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!

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

Click HERE to watch!

Set your VCR/Tivo or prepare to call in sick… 

Join Kimberley Seldon, Style At Home’s new editor-in-chief Jane Francisco and yours truly on CityLine, airing at 9AM (EST) on Tuesday, July 28!

In this ep, Kimberley talks railings and outdoor furniture, while Jane adds a Price Is Right-style twist to Style At Home’s ever-popular High/Low column. I’m on-hand to share some tips and tricks on easy, breezy summer table settings, and some must-have Scandinavian lines that are heating up the tabletop.

Be there!

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

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 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

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!

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.