TRENDS
a glimpse at lifestyle and design trends
A bold red is not the typically color people would choose when they selecting their doors. But look at how great these two kitchen look.
A bold red like that used to be restricted to high-end Italian and German kitchens. Ikea made the high-gloss red kitchen accessible.
People often ignore vibrant colors when it comes to big items because they are afraid to get bored with a few years. In reality, whatever the color, you will get bored at some point. Playing safe has its merits but it can also lacks personality.
My Own Experience Living with Red
We renovated our current home in 1995. Our house was built around 1860.
I believe that there must be a connection between the interior and the exterior of a building. Since I leaned towards a modern look, we opted for shaker-style door in natural maple. But I added a twist. I alternated the color of the inside panels between the natural maple and bright red panel tint. I selected a sort of crimson red almost fire engine red. Some days, I regret not having more red panels.
I have seen elegant rooms with a fuchsia painted wall. The color alone does not determine if a room is stylish or not. It is the ensemble that produces the overall effects. You can also tone down a stronger color with the other surfaces of a room if you have a change of heart. If you renovate your home this summer, do not be afraid to be adventurous if you feel like it.
Introducing Abstrakt Kitchen Collection at Ikea
The low cost of an Akurum/Abstrakt kitchen at Ikea greatly reduces the risk. As the new advertising illustrates, a high-gloss bright red kitchen can look very stylish if you put sophisticated wall tiles, install a real stone or a man-made solid surface countertop, lay down dark flooring and hang cool light fixtures.
The bottom picture has a fun vibe. Both layouts are great for entertaining. I prefer the kitchen on the top. It represents a trendier style. While we're on the subject, I will publish early next week a post about the social kitchen from a guest blogger, the certified kitchen designer Susan Serra. I read it; you will not want to miss it. Stay tuned for Susan’s excellent advices.
>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: Abstrakt kitchen cabinet doors at Ikea – starting at $45 CAD
Buy online Akurum/Abstrakt High-Gloss Kitchen at Ikea – starting at $2980 CAD for a 10’ x 10’ kitchen
Categories:
HOME decor
TRENDS
posted @ Friday, May 09, 2008 5:20 PM | Feedback (2)
I was planning to showcase the actual Mother’s Day table I designed for my mom but due to my surgery, I will skip this year. I still can talk you about the design.
Mother's Day Tabletop Ideas
My scheme revolves around my baroque black & white dinnerware set.
It is becoming a habit to use this dinnerware set for Mother’s Day. I composed a Girlie Mother's Day inspiration board with the same set last year. This year, I decided to add vibrant pinks and greens to brighten up the black & white tableware.
A Portable Flower Vase
Recall Vazu from last year. It is the fun and innovative expandable flat flower vase.
The Tear Off Top is a more cheerful version with less packaging and all the advantages of the original. Since Vazu is designed to carry around cut flowers, a cute packaging has no real purpose most of the time. The Tear Off Top vase is half the price of the original.
Tear Off Top is available in 4 patterns in a choice of 3 colors each. Vazu USA kindly sent me three samples of Tear Off Top flower vases with cute pink and red hearts for my setting.
MushiMushi - Love Is All harmonizes the best with the design of my Mother’s Day tabletop. For an casual outdoor brunch or a teen birthday party, check out the EnFlor pattern. At this price, you can afford to spread many vases across the room.
Finishing Touch: the Flowers
A simple bunch of fuchsia gerberas looks great for any family event. Keep them long as much as possible; the idea is to see to create a well-defined section of green stems between the vase and the flowers. You can use a rectangular or an oval pinholder to perfectly align the gerberas. In the pink family, the Pink Purple Ranunculus Flower is a classic choice.
I prefer the fresh look of bright green flowers. I enjoy the Spider family and the Galiaro Green Chrysanthemum. Other choices include a handful of long lasting chincherinchee, dill, and button chrysanths.
For floral inspirations, I always check these two sites. The Flower Council of Holland and the Flowers & Plants Association both keep you up-to-date with floral design trends. The So simple. So try it is a wonderful initiative of the Flowers & Plants Association to demystify the art of floral arrangements.
>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: Vazu MushiMushi - Love Is All at Vazu USA – price; $4.99 USD
Photo credit: Gerberas from the Colorful Grey Inspirations Spring 2008 [flowercouncil.org] – Rights reserved
Photo credit: Mini-trees of chincherinchee [tryflowers.org.uk] – Rights reserved
Photo credit: Button chrysanths in a plastic pan scourer [tryflowers.org.uk] – Rights reserved
Photo credit: Dill in a test tube [tryflowers.org.uk] – Rights reserved
Photo credits: Dinnerware set and left bottom picture taken by Kim Vallee – Rights reserved
Categories:
TABLESCAPE
PARTY supplies
TRENDS
FAMILY style
posted @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:18 PM | Feedback (1)
Dressing up your room with the right wallpapers adds sophistication to a dining room or living room. I typically prefer to put wallpaper on a single wall or two walls, depending on the room configuration.
British brands have a long history of making great patterns. Have a look at these patterns from Graham & Brown. This is a brand that teamed up with several designers to bring you striking designs.
A Look at My Favorites
Sophia from the Monsoon collection reinterprets Art Nouveau damask. You will be surprised how sophisticated a fuchsia wall can be.
No need to install wall paneling with Phantom from the Umbra collection. In case you did not already know, the uber stylish Canadian brand Umbra teamed up with Graham & Brown to produce its first ever wallpaper collection. The frame illustrations of Huddle pattern can bring something different to a room.
Mystique Avocado by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen takes its inspiration from the delicate lattices and Jali screens that help shade colonial plantation houses on the fringes of the Caribbean Sea. In a typical Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen design, he injected a jet look to this classic design.
The Red/Orange Alice designed by Marcel Wanders is highlighted by delicacy and intricacy in its detailing. The Marcel Wanders collection costs for £35 for a single roll; other collections are available for £30.
