In just over a year, I’ve overhauled every room in my historic condo – every room except for the bathroom, that is. I’ve been putting off the looming “reno” for as long as possible. Though it’s often the smallest room in the house, the bathroom can take a mighty bite into one’s design and decor budget. Having already tackled a kitchen reno this year, I’m not quite ready to eat the costs of another major home project.
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If you are ever in the Mt.Pleasant and Eglinton area of Toronto, I encourage you to pop into one of my favourite little stores, The Jacaranda Tree. It is my go-to store for hostess gifts if I am attending an event, or looking for a perfect gift for a family member or girlfriend.What I love about the store is that it mixes items that are manufactured present day, with antiques. The result is a little shop that is bursting with must-haves for your home. From vintage china, body lotion, furniture on the second floor, and linens, this little store is filled with beautiful pieces.
I finally got the call today: The missing piece of marble for the ledge in my shower is being installed as we speak! It’s only been two weeks since my bathroom renovation began (though it feels longer) and once that final piece is in, the renovation itself will be complete. Which means … I get to start choosing accessories to dress up my space!
To start, I’ve chosen these stoneware accessories with silver-plated trim from Canadian Tire.
Apothecary Tumbler, $12.99, canadiantire.ca
Apothecary soap dish, $12.99, canadiantire.ca
There’s a full line of matching products from this pretty Paris-inspired line, including a waste basket, toothbrush holder and lotion pump. I love the vintage hotel-chic flavour of these pieces and love the price points!”
What do you think? Good start?
As a lover of all things vintage-mod, I’ve always had a soft spot for the arc-style floor lamp. There’s just something so simple, yet glamourous about the lamp’s sweeping curved form. It’s incredibly classic and instantly commands attention in a room.
Whether taking up post next to its’ typical companion – the sofa – or put to less conventional, but equally fabulous, use illuminating a bed or dining table, the arc-style lamp is sure to heat up your decor!
Swap out all-too-expected bedside table lamps with one of these beauties, like I did in my Master Bedroom (shown above). Arc-style Floor Lamp, HomeSense – $129.99 CDN
A floor lamp arched over a petite table creates a cute n’ cozy breakfast nook worthy of the best Cup O’ Jo in town. Overarching Floor Lamp, West Elm, polished nickel base and arm, natural linen shade – $249.00 USD
Cut your art budget down by selecting a stylish arc-style lamp, which can double as sculpture! Meryl Floor Lamp, Crate and Barrel, grey marble and steel with satin nickel finish, cotton blend shade with diffuser – $349.95 CDN
Amy Walters is a Winnipeg-based design enthusiast and blogger. For more design inspiration from Amy, check out her blog aDESIGNdock.
EQ3 is the go-to “design-house” for shoppers seeking affordable modern furnishings, textiles and accessories. Proud of their Canadian roots, EQ3 manufactures the majority of their products right here in Canada. This offers the consumer plenty of options for customizing furniture; and, lower carbon emissions means the environment benefits too.
This past March, I was delighted to meet with Mr. Peter Tielmann, CEO of EQ3 Ltd., at the company’s Head Office in Winnipeg. This was a surreal experience for me…a girlish dream come true you might say. As a young girl, obsessed with the design industry, I would often drag my family into the EQ3 store to explore the beautiful room vignettes on display. Now, many years later (more years than I would like to admit), I still get giddy over the company’s gorgeous designs.
If I thought that EQ3 couldn’t impress me anymore, I was wrong. In November 2010, EQ3 launched EQ3+, a line of modern classic furnishings and accessories from iconic design companies like Herman Miller, Alessi, Stelton, Design Stockholm, Pablo and Vitra.
One of CEO Peter Tielmann’s fav’s from the EQ3+ line; and, of course, mine too! Herman Miller – Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, Walnut / Black Leather (Sku #3350-600-13), $3,977
Love the smokey tone of this mod lamp! Pablo – Tube Top Floor Lamp, Charcoal (Sku #3380-203-7), $549
No kitchen’s complete without this pretty piece! Alessi – Juicy Salif, Aluminum (Sku #PSJS), $119
Whoever says bottled water is boring, clearly hasn’t seen this! Stelton – My Water Bottle, Red (Sku #3310-900-2), $ N/A
Modern classics, like the ones offered in the new line, have been loved and used for 50 to 100 years. Peter Tielmann says they’re proof that modern design is not a trend. It’s timeless and here to stay! The line will soon be expanding to include more classics so be sure to stop by your local EQ3 store soon to see these new additions.
