I spent a day last week at the Toronto Interior Design Show. It was so much fun to see the latest design and furniture trends and to not only meet the incredibly talented designers and makers behind my favourite brands but discover new artists as well.

Here are just a few of my top picks.

First up was a booth sponsored by Ontario Wood, a co-operative group that supports Ontario artists and makers whose medium is wood.

This incredible table is made by Merganzer Furniture.

Love this basket weave light by Junction Wood + Metal!

This table light from Storyboard Furniture is made from 36 pieces of wood and 11 pieces of paper. It’s a beautiful juxtaposition between the strength of  wood and the fragility of paper, plus it casts the most amazing light. If mother nature made a disco ball this is what it would look like!

These cabinet doors are from Semihandmade. They make doors and drawer fronts that fit Ikea kitchens. Genius! So now you can have your well priced Ikea kitchen that doesn’t look like an Ikea kitchen.  I’m in love with the navy blue!

South Hill Home showcased this collection designed by Nika Zupanc for Se. I couldn’t get a better picture of this modern yet feminine furniture for the large crowd that was standing in front admiring this lovely display.

Janette Ewen‘s collection for Mobilia was one of my favourites. Stepping into this booth felt like I was transported back to the 1920’s while simultaneously being propelled into the future. The stylish pieces in this collection feel modern yet vintage and are jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Please visit the Mobilia website to see the entire collection as these two lousy pictures don’t do it justice at all!

I’ve written about Studio 50 before here. They debuted pieces from their new collection which included this handsome chair -which is so comfortable it will make guests linger at the dining table long after dinner is over.

And these beautiful serving boards that were so artfully displayed would make any food look more enticing.

Finally, custom furniture designers Morgan Clayhall wowed me with their display. It wasn’t huge but it had lasting impact. The original art on the cabinet is stunning, and that’s real hand stitching on the leather chairs. In case you’re wondering the deep blue on the wall is Hague Blue from Farrow & Ball.

There were so many more displays and exhibits that impressed and inspired me that I wish I had taken more pictures! I’m already looking forward to next year’s show.

When I was seven my grandmother gave me a pom pom kit. The kit contained semi-circular plastic pieces that clipped together to make a ring that you wrapped yarn around. It looked just like the one pictured below. And you can see on the right are the step-by-step instructions to make perfect pom poms.

I LOVED this! I remember making pom poms by the hour. I even glued them together and made pom pom rabbits, cats and caterpillars. I’m pretty sure that I gifted these creatures to anyone who would take one.

I had been looking for something to hang above the bed of my youngest daughter. When I saw this photo on House & Home’s Instagram feed my inner 7-year-old-self squealed with delight and I knew I my search was over!

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Since my own pom pom kit has long since disappeared, a quick internet search revealed oodles of tutorials for making the perfect fluffy pom pom. I decided to use this one since it closely resembled the one I had used as a child.

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But when I sat down to actually start crafting, this method proved to be more labour and time intensive that I wanted. I guess I had more time on my hands when I was seven. What I really wanted was to make lots of fat, fluffy pom poms quickly. I had planned to make this garland while I visited with a friend. As a first rate crafter herself, my friend suggested I just cut a paper towel tube in half and wrap the yarn around that and then tie it in the middle. Brilliant! Where was she when I was a child meticulously wrapping my yarn around small plastic rings??

Here’s a tutorial showing the same method:

 To make smaller pom poms I wrapped the yarn around two fingers and then just slipped a piece of yarn in between to tie it in the middle. After that I could easily take the ball of yarn off my fingers and cut the loops to form the pom pom. That worked okay but the good people of Handimania thought of a better way- using a fork!

You can read the full tutorial here. 

So an hour (and a couple of glasses of wine) later I had a pile of fun and fluffy pom poms.

To finish this project (I feel bad actually calling it a project – it was so easy!) I used an embroidery needle and threaded the pom poms on a piece of yarn. Then I attached the garland to the wall with a couple of clear mini 3M Command Hooks and I was done!

I slid the pom poms on the end up to cover the hook – even though they’re clear you can still see them. I also thought that this may deter small hands from trying to hang other things from the hooks!

This is a super easy way to add colour and texture to any space.

