What I Missed This Week (part 1)

 
Forthwith comes a confession. I’m getting old. I can’t keep up with the Bright Young Things anymore, at least when it comes to getting to all the hip-type events that happen around town. For one thing, these youngsters all run everywhere. Frequently in heels. And, mirable dictu,  while I too was once was a gay young butterfly, I am no more, and often need to rest a while of an evening. Rather than pretend, I’m confronting that reality with a brand new weekly blog entry called What I Missed This Week.  I think it’s pretty self-explanatory. So here’s what the cool kids in and around Toronto did last week:

Talked design and sized each other up at the opening of retail space Domison at 35 Jarvis Street.  I wanted to go in part because the 3,500 sq. ft showroom was designed by Alexandre Blazys and Benoit Gérard of  Blazysgerard  and I remembered that I met these fellows a few years ago at an appliance event — Jenn-Air, perhaps? They were young, talented, smart as whips and extremely cute, if I maybe permitted to say. The other reason to check it out is the fact that behind the store are Thien and My Ta Trung, also the creators of Periphere, already well-established as a design presence in Montreal .The brother and sister team were also part of the Sibling Revelry exhibit at the Interior Design Show. The vision is laudable and worth supporting: a  line of Canadian-designed furniture, and work from independent design studios from Canada and abroad. I’ll go one evening next week, for sure. Unless TCM is running a Marlon Brando tribute, of course. Or my bursitis is acting up.

Food. Pro party people. And art. Whoa - what more could you ask for? Other than few bottles of Veuve, of course. It’s a question posed by Manny Neubacher and Anya Shor, recently in the news for launching The Art Stylists,  a sort of an art procurer service (and I mean that in a good way – see pic of work from Adrian Williams above). They’ve just opened the Neubacher Shor Contemporary (NSC) — 3,000 square feet of gallery space at 5 Brock Avenue. By day, it will function as a gallery, but they think the high moveable walls, good lighting and a brill sound system will also establish it as a bitchin’ event space.  Hopefully they’ll have a liquor license as well (see Veuve ref. above.) But as party guy Sebastien Centner (Eatertainment), will take care of all that, we should be in good hands.

And in the when the darn-heck did this happen department? What?! I can only think I was out cold on a park bench when Elte opened an outlet store with discounted stuff not too far from my burb-esque neck of the woods. It’s at 31 Jevlan Drive in Woodbridge (905) 856-0800. Hhhm, I wonder if that means I could afford one of those over-dyed carpets (in red and/or tangerine, natch)?

And of course, one of my fave places to get great used building and décor material, Habitat for Humanity’s Restore , has opened a new location at 3 Carlaw Ave.

Phew, I’m exhausted. Missing all those events has really taken it out of me. Better go put my feet up with a cup of warm milk.

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.

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!

Only eight more weeks till the first day of Spring (technically)

Got the January blahs? Worried that they might hang on  through February, March and April? You could tick off the weekends till Spring by spending them on the couch, with a box of chocs in one hand and the TV remote in the other (of course TCM would be in heavy rotation). Or you could give yourself a few weekend projects to brighten things up around the house. Home Depot has some suggestions:

Change up your lighting, especially in living or bedrooms. Add a dimmer for mood lighting (better than Botox, and safer, too), or treat yourself to an affordable splurge with a lamp from the Martha Stewart Living collection (see pic at left).

A cozy rug will keep you warm (inside at least). Choose a solid neutral or a bold geometrics and oversized pattern to add drama. If you’ve got the money/nerve, go for something from the wonderful Maude design in Vancouver or  Vivienne Westwood, whose is about to launch her own TV show,  in a trendy plaid. (both shown below)

 

 

 Add a sunny shine to drawers pulls in the kitchen or bathroom with Rust-Oleum universal  
 metallic spray paint, which works on most surfaces — including wood, metal, plastic, concrete and vinyl.  

Give your stairs a fresh coat of paint. Go traditional and paint them to blend with the walls or get adventurous by painting a “runner” pattern. If you need extra storage, consider building an under-the-stair feature like the one shown below. You’ll find instructions  on the Home Depot website.

 

Speaking of Home Depot, has anyone else wondered if there's any connection between the departure of long-time prez Annette Verschuren and talk of the arrival of Target in Canada (O Happy Day!). Hhhm. Far-fetched? Perhaps.

Classic Cobi

 
Here’s news. Cobi Ladner, former editor of Canadian House and Home, is getting set to roll out a new line of home and lifestyle products that includes accessories, upholstered furniture, ready-to-hang draperies, and fabric, with partners Canfloyd, Décor-Rest,  inVu Drapery and Joanne Fabrics .  More than 100 pieces will be available at home décor stores after the line launches in Toronto at the Canadian Gift and Tableware Association Show  later this month.  Judging from the press materials, the emphasis will be on casually classic style, bold colour and confident patterns. Retail locations are still in the works. Keep an eye on her website, Cobistyle, more information.  

Trendy words, indeed - I wish

 
I don't pretend to be a particularly prescient trend-watcher, but one shift I’ve watched with interest over the last little while is an increasing appetite for pattern and graphic elements in our homes. I love seeing it in both wall tattoos, like the one shown above from a company called Mur Mur, and which is available at Rona  (look for groovy tattoo skins for appliances in 2011.) I also had a ton of fun working with stencils from Stencil1 last fall.  But I also love the use of text as graphic, a development that I think relates to our changing relationship with the printed and written word. The loveliest example I saw last year was in fabric by Pierre Frey, which has the word “peace” printed on it  (shown below) in all the world’s languages. Peace. Now there’s a trend I could really get behind. Happy New Year.

