toronto
There are 13 entries for the tag
toronto
An interesting fact from the 2008 Mercer’s cost of living report. I would not have guess that it costs a tiny more to live in Toronto (54th), Canada than in Los Angeles (55th), California. For the weather, I know which city I would pick.
But the Unites States exhibits more discrepancies in the standard of living. Take Venice Beach for example. This is a town founded by hippies where you now have hippies, surfers, performers and modern architecture fans living in the same cities. Venice Beach is not huge.
I visited a 2-million modern house on my last trip for the pleasures of seeing real-life examples of my dream house. The house was at least half a mile from the beach on a residential street. I can imagine the prices of the ones facing the beach.
I took plenty of pictures as I visited the house. I forgot to write about it while I was traveling. I will try to show you this beautiful house in the upcoming weeks.
Categories:
TRENDS
posted @ Monday, July 28, 2008 10:49 AM | Feedback (1)
Earth Inc. from Toronto is the latest design firm to join the wagon of television. It is a popular trend that grows even more this summer. A glimpse at the TV schedule on HGTV Canada will convince you.
Dirty Business concentrates on the creative elements of building breath-taking, upscale outdoor spaces by this preeminent landscape design firm. We are talking about people with substantial budgets. I watched the fourth episode this week .
About the Show
I feel the show tries to appeal to both men and women. We see the rest of Earth team, James Dale, Joel Loblaw and Lorne Hancock under the leadership of the host, Kennedy McRae. Landscape design requires multidisciplinary skills from landscape architects to plant specialists.
Categories:
OUTDOOR living
REVIEWS
HOME + GARDEN
posted @ Saturday, July 26, 2008 3:18 PM | Feedback (0)
Every time we go to the States, I must take a peek at Crate & Barrel. I typically need a ruse because my husband knows it will take me a while to walk around the store.
I brought back only a catalogue from all my visits. What about the cute home accessories or the nice tableware that I spotted? This is now a thing of the past.
I am thrilled. I just learned that the first Crate & Barrel store in Canada is scheduled to open in September 2008. This leaves me some time for making space on my cupboards.
My dear husband should write this down on his agenda: extend our stay in Toronto the next time we go to a FacebookCamp.
Green Cooking
By this time, it may be late for the fun green and white 50s retro print of the Farmers Market line. The multi-purpose lidded Garden Market Storage Bowls would add a nice touch to your buffet or summer table. The flat bottoms with a ring of gripping rubber of the Market Bowl Set come handing during the cooking preparation stage.
Categories:
COOKING tools
DINING
posted @ Monday, July 21, 2008 12:16 PM | Feedback (1)
Cabanas are useful and charming. If I got a summer cottage, I would install a few so my guests can get change and put their stuff for the day. Having a cabana helps to keep your house clutter free while you are hosting a beach party.
I was charmed by the cabana next to the pool from the June 2008 of Canadian House and Home magazine. This cabana is available at Fresh Home and Garden in Toronto.
Typical white and navy nautical stripes are not my thing. I prefer the cool turquoise with earthy red shown here.
Thanks to Alex Newman and the Canadian House and Home styling team for presenting this beach house inspired by the Hamptons. The article is titled Water Colored in the magazine.
May18th, 2008 Update:
I just realized that the same color palette is used on the luxury hammock by Henri Hall Designs.
Categories:
HOME decor
OUTDOOR living
HOME + GARDEN
posted @ Thursday, May 15, 2008 5:05 PM | Feedback (1)
If you guess that the couple who owns the urban organic modern home store Stylegarage in Toronto lives in a lofty space, you are right. Except that they accomplished the look in a suburban duplex.
Urban Modern Style
Their interior design borrows to the loft-chic style. You can feel the warm sensibility of the organic moderns style. The house has a lot of warmth due to an extensive use of wood.
