The downsizing desire

Like clockwork, each month when I first crack open the pages of a fresh stack home decor mags, I'm struck with the desire to clear surfaces, keep only what I can stow away in hidden storage and, quite simply, de-clutter my life.

This SoHo loft, featured in the New York Times, is one of those envy-inducing pads.

I can't help but drool over the clear surfaces, the countertops with only a carefully placed swish-looking appliance or stylized fruit bowl, and the general feeling of airy lightness and simplicity that comes with a minimalist approach to decorating.

I also enjoy thinking about how simple it must be to maintain - a quick dusting of your clear surfaces with a microfibre cloth, a quick dance around the room with a broom, and voila, your space is spotless. Imagine the time you'd save if you just had less stuff!

Of course, the risk with a bare-bones pad, in addition to not having a melon baller in case of emergency, is that they can feel a bit cold. White walls, acrylic, glass and stainless steel are sleek and modern, but they don't exactly scream 'Welcome home.' These kinds of spaces really require a mix of textures and wood tones, along with some quirky personal accents, to warm them up. (Get more tips for a swish condo here).

But, I do believe that, regardless of your space, you can find a balance where you get the light, easy-maintenance vibe of a minimalist space while still keeping it homey and personal.

So, this weekend, I'm challenging myself to think about how I can live with less. What items are superfluous? What's useful, and what's just clutter? Should lead to some interesting sorting!

And, I'd love to hear your thoughts! What do you really need in your home? Not just to scrape by, but to feel really comfortable? And how much of the stuff you own is just a by-product of having the space to store it?

Wordless Wednesday: When can I move in?

OK, not quite "wordless" - but this space hits all the right notes for me! Consider it added to the inspiration folder.

(Photo from House and Home gallery of Arren Williams' favourite rooms.)

A stylish way to keep cool

After several hot, sticky nights of tossing and turning thanks to the recent heat wave (read all about it in the Star's new Weather360 blog), I have a new appreciation for fans. Well, at least their function. Air circulation is so key to remaining sane when the temperatures soar, but the method of delivery is rarely stylish.

That's where the new Dyson (yep, like the vacuum cleaner) "bladeless" fan - the Dyson Air Multiplier comes in.

The sleek (and, dare I say, sexy?) fan, first unveiled last year and now popping up at major retailers, works by drawing air into its base, using a hidden fan, and forcing it out through a small gap in the ring. No blades involved.

Dyson claims the Air Multiplier is 15 times more efficient than a normal desk fan, plus it's easy to clean (no getting between gaps in grates) and it's kid and pet-friendly, with no need to fear little fingers or noses getting caught in whirring blades.

While I have yet to shell out for one, the product has certainly caught on. There are reports the company has increased production in an effort to keep store shelves stocked and the Telegraph has said it's set to be the gadget of the summer in the U.K.

Of course, all that technology comes at a price - the Air Multiplier starts around $300. For more details, check out the Dyson website.

Restroom style: Canada's best restroom contest

When it comes to handing out restaurant recommendations, the quality of the food and service, as well as the ambience and location, often rank high on my list of proffered details. Now I might need to add the washroom decor and cleanliness to my rankings, after learning about Canada's Best Restroom Contest.

“We like to think of this contest as a fun, light-hearted way of drawing the public’s attention to the very important issue of restroom hygiene,” says Cintas Canadian Marketing Manager Leslie Molin in a release. “People don’t think about such things until they walk into a poorly kept restroom, and then it matters. After that, the odds are they won’t be back.”

The five finalists, three in Toronto and two in Vancouver, were chosen for being "immaculate, inviting and, most of all, memorable." The winner will be chosen based on a public, online vote.

Toronto's finalists are:

Mildred's Temple Kitchen, shown above, for its "hand-painted murals, designer fixtures, slate floor and slate walls."

Spice Route Asian Bistro & Bar, shown above, for its "eclectic Asian decor, exposed stone walls and rich coloured tiles overlooking a private garden oasis."

And the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, which features "designer fixtures, mosaic tile" and is "100% hands-free."

The Shangri-La Hotel and the Cactus Club Cafe, both in Vancouver, also make the top five.

A pretty typewriter for my walls

I've been daydreaming about possible places to hang this beautiful photo by Philip Ficks ever since it popped up on the Lushlee (formerly Jars of Cute) blog.

