ticket!

Photos by Jordana. For more photos (really beautiful ones) of the Oakville showhome, click here.

To see the 2013 Oakville showhome design by Brian Gluckstein, click here.
Remember the time I toured the GlucksteinHome design office? That was fun.

Many thanks to Brian Gluckstein, Cheryl K., Laura Z., Chef Logan, Rosewood Wine, Pluck Teas, and the Princess Margaret Lottery Foundation for hosting a classy and fun brunch.

Event: BlogPodium 2014 is this Saturday!

Every year at around this time, design and lifestyle bloggers gather in Toronto for BlogPodium. Led by Jennifer Flores, and organized by a crew of talented people, BlogPodium gives bloggers and brands the opportunity to take their conversations offline. Yes, of course there will be lots of Twittering and Instagraming going on during this Saturday’s BlogPodium, but I know I’m not alone in saying that one of the best things about the event will be the face-to-face conversations.

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There is so much to look forward to this year. I have no doubt that these speakers, these sponsors, and these exhibitors will make for a rich and informative day at the historic Fairmont Royal York.

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I’m especially looking forward to this year’s BlogPodium because my first ever ceramics collaboration with Toronto’s Inspirations Studio will be up for auction. Here’s a teeny peek:

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 White Cabana + Inspirations Studio

In addition, I will be presenting for the second time at BlogPodium. My roundtable discussion, titled Blog Writing 101: Crafting a cohesive, concise, and conversational post, will be centred on how to write effective and credible blog posts.

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I’ll be sure to share a recap of the big day in the weeks that follow. If you are itching for the play-by-play, follow along via Twitter and Instagram.

p.s. I haven’t yet figured out my outfit.
p.p.s. Walk down memory lane – read my posts about BlogPodium 2012 and BlogPodium 2013.

Design: This is what a Multi-Million Dollar Home in Oakville Looks Like

If you like design and blogs, chances are you’ve had a browse (or several) on Realtor – the Canadian real estate site. During one of my recent searches, I stumbled upon this gorgeous multi-million dollar home in Oakville. This is what $11.8 million can buy you outside of Toronto.

xl xl-1 xl-2 xl-3 xl-4 xl-5 xl-6The outside is just as gorgeous as the inside. Have a look here. Yearly taxes are only $75K (gasp!).

 

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. 

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

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

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

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

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

Hamel-Brooms-St-Jacobs-White-Cabana-1Hamel-Brooms-St-Jacobs-White-Cabana-2I had never been into Hamel Brooms, and I was completely mesmerized by the broom making process (owner John Davenport makes them by hand!). I encourage you to watch this video of broom making.

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

Photos by Jordana and video from JLM.

Event: Wine, Thai, & Blogger Time

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

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

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

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

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Union Wines and Linda Modern Thai made an excellent pair.

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Melissa’s home has so many beautiful vintage details.

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

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

Photos by Jordana.

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.

20 Below: Drip Maple Syrup

I LOVE waffles. Love ’em. I also love maple syrup. Put those two together and you’ve got a perfect (any time of day?) meal. Yum. Yum. Yum.

I read about Drip maple syrup in the LCBO’s recent Food & Drink. Great packaging, beautiful website, and I am sure Drip’s maple syrup is pretty darn delicious.

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The three maple syrup varieties – blond, copper, amber – are each $20 and can be purchased online.

Marketplace: Caviar20

Taking a tour of Troy’s online shop, Caviar20, always puts me in a good mood. Caviar20 is a beautiful site filled with unique pieces. Here are a few of my current faves…

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giant leaf floor sculpture, $1250 (A modern Christmas tree, perhaps?)

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Fornasetti “Temi e Variazione” #39 plate, $425 (Troy always has an awesome Fornasetti collection.)

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set of op-art highball glasses, $225

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Alissa Cole brass table lamps, $4800

And now…I’m going to buy a lottery ticket!

 

 

Marketplace: Christmas at EQ3

Yup – the shops are in full-on Christmas mode (and have been since November 1st, right?)! Let’s have a look at a few of the goodies that Winnipeg-based EQ3 has to offer this year…

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Christopher decorative tree, $19.99

 

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owl ornament, $14.99 for 3g3nAizCQuzUUu_B4UMEWOCRr53QfMlnIVN4G3oi0D4M

 

Radiate paper star, $7.99

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Marimekko fabric – Kuusikossa

Note: Marimekko fabric is 25% off until November 25th at select EQ3 stores in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, and Winnipeg.

