Furniture

Hotel to Home: Chateau de Berne, France

I haven’t taken us to France in quite some time in this series, so we’re going today. We’re off to Chateau de Berne, a Relais & Chateaux hotel, in the south of France.

classic room – Chateau de Berne

Of course, if you can’t make it to Provence, but you’d like to recreate some of the French flair in your own bedroom, here are some ideas to get you thinking.

bedside table, dresser, table lamp, silver table lamp, tufted bench, side table, faux fur pillow, silver pillows, cashmere throw, white curtains, duvet cover

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The Friday Five: Velvet for Home and Wardrobe

Velvet has been everywhere in the fashion world this fall, but I think we’ll also be seeing it invade some of our home designs on both a small and large scale. While some may opt for rich jewel tones when it comes to velvet, I would encourage you to also think about how creamy velvet can warm up and add luxury to your home and wardrobe.

1753222_lHans Wegner lounge chairs

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pair of channel-back art deco club chairs in cream oyster velvet

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velvet Orianna settee

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Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche velvet skirt jacket

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Aquazurra “Dasha” sandals

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Uptown: Chaise Makeover with Minted

Months and months ago, I received some gorgeous polka dotted fabric from Minted (remember when I was deciding between these two colour options?), and a month or so ago, my chaise was finally reupholstered. It’s about time I share the dramatic before and after photos on the blog!

Here’s the dreary before photo:

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before

Drum-roll, please…

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after

Cute, right? The grey and white polka dot fabric (organic dot by Itsy Belle) really lightens up this part of my living room. It’s amazing how dark furnishings just sucks the light. (Note: The background of the fabric is a true white rather than the greyish colour that seems to show up on the Minted site on my computer. I much prefer the fabric in real life than in the online swatch version.)

Thanks to Minted for supplying the fabric for this makeover. All opinions are my own.

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Marketplace: Design Within Reach

A colleague and I recently had a conversation about the fabulousness of Design Within Reach (aka DWR). DWR is an amazing place for furniture enthusiasts as it carries designs by faves such as Harry Bertoia, Le Corbusier, Charles and Ray Eames, Achille Castiglioni, and Frank Gehry. The designs are top-notch (and the prices reflect this).

My recent DWR-focused conversation sparked a much-too-long session of online browsing (and dreaming and wishing) which has now led to this blog post.

Here are a few of my current faves at DWR (prices are in USD).

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Platner coffee table, $1567

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Saarinen tulip arm chair, $1840

tripod-lamptripod floor lamp, $395

Jehs-Laub-loungeJehs and Laub lounge chair, $3100

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Sonno Versa mattress, $2595
(I don’t know anything about this, but mattresses are on my mind a lot these days. I like this one because “sonno” in Italian means “sleep”)

And for outdoor living, here’s what caught my attention:

PD_18859_whiteWalter Lamb chaise, $1650

Luau-lamp-portable

Luau portable lamp, $199

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Frank Gehry left twist cube, $299

Thanks to SL for inspiring this post!

Hotel to Home: Macalister Mansion in Malaysia

Let’s jet off to Malaysia today, shall we?

Today, I’m bringing you to the Macalister Mansion in Georgetown, Penang. Condé Nast put this hotel on its 2013 hot list, and it only takes a moment to discover why. This restored colonial mansion (built in the early 1900s) is luxurious and charming. The eight rooms are individually designed and feature beautiful furnishings and art.

Room 6 caught my attention because of the art above the bed. It is a commissioned piece by Indonesian artist Albert Yonathan called “Sailing the Celestial Sea”. Oooh…I love all the “s” sounds in that title! The porcelain ship pieces were hand cast, and the work was inspired by the sea voyages of Sir Norman Macalister who was one of the first British Governors of Penang from 1808-1810 (when Penang was known as Prince of Wales Island).

Macalister-Mansion

Macalister Mansion

If I were to infuse the feeling of Room 6 into a new space, here’s what I might include:

Macalister-Malaysia-White-Cabana-Inspiration-Hotel to Home

bed, nightstand, table, armchair, hangers, sheet set, art, rug, speaker, lamp

Marketplace: Chair Table Lamp in Cambridge, Ontario

You likely already know that I have really enjoyed my move to the Waterloo region. For a relatively small region, it has so much to offer, and the people I have met and the places that I’ve been to continue to impress me. A couple of months ago, I visited Chair Table Lamp in Cambridge after seeing a cool photo of the store from Rox-Anne, and I was in furniture heaven.

