http://stylenorth.ca/blog Real Canadians decorating Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:38:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 en http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/05/scandinavian-furniture-porn/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/05/scandinavian-furniture-porn/#comments Sat, 01 May 2010 14:51:33 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=13934 This post has absolutely nothing to do with real Canadians decorating; I'm sorry, I apologize right off the top. But any decor junkie, Canadian or otherwise, will appreciate the preview gallery of the upcoming Wright auction of Scandinavian design. All the mid-century iconic designers are present and accounted for — Jacobsen, Wegner, Mathsson, Hennigsen, Juhl — but what stands out for me are the less familiar pieces.]]> http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/05/scandinavian-furniture-porn/feed/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/04/was-eddie-ross-here/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/04/was-eddie-ross-here/#comments Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:46:13 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=13923 American decorator, stylist and blogger extraordinaire Eddie Ross is recognized for his beautiful but vaguely fussy compositions and his knack for turning flea market finds into tabletop treasure. It's not for nothing he earned the nickname "Gramdma Eddie" on Top Design. Ross came immediately to mind when I spotted this lovely entry porch at 19 Maple Avenue in Rosedale. I think the scale and variety of the many planters is exceedingly well done.]]> http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/04/was-eddie-ross-here/feed/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/04/having-a-wearstler-moment/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/04/having-a-wearstler-moment/#comments Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:30:26 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=13838 LA-based interior designer Kelly Wearstler set off an avalanche of criticism when she unveiled her new direction in an October 2008 Domino cover story. The blogosphere was apopletic over her sudden style shift toward chunky 1970s and '80s furnishings and I admit I added my voice to the chorus. But as I've seen more and more of this new Wearstler work published, I've warmed to the vibe, if only because it stands in such refreshing contrast to the overdose of mid-century modern evident practically everywhere else.]]> http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/04/having-a-wearstler-moment/feed/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/01/continuum-transformation-inspiration/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/01/continuum-transformation-inspiration/#comments Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:07:20 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=13510 Continuum, a new decor store at Pape and Danforth in Toronto, is not what I expect from a "vintage" shop. For one thing, a lot of the inventory isn't especially old, it just isn't brand new. And much of the stock has been reborn under the fearless direction of store owner Daina Liepa who has a definite knack for updating tired furnishings.]]> http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/01/continuum-transformation-inspiration/feed/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/12/o-christmas-tree/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/12/o-christmas-tree/#comments Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:17:05 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=13419 I spotted this poinsettia Christmas tree in the lobby of my dentist's office last week -- isn't it amazing? If red and green are the colours of Christmas then this tree has the season all sewn up. Poinsettias are native to Mexico but they grow wild all over Central and South America. In Brazil, I saw poinsettia trees 40-feet tall! Some folks are suspicious of the potted plants believing them to be poisonous, especially to pets, but my research suggests there's actually nothing toxic about poinsettias.]]> http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/12/o-christmas-tree/feed/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/11/teak-root-tables-and-benches/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/11/teak-root-tables-and-benches/#comments Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:36:25 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=13210 When I was at Ethel last week, I commented on a pair of Teak-root coffee tables that new store owner Shauntelle LeBlanc didn't seem convinced she could sell. Priced at $895 each, the tables are throw-backs to the 1960s and '70s, very much in the spirit of designer George Nakashima. Well, Shauntelle, you might get lucky because these tables and benches are hot, hot, hot again. The latest (and last) issue of Metropolitan Home (December 2009) features two such tables and on last week's episode of HGTV's Top Ten I spotted another pair, both in ultra chic New York lofts.]]> http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/11/teak-root-tables-and-benches/feed/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/11/stylish-tv-stands/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/11/stylish-tv-stands/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:06:29 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=13196 If I had a flat screen TV I would definitely mount it on an easel à la Vincente Wolf and Newell Turner. My easel would not be coming from an artist supply store, however. I've got my eye on two easels a heck of a lot more luxe than anything you'll find at Curry's or Gwartzman's. My first choice,below left, is at Toronto's Decorum Decorative Finds ($425) . It's so sleek and chic it would be almost criminal to cover it up. My second fave, below right, at Toronto's Machine Age Modern($495) is in chrome with brass details; a little more traditional in terms of styling but still miles better than the chunky wood pieces in the top pic.]]> http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/11/stylish-tv-stands/feed/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/09/2009-cabbagetown-tour-of-homes/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/09/2009-cabbagetown-tour-of-homes/#comments Sat, 19 Sep 2009 09:43:01 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=12341 Among the seven residences featured on this year's Cabbagetown Tour of Homes are a pair of former semi-detached houses now conjoined as 357 Wellesley Street East (above right), and 369 Wellesley Street East, above left, a Victorian-era corner store now graciously converted into a bright, family home. It rained for last year's tour making for a sloppy and humid trek through the cobbled streets but Sunday's weather forecast promises a much finer afternoon.]]> http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/09/2009-cabbagetown-tour-of-homes/feed/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/09/carlu-torontos-moderne-masterpiece/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/09/carlu-torontos-moderne-masterpiece/#comments Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:48:15 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=12259 I wasn't planning to have a post for you today but then I spent yesterday afternoon at a conference hosted at glam event space, Carlu. Luckily for me, I took what I thought was a short-cut out of the men's room and ended up in the sublime Round Room, above. The space was not being used as part of the function I was attending so it was utterly empty, which added to the trapped-in-time feeling of the space.]]> http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/09/carlu-torontos-moderne-masterpiece/feed/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/08/what-a-difference-a-pull-makes/ http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/08/what-a-difference-a-pull-makes/#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:06:20 +0000 Chris http://stylenorth.ca/blog/?p=11678 I was content with my bedside tables although I never loved the ho-hum Chinese-style pulls. Then, this past weekend, I found a pair of awesome vintage pulls at The Salvage Shop ($15 each); they're more Indian in spirit, which will bother purists but suits me just fine. The fact that they're brass and add a bit of bling to an otherwise sober piece is even better.]]> http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/08/what-a-difference-a-pull-makes/feed/