Event: Announcing BlogPodium 2013

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Okay so – yeah – I have pretty exciting news to share. Ready? Here it is – I will be presenting at this fall’s BlogPodium! (Did the above logo give it away?) BlogPodium is Canada’s conference for design and lifestyle bloggers and I couldn’t be more happy and proud to be involved in this wonderful event.

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Me and Giulia are co-presenting a session about work-life balance. Our session will be full of great tips and tools that we use to organize our blogging lives and to expand our knowledge of this creative field. You can view the full schedule here. As you’ll see, Sarah Richardson – The Sarah Richardson – will be the keynote speaker!

Past BlogPodium events have left me energized, engaged, motivated, and excited and I have no doubt that I will, once again, be amazed by the people I meet and the things I learn. Bloggers of any stage of their blogging careers will surely enjoy the full day event. I encourage you to attend and if you do, please be sure to say hello!

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Photos of BlogPodium 2012 via Mango Studios.

 

Marketplace: Decorium

A couple of weeks ago I attended the opening of Decorium‘s new Toronto showroom – located in the heart of Rosedale. Decorium is one of Toronto’s go-to hot spots for well-designed, high quality furniture and accessories for the home. Founded in 1986, Decorium offers its customers a collection of unique furnishings from around the world. The Yonge St. showroom proved to be a wonderful space to feature the cleverly curated collection of home furnishings. It was also an inspiring place for a party!

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The event was wonderfully organized and Chef Warren and his team spoiled attendees with a delicious selection of food (mushroom ravioli, poutine, stir fry, oysters, etc.) and deserts by Bite Me Bakery were perfectly suited for the event.

The Decorium showroom is located at 1212 Yonge Street in Toronto.

Photos by Jordana.

 

Marketplace: Violette Boutique

I was in Victoria, British Columbia for the first time last week to present at an academic conference. Usually when I travel – for work or pleasure – I tend to plan ahead, make note of a few things I want to see, and have a map (or two?) in hand. This time, however, I was completely overwhelmed with life that I basically boarded the plane without a clue as to where I was really going (shame, I know).

When I ventured downtown after work one day I was pleasantly surprised by Victoria’s lovely shops and the wonderfully friendly people I met. I was directed to the jewelry store Violette, for example, from the saleswoman in Emporia after I told her about my obsession with white (what, doesn’t everyone talk to strangers about their favourite colour?).

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I walked into Violette and I instantly knew it was my kind of place and space. Violette is a bright, white, clean, and spacious jewelry store that is well-designed, welcoming, and, best of all, features some really beautiful collections from designers such as Gabriela Artigas, OGJM, Alexis Bittar, and Giles & Brother

Violette-Boutique-Victoria_British-Columbia_White-Cabana-1 Violette-Boutique-Victoria_British-Columbia_White-Cabana-2 Violette-Boutique-Victoria_British-Columbia_White-Cabana-3 Violette-Boutique-Victoria_British-Columbia_White-Cabana-4 Violette-Boutique-Victoria_British-Columbia_White-Cabana-5Isn’t Violette a perfect place to showcase modern jewels? The white display cases make everything look just perfect.

Many thanks to the saleswoman at Violette (I’m sorry I didn’t get your name) for showing me around!

Photos by Jordana.

Fashion: Lolë Activewear

I recently discovered Lolë, a Montreal-based activewear clothing company, and I was instantly impressed. I’m one of those people who generally wears activewear for active pursuits rather than for doing errands around town or meeting friends at a café. I like my workout clothes to look great but to perform well too. When I landed on Lolë’s website, I first browsed the tennis section since this is the sport I have decided to learn more about this spring/summer.

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twist tank top, $48

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essential cardigan, $100

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jump-up tank top, $60

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ace skort, $65 (and don’t you love the hi-top runners?)

But Lolë is much more than tennis wear. The full collection includes items that are most suitable for yoga, golf, running, and water sports. In addition, there is a selection of pieces that are suitable for travel and city living. The clothes online look to be fashionable and very functional. And, of course, many other colours do exist!