I was in awe as I stepped in the massive space. Owner Terry was ridiculously knowledgeable about everything antique, and we had a delightful conversation about furniture, design, and travel. On a subsequent visit, I met co-owner Katie who was equally enthusiastic about all things furniture! I really enjoy meeting people who are so passionate about what they do.

The inventory at Chair Table Lamp is incredible. There’s honestly something for every design lover – from art deco chairs to gorgeous Chinoiserie pieces to mid-century modern dining sets to gorgeous French armoires. Honestly. This place is a treasure! (I adore this piece and this one, too). You’re not going to find garage sale prices here, but you will find fair prices for the uniqueness and quality of the pieces.

Amongst the black credenzas and the wood dining sets, I spotted quite a bit of white (mostly newly painted), so here’s a tour of Chair Table Lamp through this white-lover’s lens…

White-Cabana-Chair-Table-Lamp-3 White-Cabana-Chair-Table-Lamp-10 White-Cabana-Chair-Table-Lamp-1 White-Cabana-Chair-Table-Lamp-2 White-Cabana-Chair-Table-Lamp-8 White-Cabana-Chair-Table-Lamp-7 White-Cabana-Chair-Table-Lamp-6 White-Cabana-Chair-Table-Lamp-9 White-Cabana-Chair-Table-Lamp-5 White-Cabana-Chair-Table-Lamp-4 You can see more inventory on the Chair Table Lamp Instagram account and on the Chair Table Lamp website.

The Friday Five: Coffee Table Styling

Online vintage furniture retailer Charish recently asked me my opinion about the following questions:

1. What essentials does everyone need for their coffee table?
2. How do you properly layer the items?

I think I might be out of the ordinary on this one, because my coffee table is quite empty and unstyled. I have a small basket that holds my remote controls, coasters, and a few kinds of lip gloss (you can never have too many).

White-Cabana-House-Tour-3-1024x740my home

But there are so many inspiring interiors that do beautiful coffee table styling. Calgary-based designer Erica Cook, for example, is a master stylist in my opinion. I love how she pulls items together on her coffee tables.

coffee-table-Erica-Cook-1via Erica Cook

coffee-table-Erica-Cook-2via Erica Cook

coffee-table-Erica-Cook-3via Erica Cook

As I browsed through Charish‘s coffee table inventory, I thought about what I might display on particular tables. Here are five of the tables that caught my attention and the items that I might use to style them up pretty!

On this woodsy timber coffee table, I’d use a few stacks of beautiful books (with cream and white covers, of course). I’d arrange them symmetrically to follow the squareness of the table, and I might add some brass trinkets to contrast the wood.

coffee-table-Charish-6timber coffee table, $700

On this brassy number, I’d add a collection of cloisonné bowls because it reminds me of what my mom would do in her traditional living room. I’d increase the fancy factor because that’s what those curves are calling.

coffee-table-Charish-3brass ring cocktail table, $925

The mid-century coffee table below would have minimal styling. Perhaps I’d add a tray or two with some books or objets neatly placed inside.

coffee-table-Charish-5vintage Florence Knoll coffee table, $585

I don’t think this modern glass table actually needs anything on it because it already has so much to offer what with its curvy lines and such, but if I had to opt for something, I’d include a carefully curated stack of books with a simple, but interesting, object on top to complement the table rather than compete with it.

coffee-table-Charish-7tempered glass coffee table, $250

Finally, I think this simple travertine gem would look beautiful with a collection of colourful floral arrangements on it. Who could ever go wrong with flowers? Am I right?

coffee-table-Charish-8travertine coffee table, $1200

For those of you who may not know, Charish is an amazing source for vintage furniture and decor (yes, including coffee tables). It currently only ships in the United States, so here’s hoping it considers shipping internationally very soon so that the rest of us can benefit from the unique inventory!

The Friday Five: The Settee Scene

I love looking back at my blog to see where my design interests lie over time. About a year and a half ago, I wrote about the versatility of the settee, and I’m still thinking that this sweet piece of furniture has great potential.

Today’s Friday Five includes five settees that look quite different from one another, but they share the common features of small scale design and refined legs. Now, the question I ask is: Which one is your favourite?

SVM5912-6via Eloquence

loveseat2via Black Rooster Decor

9342_lvia 1st Dibs

sybil-settee-ballard-designsvia Ballard Designs

Master-Bedroom-White-and-Neutrals-Fireplace-Chandelier-Loveseatvia The Lettered Cottage

Happy weekend, everyone!

