http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog Real Canadians decorating Wed, 22 May 2013 10:11:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2013/04/new-thrifter-blogs-worth-checking-out/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2013/04/new-thrifter-blogs-worth-checking-out/#comments Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:37:14 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=21989 Recent styleNorth convert Aleysa wrote to give me a head's up about her new blog the Listings List, a curatorial peak at Toronto's online classifieds. Like Take this Sofa and Montreal Digs, Aleysa scours the local classifieds -- in her case, Toronto -- for high style at low prices. Aleysa appears to have a pretty good eye and she isn't just looking at furnishings, she's even digging into car and bicycle listings. Give the Listings List a look. I also had a note from thrifting enthusiast Connie who has created a facebook page called Furnish it With Vintage dedicated her finds and transformations. Good luck ladies and keep the inspiration coming!]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2013/04/new-thrifter-blogs-worth-checking-out/feed/ 13 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/12/christmas-came-early/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/12/christmas-came-early/#comments Sun, 23 Dec 2012 13:43:16 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=21266 Recently, I was contacted by a publicist on behalf of FujiFilm who said the company wanted me to try out their retro-sexy, new XF1 camera. That's right, they wanted to give me a free digital camera and all they wanted in return was some feedback, my impressions on the product's performance. I was very clear that I would not blog about it unless I was truly sold on the camera's merits. I'll have the perfect opportunity to test it out in India where I'm headed for a two-week road trip beginning this afternoon. I'll digest the user manual on the plane and hopefully be ready to shoot when I hit the ground on the other side of the world.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/12/christmas-came-early/feed/ 7 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/05/picasso-via-homesense/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/05/picasso-via-homesense/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 10:41:08 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=20196 Last week I was lucky enough to attend the press preview for the Art Gallery of Ontario's new blockbuster exhibition, Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris. As usual, I took special interest in the post-show gift shop and I was flabbergasted by the inexplicable selection of faux Parisian tchotchkes and assorted kitchen clutter, most of which had nothing, and I mean NOTHING to do with Picasso. Yes, there were glasses, mugs and snack plates adorned with the master's whimsical line drawings but candles, soaps and pillows? It felt like a Homesense tribute to Paris. Very weird.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/05/picasso-via-homesense/feed/ 8 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/10/apartment-hunting/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/10/apartment-hunting/#comments Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:13:20 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=18779 The bad news is I have to move again. Noise issues at my current address are driving me mad. After two moves last year, there's nothing I'd like more than to stay put but an already bad situation is getting worse. It's time to go. The good news is maybe one of you can help. I'm looking for a decent 1 bedroom apartment downtown, in the Annex or Dundas/Queen West. I'd like to hold my rent to around $1,200 - $1,300. I'm clean, quiet and respectful with no pets and I don't smoke or play loud music. I have a good, stable job and excellent references. Please help if you can! Thanks in advance.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/10/apartment-hunting/feed/ 4 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/10/aristocrat-lighting-r-i-p/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/10/aristocrat-lighting-r-i-p/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:33:25 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=18749 Toronto's best bargain lighting shop had been threatening to close for at least a year but the owners of Aristocrat kept pushing the date back. I thought we, meaning Toronto consumers, had until the end of the year but I was saddly mistaken. I took a trip down to Aristocrat on Saturday to find the place shuttered; a man in a van who identified himself as a former employee informed me that the shop closed for good about a week and a half ago. To say I was crestfallen might be a little overly dramatic but it's a horrible loss. I had been shopping at Aristocrat for more than five years; it was one of the first shops I blogged about on styleNorth back in June 2008, I was so excited to share this awesome resource with my fledgling readers. And now it's all gone.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/10/aristocrat-lighting-r-i-p/feed/ 10 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/09/whats-new-whats-now-at-iidexneocon/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/09/whats-new-whats-now-at-iidexneocon/#comments Sat, 24 Sep 2011 11:35:08 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=18516 While January’s Interior Design Show encompasses residential spaces and applications, IIDEX is much more focused on contract architecture, landscape and hospitality design with lots of trade-only seminars. IIDEX/NeoCon is where designers and commercial buyers come to source the latest materials, textiles, wall and floor coverings, lighting and storage systems. Sustainability continues to dominate the design world with revolutionary materials and new technologies stealing most of the thunder. Think: Material (above) is this year’s showcase of innovative wall and flooring materials made from everything from coconut shells and sugarcane pulp to new polymers, laminates and recycled glass.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/09/whats-new-whats-now-at-iidexneocon/feed/ 0 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/09/september-brings-christie-antiques-show/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/09/september-brings-christie-antiques-show/#comments Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:46:07 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=18193 The Christie Antiques Show is back this Saturday (September 10) with more than 300 dealers hawking Canada's biggest selection of vintage and antique furnishings and accessories. Located at the Christie Conservation Area in Dundas, Ontario, the show spreads out over 10 acres. See my tips for making the most of your day here. I can't predict the weather five days from now but I can guarantee great bargains and a fun, exciting atmosphere.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/09/september-brings-christie-antiques-show/feed/ 5 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/08/my-new-blog/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/08/my-new-blog/#comments Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:37:04 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=18074 Some of you noted my absence from styleNorth earlier this month but I wasn't kicking back at a cottage, I was working harder than ever trying to get my new blog off the ground, ThisLittleVegan.ca. Back in the spring I was seeing a Naturopath about a variety of complaints — stomach problems, lethargy, arthritis — and after three appointments my ND broached the subject of an alkaline diet (rich in fruits and vegetables) versus an acid diet (rich in meat, dairy and grains). “A vegan diet (alkaline) will help combat ALL of your symptoms,” he said. “I know it sounds radical and yes, it would be a big adjustment but the anti-inflammatory benefits can be massive if you’re willing to give it a try.” And so I did . . .]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/08/my-new-blog/feed/ 9 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/07/milton-antiques-expo/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/07/milton-antiques-expo/#comments Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:19:28 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=17749 The folks who run the Christie Antiques Show are getting ready for their summer fair next weekend (July 23) outside Milton, Ontario. Staged at Country Heritage Park, just off the 401 at 8560 Tremaine Road, Gadsden’s Midsummer Antique Expo has lined up 120 dealers from Ontario, Quebec and PEI bringing a selection of antiques, collectibles, retro design and art; $10 admission, kids get in free.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/07/milton-antiques-expo/feed/ 2 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/06/fabricland-closeout-sale/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/06/fabricland-closeout-sale/#comments Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:14:29 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=17524 The Fabricland location in Toronto's Hudson's Bay Centre (2 Bloor Street East) is in the midst of a major closing sale with discounts starting at 50 per cent and going up (down?) from there. I stopped in on Sunday to scout fabric for my new daybed but didn't fall in love with anything. Which is not to say that I went home empty handed; I bought a great pair of sewing scissors and a good hot-glue gun, both for half price. And you can bet I had to line-up to make the purchase, I've never seen that normally sleepy basement outlet so jammed with happy shoppers.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/06/fabricland-closeout-sale/feed/ 0