Style & Decor Blog

Austin Parkway public beach access, Long Point, Ont.

The August issue of STYLE AT HOME will be hitting newsstands this weekend (yay!), and the theme of the issue is “Simple Summer” – gorgeous summer getaways and easy, breezy outdoor living. 

Last weekend, I had the chance to ditch the sweltering urban heat island (I’m so not a fan of Toronto in the summer!) and escaped to my own slice of heaven – Long Point.

Long Point is a 40-kilometre sandspit that juts from southwestern Ontario into the warm waters of Lake Erie, and has been my summer getaway since I was a kid. Wide, sandy beaches, lined with whispering poplars that glint like silver in the summer sun, and an unpretentious atmosphere among the cottagers who have a real passion for the place… Regional Road 59 takes you down the fascinating Causeway, flanked on either side by marshes teeming with turtles and birds (over 300 species fly through Long Point through the year), and terminates at the Provincial Park – the fourth oldest park in the province. 

One of my fave activities on the Point, of course, is to go dream cottage shopping. I’ve always loved this buttery-yellow beachfront property, which sold two summers ago for a prince’s ransom (I’d heard $750,000, but that’s local gossip talking).

Why do I love it? It’s a combination of knockout location, with a modest, charming design that doesn’t take away from the splendour of the landscape (Long Point is recognized as a United Nations World Biosphere).

The most famous property on the Point, however, has got to be the Old Cut Lighthouse.

Built in 1879, the three-storey fort-style beacon with a fascinating history is now a private residence, lovingly restored. The renovation actually won a number of awards, including “Most Outstanding Historical Renovation in Ontario”. Isn’t the fence awesome?!

I’ve always wanted to see inside, and a little websleuthing brought up these tasty snaps. You can also see the shabby state the lighthouse was in towards the end of the 1990s… The transformation is nothing short of stunning!

I was at a press launch yesterday at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Toronto, and had my buddy Corinna vanGerwen take a shot of this floral arrangement in one of the hotel’s penthouse suites. (One camera + my arsenal of manpurses = one frequently misplaced camera)

Now, nobody doesn’t love peonies, and these super-soft pink varieties are especially pretty. But I’m not sure how I feel about the juxtaposition of the understated elegance of the pink peonies with the harsh, angular greenery that cuts jagged slashes through the arrangement. It’s certainly eye-catching, and adds an edge to an otherwise soft and subdued flower… 

What do you think? Pretty pairing, or mismatched?

With a new editor-in-chief at the helm here at STYLE AT HOME magazine, everyone’s clamouring to hear more about Jane Francisco. The former editor-in-chief of Wish magazine (amongst other titles in her impressive 18 years in publishing) will be joining our team in July, and we’re all pumped to work alongside this style-savvy mag-maven. Jane popped by the office this afternoon for an impromptu chat with yours truly, and, wanting you to have a chance to get to know her as well, I asked her a few questions, rapid-fire style!

Here’s Jane on…

Her proudest career achievement (other than becoming STYLE AT HOME’s new editor-in-chief, of course): “At the time, placing runner-up for my work at Venue magazine at the National Magazine Awards.”

Her fave colour: “It changes over the years. Right now, it’s somewhere in the category of ‘orange’. Orange is my new neutral.”

Her style: “I consider myself to be an extreme eclectic. I’m lucky enough to have a cottage, which allows me a second decor personality. I’m interested in a broad range of styles and trends – if I like something, I like it. Not to say that I’m not influenced or interested in trends; but I don’t just stop liking something if it’s no longer ‘trendy’.”

What’s on her iPod: “Mostly 80s stuff. I made up a huge collection that I call “Forgotten 80s” - stuff that’s not played regularly, but totally takes me back. Psychedelic Furs, Level 42, Alphaville…”

Her last home purchase: “Siding for my boathouse on Lake Joseph.”

What’s on her home shopping list: “I’m looking for a really good kitchen table. I want it to have a bit of personality, and to bring the feel of the cottage indoors. Something round and rustic… I’ve also got an oval Saarinen dining table that needs some chairs – something comfortable and upholstered.”

What’s on her nightstand: “I just finished reading The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, so I need a follow-up that’s extremely light. In the pile is Chasing Harry Winston, which might be a nice frothy antidote!”

Karate-chopped pillows or natural, as-is pillow styling?: “Natural!”

Welcome, Jane!

Sometimes seeing how something’s made can alter your enjoyment of the finished product. As much as I love hot dogs grilled on the barbeque every summer, for instance, I never, ever want to see how wieners are made. Ever.