The Friday Five: Back to Beds

I have not yet pulled the trigger on a new bed. I know, I know, it’s been months since I first posted about my bed dreams! I just cannot decide. I thought I wanted a foot board because the bed looks more complete to me, but now I’m not so sure. I fear this bed decision will never be made!

Christine featured this gorgeous bed from CB2 on her blog back in July, and I really really like it. Sleek, modern, fancy, simple…it’s awesome. But a canopy? Am I a four-poster-canopy-bed type of person?

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frame canopy bed, CB2

Here’s a more traditional four-poster bed that is quite textured. I don’t think this bed is for me, but I do think it’s interesting.

34467118_006_bMirelle bed, Anthropologie

Then I spotted this one, and I quite like it, too. It’s completely different from the black one above. This one is low and minimal.

CB2-facade-white-bedfacade snow bed, CB2

My bed research keeps bringing me back to the feminine French rounded bed that I posted about earlier, and here’s the latest addition to my photo collection.

2964af30760427f279f735c84fae686aCorsica bed, Hooker Furniture

And still keeping with feminine curves, this bed from West Elm looks fancy. There are so many fabric options so customization is pretty easy.

Polly-bed-west-elmPolly upholstered bed, West Elm

And the research continues…

The Friday Five: On Sale at Elte, Toronto

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Friday Five: Outdoor Seating

I’m thinking about interesting pieces for the patio today. Care to join me in my day dreaming?

This egg hub would be an awesome poolside addition:

Nu-OVO-The-Eggcellent-Outdoor-Furniture-piece-1Nu-OVO designed by Paolo Maldotti, photo via Redesign Revolution

This bench with canopy would be great on my deck:

HSLN21659_largeMimi cuddle chair canopy by Hauser

This fun folding director’s chair is super for small spaces:

img8odirector’s chair, West Elm

This chaise (with added cushion) would be great for naps:

XVladimir Kagan “Capricorn” chaise lounge, 1st Dibs

And this peacock chair is perfect for when you really want to feel fancy:

il_570xN.709334352_j223white peacock chair, via Lea and Lani

So, tell me, what’s your perch of choice in the summertime?

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Furniture: Garden Benches

It is almost almost warm enough to sit outside. I cannot wait to put my furniture back out on my deck, lounge around outside with my latte, and fall asleep on my hammock. I am made for summer. In anticipation of green garden life, I’ve been browsing through many garden-y furniture collections. In particular, I’ve been focused on intricate garden benches.

gertrude-jekyll-terrainGertrude Jekyll garden bench, $1498, Terrain

Victorian-fernery-terrainVictorian Fernery garden bench, $1298, Terrain

maison-jansen-french-bench-1st dibsMaison Jansen bench, $2358, 1st Dibs (matching table and chairs)

cast iron swan bench 1st dibscast iron swan bench, $6500, 1st Dibs

swedish garden bench 1st dibsSwedish garden bench, $2650, 1st Dibs

wrought iron regency garden benchwrought iron regency garden bench, $9500, 1st Dibs

What do you think? Did you see any that you like?

Marketplace: Dreaming of a New Bed

I have been searching for a unique headboard that fits my style and budget for a few months now, and I have come up empty. Honestly. I cannot find much that I like. How is that possible? I featured these headboards last month, and they’re alright, but I don’t love any of them enough to make them my own.

I do keep coming back to this French bed. I just love the curved footboard:

Sophia_Bed1_grande

Eloquence Sophia

The French beds below have also grabbed my attention. I like the carvings and the caning These beds are much more feminine than other pieces of furniture that I own, and I like that they remind me of France.

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chateau upholstered bed

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Eloquence Louis XVI King Cane

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Blanca cane bed

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French Bergere bed

The Sophie – and the others above – are pricey, and at the moment, I am trying to concentrate on my next big reno, rather than a major furniture purchase. I do really want a bed, but I also can’t decide if I should go for a queen or king bed. Queen is plenty big, but king is oh, so, fabulous. A king is just so grand.

In addition to the French beauties, I also lean toward simple boxed beds as well as tufted beds, scrollwork beds, metal beds, and upholstered beds. I’m sort of just scattered. Just when I think I know what I like and want, things change. Here are some beds that I think are pretty, but I’m not certain any of them are me. You know? I thought I’d document them so that I can keep this as a handy reference guide. Maybe in another month, one of them will continue to be floating around in my mind, which will force me to just bite the bullet and make a purchase.

Category A: Boxy

1. I like the extreme boxiness of this bed.

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Bradford linen bed

2. This bed is airy boxy. I like that the bed is basically floating.

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white deco bed

3. This bed is the classic box bed. A squared off headboard paired with a normal bed skirt. I prefer beds that have a footboard, I think.

