http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog Real Canadians decorating Fri, 17 May 2013 19:06:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/08/junction-design-crawl-friday/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/08/junction-design-crawl-friday/#comments Wed, 22 Aug 2012 10:43:10 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=20779 Some of the more design-focused retailers in Toronto's Junction neighbourhood have banded together and are hosting the Junction Design Crawl this Friday evening (August 24) from 7 - 11 pm. White lights will be strung outside participating shops which include SMASH, Mason, Russet & Empire, ARTiculations, Mjölk, Opticianado, Phillipa C. Photography and Narwhal. Other local faves like Williams (358 Keele Street) are likely to stay open late to take advantage of the traffic and interest. I've been wanting to feature the gorgeous, 1940s Shaw-Walker chairs, above, at SMASH ($400 each) and this event gave me the perfect opportunity. See you in the Junction!]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/08/junction-design-crawl-friday/feed/ 4 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/08/dear-stylenorth-t-o-shopping-trip/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/08/dear-stylenorth-t-o-shopping-trip/#comments Fri, 03 Aug 2012 10:38:49 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=20609 StyleNorth reader Kim wrote to ask for help planning a trip to T.O. "I'm a Montrealer coming to Toronto for one short day - my dream is to hit as many unique home decor stores as possible. Do you happen to have an address book of your favorite shops? I'm happy to comply with this stroll through Leslieville.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/08/dear-stylenorth-t-o-shopping-trip/feed/ 11 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/09/yard-sale-extravaganza/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/09/yard-sale-extravaganza/#comments Fri, 10 Sep 2010 10:48:10 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=14472 If you can't make it to Dundas for the Christie Antiques Show tomorrow, fear not, the annual Cabbagetown Festival turns this historic neighbourhood into one giant yard sale, probably the best of the year in Toronto. Parliament Street will be packed with vendors hawking this, that and the other -- the real goods are to be found up and down the quaint Victorian streets east of there stretching all the way to the Toronto Necropolis. If I wasn't on the road I would definitely be rooting among the Cabbages. Have fun and report back if you score something fabulous.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/09/yard-sale-extravaganza/feed/ 5 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/04/it-started-so-innocently/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/04/it-started-so-innocently/#comments Sun, 25 Apr 2010 18:04:04 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=13902 All hail serendipity! A few months back I was mooching through Toronto's Riverside and Leslieville neighbourhoods, popping in and out of furnishing shops, as is my want. At Elbers Antiques (777 Queen Street East, 416.466.3938) I spotted the pretty terrific brass and marble impala bust at left. I admired the piece, noted the $85 price, then moved on. Several shops later, I stopped in at Fred (1091 Queen Street East) where, rather remarkably, I found the awesome brass impala bookends below for $45. I walked away from both items but they stayed with me and a few days later I went back to play let's make a deal.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/04/it-started-so-innocently/feed/ 5 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/03/rosedale-decor-strip-new-kids-on-the-block/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/03/rosedale-decor-strip-new-kids-on-the-block/#comments Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:05:16 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=13689 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.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/03/rosedale-decor-strip-new-kids-on-the-block/feed/ 4 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/11/fred-ethels-coming-out-party/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/11/fred-ethels-coming-out-party/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:34:27 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=13157 The signage may be familiar but inside Leslieville's Ethel big changes have been taking shape. Store co-founders Greg Perras and Craig Soper have sold the business to new proprietor Shauntelle LeBlanc, who has been gradually putting her stamp on the place over the past month. Meanwhile, Perras has moved upstairs and opened Fred, a new and vintage furnishing shop specializing in rustic modern pieces including contemporary shelving and cabinetry made from reclaimed wood by Sandro D'Ulisse (Loft65). "If Ethel is a romantic comedy," says Perras, "Fred is more film noir."]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/11/fred-ethels-coming-out-party/feed/ 6 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/09/aberfoyle-antique-market/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/09/aberfoyle-antique-market/#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:05:25 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=11933 Several weeks ago, on a fine, fine Sunday morning — much like the one forecast for this weekend — Mike and I went for a first-class mooch at the Aberfoyle Antique Market, an hour west of Toronto, just north of highway 401. Aberfoyle runs Sundays (until October 25) from 8 am – 4 pm and attracts a regular slate of about 100 dealers. The site is a leafy, pleasant mix of permanent and makeshift stalls and the vibe is extremely laid-back and friendly.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/09/aberfoyle-antique-market/feed/ 4 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/09/they-dont-build-em-like-this-anymore/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/09/they-dont-build-em-like-this-anymore/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:04:20 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=11844 On Saturday, while whizzing up Toronto's posh Avenue Road, I happened to notice several old-style apartment houses with rather grand facades. South of St. Clair Avenue, the buildings run along Avenue Road and Clarendon and St. Edmund Avenues. This may not be decorating but it certainly is decoration. I've always fantasized about coming home to a building that's as well-dressed outside as it is inside.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/09/they-dont-build-em-like-this-anymore/feed/ 1 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/07/stroll-notre-dame-west-montreal/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/07/stroll-notre-dame-west-montreal/#comments Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:16:09 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=10986 After Rue Amherst, our number two priority in Montreal was to survey Notre-Dame West where about 25 antique dealers trade wares ranging from 20th century kitsch (Retro-Ville, No. 2652) to sublime 18th, 19th and 20th century rarities (Milord, above and below, No. 1870). The so-called Quartier des Antiquaires de Montreal (Antiques Quarter) exhausted us, there was just so much to see. ]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/07/stroll-notre-dame-west-montreal/feed/ 3 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/07/strolls-rue-amherst-montreal/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/07/strolls-rue-amherst-montreal/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:56:14 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=10896 One big reason for our trip to Montreal last week was my desire to cover Rue Amherst, the city's amazing stretch of 20th century vintage shops (read mid-century modern). Toronto has Queen Street East for MCM, Montreal has Rue Amherst. The shopping starts north of Rue de Maisonneuve Est and runs for three blocks up the hill toward Sherbrooke Street.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/07/strolls-rue-amherst-montreal/feed/ 9