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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Catch CityLine today to see me teach host Tracy Moore how to make a quick and inexpensive floral arrangement!

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?

Image by Splash News

With a fashion sense best described as eccentric, it’s no surprise that pop princess Lady Gaga’s latest accessory is… A fabulously frumpy china tea cup and saucer.

Whether she’s out clubbing, lunching or shopping, whenever the “Just Dance” chanteuse has been snapped by the ever-present paparazzi recently, she’s had the staggeringly incongruous item grasped firmly in hand. 

The reason she prizes her little purple teacup is actually quite sweet, and something I think we can all relate to. In an interview with the UK Sun, the superstar says she used to enjoy tea with her mother every day out of china tea cups, and by continuing to do so, it helps her feel at home no matter where she finds herself on her current tour.

“I’ve made a habit of drinking out of china because it makes me feel grounded,” she tells reporters. “I don’t think it’s a good lifestyle to always be eating and drinking out of paper. It’s very wasteful.”

Cute, and you’ve gotta give props to her environmental awareness!

Should you find yourself wanting to jump aboard the Gaga trendwagon, might I suggest the following florid purple florals… 

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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I’m goin’ home!

Join me in my hometown of Norwich, Ont., on Saturday, May 2, for an afternoon filled with gorgeous flowers, fun and fabulousness (I always feel like I owe a nickel to Steven & Chris whenever I use that word now).

I’ll be dropping in at the Norwich branch of the Oxford County Library in Norwich, Ont., at 1PM for “Bringing the Outdoors In” – tips, tricks and the latest trends in bringing spring and summer’s bounty indoors. Find out what kind of container suits certain arrangements best, the trick to floating blossoms, and how can a banana improve the health of your potted plants. Potted, cut or pressed, nothing beats greening up your home with fresh florals from your own backyard!

Bring mom and make it an early Mother’s Day outing! There’s actually a lot going on in on May 2 in this idyllic slice of southwestern Ontario, with the Oxford County Studio Tour. (Make it a point to drop in to see my fave, Shane Norrie!)

RSVP with Lynn at the Library by calling 519-863-3307 – there are just a few seats left! See you there!

Even the hurricane-force gusts channelling through the streets of Toronto couldn’t stop me from getting to the One of a Kind Show on Saturday. And to say I was pleasantly surprised by the Canadian artisan-o-rama’s Spring 2009 installment would be an understatement. Even though a lot of the vendors were the familiar friendly faces, the merchandising was so fresh and inspiring, and there was just a really good vibe to the whole event (unlike the other show I attended this weekend — more on that later!). There’s never been a more important time to buy Canadian and support our own artisans!

And, seeing as how I’m an incorrigible list-maker, let’s break this down into a…

TOP FIVE FINDS at the One Of A Kind Show!

(In no particular order.)

5. Porcelaines Bousquet, 866-445-8696; St-Jean-Baptiste, Que., 450-464-2596

Louise Bousquet’s hand-made porcelain dishware, vases and accessories are truly timeless pieces. I love her floral “frog” (in the image above) that slots directly into the mouths of her vases, making arrangements of items like tulips totally hassle-free. Louise is always adding something new to her collection, and this year it’s a gorgeously textural band around the rims of her bowls. Simply stunning.

4. Margi Laurin’s Altered Books, Morrisburg, Ont., 613-543-2835

Here’s a real trash-to-treasure success story! Margi Laurin breathes new life into discarded library books by replacing the original book pages with blank note paper, creating unique, one-of-a-kind journals. I’m a total sucker for vintage books, and seeing them repurposed in this way is right up my alley. I love how Margi leaves select pages from the original books — especially illustrations — randomly scattered throughout the journals. Charming! 

3. Schleeh Design, Montreal, 514-762-3720

The “Embracelet” designed by internationally renowned Canadian artist Colin Schleeh caught the eye of my friend Lisa. Sculptural, stylish and substantial without being chunky, this hand-painted wood bracelet with a resin coating was certainly one of the show’s standout pieces.

2. Timid Glass, Toronto, 416-893-3052

You might recognize these glass “Imagery Bowls”, as the One of a Kind Show promoters (understandably) used the dramatic designs of Timid Glass’s Sally McCubbin and Aaron Oussoren to promote the show on CityLine and other media outlets in the weeks leading up the event. Contemporary, cool and colourful, Timid’s pieces are a very refreshing addition to the One of a Kind Show’s offerings.

1. Judy Black Acid Sunset pillow in Cyan

Run by two sisters — Jennifer does the design and Valerie handles the number-crunching, Judy Black’s booth was positively screaming for attention. The graphic prints and colours grabbed my eye from afar, but also bear close scrutiny. There’s a great attention to detail on the pillows (a hidden zipper on the pillow cover for full washability; and the use of cotton with a remarkably soft hand finish), and as all of their creations are hand-printed with waterbased ink, there’s a great green component as well.

Did you make it to the show? What did you think?

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It’s gloriously sunny, a balmy 14-degrees, and there isn’t a trace of a breeze… I think it’s safe to start thinking ahead to summer. At last.

What better way to begin than with some great-outdoors inspiration courtesy of Brian Gluckstein? His new Gluckstein Home Summer 2009 collection for Home Outfitters is a dreamy outdoor extension of the comfort and style we expect from his interiors, and is surprisingly affordable. The day bed above is one of my fave pieces.

Gluckstein Home Bali Day Bed

Price: $600

Gluckstein also serves up some stylish smalls, including an incredibly detailed series of hose guides. (Just because it’s a garden doesn’t mean you can’t accessorize!)

Gluckstein Home Hose Guides

Price: $10 each

And he hasn’t ignored us urban apartment/condo dwellers, either. We may not have the luxury of a garden, but we can still have some “green”! Simply plop this cute boxwood spiral in a pretty planter, and you’ve got a balcony worth taking breakfast on.

Gluckstein Home four-foot boxwood spiral tree

Price: $140

All available at: Home Outfitters, 800-521-2364

No one will ever mistake me for a greenthumb, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate great gardening gear. No — let’s rephrase that. If I WERE to take up gardening, I know exactly what I’d want in my toolshed.

At the top of that list is The Tubby. The lightweight and flexible design has made it a hit in Europe, and this spring, it’s hitting the Canadian market courtesy of gardening gear giant Garant. Great for holding leaves, dumping soil, or mixing fertilizer, it comes in a riot of fun colours. I’ve actually had the chance to try this baby out (it doubles indoors as a laundry basket, I’ve found!), and feel like I’ve only tapped the beginning of its potential. (Moms with kids, take note — this may very well be the toy stash to end all toy stashes!)

I’ll be giving one of these terrific totes away at my latest talk on “Bringing the Garden Indoors“ at the Norwich Public Library in Norwich, Ontario, at 1:00PM on Saturday, May 2! Ask for Lynn at the library (519-863-3307) to RSVP.

The Tubby (26- or 40-litre capacities available)

Price: From $12 each

Available at: Garden centres, hardware stores, nurseries and home building centres across Canada.