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balasana cardigan, $90

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vinyasa capri, $80

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rennie 2 pants, $90

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delightful 2 jacket, $150

Lolë is one of those companies that is committed to promoting healthy living. The company organizes a large outdoor yoga tour called the Lolë White Yoga Session and it will be in Toronto and Montreal this summer. Just look at these photos…doesn’t the yoga session look like such a great community activity? Plus, everyone wears white!

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Stand-alone Lolë stores are located in Montreal, Toronto, Oakville and in dreamy places like Chamonix, Biarritz, Paris, and Zurich. Lolë’s activewear collection can also be found in other stores around the world.

All images courtesy of Lolë.

Design: Queen’s Human Media Lab

I am so happy to share the news of the Queen’s Human Media Lab designed by Karim Rashid because not only am I happy to shine the spotlight on Queen’s (I did my Master’s there) but I’ve been a fan of Karim Rashid for quite some time and I just love that he did his part to increase the hipness factor at Queen’s. The Human Media Lab’s sleek modern space offer a nice contrast to the traditional stone buildings that make up the majority of the buildings on campus.

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The Human Media Lab is located in Jackson Hall and the almost 2500 square feet space  includes a workspace, office, kitchen and corridor. The space is coming up to its one year anniversary in May. The space was designed by Karim Rashid and his team (including Camila Tariki, Evan McCollough, Kamala Hutauruk, and Juliette Hyunju Lee).

From my perspective (aka the perspective of a professional student), I love that the workspace includes a large meeting room for collaborative tasks, pods for individual work. The curved walls and windows are a stark contrast to the typically linear styles that are in traditional buildings.

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 windows at the Human Media Lab, Queen’s University

The Human Media Lab concept, Karim says, “is an open space with work stations that allow a flexible, interactive space where digital and physical can merge to shape and experiment and inspire. The design also allows the offices to close off to afford intense focused work”. Intense focused work – yes!

This space is so futuristic! There’s an interactive display with gesture technology. What does this mean? It means that people use in-air gestures to move objects around the wall-sized display screen. In addition, when people in adjoining cubicles are looking at each other, the translucent glass between them becomes transparent for communication. How does this happen? Two words: eye trackers. Cool!

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 Queen’s Human Media Lab, Kingston, Ontario

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The Workspace

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Photos courtesy of Jessica P. and Tre C. at Karim Rashid. Many thanks for your help.

 

Stationery: Daniella Marie Stationery & Design

Contrary to what some believe, invites, in my opinion, are one of the most important details of a wedding. They set the tone for the whole affair and they are the first thing to welcome your party guests. Canadian blogger and designer Daniella Marie recently opened up her stationery and design business and her wedding invite collection (it’s letterpress, of course!) is just beautiful.

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Everything – like wording and colour – is customizable which gives couples the opportunity to have their invitations reflect their personalities and style.

Congratulations Daniella on your new venture!

All images courtesy of Daniella Marie Stationery & Design.

Furniture: Decor-Rest

Let’s shine a spotlight on a successful Canadian furniture manufacturer this morning, shall we? Since 1972 Decor-Rest has provided customers with quality products and a commitment to honest service. Decor-Rest is headed by owners Angelo and Christina Marzilli and the company currently occupies a 200,000 square foot plant located in Woodbridge, Ontario as well as a 8,000 square foot industry showroom in High Point, North Carolina. And you can bet that Decor-Rest is filling up their furniture retailers with thoughtfully-designed furniture. In addition to manufacturing the collections of Steven & Chris and Cobi Ladner (cobistyle), Decor-Rest’s inventory includes fabric and leather upholstered sofas and chairs as well as accent items to suit contemporary and traditional styles.

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  Images courtesy of Decor-Rest.

Marketplace: Drake General Store

Still on the hunt for a cool Christmas gift for (insert the name of your favourite person who you haven’t yet bought for)? If you’re in Toronto then it’ll be worth your while to visit Drake General Store. The shop is full of quirky, interesting, amusing, and Canadiana products that are sure to fulfill your favourite (insert person)’s wish list.

ceramic cactus, $22

p’tite poutine bowl, $24

hidden owl mug, $32

countdown clock, $135

Winter: Real Snowflake

We had our first snowfall of the season this past weekend. Light flurries began on Friday and while I was walking to my car after work I noticed a few snowflakes landed on me and stayed long enough for me to snap a couple of photos. This snowflake, in particular, caught me by surprise as it is shaped like a star.

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Pretty amazing, don’t you agree?