Hot pink Midsummer (not shown) adds drama. The beautiful leaf silhouette design fuse silver shine with hot pink matt.
Wallpapers are fashionable once again. The new wallpapers can be a great source of inspiration if you redecorate a room.
>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: Online store of Graham & Brown
Buy online: Huddle Wallpaper at Umbra Online Store – price: $39 CAD
Categories:
HOME decor
TRENDS
posted @ Friday, May 02, 2008 2:35 PM | Feedback (0)
I visited the Poggenpohl showroom in Boston this winter. For a modernist like me, seeing the MODERN PURISM collection was a real treat. I would like someday to own one of those kitchens.
Design for the Way You Live
Poggenpohl makes amazing storage system. Everything has its place with cute containers and spacers. I was going to talk about their cool storage system for the kitchen. As I assembled my montage, a trend emerged. Therefore, I will talk about kitchen layouts.
If you planning a new kitchen, the first thing you should consider is how you like to live and entertain. By answering these questions, you will make the space fits your lifestyle. Then, you can start to look at finishes and nifty storage gadgets.
I must stress out that you must design for the way you live, not the way you dream of living. So be true to who you and your family are.
Avoid the Good Look, Bad Layout Syndrome
My husband and I visited a condominium showroom last week-end. Very European, modern architecture but one thing strikes me on the larger unit: the lack of counter spaces. The architect designed a cool kitchen but honestly, I would feel cramped in it.
The 15 feet island was broken down by the stove and then the sink. The fridge and a pantry sit tall at each end. Where is my work triangle? At the end, I never had more than 2 to 3 feet of continuous counter. I imagine myself entertaining. The island would be impractical for a buffet table. It looks great but I do not think I will enjoy cooking in this kitchen.
My advice is to go beyond the look and first examine the design layout. Look can always be altered. But layout flaws are pricey to correct.
How to Plan for Great Design?
Examine these kitchens from Poggenpohl. Each one fits a story. The red kitchen is designed for a family that cooks together or for people who hire staff at parties. That kitchen spreads over 3 rows instead of 2; something we do not see often. If you have a big enough space, it is probably great because you will not bump with each others.
I enjoy a layout like you see on the bottom pictures. Style wise they look great. One or two persons can easily cook in it and I got a long space for a buffet station. Having a preparation area where my friends can sit while I am cooking is also high on my list.
My Top 5 kitchen design tips:
- Consider the flow of movements, the entrances and how the appliances open. Aim for more than the minimal clearance.
- Collect lots of pictures of kitchen you like, analyze them and write down what you like about each one. Share this information with your kitchen designer.
- Make a list of your priorities. Go back to the list when you need to make tough decisions.
- Be flexible. Designing a kitchen is tricky. The shape of your dream kitchen may not fit into your space. If you say what features are important to you and how you plan to use your kitchen, your talented kitchen designer will find a solution that satisfies your needs.
- Make an inventory of your cookware, dinnerware, glassware and small appliances. Consider how often do you do grocery? Do you buy really need to buy in bulk? You need enough storage.
As for the nifty kitchen storage systems, do not worry. I will talk about them later.
>>> Sourcing:
Learn more: Poggenpohl
Categories:
HOME decor
TRENDS
posted @ Tuesday, April 29, 2008 5:35 PM | Feedback (1)
My blog is about harmonizing décor and beautiful things. This post does not fit the bill.
The idea of transforming a train into a showroom is cool. Sadly, IKEA did not convince me with the décor they put on. Maybe, it is a cultural thing.
Showroom On Rails
For the opening of its new store at Port Island, IKEA did a huge promotion. The Kobe Portliner Monorail was decorated with fabrics of the new IKEA collection. Each wagon featured a set of bright seating. They even add a small drape panel on every window.
Frankly, it does not really look good. IKEA fails in trying to show too much. There are too many clashing patterns in my opinion. The showroom would have been more effective if they limit to one color family. And show several ways to incorporate it into your life.
Remaking the train interior is quite an achievement. It is also a test for the quality of their fabric. Japanese trains are extremely busy. I have not read a story on who these temporary showrooms wear off. I am curious to know.
Still Running
Bold patterns were painted on the outside of the monorail. You can ride the IKEA showroom Monorail until May 6, 2008 if you happen to travel to Japan.
Q. What do you think about the IKEA showroom on rails?
>>> Sourcing:
Via: IKEA decks out Kobe train on [pinktentacle]
Photo credits: Kiyo
Categories:
HOME decor
OFF topics
TRENDS
posted @ Friday, April 25, 2008 12:52 PM | Feedback (3)
Recycle is good, reuse feels great! If you possess things that I do not use anymore, the green solution is to make sure someone uses your old stuff. Go ahead and unclutter your home. It makes sense economically and ecologically.
Reuse
Even if you prefer buying new products, you can still participate in the equation. You simply have to donate or to sell your old stuff. Second-hand markets are getting more popular. It helps people that are less fortunate and it reduces your footprint of the landfill.
Think twice before you buy a new thing. It is best to buy better quality items because they perform well over a longer period of time. They are the ones with the best reuse value.
The socialite never wears the same dress twice for events. So why not rent night gowns, bridesmaid dresses and even your wedding dress? A few specialized shops around the world rent high end handbags. I kept my wedding dress for 13 years now; nicely sealed like we are supposed to. I decided to sell it to a store that updates used wedding dress. I should have done it many years ago.
The same is true for your furniture, books, children toys and sport equipments. Before you throw something, ask yourself if someone can reuse it.
More Green Tips
I compiled a brief list of wonderful resources and events on green living. Here, my seven comments on the 50 Ways to Help Our Planet presented by Wire & Twine:
- One thing that I learned is that your vehicle could get up to 15% better mileage when is on the cruise control. Interesting fact!
- I hang dry most of my clothes. It preserve them longer.
