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Tag Archive | "Inspiration"

Africa on Queen

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

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Kiondo, a Toronto gallery specializing in African art and decor items isn't exactly new but with no storefront signage, the shop has been flying a little under the radar. Business owner Chris Johnson has been importing crafts and art from Africa — mostly from around the Guinea Coast — since 1988, selling privately to dealers and designers before opening Kiondo in 2009. A painter and illustrator, he's something of an accidental retailer having fallen into the business by happenstance. Johnson shares the shop at 323 Queen Street East (416.533.9959) with his wife, jewelry designer Laura Serrafero (Eles Designs).

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Accentuate the Positive

Sunday, August 7, 2011

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When it comes to reinventing vintage casegoods, nobody does it better than Toronto's Burnett. What shop owners Cathy and Gordon Runge do with a bit of black, white or gray paint impresses the hell out of me; they don't merely revive shabby tables and cabinets, they reinvent them. I grilled Cathy for tips on how to tackle such a project and here's what she had to say . . .

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Nothing LaZ About This Makeover

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

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As I mentioned in my posts about my first upholstery class at RE:Style Studio, my workshop buddy was a rock 'n' roll dad from Hamilton named Jay who hauled his beat-up La-Z-Boy recliner into the city hoping to give it a new lease on life and learn as much as he could in the process. Can you imagine tackling something this complicated for your very first project? Well, Jay was up for the challenge and he was in good hands with instructor Andrea Ford, who helped him wrestle — sometimes rather literally — that chair into submission.

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The View From Your Bed?

Monday, July 25, 2011

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One of the many things that impressed me on my tour of the Deck House earlier this month was the art wall assembled opposite the homeowner's bed. I've always paid special attention to this prime focal point, one that few visitors ever see but which we enjoy night after night, morning after morning. At the moment my Jules Cavailles still life is propped on the dresser at the foot of my bed along with some cherished family photos. What's at the foot of your bed?

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Blame it on Venus

Thursday, July 7, 2011

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I had to laugh this morning when I checked my online horoscope and found the following description for the period July 1 - 18, 2011: "This is usually a peaceful time, when you will enjoy quiet hours at home, either alone or entertaining guests and feeling at ease. . . Redecorating is often undertaken under this influence. You want your home to be elegant or gay and light. Fortunately, you are usually quite sensitive and in tune with your inner feelings, so that your home decorating efforts should be satisfactory. Try to avoid the usual tendency to do things lavishly or expensively, and keep practical considerations in mind." As it happens, I enjoyed the July 1 long weekend so much that I decided to take this week off work. I've been enjoying quiet time at home completing projects and yes, redecorating.

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