{ Author Archive - Brett Walther }

the new ikea catalogue is here!

…And they’ve pulled out all the stops for the 60th anniversary of the cheap chic showcase, which is now officially the biggest publication in the world, hitting 198,000,000 copies. Insane!

I’m loving the folkloric look that graces a bunch of the new merch -a reinterpretation of ethnic and global influences, loaded with embroidery and other hand-hewn details.

ikearoom the new ikea catalogue is here!

The star of this look, in my opinion, is the new Klippan Navestad 2-seat sofa cover ($329). This is “Trad/Rad” in a nutshell, and turns the very cool lines of the Klippan into a stunning statement piece.

ikeaklippan the new ikea catalogue is here!For a sweet, artisanal accent, look no further than the new Birgit cushion ($20). Love those delicate embroidered flowers…

ikeabirgit the new ikea catalogue is here!And another stunner from the Birgit line – this beautifully embroidered crisp cotton duvet cover and pillowcase set ($80/King).

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Birds and botanicals flit across Krokek —  a new upholstery option for the Skruvsta swivel armchair ($199).

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You can’t go wrong with a set of three tea towels for $6 — especially when they’re as vibrant as the new Ellakajsa prints. The very definition of cheap and cheerful!

ikeateatowel the new ikea catalogue is here!Cosy up to new Birgit throw - 100% wool, with a magic-carpet vibe courtesy of yet more decorative embroidery ($50).

ikeathrow the new ikea catalogue is here!

And although it’s not part of the “haute folk” vibe going on here, my top fave new find from the catalogue is the rather delicious new Kivik furniture series. I’m quite taken with the Two-seat Sofa (shown here in Tranas light brown, $769)… Looks so deep and comfy!

ikeasofa the new ikea catalogue is here!Have you had the chance to scour the savings yet? What’s YOUR fave new find from the IKEA 2011 catalogue?

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style at home day on cityline – august 3

Join host Tracy Moore, IKEA’s Tamara Robbins-Griffith, Style at Home’s Kimberley Seldon and me on the Tuesday, August 3, “Style at Home Day” episode of CityLine!

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I’m elbows-deep in dye for this segment, presenting some easy, breezy dyeing techniques that bring fashion’s hottest summer look home!

Check out the dyed looks we love by clicking here!

Image courtesy CityLine

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the ultimate w expert challenge

Don’t I look intimidating?!?

erin brett karen the ultimate w expert challengeWho am I kidding? I’m just a big softie, and couldn’t pull a Simon Cowell even if I tried!

My stint as a guest judge on the W Network’s Ultimate W Expert Challenge is just around the corner, and it’s time to get acquainted with this season’s contestants: six experts who are vying for the chance to win a development deal with the network. Check ‘em out here and let me know what you think after you vote online! Who would you choose as The Ultimate?

Julie Arora, Food & Nutrition expert

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Bruce Krahn, Health & Wellness expert

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Nadia Albano, Beauty & Style expert

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Jennifer Reid, Home & Garden expert

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Sasja Nieukerk, Personal Development expert

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Steve Duncan, Home & Garden expert

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The new season premieres on Wednesday, August 4 at 8PM EST, and I’m behind the judge’s table —  shown here with Style at Home’s editor-in-chief Erin McLaughlin and host Karen Bertelsen – on the episode airing August 11.

In the meantime, check out host Karen Bertelsen’s absolutely stunning home in the hot-off-the-presses September issue of Style at Home magazine!

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lee jofa’s new verdmont fabric collection

It’s a crewel, crewel summer.

Sorry, Bananarama. (Or Ace of Base, if you missed the ’80s.)

To-the-trade stalwart Lee Jofa captures the essence of summer with Verdmont – a bright, bold collection of luxe linen, chintz and prints, including these to-die-for crewelwork beauties… The exotic embroidery has been popping up everywhere we look this season, and on these cushions, the contrast welt proves the perfect finishing touch!

Tyler Crewel in Sorbet, Lemon and Aqua

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Paying tribute to the Verdmont mansion – an early 18th century Bermuda estate – the collection reimagines some of Lee Jofa’s archival prints in very contemporary colourways. This little vignette serves as a great lesson in pairing printed florals, stripes, solids and embroidery. Hello, instant room!

