Style & Decor Blog

Jamie Drake knows glamour, and the New York-based designer’s new Profil faucet for THG’s Jamie Drake Bath Collection is positively fierce. Boasting cross-handles with black Lalique crystal inlay, this is some seriously showstopping bath hardware. For the latest trends in bathrooms - and our own showstopping baths section - check out the October 2008 issue of STYLE AT HOME, on stands soon!

Price: From $5,157

Available at: THG for dealers

One of my favourite tasks as a Style Sleuth is finding out what’s flying out of the showrooms of Canada’s hottest decor retailers. When I recently spoke with Suanne de Boer, General Manager of DeBoer’s, she noted that mirrored surfaces continue to be a big hit on everything from furnishings to accents, and running the gamut from traditional to modern styles. Here’s the Gotham Mirrored Single Dresser from DeBoer’s Trump Home Collection - yes, that’s The Donald’s own line. I admire the substantial, masculine design of this piece - it’s a great counterpoint to the delicate mirrored finish.

Price: $1,039

Available at: DeBoer’s

Mark Tuesday, September 30, on your calendars! My good friend and colleague Samantha Pynn - STYLE AT HOME’s Design Editor - will be hitting the small screen with the premiere of Pure Design, her new series for HGTV. Over the course of 13 episodes, Samantha will be refreshing tired spaces, breathing new life into everyday rooms in her inimitable style. You can catch a sneak peek of the show in our October issue (just hitting newsstands now!), in which we go behind the scenes of Sam’s spectacular before & after transformations… 

Premiere: HGTV, Tuesday, September 30, 8:00PM

I’m on assignment for STYLE AT HOME in Montreal next week, and I can’t wait to check out Barami- a hot new furniture destination that I’ve had my eye on since it opened a few months back. I’ve had the chance to browse their wares online, and I’m loving the lines of the Heal’s-inspired Designa dining table - cool and contemporary, with the silhouette of turned legs providing a shot of chic.

Price: $2,499 (for 240×100x75cm model)

Available at: Barami, 404 St. Jacques O., Montreal, 514-849-5000

A design editor’s most prized tool is his digital camera, and when my trusty old scouting aid finally bit the dust last week, I felt a bit lost. Kodak came to the rescue with this candy apple red stunner that’s scheduled for release in September - the new Kodak EasyShare M1073 IS. It’s just what I need - an entry level, point-and-click 10.2 megapixel camera with an absolutely huge display screen that even a confirmed Luddite like myself can operate with ease. Let the scouting continue!

Price: $180

Available in September 2008 at: Kodak; Staples Business Depot, 800-668-6888 for stores; Wal-Mart, 800-328-0402 for stores.

Do you have your IKEA 2009 Catalogue yet? I got a sneak peek at the new additions to the IKEA lineup at the catalogue launch party on July 30, and I instantly fell for this gem. Clean and crisp, but with character, this is minimalism done right.

Vinstra dressing table with mirror in high-gloss white, $299

Available at: IKEA, 866-866-4532.

Babs has done it again. Barbara Barry’s new Enduring Elegance home fabric collection for Kravet Contract reflects her signature style - sensible, understated chic in a soothing palette -  in all its glory. I admire how Barbara constantly finds inspiration and beauty in the everyday items around her, whether it’s a pair of shears or a paperweight. And as these are contract fabrics, it means they’ll withstand the test of time - ideal for high-traffic areas in the home.

Available through designers: Kravet, 800-535-3258; Montreal, 514-931-2437; Toronto, 416-921-1262; Mississauga, Ont., 905-607-0706.

I’ve always marveled at the gorgeous designs of Lampe Berger, and they’ve become a styling staple for the Design Department at STYLE AT HOME as the perfect, jewel-like accessory for a pretty bedside table, or a sparkling vanity tablescape. But these gems are designed to appeal to all senses, as they’re air fresheners as well. With over 40 scents to choose from (my fave is Green Tea - so clean and refreshing!), the Lampes actually clean the air as they diffuse scent, with a patented catalytic burner that reduces airborne bacteria by 68 per cent. One of the new scents this summer - Vanilla No. 3 - actually acts as a mosquito repellent, without a trace of sickly citronella! Check out this brilliant new burner design - I’m totally tripping for the tufted-leather look.

Lampe Sofa noire vitreous ceramic

Price: $150

Available at: Lampe Berger for retailers