Style At Home Blog

beautiful bodum

by Natalie DiScala
Nov 6, 2008
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I love the simplicity of Bodum`s designs. The YOHKI storage jar with chrome lid (featured left), is perfect for storing flour, sugar and pasta and is perfect for blending into any countertop. The CHAMBORD French press coffee maker with metal lid (pictured right) is so elegant. I can just smell the aroma in the air and it makes me think of sipping coffee at a patisserie in Paris. Except that I don`t drink coffee.

Bodum products can be found at Home Outfitters and select The Bay stores across Canada. Or at Bodum stores in Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, China, Japan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Australia … you know … if you`re going.

frostines edibles: delicious cookies

by Natalie DiScala
Nov 4, 2008
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You just can`t go wrong with the gift of food. Well … okay, maybe that`s not true. I mean, I wouldn`t exactly be thrilled if someone showed up at my house with a cabbage casserole. They say it`s the thought that counts but I`d just be thinking, Wow. This person really doesn`t like me. So let me rephrase. You just can`t go wrong with the gift of baked goodies. And if you don`t have time to whip up some tasty treats yourself, then just leave it to the professionals. Frostineedibles.com is an online Canadian bakery that makes a vast assortment of cookies and other baked treats and offers overnight shipping to anywhere in Canada and the United States. So next time you`re looking for a hostess gift or housewarming present, a birthday gift or just something to satisfy your own sweet tooth, then consider Frostines Edibles. My favourite part is how they`re packaged — beautiful, re-useable boxes that come in a variety of colours and truly look like something special. Here at my office, we sampled the cookies and here`s what my colleagues had to say:

“Soft and crumbly. It dissolves in your mouth – delicious!”
Alaina Chapman

“These yummy cookies were truly delightful, melting away in my mouth. The butterscotch ripple was my fave â€” a simply sweet treat to cap off my lunch. If this is the way the cookie crumbles, I want more!”
Lauren McPhillips

“I had the chocolate brownie cookie … very chocolate brownie like! It was really rich and quite tasty, but somewhat dry. Would be perfect with a cold glass of milk. I imagine a serious chocolate lover would be very grateful to receive some of these to feed their craving.”
Daniela Payne

“This cookie makes a valiant effort to be all things to all people – it’s got shortbread, it has a modest filling, it has cranberries and who knows what else. That said, the holiday hubris pays off: In several sweetly satisfying bites, you get an essential taste of Christmases past, updated for the present. The verdict:Â A-. The minus is for leaving out the chocolate. Now, can I have another one?”
John Kuipers

Good to know: All flavours of Frostines Edibles cookies are nut- and peanut-free.

For more information, visit: frostinesedibles.com

my fave: tea

by Brett Walther
Nov 4, 2008
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tea my fave: tea When it comes to tea, I’m a bit fussy. Although I’d never be accused of being a “tea snob”, I *do* know exactly what I like, and that’s a good, old-fashioned black tea. No chai, rooibos, white or green tea (the latter being a pet hate!) has ever come close to the simple pleasure of a perfectly brewed post-dinner black tea. I’m so excited that Chapters and IndigoÂ are stocking one of my faves right now — Harney & Sons’ Royal English Breakfast. This delish blend of Indian black teas comes in individual silk sachets, and the tin is dying to be re-used as a catch-all canister in the kitchen.

Price: $15

Available at: select locations ofÂ Chapters and Indigo Books & Music

finding inspiration in nature

by Natalie DiScala
Nov 3, 2008
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I`m not a fan of the cooler temperatures that have been steadily creeping up on us (although it`s supposed to be unseasonably mild tomorrow where I live). But at the same time, the changing seasons are wonderful and if I have to bundle up to enjoy them … well, I`ve gotten used to it. But what I`ve come to appreciate more and more as time goes by is the beauty of our seasons; the pure, natural beauty that can be found in the changing hues of the leaves on the trees, the innumerable shades of blue, white, grey and silver that can be found in an autumn sky. It`s easy to grumble about threatening clouds and evenings that get darker earlier. But sometimes, it’s at just those moments that we can find unexpected colours surrounding us, colours that simply can`t be found anywhere else. I love this photo above. In it, I can pick out just the shade of green paint I used in my living room and the same grey that graces the walls of my foyer. Where do you find your colour inspiration? I`d love to know!