Don’t have an EQ3 store nearby? Or just don’t feel like leaving the house? No problem! EQ3 will soon be launching an online shopping component to their website. Finally customers will be able to order their favourite products with the click of a button.
With 10 years of business under their belts, EQ3 hopes to continue to solidify their position in Canada’s design industry and present EQ3 as a life-style, not just a furniture design company. With classic designs like these, I have no doubt that they’ll do just that!
EQ3 Ltd. t: 1.888.988.2014 www.eq3.com *check EQ3′s website for more great products and to find the store nearest you!
amy*
Amy Walters is a Winnipeg-based design enthusiast and blogger. For more design inspiration from Amy, check out her blog aDESIGNdock.
Yesterday, I set aside my to-do list and the heaping mound of project work on my desk and went back to school.
I was thrilled (okay, maybe a bit terrified as well) to present about my career in the interior design industry at the 2nd Annual Oak Park High School Career Symposium. To be honest, I felt a little inadequate. I mean, what could I possibly share that would capture the interest of high school students past roll call?
To get myself in the right frame of mind, I turned to Restoration Hardware’s Baby & Child Collection and fell in love with these lovely vintage style school house images!
I am gushing over this play table. It’s so raw and industrial looking, yet it’s kid friendly too. Wrapped in sheet metal, this table top can take a lot of abuse! Vintage Schoolhouse Play Table, Restoration Hardware Baby and Child, $449 USD.
I love everything about this schoolroom desk. The Driftwood finish, silver accents and distressed details…what child could possibly fall asleep in an adorable desk like this? English Schoolroom Desk, Restoration Hardware Baby and Child, $599 USD.
And finally, I was delighted when I came across this new globe, which is so stylish it can double as sculpture. I don’t know about you, but I would have definitely caught on to Geography quicker had I studied a gorgeous globe like this one! Moon Desk Globe, Restoration Hardware Baby and Child, $59 USD.
Question: Why did schools ever lose their charm and character?
amy*
Amy Walters is a Winnipeg-based design enthusiast and blogger. For more design inspiration from Amy, check out her blog aDESIGNdock.
You may have heard about this – it’s slowly trickling through the grapevine thanks to Twitter, blog sites and the like – so forgive me if I’m sharing what you already know! It’s just that I’m so thrilled to be participating in Bloggers Give Back. Lindsay from Aubrey and Lindsay’s Little House Blog is the brains behind the operation. She has rounded up a bunch of amazing bloggers from Canada and beyond to re-vamp the overgrown, backyard garden at George Herman House, (a charity which offers supportive programs and safe housing for women with emotional and mental issues). *Side note: If the name “Aubrey + Lindsay’s Little House Blog” is ringing a bell for you, it’s probably because Lauren just profiled Lindsay’s blog a couple of weeks ago. Click here to revisit Lauren’s awesome post!
To set the project in motion, each of the participating bloggers were asked to create a mood board to illustrate their vision for the new garden design. I had so much fun creating my mood board. Not only did I stumble across some gorgeous products, but it also provided me with a much needed escape from the lousy weather we were having in Winnipeg! The jumping off point for my garden design concept was the fresh, yet classic Roxo Outdoor Series by Ikea. I love the beige and white striped cushion cover and white frame of the Roxo Easy Chair. It has a bit of a nautical vibe, without screaming “sailor”! The punch of green on the bistro chair keeps things lively and exciting.
Roxo Outdoor Easy Chair (in Beige), Ikea
Roxo Chair (in Green), Ikea
Just like it is with any indoor room design, no garden design is complete without some fab fabric accents! I selected these vibrant outdoor pillows from Tonic Living. I just love the pillows’ juicy colours and bold patterns.
Outdoor Pillow, Soho (in Kiwi), Tonic Living
Outdoor Pillow, Soho (in Mink), Tonic Living
Outdoor Pillow, Cool Strip (in Sorbet), Tonic Living
I hope this was a good teaser for you as you wait for spring to bloom! For more teasers and pleasers, check out all of the bloggers’ garden mood boards on the Bloggers Give Back website. Then leave us a comment sharing which design is most “you”!
amy*
Amy Walters is a Winnipeg-based design enthusiast and blogger. For more design inspiration from Amy, check out her blog aDESIGNdock.
I am a lover of original mid-century mod furnishings, but not the high-end price tags that usually come with these classic designs.
Enter Lunar Lounge Design by Jonathan Sebastian – a Winnipeg-based online company offering affordable and original, hand made mid-century furniture designs. Catering to residential, commercial and hospitality environments for clients around the globe, Lunar Lounge’s furnishings are made to order specifically for the client and are available in a variety of materials, finishes and colours. In addition to their ever expanding product line, the company also offers custom design and fabrication services!
