Linen Chest - the new kid in town

This week's Hot Home Products column in the Toronto Star features the Linen Chest, a Canadian success story that began when Sylvia Leibner opened a small store in Montreal in 1961. Today, a second generation of Leibners oversee a network of over 20 stores. The chain has expanded throughout Quebec and into New Brunswick and, last year, opened Leaside and Vaughan locations. Two new stores, one in the Stockyards and one at Richmond and John Streets, will open within the next few months. They also offer online shopping. Check out the pics below for an idea of what's on offer. I have a feeling readers will be hearing more about these folks in the future. Stay tuned.

Mad for mid century modern?

Janine Morrison has a theory about the enduring appeal of mid-century modern, which is the subject of a delicious new book by Judith Miller called Mid Century Modern (reviewed in my Hot Home Product column in the New in Homes section of the Saturday Toronto Star). As the owner of Tonic Living, which sells contemporary fabrics and custom-makes window treatments, pillows, and futon covers, Morrison was thrilled to come across a stash of vintage fabric when she started her business on E-Bay in 2000.

"It became so wildly popular around the world,” says Morrison, “but one sad day we came to the end of it.” At that point, Morrison began sourcing new fabrics that had the same aesthetic vibe. Since then, the biz has ground by leaps and bounds, and Morrison is in the process of opening a new, larger operation. Stay tuned for news on that.

Why was she so drawn to mid-century design? “It has a simplicity that is just so appealing. It references a simpler time but also an emergent time, where everything was exciting and modern. Whether we even remember the era from our own youth, we sense that it was a time of innovation and social shackles being released. There was such beauty in that,” she says. You can find out more about Tonic Living in the next issue of ReStyle, which appears quarterly with the Toronto Star. In the meantime, here’s a list of places in Toronto that offer mid-century décor.

Atomic Design 965 Queen St West 416.912.2358

Owner Lawrence Blairs loves Scandinavian art glass, modernist studio jewellery, abstract sculpture, and post modern Italian design. The store is also home to an extensive reference library on twentieth century design and decorative art.

Bungalow  273 Augusta Avenue 416.598.0204

Kensington was into mid-century modern a couple of decades before it gained widespread cool. It’s still home to the much-loved Bungalow where you’ll find vintage clothing, retro furniture, home and fashion accessories.

Design Within Reach  435 King St. West 416.977.4003

If you are falling in love with modern design, Design Within Reach is a shrine at which you must worship. Take note that “within reach" means things not found elsewhere and things in stock, not necessarily within reach of your puny décor budget. But even if you don’t have $5,700 for an Eames Lounge and Ottoman, go to this store if you want to see best in class. Worried about snooty salespeople who will sniff you out as a neophyte and treat you accordingly? Not an issue. The staff is terrific, love to share their knowledge and won’t blush even if you ask a dumb question. I speak from experience.

Ethel - 20th Century Living  327 Queen St. East 416.778.6608

Self-described as the spot where Mad Men meets your best friend’s basement, this Corktown store seems to be a fave the bloggers who responded when I asked for top spots in Toronto for mid-century modern.

EQ3 222 King Street East  416.815.2002  and 3-51 Hanna Avenue. 416.533.9090

This Winnipeg-based company specializes in modern design. On top of their own product range of furniture, which can be custom finished, they offer brands such as  Herman Miller, Stelton, Vitra, and Alessi. Also has a great selection of Marimekko yard fabric and accessories at the Hanna Street location.Pssst. Check out the lovely and affordable glass and plate ware.

Machine Age Modern 1000 Queen St E 416.461.3588

For a sneak peak of the extensive offering, check out their inventory blog.

StyleGarage 938 Queen Street West 416.534.4343

StyleGarage offers made-to-order upholstery, storage, dining, and accents.

Miller's book is chock full of pics of the best of mid century modern design

 

Did I miss any great spots that you love? I’m sure I did,so let me know and I’ll add them. Also heard (on Machine Age Modern's blog) that Modern Furniture in Canada 1920 to 1970 by Virginia Wright is a great overview of the era from a Canadian perspective. I’ve got my eye out for a copy and will add my own mini review when I find it.

