before & after: blynda’s chair

During a recent family trip to Toronto we stayed with my brother and sister-in-law. Blynda is a wonderful photographer and also has a keen eye for fashion and design. Upon entering their new home, I couldn’t help but be instantly drawn to these chairs. When I learned that she bought them at a flea market for $10.00 each – YES! I said $10.00, I fell in love with them even more. Blynda stripped and re-stained the wood to a rich chocolate brown and re-upholstered the seat in a natural linen fabric. Voila! A chair completely re-invented!

The before:

The after: A fabulous flea market find, turned beautiful chair with a modern elegance.                           Isn’t it just lovely?

decor trends 2010: well lived

There’s a certain feeling you get when you’re in a room with antiques and treasures. This trend of ‘well lived’ inspires us to embrace pieces that have been passed down from generations. If they don’t fit into your current decor, change them. Re-upholster in a modern fabric, add a new coat of paint, re-frame or re-finish. If you don’t have any precious family heirlooms, try vintage and antique stores, flea markets, even ebay or kijiji are great resources for finding interesting pieces that will add that “not so perfect” feel to a room.

These days with so much focus on reduce, reuse, recycle, why not opt to hunt for that great find and “one of a kind” piece for your room that’s sure to get a conversation going.

Some of these items may be new however they pay homage to a life well lived and are certainly worthy of being enjoyed for many, many years to come.

1. A school house light fixture – always a classic piece whether modern, vintage, country or retro is your style. Available at Rejuvenation. 2. Vintage frames and mirrors are a great way to add interest to a wall, frame an interesting piece of art or even turn into a chalkboard. Check out House and Home TV for a DIY approach to these lovely frames. 3. You can’t get much more classic and well lived than Eva Zeisel. At 103, she is still designing furniture, glass and ceramic objects. This coffee table, available at Design Within Reach or Maria Tomas, is an example of timeless beauty. 4. A vintage chest against a backdrop of traditional wallpaper with a modern spot of colour. 5. Add a little whimsy to your room with this hand embroidered Jonathan Adler pillow in a geometric pattern and fun colour. 6. White Wash Co. is leading the way in furniture design and manufacturing in Canada. With a strong consideration for the environment  in mind there is no lack of style to the many pieces offered in the lineup. This ‘Cory’ chair celebrates a marriage of old and new and a piece I would see working in a space for several years. I feel the need to find a special home for it! 7. Even though these Bacchus DemiJohn Bottles are new from Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, they give a feeling that they’ve been around for centuries. 8. Hardwood flooring or furniture accents that are made from salvaged wood from barns or torn down buildings are a great way to add a piece of history to your room. 9. A few treasures found from ebay or kijiji. Don’t forget about local flea markets and antique sales. You just never know what special keepsakes you might find!

Below a room featuring a classic camel back sofa, a vintage light fixture with modern shelving below and accent pillows to add pattern and interest creates a feeling of well lived style. Image from the galleries of House and Home.

decor trends 2010: black & bold

I have to admit I am smitten with this one. I don’t know what’s gotten into me but I’ve got a hankering to paint my walls black! 2010 could be the year for me to add some deep dark colour to my – cough-sputter-gasp…. – white walls. The richness and warmth is something I’m instantly drawn to. This palette of dark navy/ black and caramel tones has almost a gentleman, club-like sort of vibe that feels sophisticated, yet still comfortable. Now to convince my husband!

1. I love the textured caramel shade and smokey charcoal glass on this Van Teal Lamp from Brand Lighting. 2. An embroidered pillow adds a feminine flare to a more masculine setting, Sotto le Lune Jungle Flower Charcoal pillow. 3. A natural jute area rug adds texture and an unexpected dimension to the floor. Layer it with another rug or leave it on it’s own. 4. I found this piece on Etsy by Eloise Kerr. The title is “Dancing Darkness” and I was drawn to it’s simple movement. 5. The Liam Sofa by Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams combines a modern frame style with a rich navy ultrasuede and antique gold nail head detail. 6. If you’re feeling bold, paint your walls with Benjamin Moore 2131-10 Black Satin.   7. The Collector’s Classics Accordian Table from Ethan Allen is a great accent and compliments the feel of the table lamp. 8. An image from the archives of House and Home magazine showing how stunning a dark wall can be against lighter furniture and rich textures. 9. Another piece from Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, the Wyatt Chair in a caramel velvet – oh so lovely! 10. Oly Studio rarely disappoints with it’s interesting pieces and attention to detail. They are the extras that help to finish off a room and make it feel special. I love this candle wall sconce with art deco shapes and mirrored inserts.

decor trends 2010: the softer side

Grey has been a popular colour for years now. This year however it moves toward a slightly mauve undertone with a rich warm feel. It works well with whites, lavenders, purples and raspberries. I see these colours best used in a bedroom where the soft colours and airy feel will bring you a sense of calm as you unwind from the day. The playful part comes from mixing modern with traditional, whimsical with clean lines. You can have fun with patterns and textures with a palette like this one!

