{ Posts Tagged ‘home’ }

prairie farmhouse, part 1

After months of a packed schedule, overload of work and endless hours at my laptop blogging, designing and tweeting, I was beginning to get a little bug-eyed and blue. I love city life, but sometimes the go-go-go of it all gets to be too much. The Remedy? A delightful, albeit speedy, trip to my hometown – a small farming community in southern Manitoba. I had no real “plans” for my visit, other than to escape all the demands and pressures of the city. My vacay went exactly as, well, “planned”. I soaked up some rays, snagged a sweet deal at the local thrift shop, spent time with family and swung by my friend’s farm.

For as long as I’ve known my friend Virginia Janzen (which is almost a couple of decades now!), I’ve been gushing over her family’s farmhouse. Both Virginia and her mom Cindy have an effortless flair about them; and, the farmhouse’s simple, yet stylish decor is evidence of this. From it’s sweet perches (read: chaise and swinging bench) and splashes of red accents to it’s eclectic vignettes and abundance of blankets and pillows, the Janzen’s home is the quintessential prairie farmhouse.

Take a look at these lovely snap shots and you’ll see what I mean!

Farmhouse01 prairie farmhouse, part 1

Farmhouse Barn prairie farmhouse, part 1

Farmhouse Chaise01 prairie farmhouse, part 1

Farmhouse Outdoor Dresser01 prairie farmhouse, part 1

Farmhouse Outdoor Dining01 prairie farmhouse, part 1

I’ll be posting photos of the farmhouse’s interior soon, so stay tuned for part 2!

amy*

Amy Walters is a Winnipeg-based design enthusiast and blogger. For more design inspiration from Amy, check out her blog aDESIGNdock.

keep calm and carry on

picture 10 keep calm and carry onI have always found it difficult to find artwork that I want to hang on my walls. Unless a piece really speaks to me, I don’t see the point of hanging it. I think art should really move you in some way; it should elicit a response that’s totally real and completely personal. The last pieces I hung on my wall were photographs that I  found at the One of a Kind Show in Toronto of Mediterranean destinations I dream of visiting.

I recently discovered keepcalmandcarryon.com and it reminded me of this poster, pictured above, that I love. Originally printed by the British government in 1939 as a motivational message for the British people in the event of an invasion by Nazi Germany, the simple message still resonates today, 70 years later.  Despite the fact that two and a half million copies of the poster were printed, none were actually used. The poster was rediscovered in a second-hand bookshop in Northumberland in 2000 and the message has been revived. It’s simple and relevant, no matter what life throws your way.

I love this particular design, with the message on top of a distressed, vintage-style Union Jack. But whatever your tastes, keepcalmandcarryon.com offers the poster in a variety of colours, including a reproduction of the original red background that the poster was designed with. On the website, you’ll find postcards and greeting cards, bags and t-shirts, all sporting the historic slogan. Visit keepcalmandcarryon.com for more information.

pretty papers

thomas paul stationery pretty papersI`m at it again! More pretty papers — this time, from New York-based designer Thomas Paul. Born and raised in the Big Apple, Thomas boasts a career working for design powerhouses like Bill Blass, Calvin Klein and DKNY. He started his own collection in 2001, featuring pillows made of exquisite silks. Since then, his collection has expanded to include all manner of things for house and home, all graced with his signature patterns.

So, imagine my delight as my online travels brought me to his lovely website. (Aside: Do you remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books? I used to read them as a kid. Within the pages of one book lay numerous possible stories and outcomes, depending on the choices you made as you read. Anyhow, the Internet is just like that. You never know where you`ll end up. It all depends on what you click. But I digress … )

Pictured left are examples of the items in Thomas Paul`s stationery collection, all done in pretty colour stories. Up top is chocolate – orange — marigold; followed by persimmon — pink; and aqua – peacock — leaf. I love the chocolate, orange and marigold line! Each line comes with a variety of products from notebooks, journals, notecards and desktop accessories like pen holders and desk trays for papers and miscellaneous items. Working is not my favourite thing to do but if you have to be behind a desk, these pretty accessories certainly make things more interesting!

