{ Archive for March, 2009 }

new sarah richardson tonight!

sarahrichardson new sarah richardson tonight!

Yes, readers, the buzz is true. Sarah’s trading in her signature high heels for, well… Not-so-high heels.

Making its debut on HGTV tonight (YAY!), Sarah’s Cottage sees the divine Ms Richardson take Tommy and the gang on a trek through cottage country — an island 20 kilometres offshore, in fact — to tackle her very own northern getaway. 

 

Sarah’s husband bought a bachelor shack on a tiny island off the coast of Parry Sound, Ont., a few years back, and now it’s getting the Design Inc. treatment, with more than a hint of “green” thrown in as well. The cottage will be loaded with off-the-grid goodness, including a combination of solar, wind and propane power, and other savvy design solutions. Can’t wait to see what Sarah and Tommy have in store for this summer escape!

The best news of all? Style At Home magazine has the exclusive reveal of Sarah’s Cottage coming up in the July 2009 issue! On stands in early June (although subscribers will be getting it at the end of May, you lucky ducks), it’s just one more reason to get ‘cited for summer!

Sarah’s Cottage, Tuesdays at 9PM EST, HGTV

restaurant makeover — ultra style!

wholeroom restaurant makeover — ultra style!

 

Goodbye, Ultra Supper Club; hello Ultra! The radical redesign and rebranding of Toronto’s elegant eatery reestablishes Ultra as the place to see and be seen in the hip Queen & Soho neighbourhood. If you’re not distracted by playing “spot the celeb”, check out the 15 ft. tall roosters, rendered on soaring screens from iconic photographer Stephen Green-Armytage. At the hub of Ultra’s “social dining experience”, the daring Canadian designers at Castor have crafted a grand solid oak dining table that seats 24. The 25-foot behemoth also doubles as a runway! Delish madness! Would you care for a catwalk after your cocktails?

 

Check out the hand-carved legs of Castor’s dining table. Incredible detail!

legdetail restaurant makeover — ultra style!

 

Acclaimed design duo munge//leung have delivered a delightfully tongue-in-cheek-global-chic vibe for the space. The cavernous entrance is lit by Moroccan-style lanterns and establishes a surprisingly intimate atmosphere. So gorgeous!

entrance restaurant makeover — ultra style!

 

Ultra, 314 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-263-0330

Photos by Device 222

paper vase

papervase paper vase

This unique vase is made of newspaper, believe it or not! Each comes with a removal aluminum vessel in the centre to hold water. This shape is called the Double Belly; other lovely shapes are also available.

What a clever idea from Filipino designer Tes Pasola of Mind Masters, who was recognized for her work by a 2003 Good Design Award in Japan.

Available at: Indigo stores across Canada or email info@hghg.ca for more retailers.

Price: approx. $38

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Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email me at naturalchic@styleathome.com!

satisfying a sweet tooth

picture 122 satisfying a sweet toothThis blog post is designed specifically to make you salivate. These Rice Krispie treats (pictured left) from The Crispery are available for order only in the U.S. (boo!) but they look so yummy, I had to share! They come in a variety of individual flavours like: Caramel and Marshmallow, Peanut Butter, Coconut and Chocolate Dipped Crispy to name a few. Mmmm! It`s not like my hometown of Toronto doesn`t have its own fair share of bakeries that make mouthwatering treats. This blogto.com blog post lists the best cupcakes in Toronto, for example. And Rice Krispie squares are easy enough to make at home (though The Crispery certainly adds an original twist to an old favourite!) If you’re interested in making your own squares at home, here are a few recipes from Canadian Living: Cocoa frosted Rice Krispies peanut squares, Rice Krispies fruit and nut granola bars.

picture 111 satisfying a sweet toothAnyway, I`m just feeling mighty hungry now. If you`ve got an insatiable sweet tooth and are looking for more ideas, check out our Food & Entertaining section, full of easy recipes for delicious desserts! The weekend is the perfect time to try your hand at a new recipe.

Here are a few of my faves (pictured right):

Chocolate dream scone with mascarpone spread
Cranberry pistachio biscotti
Baby butter and jam sandwiches

design within reach luau lamp

luaulamp design within reach luau lampWhat do you call a lighting solution that’s portable, eco-friendly, stylish and on sale? The Luau Lamp from Design Within Reach, of course!

I’ve been researching solar accessories this week (hint hint, possibly an upcoming Tech Style column?), and while this light isn’t solar-powered, it’s still eco-friendly and just too darn awesome that I simply had to spread the love (thanks to associate design editor Brett Walther for the heads up!).

The good folks at DWR have taken this light to the next level, combining a modern design with energy-saving technology. This rechargeable-battery-powered beauty is not only wireless and portable (think outdoor summer parties), it can also be dimmed just by twisting the bottom in the palm of your hand. How cool is that?

Wait — there’s more. The impact-resistant polyethylene Luau uses energy-efficient LEDs and can light up your world for 6-10 hours when removed from its charging base.

But, WAIT. Just when you think it can’t get any better, it does. Right now, DWR is offering the Luau Lamp for a buy 1, get 1 free deal!

Amazing quality design paired with a fantastic bargain — how can you resist?

Price: $198 US each (add 2 quantities to your online  cart, and the discount will be taken off at checkout)

Available at: Design Within Reach

Eager for more eco-friendly goodies? Check out executive editor Laurie Grassi’s eco blog, Natural Chic.

And, as always, if you know of a neat gadget or tech accessory you`d like me to feature, shoot me an e-mail at techstyle@styleathome.com

whatever happened to sweet marilyn denis?

marilyn whatever happened to sweet marilyn denis?