No post on pom poms would be complete without showing the amazing work of  Marsha Golemac.

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How much fun would it be to wake up everyday to that!

Happy Hunting (and crafting!)

This week I’ve been helping with a budget friendly kitchen renovation. The homeowners are looking to update their original 1970’s kitchen to something more contemporary. They have been slowly renovating their house over the past couple of years and are now ready to tackle the kitchen. When talking about how they want the new kitchen to look, the words warm and quiet kept coming up. Isn’t the thought of a warm, quiet kitchen so appealing? Like those moments alone before anyone else is awake and the coffee is just starting to brew and all is right and calm. These homeowners often entertain and I want their guests to feel that same calm welcome when they enter the kitchen.

1. Nickel-plated Varnhem pulls from IKEA
2. Marble-look laminate counter tops in Calcutta Marble from Wilsonart
3. Arabesque tile from Home Depot
4. Brushed Nickel Mini-Pendant Light with Urn Shade by Kichler Lighting
5. Wall paint colour Cement Gray by Benjamin Moore
6. Luxury vinyl floor tile in Marble Rain by Citiflor
7. Set of three handmade canisters by River Stone Pottery
8. Walnut live edge cutting board – similar boards sold here
9. Diamond Medallion Rug in purple by Rugs USA
10. Cabinet door and drawer fronts in Bodbyn Grey from IKEA

Did you make any new year resolutions? I’m not a big resolution maker but I do hope this year to finished off some of the projects around our house that we haven’t had a chance to tackle since we moved in. I love Pinterest and Instagram for all their decorating inspiration but I often feel like my house and my skills don’t measure up to what I see online. So besides getting started on a few decorating and reno jobs, I hope that 2017 is the year I let our house be all about what my family loves, who we are and what we can actually afford to do rather than being swayed by what I see on a screen.

I recently read Susanna Salk’s beautiful book Decorate Fearlessly: Using Whimsy, Confidence, and a Dash of Surprise to Create Deeply Personal Spaces

This book is filled with gorgeous photos of real homes that are boldly decorated with big colours, lots of patterns and the owners’ most treasured objects.

What I love about this book is that each space featured is so different from one another. I really appreciate that Susanna’s designs capture the personality of the people who live in the rooms.  It’s evident that her main focus is to reflect the beauty and style of the homeowners rather than imposing her own aesthetic. This book boosted my confidence and made me feel that I’m on the right road in my journey to create a house that is all about me and my family. It’s not what’s trending on social media or what shelter magazines predict will be the must-have decor for the coming year; it’s being daring enough to experiment and being content knowing my own style is the right style for our house.

If it looks right, it is right.

-Dorothy Draper

How inspiring is this quote from famed interior designer Dorothy Draper? Inspiring and freeing. Like being told that you can do something you always though you weren’t allowed to!  Her signature style mixed loud colours, big patterns and shiny surfaces like lacquered walls and reflective tiles.

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She encouraged housewives of the day – “Don’t be afraid! Paint the door green!” Draper knew that if you love something you will love it in your home, and it if it looks right to you, then it is right. Her advice inspired design lovers everywhere to take chances and try something personal and unique.

So this year instead of trying to recreate someone else’s perfect room, let’s fill our homes with what we love:

whether it’s pictures of a pet,

an amazing collection of hats

 or erasers (hey, whatever you’re in to).

or making an impact with repurposed materials.

Put your stamp on your home. It doesn’t have to be perfect, or even complete it just has to look right to you. At the end of my life I don’t want to be remembered for what my house looked like, I want to be remembered for the great memories we created in the house.

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Christmas has come and gone but around here we aren’t ready to give up the  celebrating just quite yet. There’s one more shindig before we pack it in for another year.

Over the years we have celebrated New Year’s Eve with loud and riotous parties, hosted quiet family get togethers and more recently spent the evening cozied up in front of the t.v. with favourite movies and junk food (it’s always chocolate). This year we’re having a few friends over to ring in 2017 with us. While dancing on the table is optional there will definitely be champagne, fun non-alcoholic drinks for the kiddos and easy late night snacks to keep the party going long after midnight. It’s all about simple and relaxed entertaining – I think the host should enjoy the party as much as the guests.