On the other hand, when it comes to fine furniture craftsmanship, seeing the artful process of how it’s manufactured can enhance your appreciation of it, elevating something as taken-for-franted as a simple slipper chair to a true work of art.

Last week, I had the chance to go behind-the-scenes at Toronto’s Barrymore Furniture to see how their soft furnishings are made, and it just reinforced the beauty of their custom collection of sofas and armchairs.

It all starts, of course, with fabric. Barrymore offers a huge selection of upholstery options in their own fabric line, as well as high-end threads from the likes of Robert Allen and Kravet. Just take a look at their sample room… So pretty!

…And behind-the-scenes lies Barrymore’s fabric storeroom. Bolt after bolt of trendy textiles. Before it’s cut, each length of fabric is completely unrolled and inspected for quality control on a giant roller.

The selected fabric is then cut (by hand!) according to draft forms. These racks contain all the templates for each sofa and chair model Barrymore carries.

Springs are hand-tied into position into the (heavy – but so durable!) hardwood frame in preparation for upholstery. Barrymore uses a special string that resists that annoying “squeak” after you’ve been plunking down in the same spot for a number of years.

Exposed wood elements of the furniture frame are taken to the spraying room for stain treatment. Doesn’t this look like a Star Wars set?

Now we’re ready for that upholstery…

This is what tufting looks like – from the side of the chair we never see!

…Et voila! A completed sofa, upholstered in a lovely Larry Laslo fabric.

These particular sofas are on their way to various Canadian embassies all around the world! (Nice to see Canadian diplomats abroad still remember to buy Canadian!) Kind of cool, as well, to think that dignitaries across the globe are able to enjoy Canadian craftsmanship each time they visit the embassies!

If it looks like they’ve got the process down to a science, there’s a reason: Barrymore’s been at this for over 90 years now. What a great “Made in Canada” success story!

Barrymore Furniture, Toronto, 416-532-2891

Photography by Daniel Harrison

I got so much wonderful feedback from my “From A To Zoo” story on the animalia-decorating craze in the May 2009 issue of Style At Home magazine, and one of my – and your! – fave elements of the feature was the gorgeous Galbraith & Paul “Birds” linen fabric hanging on the right. Natural linen, hand-block printed in muted citrus yellow, orange and green, it’s a work of art in its own right.

But if you thought it was pretty against a window, take a look at this…

That’s right… The Birds print (on silk, this time) is being applied to a funnel pendant lamp shade at Galbraith & Paul’s Philadelphia, PA, headquarters. 

And here’s the finished product, to the extreme left of this grouping of Galbraith & Paul’s silk funnel pendants.

Love it!!!

Check out the other stellar shapes in the Galbraith & Paul lighting collection…

 Galbraith & Paul Hex Pendants

Galbraith & Paul Drum Pendants

These pretty pendants are available at 2Modern – a U.S. etailer that ships to Canada. Yay!

Lighting images courtesy Galbraith & Paul

Making a statement in a home’s entryway is so important. It’s the first glimpse a guest has of your interior, and as such, it’s got to make an immediate impression. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to get away with something daring, as it’s a space that you don’t spend a great deal of time in, and can afford to go beyond beige without getting sick of it too quickly.

The pairing of a console table and mirror in the front hallway is a tried-and-true formula that is both practical (your last chance to check your lippy before you dash out the door, and a surface to toss your keys) and an opportunity to inject some “pretty”.

I was struck by the pretty pairings of consoles and mirrors this morning while touring the showroom of Barrymore Furniture. Their visual merchandisers have really got a handle on how to pair these two front hall furnishings without falling into the “matchy-matchy” trap. Just look at these stunning vignettes…

I love the exotic eastern flavour achieved by pairing the glamorous gold leaf bombe chest with an artisanal painted glass mirror. The radiant metallic chest would be a perfect solution to a dark and dreary foyer.

Ooh, shiny! (I’m such a magpie!) Mirrored furniture is still so hot, and against a backdrop of luscious lilac, it brings the notion of a beautiful boudoir to the front hall. I like the subtle nod to trendy chain-link in the mirror frame.

Stunning Chinoiserie wallpaper from Cole & Son frames the white lacquer pairing of Christopher Guy console and mirror. Gotta love those curves! 

A similar pairing, but in black. I like how the striped-paint treatment on the demi-lune chest redefines the traditional form of the piece.