Marketplace: EQ3 – Proudly Canadian

EQ3 is a Canadian furniture and home decor design company that strives to offer well-crafted and highly attractive products which are (mostly) made in Canada. I think EQ3 has a lot of great things to offer in terms of their inventory as well as in its design aesthetic and business philosophy. While you discover EQ3’s collection, be sure you don’t miss out on the work by some of my design favourites – Marimekko, Vitra, Alessi, and Herman Miller.

EQ3 Oblong Lamp

EQ3 Mini Table Lamp White

Marimekko Lumimarja Pillow Case

EQ3+ Vitra Elephant White

Images courtesy of EQ3. EQ3 locations.

Marketplace: Animal Cutting Boards

It’s no secret that we have an interest in decorating with fake animals in recent years. Remember my growing menagerie? I love the quirky appeal of these animal cutting boards from Quebec design company Brut Design. They would make perfect hostess and birthday gifts, don’t you think?

polar bear cutting board, $60, Brut Design

white beaver cutting board, Brut Design

These and other Canadian-made products are available for purchase at Galerie CO.

To do: The Design Exchange

Here’s something for the upcoming rainy weekend in Toronto: check out the new and ongoing exhibits at the city’s  Design Exchange (DX).

Located in the spectacular space formerly the hectic trading floor of the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Design Exchange “is Canada’s only museum dedicated exclusively to the pursuit of design excellence and preservation of design heritage.”

I highly recommend dropping by to see what’s in house and on display at the DX, and if you have no time for a proper tour, the gift shop is a mecca of cool finds, unique books and design gifts. I’ve always found a DX visit inspiring and refreshing and I know if you’re reading this blog, you’ll like your visit.

A few current exhibits you will enjoy at the DX:

Vertical Urban Factory, Sep. 3- Dec. 9. Looking at more than 30 factories to consider their integration within urban settings such as Detroit and New York, with case studies such as the American Apparel factory in L.A. and the VW “Transparent” factory in Dresden, Germany. (paid exhibit)

Considering the Quake: Seismic Design on the Edge, Sep. 13 – Dec. 9. “Design meets practical application. Examples: From ARUP’s Hermès Building featuring the work of Renzo Piano Architects in Tokyo, Japan and their York University Subway Station with Foster and Partners in Toronto, to Daniel Libeskind’s Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, to Cast Connex’s seismic technology that will be included in New York City’s World Trade Center 3 design.” (included with general admission, about $10)

Permanent/ongoing exhibit –  the Must-See:

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This exhibit features iconic pieces from the Design Exchange’s permanent collection, which celebrates Canada’s rich industrial design history from 1945 to the present. Spanning over five decades, the Design Exchange’s permanent collection covers more than six hundred industrial design objects and archival materials including furniture, housewares, textiles, electronics, and lighting. DXUNCRATED illustrates political, technological, and social changes that occurred following World War II to present day. Items on display will include the famous Clairtone Project G Stereo (pictured below), Thomas Lamb’s Steamer Chair, and Russel Spanner’s Dining Chair.

The Clairtone Project G stereo produced by Clairtone from 1964-7 is a Canadian design icon

To celebrate all that is design and Canadian ingenuity, this year’s annual fundraising party coincides with the DX’s relaunch on November 16, featuring interactive design installations, fancy food from celebrity chefs, and today’s big names in Canadian design. Find out more here.

20 Below: Penny Paper Co. Packaging

The Penny Paper Co. is a Toronto-based stationery supply company owned by Lindsay Stephenson (of Little House Blog and BlogPodium fame). I’ve had my eye on her custom stamps for a while but I have only recently noticed these sweet cream-coloured drawstring bags.

large cotton drawstring bag, $6.25

Use them plain for wrapping small gifts or personalize them, fill them, and use them as party favours. Time to get crafty!

Forging French doors

This week I had the most exciting time meeting and getting to know one of Canada’s foremost window dressers, Philip Minaker. Having created hundreds of major storefront windows during more than 25 years as a style director for many iconic Canadian and international retailers in Toronto and his home town of Winnipeg, Philip is a fascinating individual unlike any other.

His boundless creativity and problem-solving know-how are only surpassed by his sweet and fun personality. Philip is a fashion force and he’s put on countless runway shows and deconstructed trends working for various styling and retail roles at The Bay, BCBG, Lipton’s, Eaton’s, Mondi, Parachute, and the list goes on and on.