Cozy cashmere and comedy

 
Feeling the cruel chill of winter? Perhaps you need a cashmere blanket from Hermes. So cosy. So chic. How much? Daaaarrling, if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.  The more budget-minded might go for a hot water bottle in cashmere with the iconic Hudson Bay stripes, at just $80.
 
Or you could just grab an old blanket from the linen closet and snuggle with your honey in front of the tree/fire or while watching the Leafs on TV.  Oh no, forget that last suggestion, it will just bring you down. Better to choose old Blackadder episodes, where the comedy is intentional.  

Cool jacket, no? No, warm jacket!

 
 
Even though I thought it was very clever as soon as I saw it, I held off on putting this battery-heated jacket from Milwaukee Tools on the blog, thinking it would be of interest only to the segment of the population that works outdoors. That was before I saw unbelievable images of folks trapped on Highway 402 for hours and hours and hours! Suddenly, it doesn’t sound totally crazy to suggest taking one of these in the car on any lengthy road trip. Hidden in the back pocket is a lithium battery that delivers power for warmth for up to six hours on a single charge. The heating element can be set to high, medium, or low, and the jacket is also water and wind resistant. It would also make a great gift for anyone who’s into winter sports (to each his own – my idea of a great winter sport is reading a new translation of War and Peace.) It sells for about $200 ($149 without the battery pack). Oh, and I just had another idea. How about issuing one to those transit drivers who think it’s okay to wear a thin shirt while driving, and then blast the heat to keep themselves warm, not realizing — or perhaps caring — that weather-appropriately garbed riders are sweltering or that they’re creating the perfect environment for the spread of germs?  Just a suggestion….

Milwaukee has also just come out with a new sub-compact hammer-drill driver that sounds like it punches well above its weight. At just 7-5/8-inches long and 2.8 lbs, the company describes it as the lightest and most compact hammer-drill driver on the market. Still, it delivers 275 inches per pound of torque, making it, say the folks at Milwaukee, best in class for power, speed, and durabilty. Tool-heads (that’s a term of affection, BTW, as I include my husband in this bunch) will also want to know that it has a single-sleeve, metal ratcheting chuck, an integrated fuel gauge and LED light.  Sounds like it would work for pro’s or DIYers who want portability and performance. It sells for about $230 at Home Depot.

 

Outdoor holiday decor - do it quickly!

 

 

 
 
Now that the white stuff is blanketing lawns everywhere, folks are getting in the mood to do holiday decorating. Here are two small items that will be a big help while you’re decking the halls.  Chez moi, Stanley’s hardware and household accessory kit is Mother’s Little Hanging Helper. Inside the handy carrying case, you’ll find nails, thumbtacks, pushpins, anchors, screws, picture wire, picture hooks, hangers, cup hooks and sawtooth hangers. It sells for about $12 at Wal-Mart. (Good for stocking stuffers, too!)

If outdoor decoration is on your list, it’s no use cursing yourself for not doing it in mid-November when it was 12°C and sunny. Regret is futile. Just get out there and do it. If you want to help secure lights or wreaths quickly (before your fingers fall off from cold), try Scotch Tough Outdoor tape, which can hold to a variety of surfaces, including stucco. This one is also good for rough outdoor jobs, such as hanging or securing plastic sheeting or tarps. Also great for quick fixes — I used the transparent tape to fix a rip in a window screen at the cottage this summer. When I checked last week, it was still holding, despite cold, rain and snow! (Yeah, yeah, I know, I should take the screens off, but hey, I’ve been BUSY!)

To avoid hassle next year, think about investing in a LiteLocker. This is a low-profile container made from the same UV-resistant  vinyl plastic found on doors, windows or siding. It runs along your eaves, and hides the lights until holiday season, when it flips open to display them. You open it from the ground, so there’s no need to even get out a ladder. Retail price averages about $4 per linear foot — depending on the installation. Right now, it just comes in white, but it can be painted to match your home’s trim. Clever, no?

Need to keep kids busy? Get crafty.

Moms and Dads everywhere are beginning to have visions of wonderful holiday down-time with the kids. What they don’t look forward to is hearing that plaintive whine, “I’m bored”, and trying to dream up something fun that doesn’t involve spending money or turning on the TV.

When that happens (and that's when, not if) Wendy Russell of HGTV's She's Crafty, has some ideas that will help. Russell has teamed with Bounty paper towels to create some easy-to-execute crafts that require simple materials you’ll have around the home.

“Making crafts are a great way to inspire and encourage creativity and over the holidays it's a super fun, easy activity the entire family can enjoy doing together,” says Russell.

 Look below for instructions for a fun craft, or look for others at the Bounty Towels site.

What you need:

Paper towels

Potatoes

A roll of butcher paper

Cardstock for the place cards

Crayons and markers

Acrylic paint

A bowl of water

Small cookie cutters in various holiday shapes

Scissors

What you do:

Cut the potato in half with a sharp knife. Press a small cookie-cutter shape into each half of the potato. Cut away the area around the shape so the potato is now a stamp.

Pour paints into containers. Dip the potato stamp into one colour of paint and press the stamp down firmly on the butcher paper. (You can use it for a table runner or wrapping paper, or make Christmas cards with blank card stock. Or try out the instruction for table place cards below.)

Clean potato stamps with water and dry them with paper towel before switching to a new colour.

For the place cards, trim white cardstock to the size you want and fold it in half lengthwise.

While stamping, make sure to leave enough room on the card to write the names of your guests once the paint dries.