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Noe slipcovered headboard and skirt

Category B: Tufted

1. I think I actually like the fluffy duvet more than the tufted, curved, and notched headboard. This bed looks really comfortable.

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Henley tufted bed

2. This is in between curvy and boxy. I thought I really liked it, but now that I’m staring at it, I can’t tell if the middle bump looks more like a mistake than an intentional design.

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Davidson tufted bed

3. Here’s a squared off lightly tufted headboard with a wrap-around base. It looks really neat and sleek. I don’t think i could every make my sheets that tight.

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Quadrant California bed

Category C: Velvet

1. There’s only one bed in this category because velvet is a new addition to my bed brainstorm. I haven’t found many that I like, but I seem to really like the one below. I think I would like it better if it had a more substantial footboard. Still, I think I might add velvet to my headboard searches from now on. It’s so luxurious.

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Kelly velvet wingback bed

Category D: French Inspired

1. I don’t mind this bed, but I haven’t fallen in love with it. It’s a nice option.

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Palais upholstered bed

2. I like the simplicity of the wood frame and white upholstery, but I think I would prefer this bed if it had straight edges. The angled frame seems to diminish the grandeur of this bed. I like that it has a decent sized footboard.

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Marie upholstered bed

3. I really like the bed below. It feels like modern French to me. It’s not crisp white like some of the other versions, but it feels feminine and warm.

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woven accent bed

4. I love the cane detail in the bed below. It’s a very simple no-fuss bed frame.

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Harbour cane bed

5. The bed below also has a French flavour to it. It’s a classic design. It’s tidy, feminine, and pretty. I think it would look great with additional throw pillows.

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Gray Louis bed

6. The bed below looks like the bed above except it doesn’t have the added finials/mini posts. It’s a good looking bed, but nothing really out of the ordinary.

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Larsson bed

Category E: Spindles

1. Here’s a Jenny-Lind-for-adults bed. I like the spindles, but I don’t think I want a four-poster bed at the moment.

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Gwendoline spindle bed

Category F: Metal

1. I originally thought that I could easily do a metal bed, but now I’m realizing that it has to be a really beautiful metal bed. My sister has the most gorgeous metal bed in her guest room. I wonder if she would notice if I took it back home with me. I haven’t seen anything quite like hers in the marketplace. The ones that are more common have simple lines and frames. Here’s a curved version:

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coventry arched steel bed

2. Here’s a straightforward rectangular shape:

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Braden steel panel bed

3. Here’s a no-fuss airy version:

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Imogene metal bed

Category G: Unique

1. I think I would really love having a peacock headboard like the one below. I think it could look really cool against a white wall for the white-on-white look (as in my home). I think I really do prefer a full bed frame package though, and I haven’t seen a version of this peacock headboard that comes with a footboard.

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Seahorse headboard

2. I think the headboard below is really a work of art.

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Georgine headboard

There are so many options! How’s a girl to decide?

Update:

I prepared the above post, and was set to publish it, but then more beds came my way. Hope you’re not sleeping yet as I have more beds to share! A couple of weeks ago, I was at a friend’s house and took a double-take at the furniture in her kid’s nursery. Yes, a nursery. Her little girl’s bedroom set is French and feminine and lovely. When my friend said that eventually she was going to get a queen bed to match the set, I had to ask her where it was from. When she said it was from Restoration Hardware, I wondered why I had never noticed it there? “Probably because you weren’t looking in the kids’ section, Jordana,” she said. Yeah. Exactly. Well, now I am! In addition to this pretty bedroom set that my friend bought for her daughter, Restoration Hardware has plenty of gorgeous French beds. Who knew?

I think I might have to have this one:

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Belle upholstered bed, Restoration Hardware

Isn’t it gorgeous? I just love it. Luckily, it does actually come in a queen version. I’d really like to see the queen-sized bed in person to make sure that an actual adult can fit in it. You know?

A few others from Restoration Hardware (Child & Baby) that I like are:

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Adele bed, Restoration Hardware

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Quatrefoil bed, Restoration Hardware

The adult bed collections are much more substantial and heavy; there’s nothing dainty or light about any of them (well, maybe only the Lorraine or the Josephine). Do any of you have experience with Restoration Hardware beds? What are the chances that the Belle will look adult-sized in a queen? Let the bed hunt continue…

Images via Crate & Barrel, One Kings Lane, Serena & Lily, West Elm.