He is known for his stunning sales-boosting windows and his ‘let me show you’ philosophy about sharing his fashion knowledge. His windows are known to increase sales; a job well done, then. Look for his work coming up at Toronto’s downtown Josephson’s in the next few weeks- he told me that he’s currently fabricating the set pieces for the fall windows.

Beyond having a keen eye for styling, trends and balance, Philip is an incredibly talented artist and he creates much of what you see in his displays. Today’s French doors featured below are an example of his incredibly simple take on getting what you need: make it yourself.

When I met Philip on the weekend during his first of two moving sales, he invited me in his home where he has these gorgeous antique French doors behind a bed (those aren’t for sale, though, sorry! but just DIY for these and drop in on Philip’s second sale for other very cool stuff).

These gorgeous French doors are not real; they’re two large format prints of doors that are glued to large pieces of foam. The antique look is truly outstanding and the quality of the print here is just right, working in favour of achieving that natural aged look that the doors have.

The best part about all this is that they weigh nothing! They’re made of foam! You know, the inch-and-a-half rectangle sheets of white foam from the craft store. So simple. Philip told me that he cut the print and foam in the curved shape at the top and he has another piece that creates an archway to really bring it all together. I think they are spectacular just like this.

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Images courtesy of me via Philip Minaker

You’ll want to be there for Philip’s second moving sale in a few weeks, September 13-16: he is parting with some of his window dressing treasures including props, decorative urns, industrial art, art hangings and artist canvasses, art that he has created, beautiful vintage mannequins, and so much more.

You’ll love meeting Philip- just drop in to say hi and check out all the fascinating pieces of his career that he’s selling to new good homes, and meanwhile take a look at his moving sale ad on Kijiji– lots more pics there to see what he’s got on the floor (including Herman Miller La Fonda chairs…).

Marketplace: Fierce Deer

Last weekend I attended the Home County Folk Festival here in London. There’s a festival almost every weekend here in the city but I think Home County might just be my favourite. The music is great, the crowd is relaxed, and there are always some creative vendors. This year I was most attracted to the pretty jewelry and the lace and vintage window display at Fierce Deer, a Toronto-based shop owned by Kate Swan.

pretty white lace backdrops at Fierce Deer

the Fierce Deer earring collection displayed on lace-backed vintage windows

Fierce Deer necklace charms

pretty knobs (remember this post?) hold necklaces

silver-plated necklace

a cup full of charms that are used for custom design

a creative vintage display at Fierce Deer

it’s the details – like the consistent deer theme – that make this shop so charming

Kate’s white cat – brings the shop good luck!

what I walked away with – a tiny bear on a long chain necklace – a must for my menagerie

It was great to meet Kate and to explore her charming jewelry shop. If you’d like to see more – go on and visit Fierce Deer.

Photos by Jordana.

At the cottage

This week I’m writing my White Wednesday post from our family’s beautiful cottage in the Haliburton Highlands, which is really just on the edge of Muskoka in Ontario. We’re on Livingstone Lake- a small, quiet lake near the quaint town of Dorset.

I came up here this week for a few days to relax and help out my dad who is building me a stunning canoe made from a cedar tree on our property that he cut and milled into cedar planks. The canoe has a ribbed interior that is now undergoing coats of clear varnish and its exterior is wrapped in a canvas that is coated with various fillers before being painted its final hue: a brilliant vermilion red! (My colour choice).

Today I share with you a few white things that caught my eye around here and give you a glimpse into the most special place in my life and the canoe that is nearly done.

There are all kinds of species of trees here, including birch (pictured above).

I quite like exploring clusters of trees, especially a magical spot where tall hemlock trees

create a very high canopy that prevents much underbrush from growing. Birch trees

let a lot of light through their leaves and many ferns and saplings grow underneath.

When you’re out on the Canadian Shield you’ll find lots of rocks

and since my dad is a geologist, rocks have always been in our viewfinder.

This is a piece of white granite that is a decoration in my stepmom’s garden bed.

These are the tips of kayak paddles. I grew up in cottage country in Québec and Ontario

and my dad is a perpetual sportsman, having always loved and sought adventure. He taught me how

to ‘Eskimo roll’ back in my early teens and we went down a river in kayaks when I was barely

barely 13 years old. We still have the kayaks and I paddled them last month.