This November marks Lunar Lounge Design’s 10-Year anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, the company just launched a new website and “look”! Jonathan Sebastian, Owner and Chief Product Designer at Lunar Lounge, has invited me to their studio for a first hand look at all the fab furnishings! I can’t wait for the “field trip”; and of course, I will tell you all about the experience when I return. In the meantime, I’ve been browsing online and picked out a few fav’s.
I love the fun colours and great price point of the Booma Mid Coffee Table [$150.00 USD, Lunar Lounge Design, 3/4" Canadian Maple Ply - available in a variety of stain colours - and includes standard 14" Hair Pin Legs].
Say goodbye to that dingy, old recliner and say hello to the Leentu Lounge. It’s the perfect marriage of comfort and style [$500.00 USD, Lunar Lounge Design, 3/4" formaldehyde free Canadian Maple Ply - from renewable, sustainable resources - in semi-gloss finish and slung-style woven-web seating].
Love the versatility of the Ply Bak Bench 2. It’s a stylish statement for your front hall and bedroom. Or try using it in the living room as an ottoman and, in a pinch, extra seating for guests [$280.00 USD, Lunar Lounge Design, 3/4" Canadian Maple Ply, foam cushion with Baron upholstery vinyl fabric and brushed aluminum legs].
To see more from Lunar Lounge Design and to place an order, check out their website and Etsy Shop!
Lunar Lounge Design 82 George Avenue – 2nd Floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0K1 t: 204.799.2265 www.lunarloungedesign.com
amy*
Amy Walters is a Winnipeg-based design enthusiast and blogger. For more design inspiration from Amy, check out her blog aDESIGNdock.
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.
I live in a 585 square foot, 1 bedroom condo unit in an old building from 1912. To some this may seem cramped and claustrophobic, but I have always lived in a “small space” and am quite used to it. You might even say I enjoy it!
Today is my 8-month homeowner anniversary. That’s right, me and my condo have been together 8 months now. These past months have been some of the most challenging and most wonderful in my life. I have put a lot of sweat and hard work into my home (okay, maybe a few tears too), but I can honestly say its been worth it.
Living in a small space has its challenges (I never have enough storage space, the laundry room is two floors below me and I would kill for a dining table), but it also presents a lot of opportunities to be creative and unique. The best thing about living in a small space is that it’s easier to make decorating progress. Even though it’s been less than a year in my new home, I have already managed to whip my foyer, bedroom, living room and kitchen into shape. Only the bathroom remains untouched. My rooms will never be finished. They will always be a work in progress; and yet, the rooms are already a strong reflection of my personality and sense of style. I would never have been able to budget the time or money required to re-design all of these rooms if I was living in a larger space! My resources have taken me farther because I am working with a small space.
That’s just one example of many perks to living in a small space. So in honour of small spaces everywhere, here’s a few stylish ideas that are perfectly suited to small space living.
1. Who says small spaces must be stiff? There’s no reason why you can’t sit in comfort and style. The new Cedric Sofa from Urban Barn features one long seat cushion and narrow arms. Its comfy without being over-stuffed and will ensure a sweet landing spot for you and your friends. Bonus: The sofa’s shallow depth is hard to come by, but a must in a small space. 
2. If you’re like me and live without a dining table, meals are usually eaten from the sofa. TV trays are a little “bachelor pad” for my taste, but a “C” shaped table like the Framed Side Table from West Elm pulls up perfectly and looks pretty too! 
3. I love the versatility of the Stratton Daybed from Pottery Barn. It would be fab for a small guest bedroom that needs to work overtime as an office or den. Or use it as a sofa and bed in a small studio apartment. Open cubbies below allow for ample storage – always a welcome addition in a space (no matter what its size is). 
4. Tight quarters shouldn’t keep you from displaying treasured objects. Book lovers will love the Herringbone Spine Bookcase from West Elm, which takes up minimal floor space, but stands tall enough to provide plenty of space to display your favourite reads. 
5. The stackable Hugo Barstool from Ikea is great for entertaining in a small space. Stack a few and tuck them away in a closet. They’ll be ready to spring into service when those unexpected guests arrive. Its slim profile keeps the look light. Either way you look at it, this stool stacks up pretty good!
What is your favourite small space living tip? Leave a comment and let us know.
amy*
Amy Walters is a Winnipeg-based design enthusiast and blogger. For more design inspiration from Amy, check out her blog aDESIGNdock.
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