{ Archive for August, 2009 }

new chairs for georgie?

I was watching CBC’s The Hour the other day, and host George Stroumboulopoulos’ running gag of referring to himself as “Canada’s boyfriend” actually made me think. He’s very likely the most talented interviewer on television at the moment, has a wicked sense of humour, and seems fiercely intelligent. But if George really was my boyfriend, I pondered, my first order of business would be to ditch those dreadful red pleather chairs on his set.

strombochairs 535x439 new chairs for georgie?

I doubt any single piece of furniture in this country has supported as many famous bums as this chair, and apart from George, it’s probably The Hour’s most recognizable icon, but let’s face it - his set’s in need of a new hot seat. And one that’s less fire-engine-red.

But what to replace it with? In my opinion, the red is a little too in-your-face (not to mention severely limiting as far as guests’ attire is concerned – what exactly does one wear so as not to clash with cooked-lobster?), so I’d go for something neutral or achromatic. Having said that, the lines of the current chair are pretty much spot-on, and entirely appropriate to the rest of the set design: clean and contemporary, with a bit of sparkle-and-shine in the polished chrome finish leg. What I’d also like to see is a chair that’s designed by Canadians. Honestly – what a fantastic opportunity for the Ceeb to promote domestic design!

With that shopping list in mind, one chair immediately sprang to mind…

trudeau new chairs for georgie?

Bye bye, retro kitsch; hello Trudeau! The Trudeau armchair from Toronto-based furniture designers Gus Design Group is a clean and contemporary Canadian classic that could be seamlessly integrated onto the existing set. The arms are more slender than the red chairs, which would allow more guest than chair to dominate each camera shot, and it’s still got that slightly industrial stainless steel base that’s in keeping with the red model.

For an even warmer option, what about Gus Design Group’s Spencer chair?

spencer new chairs for georgie?

The button-tufting is such a gorgeous detail, and lends the chair a really comfortable look while retaining the clean lines of the original. I can totally see celebs feeling at home in this number.

Whaddya say, George? Give me a ring if you’re interested. lol

fabulous wedding favours

As I ran around town this weekend doing errands and groceries, I found my gaze following after the trains of more than a few brides. It`s the height of summer, which also means it`s the height of wedding season. I love weddings and all the pretty little details but I was reminded of all the challenges that faced my friends as they prepared to walk down the aisle to say their “I dos”. There`s so much for a bride to think about: the colours, the dress, the bridesmaids` dresses, the flowers, the cake, the music, the venue, the centerpieces — it`s enough to make your head spin. And then, there were the bonbonnieres. Oh, those bonbonnieres. I`ve seen it all. My sister made (made!) rosemary infused olive oil and filled sweet little bottles (tagged and ribboned, of course) for each guest. I`ve been to a wedding where guests received Werther`s candies. It`s a tough one — weddings are an expensive endeavour under the best of circumstances and finding a small but lovely gift for guests isn`t easy. I stumbled upon myweddingfavors.com this morning and just as its name promises, it`s got an endless assortment of wedding favour ideas. My fave idea is mini soaps. Everyone needs soap, right? And when they`re presented in pretty packaging, they make a lovely gift and will look beautiful on display. Check out some of my favourites:
soap1 fabulous wedding favours
soap2 fabulous wedding favours
soap3 fabulous wedding favours
soap4 fabulous wedding favours

my new essentia natural memory foam mattress

essentiamattress my new essentia natural memory foam mattress
I got my new Essentia latex mattress on Tuesday, and I’m simply loving it so far! It’s natural memory foam and compared to my old spring mattress, it feels like sleeping on thick gel, if you can imagine that. It basically moulds to your shape, in the most comfortable way imaginable. I’d heard that it takes some time to get used to memory foam, but that hasn’t been my experience at all. It’s like a cosy cocoon, in a non-cloying, non-warm way (it is summer after all!).

The mattress is great because:

• it’s made of natural latex, which doesn’t off gas
• it’s glue- and adhesive-free
• it’s entirely biodegradable
• dust mites can’t live in it, so it’s great for anyone with allergies or who suffers from asthma
• if you’re allergic to latex, the processing of the latex destroys the proteins you’re allergic to, so no worries!
• the unbleached organic cotton cover is made with organic dyes and is removable for cleaning
• it’s green — and how happy that makes me!!

How much greener could this all-Canadian company be?

• each mattress is hand made, with the liquid latex poured into a mould and cured, so minimal waste is produced
• Essentia’s website is stored on a windpowered server
• Essentia is a member of 1% for the Planet, an organization that funds green initiatives worldwide
• until Mar. 5, 2010, owners of hybrid and electric vehicles get a 20% discount on all Essentia sleep products. Woohoo!

The mattresses are available online, but if you live near the factory/showroom, which is just outside Montreal, you can try them out in person there, and now there’s also a brand-new store in Toronto, so if you live there, check it out!

Available at: www.myessentia.com; West Laval, Que,
888-764-4116; Toronto, 647-348-0321; Costco (Pure and Classic 8 models)

Price: from $1,299


Follow me on Twitter!

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

create a polaroid with rollip.com

picture 9 create a polaroid with rollip.com
It was a dark day when Polaroid announced they were no longer producing their old school cams that used film to print out automatic pics. The white border around the image was iconic, and the vintage wash over the shot made every picture seem more interesting than it probably was. Those days are long gone…or are they?
Check out rollip.com, a great website that lets you upload your personal pics and then transform them into Polaroid-style shots. The site lets you play around with your pictures too, allowing you to add text on the bottom and pick what type of exposure you want. Plus, it’s free — sweet!

