Busy design weekend - the IDS and beyond

The big news this weekend in design/décor is the Interior Design Show. Worth noting too, though, is the Toronto Offsite Design Festival, also happening this weekend. Actually, it’s been happening since Jan. 19, when it kicked off in The Junction a week of some 40 exhibitions and events across Toronto. Reinvented for the third year in a row, it remains — as far as I can tell —  a way to take advantage of the buzz created by the IDS, and to publicize a souped-up "what’s on in the arts in TO” guide. I say that in a  good way; there are lots of great things to see in the city right now and if more people thought about design more often, we might just have a more civilized, more livable city. Others may feel differently, of course.

Under the offsite festival umbrella are such exhibits as The Happy Show, created by Stefan Sagmeister (until March 3 at the Design Exchange). It’s supposed to reflect the designer’s attempt to increase his happiness using meditation, cognitive therapy, and mood-altering pharmaceuticals. (Please resist here your natural impulse here to add wisecracking editorial – Editor.)  

Jeff Goodman's lovely, lovely glass

The website also notes that you can see Jeff Goodman’s supremely beautiful glass until Feb. 27 at the Ontario Crafts Council Gallery.That will be worth catching, imho. If I wasn’t broke, I’d buy a few pieces of this lovely glass, made by a lovely man, who once graciously invited me into his studio, where I  made a glass paperweight. So very sad when he died last year.

 

 

 

  

I also like the sound of Snip, mostly because I’ve always admired Miriam Grenville’s kooky-pretty-clever work with paper. This time, see a series of patterns at the Hair Lounge until Feb. 18.

See the full list of events on the festival’s site 

My date book is jammy-packed for the next few days, but I will try to get down to the IDS trade-day to get a glimpse of Philippe Malouin.

Speaking of dishy, Philippe Malouin designed the lovely waxed concrete bowls below

 

 

His impressive CV includes a stint with designer Tom Dixon and a recent nod from Wallpaper magazine for a carpet hand- made from looped galvanized steel wire into an arresting geometric shape. The geometric motif shows up again in his "windows" - light fixtures designed like shutters and which mimic natural light, for which W Hotel lauded the Canadian-born designer.

BTW, For the full list of Wallpaper awards, click here 

 If you go, keep in mind that the OneXOne’s children’s charity is auctioning chairs customized by such designers as moimoidesign, WeKillYou, Monnet Design, Oeuffice, Doublenaut, Burton Kramer, and Marian Bantjes. Take a peak, and make an offer if you can. 

 

Pictures for Peace

Happy to share this one with you folks, as I’ve never thought there was anything that funny about Peace, Love and Understanding.

Okay, not a great segue, but any excuse to bring Elvis Costello into the mix is also okay with me.

Andrew Richard Designs is known for its beautiful outdoor furniture. But this weekend the reason to get yourself down to his Design Loft at 571 Adelaide Street East is to see stunning photography from Kris Reyes, a news anchor for Global Toronto’s Morning Show, and her husband, David Leggett.

In 2010, Reyes and Leggett quit their jobs to travel through Nepal, Southeast Asia, New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii for six months. The exhibit, called Wander,Wonder, is the mesmerizing photographic document of that trip.

The works will be sold via silent auction in support of Artists for Peace and Justice. Move quickly, though, as the exhibit will only be in place until Sunday, December 2.

Learn more by clicking here or follow them @artistsforpeace

And since this is one of those times when a picture is worth 1,000 words:

Kauai - Hawaii's Garden Island -- David Leggett

 

Kauia -- David Legget

 

Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal --

 

Little Nepalese girl -- Kris Reyes

 

Mekong River, Laos -- Kris Reyes

 

Speaking of artisnal

 Michael Simardone is a Toronto furniture builder. If that’s not artisanal enough, he also makes just about everything from building refuse and cast-aways. He and his wife Caroline are in the process of opening up a Junction storefront with his own pieces and accessories.

He and I worked together on an Upcycle Challenge for Habitat for Humanity Toronto this year, in which we strung together building  left-overs to craft something new. See the results below.

All that to say, if you’re an artisan, you might want to contact la Simardone about selling your stuff through his store. Even if it doesn’t turn out to be the century’s best business deal, I guarantee you’ll like him.

