Design & Decor Blog

Do you take pride in your panache when it comes to entertaining? Are you a host or hostess extraordinaire? If you’re especially talented when it comes to throwing an unforgettable dinner party, listen up! Food Network Canada is looking for dinner party legends. Here’s the official casting call:

We’re looking for DINNER PARTY LEGENDS!
Do you and your partner:
-  host INSPIRED dinner parties for your family and friends?
-  love to share your passion for cooking and hosting?
-  have a unique flair for dinner party decor?
-  have an ADVENTUROUS palate that you share with friends?
-  have the skills and charms to PROVE you’re the best?

If you think you can host a LEGENDARY evening that tops all others, then you should be a part of this exciting new Food Network Canada show!

Send an email to our casting team at dpasqua@cineflix.com for application information today.

The Internet is like one of those Choose Your Own Adventure books I used to read as a kid. These days, instead of flipping to the page of your choice, we’re clicking on the link of our choice … and who knows where we’ll end up! Today’s online travels deposited me on the Neiman Marcus website where I found myself drooling over these chairs below. I admit, I casually ignored the prices but the beautiful designs certainly caught my eye. Here are four of my favourites, but click here to see their entire collection.

1 Haute House Sequined Zebra Chair
1829.00

2 Old Hickory Tannery “Dahlia Purple” Chair
1529.00

3 Haute House Purple Medallion Chair
1739.00

4 “Cottage Grove” Chair
2299.00

Today at the office, we’re drooling over the recipes in Gordon Ramsay’s new cookbook, Gordon Ramsay’s Great Escape: 100 of My Favourite Indian Recipes. Stuffed full of beautiful photography for foods that’ll make your tongue tingle, this cookbook is a foodie’s delight. Using flavourful ingredients and aromatic spices, Ramsay’s book makes cooking authentic Indian food fun and easy. Featuring over 100 recipes for everyday entertaining, quick lunches and healthy dishes, this book is a culinary treat.

We’re giving away three copies of this fab book! Want to win? Simply leave a comment below telling me about your biggest cooking disaster and I’ll pick my three favourite stories! Good luck!

Contest closes March 24, 2010 at 12pm EST. 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.

PLUS: Check out these two wonderful recipes, excerpted from Gordon Ramsay’s Great Escape: 100 of My Favourite Indian Recipes.

Recipe: Gordon Ramsay’s pomegranate raita
Recipe: Gordon Ramsay’s rosewater kulfi

For more information and to buy the book, visit amazon.ca.

Back in December, Pantone revealed its colour of the year for 2010. And the winner was: Turquoise! Well, we’re three months into 2010 and as we head into spring, perhaps it’s the perfect time to start thinking of ways to incorporate this colour at home. Inspired by nature from sea to sky, turquoise is known for its restful effect, representing feelings of tranquility and calm. It’s how you might feel languishing under a cloudless sky by the turquoise waters of a tropical paradise. Ahhhhh …

A vacation is one thing. But when you return home, leaving the ocean behind, you may want to recreate that sense of calm inside your own house. Turquoise home decor products abound. Check out some of my favourite wallcoverings below (visit crownwallpaper.com for more information), plus take a look at 10 more terrific turquoise home accessories that’ll inspire you to inject some cheer into your decor.

I’m getting ready to install new floors in my condo and I’ve been looking at the options at Tarkett. Tarkett offers a wide variety of flooring options: Fibrefloor, vinyl, laminate, wood and luxury tile.

I’m preparing to replace the laminate floor that’s currently in my condo with wood and while I’ve just begun looking at my options, below are the three colours/woods I’m considering … at the moment – these could change as I find more options! But for now, here are the three that have caught my eye. What’s your vote? Leave a comment and let me know! I need help deciding!

Spring is just around the corner and I am beyond ready for it. Granted, this winter hasn’t been as terrible as years past but I’m eager for spring’s arrival and the feeling of rejuvenation that comes with it. Ushering in the new season means it’s time to lighten up – not just your wardrobe (by ditching that wool winter coat!) but your decor, too! What’s hot for spring 2010? I checked in with interior designer Cheryl Torrenueva to find out:

Natalie Bahadur: What are some of the leading trends for spring 2010?
Cheryl Torrenueva: In the bedroom: Dramatic lighting
Instead of table lamps, try hanging mini chandeliers or modern pendants over the side tables, which will ultimately give you more space for accessories!

