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Collectors Find Outlet with Moderncraze

Tuesday, August 9, 2011 by Chris

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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.

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Sweet Dreams Are Made of Silk

Thursday, June 9, 2011 by Chris

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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.

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Upmarket in a Small Town

Wednesday, May 11, 2011 by Chris

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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.

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TRASHbonbon: Concrete Cool

Sunday, March 20, 2011 by Chris

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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.

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A Modern Day Rumplestiltskin

Thursday, March 10, 2011 by Chris

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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.

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