(From left) Chirk embroidery in Grass, Maia in Multi/White, Gilbraltar Silk in Mango and Remo Stripe in Melon (on seat cushion)

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Check out the exquisite, large-repeat print on these loose-fitting slipcovers: another easy, breezy summer trend to swoon over.

Tree of Life in White

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Even as we move towards autumn in terms of new launches, chintz seems to be gaining momentum. These are particularly tasty examples… And that saturated, salmony wall colour makes these fancy florals anything but frumpy.

(From left) Trentham Hall in Vanilla, Chirk Embroidery in Surf, Trentham Hall in Mist

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amy butler’s new graham & brown wallpaper

If you haven’t already snatched up the August issue of Style at Home, you need to do so right away, if only to check out the new wallpaper I’m obsessing over on page 21… Amy Butler — she of chic sewing pattern and fabric fame — has crafted a new collection of wallpapers for Graham & Brown that is making some serious waves in the design world, and I just had to launch my “Style News” column with my fave of the many perky patterns she’s devised. But what of the others in the collection? Be prepared to drool…

Retro-fabulous! I love Amy’s fresh new take on American Midwest motifs like big, medallion-style blooms…

Lacework in Moss, with Sun and Moon in Moss (below chair rail)

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And those colours are absolutely breathtaking. Who said red and pink don’t play well together? Throw in a bit of creamy orange, and you’ve got a brilliant palette that still feels light and airy, thanks to the judicious use of white.

Momento in Sunset

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In a monochromatic green scheme, this pattern almost takes on an Art Nouveau vibe.

Passion Lily in Field

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Turquoise delight!

Field Poppies in Midnight

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A vision in violet… (And no, that’s not Amy Butler, oddly enough.)

Fountain in Midnight

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This is the only one that I’m not completely bonkers about, but I think it’s more due to the colourway than the actual pattern… And I’m a completist, so here it is!

Georgia in Stone

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The new Graham & Brown Amy Butler Collection is available for around $80 per roll at Crown Wallpaper + Fabric.

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flensted’s marvellous mobiles

horses11 flensteds marvellous mobiles

Prowling through Copenhagen’s legendary Illums Bolighus last summer, I fell deeply in love with this mobile from Flensted. Not only did the gorgeous grown-up silhouette offer a slice of Danish design on a dime (I snagged it for a mere $25 CAD), but it made the perfect souvenir, as mobiles are a traditional Danish craft. It was Christian Flensted, back in 1954, who conceived the mobile as a moving work of art for the home (and not just something to hang above the crib), and his legacy of perfectly balanced and sophisticated hanging sculptures is now carried on by his wife and son.

Flensted launched his collection over 55 years ago with “Lucky Storks” - a design that’s just as popular today. Now that’s staying power!

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This design, “Flowing Rhythm”, featured prominently in the bedroom of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in the film “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?”. Very midcentury modern!

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I love “Andersen’s Ballet” - a nod to famed Dane Hans Christian Andersen.

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But it’s the swirling, twirling animal mobiles that first got me hooked…

“Feline Mobile”

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“Seahorse Mobile”

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“Swallow”

f swallows flensteds marvellous mobiles

“Swans”

f swans flensteds marvellous mobiles

And no, you don’t have to catch the next flight to Copenhagen to get your hands on these graceful works of art – they’re now available at retailers across Canada from about $27 each. Call Euro Design Canada at 866-932-0261 for your closest dealer.

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reflect on these: new mirrored furnishings

Whenever I think interest in mirrored furnishings is on the wane, a gorgeous new collection fires things up again.

Check out the new Andrea line from the always-gorgeous Bungalow 5: Hollywood Regency, but a bit chunkier and more substantial than what you might expect. The desk is positively dreamy, albeit utterly impractical for my home office, as one of my hands would constantly be gripping the bottle of Windex. If they ever resurrect Dynasty, I can see Joan Collins seated behind this baby, brokering billion-dollar mergers and checking her makeup at the same time. Over the top elegance!

picture 3 reflect on these: new mirrored furnishings I think I could handle the side table though. They’d be very so pretty flanking the bed as nightstands…

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And then there’s the ever-innovative Jonathan Adler, whose new series of brass side tables go for the gold… Not really mirrored, per se, but polished to such a brilliant shine that the magpie in me just had to include them here. I’m blown away by those striking silhouettes! (The hourglass is my fave…)

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luxe launch party at 1212 decor

If you are in any way involved in Toronto’s interior design scene, you were very likely at the grand opening of 1212 Decor on Wednesday, June 9.