One of the most frequently-asked questions I field from my friends is, “Where is Marilyn Denis?!?”

It’s undeniable that there remains a Marilyn-shaped hole in our lives ever since she left her epic 19-year gig as host of CityLine in May 2008. The lady had style, wit and a flair for rapid-fire improv that made her a household name for nearly two decades. (And she’s lovely in person, too boot!) Broadcast live-to-air, there were always mad antics unfolding during CityLine tapings that would’ve made a lesser host completely lose her cool — does anyone remember the time that my colleague Samantha was demo-ing the electric juicer and forgot to put a glass under the spout, showering the studio floor with O.J.? Absolutely hilarious, and Marilyn took it all in stride. Good memories…

I still get to wake up to Marilyn every morning, as she remains a host on 104.5 CHUM FM, Toronto’s most popular morning radio show. In fact, Marilyn’s launching a new segment every Thursday morning at 8:20 called “All About Style”. Her guest this morning was none other than our own Contributing Style Editor Karl Lohnes, who introduced her to the the rather scandalous-sounding “Seven Deadly Decorating Sins“. Even if you don’t live in the GTA, you can still get your fix of Marilyn on-air at the CHUM FM website! Yay!

An even bigger “YAY!” is warranted by the news that production is soon to begin on Marilyn’s new venture… The much-anticipated Marilyn Denis Show on CTV! Coming to your small screens before the year’s end… I’ll keep you posted!

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lucyina moodie

picture 14 lucyina moodieLucyina Moodie is a UK-based stylist and interior designer whose eye for style is (IMHO) nothing short of pure perfection! I just love the antique chic look of the spaces she designs and her use of pretty pastels that soothe and calm. Since she hails from across the pond, it`s unlikely that us Canucks will really be able to call on her services but the photos are certainly a source of inspiration. There`s a simple charm in these designs, a look that heralds an era long gone. Her style makes me think of a simpler time and reminds me to celebrate the important things in life.
For more information, visit: lucyina.com

For more design inspiration, check out these articles:
15 secret decor tips
15 tricks that will make your home look like it jumped off the pages of Style at Home.

Design lesson: Living well
Improve your quality of life at home.

Organizing 101: Making your home a haven
Create a space that’s beautiful and reflects who you are so that you feel at home with these home organizing tips.

goodguide product reviews

goodguide goodguide product reviews

Really want to know if what you’re buying is the best thing possible? Sure it might be from a company that touts its green values or organic wares, but is it really earth-friendly?

The GoodGuide is an independent organization that has set out to provide “the most comprehensive, credible, and useful information in the world, on products and companies delivered whenever and wherever you need it.”

You can search through some 60,000 personal care and household products that are ranked and use those rankings to decide what to buy. The rankings (10 is the best, 0 is the worst) are based on three areas:

  • health performance The impact of a company’s operations on its workers and local communities, and the impact of using a product on your health.
  • environmental performance The life-cycle impact of a product, from manufacturing and transportation to use and final disposal.
  • social performance Compensation, labour and human rights practices, diversity policies and working conditions.

You can look stuff up on the site, but, really, the best thing to do if you have an iPhone is to get the free app to load on it, so when you’re out shopping, you decide what to do right then and there! The con: the guide is American, so some Canadian products aren’t listed.

Check the site out at: www.goodguide.com

Get the iPhone app at: iTunes

Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/Natural_Chic
Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email me at naturalchic@styleathome.com!

dans un jardin

fragranceshot dans un jardin

There are pros and cons to working on the same floor as the Canadian Living magazine’s Test Kitchen. Although it means the Style At Home crew are often well-fed — they kindly let us indulge when sampling new recipes (Or maybe we’re their guinea pigs… Haven’t worked that out yet…) — it also means that the aromas of their latest concoctions inevitably waft through our office. Not necessarily a bad thing in itself, but sometimes you just don’t want to be engulfed in a cloud of garlic and onions at 8:30 in the morning.

Instead of kicking up a stink (sorry, couldn’t resist), I used the opportunity to test out a few home fragrance samples that just came by my desk. Dans Un Jardin is a Boucherville, Quebec-based company, originally founded in Paris in 1976, that specializes in the art of parfumerie for bath, body and home. A few hits of Dans Un Jardin’s “Buds & Leaves” home fragrance mist, and those cooking smells are replaced by the ambiance of an English garden: very clean, fresh notes of sun-ripening tomatoes, lemon zest, greenery and musk. Delightfully fresh, and surprisingly gentle — a number of my colleagues are extremely sensitive to smell, and they all commented on the subtlety of this spray. Love it!

7.5 oz Buds & Leaves home fragrance spray

Price: $6

To order online or find the closest retailer: Dans Un Jardin, Boucherville, Que., 450-449-2121

seeing stripes

There`s something about stripes that says spring and summer. Stripes add an instant nautical feel to your home, especially like the casual striped rug pictured here. Striped accessories like cushions and dishware are easy to add around the house and have a way of bringing a light and airy feeling along with them. The picture below makes me think of Nantucket in the summer; I can just smell that sea air  — I love the effortless look of beach-inspired decor.  Add some vibrant colour to your home with these fab finds:

stripes border seeing stripes

1 Pieced Awning Stripe Mat
Available at: Pottery Barn

2 Melamine Lidded Bowl Set
Available at: Crate & Barrel

3 Brie Stripe, Granite
Available at: Tonic Living

4 Cottage Stripe Cotton Rug Collection
Available at: Garnet Hill

5 Iittala Mug
Available at: Iittala

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