In the bathroom: Classic materials in modern patterns
Use Bianco Carrera marble but with a twist. Add visual texture with a herringbone pattern or Great Wall (available at Saltillo Tile).

In the kitchen: Reflective and metallic finishes
Appliances are now available with mirrored or champagne finishes, faucets are in gold and bronze.

In the living room: Gallery style
Incorporate original artwork in large frames, add stacks of coffee table books and sculpture to add a personalized layer to your space.

NB: Can you provide some tips for incorporating the season’s trends into their home?
CT: Don’t be afraid to take risks and be creative!  Choose colours that you know that you will use for more than a season.

Try a retro graphic wallpaper or have a custom mural made to dress up a hallway.

Make a double-sided pillow or throw with one side as a solid colour and the other as a graphic pattern.  You can switch up the looks without having to make a second purchase!

Add details to your pieces. Whether it’s a ribbon border on a curtain or braided fringe on an antique chair, keep the look fresh and unique!

Clockwise from top left: 18 kt. gold pendants, $5450 each; black onyx pendant with diamonds and emeralds, $20,000; sterling silver earrings, $575; 18 kt. yellow gold bangle, $5450; 18 kt. gold ring, $1150. Available this spring at tiffany.ca.

There are few things more beautiful in the world than jewelry, and Paloma Picasso does jewelry very well. Daughter of famous artist Pablo Picasso, Paloma has come into her own through designing exquisite jewelry for Tiffany & Co. for 30 years now.

Her newest work, the Marrakesh Collection, is — in my opinion — her most beautiful work to date. With intricate detailing, bold colours and a strong Moroccan influence, the Marrakesh Collection is full of statement pieces.

What’s so interesting to us about her collection, is that it was inspired by the patterns and colours of the tiles within her own Moroccan home. Paloma was able to take her appreciation of interior design and apply it to fashion design in such an extraordinary way.

How do you find inspiration in your own home?

It’s almost Valentine’s Day — are you ready with a little something special for that special person in your life? I love the idea of making something by hand; it’s such a thoughtful gesture. The cards pictured here can all be made using DIY cardmaking kits and accessories. Perfect for children and adults alike. So this year, personalize your Valentine’s Day card and truly brighten someone’s day.

For more information, visit: stampinup.ca; you’ll find tons of creative inspiration for special occasions and every day. Check out some more pictures below.

Want to attend this year’s National Home Show? You’ve come to the right place! I’m giving away 10 pairs of tickets to the annual decor and design event you don’t want to miss. Check out the lineup of celebrity guests that’ll be on hand and check out this year’s show highlights.

The National Home Show, presented by RE/MAX, is Canada’s largest home show and opens its doors on February 19th, 2010 at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place.

So, how do you win tickets? Simply leave a comment below telling me why you want to attend and I’ll choose my 10 favourite responses! Don’t forget to include your email address so I can notify you if you’re chosen as a winner. The National Home Show runs from February 19 to 28, 2010. For more information, visit nationalhomeshow.com.

Contest closes February 16, 2010 at 12pm EST. 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.

Rocking chairs are such a nostalgic item. They make me think of the journey of life – from an infant being gently rocked to sleep by a loving mother to an elderly couple rocking back and forth together in matching chairs on a front porch. I’ve always loved curling up in a rocking chair with a good book and a steaming cup of tea and sometimes there’s just no better place to catch a catnap. But unlike the traditional rockers that these images conjure up, this particular model, pictured above, is a modern take on a classic piece of furniture. It’s available in three ready-to-ship fabrics but it can also be customized with your choice of upholstery, to tailor it to the demands of your decor. The clean lines and unfussy design make this a piece you’re sure to cherish for years to come.
Available at: stylegarage.com
Price: Starting at $1150