- I stop buying newspapers several years ago. Too much waste. You can read the newspapers at a café for free or get informed on the Web.
- I do not need to telecommute since I live at a walking distance from my office. It is also less stressful.
- I skipped the coffee stirrer and the spoon whenever I can. You simply pour milk first and then the coffee; the mix occur naturally.
- I always download my software. Faster and no box to open.
- I do not own an answering machine. Phone companies offer a better service without cluttering my house with a machine.
These articles provide interesting green living information:
What new green initiatives are you integrating into your life? Any eco-friendly tips to share?
Sourcing:
Learn more: Free is Good Web site from Yahoo!
Via: Swissmiss
Categories:
OFF topics
TRENDS
posted @ Tuesday, April 22, 2008 1:43 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.
Changing the Face of a Banquet Room
The traditional pattern rug on the room really clashed with the green design. Therefore, a cork floor was installed on top of the rug. Since the floor is installed with a clapping system without glue or nails, you can remove the floor as easily as you put it. It also improves the sound quality of the room as the cork sub-surface absorbs more sound. If you plan a large event or need to set up a trade show, a cork floor like this is a wonderful solution.
A living wall was installed by Elevated Landscape Technologies. I like the idea. But the plants used could have been cuter; it was too much wild flower for me. The most daring and successful element from my viewpoint is the giant art installations made of insulated concrete forms from Greenblock. The insulated concrete forms cover entirely the perimeter walls. It completely redefined the space. Again, this is an idea to borrow of you want to design a booth for a trade show.
As the founder of the Tastemakers Celebrity Gift Lounge, Debra Goldblatt talked about the need to educate and create even more awareness within the movie community:
There has never been a better trend than everybody attempting to go GREEN. We not only wanted to continue providing visiting talent a great Canadian lounge to visit, but during a week of frivolity and fun, use this opportunity to support a charity and continue educating others!
The three Designer Guys, Allen Chan, Anwar Mukhayesh and Matt Davis met the expectations of Debra Goldblatt, the president of Rock It Promotions. I invite you to read the article on BizBash Toronto to learn more about the eco-friendly products that were used in the Tastemakers Green Room.
More Green Living Ideas
To do your part for the environment on a daily basis, check out my latest posts on green living:
Sourcing:
Learn more: Tastemakers Celebrity Gift Lounge Goes Green on BizBash Toronto
Categories:
PARTY ideas
TRENDS
BIG events
posted @ Monday, April 21, 2008 5:51 PM | Feedback (0)
My friend Jennifer Mitchell of Design Hole is in Milan right now for The Salone Internazionale del Mobile. This is the leading event in the home/contract furnishing sector at global level. If you want to what’s new and really capture the trends, the Salone Milano is the best to go.
Being an interior design from Detroit, Jennifer is right in her element. Obviously, she reports daily on what she is seeing at the Salone Milano 2008. Looking at her reports so far, I identify one trend: the return of the wire frames as a key furniture design.
Emu Outdoor Living
The Re-trouvé collection designed by Patricia Urquiola for Emu adds a feminine touch to the garden. The wire is available in several colors. You can see the influence of French classical chairs in the Emu Outdoor Collection. This is not surprising since Re-trouvé translates to To Find Again.
Pattern Excellence for Moroso
The mix of colors and patterns on this settee, pouf and chair is amazing. This is also work of Patricia Urquiola but this time for Moroso. Check out Design Hole for more details.
Sourcing:
Via: Marvelous Moroso on Design Hole
Via: Emu and Beautiful Outdoor Living on Design Hole
Categories:
HOME decor
TRENDS
posted @ Thursday, April 17, 2008 10:11 AM | Feedback (0)
I intensify my coverage of eco-friendly solutions until Earth Day. I will write an eco-friendly story every weekday until April 22nd.
I am starting the week with cool ultra compact shopping bags. The key is to carry your reusable shopping bags with you all the time. Since I live in the city, I do most of my shopping by foot. Therefore, I need bags that will fit into my purse.
I also prefer shoulder bags because they leave your hands free if you carry a small load. These are my favorites lately.
Flip & Tumble | First place
Flip & Tumble seduced me with their new summer colors and this catchy phrase:
A bag that’s designed for those of us who only seem to remember our reusable bags the moment we need them.
The 24-7 bag fits my lifestyle. The vibrant summer colors look amazing. Flip & Tumble will start shipping tomorrow, April 15th, 2008. Their Web site has a cool visual Add to my Shopping Card applet too. I just ordered three bags like in the picture: a raspberry, an aqua and a lime. I will tell more after a few shopping trips.
Flip & Tumble won because their bags look great and the handle is wide. It seems more comfortable for my shoulder. Hold the stretch pouch and roll the bag like rolling your socks into a ball. This translates in no need for attachment hardware.
Baggu | Runner Up
I like the fact that the Baggu bag has two handles to comfortably sit on your forearms. From the pictures, the Baggu bag does not feel as stylish as the Flip & Tumble. Baggu comes with a 5-inch square flat pouch. Depending on the shape of your purse, you may find the Baggu pouch format more useful.
Baggu target men too. Guys can fit the pouches in their jean back pockets. At last, something he can carry for me. Since the company highlights than men are also shoppers, Baggu won extra points. A cute fact: Baggu was designed in California by a mom and daughter team.
Reisenthel Mini Maxi Shopper | Third Place
This model has been around for a while. I own a few Reisenthel products that I adore. So I know the quality is excellent. Why I did not choose that Mini Maxi Shopper as my first place? I am under the impression that the pouch is bulky. The consumer reviews I read say otherwise.
One thing that I really like about the Reisenthel's Mini Maxi Shopper is that you can securely close it. None of the others have that feature. For that reason alone, I will probably try a Mini Maxi Shopper bag soon. I am leaning towards the solid orange or the aqua. The neutral like gray is another option.