The typography, the cheery teal typewriter and the sentiment - "I'm most happy when I type" - I love it all. It's like this photo was taken just for me!

And, on an inspiration level, this shot has strengthened my resolve to pick up a retro typewriter to enhance my relatively modern decor as soon as I spy a good candidate online or at a neighbourhood yard sale!

See more of Ficks' work here.

I'm decorating imaginary spaces again ...

As I go about my daily routine, which includes filing press releases, skimming blogs and a wee bit of online window shopping, I'm forever bookmarking bits and pieces that would furnish my fantasy spaces - you know, the one you'd have if the real limitations of your space, time and money weren't a factor.

My fantasy bedroom would have enormous windows, allowing me to really play with light and dark elements. Here are a few of the key elements:

The walls, of course, would be bathed in a light grey, like Benjamin Moore's Silent Night.

Accented by this purple damask wallpaper from Graham & Brown, $40 a roll.

The space would be lit from above with a simple hanging pendant, like West Elm's short drum pendant, $149.

As for the bed, I'd still opt for a simple frame, like the classic Ikea Malm that currently resides at Casa Speedy, ($279 for the king size) though I'd certainly slipcover or spray it a pure white.

And then dress it in some nicely detailed, and broody, bedding, like the organic cotton pin-tuck duvet and shams from West Elm, duvet $119.

For night tables, I'm currently loving the minimalist, low profile look, like the Madison line from Structube, $159.

And then, in lieu of space-hogging lamps, I'd wire in sconces on either side of the bed, like these Turner Sconces from CB2 (coming soon to Canada!), which are currently on sale for $29.95.

To cap off the look, and keep things cushy underfoot, a plush rug is a must, like the Irma from EQ3, $350.

 

While all my clothes, of course, would be stored in a stellar Sex and the City-worthy walk-in closet in this fantasy, I'd still want a vanity in the space, using a simple table, like West Elm's Parsons Console, $350, and topping it with Semikolon boxes to keep all my makeup and jewellery out of sight and well organized.

So that's the start of my fantasy master bedroom! Which, to be quite honest, is in many ways just a small upgrade from my master bedroom on a budget makeover (see it here) - so I guess I was on the right track!

For some inspiration for your own space, be sure to check out Colin and Justin's top tips for creating a heavenly sleep retreat.

Gorgeous gallery wall

I must confess that I find hanging art intimidating. Putting a nail in the wall (or even a photo hanging tab like those from 3M) feels pretty permanent. So I try to measure to eye level, compare the scale of the piece (or pieces) to the rest of the room's furnishings, hold it up to eyeball how it looks and even tape out the outline, with the hopes of getting it just right. All this effort realistically means that very little actually makes it onto the wall, and I've never made it past the planning phase with my hopes for a gallery display.

But this Cabbagetown home tour has reminded me just how great a gallery wall can look!

I just love how the display flows around the corner! I also like how it's large enough to dip down to the sofa level and almost up to the ceiling - giving it real presence as a focal point in the space.

And, despite the mismatched frames and variety of sizes, I think the close spacing - and the arrangement of the largest pieces in a row at a more traditional hanging height - keeps the whole thing looking cohesive.

Check out the rest of Will's stunning home (those dark grey walls and carefully curated collections make me swoon!) on Apartment Therapy.

I've got the bedroom on my mind ...

Whether it's a lack of quality sleep, an urge to cozy up with a good book before bed or the desire to simplify my life, I find my thoughts have increasingly been turning to the bedroom these days. In terms of decor, of course!

The master suite tends to be a tricky area to decorate. For starters, it's hard to make it a priority. Who's really going to see it? It's much easier to justify splashing out on your dining room or living area - places where you and your guests will be spending your waking hours. Plus, who really wants to spend time arranging and dusting knick knacks you're likely only going to see before you nod off at night and flee the house in the morning?

But, the argument goes, the bedroom is also supposed to be your personal oasis; a tranquil space to relax. It's hard to do that when you've got builder's beige walls and a stack of unpacked boxes hanging around. (Check out Colin and Justin's tips for getting the most out of your bedroom.)

At Casa Speedy, the master bedroom makeover came midway through the decorating list in an attempt to balance off these two needs - the public space to entertain and a personal retreat to relax.