Ta-da! Here is my canoe wrapped in canvas and coated in a white sealant.

It’s sitting like this under the deck drying for a few weeks and then

we’ll apply another coat of sealant

This is a closeup that shows the strokes of the paintbrush from coating the canvas

with white ‘stuff’ that has the effect of an egg shell finish, and the interior ribs sticking

out until they’re trimmed where the gunnels will be.

This is the can of filler that was brushed onto the canvas on the canoe

This is one end of the canoe and if you know your canoes, you’ll recognize the shape- it’s a Prospector.

This boat is slightly modified and built to be strong, fast and hold a good amount of camping gear.

Shifting, gears, we use a four-stroke motor to putter across the lake in an aluminum boat

during the in-between seasons when our regular ‘big’ boat is in storage for the winter.

I really like the type for this number four

This large buoy prevents us from accidentally scratching the hull of the boat

as we dock it. Not that we really *need* the bumpers but… just in case

Our cottage is off-grid and water-access, so learning how to tie knots is important.

Talk to seafaring folks and they’ll never call a rope a rope- it’s a ‘line’. A line can be used

for just about anything- I always keep one kicking around. I’ve been taught how

to tie a bowline knot but I always forget how, and this self-strengthening figure eight

is never quite right when I do it. My dad did this one when I arrived on Monday afternoon

and mine didn’t look nearly as nice.. so it’s not pictured

This is a danger warning sticker on the boat’s dashboard:

Warning! do not put your feet into the propeller. Ouch :S

I’ve been treated to beautiful sun and puffy white clouds this week.

I took this quick pic off the dock while looking for white stuff;

I’m hoping that when Jordana does make it up here for a visit she’ll

show me all the white things I’ve missed in today’s cottage tour for you all.

Happy summer, everyone!

Art: Abstract and Affordable

It seems that we’ve got summer activities and art on our brains this week. I was browsing through the amazing work of some Etsy artists last night in hopes that I would find inspiration for the three blank canvases that are waiting for me (this was the last piece I painted – a year ago!). What do you think of the works I’ve gathered here?

$50, Adriane Duckworth

$280, Tainted Canvas

$325, Letter Happy

$260, Linda Monfort

$81, Lulu & Drew

Do you buy original art? Do you always have a budget?

Or, do you prefer to make your own?

20 Below: Swim Goggles

I almost forgot that today was Tuesday. Oops. I guess I was still in long weekend mode!

Yesterday I learned that there’s a 50m outdoor pool just a 15 minute walk from where I live. Yeah – how did I miss that one, right? (I mean, I knew it was there but I assumed it was a regular 25m pool.) So last night I ventured out and I’m so glad I did because I had a great swim!

One of the things I love about the sport of swimming is that it is quite an affordable sport – all you need is a swimsuit and goggles. These are lightweight and require minimal storage which is an added bonus in my opinion. These look like my goggles except mine are navy (gasp!).

Speedo Hydrospex swim goggles, $19.99, Sport Chek

Another thing I learned – there’s an entrance fee for the public outdoor pools in London, Ontario. I wasn’t expecting this because I’ve always taken advantage of Toronto’s free access outdoor pools. How about in your neighbourhood? Are outdoor pools free of charge?

The Friday Five: Mugs

Do you have set criteria for the mugs you use? Do they all match? Or are they random? Does size matter? Colour? Shape? My mugs have one thing in common – they’re white (or mostly white). Surprised?

white and black J mug from Anthropologie

white and black J mug from Chapters Indigo (thanks Shannon!)

white mug from GlucksteinHome (thanks GH Team!)

black and white mug from Gstaad (featuring a scherenschnitte design)

black and white mug from Beauty’s in Montreal

I hope you all enjoy a cup of coffee (or tea!) in the summer sunshine this weekend. Enjoy!

Note: You can see I’ve been enjoying many meals and tea breaks on my balcony except for one day when it was raining.

Photos by me.

Celebration: Father's Day at Urban Barn

Although Urban Barn is advertising their Belvedere recliner as the perfect Father’s Day gift, I’d say that more than just dads would like lounging in something like this.

Belvedere recliner, $1199, Urban Barn

If you’re interested in a chance to win a recliner (or an Urban Barn chair of your choice), go ahead and “like” Urban Barn’s Facebook page and share your story about why your dad is number one.