The Land of Nod

I’m working with my sister on the design of her kids’ bedroom. Besides the kids’ beds (from Ikea) and the artwork (made by my sister and her kids), the room is fairly empty. We turned to the Land of Nod (a top pick for many people designing kids’ bedrooms and playrooms) to fill up the bedroom with items that are useful, colourful, and versatile. One of our top picks was this bench as we thought it would be a good place for the kids to perch and read a book, or put on socks and shoes:

flea-market-bench-white

flea market bench

In addition, we are using this rainbow dot garland to add colour to the room, these letter pillows to personalize the space, and these luggage sets to store toys. Here are some of the additional white pieces that I love for a kids’ bedroom or playroom…or an adult room!

aviary-pendant-lamp-white

aviary pendant lamp

uptown-nightstand-white

uptown nightstand

wh-milo-swivel-glider

milo glider

white-rattan-hamper-w-lid

rattan hamper with lid

campaign-desk-white

campaign desk

white-2-cube-on-the-grid-nightstand

on the grid nightstand

full-aria-headboard-white

aria headboard

Thanks to Land of Nod for sponsoring this post.

Design: Celebrating the Quatrefoil

Okay, so I know St. Patrick’s Day is around the corner and green-themed parties, foods, and decorations are dominating Pinterest and blogs, but around here, the green stays far away. While I wouldn’t paint my walls green, I do love greenery in my home. I absolutely love having living plants in every room around my home. If I lived in the French countryside (yeah, if), I’d definitely try to have a green house. I’d probably call it a conservatory or a garden room (look at all of these beautiful conservatories).

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Oak Leaf Conservatories

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via Julias Vita Dommar

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via Home & Garden

Okay, I’m now off topic. Let’s get back to what I really want to talk about today: quatrefoil. The quatrefoil is a four-leaf symbol that we see a lot in art and architecture. It was most popular in the gothic and renaissance eras (read more here). I’ve gathered some photos of quatrefoil products and gorgeous interiors with quatrefoil details.

quatrefoil-headboards

quatrefoil headboard, Christopher’s of Nantucket via DecorPad

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quatrefoil pillow cover, Decidedly Chic

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Suzanne Kasler’s home, via Architectural Digest

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quatrefoil mirror, Horchow

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quatrefoil detail in this gorgeous farmhouse kitchen, Magnolia Homes

quatrefoil-van cleef arpels

quatrefoil necklace, Van Cleef & Arpels

Living Room Complete31

via AM Dolce Vita

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Edward ottoman

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via Better Homes & Gardens

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quatrefoil photograph, via Posterjack

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).

loves-me-loves-me-not-greenlightdistrict

Loves Me, Loves Me Not

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

***

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.

leather-bench

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.

large-open-bowls-Green Light District

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.

Furniture: The Barrymore Bordeaux

The Barrymore Bordeaux collection caught my eye recently. First, because I actually lived in Bordeaux for year during my undergraduate degree. Second, because this furniture collection is so darn pretty.

9701 Loveseat -KT31993-16 SP Metallic Highlights w shadow 9701 Sofa -BH Roma CeledonBronze w shadow 9701 Sofa -RACulliganOrchid w KT T30554-16 Brush Fringe on seats w shadow

BF-9701-Sofa--RACulliganOrchid-w-KT-T30554-16-Brush-Fringe-on-seats-detail1-w-shadow BF-9701-Sofa--RACulliganOrchid-w-KT-T30554-16-Brush-Fringe-on-seats-detail2

images via Barrymore Furniture, Bordeaux sofa starts from $6944

The Bordeaux collection would look out of place in my more mid-century and minimalist living room, but I could easily see a small settee in my bedroom near a window.

The Friday Five: High vs. Low Furniture

I love the high-low columns that magazines like Style at Home feature. Sometimes it’s so darn tricky to spot the differences. Inspired by these columns, today I’m featuring five high-low pieces.

Thompson-sofa-Elte

high: Thompson sofa, $5565, Elte

Tristan-sofa-Leons

low: Tristan sofa, $1199, Leon’s

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high: Jimmy sling chair, $2285, Elte

white-chrome-sling-chair

low: chrome and leather sling chair, $70

Hampstead-Pottery-Barn

high: Hampstead painted sofa frame, $694.99, Pottery Barn

white-sofa-bench-outdoor

low: Coral Coast pleasant bay bench, $179.98

Brinkley-Pottery-Barn

high: Brinkley demilune single sink vanity, $1699, Pottery Barn

bella-vanity

low: Bella vanity, $720, Empire Industries

faux-fur-stool-Anthropologie

high: luxe faux fur stool, $348, Anthropologie

faux-fur-stool

low: faux fur stool, $125, Etsy (also: DIY stool 1, DIY stool 2)

So? Were they easy to guess this time? Have a great weekend!

