Rite of Spring

 No matter how long winter, spring is sure to follow….

The annual One of a Kind Spring Show—on now until Sunday (April 5) at Toronto’s Direct Energy Centre—is a ritual for thousands. Every time I attend I realize how many people make it a group outing; Moms who love the complimentary daycare and happy shoppers celebrating [...]

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The Inspiration – The Ivy at Verity

Lovely blue wallpaper and dream-inducing bed 

The newly-opened boutique hotel, The Ivy at Verity, offers glorious feminine design in small bijoux packages. I had the pleasure of visiting the hotel and working on a story for Canadian decor blog Style North – see my story here at Style North - and some more pretty images to enjoy below. 
 
 

The Ivy at Verity – small [...]

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Canadian Check-In: Quebec City & Magog

I didn’t grow up in Ontario so the obligatory school trip to Quebec City wasn’t something I got to do (I went to Victoria, B.C. instead). My first trip to this 400-year old walled city made me instantly decide it wouldn’t be my last: whatever the time of year, this provincial capital is welcoming and [...]

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Karenfoundit

588 Markham Street, Toronto
416. 535.7432, Wed – Sat 11am – 6 pm, Sun 12 – 6 pm
My friend Chris clued me into Karenfoundit, a vintage shop in Toronto’s Mirvish Village. Tucked above the street in a Victorian row house, this store is a treasure trove of owner Karen Wilson’s finds from estate sales, auctions and [...]

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International Check-in: Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC – On a rainy Sunday, my friend and I headed south to Charleston, a coastal city that is the epitome of southern living. Originally founded in 1670 as Charles Towne, the past is still very much in evidence here. The residents’ obvious pride in their city’s history has insured that buildings are preserved–modern [...]

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International Check-In

International Check-In: Charlotte, N.C.

Charlotte, NC – nestled in the northeastern corner of North Carolina, this city named for Queen Charlotte (wife of George III) is an interesting mix of financial centre (Bank of America and Wachovia) and furniture trade (near the epicentre of furniture manufacturing, Highpoint, NC).
I recently spent the holidays here with my friend [...]

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Take the party outside

For Sebastien and Sheila Centner, entertaining is both work and play
“My parents always threw great parties, so I’ve always wanted to do the same,” says Sebastien Centner, whose life is dedicated to making sure everyone has a good time, whether through his restaurant and event company, Eatertainment, or at his home. The war-time bungalow in [...]

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Great Spaces: Can-Con

A Toronto East-end home is Arts and Crafts outside, mid-century mod inside, with a healthy dollop of contemporary Canadian art mixed in
When a fire destroyed their rental home, and half of their belongings with
it, hair and makeup artist Tony Masciangelo and his partner, Jed Puznak,
decided to start over. They’d been putting off buying their own [...]

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Home sweet home – summer style

For the perfect summer day the key recipe is a bit of sun, a bit of shade, icy cold drinks, tasty snacks and comfortable seating. A comfortable chair that looks stylish will make your backyard, patio or deck the spot to survive the heat and humidity. For summer ’08, go trad with teak or trendy [...]

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Out with vanilla, in with cayenne

Luxury washers and dryers freshen their staid and steady style
Laundry ranks low on the scale of regular household tasks: Till now, it hasn’t been a room that makes the house tour. But with advancing technology, the laundry room is now a space that is practical and stylish and is home to cutting-edge technology.
In the 1950s, [...]

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