http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog Real Canadians decorating Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:34:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/01/more-more-more-from-ids-12/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/01/more-more-more-from-ids-12/#comments Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:11:20 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=19680 Visitors to this year's Interior Design Show ascend to fair level through a vast curtain of felt dubbed "Strip Tease" by Toronto's RAW Design. Composed of approximately 1,300 long strips of felt that collectively tip the scale at 3,700 lbs, the purpose of the installation is not at all apparent until you enter the show and see it from the convention floor where it transforms into a giant screen for video and still image projections. (Photo above by William Suarez). There were lots of great booths and exhibits on the IDS floor and today's post features a few of my favorites.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/01/more-more-more-from-ids-12/feed/ 6 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/01/ids-a-few-of-my-favorite-things/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/01/ids-a-few-of-my-favorite-things/#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:43:39 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=19636 This is NOT a comprehensive look at this year's Interior Design Show in Toronto. By 11 pm, after an entire day of talks and exhibitions — including a guided tour of the Gladstone Hotel's annual Come Up to My Room — I was knocked down and dragged out. Lineups dissuaded me from touring the always popular IDS demonstration spaces (How Do You Live?) and I completely missed the DesignGenNext, the show of promising student work from Ryerson, Sheridan, OCAD, Humber and George Brown. Even without those pieces of the puzzle my IDS experience was exhilarating. This year, I started with the Studio North exhibition of new work by Canadian designers and Prototype, a launching pad for innovative new products.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/01/ids-a-few-of-my-favorite-things/feed/ 1 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/12/mod-pieces-old-lamps-get-a-new-lease/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/12/mod-pieces-old-lamps-get-a-new-lease/#comments Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:20:48 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=19211 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.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/12/mod-pieces-old-lamps-get-a-new-lease/feed/ 5 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/11/karen-js-big-ambition/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/11/karen-js-big-ambition/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:33:49 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=19020 I've been stopping by the Mosaicworks blog ever since I discovered Karen Johnston's wonderful work back in 2008 and when I saw her latest post I just knew I had to pick it up. Karen usually crafts her beautiful mosaic mirrors in her basement studio but her latest project, the biggest piece she has tackled to date, could only be done in her dining room. Karen's beautiful, time-consuming pieces aren't cheap so I shudder to think what this custom monster would have cost; at least we know the buyer has money and taste, a rare combination. ]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/11/karen-js-big-ambition/feed/ 3 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/11/bev-hisey-studio-sale-this-weekend/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/11/bev-hisey-studio-sale-this-weekend/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:54:47 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=19013 With a storefront facing Trinity Bellwoods Park not far from Ossington Avenue, Toronto textile designer Bev Hisey doesn't need to do the One of a Kind Show (on now until December 4 at Direct Energy Centre), she just has to throw open her door. And that's exactly what she's doing this weekend with her annual Studio Sale (Saturday 11 am - 6 pm and Sunday 12 - 5 pm). Featuring cut rate prices on some of her most popular designs Bev all but promises you won't walk away empty handed. I'll be there for sure, hopefully ahead of you in line for the best stuff. Foundstyle is teaming up with Bev to do a mini pop-up store of vintage treasures just to keep things extra interesting.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/11/bev-hisey-studio-sale-this-weekend/feed/ 2 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/08/collectors-find-outlet-with-moderncraze/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/08/collectors-find-outlet-with-moderncraze/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:23:51 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=17811 I'm not certain how I ended up there but I recently stumbled upon Moderncraze, an online vintage shop based right here in Toronto. The store was established in April by life-long treasure hunter Larysa Fenyn whose living room is pictured. Larysa has been haunting flea markets and auctions all her life and like many collectors, she finally came to the conclusion that she could/should get into the business of flipping her fabulous finds. She has partnered with two similarly inclined friends to keep Moderncraze stocked with decorative arts and jewelry. There's very little furniture but lots of great, well-priced smalls.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/08/collectors-find-outlet-with-moderncraze/feed/ 4 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/06/sweet-dreams-are-made-of-silk/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/06/sweet-dreams-are-made-of-silk/#comments Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:33:30 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=17204 When Cilque asked me to give their sheets a try I was keen. I'd actually been on the lookout for a quality sheet set in ivory to go with my crewel bedspread; it so happens that Cilque's creme brulee colour is a perfect match. And although the sheets are cool on the skin, everything I've read about silk's thermal properties suggests they'll be cozy and warm in the winter, too. Silk is nature's strongest natural fiber and these well-made sheets, consisting of 19 momme weight Chinese silk, are machine washable, although they must be hung to dry after a short tumble on low heat. The only caveat I'll put forward is that Cilque sheets are so, well, silky, that it's hard to keep them tucked in; the bedspread wants to slide right off and the top sheet likes to glide out from beneath the mattress. But it's a small price to pay for cool comfort on a warm summer night.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/06/sweet-dreams-are-made-of-silk/feed/ 2 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/05/upmarket-in-a-small-town/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/05/upmarket-in-a-small-town/#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 11:10:49 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=16966 When I was in Northumberland County to tour Sheree and Clive's colourful country place, I stopped into nearby Warkworth where I was surprised to find the recently opened Toyls of Labur, a very downtown sort of emporium specializing in "goods manufactured by longstanding firms." The store's merchandise is united by quality and tradition rather than by utility; at Toyls of Labur you'll find everything from vases and cushions to housewares, grooming tools and fashion accessories. All the goods come from firms that have been in business for at least three generations.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/05/upmarket-in-a-small-town/feed/ 4 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/03/trashbonbon-concrete-cool/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/03/trashbonbon-concrete-cool/#comments Sun, 20 Mar 2011 11:29:26 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=16503 INabstracto's Kate Eisen threw herself a party yesterday afternoon to celebrate becoming the first Toronto retailer to carry the TRASHbonbon line of urban furniture and accents. The impossibly cool concrete and graffiti tables, bowls and vases are the brainchild of Montreal designer Julie St-Laurent who employs a stable of street artists to decorate each one-of-a-kind piece. The coffee table, in light concrete, is embellished by Astro, whose signature tag appears on the inside face of the cast base.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/03/trashbonbon-concrete-cool/feed/ 0 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/03/a-modern-day-rumplestiltskin/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/03/a-modern-day-rumplestiltskin/#comments Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:38:35 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=16415 The pencil mirror was delightful enough but the moment I saw Karen Johnston's new ruler mirror, below, I knew I had to blog about her wonderful work for a second time. The Whitby, Ontario-based artist continues to push the boundaries of her craft, experimenting with ever more surprising materials. Talk about adding value! Johnston is a modern day Rumplestiltskin spinning straw into gold. Her work is available exclusively through Toronto's posh 1212 or through Johnston's own website where you'll find a client gallery of images showing how the mirrors look in the purchaser's homes.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/03/a-modern-day-rumplestiltskin/feed/ 6