Envirosax | Four Place
There Envirosax bags are well known and appreciated by many. The new patterns of the Mikado set are adorable. They are several other pattern series to choose from. The individual rolled up bag size is 4" x 1.5" diameter. Pretty small! It is probably the smallest of the four reusable bags I introduced.
I met a woman the other day that was carrying a heavy look with the Envirosax. I asked her how she liked her Envirosax bag. She was delighted but she felt the need to reinforce the handle for heavier loads. I do not know if her concern was justified or not. Tell us what is your experience with Envirosax?
Do you have a favorite ultra compact reusable shopping bag? As a matter of fact, giving 2 or 3 reusable bags will make a great impression on the hostess. Select a bag that suits his or her style.
Sourcing:
Buy online: 24-7 Bag by Flip & Tumble – price: $12 USD
Buy online: Baggu Bag and Pouch – price: $8 each, $22 for 3, $38 for 5
Buy online: Reisenthel - Mini Maxi Shopper, Long Handle at Reusable Bags – price: $9.95 each, $7.95 each if buy 4 or more
Buy online: Envirosax - Set of 5 Mikado Pouch, Reusable Shopping Bags – price: $37.95 per set, $34.95 if buy 2 sets or more
Via: Flip and Tumble | New Colors on swissmiss
Categories:
TRENDS
FAMILY style
HOSTESS gifts
posted @ Monday, April 14, 2008 11:31 AM | Feedback (6)
After your own perfume craze of a few years ago, it appears that a new fashion is slowly emerging. This time, you get your own tea blend. If you are looking for a lavish birthday gift without breaking the bank, this is it. Different tea shops are offering this service to their customers.
Blends for Friends
The ultimate experience I found so far is from a UK master tea taster named Alex Probyn, the founder of Blends for Friends. Based on the personal facts and the persona of your friend, a master tea taster will create a blended tea just for your friend.
The initial order costs £27 for 125 grams of loose leaf tea. Most of the fee will pay for the personalization process, the descriptive sticker and the decorative tin box. The price will reduce to £7 when you reorder a blend. What is also making the gift special is the quirky blend sticker. The blend recipe descriptor makes reference to the personality traits of the recipient.
Each blend of tea comes with its own set of serving instructions. An educational booklet about tea is included in the elegant presentation gift box. You are all set once you receive the gift or if you ship it directly to your friend’s house.
For a wedding or an anniversary party favor, the blend represents the couple. Some couples opt to leave a specific feeling, a sense of well-being or a mix of energy to their guests.
More options for party favors
In the United States, Design a Tea lets you make your own blend. But here, you must rely on your flair to design your blend. You can name your tea. The labels and the gift boxes are cute but not as refined as Blends for Tea. But the price tag is a lot cheaper too. It starts at $4.75 for 10 bags or 22 grams of loose leaves. If you know your taste well, this is a great option.
Tea accessories
Loose leaf tea tastes the best but sometimes, you want the convenience of tea bags. The designers of Gazin Create brought an innovation to the classic china cup. They added a silicone button to the china cup so you can secure your tea bag. No more cord swimming into your tea. Manufactured under the KEDO brand, Tea Code is available in 4 models: Small Rounded, Small Flared, Tall Rounded, Tall Flared. Rounded for men, flared for women.
If you enjoy a lemon with your tea, you may be interested by a nifty little gadget. With Lemon Run, you would not to worry about spurting juice all over place, onto people’s face or clothes? Or more realistically, no more dirty hand from squeezing the lemon slice.
Do-It-Yourself options
If you are on a budget, buy the tea in bulk. Wedding stores sell several shapes of tin boxes in bulk. You can also use spice containers or small Mason jars. Design your own sticker on a computer or craft them with a custom made ink stamp. Then set up your assembly line. You can make these party favors for baby showers, birthdays or any other occasions.
Sourcing:
Buy online: Blends for Friends – price: £27 for 125 grams of loose leaf tea, £7 for reorder
Buy online: Design a Tea – price: $4.75 for 10 bags or 22 grams of loose leaves
Buy online: KEDO Tea Code at Charles and Marie - $27 USD
Learn more: Lemon Run by KEDO
Categories:
GIFT ideas
TRENDS
posted @ Wednesday, April 09, 2008 1:33 AM | Feedback (2)
This is not an April’s fool: Be on the first 100 citizens to book a room at the first citizenM hotel and enjoy one night of casual chic luxury, nice towels, huge king size bed and friendly smile for free.
CitizenM (M for mobile) is a new affordable luxury hotel option for travelers to Europe. The first hotel is located at Schiphol International Airport, an amazing international airport that acts as a gateway.
Like in a boutique hotel, the concept behind CitizenM is hip with a fresh attention to details.
Excellent Services
The new hotel chain concept caters to a new type of travelers. CitizenM targets people who value personal choice, modern design, friendly technology and the proximity to a city at an accessible price. Every room has a wall-mounted LCD television with free movie access and provides a free Wi-Fi internet connection.
CitizenM wish to provide you with a unique experience. It starts by asking you while booking your preferred room settings from your favorite color lighting, the room temperature, your preferred music, the amount of daylight you want and more. It is a pretty ambitious plan so I hope they will deliver on site.
Exciting Modern Design
CitizenM participates to the pre-fab movement. The hotel rooms are pre-made in our own special factory off-site with features that you can expect from a luxury yacht or private jet. So yes, the rooms are smaller. Still, you will sleep in a comfortable king size bed. If you want to work in a different setting, you will find a communal working center furnished with Vitra furniture.
The style of the hotel sets it apart from the mainstream hotels. The lobby is made of several contemporary living rooms, furnished with the latest collection of iconic Vitra and Eames furniture. Must be pretty cool to relax there and meet people. If you are hungry, stop by canteenM that will provide a 24-hour choice of signature sandwiches, salads, sushi, warm dishes and more. Order your coffee from the barista and sip a drink at night at the well-stocked bar.
