Cameron MacNeil

Results of a recent Design Consultation!

2011-09-04T09:17:00.004-04:00

Back in the spring I received an email from a woman in Vancouver who had inherited a 1860's square timbered log house in Quebec. It had been in her family for 8 generations! She was interested in a design consultation so she could figure out room layouts and what new furniture to choose. She emailed me several photos and we had a good phone conversation. After that, she was on her own and I think the results are amazing.

She had several great pieces already but just needed to fill in some of the blanks. Getting everything to Quebec was a concern so we had to think about stores and websites that would ship there. I suggested this Diamond patterned light blue indoor-outdoor Dash & Albert rug for her dining room. It's perfect for under a table because they are easy to keep clean.

She found the living room tricky to place furniture in so I suggested creating two seating areas. We went for fail-safe white Ektorp sofas from Ikea with West Elm's jute boucle area rug to create one seating area. Her husband made the coffee table out of 100 year old pine they had found lying around the property!

She had her grandmothers chaise that was recently reupholstered in a rust/olive pattern. At first I thought it was going to be hard for me to incorporate into a space that she wanted to be light and bright but I suggested moving it across the room to create the second seating area. It looks great in between the two built-in bookcases. She found a pair of cane chairs at Pottery Barn which I think are perfect. She's still looking for a console table for the stair wall.

It a perfect example of that classic old and new formula. New (and moderately inexpensive) pieces mixed in with old ones can create a relaxed and fresh environment-with lots of history!

Showing off the Dining Room

2011-09-02T19:50:00.005-04:00

This is everyone's favourite room in our house and I think you can see why. The 19' ceilings say it all. I had the talented Sarah Hartill take a few snapshots of it earlier this week. I've got my favourite Jocelyn Warner wallpaper on a pair of wood panels on one wall and a series of photographs by Rita Godlevskis on the opposite wall. The 90" ash dining table anchors the space and I think it looks great with the dark floors.

Going up for sale!

2011-08-27T14:12:00.005-04:00

I've noticed a few of my favourite blogs are a bit slower at posting around this time of the year. Here's my excuse...our house is going up for sale! It was actually up for a few weeks in July, but that's a pretty slow time for real estate apparently so we're giving it another shot in September. Here are some photos of the kitchen that photographer Michael Graydon took of the place back in 2009 for House & Home's makeover issue. I added the before shots for some added drama!

Before

Fun Lighting Installation

2011-07-11T19:23:00.002-04:00

I popped into Sense Appeal Coffee Roasters on Spadina Avenue in Toronto on Friday, I had to snap a pic of their lighting installation. Nothing new of course - but I think it still looks pretty cool.

Check out the July issue of House & Home

2011-06-04T23:39:00.002-04:00

I had the pleasure of working on a special cottage last summer which you can check it out in the July 2011 issue of House & Home magazine. The cottage belongs to Karen Kain Artistic Director for the National Ballet of Canada and actor/producer Ross Petty. We also shot a video tour which you can check out here!

Wall Decor at Crate & Barrel

2011-05-31T22:50:00.007-04:00

I was at Crate & Barrel Last week, I thought some of their "Art" was pretty nice.

Vein of Truth 60"x20"

Buhkara Fields Print 30"x80"

Creamsicles Print 47"x47"

Sea Life Silhoeutte Print (there are six)

Sea Urchin Print (there are 2)

Janus et Cie Catalogue

2011-05-19T21:20:00.006-04:00

Shopping for outdoor furniture is fun, even during this dreary spring we're having in Toronto. I was flipping through the Janus et Cie catalogue and found so many beautiful photos of their furniture, I had to share some of my favourites.

Beautiful Sakura in Toronto's High Park

2011-05-10T20:56:00.004-04:00

Not sure where I've been for the past 11 years but this is the first year I've heard about the cherry blossoms in Toronto's High Park. I think friend Rey captured them beautifully. Check out more of his shots here.

This is Rey's favourite (I think mine as well) and he's going to get it printed on canvas, can't wait to see it!

Purchased: Kartell Bubble Club Sofa by Philippe Stark

2011-04-29T23:15:00.003-04:00

Well, it's official. I just purchased a pair of Kartell's Bubble Cub Sofa's from Elte today! I'm going to try and get them delivered soon so I can get the back yard looking a bit more inviting. I chose these over a sofa with cushions because I knew I would never be good at covering them up in the rain! I'll snap a few pics when i have it all set up!