Michael is on a nice little stretch of street that seems poised to take off. Same neighb as the always-worth-a-visit Eclectic Revival  (Artisanal Steampunk?). And if memory serves, there’s a little resto about half a block west (north side) of Simardone that makes amazing pastry — some of which gets stuffed with fruit. Yum.  Art you can eat. 

Art for Craft’s Sake

Quick - if navy is the new midnight blue, what does artisanal mean? That’s a trick question — artisanal can mean whatever. Heck, I’ve squirted Srirachi hot-sauce into ketchup and called it “an artisanal blend of tomato and pepper”.

So I know, folks, that the term can tart everything from stationery with pictures of birds on it to the “limited edition” of a new line from a hip retailer, “richly inspired” by raw talent in a far-flung, picturesque spot, but mass made in China.

If you want the real thing, from Africa, for example, you have to go to Snob, a jewel box of a store tucked away in a tiny corner at 388 Carlaw, between Dundas and Gerrard. 

It's tempting to take one of everything at Snob

Right now, there are amazing textiles (ethereal threads of wool and silk washed into felt, heavy cotton fabrics with detailed stitching – both geometric and organic in design — in earthy browns, yellow and pumpkin tones - I’d use it on bedding, lampshades, headboards, soft ottomans.

 

 Also, elaborately carved poles on stands; in another life, they held up tents in a desert. Highly beaded and elongated wooden figures. And a curiosity cabinet, with artifacts such as hair picks made from ancient destructible woods. In fact, this store is a bit like the museum. Plan to stay a while.

Of all of the gorgeousness, the most beautiful thing there for me are the handmade Egyptian pendant Zenza lamps, with hammered patterns that create shadow webs on the nearest wall — to very, very pretty effect.

I know because I have one hanging in a hallway at home. Every time I look at it, I stop and marvel at the craft-work and the effect it has on light.

Recently at Snob, I saw for the first time the slim cylindrical pieces from Zenza. If I had a high ceiling and a lot of money, I’d buy 20 of them. The choice of models will only expand, given that Snob owner Denise Zidel (or, as her intimate friends like to call her, La Snob Dynamo) is now the national distributor for these pieces. Go and visit the store. In the meantime, check out the pics below.

Love the new textiles at Snob

 

The Zenza lamps I love, love love.

 

BTW,  a little birdie told me to look out for news from Snob early in the new year.

Around town, the shortest route to local talent is probably through the One of a Kind Show, which is the Platonic Ideal of Artisanal. One of the few home shows that’s worth the price of admission.Check out my Pinterest board for a sneak peak.

This holiday season, World Vision is selling scarves and jewelry to support their education and development projects. The Haitian hand-beaded necklace is attractive, with thin bands of strong colour.You need to order by Dec. 10th to get them for Christmas.

Caveat Emptor. But really.

Bargains hunters love thrift stores and storage auctions. But the CSA Group, a non-profit certification and testing organization, wants buyers to beware before they pounce on that special item. Some, because of age or uncertain history, might be hazardous. To help consumers separate the trash from the treasure, they’re offering the following tips:

Avoid electrical or gas products that don’t have a label from a recognized certification organization such as CSA Group. Check that the certification mark matches with the design and colour of certification marks from the same organization on similar products.

Check wiring and extension cords for wear and damage. In particular, look for worn insulation and splices on the cord and loose or exposed parts on the plug. To avoid shock and fire hazards, have a qualified electrician make any repairs.

Be wary of outdated power tools and building supplies that may not meet current standards or codes. Don’t operate any power tools or equipment without having them inspected.

Avoid used bicycle, hockey or construction helmets. Damage may be hidden, and a helmet that has been in a serious crash may have lost its full protective capabilities.

Check with local regulators to ensure products are safe for use. Some products may have been recalled or even banned for resale in some jurisdictions.

Counterfeit packaging is often poorly designed or has only partial illustrations. Misspellings and unclear printing on products and labels are a tell-tale sign. Check for discrepancies between the contents of the product package and its description, as well as missing product information or enclosures.

Products that don’t include a brand identifier or trademark may be a counterfeit. Look, too, for missing return addresses or company contact information.

Check the look and feel of goods - fake products often seem light and too flimsy.

Confirm CSA Group certification of a product by comparing the product's identification against the certification record.

 Educate yourself about consumer tips and safety advice.

Everything you always wanted to know about — raising chickens?

