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.
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!
If you love hand-made and artisanal goods, block out some time this Saturday afternoon (June 4) between 1 and 6 p.m. to get down to the west elm store at 109 Atlantic Avenue in Liberty Village. (Unless you're off to a log-rolling contest - see below). That’s when the Brooklyn-based retailer, a fave haunt of lovers of modern and nature-inspired home decor, will share its space with Etsy vendors selling handmade or vintage items.
The afternoon is one of a series of We Heart Handmade Art events that west elm (part of the Williams Sonoma family) is hosting in their stores across North America. In doing so, the company is hoping to introduce customers to new categories of handmade goods that go beyond the home furnishings they traditionally have focused on — and to show some love to local artisans. Expect a fun flea market vibe on Saturday, with a local DJ and food from the nearby Mildred’s Temple Kitchen
The west elm/Etsy connection is not new; west elm has been propping with Etsy products for years, and is featuring Etsy artists in their catalogue and on their website. Check out their favourite Etsy artists here.
I love pretty, witty stationery, so I was drawn to the stuff from Toronto-based Deadweight, shown above.
See you down there.
P.S. Overheard someone onTwitter say today that a good handbag (leather allbeit) would cost at least $350. Crikey, that's a lot of money to a poor schmo like me, I said to myself. So I was glad to see the literary, affordable bags shown below (pic - Hannah Heyes) from Fieldguided will be up for grabs this weekend. Thunder in my heart indeed. After a long and stormy spring, how appropriate.
P.P.S. Either of these would make great gifts. When's your stepdaughter's birthday? Mine has hers this weekend.
I love glass art. That’s why I pop in, whenever I’m in the Yorkville 'hood, to oggle the glass beauties at Amarynth Gallery at 161 Cumberland Street. So I've made a note to check in after Thursday night to see new pieces by Canadian glass artist David Thai. For a quick taste of his work, take a peek at the pictures above. But do go and see the collection in person, because images can never quite capture the magic of glass.
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.
As Earth Day approaches, attention once again turns to living a little more lightly on the planet. If you need fresh ideas on how to do that, visit the Green Living Show, which will run April 15 to 17 at the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place.
In addition to over 400 exhibitors showcasing all things green — from jewelry to cookware to furniture — scheduled events include a green business forum, youth conference, fashion show and appearances by journalists such as Evan Solomon and Emily Hunter.
Celebrity chefs will cook eco-delicious dishes, and visitors can taste local foods, wine and beer. Fresh, local and sustainable foods can also be purchased at a Farmers Marketplace. Hybrid, electric and fuel cell cars will be available for test drives, and there’s a programmed EcoKids Zone for the little people. A panel discussion on the prevalence of toxins in beauty products will also take place, led by Gill Deacon, author of There’s Lead in Your Lipstick. Musicians Sarah Harmer (whom I adore!) and Alyssa Reid will perform in a live concert on Saturday at 6:45 p.m.
On Sunday, April 17, feature speaker Tom Rand will offer a presentation called Kick the Fossil Fuel Habit, which is also the title of a book he wrote. Rand was a successful businessman who now focuses his energies (get it, energies?!) on carbon mitigation. The anti-carbon crusader is now active in raising venture capital for clean technologies and works with a number of clean energy companies and organizations. (see pics above)
For décor-istas, there will be also lots of information about, and inspiration for, green renovation and design. Two exhibitors that I think are especially worth checking out are The Recycler, the nom de green of a former pig farmer who now makes whimsical furniture out of old bicycle parts and The Timeless Material Company which offers wonderful salvaged and reclaimed building materials (see pics below).
Larger corporate exhibitors, such as American Standard , will also be there. Visit their booth and ask about their FloWise toilet, which saves about 25 per cent more water than conventional dual-flush toilets. (I like the Tropic, a sleekly contemporary looking toilet that comes in white and biscuit.)
Admission to the Green Living Show is $12 for adults, $9 for seniors and students between 13 and 17. But Samsung Electronics Canada will provide free admission to anyone who brings e-waste to the event for recycling at their Canadian facility. For details visit the Green Living website.
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.
This week’s Hot Home Products column features an online site that sells hand-painted reproductions of works by old masters. I find that interesting for a number of reasons, which I won’t go into now (would it kill you to buy a paper on Saturday?)
If original art is more your thing, get yourself down to the Artist Project event running from March 3 to 6 at the Queen Elizabeth Building at Exhibition Place. You’ll see works by over 200 independent artists, such as Montreal-based Janice Taylor, who did the mixed media piece above and Russell Brohier, whose photograph of an under-loved classroom is also shown above.
There will also be a slew of other features, including UNTAPPED, an exhibition of 25 emerging or self-taught artists, works by photographers using 3D technology and a competition of works based on the theme of lemons (yes, the fruit). As part of an Art Chats series, art writer and educator Betty Ann Jordan will tell you everything you always wanted to know about abstract art but were afraid to ask, and Melony Ward, publisher of Canadian Art magazine will host a panel that looks at the state of art in Canada. (No word yet as to whether Rob Stop the GravyTrain TM Ford will attend this one, but my guess is not.) Installation Alley will showcase large-scale sculpture and conceptual art, while a Video Art Wall will introduce work by digital media artists.
If my son didn’t have hockey play-offs this weekend, this is where I’d be. Instead, I’ll be the mom screaming “play nicely!” while testosterone-fuelled 15-year-olds smash into each other. Which is, in its own way I suppose, a kind of performance art. But at least Art Project attendees won’t have to watch psychotic parents of artists projecting their own long-lost hopes on their kids, and nobody will be carted off with a concussion. We hope.
It’s been a busy week, what with stories on the Interior Design Show , the Canadian Home Furnishing Market (TCHFM) , the annual trade event that was recently held at the International Centre in Mississauga, and the National Home Show all coming onto the front burner.
One of the threads that seems to connect all three is a new energy in the Canadian design industry and a wealth of talent emerging in the furniture and décor manufacturing sector. For more news on this, check out the Quality Canadian Furniture network, an association of manufacturers that sings the praises of Canadian-made goods.
I saw loads of lovely stuff at the TCHFM, as you’ll see by the pictures above, which feature product from Amsico, Contintental, Mobican, Trica and West Brothers. I also learned of two terrific independent designers. Fat Crow Design in Edmonton makes a line called White Moose Brands. Go to their site to see a lovely metal room divider, and leaf-shaped mats. I did get pics for both, but they would not load - arrggh - technology!). The beautiful table of reclaimed wood and chairs (at right) is by Grown Design in Toronto.
At the upcoming IDS, you'll have the chance see more great Canadian pieces, including hand-made wood furniture from Shawn Place Design in Prince George (see below).
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