For more information, visit thomaspaul.com but be warned: Your credit card may be safer in the freezer in a block of ice! Otherwise, have fun shopping! Click here for a list of online retailers selling Thomas Paul products.

PLUS:

Don`t forget to check out our other Style at Home blogs, if you haven`t already.

Executive editor Laurie Grassi`s blog Natural Chic is about stylish eco-friendly and green living.

Senior editor Lauren McPhillips` blog Tech Style is about the coolest gadgets for your home and your life, plus handy tips on technology.

Associate design editor Brett Walther`s blog Style Sleuth keeps you up-to-date about what`s on the market and behind the scenes in the design world.

Enjoy!

P.S. Follow me on Twitter!

lunch at tiffany`s

There`s something about Fridays that makes me want to shop. But of course, I`m so busy at work there`s no time for shopping (but for a few stolen moments on my lunch break, of course!) And then there`s the issue of funds. But sometimes, a dose of window-shopping can be just as much fun and just as satisfying — you get the high of browsing but the satisfaction of the fact that your money`s still safe in your bank account! Here`s what I peeked at during today`s window-shopping session, online at tiffany.ca:

tiffany2 lunch at tiffany`s1 Black shoulder coffee pot
$1,500

2 Tiffany Sierra votive
$70

3 Audobon cheese serving set
$410

4 Tiffany blue box, porcelain
$100

5 Tiffany summer mug set
$230, set of four

For more great decorating and design ideas, follow me on Twitter!

designed to sell

Today`s real estate market is proving stressful for home buyers and sellers. How do you know when to buy and when to wait? What upgrades are worth the investment to attract potential buyers? What are the key considerations you should keep in mind before you buy or sell? styleathome.com checked in with Linda Turner, a real estate agent with Royal LePage Meadowtowne Realty in Mississauga, Ont. and she revealed some secrets that will help you make the most of your move and get the most bang for your buck. Read the full story here: 10 secrets from a real estate agent. Plus, check out these gorgeous photos (below) of a Surrey, B.C. home that was designed on a budget to sell. You`ll want to check out those great ideas, too! Read the full story here: Sell this house: Budget-friendly decorating ideas

P.S. For more great decorating and design ideas, follow me on Twitter!

house1 designed to sell
house2 designed to sell
house3 designed to sell
house4 designed to sell
house5 designed to sell

naturally dyed easter eggs

curbly naturally dyed easter eggsOK, I swear. This is my last Easter egg post. Well, for today anyway. It`s just that Easter, like Christmas, really lends itself to such beautiful decorating ideas and especially with spring in full swing, there`s something so refreshing about surrounding yourself with the pretty pastels that are so popular both for Easter and for spring. Well, Chris Job at Curbly shows us how to dye Easter eggs the natural way. Forget chemical dyes that stain your hands and do all sorts of other untold damages. Chris suggests turmeric, red onion skins and blueberries, among other things, to create a rainbow of colours and provides tips for creating a variety of effects like marbling and mottling and such. Anyway, you just have to watch the video to find out how to make these lovely, lovely eggs. And of course, I`ll remind you again: Don`t forget to try some of the easy Easter egg crafts we have on styleathome.com.

P.S. Follow me on Twitter! twitter.com/styleathome

spring cleaning with steven and chris

picture 3 spring cleaning with steven and chris

When I was speaking with Steven and Chris yesterday, we somehow got on the topic of spring cleaning (I’m a master at going off on tangents!), and I asked the guys specifically about their strategy for a spring freshen-up. Here’s their recipe for success:

Chris: “Get rid of things that are blocking your energy. If there’s something in your home that doesn’t make you smile, and you don’t actually need it, let it go.”

Steven: “We recently had Peter Walsh — the king of de-cluttering — as a guest on our show. We learned so much about how physical clutter in your house can lead to a kind of “mental clutter” in your brain — the two go hand in hand.”

