Design & Decor Blog

Sometimes I shake my head in disbelief that any of us actually got suckered into buying bottled water. Expensive, bad for the environment and bad for your health. Hmmm …

I switched to filtered tap water ages ago and bought glass jugs for home. But the one thing bottled water did for us was get us used to the convenience of having water on the go. Lots of environmentally-friendly, health-conscious options are popping up to make your H2O portable. I love the sleek design of these bottles by Tap Water Bottle, a Toronto-based company that launched just last month.

The tap water bottle is available at the following Toronto locations: Simple Café (1303 Queen St. East), The Inspired Cook (1378 Queen St. East), Laide Lounge (138 Adelaide St. East), The Yoga Lounge (103 Church Street) and can be shipped across Canada by ordering online at tapwater-bottle.com.

Unique. Totally original. Truly one of a kind. That’s what I love about these utterly gorgeous blown glass pieces. Founded in 2005 by Eva Milinkovic and Kriston Gene, Canadian-based Tsunami Glassworks specializes in designing stunning glass objects for the home. Each piece is totally eye-catching, available in a broad range of shapes, sizes and colours. Standing solo or clustered together, each piece is a born attention seeker. But with style like this, can’t say I blame ‘em! Visit tsunamiglassworks.com for more information and a full list of retailers.

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!

There was once a time when pink was probably the most un-hip colour in the world. Many boasted they’d never be caught dead in pink and a man wearing pink — utterly unheard of! And as for decor, pink was reserved for cutesy nurseries or young girls’ bedrooms. Beyond that, the colour was shunned. These days, it’s hard to imagine a colour that can’t work in a space, if handled with care, of course. With the right room and the right accessories, any colour can find its place in your home. And besides, isn’t the most important thing that you like it? That should always be your starting point.

So, as today’s online travels led me to neimanmarcus.com, I was struck by the abundance of pink. No longer girly or childish, the colour takes on an elegant sophistication and I find it fresh and soothing. What do you think? Check out some of my fave finds:

I 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.

There’s something about truly original, one-of-a-kind items that really make you feel good about your home. And that’s why I love etsy.com. Without fail, I’m amazed at the beautiful things people are making and selling (all at can’t beat ‘em prices) online. I regularly do a little window shopping here, checking out what’s new and cool and totally unique. Here are today’s favourites:

Honeycomb modern wall clock
Price: $49

Felted wool acorns (set of 6)
Price: $13

Scroll damask (18 graphics)
Price: $40

An instant makeover doesn’t have to cost a bundle of money or consume hours of your time. Stampin’ Up has added new products to their Decor Elements collection and I just love their wall decals. These removable applications (like the one pictured above) are easy to use and are available in 140 different styles, just to suit your own personal taste. If you’re a bit of a commitment-phobe, this is the perfect way to test a look out at home without being stuck with it for years. When you’re ready to change things up again, simply remove the applications or replace them with new ones. Best of all, these applications aren’t just for walls. Get creative and try them on any hard surface like mirrors, cupboards, lampshades or picture frames. Pictured above is the Manhattan Flowers design from the Fall 2009 collection, which is fresh and exciting without being too over-the-top. Instant style! For more information, visit stampinup.com.

I love answering poll questions and I think you do, too! We’ve put up a number of poll questions on styleathome.com and readers seem to love ‘em! So here’s another one for you: Would you rather grace your living room with a chair that’s modern, vintage, romantic or transitional? Tell us which chair’s style you love the most! The options are below; click here to answer the poll. And check out our poll section for lots more questions! Plus, follow the style at home team on Twitter! Here’s a run-down of who’s tweeting about what!

Imagine if you will that money was no object. How would you decorate your home differently if you didn’t have your eye firmly fixed on your bank account? Me? My tastes are pretty simple. Clean lines, fresh bright whites, clutter-free rooms, simple patterns and pretty but inexpensive accessories. While I’m delighted by more extravagant pieces, they don’t quite fit the ol’ budget, so I’ve learned to do more with less and appreciate the beauty of simplicity — a philosophy I apply to life in general, not just my decorating tastes.

However, I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that my eyes lit up when I stumbled upon these ornate pieces from B.B. Simon. Decadent and over-the-top, their collection of home accents are beautiful and brilliant. They’re blinged to the hilt, decked out with Swarovski crystals and they have no place in my simple little condo. But this doesn’t mean I don’t love them! Each piece is so unique and original, they’ll add instant interest to your space, not to mention how they’ll up the glam factor.

Here are two of my faves from their collection: (Top to bottom: Crystal doorknobs, set of six, $160; Crystal framed mirror, $11,000, gulp.)