Have I said too much already?

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words. So rather than banging on about what I learned about digital print technology and how it’s changing the stone and tile industry, I thought I’d just throw up a few pictures of new ceramic flooring that comes from (top to bottom)  Apavisa, Grespania, Keraben and Tau Ceramica I saw all these lovelies at Coverings, a huge ceramic and stone tile trade show held in Las Vegas earlier this month. Want to know more? Then check out my Hot Home Product column in this Saturday's Toronto Star. Next week I’ll post pics of the amazing mosaics and hand-made tiles I saw at the show. Too beautiful for words.

Green. Gorgeous. And great prices.

Who says green can’t be gorgeous? Check out these faucets, part of Rona’s private label line called Uberhaus. We’re talking the kind of high-end style you’d see at a bath boutique at consumer-friendly prices.

More good news? These elegant fixtures, which come in a variety of finishes, are also lead-free, which by definition means they have not more than a total weighted average of 0.25% maximum lead content on wetted surfaces.

I’ve been impressed by the degree to which Rona is expanding  its green offering, which now includes environmentally friendly Eco products and an Eco-Responsible line, vetted by the International Chair in Life Cycle Assessment at the École Polytechnique de Montréal, which looks at the impact a product has throughout its life, from manufacturing to disposal. They also have a cool online tool that includes fact sheets on individual products, while a project section offers eco-friendly tips for renovations, so that homeowners can balance style and sustainability in any room of the house.

I'll be showing off some of these faucets at my seminars at the International Home Show, Thursday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m. I may even give one away. Hope to see you there!

 

A cause that's close to my heart

 
Autism affects about one out of every110 kids. In my own family, it turns up in the form of Asperger’s Disorder, so I’m pleased to share news of how you can help —  just in time for World Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd.  As with  all mental illness, there's not enough research done into it, and families suffer silently, because there's still such a  taboo about talking about disorders of the mind. That's a shame, because these family need support. Scentsy, makers of decorative warmers that use a 25-watt bulb to melt scented wax to produce a candle-like light without an open flame, are donating 100 per cent of net proceeds from the sale of each “Piece by Piece” warmer to Autism Speaks Canada. You can buy a “Piece by Piece” warmer for $42 from now through August 31. Click here for more information.

Because size sometimes does matter - especially in the kitchen

This is one of the coolest things I've seen all week. Price Pfister has come out with an adjustable-height faucet.That means it can be raised up or down to suit the size of pot you're using. It’s easy to adjust — just a touch of a button on the handle changes the height. (I LOVE the Delta touchless faucet I have, but immediately thought this one would be great for cleaning out the over-sized pot I use when I make strawberry jam. And that it might even be handy in the laundry room). The new faucet, called Elevate, also has a pull-out sprayer, and swivels 360 degrees. It will work with a four-hole or two-hole configuration. It’s only at select Lowe’s stores, and sells for about $280. Click here  for a demo video.

Use what you've got, baby!

 
 
 


Bare-boned, antiseptic spaces are quickly losing their “cool factor”, as homeowners embrace a warming trend in design. That means we’ll be treated to more rooms that are rich with colour and graphic elements, accented by collectibles and one-of-a-kind and hand-made accessories — places that reflect the owner’s unique design aesthetic. Sound expensive? It needn’t be ­ — not if you know to use what you’ve got, and to how to choose your new purchases wsiely!  That’s  the  mantra for my seminars at the International Home Show, which runs from March 31 to April 3 at the International Centre in Mississauga. Hot and sunny colours will play an important part in my presentation (see the pics from Pittsburgh  Paints above – they've been my inspiration)

I’ll be on the Main Stage at 6 p.m. on Thursday and 4 p.m. on Saturday (and yes, I may have a few giveaways!). Other Toronto Star columnists will be there too. Look for host of HGTV's DIY Disaster and now a New in Homes columnist, Bryan Baeumler, who will offer visitors a Reno Realty Check at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.  A favourite read for many Saturday Star readers, Mark Cullen, will share tips and tricks for growing a greener, more sustainable garden at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

I guess it won't be my little secret anymore. Still, it's nice to share

If you’re like me, you love few things more than a really good Thrift Shop, jammy-packed with all sorts of hidden treasures. If you’re lucky enough to live in the little town of Stouffville, you probably already know about the Main Street Thrift Shop that’s run by the Mennonite Central Committee   But if you don’t, do check it out next time you’re in that neck of the woods. I found this place during a recent style sleuthing expedition and got a couple of great finds, some of which I'll be showing at the International Home Show next week.  It’s at 6240 Main Street in Stouffville. Well worth the drive...But let's just keep it between us, shall we?

Sisters and brothers, sing Amen - Lady Spring has almost sprung.

 
 

 
One sure sign that spring is on its way? The arrival of the One of a Kind Show  which runs March 30 to April 3 at the Direct Energy Centre at  Exhibition Place. It’s where you’ll find beautiful, unique pieces for the home, such as the footstool by Foutu Tissu, fabrics by Frédérique Satre and lamps by Caroline Gamiette (all shown above). Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Adult tickets cost $12 at the door and $10 online, while seniors and youth between 12 and 17 $6.50. Kids 12 and under are free.

