Author Archives | stylenorthchris
stylenorthchris - who has written 729 posts on styleNorth.
StyleNorth founder Christopher Jones is a graphic designer and journalist who has written about homes for Toronto Life, the Globe and Mail, Canadian Living and the Toronto Star, among other publications. Chris has an unquenchable thirst for interior design and his stack of hard-cover, shelter porn books is taller than he is. A wannabe decorator, his home is his laboratory.
CB2 Uncorks Queen West
Given that CB2's first Canadian store is housed in a former party palace it was fitting that the company blew off the roof last night with a major opening party featuring DJs, drinks, decorating celebs and a happy crush of pretty young things. Crate & Barrel's younger sister showed off her colourful, hip style with a media preview followed by an invitational for local taste-makers. The most popular observation was about how much colour was on the floor. Atomic orange, kelly green, electric blue, triumph red, canary yellow -- CB2 turns up the volume on saturated hues that dovetail perfectly with its young, urban demographic.
Continue reading...Hardware: Inside and Out
Friday, January 20, 2012 by Chris
It's been awhile since a shop window screamed out at me to be featured in Window Dressing but the current display at Toronto's Hardware Interiors (760 Queen Street East, 416.462.3099) has editorial written all over it. Symmetry, scale, surprise, this window by shop owners Murray Duncan and Jordan Tabachnik has it all. The fierce, head-turning mask at the centre of the vignette is from a private collection being sold on consignment. It's not the sort of thing Hardware usually deals in but the shop's clientele is apparently eating it up. The Congolese Kuba Royal Mask in the window is priced at $950, the figure eight lamps are $385 each and the salvaged-wood display console is $2,100.
Continue reading...CB2 Unwraps Toronto
Sunday, January 15, 2012 by Chris
It's been under wraps for months but the two year-long renovation of the former Big Bop building at the corner of Toronto's Queen and Bathurst streets is nearly complete; this week the hustings started coming down on what will soon be furniture retailer CB2's first international location. Owned by U.S. chain Crate & Barrel, CB2's focus is on "affordable modern" home furnishings and accessories. The store opens next Saturday (January 21) following a much-anticipated press preview on Friday evening. The renovation has turned an architectural eyesore back into the graceful swan it once was. Built in the 1800s as an army barracks, the structure had many incarnations including time as a masonic temple and a United Cigar store, below in 1928. A fire destroyed the top floor and mansard roof, which were never rebuilt. At least the current reno returns the handsome red and cream brick exterior to its original grandeur.
Continue reading...Treasure Hunting in Cobourg, Ontario
Friday, January 13, 2012 by Chris
Here's a post that's been in the can for months. Back in September when I scouted Waddington's new Cobourg outpost, I went on a little treasure hunt along tiny Covert Street, which I discovered thanks to my friend Susan Forint and her SAF Affect blog. Then, before I got a chance to post my thrifty finds, I learned that I had overlooked Cobourg's biggest claim to vintage fame, the massive Legacy salvage yard. So back I went with my Ajax friends Denise and Larry who kindly provided the transport.
Continue reading...Awesome Lighting at Philz
Friday, January 6, 2012 by Chris
I didn't ask Philz proprietor Cynthia Markowitz whether this fab pendant light fell off a truck but it's the only explanation for the jaw-droppingly low price. Featuring 10 sleek black ball lights the pendant is priced at just $350. That's right, $350! I would buy it myself for a future client but if I did that every time I came across a great deal I'd be drowning in stuff. And so I pass it on to you, dear readers. If you've got the ceiling height you will never, EVER find a better deal on a fixture so sexy.
Continue reading...
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- Treasure Hunting in Cobourg, Ontario
- Awesome Lighting at Philz
Saturday, January 21, 2012 by Chris
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