RSS

Tag Archive | "Accessories"

Hardware: Inside and Out

Friday, January 20, 2012

4 Comments

It's been awhile since a shop window screamed out at me to be featured in Window Dressing but the current display at Toronto's Hardware Interiors (760 Queen Street East, 416.462.3099) has editorial written all over it. Symmetry, scale, surprise, this window by shop owners Murray Duncan and Jordan Tabachnik has it all. The fierce, head-turning mask at the centre of the vignette is from a private collection being sold on consignment. It's not the sort of thing Hardware usually deals in but the shop's clientele is apparently eating it up. The Congolese Kuba Royal Mask in the window is priced at $950, the figure eight lamps are $385 each and the salvaged-wood display console is $2,100.

Full post and comments...

For the Dog Lover on Your List

Monday, December 19, 2011

4 Comments

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 . . .

Full post and comments...

Rust Never Sleeps

Friday, December 9, 2011

2 Comments

I like to think I'm a pretty good listener but there's no guarantee I'll actually take the advice you're giving me. A case in point is the large metal starburst sculpture that has adorned my balcony since moving into my current apartment. When I hung it up, my decorating buddy Kevin advised me to clear coat it first lest it rust in the elements. "Oh, I'm not worried about that," I said, or something to that effect. Well, now I've found a potentially better use for the star — this kind of metal relief sculpture is suddenly hot again with the ascendance of C. Jere, et al — and Kevin is singing the "I Told You So" chorus. When I pulled it down yesterday, I discovered that the piece was indeed covered in rust. It took me about two hours to revive it with Blue Magic, steel wool and some abrasive pads.

Full post and comments...

Karen J’s Big Ambition

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

3 Comments

I've been stopping by the Mosaicworks blog ever since I discovered Karen Johnston's wonderful work back in 2008 and when I saw her latest post I just knew I had to pick it up. Karen usually crafts her beautiful mosaic mirrors in her basement studio but her latest project, the biggest piece she has tackled to date, could only be done in her dining room. Karen's beautiful, time-consuming pieces aren't cheap so I shudder to think what this custom monster would have cost; at least we know the buyer has money and taste, a rare combination.

Full post and comments...

G3 Living: Big City Style in a Small Town

Friday, November 25, 2011

9 Comments

Home décor retailer Gilles Charette isn’t reinventing the wheel: he does his buying at the same gift and tableware shows his competitors frequent, albeit flying further afield to the big shows in New York and Atlanta in an effort to keep his stock fresh. But what really sets Charette’s G3 Living apart is its location in tiny Picton, Ontario, in the heart of Prince Edward County. Time was when discerning locals would have to drive to Toronto or Montreal to do the kind of shopping that is now available on their own doorstep. Charette says he took his inspiration for G3 Living from his favorite home stores, namely Toronto’s Teatro Verde and Vancouver’s Liberty: “It's about the product mix and the vibe of the entire space, it has to be inspiring,” stresses the merchant.

Full post and comments...
« Previous Entries