The 100 One-Night Stays Giveaway
The hotel is scheduled to open June 21st, 2008. CitizenM Hotel joins the free marketing trend. Here is an extract for the email I got as a Citizen member this morning with a clear mention that it is not a joke:
You are also guaranteed a 15% discount via www.citizenM.com. For those who have faithfully returned to our Web site trying to book again and again, CitizenM hotels would like to reward your patience by giving away 100 free room nights. The free rooms are valid for one-night stays only, and will go quick, so be the first to book! The smart citizens amongst you won’t be fooled by April 1st.
At this moment, there is still some free room left. I tried the reservation system. It is a little slow but be patient it worked.
Sourcing:
Book online: CitizenM Hotel
Categories:
TRAVEL
TRENDS
posted @ Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:45 PM | Feedback (0)
I did not post yesterday night because I had enough of my cell phone. My Motorola RAZR might have been pretty in pink (fuchsia) but it was not fit for an active member of the social media community.
A full QWERTY keyboard became a must since I started using Twitter or to write several Facebook Status Updates a day to stay on top of Status Competition – a little bit of self-promotion (if you do not know, my husband and I created the Status Competition on Facebook as a social experiment). Being able to send and receive emails all the time is pretty handy.
A smart phone for a stylish girl
So what phone a stylish Canadian girl goes for: the next best thing besides an iPhone. For my non Canadian readers, the iPhone has not officially arrived in Canada. Apple and the aspirant wireless service provider cannot reach an agreement. I was tired of waiting and decided to act.
So I bought a Red BlackBerry Curve 8310 Smartphone instead. Mine is a rich burgundy red so it looks less corporate. It is the smallest and lightest BlackBerry to offer a full QWERTY keyboard, Web browsing, GPS, 2.0 megapixel camera with digital zoom and flash. There is a MP3, but I do not care because I always carry my iPod Touch.
After going for a drink with some friends, I went shopping, ate dinner and started the learning process. My husband set everything up for me. This is definitely the biggest advantage to be married to a cute geek. As I woke up this morning, I read my twitter on my Blackberry.
My Red BlackBerry Curve may not be as cool as the iPhone but once you learned how the basics, it is pretty easy to maneuver. If I can only find a great ring tone, I will be all set.
Sourcing:
Where to buy: Store listing for the BlackBerry Curve 8310 Smartphone
Categories:
OFF topics
TRENDS
posted @ Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:15 AM | Feedback (0)
I do not have kids but I watched closely the hip modern trend regarding baby gears. I think this trend illustrates well the desire of consumers to get the products they want.
Several hip baby brands and stores were founded by style-conscious parents who did not like what big chains are selling. It is also a sign that more people are not ready to give out style because they became parents. As a stylish living advocate, I am thrilled.
If you are attending a baby shower soon, you may want to check out the inventory of Quilt Baby. Founded by parents of two toddlers, Quilt Baby is an independent modern baby bedding and accessory company located in Asheville, North Carolina.
Practical Baby Gears with Modern Style
Quilt Baby provides high quality, practical products to style conscious parents. Their catalogue contains over 20 bold and fun patterns.
The bedding line features crib sets, quilt and pillow sets plus minky blankets. The hardest thing for you will be to select which patterns to buy from between the cutest bibs & burp cloths. Those are baby essentials that new parents never have enough. The adorable onesies are available in short and long sleeve.
Where to shop?
Quilt Baby products are available through several specialized retailers in the United States and one Canadian store located in my home town, Montreal. You can also shop online with retailers from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia. Canadians will be happy to know that Purl Mama & Baby sells the Quilt Baby collection at pair.
Sourcing:
Store locator: Retailers carrying Quilt Baby bedding and accessories
Buy online: Minky Blankets by Quilt Baby – price: mini $20 USD, regular $38
Buy online: Onesies by Quilt Baby – price: $18 Short Sleeve, $24 Long Sleeve
Buy online: Bibs & Burp Cloths by Quilt Baby – price: $16 per bib, $28-$32 for sets
Buy online: Quilt Baby Mobiles – price: $46 USD
Via: Babygadget
Categories:
BABY showers
GIFT ideas
TRENDS
posted @ Sunday, March 30, 2008 1:26 PM | Feedback (2)
Even though I am a modernist, I still fall under the spells of old-world charm. That is why I enjoy browsing the Horchow’s online catalogue. For spring 2008, their inventory is getting better.
I selected some pieces for designing an easy entertaining Spring / Summer tabletop. These are pieces that you will cherish for years to come. You can mix and match them with lots of things.
An inside look at my Spring tabletop
The star of your table will be the hand-painted Scribed Poppy Dinnerware. The pattern looks fresh and fun.
For the traditional look, place a natural tone tablecloth on your dining table. If you want a fresher look, opt for the hip Chilewich Tablemats. To reproduce the look of the wooden table on this picture, use the Woodgrain Tablemats in driftwood or pecan.
The Santa Fe Stoneworks Steak Knives add character to the table. Dad is sure to like those steak knives. So make a note for Father's Day. The handcrafted stainless steel Recamier flatware by Marisopa set is made of Norwegian birch handles with a dark teak finish. Overall, the table look is gender neutral.
Timeless serving ware
From Gracious Goods, I select pitcher with a beautifully ornate cast aluminum base. A pitcher is a must for serving water and ice tea. For a dessert table, you cannot go wrong with the Domed Pedestal Servers and the matching Round Platter. The dome pedestals are all the rage for a few seasons now. I do not think this trend will go away soon because they add sophistication instantly. Therefore it makes sense to splurge in one or two remarkable pastry dome pedestals.
It seems that several products I selected are quite popular because a bunch is back-ordered right now. Some items will be available in April, others will arrive early May. So you should be able to get everything for the upcoming Mother’s Day brunch if you want to.