Furniture: The Jordana Desk

Okay. I’m not kidding. There’s a desk named Jordana over at Joss & Main. Jordana! Can you believe it?

Jordana+Desk

Jordana Desk, $216.95, Joss & Main

I need it. I want it. I have to have it. There aren’t even keychains/magnets/bracelets/pens/USB drives/lanyards/etc. with my name on it, but a desk? A desk! I mean – me and desks go together like peanut butter and jelly. It’s just too perfect.

Thanks, Corie, for sending me news of the Jordana desk.

 

Featured: Designer Insights + Terry’s Blinds

I was recently contacted by UK-based Terry’s Blinds to share my top 5 design ideas for the fall, and to explain a little about where I draw inspiration for the company’s Designer Insights series. Here’s a peek…

designer-insights-Jordana-1 designer-insights-Jordana-2

My top five:

1. Ceramics – beautifully crafted, exceptional quality, simple design (e.g., Alessi’s Colombina Collection Table Set)
2. Lighting – glamorous and structured (e.g., Black Rooster Decor’s white glam saucer pendant)
3. Objets that encourage discovery (e.g., Barbara Barry elegant lens)
4. Nesting tables – easy, light, transferable (e.g., Mitchell Gold & Bob William’s Foster nesting tables)
5. Flowers – year round (e.g., beautiful white and green flower arrangements)

You can read the full interview here.

Marketplace: Green Light District in Toronto

I “met” Deborah of Green Light District on Twitter many months ago and we instantly bonded over fiddle leaf fig trees. She gave me suggestions about how to take care of my tree, and our online conversations continue to revolve around design, plants, and food. Recently, I made a trip out to #Roncy (i.e., Roncesvalles area in Toronto) to have dinner with friends (at the Westerly, on the recommendation of Deborah). Since I was in the neighbourhood, and Toronto traffic cooperated, I had the chance to make a quick stop in to Green Light District to say hi to Deborah in person.

Owners Deborah and David Peets took my friend and I around the shop sharing news of the furniture and designers that fill up their store. I quickly picked out a few favourite pieces: the acapulco chair in the courtyard, the large wood dining tables, and the beautifully designed chairs. Oh, and the ceramics, the tree stump side tables/stools, the benches, and the mini bar also caught my eye.

Here are a few photos I quickly snapped during my visit:

photo 1 copy

hand stitched leather and oak bench

photo 3

acrylic and kirel trees console

photo 4

soho chair

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hand stitched leather and oak bench + hand made pottery

Roncy-2

wonki ware + botanical print

Roncy-3

handmade pottery

Roncy-4

wonki ware

Roncy-5

handmade pottery + stitched leather and oak bench

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hand hooked rug + saddle leather chairs

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Jordana and Deborah (thanks for the photo, David)

The Peets source furnishings from around the world; Canada, South Africa, and Argentina were mentioned several times as I touched almost every item in the store.

Emma Reddington and Kim Johnson have always had good things to say about Green Light District, and the shop and furnishings have previously been featured in Chatelaine, Style at Home, Toronto Life, The Toronto Star, and BlogTO. I can totally understand why. The furniture is beautiful, and Deborah and David are such warm and welcoming owners.

If you’re in the area, be sure to stop in and say hello to Deborah and David, and when you do, be sure to tell them that you know me…you’ll likely get a chuckle out of them*.

*Apparently some of my friends from other Canadian cities (Hi Nora!) have gone around Toronto (well, not the whole city, but I have to exaggerate the story so it’s more amusing) asking people if they know me. “Hey, do you know Jordana?” Ha. I love my friends!

The Friday Five: Rattan-erific

I’ve been back from Florida for less than a week, so naturally I’ve still got the beachy lifestyle on the brain. As such, today I’m featuring Florida’s go-to accessory – rattan. If you live on a Floridian beach, some dose of rattan is a must!

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pair of decorative rattan mirrors, $3700, 1st Dibs

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set of four bentwood and rattan chairs, $2800, 1st Dibs

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pair of rattan sconces by Louis Sognot, $2502, 1st Dibs

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hanging rattan chair, $304.17, Etsy

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rattan arm chair & stool, $1900, 1st Dibs

Who am I kidding? Rattan works outside of Florida, too. I have a rattan set for my own patio, and I love it!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

p.s. I also think this bed is pretty cool.