Related articles

Eames poster art print Mid Century Modern by WeaversofSouthsea

Me, Neil, Klaus and King Street East. Be there.

Everybody who’s anybody will be at a soiree ce soir that opens the King Street East Design District festival, KEDD,  running this weekend.  (Okay, well,  I’ll be there –  if I don’t fall asleep in my glass of Gerotol first. In fact, I have no idea who’s going — other than Alejandra Melo Cea, my lovely step-niece once removed by marriage.)

But it sure sounds good. Over two days, 14 retailers, including Alexander Interiors & Design, BoConcept, Studio B, Kiosk, Klaus (from whence came the pic of the wonderful desk above, by Castor), Upcountry, Cambria, Modern Weave, Sub-Zero/Wolf and Andrew Richards Designs, will mount special in-store events for design hounds. If you go, you can tell the participating retailers by the banners and red carpets.This is the first year of the event, so they need support.

To get in  -  and to get a chance at give-aways - you have to buy a passport for $10. It  goes  to  Habitat for Humanity Toronto, run by the always-dashing Neil Hetherington, who is sure to be at the kick off. Go online for tickets or buy them from a retailer. 

If I do go, I'll be easily recognizable.  I'll be the one wearing the “Neil for Mayor” t-shirt.  

So - as weekend plans go, how does this sound? See great design, possibly win some cool stuff and wander downtown during what promises to be fine weather. What else could you ask for? Other than a functioning, democratic local government, that is. And a good, affordable hairdresser.

If it all gets too much, you can deak into a local bar with a friend. Have a drink or two. You’ll be reminded that Toronto still does have its charms. And if you see Neil down there on the weekend, ask him for me again if he's ever thought about running for Mayor? 

How to have a Canada Day party with pooping out the hostess

Outdoor barbeques are a standard feature of the Canadian summer landscape. Their popularity is well-deserved; after all, there’s nothing quite like enjoying roasted meat or fish on the patio or by the lake on a perfect summer evening, surrounded by friends and family. But let’s face it, BBQ parties do have their drawbacks, especially for the chef, who’s often forced to stand for hours over a hot grill, trying to juggle orders for rare, medium, well-done, cheese or no-cheese, vegetarian etc., etc, etc.

Not only is this sweaty work, but it forces the cook to focus on food rather than friends. That’s why I think the summer sandwich is poised to make a come-back. Sandwiches may well be the new “it” food – they’re easy to prepare ahead, highly portable, don’t require utensils and are easy to customize for folks with various dietary restrictions.

I’ve put together an easy make-ahead Canada Day party menu that I think will delight guests, and allow the entire gang to hang out together. My “inspiration” was a line of plain and flavoured hummus from Sabra, pickled beans and olives from Matt and Steve’s Extreme Bean line and PC’s regular and multi grain baguettes.

The gelato and sorbet were a breeze to make with the DeLonghi’s Gelatto Maker. Unlike previous generations of this type of machine, you don’t have to freeze the inner vessel before preparation - just quickly mix the various ingredients into a bowl, pour it in the bowl and turn it on. For the next half hour or so, the ingredients are churned and chilled. The taste and texture of what you get is, imho, far, far beyond just about any store-bought product on the market – including many premium brands. And you can be making the sweet treat unattended, while guests are nibbling on the main event.  I had such fun testing the machine with the DeLonghi recipe book, and it wasn’t long before I was coming up with my own recipes, including one for maple syrup gelato. 

Here it is:

Vicky’s Maple Syrup Gelato

1 cup minus one tablespoon cold milk

1 tablespoon cold espresso, or a heaping tablespoon of instant coffee dissolved in a tablespoon of cold milk

½ cup cream

½ cup sugar

¼ cup maple syrup

Pour into machine and follow manufacturer's instructions. By the way, you can make gelato without an ice-cream maker – it’s just a bit fussier. You can also dress this up by folding in a half cup of chopped toasted walnut or small chunks of dark chocolate (or both!)