Sourcing:
Buy online: Recamier Flatware at Horchow – price: $188 5-piece setting, serving spoon and fork are $106 each
Buy online: Scribed Poppy Dinnerware at Horchow – price: $169.90 USD 16-Piece Dinnerware Set, $65 for 4 dinner plates
Buy online: Gracious Goods Pitcher at Horchow – price: $130 USD
Buy online: Gracious Goods Round Platter – price: $175 USD
Buy online: Gracious Goods Domed Pedestal Servers – on sale: small $103.90, large $175.90
Categories:
EVERYDAY
TRENDS
TABLEWARE
posted @ Thursday, March 27, 2008 12:43 PM | Feedback (1)
When we are taking about Scandinavian, we talked mostly about products from Finland and Sweden. In fact, I think I spoke more often about Danish products than Norwegian creations.
The government of Norway with the industry has launched an offensive a few years ago to raise awareness about what they produce. They identify UK as an important platform for their marketing campaign.
Again this year, the visitors of UK's leading contemporary interiors event will be able to see and touch the best of Norwegian design. The trade show 100% Design is scheduled for September 18 to 21, 2008 at Earls Court in London.
100% Norway viewed over the years
It was announced that 100% Norway 2008 will be once again curated by Henrietta Thompson. The upcoming stand has tripled over the size of last year. In 2006, 100% Norway stand was colossal. The 2006 stand exhibited cutting edge Norwegian architecture including a view at fashion, furniture and city bikes. From macro, the stand went micro as 100% Norway 2007 zoomed in to the creativity found in glass, porcelain and textile design. The theme for 2008 is not yet public. I will keep you posted.
Where to shop for Norwegian design?
One of the glass pieces showcased at 100% Norway 2007 is this beautiful Blue Wing Butterfly vase by Catherine Maske. The artist made a statement since her vase immortalized a national butterfly that is close to extinction. For more outstanding glass ware, check out the 100% Norway: Glass summary on Norway: the official site in the UK.
The desire to draw more attention to Norwegian design does not only come from the government. Two citizens, Marianne Lien and Lasse Altern Halvorsen, opened a store full of Norwegian products called Pur Norsk. My board let you admire the inside of Pur Norsk brick and mortar store in Oslo. Pur Norsk also cater to foreigners through their international online store.
Scandinavian Surface specializes in patterns for any surface: fabrics, wallpaper, building facades, interior decoration details, kitchenware, barware and more. They manufacture ProPiece, a line of coated polyester wall-to-wall decorations. ProPiece looks like a mix between wall decals and wall papers. I like even more their collection of coasters, serving trays, plates and cushions.
I particularly like from Scandinavian Surface their Bread Coasters which are side plate made of laminated melamine. You use them for bread rolls or snack meal. Every one of the six patterns are cool and cheerful. The bread coasters are sold in pair.
I will keep you posted on the development of 100% Design, London as more news arises.
Sourcing:
Learn more: 100% Design and 100% Light in London
Buy online: Pur Norsk
Learn more: Coasters and plates by Scandinavian Surface – price: 32 € for the pair at Pur Norsk
Categories:
HOME decor
TRENDS
posted @ Friday, March 21, 2008 1:12 PM | Feedback (0)
If like me you are not afraid of colors, you must be happy these days. For the others you are more timid, I am showing two rooms with pretty strong colors.
Fuchsia wall
I saw several rooms where the focal point is a bright fuchsia wall. The first time I saw a fuchsia room, I admired the audacity of the owner. After seeing several, I realized that every room looks amazing. They were a pretty diverse mix from kitchen, living room, bedroom and even office space. Now, I crave for my own fuchsia wall room.
Green walls
For Spring 2008, green is in vogue. By painting the backdrop of the stairs an Absinthe green the wall, the stairs become more important.
The office space is shared by the four members of the family. Arranged as a workshop, the room feels sophisticated with the traditional American walnut and the classical shape of the chairs. But the Granny Smith accents and the multicolor rug convey an unexpected whimsical mood to the space.
Accessorize
Painting the inside of your bookshelf brings a punch of color without actually living with the color. You can always tone down a color through the choice of material and shape. Here, the vivacity of the Granny Smith green fabric is toned down by the classical shape of the chair next to the brown wood.
If you opt to invest in a colorful piece of furniture or accessories, you are better to select one that you can harmonize in many ways or move to another room. The multicolor rug fits that description. The beautiful wall units, desks and chairs transfer their sophistication to the fun rug.
Being inspired by France
I picked these pictures from two fabulous French magazines: Résidences decoration and Coté Ouest. Both magazines featured a family house with a happy yet stylish interior.
The fuchsia kitchen comes from an apartment located in Le Marais, a neighborhood in Paris that I enjoy a lot. I do not miss the chance to stop by Le Marais with all its antique shops, contemporary galleries and design stores when I visit Paris. Even if it just for window shopping, it is a pleasant excursion.
One particular of the home with the two green rooms is that in fact, three different hues of green coexist. Pink make an appearance in these rooms as well.
It is just paint
If you are not totally convinced, remember that painting an accent wall is a relatively simple job to update if you get tired or if you hate the wall color. As long as you are not pressed by time, I encourage you to give a try, you may be surprised. With the technological innovations, you do not have to go blind either. Simply take a picture of your room, upload it and use a photo editing software to get a pretty good idea of what the room will look like once painted. You can also search for free online services.
Sourcing:
Fuchsia Photo credit: Résidences decoration - March / April 2008, number 79 issue – photo by Didier Delmas
Green Photo Credits: Coté Ouest - February / March 2008, number 74 issue – photos by Patrick Van Robaeys
Categories:
IN the press
HOME decor
TRENDS
posted @ Friday, March 21, 2008 1:42 AM | Feedback (2)
Outstanding flower arrangements fill a room or a table with elegance. The Flower Council of Holland Web site is always a good source of inspiration for floral trends.
What is hot for Spring 2008?
Design trends are global. Floral arrangements follow what we are seeing in fashion and home decor. Grey, whites and happy colors steal the show.