Colour me confident

 
 
 


This week’s Hot Home Products looks at the trend toward stronger colours in home décor. One of the easiest — and most affordable — ways to achieve this is, of course, with paint. As homeowners become more colour confident, many are also playing with it — using blocks of colours — to create an effect, or to define space.

If painting is on your to-do list this Spring, you might want to experiment with colour blocking. If you do, the folks from Sico (see top pic above) suggest that you first decide  what effect you want to achieve. In a small space, for example, a horizontal stripe, either on one wall or all four, creates the illusion of width. I also love the look of wide bands of colour, in a subtle palette, all the way up a wall (see pic above from Pittsburgh Paints).  A large block of colour can also provide focus for a favourite painting or piece of furniture.

Remember that curved lines create a more casual, fun look, whereas the sharp lines of squares and rectangles tend to suggest a more formal design. It’s a good idea to map out your design on a piece of paper before measuring and drawing it on the wall with a light pencil. Use painter’s tape (I like Scotch Painter’s Masking Tape ) for straight lines.  Use a paint brush rather than a roller - as you would for a stencil - and don’t overload your brush.

Pittsburgh Paints reminds us that the ceiling offers a great canvas for an extra touch of colour. So don’t always set the default to white. If your room seems too vault-like, add intimacy and warmth by “lowering” the ceiling with a hue that’s darker than the walls. If the ceiling’s too low, go lighter.

And if you have a room with sloped walls or dormers? I have to admit that in rooms like this, I’ve always painted them out in one colour, because I could never figure out where to switch out! A similar problem might apply if you live in an open concept space. Here, Pittsburgh suggests the technique of chiaroscuro, a palette made of a single color used in different hues. This will add visual interest and variety without chopping up your space.  

If words like chiaroscuro have you scatrching you head, or if you want to learn more about how colour affects the perception of space, check out this Color Theory primer.

Now, aren’t you dying to get painting? I know I am. In fact, I’m using three (!) new colours from Pittsburgh Paints for a hallway that desperately needs an update. Check back here soon for before and after pictures and tell me if I got it right!

Hitting the tiles in Vegas

 

 
LAS VEGAS - Just a quick report for you, dear reader, from my perch at Coverings, the huge (46,500 sq.-ft.) stone and tile trade show here in Sin City. Three things I've noted here so far. One is the huge effect the evolution of digital print and ink-jet technology is having on the world of flooring. I'm seeing durable, affordable porcelain made to look like everything from marble to scraped wood. (There's a green story there that I'll get to.)  Texture is another big trend; there are tiles with wonderfully undulating surfaces and with finishes that look like basketweaves and herringbone. There's also an astonishing (to me, anyway) number of regional artisans making amazing small-batch and custom-made tiles. Mirrored and glazed finishes appear to be making gains with the cool kid designers. OK - that's four things - I'd better run. I'll return soon with more news (I've met manufacturers from both the US and Canada, and today we're checking out new products from Italy and Spain) and lots of pretty pictures. But here's one beautiful shot from a company called Stonepeak -- just to whet your appetite. Oh, and by the way, it's sunny and  26 degrees in L.V. Sorry about that.

We didn't even HAVE March Break when I was in school, which I could only get to by hiking 12 miles through bear-infested brush

 
When your kids starts whining that EVERYBODY is going to Florida/Cuba/Bermuda for March Break, you can cooly shoot back with this little info-bite. Just 13 per cent of Canadian families will take off for March Break, according to a survey Angus Reid did for Samsung Home Appliances. The kids may still whine, but it will probably work better than that old chestnut, “and if all your friends were jumping of a bridge, would you want to do that too?”

The survey also shows that cooking or baking is one of the top three at-home activities for kids and parents, along with renting movies and visiting family or friends (although I think we used to call that playing) Naturally enough, Samsung thinks that  induction technology has lots of benefits when cooking with kids. I would have to agree, as induction ranges keep the kitchen cooler, only transfer heat to the pan that’s touching its surface and are easy to clean. For a fuller explanation, visit the Samsung site.

Here are some other tips for keeping your budding chefs safe:

Wash hands:  Make it a rule. Use soap and warm water and wash for 15 seconds (or as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday to You through twice – see post below).  Remind the little rascals to clean between their dirty ittle fingers!

Teach kids early about cross-contamination: Keep raw foods and their juices away from ready-to-eat items and fresh produce. Always use a clean cutting board or plate when chopping up different foods and never sample meat before it’s cooked through. I'd add that you get - and teach kids to use - a meat thermometer.

Be careful with sharp utensils:  Okay – no duh!

I’d also suggest that cooking is also a great way to teach kids about creativity, and a good place to learn that perfection ain't always what it's cracked up to be. The cake that droops in the middle could still taste great. So celebrate it, and the fact that your child made something with his/her hands.