Amanda Schuler and David Podsiaglo live in this house with their 18-month-old son. Let’s review their cool entertaining spaces that are featured on the June 2008 issue of Canadian House and Home magazine.
Dining Room
You may say another chalkboard. For me, it triggers childhood memories. So I still dream of a chalkboard wall in my own home.
Categories:
HOME + GARDEN
MODERN architecture
posted @ Thursday, May 15, 2008 2:58 PM | Feedback (1)
The latest episode of HGTV's Designer Guys was just in time to close my Earth Day coverage. The Designer Guys were called to give shape to the Tastemakers Celebrity Gift Lounge at Toronto International Film Festival 2007. Reusable, reclaimed and recycled act as the foundation.
My favorite ecological foundation, the World Wildlife Fund-Canada was official charitable partner. They raise funds and provides information for their Save Our Climate campaign.
Located in a 1250 square foot banquet room at InterContinental Toronto Yorkville hotel, the room had a temporary facelift to fit the event. The facelift required the use of temporary solutions that would not damage the original surfaces.
Whenever you host a large event, a total superficial facelift is something you can envision doing if you have a huge budget. This way the banquet room does not dictate a look of your event. Naturally, you need to rent your space from a flexible space provider. The banquet room has to be booked for a longer period. For example, the chandeliers and the drapes were removed from the room for the green event. The hotel needs time before and after to execute it. You can imagine that the supplementary costs can add on pretty fast.
Categories:
ENTERTAINING
REVIEWS
EVENT planning
posted @ Monday, April 21, 2008 5:51 PM | Feedback (0)
As I visited Toronto for the IDS 2008, I booked the Sunday brunch at Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar. I heard the buzz about this place so I was excited.
Jamie Kennedy has earned a great reputation in Toronto for his upscale restaurants. With the Wine Bar, he proposes an affordable option executed by the Chef of cuisine Tobey Nemeth.
My opinion
Sadly I liked the décor more than the food. In all fairness, I should have sat at the kitchen bar. Usually it is a treat to see what is going on.
That Sunday, we were speaking about Status Competition, our Facebook application, at PodCamp Toronto. So I opted to sit at a quiet table. I imagined that Jerome and I may refine our presentation during the brunch.
Categories:
DINING out
TRAVEL
DINING
posted @ Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:49 PM | Feedback (0)
It is fun to go at a trendy restaurant with a young, well-dressed crowd, beautiful décor and most important with incredible food. That was on my agenda last Saturday night. I elected Kultura as the place to review.
My husband and I went to dinner with three of friends that were participating in PodCamp Toronto. Earlier that day, I tried to reserve a table for 2 but Kultura was already fully booked. They told us that we could eat sitting at the counter of the Lounge. That is what we did with our friends.
Everybody enjoyed the meals. Since we were sitting at the lounge, it was noisier but we could still have a conversation. Executive Chef Roger Mooking brings a new twist on multi-ethnic cuisine. The dishes surprise us with an unexpected mix of flavors. The food presentation was imaginative.
Categories:
FOOD + drinks
DINING out
DINING
posted @ Friday, February 29, 2008 4:43 AM | Feedback (7)
My husband saw a homemade flyer in front of the Royal York that was offering a $15,000 reward, no questions asked for returning a dog.
The super luxury housing market emerged over the last six months in Toronto with condo units now listed at 12 million dollars. With money comes experimentation and market differentiation.
An overview of a super luxury market in Toronto
The topic of one design talk at IDS 08 was Upsizing of the condo market: a lifestyle trend. What is happening right now is not just higher priced condominiums. The builders are offering more choices than ever to the consumers.
Some projects offer the freedom to design your unit with architects and designers before it is even built. Many builders hire a team of star architects and designers to make sure their design is well thought.
Categories:
HOME decor
OFF topics
TRENDS
HOME + GARDEN
posted @ Monday, February 25, 2008 2:46 AM | Feedback (4)
I went to 4 design talks when visiting the Interior Design Show. Each design talk will be reviewed separately. I am starting with a report on What were the most important trends over the last decade?