 

Marketplace: Industrial Chic at Etsy

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

industrial-chic-design

via Trendenser

industrial-chic-dining

via Soft & Chic

living-room-industrial-chic

via Pinterest

Metal-shelving-from-Next

via House to Home

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

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vintage industrial pendant light, $215

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New York water tower print, $29

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L-shaped desk, $2087

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vintage molds, $15

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vintage door knob & hardware, $35

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shelving unit, $2384

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

Furniture: Settees

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

white-setee

via Pinterest

 

settee

via Houzz

setee-white

via Pinterest

setee

via Cup Half Full

setee-from nest egg

via Greige

amie2

via Design Sponge

french-sofa

via Every Day Pretty

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via Decor Pad

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

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.

s Alley-coral

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

s-Alley

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

s Alley -

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

s Alley

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?

The Friday Five: Side Tables

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

brass-table-West-Elm

molded brass side table, $299, West Elm mirror-table

faceted mirror side table, $199, West Elm

hex-table-West-Elm

hex side table, $179, West Elm Simone-end-table-EQ3

Simone end table, $199, EQ3 Tate-end-table-EQ3

Tate end table, $99, EQ3

Design: Bed Headboards

I’m going to need a new headboard, eventually. I am completely fine with the one that I currently have, but getting a new one has crossed my mind. But then again, what hasn’t crossed my mind in terms of home decor?!

The headboard below is actually a pegboard. A super easy DIY that makes for a really modern and interesting backdrop.

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pegboard DIY headboard

This next bed is sans headboard and it still looks like a completely finished bed. The paintings over the bed add interest and focus to the space. While I love the crispness of this space, I much prefer a bed with a real headboard.

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South Kensington home, London, UK

The headboard below has such a low profile. You can barely see it, but it’s definitely there. The gallery wall above the bed is so interesting and colourful. I love it. I probably wouldn’t put a full gallery wall over my bed though, because I’d be too scared that something would fall on top of me.

manhattan-apartment

Manhattan apartment, Flatiron District

I love the detail of the headboard below. It’s like a piece of art and serves as a nice focal point in this minimalist space.

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apartment in Tribeca, Manhattan

I can’t quite tell if the headboard in the room below is made out of wood or metal, but I like it. It’s a classic.

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via

Ah – simple, simple, simple. An upholstered bed frame is so comfortable to lean against. Love it.

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upholstered headboard, Greece home

Reading in bed would be so easy with the headboard below. This DIY appears to be an easy and inexpensive one.

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DIY headboard of books, Design Every Day

The final headboard is classic carved wood. There are a lot of these – in wood – on places like Kijiji and Craigslist, but they’d be easy enough to paint. All of my bedroom furniture is painted wood so something like this would completely fit in.

bed-headboard-simply-white

Simply White Style

Do any of these headboards stand out to you? What’s calling your name?

Holiday: Jingle Bells

Can I turn a classic Christmas tune into a blog post? Let’s find out, shall we?

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jingle bells

jingle-bells-winter

jingle bells

jingle bell wreath

jingle all the way

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oh what fun

it is to ride

sleigh-bed-white

in a one (horse) open sleigh (bed)

What do you think? Does it work? You may just find more of my Christmas song interpretations making the pages of White Cabana in the next 12 days!

Design: Polka Dots + Furniture

I bought a chaise lounge for my living room. I’ve always wanted a chaise lounge. Now I’m looking for upholstery options. When I saw Jordan’s sofa makeover, I thought that Marimekko’s Pirput Parput fabric might be just perfect for it.

marimekkorev1

Oh Happy Day!

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Marimekko Pirput Parput black upholstery fabric, FinnStyle

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Marimekko Pirput Parput grey/white upholstery fabric, FinnStyle

Like any good blogger, I love to scour the internet for inspiration. Here’s a round-up of my findings.

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source unknown

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antique chaise by John Derian via Elle Decor

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Premier Prints Jo Jo black & white

There’s also the option of going full out fancy with Brunschwig & Fils Les Touches fabric. Isn’t this chaise great?

Furniture_26

Les Touches cane chairs

les-touches

via

I’m excited to see what I can find and what my future reupholstered chaise will look like.

Currently coveting curves

Big news, everyone: I am now a loft owner!

(P.S. This is Johanne here, not Jordana who is also a new fab home owner and welcome to crash at my loft anytime).

YES it really happened- I will be moving all of 30 steps to the next-door building at Toronto’s iZone lofts. I’m essentially going from renting a sprawling factory loft to owning one, which is a very very good thing.

