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Trade Secrets: Tap Phong Trading Co.
It’s no secret that restaurant supply stores are among the best sources for inexpensive tableware. But if you’re really looking for a deal my advice is to seek out a restaurant supply shop in your city’s Chinatown. Here in Toronto that means a stop at the massive Tap Phong (360 Spadina Avenue, 416.977.6364) where insiders find the very best deals on tableware of all descriptions, from plain white in round, square and every shape in between, to Japanese stoneware in a range of luscious patterns and colours.
BYOV: Bring Your Own Vase
Monday, May 11, 2009 by Chris
I knew I'd be shooting our new arc lamp so I wanted to do the flowers in our awesome junk store brass vase. The trouble is, the shape and size is a bit odd and I never really know how to do it justice. My solution was to take vase to our local flower shop (The Flower Room) and let them figure out. I told Helen what colours I wanted and how much I wanted to spend ($30) and left her to it. The result is gorgeous as usual--Mike especially loves the dogwood. So if you've got a lovely but challenging vase, save yourself the headache and let the florist do what they do best.
Nothing Faux About Sangster’s Expertise
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 by Chris
Decorative artist Robert Sangster has built a thriving business and excellent reputation as the decorative painter of choice for a slew of talented Toronto interior designers. His faux bois could fool a carpenter and his subtle paint treatments that could easily stand in for some of the world’s most luxurious wallpapers.
Trade Secrets: Tales From the Crypt
Thursday, April 23, 2009 by Chris
Martin Augsten is best known as a dealer of German ceramics through his tiny Toronto shop, The Rogue Gallery (733 Queen Street East). The spatial constraints of Martin’s particular hole-in-the-wall prohibit him from dealing in larger furnishings—or so I thought. But then a stylist friend of mine mentioned that he’d been to Martin’s storage locker, which he swore was like “King Tut’s tomb or Aladdin’s cave; it’s just jammed with fantastic stuff.”
Behind the Scenes at the Ottawa Home Show
Monday, March 30, 2009 by Jackie
The Ottawa Home and Garden Show took place this past weekend. As a student member of the Canadian Decorator’s Association (CDECA), I volunteered for the chance to see what went into putting a booth together. Here’s my “behind the scenes” glimpse of set-up morning.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 by Chris
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