Slipcover to the Rescue!

2011-04-13T20:48:00.000-04:00

I just finished helping a client with getting her place ready to sell. It's not something I normally do, but it was fun to use as much of her existing furniture with a few simple additions to make each room look like almost anyone would want to live there.

In one of the living areas she had a pair of arm chairs that felt like...oh lets just say they had too much personality for the room. They were a great size and the legs were nicely carved so I decided to have them slipcovered in a simple taupe cotton twill.

For under $200 we have a great pair of chairs that have just the right amount of personality for the room. I like the casual look that the slipcover gives to those legs.

New Chair to Reupholster

2011-04-07T23:39:00.001-04:00

I couldn't pass up this chair I spotted at The Elegant Garage Sale. A pretty good bargain for $95, it has a small footprint and it's really comfortable as well. I haven't picked a fabric for it but I'll keep you posted when its finished!

You know it's Spring when...

2011-03-31T22:00:00.001-04:00

...You see big beautiful cherry blossoms! I spotted these at Brassaii in Toronto. Amazing!

Budget Bedroom Makeover

2011-03-29T23:29:00.001-04:00

Check out the Small Bedroom Makeover I recently completed for a House & Home online TV segment. Working with a $2500 budget was challenging but fun at the same time.

White on White

2011-03-18T18:47:00.002-04:00

I saw this lamp in the latest issue of Elle Decor this month. It's from White On White in New York. I was shocked at the inexpensive price tag so I had to check out their website.

A lot of their product is..um.. shall we call say "off licence reproductions" (knockoffs) but they do have a great mix of product.

If I had to choose one of my favourite "inspired" pieces, it would be their Praying Mantis Floor Lamp. Check out the original here and compare the price.

The Kelly Chair @ Elte

2011-02-23T22:24:00.004-05:00

I had to snap a pic of the latest display at Elte. They're showing off their new "Kelly" chair and I thought it was really well done. These bistro style chairs are a mere $99, and the hard part is deciding what colour to choose!

Must Have: Director's Coffee Table

2011-02-13T21:40:00.005-05:00

Director's Coffee Table at Williams Sonoma Home,

teak, steel and glass

24" diameter by 18" high

only $595!!

William Birch Sofa fresh from the Upholster!

2011-02-04T22:19:00.003-05:00

I dropped by my upholster tonight to check to check out a sofa I've ordered for a friend. It's your typical William Birch style (anyone know why we call it that?.... I don't) that we have all seen around, but lately I'm really liking this style. It can be a hard sell for some people - they find it too traditional but I've seen it in many different room styles. Thankfully my friend has a traditional side so he was up for it.

I tweaked the size of this one, I made it 32" high with a 17" seat height, which is on the low side for this style. It's 40" deep so there will be lots of room for cushions. The fabric is Robert Allen's Modern Felt in Charcoal. It's 50% linen and 50% polyester so it's going to be very durable. I can't wait to see it in the space!

Intel Visual Life - The Sartorialist

2011-01-31T20:40:00.010-05:00

This video has been out for a bit now, but I thought I'd post it here so I can easily re-watch it! If you've not been to Scott Schuman's blog The Sartorialist, shame on you and quickly click on the link to check it out. You will be hooked.

Thoughts of Slipcovers

2011-01-26T21:15:00.006-05:00

I'm contemplating a silpcover for my sofa to get a look something like the Simpliciter Simplice Collection by Antonio Citterio for Maxalto. This sofa was designed in 2003 and you can you know it's a timeless style since this image could have been taken in 2003 or 2011 and you wouldn't know it. I like the new slipcovered furniture that's out right now, the pieces are less shabby and more chic.

My sofa....stay tuned for a slipcover transformation!

Crazy For: Walnut Bar Stools

2011-01-20T21:35:00.009-05:00

I'm loving all of the walnut barstools I'm seeing lately. They are a perfect way to warm up a white kitchen.

Bay Counter Stools Room & Board, $349

Tractor Counter Stool DWR, $1195

Walnut Swivel Counter Stool, McGuire $1290

West Elm Industrial Pendants

2011-01-01T19:41:00.000-05:00

I probably love West Elm a bit too much, but when you look at their new spring collection, how can you not? The Industrial Pendant is one of my favorites this season. 4 sizes, 4 colours and conversion kits in 4 colours so you can hard wire them!

