Finding serendipity — while taking a detour

 

 

Serendipity is — by definition, I suppose — a funny thing.  So it was that just after I filed a story on map motifs and decorative globes, I ran downtown to check out new summer product from PC Home (see post below). I was a few minutes early so I popped into Morba,  a cute and crammed store just west of Bathurst. Upon entering, what did my little eye spy but a veritable cornucopia (?!) of globes. Vintage, reproductions, on stands, globes hanging from the ceiling. It was raining globes! While chatting to owner Junian about the popularity of globes and maps, he told me about a company called Authentic Models. They have gorgeous globes. Lovely globes. Globes that make you want to travel the world to see. Or just sit home and look at them. You can see more fun maps on textiles and wallpaper in an upcoming Hot Home Products column, which will feature pillows for Ferm Living, available at Modern Karibou and Atelier 688 as shown in the pics above.

Very fine lacework indeed

 
Now this is pretty. Architect Italo Rota clad fashion designer Roberto Cavalli’s home with metallic “lace” — wrapping three sides in laser-cut stainless steel sprayed with a frosted copper finish. Produced in Cantù by Marzorati Ronchetti , the panels open electronically, so sunlight can be regulated from inside the house. It reminds me of the exquisitely intricate geometric patterns found in Middle Eastern and Spanish design. Sadly, I'm not likely to repeat this at home (although I do love homes overrun with Ivy, which produces sorta, kinda but not really the same effect) But I did see some lovely wrought-metal doors last year at Artefacts in St. Jacob’s that I thought would make a beautiful room divider or garden trellis.

A fresh take on summer (which will arrive - eventually - we hope)

 

 
 

 
The same folks who brought us the Joe Fresh clothing line at Loblaw's are now exerting creative influence over the company's home and housewares lines. The results are fabby-do. So it's VERY hard to choose what I liked the most from the spring/summer preview by PC Home.  But here are a few pieces that stood out. The woven hammock, with a lovely, soft textured sling on a steel frame ($159), cute-as-a-button powder-coated steel square and lollipop-shaped side tables ($29) in sunny yellow, cheery turquoise and zesty green and the super-chic, super-clever (foldable!) aluminum roll-top table. There’s tons more to the offering, which should begin showing up in stores soon. But I just had to show you a sneak peak. Watch my column for more….

Mark Bittman saves my culinary reputation - once again

Made the most scrumptious dinner the other night, and could not resist sharing. I stopped at the little Persian market on my hurried way home and grabbed a whole white fish (made them remove the head - yuck) and two bunches of fresh cilantro. Thanks to Mark Bittman , I knew that if I put the cilantro, a pinch of salt, some garlic and three tablespoons of peanut oil in the blender, turned it on till it was all mashed up and then added a tablesppon of lime juice, I would have a yummy sauce for the fish.  Made a few slits in the fish, shoved in some slices of fresh ginger, rubbed it with oil and stuck it under a broiler for about six minutes per side. After I grilled the fish, I stuck some very thin middle eastern bread which I had rubbed with olive oil and herbes de Provence under the grill till it got crisp and cracker-like. Did I look like a star, or what? Thank you, Mark.

No, I won't be at the Home Show. But you should go anyway.

Need a reason to visit the National Home Show?  Besides, that is, the Toronto Star Day, where you’ll see New in Homes heartthrobs Colin & Justin and the super-cool Glen Peloso. Me, you ask? Erudite hot home products columnist, where will I be? Dear reader, I’ll be in Florida with my daughter, soaking up the sun, visiting the aged mother, raiding Target stores and laughing at Fox News (sic).

OLG, the provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities, has partnered with a Humber College interior design student and interior designer Henry Liska to develop the LOTTO 6/49 Daydream Chair, partially out of lottery ticket, for the show. The chair will eventually reside in the OLG prize centre, and all future winners will sit it in for a dreamy photo op.

Another reason to get down to the show. Velux makers of skylights and sun tunnels, will be giving away iPods. So head over to booth 2711 and take a turn at the grinder, which simulates the most physically challenging aspect of sailing a yacht and is at the booth to celebrate the Velux 5 Oceans race  

Each weekend day of the show including Family Day (Feb. 21), the man and woman with the fastest time on the grinder will win an 8GB iPod Touch.  

