Style & Decor Blog

Sometimes seeing how something’s made can alter your enjoyment of the finished product. As much as I love hot dogs grilled on the barbeque every summer, for instance, I never, ever want to see how wieners are made. Ever.

On the other hand, when it comes to fine furniture craftsmanship, seeing the artful process of how it’s manufactured can enhance your appreciation of it, elevating something as taken-for-franted as a simple slipper chair to a true work of art.

Last week, I had the chance to go behind-the-scenes at Toronto’s Barrymore Furniture to see how their soft furnishings are made, and it just reinforced the beauty of their custom collection of sofas and armchairs.

It all starts, of course, with fabric. Barrymore offers a huge selection of upholstery options in their own fabric line, as well as high-end threads from the likes of Robert Allen and Kravet. Just take a look at their sample room… So pretty!

 

…And behind-the-scenes lies Barrymore’s fabric storeroom. Bolt after bolt of trendy textiles. Before it’s cut, each length of fabric is completely unrolled and inspected for quality control on a giant roller.

 

The selected fabric is then cut (by hand!) according to draft forms. These racks contain all the templates for each sofa and chair model Barrymore carries.

 

Springs are hand-tied into position into the (heavy – but so durable!) hardwood frame in preparation for upholstery. Barrymore uses a special string that resists that annoying “squeak” after you’ve been plunking down in the same spot for a number of years.

 

Exposed wood elements of the furniture frame are taken to the spraying room for stain treatment. Doesn’t this look like a Star Wars set?

 

Now we’re ready for that upholstery…

 

This is what tufting looks like – from the side of the chair we never see!

 

…Et voila! A completed sofa, upholstered in a lovely Larry Laslo fabric.

 

These particular sofas are on their way to various Canadian embassies all around the world! (Nice to see Canadian diplomats abroad still remember to buy Canadian!) Kind of cool, as well, to think that dignitaries across the globe are able to enjoy Canadian craftsmanship each time they visit the embassies!

If it looks like they’ve got the process down to a science, there’s a reason: Barrymore’s been at this for over 90 years now. What a great “Made in Canada” success story!

Barrymore Furniture, Toronto, 416-532-2891

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

 

 

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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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