1. A Designers Guild throw at the edge of a bed or thrown over an accent chair offers a crisp dose of colour in a room. 2) This modern area rug from Design Within Reach is a nice way to add interest to the floor. 3. I love orchids, any time, in any room, and especially this intense colour of raspberry into an otherwise calm palette. 4. Add a Jonathan Adler wallpaper for a quirky touch. 5. One over embellished rose accent pillow adds texture and more whimsy, Bliss Living Jenna Pillow. 6. This pendant from Ikea is an alternative to a traditional chandelier. 7. Add some traditional glam with a textured pewter glass bedside table, Gardiner Metal Lamp Table from Annie Selke. 8. Warm the walls with Benjamin Moore’s CC-518 Escarpment. 9. Wisteria’s Charmed White bedding collection with it’s diamond patterned zig zags is both soft and playful.

A room that is soothing and dreamy creates a sense of calm with it’s soft grey colours. Image from the archives of House and Home magazine.

Want more colour? Bold wallpaper, graphic prints and lovely shades of lilac and purple give a living room an impressive feel. Image from the archives of House and Home magazine.

decor trends 2010: going gold

Ask 10 Designers their advice and you’ll end up with several different answers to your question. That’s because we all have our own unique look and style, as do you. I believe the same applies to trends. There are so many out there. Many of which are dictated by country, climate and fashion trends. I really agree with Linda Reeves of House and Home when she says, “I can’t get excited about a new trend unless I can see it working with what I already have.” New trends are not about starting from scratch and creating a brand new look for your space (although if you are in the market for furniture or are starting a renovation they can help direct you towards the look you are after).

Approach trends with the idea of “what can I add to my current space to update it?” It may be a change of pillows, re-upholstering a chair, adding new lighting or simply changing the paint colour. Or if you’re really feeling bold, dive right in and embrace the trend with several items that will ‘WOW’ your guests.

Over the next few days you’ll see my take on 2010 trends. Often when we see new trends, somewhat like fashion, we love the idea, but we just can’t see them in our own spaces and we can’t relate to them. My goal with these trends is to offer you accessible ways to liven up your space. Items that are easy to integrate because let’s face it, we don’t buy a whole new wardrobe every time the trends change, we add new pieces to work with the classics that we already have.

So let’s get started!

1: Gold-Bronze-Brass-Mustard Yellow

Add a little or add a lot, these metallic colours are sure to warm your space. Living in Canada we have long winters and I welcome any added warmth I can bring into my home. That’s why I’m loving these brassy hues and warm yellow accents.

1. This wood end table from Shine, accented with lovely gold hardware is an easy add if you are looking for a piece for more storage or a place to put your coffee down. 2. If you’re ready for a bigger change, why not add a dose of mustard yellow paint? It’s eye popping and works well with many other colours that you may already have in your room. Farrow and Ball India Yellow #66. 3. This Murray Feiss 2-light Remy pendant light is one of my new favorites. I love the warm colours and the architectural lines of soft curves mixed with a modern square. 4. Wallpaper is still very popular and a new trend is adding it to your ceiling if you feel so inclined. This Florence Broadhurst Signature Print wallpaper will add a warm glitz that will play on light and add a wow factor to one wall or many! 5. This season West Elm is loving yellow, so you’ll have no problem finding a few accents to add to your decor. I love the bold pattern of the Andalusia Rug and brassy hue squares of the Etched Square Silk Pillow Cover. 6. Everyone needs places to hide things so why not make them beautiful? These stylish yet functional boxes are from West Elm. 7. Martha Sturdy, a Canadian classic offers stunning art pieces in metal and resin. These brass lanterns would be a welcome to almost any decor. 8. Make a stand alone piece of furniture feel extra special with a rich and luxurious yellow fabric. Photo from the archives of House and Home magazine. 9. Artwork can be an investment so make sure you love the piece. It’s hard to go wrong with art from Calgary based Marjan Eggermont. Her steel etchings are multi-faceted and rich in texture. Marjan’s work is represented at Herringer Kiss Gallery in Calgary.

A room example below where adding in small amounts of gold, bronze and rich muted yellow adds warmth to an existing neutral palette. Photo from the archives of Style at Home magazine.

january feature store – maria tomas

Maria Tomas, located in the beltline district of Downtown Calgary is a lovely, very personable and fashion forward store. You can honestly go there and feel like you are getting something special for your home. You can browse their website and even if you are not in the Calgary area, do not despair…they ship nationwide.

Hickory Chair, Sarah Richardson, West Bros, are just a few of the lines they carry. They also have a fabulous private label drapery program that offers an affordable alternative to custom drapery.

January is their semi-annual sale with most of the store at 15% off including special orders. If you haven’t been to Maria Tomas yet, I encourage you to pop in for a visit. Even if it is for the eye candy! 1015 11th Street SW, Calgary AB (403) 233-9055.

They even have an adorable little mascot…