 
While you’re there trying for chance to win, get these folks to explain the benefits of their product. I had a Velux sun tunnel installed in a dark hallway last year, and have been absolutely thrilled with the results. It immediately lightened up my hallway, so much so that during the day I need never turn on a light when I am going into the nearby linen closet. There’s also a light kit that can be used at night, although on most nights, it provides just enough light from the moon (or from Toronto’s over-lit night sky) that a trip to the bathroom need not be treacherous (see aged mother above).

Make mine cashmere

The World Wildlife Federation has come up with a wonderful winter idea. On February 17, they want everybody to turn down the thermostat by 3°C, and put on a fun sweater for National Sweater Day!

The gesture is meant to raise awareness that small steps toward energy conservation can make a big difference in helping the planet. About half of Canada's ecological footprint is the result of carbon emissions from transportation, heating and electricity. The kick off to this event brought some fun snaps from a fashion show featuring sweaters created by leading Canadian designers.

Interested? Then get “sweatered” on facebook.

When did you last think about your furnance filter? I thought as much!

 
Another thing you can do ensure your home is safe, cozy and warm in winter is to make sure there’s proper ventilation. (See below for other tips.)That can be a challenge, especially in newer, more tightly sealed homes. Ventilation is a complex issue, but the CHMC has good information.

3M, which makes Filtrete furnace filters, has some tips for maintaining healthy air in your home.

Change your furnace filter every two to three months. Sign up for Filtrete's email reminder service, because it's so easy to let this task slip your mind.

Not sure which size of furnace filter you need? Check your filter's manual. Manual missing? Measure the opening where the filter goes to get a good idea of the size you'll need.

Choose a filter made of polyester melt-blown fabric. According to the folks at 3M, fibre glass and washable filters aren't able to capture microparticles --- since they were originally developed to protect your furnace, not clean your home's air. Choose an electrostatically charged filter with polyester melt-blown fabric. They do double duty by improving your indoor air quality by attracting and capturing allergy-aggravating microparticles and help keep your furnace equipment clean.

 

Put a hat (on your house)

 
Bitter winter weather has lots of us thinking about ways to stay warm. In this week’s Hot Home Products column, I pointed to the role insulation has to play, and featured a new formaldehyde-free product from Owens Corning called EcoTouch.

It’s big news in the building world. Andy Goyda, marketing development manager for Owens Corning Canada, says it’s probably the most significant change he’s seen during the 35 years plus he’s been with the company.

Why is the absence of formaldehyde important? Goyda explains.  “As emphasis on energy efficiency in housing has grown, buildings have been getting tighter and better sealed. That means you have to pay attention to indoor air quality, and remove things that add toxicity to the air.”

EcoTouch Pink has been certified byGreenguard Environmental Institute, which does third-party assessment of products and materials for low chemical emissions. As an aside, Building Greenis reporting that a US-based company, UL Environment, has acquired Greenguard, noting that the same outfit acquired Canada’s EcoLogo in August of last year.

He also suggests that it’s easier to handle — less dusty and itchy — than other products. (I haven’t tried the new EcoTouch yet, but I hope to soon. In the meantime, I can say that I have found Roxul  mineral insulation to be extremely user-friendly)

A well-insulated home, says Goyda, saves up to 20 per cent on heating and cooling costs. Average homes built in Toronto in the last 60 years have probably been built to a R-value of 20. The building code in Ontario now stipulates R-40, but that will be bumped up to R-50 in 2012. Moving from R-40 to R-50 would not only save a family money, but would save up to half a ton in green house gas emissions.

So why don’t more homeowners think about their insulation? If, as Goyda says, “insulating an attic is like putting a toque on in the winter” why do some seven million Canadians have under-insulated attics?  

Goyda admits it’s hard to understand, but adds that he’s sure that consumers are becoming more aware of the benefits of proper insulation. “What will really turn it around will be rising energy costs, and when people see an economic benefit. Energy Star homes are a classic example. It may be more expensive to buy, but it saves money in the long run. In a four year period, ES has gained command of 20 per cent of single family homes sales. I don’t know of another energy program that has captured that share in that amount of time.”

Godya notes that rebate programs went a long way to encourage people to insulate, and he expects more programs will be available in the future. “I cannot see the Feds not coming out with another program,” he says. “They were caught by surprise by the success of the ecoENERGY program. It wasn’t brought to a close because it wasn’t working.  They did it because they didn’t budget enough for it.”