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).
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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!
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.
Available online at: dutchbydesign.com
Punchy-patterned dessert plates so often steal the spotlight when dressing a table, sometimes we forget that flatware can be just as pretty. Hand-cast of 18/8 stainless steel and beautifully detailed, this feathered flatware from Pottery Barn has got me all aflutter. Â
Quill flatware
Price: $65 per five-piece set
Available at: Pottery Barn
Keeping track of everything during a renovation or design project can take some major organization. Budgets, wish lists, measurements — having these things with you when you’re out shopping is a must. You can carry a binder and files with you, but why not put technology to work? I talked to Alec Taylor of Microsoft (who’s just completed his own reno) about how Windows Mobile — software found on many smart phones like the HTC Touch Diamond (above) — can help you manage your project.
mange your budget
With fully functional applications just like what you have on your PC, Windows Mobile on your phone is like “you took your computer and put it in your pocket,” says Alec. For budgeting, this means having excel spreadsheets that you can edit and adjust when you’re on the go. Enter in actual costs as you buy to ensure you don’t spend to much.
manage your design
Take photos of items you like when you’re out scouting, and file or email them. You can also view PDFs, which Alec found useful when his contractor sent him a PDF of different nosing options for the countertop — no waiting until he got home to take a look and approve the style he wanted.
manage your timeline
Use the calendar to track delivery times, when contractors will be on site, and when work is expected to be done.
manage communications
With e-mail, instant messaging and phone calls, you can keep in touch with everyone involved.Â
Windows Mobile for info.
Margot’s back on Steven & Chris today! Our Senior Design Editor will be chatting with the guys about elegant bedside tables. Check it out!
Tune in to CBC: Tuesday, October 28, 2:00PM EST
Why is it that our extended families tend to grow larger with each passing Christmas, while our dining tables stubbornly remain the same size? PC Home comes to the rescue for your next festive family feast with an incredibly affordable event table and folding chairs. It’s stashable seating at its most stylish!Â
PC Home event table and folding chairs
Price: Table, $50; chairs, $15 each
Available at: Real Canadian Superstores across Canada
I love, love, love these fab, fun aprons from domistylegifts.com. Made in Canada (love that, too!), these trendy aprons add sass and style to time spent in the kitchen. With cute statements like: Will cook for shoes and Caution: Hot dish, these aprons are fresh, fun and fashionable. And who said that aprons had to be frumpy? These are well tailored and actually feel like a stylish accessory that you`ll want to wear. The pretty designs that adorn each apron are drawn by hand and then silk screened onto the aprons, which, by the way, are machine-washable and have adjustable neck straps. They make wonderful gifts; at their great prices, you can stock up on your Christmas gifts for the season! The aprons usually retail for $39 but their holiday sale starts today: Buy one, get the second at half price! It’s a great deal, so what are you waiting for? Get a head start and tick those names off of your Christmas shopping list!
For more information, visit domistylegifts.com. For a list of e-tailers, click here.
Happy shopping!
Have a room you don’t always use? Running in and out to open and close the vents to adjust the heating and air conditioning? Make life easier and save some energy — yours and the Earth’s — with a Vent-Miser.
This battery-operated, programmable vent has two weekday and two weekend programs. Set it up to turn off the air flow wheneven you want to, without having to always remember to do it yourself!
Best for wooden and darker floors, since, despite my pretty picture, it’s only available in brown.
Available at: The Home Depot
Price: $29.99
Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email me at naturalchic@styleathome.com!
Having the right tools to do the job helps, but doesn’t always guarantee success… Take espresso, for example. Breville’s beautiful die-cast espresso machine gets you halfway to caffeinated ecstasy, but after plugging it in, it’s up to you, barista! That’s why Breville’s launched a series of awesome instructional videos on their website: comprehensive, step-by-step instructions that take the mystery out of preparing the perfect latte, along with other tips and tricks from the masters of the bean.Â
Die-cast espresso machine 800ESXL
Price: $500
Available at: Breville, 866-273-8455
