In case you missed part one of our porch makeover, check out that post first to see what we started with.
That old, nasty porch is now a distant memory, because this makeover is now officially complete!
Here’s what we get to come home to now…
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{ Archive for the ‘Environmentally Friendly’ Category }
I’m sharing the highlights from IDS12 in a series of four posts. If you missed the first post in this series, rounding up some fantastic woodwork, you can check it out right here.
For today, let’s talk textiles!
1. Vorwerk
Finally! Carpet tiles in fun shapes! These carpet tiles from the FreeSCALE collection by Vorwerk, available through Relative Space, are too cool! Mix bright, punchy colours for a playful kids space or combine subtle neutrals for a more refined look.
Modern kitchens need not be so serious. Indulge your inner child by injecting some playfulness back into this family friendly space.
LUprints, based in Pemberton, British Columbia, offers handmade, eco-conscious kitchenware. Their line ranges from placemats, to coasters, to aprons, and everything in between.
Each design has a simple, yet striking, graphic quality. Combine that with pops of fresh colour and you’ve got a proudly Canadian line of unique homewares that offer a nod to the designer’s Swedish roots.
Here are some of my faves from LUprints online store…
The One Of A Kind Christmas Show & Sale is right around the corner. It’s happening, here in Toronto, from November 24 to December 4 at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place.
Another one of my favourite local independent designers, p i ’ l o, will be exhibiting this year. Heather Shaw, the designer behind p i ‘ l o, creates heirloom quality items for the home from her coach house studio in the heart of downtown Toronto.
Be sure to stop by booth P-06 to meet Heather, or make an appointment to visit her studio.
Here are some of my fave pieces from the p i ‘ l o online store…
Numbered Napkins – $39
Thinking of a little spring makeover for a tired piece of furniture in your home? Take it over to inVU Drapery Co. and get a sweet discount on earth-friendly fabrics and reupholstery services.
In honour of Earth Day (April 22nd), inVU is offering a 15% discount on their eco-friendly fabrics. You can also get 15% off the reupholstery services if you bring in your own furniture and use an inVU fabric.
Just pop into either the Toronto store or 9,000 sq.ft. Mississauga location to browse the extensive selection of fabrics.
Will you be celebrating Earth Day?
I recently had the opportunity to visit with Gloria Wall, Creative Director and founder of Kate & Birdie Paper Co.
about Kate & Birdie: Founded in 2004 and based in Downtown Winnipeg’s trendy Exchange District, Kate & Birdie specializes in hand-illustrated note cards, invitations and stretched canvas prints. The designs are vintage inspired and are chalked full of colour and charm! Located on the top floor of an historic building, the K&B studio is bright and open; and, it boasts as much charm as the company’s note cards do! As I sat in the K&B studio looking out at Winnipeg’s landscape, I felt like I had been transported to a metropolitan city like New York or Chicago!
Kate & Birdie Studio: 708-70 Arthur Street, Exchange District of Winnipeg
Gloria admits that most people are surprised to learn that K&B is based in Winnipeg. Having grown up in a small town outside of Winnipeg – loving art, food and design – Gloria had always aspired to live and work in a big city like New York. Of course, after marrying and having a child, New York was less of a priority, but that didn’t stop Gloria from launching a successful stationery design business.
Today, K&B products are available in 600 stores worldwide; and, in November 2010, Chapters / Indigo stores picked up the line. Last year the company launched a brand new collection, which included a line of wrapping paper featuring popular K&B designs. Creating designs that will have longevity is a primary goal of Gloria’s so she refrains from getting too caught up in trends. Instead, Gloria looks to old cinematography, local architecture and nature for inspiration. Here are two of Gloria’s favourite pieces (and mine too!):
Yellow Bunnies Card, Kate & Birdie Paper Co.
Kate & Birdie’s yellow baby bunny card is an original, hand-drawn illustration printed on recycled stock made with wind power using vegetable-based ink. Paired with a 100% recycled brown bag envelope and enclosed in biodegradable cello wrap. $4.50 / card.
Forest Squirrels Note Card, Kate & Birdie Paper Co.
Kate & Birdie’s grey forest note card is an original, hand-drawn illustration printed on recycled stock made with wind power using vegetable-based ink. Paired with 100% recycled hand-dyed charcoal envelopes. $12.00 / box of 8
what’s in the works: In May of this year, Kate & Birdie’s website is scheduled for a new look. The revamped website will feature an online shopping component that will allow customers to stock up on their favourite products from the comfort of their own homes. Also in the works for Kate & Birdie is the release of a new wrapping paper collection. The new collection is scheduled to debut at the National Stationery Show in New York this May, but Gloria treated me to a sneak peek! I just love how this new wrapping paper design blends a modern pattern with a classic colour palette of charcoal and white. Take a look…
Evergreen Wrapping Paper, Kate & Birdie Paper Co.