The excellent blog ROOM and Serve showcased yesterday four amazing Easter bouquets. I am showing two of them. The rest are from the Spring 2008 photo gallery. A series of bouquets shows that white provides energy. They are all impressive and inspiring.
Finally, I hold a prejudice against carnations. But looking at these fashionable pink, lilac and green carnation installations, I may have to agree that carnations are in vogue. Look at the step by step instructions to reproduce this sophisticated presentation.
Sourcing:
Learn more: Flower Council of Holland
Via: Inreda med ägg till påsken on ROOM and Serve
Categories:
EVERYDAY
PARTY supplies
HOLIDAY
TRENDS
posted @ Thursday, March 20, 2008 12:39 AM | Feedback (0)
This week is all about mid-century modern furniture and an amazing chandelier. The feeling is soft and airy.
My 4 picks of the week
Design to Inspire for My favourite Canadian magazine
Design to Inspire is a blog that features to die for home interiors. I visit Design to Inspire for a moment of day dreaming. This time, Kim (just like me) talked about Canadian House and Home magazine, one of my monthly must read. I select a room that would make an exquisite eye candy girl bedroom or a modern nursery.
Canadian House and Home magazine produce a digital issue of its magazine. In fact, my digital issue arrives in my inbox before I receive the print version. I like being able to access the entire magazine online anytime, anywhere. But I subscribed to both versions because I still like flipping the pages of a magazine.
Minor Details for what walls want
This is from a blog I discovered a few days ago. Being about creating space for children, Minor Details presented design oriented products for infants and young children with a twist on promoting imagination.
Show here is Eco Highway. This sustainable wallpaper for children was designed by Amélie Labarthe for Graham & Brown's Eco Collection.
Apartment Therapy Chicago for CHI Good Questions: Home Office Credenza?
Yes, another post from the Apartment Therapy but I love the works of these guys. I am also a fan of the Nelson Swag Leg Desk. In fact, I wish I own one. The Herman Miller’s reproduction of this vintage desk is efficient if you work with a laptop. And the brightly colored dividers create convenient storage cubbies. The original 1958 design has been modernized to handle cable management. So if you want to use it as a laptop desk, get the new Nelson Swag Leg Desk.
There is a Swag Leg Armchair but I prefer the Eames Molded Plastic Armchair and Side Chair. So this was picture perfect for me. Now that DWR Studio is opened in Toronto, I can drive to satisfy my cravings.
Roadside Scholar for ether ceiling light by eurofase
An ethereal interpretation of transparencies and reflections that looks stylish and modern. Available in two heights, the luxurious Ether Light Pendant by Eurofase is a conversation piece perfect for a contemporary home décor. Prices vary a lot so shop around. It is about $7000-8000 for the small Ether and $11000-12000 for the large Ether pendant.
Gigi Leonard of Roadside Scholar has a good eye to spot beautiful things. I encourage you to visit her blog.
Sourcing:
Buy online: Canadian House and Home
Buy online: Eco Highway at Graham & Brown – price: £30.00 / each
Buy online: Nelson Swag Leg Desk at Design Within Reach – price: $1799 USD
Buy online: Eames Molded Plastic Armchair and Side Chair – price: $349 USD
Categories:
HOME decor
TRENDS
posted @ Sunday, March 16, 2008 4:50 PM | Feedback (1)
It is not because you are born in 1850 that you are not young at heart. Urban Colors shows a younger, hipper side of Emily Henry.
The Urban Colors collection injects a sense of fashion into the traditional ceramic cookware brand. And to stay current, Emile Henry adds two more colors and new shapes to the Urban Colors collection.
You now have a choice of five tasty colors, each named after a food: Muscade (nutmeg), Poivre (pepper), Figue (fig), Granny and Litchi.
Accessorize your kitchen
With the open shelving trend in the kitchen, you need remarkable vessel. We may admire the bold and lively kitchens that we see in the magazine but must people are not ready to commit. Kitchen cabinets are such a huge investment that we select materials that we can live with for a long time. This fact typically translates into neutrals.
The easiest way to update any neutral kitchen is by infusing a punch of colors through accessories. Why not do it through your everyday oven and tableware? When you get tired to see them, you simply hide them in your closed cabinets.
The quality
All Emile Henry cookware are made using Ceradon, an exclusive process which improves the qualities of traditional pottery. Three good reasons to buy Emily Henry:
- A highly resistant glaze which does not scratch or craze
- Highly resistant to chipping
- Highly resistant to heat and cold
Sourcing:
Learn more: Emile Henry
Categories:
KITCHEN tools
TRENDS
TABLEWARE
posted @ Friday, March 14, 2008 5:25 PM | Feedback (2)
These pictures from Habitat illustrate well the trends I saw at the Interior Design Show (IDS) Toronto 2008 last month. It also demonstrates that a little color goes a long way.
Deep Dark Luxury
The purples, chocolate browns, deep blues and khaki greens of 2008 are colors that you do not have to be afraid to commit. Darker hues feel luxurious. In fact, most of the luxury market favors the darker tones right now.
You will see purples mixed yellow greens, gold and lilac in 2008. Whenever you select a color for your home, choose the tint in function of the type of room, the time of the day where you use it and the lighting. For example, the purples of the casual outdoor room are of medium values because they sit outside.
Punch Colors
I feel that the most interesting lesson that you can learned from these fabulously styled rooms by Habitat was is that the big expensive pieces can stay pretty neutral. The top picture is the perfect example that you do not need a huge investment to follow the trends.
Khaki green is perfect for a family room. Yellow green feels fresh in the kitchen. If you live in an open concept kitchen/ dining room / living room, you can mix the two colors but always give more importance to one or the other in each room.
Defining Your Open Space
Even though you want to create a cohesive look in a concept space, you need to clearly define each space. Otherwise, your house will lack dimensions. For that reason, I do not recommend to carry around the same, identical color palette over the entire open space.