Here are just a few ideas that I’ve gathered together that may show up on our table.

Caprese skewers are my go-to app. They’re easy to make ahead and pop in the fridge or take the tomatoes, bocconcini and basil with you to a party and assemble them in no time flat. Drizzle with balsamic just before serving and you’re done!

I recently spied these antipasto cups at a Toronto deli  – genius! Perfect for party-goers who like to eat and mingle (me!). 

A few weeks ago we discovered this sweet pepper bruschetta from the Canadian food company Sardo. We can’t stop eating this stuff. It’s like traditional bruschetta but with sweet peppers instead of tomatoes. It’s delicious mixed with cream cheese as a spread, poured over baked chicken and even mixed with rice. Our new favourite condiment will likely make an appearance at our NYE spread, probably served simply like this:

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And of course there will be Buffalo Chicken Dip. What’s better than hot, spicy, gooey cheese and chicken you scoop with a chip? Seriously if you haven’t tried it, now is the time!

Flatbread is another easy-to-make-ahead snack. Top it with whatever your crowd likes and pop it in the oven or on the grill. This gorgeous one below comes from Food & Wine. I’ve made a version of this and it was amazing. Cut the flatbreads into skinny wedges for party-sized servings. 

Raise a Glass

New Year’s Eve drinks don’t have to be complicated to be memorable or delicious. Don’t forgot to include some non-alcoholic options for friends who are driving and those who don’t drink. The LCBO has lots of tasty alcohol-free recipes here. 

For the kids we always serve Shirley Temples – with little umbrellas of course!

We have a stock of canning jars that we use as drinking glasses for the kids. I keep these chalk labels on hand (these are from Dollarama) so little ones can tell which drink is theirs.

A hot chocolate bar is fun for everyone. Put out a crock pot of hot chocolate and have mix-ins like marshmallows, chocolate chips, candy canes, sprinkles, cinnamon sticks and whip cream that everyone can add as they wish. I like my hot chocolate spiked with something like this or this 😉

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Keep cocktails simple by offering a few themed drinks along with ingredients for guests to mix their own concoctions. Since we already have everything to make Shirley Temples, this Coconut Rum Punch is an easy adult-only upgrade. 

Sangria is a poolside staple at our house during the summer but this version uses wintery ingredients to make it perfect for a cold weather party. Plus you probably have everything needed to make this already in your kitchen. 

Top off the snacks & drinks with these easy and delicious desserts.

I love making this Banoffee Pie. It looks and tastes like it took so much effort – except it doesn’t. Please feel free to cheat and buy a ready-made crumb crust. I won’t tell anyone.

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This Cherry Cheesecake Dip can be whipped up in minutes and be made a day or two before your party. I’ve omitted the marshmallow fluff at times and it still tasted great. This is always a hit with both adults and kids. If you’re not crazy for cherries try blueberries or strawberries.

Cheers to easy entertaining on New Year’s!

Last week I was a part of a workshop at Mullen Garden Market in Niagara Falls. This small but mighty garden market, gift shop and full service florist has been operating in the city for more than 20 years. They make gorgeous flower arrangements, bouquets and centrepieces all year round but it’s at Christmas when this place becomes especially magical!

They have everything you need to make stunning outdoor planters and wreaths to wow your guests even before they get through your front door.

They also have beautiful ready made planters like this one:

I was lucky enough to join a group of lovely ladies to learn how to make this modern and elegant table centrepiece.

Not to brag, but didn’t it turn out awesome?! It was all thanks to Mullen’s amazingly talented and encouraging staff who showed me what green goes where, how to shape the arrangement and even the subtle art of making add-ins (pine cones, berries etc.) look balanced.

When we arrived we each received a box with all the materials we would need.

 It already looked pretty and we hadn’t even started!

We used four different types of greens: Boxwood Cedar, Carolina Sapphire, Arborvitae and Pittosporum.

Once our planters (handsome, weathered faux bois boxes which I will definitely be using again) were full of soaked oasis we were ready to start putting the greens in. The birch logs are used to create height and a focal point for the arrangement.

Then we added a bit of this

and a bit of that

and we kept adding and layering the greens

until the arrangement was full and we were happy with the results.

