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Puckered Diamond Bed Linens
Starting at $41.90
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{ Archive for the ‘Shopping’ Category }
Black and white are a truly timeless combination that never go out of style. I love the crisp contrast of the two, somehow managing to always look effortlessly elegant. And since black and white will easily match colourful accessories you may already have in your home, it’s easy to incorporate this look into your existing decor. Here are six fab finds. What are your favourite colour combos? Leave a comment and tell me!
Ziggy Black and White 16″ Pillow
$6.95
crateandbarrel.com
Fabric by the Yard – Dot Palampore Print
$30.00
potterybarn.com
Terra Luna Woven Area Rug
$85.00
walmart.com
Down the Lane 20×20 Pillow, Black
$59.00
onekingslane.com
Graham and Brown 17153 Elizabeth Wallpaper
$60
grahambrown.com
“Dylan” Bed Linens
Starting at $35.90
horchow.com
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.
We’re talking HUGE turnout here, including (amongst the 300+ who were packed into the showroom)Â 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.
The 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.
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…
1212 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
Console and Curio, Dorothy Draper
Café Side Chair, Dorothy Draper
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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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…
It’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! 
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…It helps, of course, if “everything” is the latest and greatest from Anthropologie’s delish summer collection. But wouldn’t it be amazing to produce a photoshoot inside one of Jaipur’s incredibly ornate palaces? I mean check out those columns! And ooh, that intricate painted plaster! It’s a testament to Anthropologie’s wares that they actually manage to hold their own in such stunning surroundings.
Coralie bed, Gathered Sky duvet, Hibiscus Vista rug, Anthropologie
Sevilla chair, Out At Sea blanket, Toorie curtain, Anthropologie
Tranquil Paradise hammock, Diving Sea Turtle pillow, Anthropologie
Great Barrier curtain, Rosette quilt, Diamond Jungle dhurrie, Anthropologie
Seabed square pillow, Tuxedo duvet, Ombre Gardenia pillow, Seabed rectangle pillow, Diving Sea Turtle pillow, Anthropologie
All images courtesy Anthropologie
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Looks like I’m not the only one with a major crush on the outdoor offerings from HomeSense this summer!
Toronto-based style and design expert Arren Williams has put a fresh spin on outdoor decor (no tiki torches allowed!) with the latest and greatest from HomeSense. (You’ll even recognize a few pieces that I brought with me for my HomeSense vignette on Tuesday’s CityLine!)
Arren’s got repurposing down to an art. That cute, thick-striped canopy over the Lutyens-style teak bench is actually a hammock ($35)! And this chic shade couldn’t be easier to make. “With a quick and easy stitch, create a pocket in the centre of the hammock to insert your dowel and form your canopy’s peak,” Arren says. “Using eye hooks and cord, anchor your new awning to the wall or fence and watch your outdoor space turn into a place.” Arren rounds out the vignette with a delightful mix-and-match array of floral patterned pillows.
This is what I mean when I describe something as “Trad Rad”: a traditional decorating idea turned on its head in a completely radical way. Substitute alfresco-fabulous melamine dinnerware for granny’s china, and the facade of your house for the kitchen wall, and you’ve got a stunning summer look. “These melamine plates and platters ($3 to $7 each) in complementary shades of mod blues and greens are bold, graphic and so much fun,” Arren says. “I loaded up on different shapes and sizes, then planned out a symmetrical pattern on the floor before attaching each to the wall with plate hangers and screws to create this striking garden gallery effect.”
No place to grow but up? Consider stacking lightweight (and incredibly inexpensive!) planters. “When building a vertical garden, use a range of planter sizes to stack and create varying heights,” Arren suggests. “Make it look like you have a well-practiced green thumb by overplanting your pots with a mix of lush greenery — adding instant impact to your high-rise patio or back porch.” Here, Arren’s arranged fibreglass planters (from $30 each) top-to-bottom to achieve a striking architectural effect.
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Doesn’t it look like I’m getting in trouble here?
I had a BLAST pulling together three style-for-less vignettes for yesterday’s episode of CityLine… Watch the video clip of my outdoor rooms crafted from the best budget finds at IKEA, Canadian Tire and HomeSense by clicking here!
Which budget bench from the vignettes best suits your backyard?