With January’s move comes new furniture that will make the best use of the space. For the past five days I’ve been obsessing over half-moon sectionals – mostly because I found a beautiful designer fabric-printed 1970’s Selig sectional at Toronto’s Guff. I really, REALLY want it but am currently having some domestic debate over whether or not to buy it. Don’t you think that a semi-circle sofa is not only tres cool but also *made* for sparkling conversation? (Me too!)

Anyway, I’m barely holding off (for now!) but can’t help thinking that something like this lovely white leather number (below) would be a very fun piece. As I keep telling my partner, when else in your life will you have a half-moon sofa? Hm?

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Beliani‘s modern white leather sofa is a party sparkler, non?

Marketplace: Vintage Fine Objects

Vintage Fine Objects opened its doors just about a year ago in Toronto and it has been on the radar of many magazine editors and bloggers ever since. Owner Kevin J. Austin has – and continues to – carefully curate a collection of vintage objects to please a variety of vintage enthusiasts – the decorator, the collector, the countryman, the traditionalist (and of course, you aren’t expected to stay within any one category).

Vintage-Fine-Objects

While I do love some of the traditional wood pieces (like this drop front desk), my interest mostly lies in light, airy, versatile pieces in white.

Vintage-Fine-Objects-bamboo-cabinet

faux bamboo cabinet, $2495

tub-chair-VintageFineObjects

faux bamboo tub chair, $495

patterned glass vase-vintage-fine-objects

patterned glass vase, $39

Vintage-Fine-Objects-lamps

lucite & leopard lamps

Images courtesy of Vintage Fine Objects.

Marketplace: Sofa.Com

The people at Sofa.com call themselves the NYC Comfy Team. I love that. While I didn’t end up buying a sofa from sofa.com, I feel it’s a company worth featuring. If I lived closer to their Manhattan store, I would have scooped one up easily and quickly.

 

Bluebell-sofa

The BluebellFSBLU130HOUCOO

 

 

 

The Bluebell

jethou_2_seat_-_walnut2_mod_7

The JethouFSISL130HOUCOO

The Isla

FSLEO320HOUCOO

The Leon

FSZEU111HOUCOO

The Zeus

Thank you to Magda M. and Brian O. who answered all my questions efficiently via email.

Drop of white

I’m absolutely in love with this stunning drop lamp in the window at Zig Zag, of one of my favourite neighbourhood shops that specializes in mid-century modern furniture. Joe Graafmans, who owns the store and curates its offerings, has very good taste and the best modern lighting pieces I’ve seen in the city.

The light fixture I’m featuring here today is made in Italy by Vistosi and is an outstanding piece of art by day and night. As far as I know it’s still for sale ($1,195). I stopped by recently to admire it in the evening:

photo(7)

Image by me.

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!

Decorium-White-Cabana_1 Decorium-White-Cabana_2 Decorium-White-Cabana_3 Decorium-White-Cabana_4 Decorium-White-Cabana_5 Decorium-White-Cabana_6 Decorium-White-Cabana_7

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.

 

Outdoor Living: Patio Loungers

Reading books and taking naps under the sunshine on my balcony is one of my favourite spring/summer past times. I usually set up a foldable portable lounger that I bought at Ikea years ago. It’s fine enough but I feel like it might be about time I upgrade to a real lounger.

cabana-sun-lounger

Cabana sun lounger, $299, CB2

miami-chaise-lounge

Miami chaise lounge, $465.99, DefySupply

dreamchair2_4

Dream Chair Chaise, $549, The Home Depot

chaise-lounge-Ikea

Enholmen chaise lounge, $139, Ikea

Casam lounge-Walmart

Casam lounge, $298, Walmart

Umah-chaise-lounge

Umah chaise lounge, $372.99, DefySupply

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Harrison chaise lounge, Andrew Richard Designs

Greenwich lounger-West Elm

Greenwich lounger, $295.64, West Elm

Design: Getting Geometric

If 8 is your lucky number, then this post is for you! Eight octagons for your Monday morning!

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octagons on the ceiling, photo by Eric Laignel, via Interior Design

at-home-arkansas-lakeside-lodge-octagon-coffee-table

octagonal coffee table in this lakeside lodge

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Emtek octagon door knob

horchow-octagon-coffee-table

Horchow octagon coffee table

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Horchow octagonal mirror

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Brendan Ravenhill octagon facet lamp

Milo-Baughman-Octagonal-Etagere

Milo Baughman octagonal etagere

octagonal-lucite-table-lamp

octagonal lucite table lamp