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/treasure-hunting-in-cobourg/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/01/treasure-hunting-in-cobourg/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:20:03 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=19483 Here's a post that's been in the can for months. Back in September when I scouted Waddington's new Cobourg outpost, I went on a little treasure hunt along tiny Covert Street, which I discovered thanks to my friend Susan Forint and her SAF Affect blog. Then, before I got a chance to post my thrifty finds, I learned that I had overlooked Cobourg's biggest claim to vintage fame, the massive Legacy salvage yard. So back I went with my Ajax friends Denise and Larry who kindly provided the transport.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2012/01/treasure-hunting-in-cobourg/feed/ 7 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/12/for-the-dog-lover-on-your-list/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/12/for-the-dog-lover-on-your-list/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:05:06 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=19252 Poking around Toronto's W.R. Antiques (179 Queen Street East, 416.504.6900) awhile back I was struck by how much dog art shop owner Winnie Runnquist has accumulated. Bronzes, cast iron sculptures, bookends, ceramics, paintings -- if dogs are your thing or a passion of someone on your Christmas list, then W.R. is a great spot to find something special for under the tree. I wouldn't suggest that Runnquist has every breed covered but her range is impressive and her prices are reasonable; the beautiful cast iron Spaniel is $195 . . .]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/12/for-the-dog-lover-on-your-list/feed/ 4 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/10/a-red-letter-mooch/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/10/a-red-letter-mooch/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:26:10 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=18696 My friend Ingrid and I took advantage of the glorious summery weather on Saturday and headed to the Aberfoyle Antiques Market outside Guelph, Ontario (about 1 hour west of Toronto). For some reason we encountered a plethora of old sign letters, always a hot home accessory. My decorating partner Kevin recently spelled out the word "modern" on a client's wall, which they then edited back to simply "mod" — yes, you can have lots of fun with these things. I'm constantly seeing children's names spelled out in nurseries; I wonder if putting the word "serenity" in my bedroom would have a positive effect. If you entertain such notions, definitely head to Aberfoyle where you'll find plenty of fodder for your Scrabble-inspired flights of fancy. The letters range in price from about $10 - $12 for smaller letters to $30 - $40 for really big, free standing ones.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/10/a-red-letter-mooch/feed/ 8 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/08/thoughts-on-selecting-an-upholsterer/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/08/thoughts-on-selecting-an-upholsterer/#comments Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:14:17 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=18105 A quick post on my recent re-upholstery experience, which ended well, all things considered. I solicited five quotes and got back only two, one for $725, the other for $350. Two of the craftsmen — yes, they were all men — are old school and don't do email, the others I sent photos of the daybed with dimensions and specific requirements. I know some mid-century collectors who highly recommended Steve’s Custom Company (235 Carlaw Ave., 416-462-0218) but Steve, an older gent with probably 30 years experience, would only give me a quote when he saw the job. So I schlepped the daybed over to him and was satisfied with his price of $450. ]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/08/thoughts-on-selecting-an-upholsterer/feed/ 14 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/08/now-you-see-it-now-you-dont/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/08/now-you-see-it-now-you-dont/#comments Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:14:57 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=17982 Passing by Toronto's Office & Shop Furniture yesterday I was stopped in my tracks by the window display of the new Pasha Chair from Italy's Pedrali. Where Philippe Stark borrowed an open-armed, medallion-back design for his ubiquitous Louis Ghost Chair, Pedrali goes for the full-on Bergere. What's so striking is how thin and impossibly sexy the molded polycarbonate is; priced at $560 each, the chair is brand new to North America and comes in black, white, clear or smoked with a fabric seat cushion for added comfort. But that wasn't the only thing I was jazzed about at the Office Shop . . .]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/08/now-you-see-it-now-you-dont/feed/ 4 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/04/on-trend-gyroscope-pendants/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/04/on-trend-gyroscope-pendants/#comments Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:33:26 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=16758 Gyroscope-inspired pendant lamps have taken the design world by storm; the shots, left, are from the April 2011 issues of Style at Home (photo by Stacey Van Berkel-Haines), House Beautiful, obviously (photo by Francesco Lagnese) and Canadian House and Home (photo by Michael Graydon). Why gyroscopes and why now? The answer is anybody's guess; it's one of those crazy, decorating zeitgeist things, like suzanis or capiz chandeliers or Beni Ourain carpets, out of nowhere they're suddenly everywhere. Last week, I hit the streets of Toronto to find great local examples in a range of materials and price points.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/04/on-trend-gyroscope-pendants/feed/ 4 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/03/he-sells-seashells/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/03/he-sells-seashells/#comments Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:28:23 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=16637 I was scouting on Friday for a couple of upcoming projects and couldn't help noticing the plethora of nautilus-inspired decorative items at Toronto's Chair, Table, Lamp (1156 Yonge St., 416-934-1021) where the sales girl confirmed that shop owner Kevin J. Austin has a bit of a fetish for seashells (maybe a longing to be at the beach instead of on the shady side of Yonge Street). The silver plated, footed dish is $69.95 but Austin's extensive selection of shells in various materials and colours comes at just about every price point, all the way down to $11.95.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/03/he-sells-seashells/feed/ 3 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/02/dear-stylenorth-3/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/02/dear-stylenorth-3/#comments Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:13:11 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=16149 The power of the internet never ceases to amaze me. StyleNorth reader Sarah recently left a comment on a two-year-old post called The Dog House about my and my former partner's passion for dog art. In the post, Sarah spotted a print titled W.C. Privé, which I found at an estate sale and really love (it hangs in my bathroom, appropriately enough). The point of this post is that Sarah knew all about the art and the artist -- she owns three prints in the series, left -- while I knew absolutely nothing aside from the fact that the estate seller said he purchased the print in Paris. The signature is indecipherable.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/02/dear-stylenorth-3/feed/ 3 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/01/dynamite-dinette-sets/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/01/dynamite-dinette-sets/#comments Sun, 09 Jan 2011 15:30:37 +0000 Chris http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=15784 I've come across a trio of well-priced, retro dinette sets recently that I thought I'd share with you. As much as the idea of a dinette set seems old hat, I think good sets like these are poised for a comeback since they're perfect for today's small condos. Okay, they're not elegant dining suites, but how many people with one-bedroom apartments ever serve dinner for more than four? Tea for two is probably more like it. Hence the practicality of a table in the 36" - 42" size range. My favorite of the bunch is this set at Toronto consignment shop Anything Goes in Cumberland Terrace. OMG, how I love those adorable, yellow flower seats (or are they four-leaf clovers?)! The set is Italian and the seats are beautifully stitched leather, not vinyl or naughahyde; the legs have charming little ball feet and the ultra-simplified backs with their single post and curving rests are the essence of modernism.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2011/01/dynamite-dinette-sets/feed/ 7 http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/01/continuum-transformation-inspiration/ http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/01/continuum-transformation-inspiration/#comments Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:07:20 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=13510 Continuum, a new decor store at Pape and Danforth in Toronto, is not what I expect from a "vintage" shop. For one thing, a lot of the inventory isn't especially old, it just isn't brand new. And much of the stock has been reborn under the fearless direction of store owner Daina Liepa who has a definite knack for updating tired furnishings.]]> http://www.stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/01/continuum-transformation-inspiration/feed/ 5