Design & Decor Blog

Sometimes we could all use a little nudge in the etiquette department. Today’s find: linens that remind us to mind our manners. This set of six linens boast phrases like: Try it, you might like it, Take your dishes to the sink, Chew with your mouth closed and Elbows off the table. Chic and cheeky, these linens in a lovely willow green a sure to spark conversation at the dinner table!

Available at: etsy.com
Price: $36 for a set of 6

I have a crush. Currently, I’m daydreaming about the Nook ($259 USD), the electronic book from Barnes & Noble. I haven’t seen it in person and it’s not available in Canada but I’m wondering if it’s worth the trip south of the border. From what I’ve seen and read online, this e-book is sleek and stylish and I love the array of accessories that are available, too! Much like Lauren McPhillips, our Tech Style blogger, I’m a gadget girl and I am continually amazed at how technology is evolving, the products that are hitting the market and how they’re revolutionizing our world.

The Nook features an e-Ink display, which makes the text look more like ink on a printed page than text on a computer screen and since it’s not backlit, it’s apparently easy to read … just like a regular book. The text size is adjustable and of course, going paper-free means being a better friend to the environment. You’ll have access to over a million titles simply by downloading new books you want to read and the 3.5 inch colour touchscreen LCD looks oh-so-cool!

For now, I’ll have to keep drooling over the pictures. Check out some of the stylish accessories available for the Nook:

Jane Street Cover in Chocolate
kate spade new york
$125.00

Signature Rear Cover Tangerine
by Barnes & Noble
$18.95

There’s not much to say about this pillow other than: I absolutely adore it! The oversize flower detail makes this pillow impossibly romantic and the soft dove shade is so calming, a gorgeous neutral that’s bound to match most any decor. Simple. Beautiful. Available at nordstrom.com and Yes! They do ship to Canada! Price: $75.25.

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.

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!

Want to attend the Fall Home Show this year? 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. Here’s what you’ll get the opportunity to check out:

* 250 + retailers
* Save at the Home + Style Studio Tour
* Free advice at Destination Renovation by BILD
* Decor consultations at What’s Your Design Dilemma?
* Entertaining and Renovation on The Planning Stage by Lowe’s
* Tech Style with ConnectPro by Future Shop
* Wine & Spirits in the Modern Living Lounge
* Bryan Baeumler and other experts at the HGTV Workshop Series

So, how do you win? Simply leave a comment 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 Fall Home Show runs from October 1 to October 4 at the Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto. For more information, visit fallhomeshow.com.

Contest closes September 28, 2009 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.

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