Style & Decor Blog

My fave master of reinvention is at it again!

Eddie Ross, whose fantabulous flea market makeovers were subject to my STYLE AT HOME feature earlier this year, hit the airwaves in the States last night with HGTV’s Halloween Block Party. In the one-off special, Eddie takes the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and applies the aesthetic to a neighbourhood home with delightfully creepy results… Check out the before & after!

BEFORE…

AFTER!

Check out Eddie’s amazing work on the interior here!

No word yet on whether or not HGTV Canada will be airing the special… I’ve dropped them a line to check, and will keep you posted! Fingers crossed… Eddie tells me there might even be a STYLE AT HOME cameo at one point during the program… So citing!

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Where was THIS when I was camping a few weeks ago? Although I’m not sure it would have fit on my campsite, it definitely would’ve pimped it out.

The Victorinox Swiss Army Airstream trailer pulled up to the Style At Home offices earlier this week, en route to the CNE, which opens today. The super-stretch aluminum trailer, kitted out for Victorinox’s 125th anniversary, is a mobile treasure chest of trendy tools, and offers a taste of the real deal - a limited edition series of 125 ultraluxe 19-foot Airstreams:

I don’t know if it’s “camping”, but I love it.

Check out the interior appointments (pulled off in the iconic Swiss Army colours, of course!):

The bed’s fitted out with a luxurious custom bedding ensemble with embroidered wool blanket.

The price tag for this luxe limited edition trailer? A cool $59,000 USD.

I’m more likely to spring for this little number, myself:

1884 Limited Edition Jubilee Travel Alarm

This jazzy little gem (the fresh take on the iconic Swiss Army logo is so much fun!) is part of the ginormous Swiss Army collection inside the Airstream that’s now at the CNE. Definitely worth checking out if you’re planning a trip down to the Ex! (A great opportunity to pre-plan your holiday gift list…)

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

 

 

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It’s hard to believe that a month has passed since I was in Copenhagen… Where did June go?!?  I’m still sorting through my snaps from my Adventures in IKEAland, and came across these shots of the unbelievably beautiful (and incredibly romantic) Rosenborg Castle.

Situated in the middle of the King’s Gardens, which itself lies in the heart of Copenhagen, Rosenborg was built by Denmark’s King Christian IV (the founder of much of Copenhagen as we know it) as a country summerhouse in the early 1600s. Not a bad pile of bricks to call a cottage, eh?

One of my friends commented on how the building reminded him of Amsterdam, and there’s a reason for that: the castle’s built in the Dutch Renaissance style that was all the rage in the early 17th century, and informed a lot of Danish architecture of the period that still stands today.

Rosenborg now houses the Danish crown jewels, which although breathtaking, take a back seat, as far as I’m concerned, to the architecture…

  I mean, check out the woven-cane-patterned mullions on this window… The attention to detail is mind-blowing!

There’s barely a stretch of 10 feet across Rosenborg’s facade that doesn’t fascinate with an intriguing little gem, including this weather-beaten bronze bust, constantly keeping a baleful eye on visitors.

Sometimes a picture just speaks for itself.

A brilliant azure sky, soft pink rhododendrons (they grow like weeds throughout Copenhagen!), and the vivid cyan of a tarnished bronze statue conspire to form a lasting impression in the King’s Gardens at the heart of Copenhagen.

The King’s Gardens, Copenhagen

I take comfort in the certainties in life. All kittens are cute. In every Martha Stewart Halloween special, she’s bound to say the word “ghoulish” 500 times. And the fact that Father’s Day is hands-down, the most difficult gift-buying occasion in the calendar year.

Dads are just so hard to buy for. Everything my dad wants, he goes out and buys for himself, leaving my sister and I the unenviable task of divining what he doesn’t know he wants. (Does that even make sense?)

That’s why I’m bucking the trend of a lifetime, and am scoping out Father’s Day gift ideas a month in advance.

This actually caught my eye at the Real Canadian Superstore the other day…

PC Home medium-size grill cover, $40

Sure, it’s tightroping the fine line between kitsch and cute, but since it’s a barbeque cover, I’m gonna cut it some slack. Barbequeing is meant to be fun! It’s totally cottage-casual, and as my dad is no stranger to splitting firewood, he’ll get a kick out of the forestry motif.

I’ll consider it option #1. More to come.

Hey, all you apartment and condo dwellers..

How perfect would this beautiful little bistro set be for your balcony? In synthetic woven resin and steel, it’s durable, folds for easy winter storage, and you can hardly take issue with the price – a staggering steal at only $130 for the three piece set. Loves!

Available at: PC Home

On CityLine, our contributing decorating editor Kimberly Seldon often references her “honey-do” list – a list of home improvement jobs for her honey to tackle. These are those sweaty, messy, not-exactly-glamorous tasks that only kick into high-gear aftera prolonged period of relentless nagging. You know the deal.

I’m sure that at the top of many honey-do lists this summer is the dreaded exterior paint job. The type that involves ladders and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of rollers.

And although I doubt she can come over to personally lend a hand in an exterior paint makeover, Sharon Grech, Benjamin Moore’s colour expert does provide some wonderful tips on tackling one of the most critical stages in the process – choosing the right colour. Here are her five basic cues on exterior hues:

1. Let architecture be your starting point. “For inspiration, look for houses like yours whose colours you admire,” Sharon says. “Or, if you’re interested in historical accuracy or appropriateness, research your home’s period style. Your local historical society may be a helpful resource, as well, as you dig for information.”

2. Consider the roof, driveway and chimney. “These are ‘givens’,” Sharon points out. “They’re existing elements that won’t be painted but that should play a role in determining your colour choices. For a facade that’s partially stone, using a similar colour will add visual harmony. If the fixed colours are intense – a terra-cotta tile roof, for example – a neutral colour, such as sand or a warm white, will bring balance.”

3. Consider the landscaping. Sharon suggests we select colours that fit in with the surrounding palette. “If you have brilliant-coloured spring blooming trees or a sea of green foundation plantings, choose colours that will complement them.”

4. Keep in mind your interior decor. Sharon warns that exterior paint colours that don’t correspond with your interior furnishings can be jarring. “The colours used on the windows or outside shutters, for example, should be in sync with those used on interior window treatments.”

5. Choose a colour scheme that is compatible with the other houses in the neighbourhood. “You don’t have to imitate the palette or application exactly,” Sharon says, “But you can put your own individual spin on similar colour combinations. Regional influences are also bound to affect your choice as you account for local terrain, seasons, interplay of natural lighting, and even history and culture.”

 

Check out how the same facade takes on entirely different looks with different treatments of Benjamin Moore paint, as proposed by Sharon.

Option 1: Go Coastal

Body - Barely Beige CC-140

Trim - Yarmouth Blue HC-150

Door - Blue Nose CC-800

 

 

Option 2: Drawing Attention to the Architecture

Body - Dolphin AF-715

Trim - Gardenia AF-10

Door - Dinner Party AF-300

 

 

 

Option 3: Warm & Classic

Body - Seaside Sand 2110-40

Trim - Muslin CC-110

Colonial Brick 2093-30

 

 

Option 4: Historic Hot Pick (Wethersfield Moss is one of the bestselling Historic Collection colours!)

Body - Wethersfield Moss HC-110

Trim - Roxbury Caramel HC-42

Door - Lenox Tan HC-44

 

For a taste of how your own home would cope with a fresh colour combo, check out Benjamin Moore’s Personal Colour Viewer. A great online tool!

 

 

 

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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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!