Raising chickens in the backyard probably isn’t the top item on your to-do list. But that doesn’t mean a quaint little book about how to do so isn’t a terrific read.

In municipalities that allow small-scale residential farming of chickens, the slim copy of Minnie Rose Lovgreen’s Recipe for Raising Chickens that recently crossed my desk will have definite educational value. But for the average cityslicker, it will be Lovgreen’s oddly compelling, down-to-earth voice that’s the real appeal of this book —without a doubt the most delightful and engaging piece of writing I’ve read in a very long time.

Lovgreen probably never thought of herself as a fascinating person. But consider her life story. Born in 1888 in England, Lovgreen was the eighth of nineteen children. In 1912, she and her brother decided to set off for Canada on a ship called the Titanic. But Lovgreen got bored waiting for the ship to be sail-ready, and hopped instead onboard another Montreal-bound ship. Those details alone were enough to make me place my order for Lovgreen’s other book, As Far As I Can Remember; Minnie Rose’s Story, also available at Trillium Press. 

By 1920, Lovgreen had made her way to Washington State, where she met and married Danish-born Leo Lovgreen.  They worked together for 30 years, creating a 170-acre dairy farm, where Lovgreen also learned all about rising chickens. After some 60 years, she decided to collect her wisdom in a simple, hand-lettered 31-page booklet, which was illustrated by Elizabeth Hutchison Zwick.

If you do want to raise chickens the old-fashioned way, this is probably an excellent primer. If not, it’s full of wonderful insights from Lovgreen, and delightful gems of wisdom, such as:

You’re much better off with a broody hen, even if you have to borrow one.

One or two white eggs in a box bring out the value of the brown ones… they look real pretty.

If two roosters get fighting hard, the only way I can do (sic) is to take a board and slap one of them in the face.

A quick read, this is the perfect book for the cottage — as bedside reading or, in a comfy chair in the shade.  But while it’s tempting to characterize it as charming anachronism, it’s worth remembering that Lovgreen lived in a time and place when connections to the land, and to the food chain that sustains us, were much stronger and more visible.

Lovgreen and her husband probably got just about everything they needed to survive from the land, or the local community. When I compare that with the fact that my husband, who’s an elementary school teacher, regularly encounters kids who don’t realize that apples come from a tree, I worry about what we’ve lost by becoming increasingly removed from the realities of food production. Makes you wonder about the nature of our progress, doesn’t it?

And if you read and enjoy this book, you must look for a copy of Betty MacDonald’s The Egg and I, about a young newlywed— also in Washington State ­ — who finds out that her husband has plans to start a chicken farm. The book was made into a sweet and funny little movie of the same name, released in 1947, and starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray.  

Ten years of great home-grown design

One of my favourite features at the Interior Design Show is Studio North and Prototype, a jury-chosen display of works from exemplary and emerging Canadian designers. This year, it celebrates its tenth anniversary, with works by some 30 designers, examples of which are included below.

The founding curator of Studio North was Rachel Gotlieb, now senior curator at the Gardiner Museum, a gem of a museum that too few Torontonians know about. (Fast Fact: The city's second most under-appreciated museum is the the Textile Museum, also home to a terrifc biannual fabric sale/fundraiser. P.S. If you're rich, skip it please and leave the bargains for the little people, because we deserve some beauty too. Instead, you may shop directly - with your designer of course -  at Primavera,  which I understand donates a lot of the fabric sold)  

But I digress. Below, a few more reasons to get thee to the IDS, runing next week at the Convention Centre. 

So taken by the fluidity of the Living Stone sink by John Schweighardt

 

Christopher Solar lounge and ottoman in steam-bent walnut and rope (wonderfully shaped)

 
Tahir Mahmood’s candle sticks (ooh, love these too - #iadoreRED)

 

Atelier 688’s  rope lights (think I like this, but I also find it a bit threatening, somehow) They did pillows with maps printed on parachute silk last year that I liked a lot (see pic below). And yes, I too noted around this point the prevalence of matte or unfinished wood, and rope. #ifyoutracktrends

 

ROLLOUT’s  Wanderlust wallpaper (these folks do amazing papers, so I just have to add another pic of a paper I adore even though I'm not sure it will be on dispay at the show.)

 

 

Mushaboom’s Stroll wallcoverings (brilliant and beautiful, no?)

