Chris | styleNorth

Welcome 2012!

Sunday, January 1, 2012 by Chris

How sweet it is to be greeting the new year in my new home. Never mind the chaos of clutter and boxes lurking at the edges of the frame below, I'll get to that soon enough. The important thing is that my move went off with nary a hitch on Friday thanks to the amazing Tome brothers, John and Joe who I've used for my past five moves. Lightning fast, the Tomes and their two young assistants showed up at 7:30 am and were on their way to their next job at 11:15 am. If you're in the Toronto area and you need a mover I cannot recommend these guys more highly -- totally reliable, totally professional (416.802.8266).

Real Style on a Real Budget

Sunday, December 25, 2011 by Chris

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Today's post is a Christmas present to myself, the big reveal after a one-month makeover of a home in Oakville, Ontario. My client, Nikola, is a 28-year-old bachelor with a three-bedroom, detached home in a newish development. The location screams suburbs but Nikola wanted a space that was "modern and trendy, incorporating 'unique' vintage pieces and original art," according to the brief I distilled from our initial meeting. The client's wishlist included a revamp of the living room, dining room and master bedroom, if possible, on a budget of $5,000, which would include my 30 per cent decorating fee.

For the Dog Lover on Your List

Monday, December 19, 2011 by Chris

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Poking around Toronto's W.R. Antiques (179 Queen Street East, 416.504.6900) awhile back I was struck by how much dog art shop owner Winnie Runnquist has accumulated. Bronzes, cast iron sculptures, bookends, ceramics, paintings -- if dogs are your thing or a passion of someone on your Christmas list, then W.R. is a great spot to find something special for under the tree. I wouldn't suggest that Runnquist has every breed covered but her range is impressive and her prices are reasonable; the beautiful cast iron Spaniel is $195 . . .

Mod Pieces: Old Lamps Get A New Lease

Friday, December 16, 2011 by Chris

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Lia Fagan's timing could not have been better. The proprietor of Mod Pieces wrote to me several weeks ago promoting her business restyling vintage lamps and constructing custom lampshades. Well, it just so happens that Lia is based in Burlington, Ontario, around the corner from my latest decorating client in Oakville for whom I had sourced some amazing vintage lamps that required shades. Lia used the frame and fabric I provided to construct a new shade that better suits the room in which it now resides. She charged $75 for the reconstruction, an extremely reasonable rate, as anyone who has bought shades recently will know.

Craigslist Deja Vu

Thursday, December 15, 2011 by Chris

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This morning I saw an ad on Craigslist that really took me back. This Duncan Phyfe is a dead ringer for the table that became my first big refinishing project, my trial by fire. Because of its condition, the table above is selling for just $30, which makes it an ideal candidate for someone like me with more ambition than brains who wants to get his or her hands dirty and learn a helluva lot about refinishing. And while I'm definitely tempted, I don't have the space or inclination to take this on right now. What about you? You might end up with a something you can be proud of, I know I was when my table, below, finally emerged from the fire.

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Welcome 2012!

Real Style on a Real Budget

For the Dog Lover on Your List

Mod Pieces: Old Lamps Get A New Lease

Craigslist Deja Vu

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