Design that Reveals
Design that Reveals
Creativity is my love, interior design is my focus. Whether it be full service interior design, re-decoration or even online design through Design in a Box, I am passionate about all things creative. Here, I will share insights into projects, inspirations and what's going on in the world of design from Calgary and beyond. Would love to have you follow along.
my bedroom reveal May 10, 2011
exciting news! Jul 13, 2011
design: arbour lake house final reveal Nov 29, 2010
If you read about my kind of day last week on the blog you may be wondering how it went. Exhausted after the amazing Dabble launch party I slept in a little longer than anticipated. We grabbed coffee to go and off we went to make some new discoveries.
We were lucky to take in these views from our hotel room. We started the day off in the Bloor/Yorkville area taking in a few shops close by. Next we headed east to Queen Street and Leslieville. I have been wanting to scour this area for a while now so come along and see what I found!
Walking into Kimberley Jackson is like visual comfort food. It has a warmth about the space with charming pieces all rustic and worn. Using salvaged materials, each piece is unique and has a story to tell. The windows read “we make beautiful things”, and they certainly do.
My husband visited Hardware (without me) while we were in Toronto for IDS11, and I’ve been desperate to get back there after seeing some of his snapshots. To sum it up, it’s art in functional form. Beautiful pieces of art and furniture custom built to your specific needs…or wants. It is a must visit.
If you’re looking for treasures then head to Phil’z. It’s a trove of vintage mixed with transitional and my head was turning the minute I walked in. How about that fully tufted chesterfield???
If you’re a lover of mid-century modern then Studio Pazo is the place for you. With stock selling before it reaches the sales floor, you’d better act fast. You can get updates on their fab finds by ‘liking’ them on facebook.
I found out about another great store that just opened in Leslieville, thanks to Adele from modernemotive. Check out Love the Design. They’re on twitter too! I’ll be sure to get there during another visit.
Well, that’s it. I wish I’d had more time to wander but time did not permit. The best part is, there will always be a next time and something to look forward to.
Off I went to the Dabble Launch party and boy am I glad I did. Elte was the place to be last Thursday night. The party was highly interactive and an extremely social evening. I met so many new friends and re-united with others that I had briefly met during IDS11 a few short months ago. The sad part is that I hardly took any photos. The night got away on me. There were so many people to see and talk to that I forgot to capture the evening. The truth is I rarely even had my camera with me as my husband carried my handbag all night, bless him. I’ll share the few snapshots I did take as well as a few that I *borrowed*.
Let the celebration begin!
Admiring the eye candy of the amazing showroom at Elte we stopped for a Kodak moment. Me, Kimberley Seldon and LeAnne Bunnell (@ellestudio).
This night was all about painting the town blue, not red. Mini nail-bars were set up and guests encouraged to treat themselves to “The Cows Come Home” by OPI.
Kimberley Seldon talks to City Line and Design Contributors Nicholas Rosaci, Christine Da Costa and myself strike a pose.
Kimberley shared a vision for the magazine that started many years ago and that dream has come to life on the pages of Dabble Mag.
Cocktail Deeva’s ‘Dabble-tini’ drinks were a huge hit. Glasses here are all garnished and ready to be filled.
The people…oh the people! It was chock a block full with almost 1000 in attendance.
Fit with a red carpet, everyone had the chance to walk toward a photo opportunity to be on the cover of Dabble.
If you’re passionate about design, travel, food or even all three, then this magazine is for you. Warning: the photography on the pages of Dabble Mag is so incredible that it cause hunger, spur on a renovation or induce a travel bug. Dabble Mag will not be held responsible for any of the aforementioned, however please be sure to let us know if any or all have occurred :)
It was truly a night to remember and I was thrilled to be able to share it with my husband, family and friends.
CONGRATULATIONS DABBLE!
Kimberley with CityLine and Cover photo shoot *borrowed* from Dabble Mag website.
I was going through some old tear outs from Metropolitan Home and I came across this bathroom. What I love the most about it is the fact that at first glance it doesn’t even feel like a bathroom. The function is there, however the aesthetics are beyond beautiful.
Image credit: Metropolitan Home
Spending time in a bathroom like this would be dreamy as far as I’m concerned. What about you? I would love to hear your thoughts!
I have many ideas of a perfect day. After a much needed sleep in, I’m going to grab a latte and stroll through a neighborhood I’ve been wanting to get to for sometime now. All with my husband and a really good friend. I can’t think of a better way to spend my Friday.
I’ll be sure to let you know about any fabulous finds in the Leslieville area. Happy weekend to you!
Image credits: Toronto, sleep-in, latte, map, eames chairs, Hardware, lighting
The day has finally arrived. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be attending the Dabble launch party tonight. Many hours, many people and much support and encouragement has brought us not only to the inaugural issue but as well to this day of celebration. Congratulations to the entire Dabble team!
There are many more people than this involved in the making of Dabble magazine. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again and meeting some new friends too! Watch the ‘Making of Dabble‘ video and see the evolution of this photo.