As I told you in my review of 10 years of design, successfully decorated rooms mix several trends. It is the end of the package theme. You sculpt your design by playing with the shapes, the finishes, the textures, the contrast, the lighting, the symmetry and the styles of what everything that fits into the room. The goal is to create dimensions in an eclectic but harmonious way.
Sourcing:
Learn more: Living and Storage at Habitat
RELATED POSTS:
+ Spring 2008 yellows
+ Home Color Trends for 2008
Categories:
HOME decor
OUTDOOR
TRENDS
posted @ Saturday, March 08, 2008 1:52 PM | Feedback (2)
What I am talking about today is how the presence of others colors can modify the perception of a color? It is an important element when you are designing a room or creating a tablescape.
I select kitchen and dining pictures from the latest catalogue of Habitat. They illustrate current trends in decorations.
You could easily spot how the same yellow accessories create a different mood whether they are placed in a crisp white room, next to vibrant colors and with black wood furniture.
The Peake is the latest picnicware collection by Habitat. Nigel Peake designed a collection with distinctive urban-inspired illustrations and bold colors. I love it!
Coordinating Principles
How the overall room or tabletop look depends on several elements. The first thing to remember is that any color is influenced by their immediate neighbors. The impact can be up to a point that a color can take a totally different hue depending on the colors that sit next to it or the lighting. So before making a final decision, I recommend you:
- analyze the relative proportions of each color in your design
- analyze how the colors looks next to each other – try several ways to dispose colors next to each other
- try to insert a neutral (white, grey, brown or black) between two colors and see how if it enhances or not the results
How to live with the Spring 2008 yellows?
The lemon yellow, canary yellow, mustard yellow, curry, marigold are the hot yellow colors of Spring 2008. Some tones evoke bright and lively while the ones with reds feel warmer.
I cannot be happier that the warm and cheerful yellows are hot again since I opted for bright sunny yellow walls on the entire second floor of my house. I love colors in home decor. My house is mainly decorated in darker and richer colors with a few bright colors for punch in specific rooms. I cannot live in a crisp pure white house, even for a day.
Living in a bright yellow room makes me happy. I like to use colors but I wish nonetheless to create a sophisticated atmosphere. So I toned down my sunny yellow in several ways.
First, you need to consider the level of natural light that you normally get. My row house does not provide a lot of natural light. Second, several lamps, wall sconces and ceiling fixtures allow me to modify the level of light intensity at will. I can go from a subdued mood up to the brighter task lighting level. From an architectural point of view, my space features a long, antique reddish bricks wall and an extensive use of warm medium brown wood. Both bring a rich feeling to the open spaced room.
Going back to the pictures from the Habitat Spring 2008 catalogue, you see three hot color trends for Spring 2008:
- The crisp white room with yellow used as the accent color
- The colorful, fun almost child-like yellow, orange, pink, and red scheme – you can also do the acid citrus
- The black theme with yellow accents, done here as casual chic for the patio
Accessorize
You can read on the PANTONE Fashion Color Report of Spring 2008 - download the pdf at the bottom of the page:
Warm, cheerful Freesia, like an uplifting ray of sunshine, is a friendly, inviting color to which people are instinctively drawn. It is also a color that allows for diverse accessorizing opportunities.
Since not everybody is ready to commit to these lively hues, my next post will be about how a small amount of a punch color can go a long way?
Sourcing:
Buy online: PEAKE city illustration dinner plate in melamine - price: £2.50
Buy online: PEAKE picnicware collection at Habitat - starting at £2
Buy online: SADIE champagne glass at Habitat - price: £3
Buy online: SADIE tumbler at Habitat - price: £3
Buy online: SADIE wine glass at Habitat - price: £3
RELATED POSTS:
+ Purple, Khaki Green, Yellow Green of 2008
+ Home Color Trends for 2008
Categories:
HOME decor
OUTDOOR
TRENDS
FAMILY style
posted @ Friday, March 07, 2008 2:46 PM | Feedback (0)
My choice this week from my fellow bloggers features a mix of stylish comfort food and modern architecture masterpieces.
While I make my weekly selection, I pay attention to find a harmony between the pictures in top of presenting you a great source of information on stylish living.
This week, my picks give some clues on color trends. Think orange, bright blues and greens for a cool factor. Also, you can reflect on how to integrate more circular shapes for food presentation.
My 4 picks of the week
The Kitchn for How to Boil an Egg: Eiko Egg Boilers from Vessel
I got the impression that some AT readers miss the point. This is to make soft-boiled eggs. If you like gadgets, you will love this new product from Vessel that can be used to eat the egg once it is half cooked. I do like the colorful aspect that Eiko will bring to my table.
Design*Sponge for in the kitchen with: béatrice peltre
Once more, Béatrice of La Tartine Gourmande stimulated all our senses with her beautiful food pictures. Here, she made a bicolor soup – potato soup + pea soup. Perfect for the remaining cold days until Spring really surfaces. She was the subject of a post on Design*Sponge.
Apartment Therapy Los Angeles for J.Crew Goes to the Kaufmann House
As retailers want to upscale and bring an element of cool in their catalogue, they use iconic houses and places to try to convince. The Kaufmann House in Palm Strings is a Modernist masterpiece that is currently on sale. If you have millions lying around, you can still bet at the auction on May 13th, 2008.
J.Crew clothing lines are still not cool enough for me but the current intro of their Web style looks fantastic. The mid-century modern trend is not over yet. Will this trend suffer from marketing exposure by mainstream retailers?
Apartment Therapy San Francisco for Snee-oosh Cabin by Zero Plus Architects
Everyone wishes to own a getaway house from the city. This beautiful example of modern architecture tries to minimize its footprint on the planet. Snee-oosh Cabin was designed by Seattle architecture and design studio Zero Plus Architects. I love the design. You can see interior shots on Apartment Therapy San Francisco.