Will your swanky pad improve your luck with the ladies (or lads)?

Forget flashy cars, expensive watches and impeccably turned out wardrobes: Turns out what the ladies really love are hardwood floors, expansive views and high-tech kitchens.

Or, at least, so says the New York Post, in an article titled "Would you sleep with this guy because of his apartment? He certainly hopes so." (Spotted via theglobeandmail.com)

To quote the article's Jim Norton, a 42-year-old comedian, "“Women see windows — and skirts come off.

The gent in question credits his Upper West Side apartment with getting some first date action. He adds that with all the economic woes of late, a man with a job, and a roof over his head, is suddenly more desirable.

Another source in the story, 41-year-old Ralph Sutton, bragging about the elevator that goes to his loft, claims, "I think a guy who lives on the top floor of a sixth-floor walk-up better have some immaculate game.”

There's also the question of whether it works both ways - would a gentleman be swayed by my swanky sky high pad? I'm inclined to think not, but the story doesn't look at whether men appreciate a lady's lovingly decorated space.

That's if it were to work at all, of course.

A quick poll of my single lady friends does not reveal a man's gleaming apartment, or panoramic views, to change romantic inclinations.

However, a few minor home decor tricks may help your love life, or at least keep the object of your affection from running for the hills:

- Clean sheets. Studies have found that a once a week tumble in the washer and dryer isn't the norm for singles in the city, with some people going as long as a month. Let's make it a habit, OK?

- Clean dishes. While clear counters might not get your romantic motors running, it's safe to say that a kitchen with stacks of dirty dishes doesn't exactly show you've got your life together. So load your dishwasher, or in case of emergency, stow the dirty ones in your oven (not that yours truly has ever done that ...).

- Wipe down your bathroom sink. Any guest will appreciate a clean, hygienic washroom, so give surfaces a quick wipe with a damp cloth and some vinegar, and, while you're at it, refill your soap dispenser and put out some clean towels.

Rocket science? Certainly not. But definitely a far more achievable way to impress your guests than purchasing a multi-million dollar pad.

And, in the meantime, I'd love to hear whether a prospective mate's pad has any influence on your decision to stick around - or, to quote the article, whether floor-to-ceiling windows really loosens those skirts.

Unlock your door by text message

The wave of the future, or a whole lot of work for little payoff? It's hard to say. But either way, I'm kind of impressed by this guy who programmed his door to lock and unlock with a text message.

Hattip to @laurenonizzle

Dining for swingers

In January, I often find myself thinking about sprucing up my space and entertaining, likely as an antidote to the dreary weather and the letdown of the end of the holiday season. After a month or two of parties, returning to your normal routine is, of course, a bit of a drag.

Duffy London’s Swing Table certainly offers a chance to add a little more offbeat fun to your next dinner party.

The four poster table supports eight hanging, swaying chairs and a central lampshade. Made of walnut and powder-coated steel, and available in custom colours and sizes, it retails for £2,995.00, or about $4,700 CDN.

It's basically the grown-up version of a swing set!

Or, as the website says more formally, "This design creates an exceptionally divergent dining experience and aesthetic, creating a room within a room, with chairs that hover around the table, it also makes vacuuming a breeze."

I suspect easy vacuuming would be necessary with this - can you imagine the amount of fallen crumbs, dropped plates and spilled wine from overzealously swinging guests?

What do you think - is it a way to make dinner parties more fun or a way to ensure guests slop their soup?

Spotted on Design Milk.

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.

Pimp my KitchenAid?

I'm all about customizing your big box buys. Whether it's dressing up a classic cheap and cheerful bookshelf with some wallpaper, tricking out a nightstand with some paint or DIY carpentry skills or just finding ways to make mass-produced products look like they were crafted and chosen with care, I love reading about creative new ways to make pieces feel special.

That said, I definitely hadn't considered the possibility of tricking out my appliances before!

But now you could give your KitchenAid mixer the same treatment as your car with these decals, starting around $15 on Amazon.com.

And if pink flames aren't your style, the decal kits are also available in blue and metallic flame, flying tiger shark plane, vintage rose and cow spot patterns.