Check it all out at rollip.com

win a western digital 500 GB hard drive!

wdfmypassport elite mlc win a western digital 500 GB hard drive!A few months ago, I got a My Passport Essential hard drive from Western Digital, and now I’m paying it forward. One lucky reader will win the Essential’s super cool older brother, the My Passport Elite 500 GB hard drive. I just recently blogged about this sexy device that backs up your precious photos and music, so I’m pretty excited to be able to give one away. Besides the fact that it packs a crazy amount of data (500 GB… that’s about 100,000 photos or 125,000 songs), the My Passport Elite is pretty darn petite — it’s half an inch thick and less than 5 inches long.

To enter, just leave a comment below letting me know how this cream of the crop hard drive will make your tech world easier. Be original, because the best comment will win. Good luck to all!

*Prize value: $150 US. Contest closes August 31st, 2009. Open to all residents of Canada, except those in Quebec. Not open to any Transcontinental Media employees, their families, or any other persons with whom they reside.*

***This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Megan Sauer who created an incredible rendition of ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ theme song, replacing the words with why she should win the My Passport Elite.***

beware of poisonous houseplants

buddy2 beware of poisonous houseplants
We all know that lilies and cats don’t mix; but what I’ve just found out (the hard way, sadly) is that lilies are just one of a whole horde of houseplants that are poisonous to our four-legged friends.
That little angel above is my Buddy – adopted three years ago from the Humane Society as a rescue kitty. He’d been thrown out of a moving car when he was just a kitten, and his nose still bears the scars. Despite his rough start in this world, Buddy’s bravely beat the odds, growing up to be a fiercely loyal and loving little guy who means the world to me.
Having taken sick yesterday, though, I’m afraid my teeny little superguy may have gotten into an aloe vera plant while in the care of the sitter. Right now, he’s at the vet for treatment and I’m praying they’ll be able to put him on the mend quickly…
Aloe is one in a long list of houseplants that are toxic to cats:
Aloe Vera
Arrowhead Vine (all parts)
Asparagus Fern
Azalea
Bird of Paradise (fruit, seeds)
Boston Ivy (all parts)
Caladium (all parts)
Calla Lily
Christmas Rose
Chrysanthemum
Creeping Charlie (all parts)
Creeping Fig
Crown of Thorns
Daffodil
Dieffenbachia
Dumbcane (all parts)
Easter lily
Elephant Ears
Emerald Duke (all parts)
English Holly
English and Glacier Ivy (leaves, berries)
Heartleaf (all parts)
Ivy (Hedera)
Jerusalem Cherry
Lily of the Valley (all parts)
Majesty (all parts)
Marble Queen (all parts)
Mistletoe
Nephthytis (all parts)
Parlor Ivy (all parts)
Philodendron (all parts)
Poinsettia (leaves, flowers)
Pothos (all parts)
Pot Mum
Red Princess (all parts)
Saddleleaf (all parts)
Schefflera
Spider Mum
Sprengeri Fern
Swiss Cheese Plant
Tulip (bulbs)
Umbrella Plant (all parts)
Weeping Fig (Ficus) 
Source: pets.ca
…And that’s by no means exhaustive (your vet can provide you with a full list). 
So please, if you have a cat, ditch these toxic greens ASAP. There’s no “safe place” in the home for these poisonous plants, and it’s just not worth the risk to our feline friends.
Will keep you posted on Buddy’s progress… 

west elm docking station

p a701 pip we09c245i f09 090610222019 pip large 535x535 west elm docking station
Tech Style has blogged before about the ultra hot (yet large) docking station from West Elm, and now the home decor chain has made me even happier. I’m not one for bulk when it comes to my tech, so when West Elm introduced their mini docking station, I was over the moon. Itsy-bitsy and laquered in white or espresso, this tiny tech charger sits pretty on a desktop or hallway console.

$34 US, West Elm.

Follow me on Twitter! twitter.com/tech_style

pottery barn patchwork quilt

pbquilt pottery barn patchwork quilt

As I was eating my brekkie this morning, it occurred to me that a lot of my posts have focused on bedding. Why? I wondered, and realized it’s because I’m obsessed with naps! So once again, here’s a sleep-inspired post!

This country-look quilt from Pottery Barn is perfect for summer-time easy living. Just toss it over the bed in the morning when you wake, and the bed is made and you’re on your way!

It’s hand-made of organic cotton with Porcelain-blue piping and reverses to solid blue, if you want a quick change in looks, and has 100% cotton batting. The shams have a different print on each side, and everything is machine washable.

Available at: Pottery Barn stores, www.potterybarn.com

Prices: $72 (standard sham),$88 (Euro sham), $429 (Queen quilt)

SUPER CHIC IDEA If you have an old quilt and the edges are fraying too much for you to use it on a bed or even hang it on a wall, try this idea:
1 Centre the least worn portion over a twin-size wood headboard
2 Wrap the edge around the back of the headboard
3 Staple it in place (pad with cotton batting underneath, if you like).
Makes a very cute headboard for a kid’s room!


Follow me on Twitter!

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

Pages: Prev 1 2 3