I really love how each one turned out different but they all looked beautiful and professional. This workshop taught me so much and gave me a new confidence in my floral arranging skills. I may just be ready to tackle a full outdoor planter. On the other hand, maybe I’ll just pick up this one!

I also did a bit of Christmas shopping at Mullen Garden Market.                       Here are just a few of the great gifts they have:

If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll stop by and check out this gem of a market!

Happy Hunting!

Mullen Garden Market is located at 4856 Drummond Road in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Pantone just announced its colour of the year for 2017.

A statement posted on the Pantone website had this to say about this year’s selection:

Wow, this pretty shade of green has a big job to do!

I’ve always like green. (See my earlier post about my my love affair with this colour.) It’s an easy neutral to work with and if you don’t already have a bit of green somewhere in your home then now is the time to try it out. 

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See how much of an impact simple green leaves can have in a neutral space? No need to repaint the walls to enjoy this trend!

I’m totally on board with this Colour of the Year and look forward to seeing more Greeery inspired fashion and home decor. To me, this colour is much more palatable than say, 2014’s Radiant Orchid

or 2012’s Tangerine Tango

So thank you Pantone for selecting a colour that is both uplifting, calming and easy to incorporate into our homes!

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With the holidays right around the corner you may not be gearing up for a major renovation or decorating project but you may be looking to refresh your space before the entertaining season. A quick way to change up a small space, entry wall or powder room is to add wallpaper. While it’s likely more expensive than paint the impact can be huge! Imagine one of these gracing your walls:

This wallpaper is easily removable so it’s ideal to use in closets or on shelves.

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This one looks like a traditional print but a closer look reveals dancing foxes.

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Big, bold and lush!

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So sweet for a little’s ones bedroom. But hide the crayons because this wallpaper is just asking to be filled in by a budding Picasso!

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Tartan with a modern twist!

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This large scale pattern is bold but its subtle colour scheme keeps it from overwhelming the space.

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Even this is wallpaper! This ombre effect would be hard to achieve with paint but could be on your walls in just a few hours.

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I love how paper was used to create a focal point in this bedroom. This is also a cost effective way to get the look of wallpaper without covering the entire room.

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And you can’t talk about wallpaper these days without mentioning this iconic 1959 print from Cole & Son.

Even though it’s been done time and again I still love these graphic trees. There’s just a quiet beauty to them. This print has been updated and is available in four more colourways. I think the purple is my favourite!

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And lastly these beautiful prints from Trustworth Studios use reproductions of British architect designer CFA Voysey’s  Arts & Crafts inspired patterns.

If wallpaper really isn’t in your budget but you still want the look of wallpaper try this ingenious freehand painting technique from Kristin Jackson from The Hunted Interior. It’s just brushstrokes on a painted wall. So pretty!

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One part modern, a splash of industrial, a pinch of Scandinavian, blended with a few rustic & vintage elements and you have the recipe for the Workshop Inspired Kitchen. It’s like home economics and wood shop class had a little too much to drink one night in the science lab. It’s a beautiful Frankenstein for those who really love to cook.

I’m sure the workshop kitchen owes much to this famous kitchen:

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Julia Child had it right. Why waste time searching for the right pan, measuring cup or a spatula? Her legendary peg board organizer helped make her a boss in the kitchen.

Here’s a look at some beautiful, functional, approachable, modern but definitely not minimalist workshop kitchens.

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This NYC cooking school, cafe, store & event venue, Haven’s Kitchen is the epitome of workshop inspired design. Just look at this wonderful place!

Open shelves, stacks of bake and serving ware, and lots of fresh ingredients close at hand are all hallmarks of this design aesthetic.  It’s communal, welcoming and all about creating something delicious with the people you love. Here are just a few items that I think are necessities in the workshop kitchen:

Roller note paper

Handmade servingware

This coffeemaker 

Good quality cutting boards (I love these personalized ones from OSOhome)

This Rock Bottom Vessel from Studio 50. The concrete base can be heated or chilled so you can serve tea or white wine (along with countless other things) from this handsome piece.

 and a rolling rack to keep everything close when you need it.

 I suddenly feel like whipping up a batch of brownies!