Malaro acacia wood folding bench, $80, IKEA
Hudson resin-wicker weave loveseat, $230, Canadian Tire
Lutyens-style green lacquer, $250, HomeSense
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Where, oh where has the Style Sleuth been lately?
Short answer: Pulling together my biggest CityLine segment yet! Check out my one-stop-shopping guide to outdoor decor on CityLine, airing Tuesday, June 1, at 9AM EST.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend!
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Fire up the barbie for another one of my Top Fives!
This time, we’re seeing what’s cooking at Williams-Sonoma this summer. I hope you’ve eaten, because positively scrumptious food photography follows, and I won’t be held responsible for growling tummies.
Here we go…
1. Zoku Quick Pop Maker
The DIY popsicle goes high-tech, and the results are absolutely gorgeous… Simply pop the Zoku unit in the freezer to “charge” it with subzero strength (24 hours should do the trick), remove from freezer, add your fave fruit juices (pop in a few fruit slices for good measure), and in as little as seven minutes, you’ve got chic-sicles that look as good as they taste. At $75, it’s officially my fave summer gadget from Williams-Sonoma.
2. Le Creuset Round Grill Dutch Oven… in BLACK!
It’s the same iconic Le Creuset enameled cast-iron Dutch Oven so beloved by our mothers and grandmothers, but with a bit of a twist… Not only is the new Black colourway ferociously au courant; this model’s fitted with stainless steel knobs that make it suitable for use on outdoor grills. Crazy clever, right? AND the matte black finish means you don’t have to worry about discolouration after exposure to open flame. I can smell those short ribs already…
3. Williams-Sonoma “Cooking From the Farmers’ Market” Cookbook
The release of a Williams-Sonoma cookbook is always cause for celebration, but this one has me counting down the days to the opening of North York’s Thursday Farmers’ Market. The ultimate guide to what’s in season, how to buy what’s in season, and what to do with what you’ve bought that’s in season. 245 recipes designed to help you make the most of fresh produce.
4. Fire Wire Flexible Grilling Skewers
Another one for the “Why did nobody think of this before???” file. A flexible, stainless steel skewer that makes marinating a breeze: simply spear the yummy bits and bobs on the bendy cable, and they all fit beautifully into a bag or bowl…
The skewer tip can drape over the edge of the grill so that it doesn’t get too hot to handle, and after the backyard bash is over, you can pop the whole kit and kaboodle into the dishwasher.
5. Breville Stand Mixer
My kitchen is stocked to the gills with Breville’s super-sleek, brushed stainless appliances, so the completist in me is coveting this new Stand Mixer in the worst way. The coolest innovation here (apart from Breville’s predictably swish aesthetics) is that scraper beater with flexible edges that continually scrapes the sides of the bowl like a spatula – reducing mixing times by up to 60 per cent.
All products available at Williams-Sonoma.
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Looking down at the showroom floor at Pottery Barn’s 100 Bloor St. W. location in Toronto
It’s Top Five List time!
Summer has hit Pottery Barn showrooms across the country, and I had the opportunity to take a gander at the goods this morning. Here’s my scoop on their new summer essentials…
1. Natural Curiosity Melamine Collection
Remember that coffee table book that everyone had (but never read) a few years back? The Cabinet of Natural Curiosities? Well, this melamine is the rather delicious dinnerware version of the illustrations in that book. Pretty, upscale prints that add a touch of sophistication to a summer table setting.
2. Townsend Occasional Tables
Like so much of Pottery Barn’s summer offerings, this classy cocktail table (which retails for $499) leaves room for you to put your own personal stamp on it. The tabletop lifts, revealing little niches in which you can display seasonal smalls.
The Townsend also comes in this sleek console version ($499 as well), which I’d love have in the bedroom to display and store my ever-growing arsenal of neckties. How pretty would that look?
3. Starfish Duvet Cover & Sham
Beachy blue and turquoise starfish, block-printed on crisp white cotton voile… Airy, artisanal and incredibly covetable.
4. Crewel lampshades
Exquisite crewelwork elevates these shades into works of art. What a fantastically easy way to reinvent a nondescript lamp base! Would love to pair this with a bulky balustrade lamp base in a weathered, cerused wood finish…
5. Crab placecard holders
Clawfully cute. I’d sworn off animal motif placecard holders after the holiday market got saturated with silly reindeer versions, but I’ll make an exception for these sweet silica glass sculptures. 
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