Style & Decor Blog

What do Steven & Chris, Peter Fallico and the Suzanne Dimma all have in common?

Now household names across the country, they all got their start on hit shows produced by WestWind Pictures on HGTV.

Here’s the exciting bit… You now have a chance to join their ranks, with WestWind Pictures and HGTV Canada’s new hunt for the Next Big Design Star!

Canadidates have one month to produce a maximum 2-minute video to display their design savvy. The video must have a short intro with the candidate’s biographical details, and then maybe a quick do-it yourself project, or a design-on-a-dime idea. Throw out all the stops and wow the team with your energy, personality and talent (think Mary Tyler Moore show opening credits!), then email the compressed video file to the folks at WestWind by clicking here.

After the November 27th deadline, 20 to 30 of the best entries will be selected, and finalists will be contacted in early December for a live screen test.

Good luck!

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Did I just hear someone utter “fabulous”?

The hiatus is officially over!

Starting January 4, 2010, Steven Sabados and Chris Hyndman are returning to CBC-TV with their eponymous lifestyle show, Steven and Chris.

The guys have spent their summer hiatus traveling the country and abroad, researching the latest trends in lifestyle, decor, food and fashion, and have returned fresh and eager to share their experiences with viewers. First up is a Holiday Special in December, followed by their weekday show in January.

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What do Steven Sabados, Peter Fallico and Samantha Pynn all have in common?

Well, apart from being style-savvy celebs with top TV shows, they all got their start in the hallowed halls of Style At Home magazine.

The latest of the S@H alumnus to make a name for herself is our former Design Department intern Alison Dawson, who you may recognize if you’ve ever dropped in at Mokuba, Toronto’s famed go-to gallery for luxe ribbon. (If you’ve never been, make it a point to stop by. We’re talking 27,000 high-end ribbons, trims and lace, here.)

Through her own business, Chapeau de Gateau, Alison takes gorgeous, Japanese ribbon from Mokuba, and elevates it to spectacular heights as one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, in a collection called “C’est Joli”. I’m nuts for these necklaces… The fluid shapes are simply stunning. It really looks like a flowing ribbon, frozen in time.

And check out these laced-up bracelets… So pretty! They’ve totally got an Anthropologie vibe going on.

Alison also transforms ordinary ribbon into extraordinary custom cake-toppers (incredible inedibles, anyone?) for special events, hence “Chapeau de Gateau”. So delicate and unique, and a great way to make a style statement at a summer wedding…

You can keep up to speed with Alison and her beautifully beribboned bijoux on her Chapeau de Gateau blog here.

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When I was speaking with Steven and Chris yesterday, we somehow got on the topic of spring cleaning (I’m a master at going off on tangents!), and I asked the guys specifically about their strategy for a spring freshen-up. Here’s their recipe for success:

Chris: “Get rid of things that are blocking your energy. If there’s something in your home that doesn’t make you smile, and you don’t actually need it, let it go.”

Steven: “We recently had Peter Walsh — the king of de-cluttering — as a guest on our show. We learned so much about how physical clutter in your house can lead to a kind of “mental clutter” in your brain — the two go hand in hand.”

Chris: “I think it’s time for ‘less is more’, and that’s not as simple as having a modern, minimalist home; it’s about paring down. If you’re not using it, lose it.”

And there you have it! Make it your spring cleaning mantra!

So sad… I honestly really enjoyed their show, and it will be missed. The CBC is careful to say that Steven & Chris is on “indefinite hiatus” rather than a cancellation (which is what’s been announced for its other lifestyle show, Fashion File) which leaves a bit of hope. I’m interviewing them tomorrow to get the inside scoop. Read the CBC’s full story here.

Margot’s back on Steven & Chris today! Our Senior Design Editor will be chatting with the guys about elegant bedside tables. Check it out!

Tune in to CBC: Tuesday, October 28, 2:00PM EST

Mark Thursday, September 25, down in your calendars! My lovely and talented colleague, STYLE AT HOME’s Senior Design Editor Margot Austin, is making her debut appearance on CBC’s Steven and Chris! Ms Margot will be chatting with the guys on the latest in decorating, design and style. Can’t wait to see it!

Tune in to CBC: Thursday, September 25, 2:00PM EST