The panel animated by Trevor Kruse of Hudson Kruse Design was composed with the design journalists of the Globe & Mail's Lifestyle Section. We had the pleasure to hear the thoughts of Janice Lindsay, Danny Sinopoli and Karen Von Hahn. Janice Lindsay is the founder of PINK, Colour + Designer.
Categories:
HOME decor
TRENDS
HOME + GARDEN
posted @ Sunday, February 24, 2008 10:52 AM | Feedback (0)
If you want to learn and see what is hot or not in home decor, stop by the Toronto Interior Design Show (IDS 08) that will start tomorrow. The general public can assist Saturday February 23, 2008 from 10 AM to 7 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM.
I am planning to visit on Saturday. Admission is $16 if purchase in advance or $18 at the door for adults. Saturday's schedule features:
- International Design stars on the KRUPS Stage
- Seminars on all things design
- The IDS Workshops are new this year:
- Saturday’s workshop will be DESIGN & DECORATING TRENDWATCHING by Cobi Ladner, Editor at Canadian House & Home magazine and Mark Challen, Vice-President Communications also from the magazine. Unfortunately, the 100 places are sold out.
- There are some places left for the LIVING WITH A COMMITMENT TO GREEN workshop on Sunday.
- What's Your Design Dilemma? This is your chance for a free 15 min. consultation with one of ARIDO's registered interior designers. Appointments are on a first-come first-served basis and arranged upon visiting the ARIDO booth (1617).
Categories:
HOME decor
HOME + GARDEN
posted @ Wednesday, February 20, 2008 12:07 PM | Feedback (2)
As I was watching the finale of Design Interns on HGTV Canada, I felt the need to review some basic design principles with you. Design is a balancing act between form and function. Whether you are designing a home or planning an event, the same basic rules apply.
If you missed the second season of Design Interns, reruns will start February 12, 2008. I encourage you to listen to it because Cecconi Simone is a solid design firm from Toronto.
The winner becomes an intern at Cecconi Simone, so their design philosophy is highlighted through the challenges. What I like about the show is that it emphasis the need for functionality, using lasting materials and going through a thorough thinking process.
So my three design principles are:
Think macro
You must figure out the big pictures before you even think about the details. When you entertain, that means answering questions like:
- What time of event you wish to host? Cocktail, dinner, brunch, dance party
- What atmosphere? Intimate, glamorous, casual, formal
- Where do you want to host a party?
- What how many people do you want to attend?
- Do you cook, hire a chef who cooks on premises or book a caterer?
Categories:
HOME decor
REVIEWS
HOME + GARDEN
posted @ Friday, February 08, 2008 1:08 PM | Feedback (1)
Something we need a little help for inspirations to prepare our menu. In February, the team at Dish Cooking Studio can help you solve your Valentine’s Day meal dilemma. These are activities you and your lover can enjoy together.
Get Ready for Valentine’s Day
On February 8, Brooke Neveu and her fiancé Jesse, who is an Executive Sous-Chef of the Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto will prepare a romantic meal that you can replicate at home for the big night. This is your chance to learn new cooking tricks and recipes.
There is a 2 for 1 promotion of Get Ready for Valentine’s Day, call to book your seats. Go with a girlfriend. This way, you can help each other if you encounter a problem duplicating the menu.
Couples in the Kitchen
Instead of going to a crowded restaurant this year, why not do something different? You will still enjoy great food and wine during the evening. It is just that it would be a more intimate atmosphere with no work required. This event will be on February 14, 2008 from 6:30 PM to 9 PM at Dish Cooking Studio. It leaves you plenty of time for romance thereafter.
Categories:
FOOD + drinks
HOLIDAY
ENTERTAINING
DINING
posted @ Wednesday, January 30, 2008 12:19 PM | Feedback (0)