Style & Decor Blog

Catch the clip of my latest CityLine gig here!

I always feel bad for the carnation… It’s easily the most detested cut flower on the market, and it’s such a shame seeing as how they’re so inexpensive and so hardy. This particular arrangement can last about two weeks with proper care.

I was seriously impressed with Tracy’s floral arranging skills… I think she has a secret calling in the floral design field!

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The current issue of STYLE AT HOME magazine – our Entertaining special – is all about party planning: sprucing up your space for guests, what to serve, and secrets for laying stylish spreads on the table. As always, there wasn’t enough room in the magazine to pack in all the party planning gems we came across in our scouting, and this in particular was something I knew I had to share on my blog…

Believe it or not, this is someone’s basement.

Albeit, a basement transformed into a magnificent Moroccan soiree by Nisha Chandra of Nisha Designer Events. How much FUN does this look?!? From the low cushion seating to the pierced metal lanterns, it totally takes you away… Nisha even installed a little lounge area off to one corner – complete with hookah!

Nisha actually called the look of this party “Spice Route” after the warm, spicy reds, oranges and burnt yellows at play. What an unforgettable dinner party this would’ve been!

Nisha Designer Events, 647-239-4626

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In case you missed it… Here’s my last gig on CityLine.

Click HERE to watch!

On CityLine tomorrow morning, I’ll be showing host Tracy Moore how to fold a napkin to create a pretty pocket for cutlery. Here are the step-by-step instructions!

Shot on my Flip Video MinoHD video camera!

I found myself on the market for some glamorous nibbles recently (as one does), and my photographer friend Jodi Pudge said I absolutely must stop in at Nadege – a hot new patisserie that opened on Queen Street West at Trinity-Bellwoods Park here in Toronto in early July.

Remind me to take Jodi’s advice more often.

Here’s a peek…

I don’t know what’s more staggering about Nadege - pastry chef Nadege Nourian’s spectacular sweets, or the refreshingly spare space in which she works her magic. (I’m avoiding the use of the term “pastry shop” because “pastries” don’t even begin to describe her creations.)

The interior was conceived by Nelson Kwong Architect, who opted for a restrained approach throughout the long, narrow space. The lines running the length of the patisserie are designed to draw Nadege’s guests into the very heart of the kitchen!

Nadege herself comes from a long line of pastry chefs (the tradition runs back four generations), having studied at a pastry school in Normandy, then working in top kitchens across France, London and Sweden. Now, with Nadege Patisserie, we get to enjoy her sweet treats here in Canada! Yay!

These little cakes are so deliciously detailed, it seems a shame to eat them. But I will, anyway.

Nadege’s macarons… Highly recommended! I love the colours… They’re like little pastel hamburgers!

Nadege Patisserie

780 Queen St. W., Toronto

416-368-2009

Fans of TLC’s Take Home Chef take note – the small screen does Aussie food phenom Curtis Stone no justice. The guy’s unnervingly good-looking in real life. Not to mention extremely talented at what he does: taking everyday ingredients and whipping them into something truly spectacular.

Curtis was in Toronto recently to introduce his stunning new cookbook (with a slant towards simple cooking methods and ingredients that are easy to come by), Relaxed Cooking With Curtis Stone, and a stunning line of kitchen aids at The Bay. While here, he also offered a cooking class at the lovely Dish Cooking Studio for the press (a group that’s likely more familiar with microwave meals than the nuances of pretty plating).

The first course? Tuna tartar – a brilliant balance of sweet (yummy palm sugar), sour (lime), salt and spice. The tuna was marinaded in the lime juice, which actually has the effect of “cooking” the tuna without ever exposing it to the grill. (It was so good, I ate half of it before I remembered to take a snap.)

Each course was paired with the perfect wine, selected by Curtis. (Which is why the snaps might become blurrier with each passing course…) His linguine was accompanied by a lovely chardonnay, and the lamb ratatouille with a delightful chiraz. “Wine is just another ingredient,” Curtis says. “You wouldn’t put anything into the dish that would conflict with the other ingredients, and the same applies to wine pairings.”

The last time he was in Canada, Curtis toured Niagara wine country, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. “You have great wines here,” he says.

For the second course, Curtis prepared linguine with pesto and shrimp. This is a little more my style.