If you’re planning to attend, please let me know. I would love to say hi!
xo Nyla
We’ve all heard that the kitchen is the hub of the home but what does that look like? Food, dishes, cooking supplies, cookbooks even paper from school work and the mail box fill this space, and yet I would say that the majority of kitchens are built to hide the functioning aspects and display only the ‘accessory’ type objects. Closed cabinetry store dishes, cookbooks are hidden, oils and vinegars are neatly tucked away in the pantry. Glass front cabinets or open shelves are limited to the ‘pretty’ and only those items that are worthy of being on display. However, aren’t those the items that we often use the least?
I’m noticing a shift in how we use our kitchens and wondering how that translates to the design itself. Community is becoming a really important part of our lives whether it be within our own family or while entertaining. More people are getting involved in the preparation, (it’s not just Mom anymore), and inviting guests can also mean more hands to aid in the preparation.
If everyday items such as cooking utensils, food staples, plates and glasses were exposed, friends and family could help themselves, and wouldn’t that be a good thing?
With this concept I see the eating table incorporated into the kitchen which further builds the sense of community. It’s not in another room or separated by an island. Homework, menu planning, family meals and meetings can all happen within close proximity of the family hub. In the end, it saves back and forth from kitchen to table and creates a sense of unity having everyone together.
I wonder if people are reluctant to display such items in this way because it can leave an impression of being messy or disorganized. Do we crave tidy and uncluttered homes after a busy day at work, school, and activities hoping for a sense of calm?
I am fond of having the table incorporated into the kitchen and I do like the open shelf concept with exposed cookware and ingredients to a degree. It feels very communal and inviting to me.
There are definite pros and cons to this look and concept of a ‘kitchen diner’. I would love to know what you think.
Thanks for stopping by!
Yes, there’s still snow on the ground here in Calgary. As a matter of fact we’ve been getting a light dusting of the white stuff over the last few days and yet, somehow I’m ok with it. There’s something comforting in knowing that spring has officially arrived. Snow or not it can only get better from here, right? It’s Spring!
Soon we’ll start to see life again. Trees will bud, flowers will bloom and the grass will turn green. Ahhhh…I’m even excited about the rain that will wash all of winter’s dirt away. Until then, let’s dream about a pretty Spring colour scheme and imagine ourselves sitting at this little bistro table enjoying our morning coffee, shall we?
Image sources: Spring dining, apple blossoms, teal paint colour, rose coloured paint, Graham & Brown wallpaper.
There’s so much I love about this kitchen I’m almost considering a renovation.
What do you think?
Image source: Traditional Home
Lighting is an incredibly important feature in every room from a function perspective but why not make it look fabulous while you’re at it? Nothing says timeless more than Ralph Lauren, and Circa Lighting has recently collaborated with the classic fashion house to create a fantastic new line of lighting. Celebrating time-honored tradition and modern sophistication, the lamps could settle into any room quite nicely. Choose from Ralph Lauren Home or Lauren by Ralph Lauren, and similar to his clothing collections there is something for almost every taste and budget. I’m leaning towards Dustin and Delphene as my favorites. Both completely different but I love them just the same.
1. Dustin dodecahedron table lamp 2. Delphene blue stripe table lamp 3. Round leather wrapped table lamp 4. Camille pierced porcelain table lamp with inner night light 5. Erie marble table lamp 6. Heaton porcelain table lamp **many more on the Circa Lighting site!
So tell me, do you have a favorite?
If you have inquiries about Circa Lighting, give Nyla Free Designs a call or email. Happy to help!
I have always wanted to visit Almont Yard so when I found out Traditional Home and Lonny Mag were throwing a party to wrap up the Design Bloggers Conference I couldn’t have been more thrilled. Not only were we allowed the opportunity to walk through the showrooms, we mingled and chatted with some pretty fabulous people.
Clockwise from top left: Almont Yard signage, entrance into the garden area, lovely gift bags from TRADhome (a new online magazine collaboration between Traditional Home and Lonny Mag), and what would a party be without a few bevies?
Left to right: Julianne Covino (@CreateGirl and Jace Interiors), me, Jennifer Powell (@jenniferepowell) from Kravet, Jacqueline Corea (@coreasotropa and The Pink Chandelier)
Michelle Adams Editor in Chief of Lonny Mag and Stacy Kunstel of Stacy Style and Dunes & Duchess.
Garden lights in Almont Yard.
The studio space of Kathy M. Ireland was chock full of pattern, texture and colour. Overwhelming to some, but piece by piece the showroom was filled with inspiration.
Lucas Studios, small but mighty with fabulous furnishings and artwork.
Every corner I turned in the Nathan Turner showroom I found something I loved. So much so that I’m still contemplating the purchase of a fabulous item.
Almont Yard is like shopping in your backyard. It’s a quaint, foliage filled oasis of design goodness. When you walk into the showrooms you feel like you could be walking into someone’s living room as each piece is displayed according to it’s purpose. There are rarely duplicates which means you’re purchasing something truly special. I highly suggest a visit to Almont Yard, I know I’ll definitely be back.
Thank you to Traditional Home and Lonny Mag for hosting a fabulous party to end an incredible few days.
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