1212a luxe launch party at 1212 decor

We’re talking HUGE turnout here, including (amongst the 300+ who were packed into the showroom) Arren Williams, designer Erin Feasby (whose work we’re featuring in an upcoming Style at Home issue! Can’t wait!), the CityLine crew, and of course, the guest of honour, the inimitible Larry Laslo.

1212b luxe launch party at 1212 decorThe world-renowned interior and product designer was on-hand to share his latest pieces gracing the 1212 showroom, while sharing some details on his latest fabric collection for Robert Allen. I was a little disappointed that Larry only took the mike for a few precious seconds, as he’s the consummate showman who has THE best stories to tell. I had the pleasure of interviewing him two years ago when his Robert Allen collection first launched, and he’s an absolute scream (“I love everything. It’s unfortunate. And expensive.”) had me laughing the whole time. A great choice of guest for 1212 to bring in!

Also on-hand was fashion designer Lucian Matis, whose latest collection worked the showroom floor throughout the evening.

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But the real reason for all the excitement was the chance to check out the truly extraordinary collection of home furnishings, art and accessories. Alex Donovan of 1212 has assembled a carefully curated collection that’s truly inspiring. Trad and rad, all rolled into one inspirational space…

1212d luxe launch party at 1212 decor1212 had me won over long before this big bash, though, as the dealer of Kindel Furniture’s staggeringly beautiful Dorothy Draper Collection. Insanely expensive, but oh-so-elegant…

American Baroque Mirror, Dorothy Draper

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Console and Curio, Dorothy Draper

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Café Side Chair, Dorothy Draper

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Take a peek at 1212 yourself! The store is located at 1212 Yonge St. (appropriately), just south of Summerhill Ave., in Toronto. Hours are Monday to Saturday from 10AM to 6PM, and Sunday from 12noon to 5PM. Happy shopping!

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kimberley seldon’s sweet model suite

It only seems natural that Kimberley Seldon should assume the design duties for the model suite at Toronto’s covetable new California Condos. My favourite Californian-Canadian unveiled her big, bold & brilliantly blue take on the 695-square foot space last week (you may even have seen it on Kimberley’s June 22nd CityLine appearance), and it’s a stunning example of small space decorating… Here’s a peek!

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I loves me a good, old-fashioned galley kitchen layout… The open-concept kitchen, dining and sitting room would be great for entertaining.

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Kimberley’s cleverly repeated the Moorish tile pattern from the sitting room cushions on the dining room walls, blown-up to epic proportions.

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I’ve coveted those lattice-framed mirrors from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams for ages…

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Hanging pendants over the nightstands instead of using more conventional table lamps is a great way to keep surfaces clear.

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The suites at this Camrost-Felcorp project range in size from 455 to 1,120 sq. ft. The starting price? A cool $229,900.

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For more on California Condos, check out lifebythelake.ca.

ks1 kimberley seldons sweet model suiteCongrats, Kimberley! I do believe this is Canada’s Next Top Model Suite. icon wink kimberley seldons sweet model suite

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seeing spots at ikea

I recently had a whack of IKEA goodies sent to me for a photoshoot, but I almost missed the shipment entirely. I’ve become so used to the iconic big blue bag that I kept ignoring this, which showed up in its place…

picture 72 seeing spots at ikeaIt’s IKEA’s brand new Varmt Rund carry bag, and it instantly made me the most popular boy at the office. (Some people have their Coach bags; others have their IKEA totes. Different strokes, and all that.) At only $2, the sunny spotted bag is perfect for lugging gear to the beach, or fresh green goodness home from the farmers’ market. Or simply pack it with you on your next trip to IKEA and look down your nose at all the boring old blue-baggers. So last season! icon wink seeing spots at ikea

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