A few tips for further reducing the fuss – keep serving dishes simple and practical. I’m not generally a fan of paper napkins, but cheap and cheerful napkins with a Maple Leaf are perfect for a Canada Day get-together.  In some cases, they can replace plates.

I also love the unbreakable serving pieces from Urban Barn that look like slate. They pair beautifully with plain white service dishes and lovely little tea-light holders with sweet little bird motifs in glossy white – also from Urban Barn. When arranging self-serve party food, I always suggest using several smaller platters rather than one or two large, centrally located ones. It means that food is within easy reach of conversational grouping and that there’s never a crush or line up in one spot.  It also tends to make people circulate, which helps any party.

Another tip – rather than having a set meal-time, consider an open-house format, in which you invite guests to drop in anytime between, say, 2 and 7 p.m. It makes it easier for families of different types (young couple with babies, empty-nesters, busy teen-agers) to get to the event, and staggering the arrival of folks also often means that you get more face-time with each.

Since music adds to the atmosphere of any party, you’ll want to crank some tunes outside. For that, I love the teeny iHome stereo speaker system that I found at HMV. It works with MP3 players, iPhones and iPads, delivering remarkably good sound from a small base. Also great on the dock at the cottage. You can pick one up for about $20 from HMV, where I also found a few new must-have Canadian releases; Rufus Wainwright’s Out of the Game, the Cowboy Junkies' The Wilderness and Neil Young’s Americana, which includes a cover version of God Save the Queen. 

Here are my food suggestions. Hope they inspire you.

Appetizers

Spicy hummus served with sliced radishes, baby carrots and baguette slices (for an elegant presentation, slice baguette into rounds, brush with olive oil and place in a 400˚F oven for 10 minutes.)

Pickled green beans wrapped in prosciutto

Cherry tomatoes with bocconcini, drizzled with basil flavoured olive oil

Baguette Sandwiches

Red pepper hummus with sliced red onion, roasted beets, goat cheese and red leafy lettuce on a plain baguette, garnished with a pickled bean

Roasted garlic hummus with Brie, sliced radishes and curly lettuce on multigrain baguette, garnished with a pickled olive (use a Canadian flag toothpick for a fun touch)

Devilled eggs made with black olive hummus (So simple. Slice a dozen hard boiled eggs in half. Carefully remove yolks with a small spoon and place in bowl. Add about a half-cup of Sabra Greek Olive hummus and few tablespoons of mayonnaise or thick plain yogurt. Mix together and spoon into eggs. Garnish with chopped onion. )

Dessert

Mocha maple syrup gelatto served in a chocolate Victoria cup and garnished with a chocolate wafer

Strawberry sorbet served with mashed strawberries and garnished with a lemon wafer

Seriously, you want to go to the mall?

Got a weekend afternoon free and a yen to shop? For God’s sake, then, don’t go to the mall. Or, worse yet, one of those suburban nightmares called Power Centres, where you need a PhD in conceptual geometry to figure out how to get in and out. Instead, put on your walking shoes, hop on the subway (yes, Toronto still does have a public transit  system – sort of) and head over to Queen Street West. Your only instructions are to keep strolling and stop wherever takes your fancy. Here, though, are a few of my favourite places to pop into:

Style Garage  938 Queen West -  Modern made-to-order upholstery, storage, dining, and accents.

Preloved   881 Queen West - My new fave store. Preloved has one of a kind clothing from reclaimed wools and fabrics. Who knew you could get an exquisite fit in a sweater coat made from remants?  Naturally, I had to buy one for my daughter. #YouCan'tGetThatAtAritizia. They also recently launched a small home décor line.

Chatelet  717 Queen West - Sweet, cute, shabby chic. Very, very pretty but best used  in small doses, in my experience.

The Paper Place   887 Queen West - One of my fave stores on the planet.  Sheets of gorgeous handmade papers in every colour and pattern under the rainbow, as well as journals, stationery, cards, wrapping paper and gifts. I never leave there without buying something. And the staff are lovely.