Kate & Birdie’s hand-illustrated evergreen and pinecone design is now available in charcoal and white wrapping paper. Printed on FSC certified 100% pcw recycled paper with vegetable-based ink and processed chlorine-free. $3.50 / flat sheet or $7.00 / roll of two sheets.
at home with Gloria: Gloria has a passion for interior decor and hopes to one day expand her home goods collection of stretched canvas prints to include a line of textiles, bedding, wallpaper and area rugs. Gloria believes a home should be an expression of the owner’s personality. What could be more perfect for personalizing a home than K&B’s playful patterns and colourful compositions? Looking forward to it Gloria!
Kate & Birdie Paper Co., 708-70 Arthur Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 1G7 t: 204.943.6827 f: 204.943.6827 e: info@kateandbirdie.com www.kateandbirdie.com (all photos provided by Kate & Birdie Paper Co.)
amy*
Amy Walters is a Winnipeg-based design enthusiast and blogger. For more design inspiration from Amy, check out her blog aDESIGNdock.
The holidays are upon us and two of my favourite things about the season are sending Christmas cards and wrapping gifts. I’m super picky about my choice of cards and gift wrap, and nine times out of ten, I can’t find what I’m looking for at retail stores. Instead, I click through Etsy.com and order from the artisans themselves.
One of my favourite Etsy sellers is Adele, a British designer living in Toronto, who has created a fabulous eco-friendly paper goods company called modernemotive. She has a very simple, modern style and I find myself buying cards, gift tags and notepads from her all the time. I adore her new line of holidays gift tags for this year {above}. The tags come with vellum envelopes and you can get a set of eight for only $8.50 US. And if you’re looking for some fun holiday gifts, Adele has also introduced her line of 2011 calendars and sassy notepads.
Since it’s the season for giving, from now until midnight on Thursday, November 25th, we’re offering a 20% discount on all products from the modernemotive store on Etsy. Just enter styleathome when it asks for a promotional code.
Happy holidays!
xo,
Lauren
Hamilton-based designer Jenna Greenberg brings a fun and fresh approach to the items she designs and I’ve just had a look at some of the great stuff in her fall collection. Jenna illustrates her designs by hand, then screen-prints them onto cushions, hampers, table linens and bags. Using non-toxic, water-based pigments and remaining a friend of the environment by using natural and organic materials, Jenna creates designs that’ll add a dash of rustic charm to your home. The patterns, mostly nature inspired, are simple and so sweet. Want to see for yourself? You can view Jenna’s work at the upcoming One of a Kind Show (Toronto, November 25 to December 5) or visit Pistachio. For more information, visit jennarose.ca. In the meantime, check out some of my favourites from her new collection:
Okay, okay, so you might be thinking, “Duh, Lauren — all cotton napkins are reusable.” Well, they may well be, but how many of them can be bought in a roll of 25?
That’s right — MyDrap is a brand that creates cotton table fabrics that come in a roll and can be torn off whenever you need one. Made from 100% cotton, they can be washed {the texture actually improves over time} or disposed of, as they are fully recyclable and biodegradable.
I was completely shocked when I found these because they are pure genius! They feel great and are much better than paper napkins {wasteful much?}, plus they have the look of a hemstitch around the edges, similar to linen. You can choose from large, regular or cocktail sized napkins in a variety of colours, plus you can pick up a roll of table runners or placemats. This is the perfect option when you’re throwing a party and don’t want to break out your fine linens.
Large dinner napkins, $35 US per roll of 12
Regular napkins, $29 US per roll of 50
Cocktail napkins, $29 US per roll of 25
Placemats, $39 US per roll of 12
Table runner, $35 US per roll of 4
To order, visit casansamydrap.com
xo,
Lauren
They’ve done it again! Just when I think IKEA couldn’t get any more wonderful, they’ve gone and created the SOLIG pendant light. I’ve already raved about what IKEA is doing in solar-powered design with the SUNNAN desk lamp, so I wasn’t surprised that they continued on the eco-friendly path. However, it did surprise me that they could make something so stylish (let’s be honest — the majority of solar home decor products are fugly).
These pendant lights can be hung outside or inside (think of hanging them near a sunroof so they can charge on the natural light). If you’re having an outdoor party, charge the lights during the day (they light up for 3 hours on a full charge which takes 8 hours) and then hang them from trees or gazebos for a nice alternative to patio lanterns.
$30 each, ikea.ca
