Design & Decor Blog

Decorating inspiration can be found anywhere and everywhere. Maybe the colour of a leaf catches your eye on the street. Maybe you’re inspired by the colour of a new sweater. Or perhaps the set of a movie totally captures your imagination. At Style at Home, we’ve found that our readers love movie sets and often draw inspiration from the details of some of their favourite films. We’ve also discovered that the movie Something’s Gotta Give has really made an impression! The breathtaking Hampton’s home that belongs to Diane Keaton’s character is full of beachy style, made oh-so-inviting through attention to detail, particularly the airy colour palettes throughout and the no-muss, no-fuss approach to decorating. Pictured above is the serene kitchen, whitewashed and wonderful, exuding a sense of both form and function. We picked some other movie sets we love and have provided some tips to help you bring the look home – check them out here! So, what movie set has made you swoon. Leave a comment — I want to know!

I love my condo. I really do. When I first moved in, I spent so much time choosing the paint colours, furniture and accessories. The result is a warm and cozy space that I just love to spend time in. But … as the editor of a design and decorating website, I’m continually surrounded by new and exciting ideas. My mind is always whirling with just one more change I could make to my home, a tweak here, a new item there … it’s a hazard of the job, I suppose! Pictured above are rooms that totally capture my imagination. It’s a hot and sticky August here in Toronto and these interiors are light and bright and if I could, I’d makeover my home to look like these! (Photography by Gap Interiors.)

Do you have a room in your home that’s in desperate need of a makeover? If you said yes, then I encourage you to enter the Style at Home Makeover Contest, brought to you by the Fall Home Show. Simply upload a photo of a room in your home that’s in desperate need of an overhaul and tell us why you need a makeover. You could win one of two $2,000 gift cards from Home Depot to help you turn your design dreams into reality. Visit the Style at Home Makeover Contest for full contest details and for your chance to win. Good luck!

One of the things I love about my job is that I’m continually discovering people with indescribably clever talent. Design is such an art and all over the world, people are expressing themselves through various forms of this diverse art. From interior designers to furniture designers, there’s so much inspiration to help turn a simple house into a truly beautiful home. And then there are those artists who, in short, make the world a more beautiful place with their innovative creativity.

Zoe Bradley is a sculptural artist whose work combines sculpture, fashion and theatre. Her trademark is spectacular silhouettes and she’s designed pieces that have graced fashion runways and have appeared in window displays for some of the largest retailers and designers in the world, including Donna Karan, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Missoni. According to her website, Zoe “employs traditional tailoring techniques, but offers a twist from using the more conventional materials of fashion fabrics to her signature material luxury papers.”

The pieces are hard to describe – you have to see them for yourself. But the result of her ingenuity and talent is nothing short of breathtaking. Her creations are extraordinary and you can browse online for unique pieces of wall art. There’s a gorgeous floral canvas and a truly special chandelier as well as pretty decorations for weddings or other events. To order, fill out the enquiry form on the site and someone will be in touch with you. Check out some of the products below and visit zoebradley.com for more information.

I love answering poll questions! We have one for you: Which hotel’s style do you like best? Click here to share your answer! Plus, leave a comment and tell us why you chose the one you did. We’d love to hear from you!

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:

1 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

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When I was a little girl, I sometimes dreamed of being a seamstress so that I’d be able to sew my own fabulous clothes. Poofy skirts, flowing dresses, satin sashes … I dreamed of having the most exquisite wardrobe. I’ve always loved beautiful fabrics. I love the look, the touch of soft silks, the way something as simple as a fine-looking fabric can make you smile. These days, my love of fabric has extended from fashion to decor. Upholstering furniture in a fabric hand-picked by you is such an easy way to personalize your home, to choose something that makes you happy and reflects your taste, your style and your personality. The options at calicocorners.com are swoon-worthy. Check ‘em out!
P.S. For more great decorating and design inspiration, follow me on Twitter!

Bright shades and bold patterns define Angela Adams’ designs and I love the way they liven up any space by adding beautiful bursts of colour. I find the geometric patterns intoxicating and somehow find myself unable to look away from the intricate designs. Below are some of my favourite products, available at angelaadams.com. From top to bottom: Munjoy pillow in Blue ($85); Pod pillow in Sprout ($85); Lulu rug in Dandelion ($54); Kelly rug in Dusk (prices vary according to size).

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

Nothing says spring like fresh flowers. As we leave the cold and desolate winter behind us, there’s a sense of rebirth and rejuvenation as buds sprout forth on trees and flowers start to strut their beautiful blooms. In honour of this wonderful time of year (and of Mother’s Day, which is fast approaching), Pottery Barn is offering complimentary classes on Sunday April 26 and Sunday, May 3 called The Art of Botanical Arranging. (Check out our Flower Arranging section for more ideas!) Sounds like a fun way to spend a Sunday, maybe with mom, a sister, aunt or friend. Class sizes are limited so call your local store in advance to reserve your spot. Here are the locations where classes are offered:

Bloor Street
100 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M5S 1M4
416.962.2276

Sherway Gardens
25 The West Mall
Toronto, ON M9C 1B8
416.621.7779

Yorkdale
3401 Dufferin Street
Toronto, ON M6A 2T9
416.785.1233

Chinook Centre
6455 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary, AB T2H 0K9
403.259.2100

Toronto Eaton Centre
220 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M5B 2H1
416.597.0880

South Granville Centre
2600 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6H 3H8
604.678.9897

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I can’t help it – I am SO loving Anthropologie’s stuff right now and in anticipation of the opening of the retailer’s first-ever Canadian location, I’m checking out their wares online. Here’s what’s drool-worthy today.

Seed packet pillow, cyclamen
$124.46

Pendulous canopy curtain
$162.56 to $213.37

Visit anthropologie.com to find your own things to drool over.

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OK, 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.

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