Morba  665–667 Queen West
 - Fun mix of new and vintage. Last year, I nearly bought up every globe they had in the place, because the selection was so varied, and so good. But I didn’t, because I’m sensible. Also, I have car payments.

Quasi Modo Modern 789 Queen West - Where the cool kids shop for home design. But the staff is always welcoming and happy to answer any and all of my (probably dumb) questions. So don't be shy.

Mokuba  575 Queen West - So many magnificent ribbons, you’ll want to pull a Daisy Buchanan and bury your face into them, weeping “I’ve never seen such beautiful ribbons.”  But don’t, because these ribbons come with fancy-pants prices and I expect that if you wreck it, you buy it. Rumour has it that the staff are just a tad chilly. An occupational hazard, perhaps, when you work on this hip strip?

Nikolaou Restaurant Equipment 629 Queen West - Jam-packed (although my mom might call it a bit dusty and jumbled) restaurant supply store with everything you need. Except, as I recently found out, vegetable brushes.

Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art 952 Queen West - Tucked back a bit from the street. C’mon, would a little culture kill’ya?

All that walking making you peckish?

Stop by Dufflet 787 Queen Street West -  To-die for pastry, killer espresso and a nice selection of teas (Irish Breakfast anyone?). The staff there is always happy. Who wouldn’t be, surrounded by cake?

Epicure Cafe and Grill  502 Queen West - Good food, a good selection of wines and beers and a cheerful atmosphere. It used to be a big hangout for arty types from Theatre Passe Muraille  (see culture, above)

Terroni 720 Queen West -  Judging from the crowds, this is a popular place, and has a rep for great Italian food. Maybe it was just an off night when I went – my pizza crust was soggy and the temperature upstairs was about 40ºC. Plus, when I asked for the Puttanesca sauce with spaghetti instead of penne, I was refused.  It was suggested that doing so would offend the chef. Or his grandma. Or both. Sounds just a teensy-weensy, iddy-biddy pretentious to us.

For more suggestions, go to BlogTo, which has an extensive, well-researched list of great spots on Queen West and beyond.

A cuppa Christmas cheer

Another festive holiday decor idea from designers Jim Connelly and Peter De Sousa that doesn't cost a bomb or add to the waste stream. With it, each guest will find their dinner place easily, and be treated to a lovely  hostess gift.

Festive Tea Cup Name Holder

Supplies

• Old cup and saucer (mis-matched will do)
• Spray paint
• Glue gun
• Miniature Christmas tree
• Tartan fabric
• Faux red berries
• Faux Raspberries/Blackcurrants
• Paper
• Pen

Instructions

• Wash cup and saucer with warm, soapy water to remove grease, dirt or fingerprints
• Let dry completely
• Cover tabletop with newspaper to create a clean work surface
• Spray the cup and saucer with a very light spray of paint**
• Let dry completely
• Repeat two to three coats, letting each coat dry completely until surface has an even finish
• Use glue gun glue to join cup and saucer
• Let dry completely
• Cut a square of Tartan fabric and wrap around the Christmas tree
• Glue the Christmas tree into the cup let dry completely
• Apply some red berries into the tree branches to fill in the open areas
• Add some Raspberries/Blackberries into the tree branches and onto the saucer
• Cut out a piece of paper to make a name tag and write your dinner guest’s name on the saucer

**Do this in a well ventilated area and wear a face mask

Funk it, don't junk - such a jolly idea

 

This week’s Hot Home column includes ideas from designers Jim Connelly and Peter De Sousa for creating holiday décor from recycled elements - like the festive chair (shown above). So clever, so pretty, and so affordable.Instructions are listed below. These boy geniuses have a ton of other  easy and fun projects, which I’ll post over the next few weeks. So keep watching this spot.