Alright, so this is a piece of art in lieu of a mirror, but the idea’s the same. The symmetry makes for a truly arresting arrangement.

All pieces, Barrymore Furniture, Toronto, 416-532-2891

This is not your father’s Swiss Army Knife. Which, therefore, makes it an absolutely perfect gift for your father. 

With a funky design inspired by the iconic logo that has marked every Swiss Army Knife since 1909, the ultra-compact Classic SD is part of the 125th Anniversary Collection from Swiss Army. And at only $34, papa’s not going to preach about money management.

And if that doesn’t have enough doo-dahs for daddy, check out the Cybertool 34… 

I love how vicious this versatile little prezzie looks with all its attachments extended. Kind of like a bizarro ninja star.

You can pack this fierce array of functions in your pocket for $125. 

Check out the Swiss Army website for more information and retailers.

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Whew… What a trip! I’m back, safe and sound on Canadian soil, and back to reality…

And part of that reality is that Father’s Day is now only eight shopping days away. Gah.

A few weeks back (before that little sidetrip to Sweden and Denmark) I’d taken a look at what PC Home had to offer in terms of Father’s Day giftware, and it got me channeling my inner lumberjack (inasmuch as shopping for masculine, wood-grain-motif gifts is something a lumberjack does). 

A little more refined, but just as “woodsy” as that barbeque cover, is this little gem.

This mahogany and sonokeling wood stunner is actually a compass! 

As you can see, the protective cover pivots away to reveal the mechanism inside, making it both handsome and practical (the two qualifiers for a great father’s day gift)! And it’s well-priced, to boot. 

Areaware mahogany and sonokeling wood compass, $24 USD

See Areaware for your closest retailer

…And now, for the third and final instalment of my journey through the hallowed halls of the IKEA Through the Ages Museum, I’ll take you from the 80s – the decade of Dynasty, excess and primary brights – through to present day.

Yes, even IKEA designs lived large in the 80s, as witnessed by this poor Klippan sofa (released in 1980, and still available in stores!), which is being strangled by a puffy, sleeping-bag-like quilted red slipcover, circa 1984. 

And here’s the tuxedo-style Klippan, 29 years on – mercifully sans sleeping bag.

Klippan loveseat in Frasig black leather, $599

1987 saw the release of IKEA’s first Stockholm Collection – furnishings at a slightly higher price-point, and having undergone a curious change of design direction. Certainly not something you’d ever immediately associate with IKEA, this must have shocked a few shoppers back in the day. (A second Stockholm Collection came out in 2006-2007, as you may recall, and it was gorge!)

…But it’s back to form in the 1990s with that iconic, Swedish simplicity that continues to inform IKEA’s contemporary designs. Light, bright and airy, the Tomelilla sofa and armchair (1993) in loose fitting white slipcovers are so relaxed and inviting, and the Egeby carpet (1998) has since become a decorating staple. 

A great experiment began in 1993, with the sale of 18th Century Swedish furniture at IKEA. Based on genuine Gustavian antiques, these were truly works of art. The line was discontinued about five years later… The curator of the museum explained that it was because the line just wasn’t selling enough units (the furnishings tended to be more costly than standard IKEA releases)…

And that, ladies and gents, brings us back to the 21st century, and the IKEA that we know and love today. And, of course, the reason I was in Almhult, Sweden, to begin with. Which I still can’t divulge. lol

And now, as promised, we resume our tour of the IKEA Through the Ages Museum in Almhult, Sweden…

We’re delving deeper into the swinging 60s, and IKEA’s designs are taking a trippy, Warhol-esque, psychedelic turn. I love the marvelously low-slung Florida sofa (1969), and the satellite armchairs in lemon and orange pack some serious citrus punch…

 IKEA stores to this day! Obviously, the design had staying power!

Skruvsta swivel armchair in Almas Red, $169

The shag carpet may remain, but the colourway is toned down for the early 1970s, with the introduction of the denim-upholstered Tajt loungers (1973). And I think everyone, at one time or another, has purchased a set of the IKEA’s Bambu bamboo roller blinds, first launched in 1972.

Another angle…

A little further along, I came across something that very nearly blew my mind… I mean, who knew that in the 70s, IKEA was also your source for… Organs?!? Delightfully bonkers! It’s easy to forget that pianos were staples in many homes at the time, and electronic organs were an exciting new development – the iPod to the piano’s Discman, I suppose.

Tomorrow, we’ll complete the epic journey of IKEA up to the present day…