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by Natalie Bahadur
October 29th, 2009
1 Comment |
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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.
As I ran around town this weekend doing errands and groceries, I found my gaze following after the trains of more than a few brides. It’s the height of summer, which also means it’s the height of wedding season. I love weddings and all the pretty little details but I was reminded of all the challenges that faced my friends as they prepared to walk down the aisle to say their “I dos”. There’s so much for a bride to think about: the colours, the dress, the bridesmaids’ dresses, the flowers, the cake, the music, the venue, the centerpieces – it’s enough to make your head spin. And then, there were the bonbonnieres. Oh, those bonbonnieres. I’ve seen it all. My sister made (made!) rosemary infused olive oil and filled sweet little bottles (tagged and ribboned, of course) for each guest. I’ve been to a wedding where guests received Werther’s candies. It’s a tough one – weddings are an expensive endeavour under the best of circumstances and finding a small but lovely gift for guests isn’t easy. I stumbled upon myweddingfavors.com this morning and just as its name promises, it’s got an endless assortment of wedding favour ideas. My fave idea is mini soaps. Everyone needs soap, right? And when they’re presented in pretty packaging, they make a lovely gift and will look beautiful on display. Check out some of my favourites:
There’s something about stripes that says spring and summer. Stripes add an instant nautical feel to your home, especially like the casual striped rug pictured here. Striped accessories like cushions and dishware are easy to add around the house and have a way of bringing a light and airy feeling along with them. The picture below makes me think of Nantucket in the summer; I can just smell that sea air — I love the effortless look of beach-inspired decor. Add some vibrant colour to your home with these fab finds:
1 Pieced Awning Stripe Mat
Available at: Pottery Barn
2 Melamine Lidded Bowl Set
Available at: Crate & Barrel
3 Brie Stripe, Granite
Available at: Tonic Living
4 Cottage Stripe Cotton Rug Collection
Available at: Garnet Hill
5 Iittala Mug
Available at: Iittala
One of the quickest, most inexpensive ways to update your bathroom is to change the shower curtain. With so many designs out there to choose from, you can give your bathroom a whole new look in mere minutes. Here are a few I like:
1 Caribbean fish
garnethill.com
$48
2 Garden blossom
dwellshop.com
$73
3 Monterey shower curtain
cb2.com
$34.95
4 Dots fabric
cozyhomewares.com
$29.99
Did you ever read Jane magazine? I went through a period in the late ‘90s when I was positively obsessed with both the magazine and the forums on their website. Anyway, I loved the brand and their very real approach to love, life and everything in between. Sadly, the magazine and website are no more but I’ve just learned that the former founding art director of the magazine has just launched bestowboutique.com, a fab new online shop where you’ll find chic stuff for the house along with unique gift ideas. My fave item? This Jan Constantine wool felt pillow. You don’t need to wait for Valentine’s Day to give or get one of these. Decorating your home with amour is stylish any time of year!
Available at: bestowboutique.com
Price: $120
My friend and colleague Lauren McPhillips is always writing about awesome new tech toys and gadgets in her blog Tech Style. Have you checked it out? Trust me: Whether you’re a true technophile or a Luddite who’s contemplating conversion, you’re bound to find cool new products to drool over on Lauren’s blog so check it out! Anyhow, reading her blog got me thinking about my latest toy – my 2G iPod Touch. I love it. And just as the commercials say, it’s the funnest toy I’ve ever had! It’s sleek and slick and feels so good in my hands. Problem is, it needs to be protected to keep it shiny and scratch-free. I had initially bought a hard plastic case with a protective screen but within a handful of days, the protective screen was so badly scratched, it made my iPod Touch look terrible. And so I searched and searched until I finally found the perfect case. This case, pictured here, from Sena Store, is exactly what I was looking for. It has an ultra-slim design, is made from European Napa leather and has a luxurious velvet lining to protect the face of your iPod. They come in a variety of colours (I love the white!) and the best part is the price – they’re only $29.99! There are lots of cases out there for the iPhone but if you have an iPod Touch, the options are considerably more limited. So I was very excited to find this case. I also love the fact that it’s a pouch meaning that when I throw it into my purse, it’s completely protected, but when I want to use it, I am able to interact with the screen directly as opposed to through a plastic face protector. Part of the beauty and appeal of these Apple products is being able to touch them and this case allows you to do just that!
Sena store offers cases for all your favourite toys – laptops, phones, cameras, MP3 players and more. Check it out!
