Design & Decor Blog

From finally clearing the clutter in your home office to getting a jumpstart on the holidays … what are you doing this month? Here are 10 things to do in November:

1 Check your gutters
Clean your gutters regularly during the fall to make sure they’re not blocked with fallen leaves and other debris. Also check that they’re solidly attached to the house and draining properly.

2 Try some new cheeses
A creative and delicious cheese plate anchors any selection of appetizers. Take the time now to visit your cheese store and test-taste the offerings so you can wow your guests when the party season arrives.

3 Get out your knitting basket
Nothing’s cosier than a hand-knitted gift, whether it be a simple scarf mittens or an item for the home. Get started on small handmade gifts for your loved ones now — you’ll have time to make something special for yourself, too. New to knitting? Pick up a beginners’ book such as Knitting Pretty by Kris Percival, or sign up for a knitting class at your local yarn store (LYS, in knitters’ lingo).

OK, that’s only three things … check out our full list of things to do in November!

I have a ton of personal pictures that I’ve always said I would do something creative with. Create digital scrapbooks with family photos. Frame travel photos and hang them in my apartment. Make personalized greeting cards with beautiful nature shots. Alas, I’ve never gotten around to any of this. (Well, I did make a personalized calendar once, using the images from my Apple iPhoto library and it was shockingly quick and easy; with the click of a button, I had ordered two copies and they were delivered in mere days.) Anyhow, when I stumbled upon this stunning calendar on etsy, it reminded me of all the ways I’ve thought of using my photographs.

This 2010 calendar features an assortment of beautiful botanical photographs and I love the display idea, clipped to a clothesline with clothespins. Simple. Beautiful. I love it. This makes a fabulous gift idea (and you may want to get one for yourself, while you’re at it … )

Available at: etsy.com
Price: $25

My desk is a disaster. As in … seriously … a disaster. I need some organizing help. So much mail crosses my desk each day that it’s nearly impossible to stay on top of it. That’s why I was thrilled to find these adorable office organizers from Susy Jack . From wall and desktop calendars to magnets, clips and pencil holders, these handy helpers for the office are big on style. Check out my favourites:

Pencil Cup and Pencils
$16.00
Work Reminder Magnet Sets
$9.95

2010 Deluxe Wall Calendar
$34.00

Day of the Week Clip Set
$8.50

More ideas for organizing your office
If you need some advice (like I clearly do) on organizing your office space, check these out:

5 tips for organizing a home office
Get your office clutter-free with these ideas.

Organizing 101: Organizing the home office
With a little creativity and home organizing, any space in your home can be designated as a functioning home office.

6 great office gadgets
A messy workspace can lead to distraction and frustration. Take your geek to chic with these fab organizing items for a clutter-free home office.

Have you gotten into the spirit? Everywhere I turn today, there are signs of Halloween, from the young children I passed this morning, standing in line for the school bus to the decorated offices at my workplace. It’s the perfect time for adults to release their inner child and have some fun. If you haven’t gotten in on the fun, it’s not too late to start! Here are four easy Halloween recipes that are sure to put you in the spirit of things. Try ‘em!

Recipe: Great pumpkin cookies
Recipe: Spiderweb sugar cookies
Recipe: Friendly ghosts
Recipe: I’Scream cake

It’s been a while since I blogged about stationery, no? Today’s fabulous find is from Linda & Harriett. Offering a wide assortment of notecards, greeting cards, notepads and personalized stationery and invitations, Linda & Harriett’s letterpress ink is soy-based. The greeting cards and note cards are printed on 30% post-consumer and 100% carbon neutral paper. So not only are they gorgeous, but they’re green, too.

The card collection includes all the usual messages you’d expect: Thank You, Thinking of You, Happy Birthday and a sweet collection of Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays cards. But my favourite are the paper petal pins (pictured top right). Reconstructed by hand from letterpress misprints, even the scraps don’t go to waste. Stylish and socially responsible. If this was Facebook, I’d give that a thumbs up.

