Design: Alessi Gets Dressed

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

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

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

Dressed sugar bowl, $121

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Dressed butter dish, $99

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Dressed egg cup, $66

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Dressed table set, $121

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Dressed spoon with soft boiled egg opener, $44

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

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

Marketplace: Swarovski Crystal and Traditions

Swarovski - The Magic of Crystal

Before I could barely even string a sentence together, my mom taught about Swarovski crystal. I know, right? She tells me stories of going to the Swarovski factory in Austria when I was quite young and buying pairs of Swarovski animals. There was always a pair – one for me and one for my sister, she said.

She hasn’t added to her collection in quite some time, so this past Christmas, I thought I should spoil her. I picked up a couple of sweet little animals to add to her collection. Swarovski‘s growing collection is amazing…as is my mom’s! Here’s a peek into her collection…

Swarovski-White-Cabana-1

a pair of crystal squirrels

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a pair of bears

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a pair of bunnies

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a hedgehog (this one might be my favourite!)

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a kangaroo (my sister brought this one back from Australia)

View the entire collection at Swarovski.

Photos by me.

The Friday Five: A Collection of Interiors

I recently learned about InCollect – a website that has an incredible collection of photos of interiors, decorative arts, furniture, and fine art. I pulled five images of impressive white interiors from designers around the world.

city-retreat

city retreat – design by Jessica Lagrange Interiors

Suzanne-Lovell-LakeHouse

lake house – design by Suzanne Lovell

Miraval Living Campion Platt Interiors

Miraval Living – Campion Platt Interiors

robert-courturier

midtown apartment – Robert Courturier

Suzanne Kasler

chic – Suzanne Kasler

I’m sure you’d be able to spend a good chunk of your weekend browsing the site. There is so much to see!

Photos via InCollect.

Celebration: Fall Tablescape

My fall decor this year consists of a cake plate piled high with little white(ish) pumpkins. I like to keep things simple as you could probably imagine.

Jordana’s pumpkin collection

When I have people over for dinner though I might just have to replicate the tablescape that Shannon created in her home.

via AKA Design

It’s so inviting, don’t you think?

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.

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