Chris: “I think it’s time for ‘less is more’, and that’s not as simple as having a modern, minimalist home; it’s about paring down. If you’re not using it, lose it.”

 

And there you have it! Make it your spring cleaning mantra!

museums of canada

museumsofcanada2 museums of canadaI`ve just recently discovered the Museums of Canada website and love the array of products available for purchase online. But first, here`s what the Canadian Museums Association is all about:

The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector. Established in 1947, the CMA has over 2000 members, who include non-profit museums, art galleries, science centres, aquaria, archives, sports halls of fame, artist-run centres, zoos and historic sites across Canada. They range from large metropolitan galleries to small community museums. All are dedicated to preserving and presenting our cultural heritage to the public. These institutions hold our collective heritage in trust for the Canadian public. Millions of art works, objects, specimens and documents are preserved for safekeeping by Canada’s museums. Each year, more than 55 million visitors attend our museums and a further 60 million visit our historic and natural parks.

Great, right? Well, things just get better when you check out some of the beautiful handmade items that are available for purchase on the Museums of Canada site. I`m particularly drawn to the work of Nova Scotia artist Pamela Kinsman, whose intricate and detailed work with glass turns everyday objects into true pieces of art. Pictured left is the Signature Art Glass Vase ($44.99) and I just adore the whimsy of this design. Pictured right is the Signature Tea Mug ($19.99), another exquisite piece with fine gold detailing that gives this mug something really special.

For more, check out: museumsofcanada.com

kitchenaid stand mixer

cbcf kitchenaid stand mixerIf you haven`t invested in a KitchenAid stand mixer, I really don`t know what you`re waiting for. And if you`re not going to, encourage your mom, sister or aunt to get one (and then go over to their house and use it!) I`ve always loved to bake but never more so than when my mother purchased her first KitchenAid stand mixer — suddenly, there was no need to make a mess in my own kitchen when I could do it in hers and get to use her mixer. It makes everything so much easier and I swear, makes things taste better, too. This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and there are so many ways to help, to contribute, to stand up and say I care and I can help. Supporting the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) by purchasing products from one of their many partners is just one of those ways. KitchenAid makes a $100 contribution to the CBCF for each pink stand mixer that is sold.

Available at: homeoutfitters.com
Price: $449.99

visit the style at home show

show2 visit the style at home showThe first annual Style at Home Show is really three shows in one. It will combine everything you love about your favourite magazines, Style at Home, Canadian Gardening and Canadian Home & Country. If you live life with style, this one unforgettable event will be your single source for everything that`s fresh and new for your home, inside and out! From the hottest colour palettes to the perfect perennials, The Style at Home Show brings style and the best shopping experience to life.

Explore the possibilities
This exciting new show is both an experience and an opportunity. You`ll be surrounded by new ideas, new products and new ways of achieving the perfect look for your home. Plus you will have an opportunity to meet the experts and receive one-on-one advice from design professionals such as Erin McLaughlin, Editor, Canadian Home & Country magazine and Margot Austin, Senior Design Editor, Style at Home. Stop by and meet the Master Gardeners including Aldona Satterthwaite, Editor, Canadian Gardening and participate in the hands-on activities. Get inspired and find the best decorating buys from the many unique and one-of-a-kind exhibitors.

And don`t forget to visit the Chef`s Kitchen where you can watch the live demonstrations from some of the best chefs including Elizabeth Baird, Food Editor, Canadian Living and meet Glen Peloso. Be sure to check out the celebrity speakers at the Main Stage, including Colin & Justin, Sarah Richardson, Kimberley Seldon, Lynn Spence and Samantha Pynn.

The Style at Home Show is the convergence of ideas, products and experts, everything you need to make a statement and bring your style home.

When: Oct 17 to 19, 2008
Where: Direct Energy Centre, Toronto
More information: Style at Home Show

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