For more great advice on decorating with colour, check out styleathome.com`s colour section!

must have: naked decor

by Brett Walther
Nov 3, 2008
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b w cat must have: naked decor I’m so happy I came across this fantastic source of accessories! Naked Decor designs incredibly hip and irreverent accessories, including this pillow that I absolutely must get my hands on. Double-sided, with the kitty’s head on one side, and tail on the other (making a pair an absolute necessity!), and an actual pom-pom applique, this is just too much fun to pass up. Although they’re based in Washington, DC, they’ll gladly ship to Canada! What a great gift for the cat-lover in your life!

Kitty Cat with Pom Pom Ball 16-by-16-inch double sided cotton canvas pillow

Price: $50 US plus shipping

Available at: Naked Decor, Washington, DC, 202-256-4065

win a replaceable-head toothbrush!

by Laurie Grassi
Nov 3, 2008
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toothbrush win a replaceable head toothbrush! I’ve always thought it an incredible waste to throw away an entire toothbrush when just the head needed replacing and now I’ve found Radius, a company that makes two types of toothbrushes with replaceable heads.

My fave is Source, which has a handle made from 50% recycled wood fibre or flax and 50% post-consumer polypropylene. When the head needs replacing, you’re only tossing out 7% of the toothbrush as opposed to 100%. Brilliant!

So brilliant, in fact, I’m giving away three toothbrush sets (each set is valued at $13.85 US and includes one Source Toothbrush with extra replacement head, one Toothbrush Travel Case and one Silk Floss).

To win a set, add a comment on this post before Nov. 24 midnight EST listing the best thing you’ve done in your life to make it more eco-friendly and green. After the contest closes, I’ll pick what I think are the three best tips, and the people who posted those tips get the toothbrush sets shipped to them for free anywhere in Canada, excluding Quebec (see below)!

You can check out the toothbrushes, travel cases, floss and other products at Radius’s website. Right now, Radius is offering a great discount offer of 10% off to styleathome.com visitors; just use code SAH5934 (offer expires 11/17/2008).

Available at: www.radiustoothbrush.com

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.

sleek charging station

by Corinna VanGerwen
Oct 31, 2008
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Slowly but surely there more stylish options for gadget charging stations are hitting the market. I like this simple highgloss version from West Elm.

Price: $49 Available at: West Elm

halloween decorating

by Natalie DiScala
Oct 31, 2008
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At every turn, there`s no doubt that it`s Halloween today. Although, as a colleague of mine astutely pointed out, traveling on Toronto`s subways, it`s not always entirely possible to distinguish the once a year costumes from the every day streetwear of some. But I digress. Since Halloween conveniently falls on a Friday this year, I`m sure many of you are attending Halloween parties or perhaps hosting one yourself. If you`re looking for some last-minute decorating ideas, that are more chic than cheap, check out these seven ideas. They`re inexpensive but will look good around the house, year after year. I love these (pictured above): Twig Hurricanes, starting at $39 US (right), Glitter Skull, $19 US, Pottery Barn (left).

rainforest site bamboo platter

by Laurie Grassi
Oct 31, 2008
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bamboobowl rainforest site bamboo platter This gorgeous handmade bamboo platter is one of the many treasures you can find on the Rainforest Site. Buy it and you’ll not only get a great-looking bowl, but will save 2,290 square feet of rainforest!

How does that work?

It’s simple: The Rainforest Site works to preserve rainforests around the world. Go to the site daily, if possible, and hit the “Click” button to fund the purchase of rainforest land worldwide by The Nature Conservancy, The Rainforest Conservation Fund, The World Parks Endowment, and Rainforest2Reef. Or buy one of the products from the site’s shop and you’ll also be saving a set amount of rainforest land.

Some 35,500 people around the world click on the site each day, and, to date, their more than 150 million clicks have preserved more than 40,500 acres of land — impressive!

Make The Rainforest Site your homepage, and clicking on it each day will become second nature — a definite feelgood way to start your day — or make it your go-to-site for at least some of your holiday shopping and do a little good in the world while making friends and family happy.

The Midas Touch bamboo platter measures approx. 15″ x 8″ x 2″ and cleans up easily with a damp cloth.

Available at: www.rainforestsite.com

Price: $24.95 US

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

dutch by design

by Natalie DiScala
Oct 29, 2008
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OK folks, today I’m loving these lamps by Dutch designer Tord Boontje. Similar to the one I blogged about here, these table lamps throw a beautiful garden shadow onto the wall, creating a fantasy atmosphere around you. No need to wait for spring … you can feel like you`re in your garden, even on the coldest winter day. Well, almost.