If you’ve ever watched Take Home Chef, you may have wondered how it actually works on a logistical level. On the show, Curtis seems to randomly approach a stranger at the supermarket (who always happens to be a gorgeous gal, strangely enough), who proceeds to take him back to her house to cook dinner. Surely it can’t be as random as it appears on-screen? “The producers have a chat with potential girls as they walk into the supermarket,” explains Curtis. “If they’re interested, they’ll tie a ribbon onto their shopping cart to let me know I can approach them in the store.” Aha! 

But has there ever been a case where the show’s set-up backfired?

“Has anyone every seen the show Cheaters?” Curtis laughs. “Every now and then, the girl’s boyfriend would come home from work, and see a film crew set up in their kitchen. They’re very relieved to find out it’s Take Home Chef and not Cheaters – they think they’ve been busted. That’s always fun.” He’s only been kicked out of a house by a jealous hubby once.

And then there was the time when Curtis followed a shopper back to her house, only to find out that she hadn’t paid her gas bill, and the kitchen was without power…

But what’s Curtis’ entertaining style at his own LA home? “The best sort of host is a relaxed one,” he says. “An air of formality can make people uncomfortable. Just like with cooking, you can’t take it too seriously. A relaxed approach makes it personal; a much nicer experience.”

And here’s that lamb ratatouille I was talking about. Basted in dijon, this was definitely my fave course of the evening, and even won over an avowed vegetarian in the crowd (for reals). Right before serving, Curtis burned fresh rosemary to fill the room with the mouth-watering aroma – the perfect sensory complement to the dish.

Ooh, I’m getting hungry all over again just looking at these shots… For these recipes (and hundreds more), check out Curtis’ new cookbook, Relaxed Cooking With Curtis Stone. And for my full Q&A with Curtis, check out the September issue of Style At Home, on newsstands next week!

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

I don’t think anything could prepare me for the experience of dining at a waterside cafe in Nyhavn. A harbour canal in Copenhagen (the name “Nyhavn” literally translates into “New Harbour”) that’s dotted with moored old sailing ships, it’s possibly the most atmospheric place in the Danish capital. It’s along this canal that world-famous fairytale writer, Hans Christian Anderson, lived for a time; but now it’s packed with posh eateries and antique shops.

Most of the houses along the canal are more than 300 years old, and have been restored in breathtaking colours (some of which actually reminded me of the new Hacienda Style palette from Pittsburgh Paints that I mentioned last week). A feast for the eyes! 

One of the sweetest surprises of dining on the canal? Once the evening chill sets in, restaurant staff provided us with blankets so that we could remain outdoors. Naturally, they were IKEA.

What a thoughtful idea for your next al fresco soiree! 

Here I am modeling the latest in Nyhavn evening wraps with the fab Olivia Stren. (Thanks to Canadian Living’s Karen Kirk for providing the shot!)

Irma 67-by-51″ fleece throw blanket, $4, IKEA

Poolside parties… Backyard barbeques… Relaxed, easy, breezy entertaining is what summer’s all about. I’m as big a fan of the casual ‘que as the next guy (after six months of winter, who isn’t?), but I also love adding a splash of the unexpected to that informal atmos to shake things up a bit.

Circ’s porcelain ice buckets offer a refined take on the cheap n’ cheerful galvanized pail. A totally refreshing twist on that summer serving staple, it’s a cool and contemporary way to keep your bevvies… Well, cool.

Add these brilliant white buckets to your shopping list as an al fresco entertaining essential!

Large, $52

Small, $32

Available at: Urban Barn

A huuuuuuge thank-you to everyone who came out to the Norwich Library on Saturday for my flower arranging class! We had a great turnout, and I think everyone stopped by at their local nursery on the way home to pick up some fresh greens for the garden!

Here I am with the showstopper arrangement that I created during the seminar –

an easy, breezy arrangement of simple daisies and pink carnations in a rather unusual vessel… Yes, that’s a watermelon!

I simply shaved about an inch from the bottom of the melon so that it would sit stable, and then carved off the top third. Using a melon baller, I emptied most of the fruit (about two-thirds deep), and dried out the remaining interior with paper towels. After lining the interior with floral cellophane (clear cling-wrap would work wonderfully as well), I inserted pre-soaked floral foam, secured in place inside the melon with floral tape. Pop in a few of your favourite summer flowers, elevate on a cake stand, and you’ve got a quick and easy centerpiece that will have your guests talking at your next al fresco soiree!

Photos courtesy Rose-Le Studio.

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