With the heavy lifting - painting, accessorizing and the like - done, I'm still perusing pretty spaces but am mostly preoccupied with those mundane maintenance tasks to keep what I've got presentable, both for myself and those guests who inevitably ask for a tour. Of course, that to-do list includes making the bed.

But lately, I've been questioning my routine. I've always (well, since my teen years) been a huge fan of a neatly made bed. I find it can make your room look put together and much, much cleaner with minimal effort. Plus, as far as chores go, it tends to be a quick one!

What changed my mind? For starters, I came across a study that says an unmade bed actually helps with allergies and asthma by eliminating the moisture that dust mites crave. Breathing easier is certainly a plus for the unmade bed.

Then on Monday I interviewed HGTV stylist Lisa Quinn, author of the new Life's Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets: Your Ultimate Guide to Domestic Liberation. While the full story will be in this Saturday's paper (and stay tuned to Yourhome this week for her list of the 10 things to clean - in order - when guests are coming in 30 minutes), I couldn't resist sharing her thoughts on the bedroom a little early.

For starters, she says we should be skipping all those fancy, colour-coordinated sheets. Instead, she suggests having just two sets of simple white sheets for each bed in the house, because they don't fade, they're interchangeable and they're easy to clean. I certainly get that logic, and anything that cuts down on my laundry time is a plus in my books.

She also argues in favour of a rumpled look for bedtime and beyond. Not just for time-savings, but also because of the message it sends. Quinn says those tightly fitted sheets and rows of throw pillows (in my defence, I have only the one!) are "uptight and prudish", while leaving the bed unmade is romantic and sexy, "like tousled, after-sex hair."

So, now I'm tempted to leave the sheets askew a few mornings a week, while accepting that I just simply can't imagine leaving it unmade when company's coming. 

What do you think? Is it time to give the unmade look a try? Or do you already rock the rumpled look?

Decorating from scratch - would you change your style?

Every day, I look at hundreds, if not thousands, of photos of beautiful furniture, accessories and spaces. Contemporary, modern, traditional, country - whatever the style, there's always something to swoon over.

And, while I certainly love the decor at Casa Speedy, it's hard not to daydream about what my pad would look like if I was starting all over from scratch. And, when those dreams come, I'm often furnishing it in a totally different style than what I've currently got!

My current obsession? White walls, black trim and soft grey furniture and textiles, with a few jewel-toned purple (or, depending on my mood yellow!) accessories to punch it all up.

(Photo from Apartment Therapy)

I just love the way those black window and door frames look!

As for my current yearning for yellow, I blame this bathroom, which gets bonus points for the typographical and nerdy pixel hits:

And, as for the white and grey, Scandinavian urge? We can blame Colin and Justin:

(Photo by Brandon Barre - read the full story)

I just love how calming that space feels - and those floors are gorgeous!

All these inspiration shots are a far cry from my current green living space:

And, of course, tomorrow I could very well change my mind, and inspiration, all over again!

If you were going to start re-decorating from scratch -- all new furniture, accessories, paint, etc. -- would you try a dramatically different style? Or just tweak your current one?

Sex and the City's swoon-worthy home fashions

While the critics' haven't exactly been heaping the praise on Sex and the City 2, I can say that the shoes and the sets continue to be fabulous!
 

Bold wallpaper, the great blue sofa, below, (that Big shamefully puts his shoes on!) and, of course, a well-organized walk-in closet all star in Carrie and Big's modern new apartment (and may even steal a few scenes from the frocks).

 

While many of the sets are gorgeous - the luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi is out of this world - I was most taken with Carrie and Big's place - the grey walls, the fun blend of mid century modern and graphic prints, and the excellent balance of masculine and feminine accents (like the strong lined sofa mixed with that pretty floral throw pillow) will all be taking up residence in my personal inspiration file.

(Photo from Craig Blankenhorn/ELLE Decor)

There are a few jokes thrown in for home fashionistas, too, like Carrie saying "I've been cheating on fashion with furniture" and the admission that it took a year and a half for them to settle on the sofa.

Carrie even chats with Big about how she needs just one more piece to finish the room - a conversation I'm sure many of us will find familiar!

See a full slide show of the sets from the movie at Elle Decor and be sure to check out Colin and Justin's spin on a Sex and the City worthy dressing room.