 

New rug design by Kate Thornley Hall  One more pic added (see reasoning for Rollout - above)

 

 

Brothers Dressler’s Cross Dining Table and Peg Stool (always interested to know what this duo is doing.)

Contact Voyaging Company's decorative paddles

 

 Lighting by Ridgley Studio (Crazy groovy, man - these are another of my faves)

What I missed last week - and wish I hadn't

 

Dang. Just realized I missed Jeff Goodman's Open House last week. That's too bad. His glass work is among the most beautiful stuff I've seen this year. Even if I can't afford it. But, really, you don't have to own something to appreciate it, no, and I wanted to get over there. Also heard that Goodman's work will turn up in the new Bisha development that signed Lenny Kravitz up for design gig. Looks at the pretty pics above and tell me these pieces are not exquisite.

Clever cleaner. Clever contest.

Makers of one of my favourite green cleaning products, IQ, have launched a contest called Who cares about this Planet? that challenges Canadians to come up with environmentally sustainable projects that will make a difference in their communities. They’re asking potential winners to create and upload a video of their idea to iQ’s Facebook page. Ten finalists will be selected to share their videos across social networks, and viewers will vote for their favorite project. Each vote will count towards $1 that will be awarded to the grand prize-winner (up to $5,000) that can be used to kick-start the project. The video with the highest number of votes wins.

Why do I like iQ? Two reasons. The corn-derived surfactants do a great job cleaning, and the clever packaging reduces plastic waste. After buying your first bottle from the range, you can then buy small, capsule-sized refills of the cleaner, which you simply mix with tap water before using. Brilliant.

I really must get out more - just not to the mall

Got a pedometer this week, and was told that I should be walking about 10,000 steps a day. To my utter shame, I am averaging closer to 1,500. But it’s not my fault, I swear. It just seems to get easier and easier to conduct life from a chair in front of a computer. For instance, one hardly needs to go out to shop anymore. There is an upside, of course; I can say with confidence that if I never visited another “power centre” again, it would be too soon. So maybe it’s a good thing that the world of online shopping is exploding. This seems to be especially true of sites devoted to design and décor.  News of two more crossed my desk over the past week. Both are well worth a look.

Dering Hall  is an online design marketplace where interior designers, architects, artisans, and design dealers can show their wares in almost 100 permanent virtual storefronts. The lucky ducks have an “a strategic partnership” with Hearst Magazines, which includes financial support, and print and online media collaboration with Hearst titles ELLE DECOR, House Beautiful, and Veranda. Designer products from the magazines and the accompanying websites will be available during “featured sales”.

There are a few cool features: Dering Hall users can:

follow favorite designers (all look to be U.S.-based at this point, but I did see the magnificent Martha Sturdy on there) through storefronts and automatic weekly email updates. Shoppers must check with individual vendors for information on shipping to Canada.

engage directly with individual designers to ask questions, and order product

find talent in a Designer Directory

browse editorial pages with shopping links

post and share news of Dering Hall merchandise and designers on Facebook

I could easily window shop here for a few hours — if I didn’t have to get up and walk around the block ten times! Of course, unless your daddy’s rich, you may want to be sitting down when you look at the prices, which include $425 for a pillow and $12,000 for a lighting fixture. Granted, both are exquisite — but they may be outside the reach of les pauvre schmoes comme moi. (that's French for "poor schmoes like me".)

 A new flash sales website called The Foundary brings to market a curated selection home and lifestyle products — both from brand names and emerging designers — at up to 70 per cent off retail. It’s the latest venture from the folks at Hayneedle, an online retailer that opened in 2002 as NetShops, offering consumers product from niche webstores. It quickly became one of the biggest online retailers of home and lifestyle products. In August 2009, NetShops became Hayneedle Inc., an umbrella for over 250 stores. At this point it seems more focused on selling — there are no inspirational blogs or lists of tips and tricks. But there is an extensive product selection — encompassing everything from tabletop to furniture to toys.

Alas, the Foundary only ships a few items to Canada. For an extensive online selection that ships to both Canada and the U.S., check out HomeSav, which offers great deals on a wide range of home decor items.  And, ahem, you might want to make a special note to visit their virtual store on Nov. 8, which is when a sale of tabletop and entertaining items picked by me, moi and myself will go on sale. It will be a great opportunity to stock up on lovely additions to your dining/entertaining arsenal, without busting your budget before the gift-buying even begins!