Style & Decor Blog

As my Style Statement on the last page of the hot-off-the-press May issue of Style at Home (our Colour special!), I chose an iconic Danish dining chair that’s been reimagined in a totally trendy colourway: a rich, cerulean blue. It didn’t strike me until afterwards that it’s actually rather rare to come across dining chairs in this hue. Sage greens, yellows and saturated reds, yes; but true-blues (I’m not counting those anemic pale-grey-blues) are only starting to rock the dining room. Let’s take a look at five of my fave options on the market…

I positively adore Camilla House’s bentwood-style bistro chair. In vintage French blue, the Camargue chair’s deliciously authentic looking cane seat and slightly distressed paint conspire to give it that instant heirloom appeal.

Joining the Crate and Barrel lineup this spring is the beechwood  Village side chair in this lovely Azzuro Blue option. Love the vertical slat back – relaxed country, without being corn-cob.

Venturing into style-for-less territory – which in this case, happens to border industrial chic – we’ve got IKEA’s Jules visitor chair; an absolute steal at only $50 a pop.

Pretty in PVC! Another fab find from Camilla House Imports – the Pop Louis chair has contemporary fun with a traditional frame.

And I know I said this bit of Window Shopping would only deal with rich, saturated blues, but Bungalow 5’s Chloe armchair in light blue lacquer was just too pretty to exclude… The chic Chinoiserie frame looks positively dreamy in that shade of blue.

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Yes, you read it right. The doyenne of dreamy domesticity is heading north of the border for a very brief stint at Canada Blooms - Canada’s largest flower & garden expo.

Miss Martha’s gracing the Grey Power Stage at the Direct Energy Centre from 2:00 - 2:30PM on Saturday, March 20, where she’ll be giving a demo on gardening, planting projects, and ideas for arranging inspiring outdoor spaces.

Get your tickets for Canada Blooms here!

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I’ve coveted the Carousel Lantern from the rather fabulous Currey & Co. for a while now, and wasn’t at all surprised to see it make an appearance in the most recent issue of Elle Decor. Talk about “statement piece”!

Love the lollipop red finish, barely-there wrought iron frame and chinoiserie design influence - the perfect way to bring a foyer from drab to fab in a single purchase.

Less lollipop red, but equally stunning, are these three chic chandeliers from the Currey & Company catalogue that are vying for my affection…

Simplicity Chandelier, washed-wood finish

Tivoli Lantern, wrought iron

Axel Orb Chandelier, steel frame with Chestnut stained wood slats

All images courtesy Currey & Co.

Availability: Currey & Co. or (877) 768-6428 for dealers

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As a confirmed Blue Willow junkie, I was immediately drawn to Toronto-based printmaker Emma Nishimura’s booth at the previous One of a Kind Show. The intricate Chinoiserie styling, bird motifs and pairing of cobalt blue with crisp white in Emma’s stunning “Flight” collection of art play out like a tribute to my all-time favourite china pattern, and immediately rose to the top of my “Most Coveted” list.

“Between the Gaps” -  7.5″ x 9″, etching with aquatint and thread

For this breathtaking series, Emma drew inspiration from Japanese textiles, poetry, quilting patterns and new printmaking techniques. “I experimented and challenged myself to create work that plays with ideas of flight, water, wind and air,” she says.

“Bird 1″ - Intaglio: etching and aquatint on gampi, 3″ x 3″

“The Colour of the Sky and Sea, the Air We Breathe, the Gap in the Air” - Etching with aquatint and thread, 5″ x 8.5″

“Bird 2″ - Etching and aquatint on gampi, 3″x 3″

All images from www.emmanishimura.com

The various sizes of Emma’s prints (there’s quite a range) would make for an ideal grouping on a single wall. Would love to create my own custom art installation with these beauties!

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Maybe it’s the craze for everything Alice in Wonderland right now - think bizarre angles and trippy, kid-pleasing colour schemes - but I thought these were rather cute.

Do you not totally wish you were five years old all over again?

These playhouses are from Canadian-based company Funky Bunky, and it’s impossible not to smile at the crazy, cartoonish construction: angled walls, tilted windows and a sloping twisted roof, with customizable colours and themes.