Visit lindaandharriett.com for a peek at the entire collection and check out the personalized letterpress stationery and the custom invitations and announcements.

I don’t know what the weather’s like where you live but where I live, it’s getting c-c-cold. I’ve officially traded in my spring/fall coat for something with a bit more heft and I’ve hauled out my scarves and gloves from their summertime hibernation. Brrrr! Some may call it crisp. I just call it cold. Some may call it brisk. I just call it blustery. There’s definitely a nip in the air but what I love most about the chill that chases me home is the comfort that can be found (or created!) indoors. Blankets, candles, pillows, a roaring fire and a hot cup of tea … these are just a few of the joys of winter.

I love these blankets from designer Ian Saude. Made from cashmere, the most luxurious fabric of all, these throws just ooze warmth and comfort. There’s something a little bit traditional, a little bit modern about them but either way, they look like the perfect thing to snuggle up with on a chilly night. For more information, visit iansaude.com.

Is it just me or is it hard to believe that Thanksgiving arrives this weekend? Well, ready or not, it’s coming and if you’re not quite ready, don’t fear. styleathome.com is your one-stop resource for fabulous Thanksgiving recipes and decor ideas. Here are a few I thought might help you pull of an easy but elegant Thanksgiving celebration:

1 Thanksgiving decor: Tips for planning the perfect holiday party
From decor and food to music and hostess gifts, entertaining expert Nik Manojlovich shares the secrets to a truly unforgettable Thanksgiving.

2 Recipe: Turkey with orange-herb basting sauce
This meal is sure to have your dinner guests asking for invitations for next year.

3 Recipe: Classic apple pie
Make your Thanksgiving feast a winner with this classic apple pie.

4 10 Thanksgiving decor accessories
Get your home ready for Thanksgiving with these 10 autumn home accessories.

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I often blog about wallcoverings but that’s because they’ve come a long way, baby! Not so long ago, wallpaper was a sign of dated decor. Not any more! With a growing number of suppliers becoming accessible comes a growing number of design options and I love what I’m seeing. I think you will, too. So check this out: New Wall is a Canadian distributor of brand name wallcoverings and they’re the exclusive distributor of Finland’s Marimekko and Italy’s Janelli & Volpi.

The designs are fresh and modern and, well, sort of European in feeling. These aren’t for the faint of heart – the patterns aren’t safe, they make a statement. And the statement is that you’re confident in your taste, your decor decisions and your sense of style. Confident colours and bold patterns make these wallpapers truly eye-catching. They’re sure to liven any room and personalize your space in a way that paint just can’t. Here are some of my favourites from New Wall’s collections:

I love these season-inspired patterns from Marimekko:



And these bold statements from J&V:

The first of October. Where is the time going? Before you know it, Thanksgiving will be upon us. Then Halloween. Then it’s head first into the holidays and the end of another year. As we welcome this harvest month, check out our list of 10 things to do in October. You’ll find 10 easy ways to welcome autumn into your home. Plus, download our Home & Living Checklist for October.  Put it on your fridge as a reminder of all the things you might want to do this month. Did we forget something? Use our checklist to write down your own notes, too!

Flipping through the pages of Canadian Living’s Holiday Celebrations 2009, I realized I had started to drool. Just, you know, a little. Sure, it’s a little early to get into the holiday spirit but I admit, I like getting ideas early. And anyway, isn’t a Coconut Lime Pie Martini suitable anytime of year?

Canadian Living’s Holiday Celebrations 2009 hit newsstands on Monday (and is available for purchase online, too) and I thought you might want to take a sneak peek. Here’s what you’ll find inside:

Cool features:
A Dessert Martini Bar with 8 not-to-miss sweet martini recipes
Tastefully elegant tiny hors d’oeuvres: Mini Chicken Pot Pies
Cool vegetarian section: A sensational pan-global assortment of meatless morsels
AND a tasteful cocktail party menu on a budget

Holiday Celebrations 2009
Price: $5.95

The recipes that caught my eye: