Love it all (except the gold-silver combo)

 

 

 

 

Checking out holiday décor is especially fun this year, in part because there is so much to choose from. I love the hand-spun artisanal touches that are showing up. Perhaps the prettiest examples are those I found at westlem, where I dropped by yesterday. I saw (and loved) for example, David Stark’s beautiful flower garlands, made out of newsprint and silver foil veneer. They would look lovely gathered into a bouquet, threaded into a garland of pine cones, or nestled among tree branches on a mantle. I also loved the funny little penguin-shaped felt ornaments, which are hand-made in Nepal. The store looked gorgeous and had a wonderful selection of small gifts and stocking stuffers. My first new year’s resolution is to get my up-town butt down to their downtown location more often.

I also love the bold and unexpected colour combos I found at others retailers and the drama that ornaments and accessories drenched in either white or black sparkly sequins added. The only trend I’ve heard bandied about that I don’t go for – the mixing of silver and gold. I prefer either as an accent – mixing too much of these shiny shades gives me a tummy-ache.

Other faves this year, which I’ve shown in pics above (starting at the top)

The cool-but-not-chilly black, white and silver themes shown at Ikea and Bouclair(as shown above, along with Bouclair's nutcrackers)

The non-trad aqua and silver holiday theme from HomeSense

The mix of warm brown and golden metallic ornaments from Urban Barn, as well as the glam holiday table setting they’re showing

Friday tip for inexpensive elegance

A great centrepiece will add drama and punch to a dinner party table, but it needn’t cost the earth. Try something simple, like a great bowl filled with seasonal fruit or veg. My favourite this fall is probably a red wire bowl from Ikea ($29) that looks terrific filled with yellow or green apples (see above). You can also put a glass bowl inside it for serving a pretty dessert, such as a Trifle. (Although since I DESPISE Trifle, I'd probably go for a slow-cooked brown rice pudding with toasted hazlenuts, coconut and white choc. Or bitter choc and dried cranbrerries. But you choose your own dessert, my friend -  chacun a son gout, after all!)

I also like the crinkled steel bowls I saw at the opening of the new Urban Barn at 275 King Street East. They start at about $27. This is a wonderful store, btw, and I encourage you to check it out. And watch for their wonderful “Bollywood” pillows in an upcoming Hot Home Products column.

I’ll have more tips on beautiful style that won’t break the bank at the Fall Home Show, which runs from September 30 – October 3 at the Better Living Centre at Exhibition Place. Hope to see you there.

Replace or reupholster?

  
This week’s Hot Home Products column is about re-upholstery and yummy fabrics, both from inVU Drapery  and Primavera. But is also stars my cottage kitchen, which got an overhaul this spring. As I mentioned before, the former owners had painted the walls very dark colours (take a peek at the pic below for a taste). We wanted to lighten it up, so we painted the entire main floor in String by Farrow and Ball, which I absolutely love. This is a colour that works anytime, in any light, and I think it looks terrific with the pine ceilings and floors. You can see the finished results above. Don’t you love the silly little candle holders festooned with strawberries? They are from my fave new cottage store, Vintage Finds, on Bobcaygeon Road, in Minden….

If you have are trying to decide whether to reupholster or replace a tired piece of furniture, you’d do well to do some preliminary research with a visit to a spot like  inVu, Primavera – or your fave local fabric and textile shop. In the Beaches, for example, try Jane Hall Design. You can pick up great tips. Lisa Nicholl, of InVU, shared with me, for example, the idea of using a large print on a smaller chair by framing the motif in the middle of the chair front (or back). And while at Primavera, I ooh-ed and aah-ed over the Chinese jar prints (shown above) from Pierre Frey, for whom the showroom is the exclusive trade agent. But I wondered aloud to owner Diego Marin if I could actually live with the print day in and day out. He pointed out that, used in a drapery, you would not see the full graphic all the time, just the gorgeous effect of the colour and shape.

Speaking of upholstery, I also really like the work of Andrea Ford, who did the amazing black and white couch shown above. 

 If you love great textiles, but are working on a tight budget, mark October 29 and 30th on your calendar. That’s when the Textile Museum of Canada holds its annual Decorator Fabric Sale. It’s where you’ll find designer fabrics, unique prints, beads, buttons and lots of rare finds, including sample lengths of fabrics by Pierre Frey, Osborne & Little, silk brocades from India and indigo prints from Japan and Africa - all at bargain prices.

Repeat after me - I WILL get more organized

While the calendar tells us that January is the official start to the year, everybody knows that in this part of the world it’s September when things “start up again”. If becoming more organized in your home office this “year” is one of your resolutions, check out this week’s Hot Home Products column in Saturday’s Toronto Star.

In the meantime, keep in mind that an elaborate administrative process isn’t usually necessary for the small home office, but it does help to maintain a simple, but consistent system. Here are a few ideas from label makers Avery, which sent a slew of samples, which I had to hide marauding gangs of back-to-schoolers at my house who suddenly realized that September is upon us!

• Spend at least 15 minutes each day getting organized. And don't tell me you're "too busy" - this is a time investment that will pay off.

• Mark priority projects and important documents with labels such as “Priority”, and “Outgoing”. Make secondary files called “Read”, “Research”, “Pay” and “Long Term Projects”. You can also get free template software from Avery to create customized labels. Of course, I’d need one that says “Deadline, dummy!”

• Use portable note taking tools. For example, Avery’s adhesive-backed PocketTabs, which can be attached an organizer or folder, was probably my fave among the samples of new stuff I looked at – I think these are a great way to cope with the flutter of papers that cross my desk in the office, and fill my purse while I travel.

Green house gets gold award

The eighth season of My RONA House ended with a win by the hard-working Landreville-Kérouack family, who now get  their home and its furnishings, valued at $350,000. What makes this reality show stand out is that both houses built during the season received their Gold level LEED Canada certification, becoming respectively the first and second homes in Quebec to do so. 

Throughout the run of the show, participants and viewers learned about LEED, a system introduced in March 2009 for evaluating eco-responsible homes. To obtain LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), homes must be built with special attention paid to energy efficiency, efficient water use, and indoor air quality.

The houses featured used eco-responsible materials and resources, including lumber and exterior wood sourced from Forest Stewardship Certified forests, low VOC or low urea-formaldehyde-emitting paint, adhesives, waterproofing and other materials, recycled or partially recycled materials, local supply sources, recycled paint, low-flow faucets and shower heads, and 4/6-litre dual-flush toilets. Energy Star-rated windows, home appliances, light bulbs, ventilation systems and air exchangers were also used, while an air exchanger reduced indoor pollutants. Rona’s own ECO line also figured prominently in the build.

Hot chef cooks with cool new technology

Why is Cory Vitiello, chef of the Harbord Room, joyously tossing peppers in the air? My guess is that he’s so happy with the induction range he’s cooking on. Even a humble home chef like me can appreciate the benefits of induction – it’s super responsive, keeps the kitchen cool, is easy to clean and allows for very precise temperature control. Vitiello recently showed me around a Thermador induction range at the Summerhill LCBO kitchen. (True, freelance writing doesn’t have a huge number of benefits, but there are occasional treats, such as having a handsome young man make lunch for me, without expecting me to do the dishes afterwards.) We had a great chat, discovering that we share very lukewarm feelings toward Chardonnay and both love to cook with cheap cuts of meat! Vitiello will be teaching classes at the site on May 19 and 27, incorporating ingredients thought to be aphrodisiacs (it could get REALLY hot in there, induction notwithstanding,) and innovative spice pairings. You have to win a seat in a Thermador-sponsored contest to attend. Click here to go to the site to enter. If you don’t win, you can still make one of his fabulous recipes, which I’ve included below.

BTW, when Chef Cory and I were chatting (such a nice young man), he happened to mention his pal Anton Potvin, whom he described as having a “ridiculously good palate”. That was enough to send me to the site of the Niagara Street Cafe, where Potvin reigns. The menu looks terrific, and I was seriously tempted by the notion of wild mushrooms on toast, smoked cheddar, pickled honey mushrooms, and mustard horseradish cream. Mushrooms are one of may fave foods. As long as they don’t suggest a glass of Chardonnay to go with it.

Vitiello’s Spice Crusted Sashimi Grade Tuna with Mussels, Saffron, Kaffir lime leaf, Thai Basil, Bird's Eye Chili, Cilantro and Smoked Sea Salt

• 4.5 oz pieces of center cut sashimi grade tuna
• 2 tablespoons toasted and freshly ground fennel seed, cumin and coriander seed

Lightly toast the spices until they give off their scent. Grind in a coffee grinder or blender. Roll tuna in the mixture until it is lightly coated. In a hot pan sear the tuna on all sides for 2 minutes total, leaving the centre very rare.
• 1 lb fresh mussels
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 finely diced bird’s eye chili, seeds removed
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger
• 1 large shallot, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• Pinch of saffron
• Juice of 2 limes
• 1 carrot, julienned
• 1 small leek, julienned
• 2 pieces baby bok choy, finely sliced
• 2 tablespoons cold butter
• 2 kafir lime leaves, bruised
• 1 piece lemon grass, bruised and cut into two-inch pieces
• Small handful of torn fresh cilantro
• Small handful of torn basil leaves
• 2 teaspoons salt
Method: In a large shallow pan cook the garlic, shallot, ginger, chili, saffron, leek, carrot, lemongrass, lime leaf,and salt in a small amount of canola oil until just tender. Add mussels and bok choy, bring to a boil and cover for 2 minutes or until mussels fully open. Add lime juice, butter, cilantro and basil; stir constantly until butter is incorporated.

Assembly: In large shallow bowl spoon equal amounts of the mussel/sauce/vegetable mixture. Slice the tuna down the center and present it cut side up. Lightly season the cut side of the tuna.

An outdoor chore I can get behind

Looking for an excuse to spend a few hours outdoors this weekend? You know you are. If you’re a Type- A personality, you may feel you have to justify your al fresco time by doing a “chore”. Here’s one that’s I actually enjoy — giving outdoor furniture made from hardwood an annual going over with Teak or Tung Oil. It’s an environmentally-friendly way to protect wood and really brings out the grain. I became a fan of these oils after doing one or two refinishing jobs and getting queasy and loopy while using stains and sealants. I switched to oils in subsequent projects. LOVE IT.

Minwax also has a new water-based Woodsheen product out that I’m planning to try. It promises a hand-rubbed finish that’s easily applied with a rag, dries on one hour and cleans up with soap and water. Sounds good to me! To give your furniture an extra layer of protection, you can apply a topcoat over a layer of oil. Just choose the right one. Minwax says its Helmsman Spar Urethane can, for example, be applied over its Teak Oil. But I’m sure I’m read in a recent article in Canadian Home Workshop  that putting a hard finish over a softer one can lead to cracks in the top coat, so do your homework on this one. And don’t use Teak Oil on deck floors.

If lovingly rubbing oil into your outdoor furniture doesn’t sound like fun to you (no, but it is – really!) you can opt for a pre-finished or painted version, like the one from PC Home shown above ($100).

Land of Liberty

 



 

I’m back. And I kept my promise. Here are a few pics of what I loved best at my favourite U.S. mass retailer, Target — the line of housewares from Liberty's of London. This iconic British design house first started selling silks imported from the Far East in 1875, gaining fans among such artists and designers as William Morris, Alma Tadema and Burne-Jones. By the 1880’s owner Arthur Liberty started working with English textile manufacturers to produce art fabrics. In the 1920’s, Liberty’s cotton buyer William Haynes Dorell launched Tana Lawn, finely-threaded cotton with predominately floral designs, which became one of the company’s best sellers. They are the inspiration for the line now available at Target (for a limited time). Not only did I love the pillows, quilts, lamps, tea mugs and canisters, but my daughter went crazy in the clothing department picking up adorable little cotton tops and dresses from the line. So pretty, and so affordable. Music to my ears.

If you have reason to go stateside over the next little while, do check out this line.

Vita, Virginia and Very Good Prices

Love high-end? Of course you do. Whom among us, I may ask, doesn't like a little luxe? Hate high prices? Also, natch. That's why I decided to tell you about OffTheFloorNow, which sells showroom models of furniture, discontinued textiles and papers product to average Joe’s like us, dear reader.

Just in are papers by luxury good firm Rose Cumming, whose Sackville-West paper normally sell for US$180 per five-yard roll and is now available for US$58. Smaller goods ship immediately via FedEx, while the furniture ships through a network of freight companies that specialize in high-end furniture delivery.

Even though I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for Vita Sackville-West, who created the famous all-white garden at Sissinghurst and who had a tempestuous affair with Virginia Woolf (and a very, umn, unusual marriage with Sir Harold Nicholson), I’m not sure I want the paper at left – a bit too upper-upper country house for me. But I’ve definitely got my eye on the Sanford Corner Table by Nancy Corzine English walnut (and I do think both Vita and Virginia would approve.)

A small, but beautiful, world

 Ever had that experience of running into someone from high school in sad straits – like finding the captain of the football team flipping fries at Mickey D’s after doing a stretch in the Big House for passing bad cheques? So depressing. Then there are those times when you find out that two of the coolest girls in high school both grew up to be successful artists. Love it! The world needs more artists.

I discovered this week that Sharon Fox (now Fox-Cranston) has her own gallery in Westport, north of Kingston. I like her work a lot, and have posted a couple of examples above. Coincidentally, it turns out that another former King City-ite, Holly Jenkins  (now Ounapuu), who lives and works in Paris (Paris, Ont., that is), will be Sharon’s featured artist for May. Her bright and sunny floral paintings (see below) made me smile during these last few grey days of winter. When I win the lottery, I’m going to buy Sharon’s Frozen Buoys of Westport(first pic above) and then I’m going to commission Holly to paint a HUGELY HUGE floral piece in big fat reds and oranges and yellows for my living room, which I just painted a dark apricot.

Looking back, it doesn’t surprise me that these two women turned out to be artists — I think they both must have always had an eye for the beautiful. If I remember correctly, (and that’s, um, questionable) Sharon had a way cool fringed suede jacket that she used to rock and Holly Jenkins was, and may still be, one of the few women on the planet who could pull off a denim jacket. I recall that she always wore hers with a kind of casual chic while the rest of us, I’m pretty sure, had more of a hayseed hoser thing going on.

I've marked my calendar for May - great time of year to take a day-trip out that way!