Coolest of all, you can design your very own custom Funky Bunky online (it actually comes together before your eyes, based on your specifications - seriously, SO much fun!).

Here’s my custom-designed Funky Bunky… (Or it would be, if I was indeed five years old again. Ahem.)

It’s all about the porch!

Kits begin at around a $1,000, and come shipped in eight pre-built pieces that take about an hour to assemble with basic home tools. For more info and to order, go to the Funky Bunky website, or call 1-877-311-1967.

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Tracy and I didn’t intentionally coordinate outfits on today’s CityLine. I swear!

Image courtesy CityLine

On today’s broadcast, I showed host Tracy Moore how to craft no-fuss flower arrangements with a few tips and tricks I’ve picked up here at Style at Home - watch the clip by clicking here!

Everyone in the audience was asking me about the gorgeous green tulipiere at the top of the segment. It’s the Aorta flower arranger from Abbott - one of the most chic wholesalers in the country - and retails for about $15 (what a STEAL!). To find a retailer close to you (Abbott supplies some of the best home & gift stores across Canada), just give them a ring at 1-800-263-2955. I loved this tulipiere so much, you’ll be seeing more of it in the May issue of Style at Home, on newsstands the first week of April!

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My colleague Kimberley Seldon always says the only thing that she refuses to buy on behalf of her client is the bathtub. “That’s something they need to actually come to the showroom to test-drive,” she says.

On the other hand, if Kimberley were to deliver this to my doorstep, sans test-drive, I would be totally cool with that…

We’ve seen so many other features of the bathroom – vanities in particular – get the “furniture-look” treatment, it was only a matter of time before the tub itself got a mod makeover. The AQHayon Bathtub, designed by Jaime Hayon combines a standard acrylic tub with an MDF surround-structure that gives it the profile of a luxe & leggy cocktail table. I love how in this all-white bathroom, the white acrylic tub disappears, and you’re left with the graceful silhouette of the MDF… Absolutely stunning.

Price: $7,639 USD

Available at: Generate Design

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Forsythia, tulips and pussy willows… It must be spring!

I’ll be turning these simple stems into stunning “Instant Arrangements” on the next Style at Home Day on Citytv’s Cityline. Tune in at 9AM EST on Tuesday, March 9!!!

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It’s the same pristine white bone china you’ve come to expect from Vera Wang’s dinnerware for Waterford Wedgwood, but the doyenne of dreamy wedding dresses (and equally dreamy wedding registry must-haves) has a little fun with a new casual collection. These three new designs mark a radical shift away from her stately classics, and each one crystallizes a contemporary trend – arabesque ribbon, botanicals and ikat.

Vera Wang - Glisee

Vera Wang - Floral Leaf

(Based on one of Vera’s own watercolour paintings.)

Vera Wang - Ikat

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I’ve always meant to sit down and watch Walt Disney’s masterpiece, Fantasia. As a kid, the thought of a cartoon without dialogue was sacrilegious; but all those “films you must see before you die” lists grant it a top spot, so I figure they must be on to something. This latest bit of design news seals the deal.

The designers at York Wallcoverings – available in Canada through Crown Wallpaper + Fabric – looked to Fantasia for inspiration in developing the latest wallpaper collection for Walt Disney Signature. The verdict? Two very enthusiastic thumbs-up. I’ve always loved the Art Deco vibe of the Disney furniture pieces, and this wallpaper – very fanciful by nature of its source material – complements the line beautifully.

Take a a look at how Disney’s animations from Fantasia informed the wallpaper designs… Stunning!

Fantasia artwork:

Inspired design: Illuminata in White on Lime, WD2920

Fantasia artwork:

Inspired Design: Pixie on Teal (with glass beads!), WD2930

Fantasia artwork:

Inspired design: Sparkle in Pearled Almond with Glitter Sand, WD3974

Fantasia artwork:

Inspired design: Tendril in Beige & Metallic Beige on Off-White, WD2940

Fantasia artwork: Walt’s own signature!

Inspired design: (My FAVOURITE!!!) Filigree in Silver on Cream, WD2934

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