Festive Silver Chair 

 Supplies

• Old chair from thrift shop, basement or curb-side
• White bonder primer sealer paint
• Size/glue (for applying silver leaf)
  
• Silver-leaf squares/foil
• Water-based silver paint
• Silver glitter
• High-gloss exterior varnish

 

Directions

•  Wash the chair with warm, soapy water to remove any grease, dirt or fingerprints
• Let dry completely
• Cover tabletop with newspaper to create clean work surface
• Remove the seat from the chair frame
• Paint the chair frame with white bonder primer sealer
• Let dry completely
• Paint the chair with a water-based size/glue
• Let dry completely (the size when dry will remain sticky to the touch)
• Apply the silver-leaf squares or transfer foil to entire chair
• Seal chair with exterior high-gloss varnish
• Let dry completely
• Using a small paint roller and tray, paint the old fabric seat with water-based silver paint (apply heavily if necessary to cover any pattern on the old fabric)
• Sprinkle silver glitter over the chair seat
• Let dry completely

 

New curated series kicks off at HomeSav

Since launching earlier this year, HomeSav.com has been quickly picking up speed, rapidly attracting both consumer and media attention. The members-only shopping club offers brand-name home décor, furniture and accessories at up to 80 per cent off, with new sales starting every day at 10 a.m. Items, (such as the Crescent Chair above) are available for three days in limited quantities. To become a member, shoppers must register. It's easy to do - and free.

Since learning about HomeSav, I have frequently found items on it I'd like to include in my Hot Home Products column. I tend not to, though, because I feel sure the stuff will be gone by the time I go to print.

Now HomeSav is launching a Designers Picks series; monthly sales featuring products and brands selected by well-known interior designers, artists, and experts. Each will focus on a specific theme or room. The first event begins Thursday, August 25th, and will be curated by Karl Lohnes. Metro newspaper’s national décor columnist, and Home and Decor expert for CTV’s Canada AM.

Karl has lovely taste, and I’m excited to see what he’s chosen for his signature look. And I'm dying to know who else has signed up for the series. I'll keep you posted.

Feeling Christmas-y yet?

 
 
Gearing up for the holiday season and beginning to look for affordable gift and décor ideas? I love this simple, inexpensive idea using old mason jars and Walltalk - lightweight vinyl quotes, graphics, and monogram initials that can stick to a variety of surfaces, including glass. They also come off easily and won’t damage the surface. Use them in the project shown, or think about sticking a short quote or word grouping on small canvas and putting it in a vintage frame. Or try stacking three Christmas-y words (joy, love, peace) on an inexpensive glass vase from PC Home or Ikea. You could also spray paint cheap cookies tins from the dollar store or Goodwill and stick words on those. You'd fill them with home-baked goodies, of course. Or maybe espom salts that you'd scented with essential oils. You could also:

Add a quote or words to a wide ribbon and thread it through your Christmas tree.

Add a quote or thought to the edge of plate chargers.

Frame family photos from Christmas past and add a favourite saying or a line from a traditional carol to the border.

Visit WallTalk for more ideas, and a list or retailers — or to order from the site.

Next week, I'll share some ideas for creating holiday décor/gifts with Rustoleum’s Frosted Glass spray paint.

Spills and splatters? The gracious hostess bats not an eye

 

 
 

I’m a pretty laid-back hostess. So if little Jimmy drops his ice-cream Sundae on the carpet or Uncle Ed knocks a vase off the mantle, I just clean it up with a smile. I have winced (only inwardly, though) when, say, a glass of red wine spills across one of my treasured linen tablecloths. In this week’s Hot Home Products column, I talk about a new line of stain-resistant table linens available at JacKryn France,  a tres adorable French-themed boutique in Aurora, Ontario (yes, they do sell online!) These linens have none of that plastic-y feel that previous generations of stain-resistant fabrics have had. And they are gorgeous. Not all the pics I had made it into my column, so here are a few more. Lovely, no?

BTW, if you do spill red wine on a conventional linen or cotton tablecloth, you can still play the gracious  hostess. Start by quickly tossing a few handfuls of salt over the stain while saying something clever and witty (you're on your own there, reader, but I suggest you avoid asking the culprit if he/she is loaded or something - unless, of course, he/she is!) Then just ignore it until you can discreetly take the linen off the table. Hold the cloth over a sink and run very hot water through the back of the fabric. Pour vinegar through to get any lingering colour out. Then wash as usual, and air dry in sunlight if possible.