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Bright Ideas: AM Studio
When I was pulling out of the Patina parking lot last week I happened to glance to my left and see the most stunning light fixtures shining in the window of AM Studio, a custom glass and lighting specialist. Nearly all the pieces I admired turned out to be by Israeli artist Martin Or who is clearly a master intent on pushing the boundaries of his craft. I've lead-off with the 24kt gold "crispy balls", not because they were my favorite design but because they're so damn photogenic. The 2" diameter lights are $300 each and are ordered individually then custom mounted depending on how many and what configuration suits the client's needs: they can be suspended along a rectangular plate or be dispersed on a round ceiling mount.
Full post and comments...Bigger, Better, More Patina
Saturday, December 11, 2010 by Chris
In addition to my stop at Shelter, last week's trip to Castlefield was arranged principally to check in on Patina (131 Miranda Ave., 416.862.8880), which decamped from Queen Street East last summer. Owned by partners Sal Shivji and Garry Punnett, Patina has always been one of my favorite shops in which to daydream because sadly for me, the boys deal in higher-end merchandise, nearly all of it out of my price range. But what merchadise! What taste! Unlike so many stools, the ones above are a great height and supremely comfortable in addition to being very well made ($685 each), the 1970s Italian brass and Lucite pendant will set you back $2,600.
Full post and comments...Less is More at Avenue Road
Thursday, August 5, 2010 by Chris
There are all kinds of gorgeous, high-end stores in Toronto that I've never blogged about because frankly, if I can't afford to shop there, what's the point? But I'm making an exception with Avenue Road, partly because there's such a buzz about the place, partly because it's so darn beautiful and partly because it was designed by hometown boys George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg whose stellar work is also the subject of a gorgeous new coffee table book.
Full post and comments...Splurge: Mandala Mirror at Hardware
Monday, March 29, 2010 by Chris
There wasn't much chance of me passing the amazing mandala-style mirror in the entryway of Hardware without going in to investigate. What a stunner! The sunburst is about four feet tall, constructed of wood with a faux, gold leaf finish. The $895 price seems eminently reasonable given the amount of work and materials involved. The outer ring details are reminiscent of fleur-de-lis. Hardware is also featuring mirrored, lattice-style dividing screens ($995 per panel) and an impressive mirrored drum table ($1,150). Now, that's a lot of shine!
Full post and comments...Rosedale Decor Strip: New Kids on the Block
Saturday, March 20, 2010 by Chris
As promised, here's a little survey of the newest entrants on Toronto's high-end decor strip along Yonge Street between Rosedale and Summerhill subway stations. This neck of the decorating woods is mostly out of my snack bracket and yet I find myself trolling this drag more than any other. The proximity of so many great shops is dizzying and I'm always inspired by how the goods are styled and staged in these posh, aspirational showrooms.
Full post and comments...
Friday, December 17, 2010 by Chris
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