Available at: Sena Store
Price: $29.99
When it opened in September 2008, the Park Hyatt Shanghai officially became the highest hotel in the world. The elevator ride up to the lobby is long and full of anticipation. But as the elevator doors finally ease open to reveal the stunning 87th-floor lobby, the view does not disappoint. The dark mahogany wood of the reception area against pale coffee-coloured walls is rich and luxurious. The exceptionally high ceilings (unexpected in a high-rise building) give instant grandeur to the space and create an immediate sense of extravagant style.
Designed by New York–based Chinese-American interior designer Tony Chi, the rooms at the Park Hyatt Shanghai are nothing short of sophisticated. With high-tech features (remote controlled shades that, at the click of button, reveal a sweeping view of Shanghai, a television screen hidden in the bathroom mirror and a toilet that does everything but your laundry) and an otherwise minimalist decor, the rooms are a perfect mixture of modern American design and traditional Chinese Zen.
We checked in with Caitlin Hickey, a public relations representative for the hotel, to find out more about the inspiration behind the hotel’s beautiful design. Click here to read the interview.
It’s been a few days but … back to my Indian adventure! After leaving the jungle, I was off to Mumbai, where I stayed at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai. This five-star luxury hotel was imposing and impressive, from the moment I stepped foot inside. I was pretty hungry on arrival and was thrilled to see the dining options, of which there were plenty. Dinner at the Italian restaurant Celini was delicious – I had a mouthwatering ossu bucco (I’d had my fill of curry and needed a change!). China House serves a menu of typically Chinese cuisine and M is a grill and martini bar. Of course, there’s an Indian restaurant, too; Soma dishes up authentic regional and tandoor-grilled cuisine.
The rooms are bright and tranquil and feel strangely out-of-place amidst the chaos of Mumbai that resides right outside the hotel grounds. But it’s a welcome respite and a wonderful place to rest and relax after wandering the streets of one of the world’s most intriguing cities. Pictured here is the Grand King room, with floor-to-ceiling windows (you can have a courtyard or city view) and the minimalist, modern decor is totally Zen. Crisp, white linens, golden Jaisalmer stone (an Indian sandstone) and light sycamore wood paneling give the 40-square-meter interior a spacious and airy feeling and ensure a good night’s sleep. Sweet dreams!
Click here for more information on the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai.
Next up on the itinerary: A stop in the Indian jungle to go on safari! Here, I stayed at the wonderful Baghvan Pench Jungle Lodge. When I wasn’t out on an early morning (or mid-afternoon) game drive, searching for the ever-elusive tigers and leopards that roam Pench National Park, I was hanging out in the luxurious accommodations at the resort. Pictured above, you can get a sense of the “lobby” that greets guests. More like a living room in a thoughtfully designed home, this space gives an immediate sense of the style and intimacy guests can expect to find here. Cocktails here in the evenings give guests the opportunity to meet other guests and make you feel at home rather than “at hotel”.
The bedrooms are equally as welcoming. Featuring soaring ceilings and a rather rustic exterior (this is the jungle, after all!), the interiors are warm, comfortable and cozy. On cold nights, guests return to their rooms to find hot water bottles warming their bed and early morning tea and biscuits brought to the door are an exceptional way to start the day. There are many amazing resorts and hotels all over the world but this one, nestled deep in the heart of the Indian jungle, was truly special. Aside from the stylish accommodations and the surrounding natural beauty, here, heart, hospitality and friendship come first. Quite unexpectedly, I found myself shedding a few tears to leave the friends I’d made on my much-too-short stay.
For more information, visit andbeyondindia.com
Many North Americans are unfamiliar with the Shangri-La hotel chain but that is soon about to change! This leading Asia-based luxury hotel group has 58 deluxe hotels and resorts in major Asian and Middle Eastern cities and is known throughout Asia as a premiere destination for business and leisure travelers alike. But get ready – the Shangri-La’s expansion plans are bold and the chain will roll out a number of North American launches in the next few years, starting with Vancouver (2009) and followed by Toronto, New York and Chicago (2011).
Yesterday, I started to tell you about a recent trip to India. While I was in New Delhi, I had the great pleasure of spending one night at the Shangri-La there. The hotel has 320 guest rooms and suites and the decor of the rooms is warm and inviting. I loved the dark woods and the colours, echoing shades of paprika and saffron, seemed fitting in this place so well known for its spices.
What is your favourite hotel? I’d love to hear from you about places you’ve stayed and loved.
For more hotel-inspired design ideas, check out Style at Home’s Hotel Style section.