Or you can always try fashioning your own or modifying existing decals to fit - I'm thinking a graphic monochrome pattern or some colourful polka dots could really give a kitchen a stylish boost!

(Found via @kattancock)

Could that soggy tea bag become part of your decor?

When I'm steeping tea, the used tea bag tends to go straight from the mug to the bin. After all, who wants to contend with that soggy, dripping puddle later?

So, I certainly never considered the idea that you could make your morning cuppa part of your brunch decor.

But, the Teabag Coaster is actually kind of neat. It gives guests a proper place to deposit their tea bags once their tea has reached the desired strength - saving them from drinking bag-in or awkwardly balancing it on a plate - and it absorbs the extra liquid, creating a pretty pattern.

Designed "to make a tasty cup of tea, and color your moment in everyday life beautifully," it's certainly an interesting idea, though I still can't say for sure whether it's a useful one! (Read more here.) What do you think - fun novelty item or overkill?

(Thanks @lisa_canning for bringing this to my attention!)

Eat these, you will

Whether it's for pint-sized fans who love their lightsaber battles, dads who can recite all the lines from the original trilogy or that special guy who is the Han Solo to your Princess Leia, these new Star Wars pancake moulds and cookie cutters are just too cute to pass up.

Taking inspiration from a galaxy far, far away, the pancake set includes Yoda, Darth Vader and a stormtrooper. And, in theory, they seem easy enough for even a Jedi Padawan to use: place on a preheated griddle and pour in your batter.

 
 

The cookie cutters, which come in a set of four, includes Darth Vader, Yoda, Boba Fett and a stormtrooper - and are a great chance to practice your mastery of the force, or at least your icing skills.

I love the retro sci-fi geek meets foodie vibe, and they might even spur on some brunches that I don't have to make myself!

The pancake moulds and cookie cutters both retail for $29.95 each, and are available at Williams-Sonoma.

(Found via Globe Life Style Counsel newsletter)

Kanye West's sleek, modern art filled home

Rapper Kanye West also happens to be an interior design aficionado (check out this feature on him in Interior Design mag) - he even studied fine art at the American Academy of Art in Chicago - so I was excited to take a virtual peek inside his 4,214-square-foot, three-bedroom, 3.5-bath Hollywood Hills home, which has just been listed for $4 million.

While it's certainly very modern, and more than a bit quirky - the Jetsons paintings, that stuffed-animal chair, even a giant Buzz Lightyear figurine (not shown) - there are also many sleek and more understated spaces to admire, along with fabulous art! Check out the full photo gallery over on CasaSugar.

And, for fab spaces a little closer to home, check out this recently listed Toronto loft with "a 'land of the silver birch, home of the beaver' meets modern/industrial" vibe.

This mug illustrates how I feel about my morning tea!

There's nothing like that first sip of tea or coffee in the morning to get your day off to a good start. Just like plugging in my cellphone and iPod powers them up for the day, that first cuppa gives me the energy to get going.

And, because I'm a bit of a tech geek, I couldn't help but fall for the Battery Mug designed by Iskander Mukhamadeyev. 

This ceramic mug uses temperature sensitive graphics to show you how recharged you'll be once you've finished your beverage. 

The image becomes visible when you fill the mug with a drink hotter than 36 degrees Celsius.

All that recharging doesn't come cheap - the mugs are available at Art Lebedev's online store for $28 US. And, while microwave safe, it should be protected from direct sunlight and washed by hand to protect the sensor.

(Spotted on Apartment Therapy Unplugged.)

This art's all in a day's work

As I'm coming up on the first anniversary of move-in day at my new home, I'm ashamed to say that many of my walls are still bare. It's hard to choose art. You want something stylish, but it's got to also be affordable and resonate on a personal level. 

That's why I was totally intrigued by IOGraph. How pretty is this? And, it's totally personalized - it's made by following the movement of your computer mouse!

Formerly known as MousePath, and designed by Moscow's Anatoly Zenkov, the idea is that you run the program and go about a normal day at your computer. After a while, check back in on IOGraph and grab a photo of what you've done. Easy, homemade and unique art? Sign me up!

Available for Windows and Mac OS, as well as Linux, you can download it here.

(Found via 2Modern design blog)