Conversion Kits for Hard Wiring

I think the cord sets would look amazing on their own with a filament bulb. The 15' long cord is fabric covered which is pretty awesome for $29.

Ace Hotel Palm Springs

2010-12-28T17:52:00.004-05:00

Part of my California trip included two nights at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs. What an amazing place. Very Hip, but casual and laid back all at the same time. There was a great cross section of guests. Young families, friends, couples, guys attending a bachelor party - you name it, they were at the Ace.

The room was great. It had a king size bed and then two twin day beds that could be divided with heavy canvas curtains. The slat wall added interest and warmed up the room. My favorite element was the denim headboard which was more like a gigantic bolster since it was stuffed with foam and batting - no wood. The day beds had a pair of actual bolsters in the same denim. Pets were allowed, and Quincy the Pug loved the concrete floor which kept him cool.

A small Mini Bar
The bathroom had double sinks made of Corain and the Kohler Stillness Faucets - very nice! The Rudy's Barbershop toiletries (owned by Ace) were also a nice touch.

I loved this stool, there were a pair of them in the room.

No stay at the Ace would be complete without a shot of the room using my Hipstamatic App on my phone.

Best Made Company First Aid Kit

2010-12-26T21:52:00.002-05:00

Kinda think this All-Purpose First Aid kit by Best Made Company would look great hanging on my kitchen or bathroom wall - and it's totally practical too! It comes with all of this stuff for $89.

California 12/2010 Part II

2010-12-20T13:13:00.001-05:00

Well I certainly couldn't tell you the names of all of these plant species but I do know they make a pretty snapshot. One of the best things about California is that it's always green, so as cold as it is in the east, looking at these pics warm me up.

Lavender & African Blue Basil that a friend planted on his boulevard - no grass to cut here!

California 12/2010 Part I

2010-12-19T20:39:00.002-05:00

I spent last week hanging out in Los Angeles and had the pleasure of dining at the home of my friend Blake and his sister Laura. I've been going to their house once a year for the past 3 years or so and every time I visit something has changed. I love their style since it's totally cool and casual but you feel so sophisticated being there. A beautiful arrangement of poppies, bowl of citrus (leaves attached, don't forget) and lots of candles created an amazing environment for dinner.

Vodka, Grapefruit, Prosecco, Crushed Ice and African Blue Basil for garnish

I love this shot of the eating area in the daytime - totally different mood by day but still lovely. What an fun mix of pieces. I took this shot using at Samsung Galaxy Tab. It was very cool to take photo with a 7" screen!

Bitossi Ceramics in Rimini Blu from Design Within Reach

2010-11-09T21:36:00.003-05:00

Here's something else for your Christmas list, Bitossi Ceramics in Rimini Blu from DWR. I had to scan this image from DWR's latest catalog because the grouping is so beautiful!

Looking Good at Anthropologie

2010-10-24T21:42:00.006-04:00

A few cute pieces I came across on the Anthropologie website.

Perch Barstool

Sevilla Ottoman

Dutch Wax Ottoman

Cascara Side Table

Ork Posters

2010-10-21T23:12:00.003-04:00

My friend Alim just ordered a few of these maps from Ork Posters. I thought they were pretty cool - and they start at only $22!

Nice finds from Wisteria!

2010-10-12T20:35:00.008-04:00

I was flipping through the latest Lonny magazine and came across an ad for a super cute online shop called Wisteria, I don't think it's a new store and I'm not sure if they ship to Canada but if anything - it's a nice site for some design inspiration.

Wooden Upholstered Sofa with Bridal Rug
Smart and Sleek Stool

Colourful Wooden Trays

Cage Pendant Lamp

Basement Bathroom Reno...Almost There!

2010-10-04T22:55:00.003-04:00

Well it's only (...only!?) taken about 8 weeks to get to this point and it's looking pretty good so far. A bit of paint, a mirror and some grout here and then and we may have a fully functioning second bathroom by Thanksgiving!

Oh that West Elm...

2010-10-02T19:37:00.000-04:00

I shouldn't be surprised but West Elm has introduced some beautiful product this season. Every time I'm in the store or surfing their website I find something new.
This ottoman is a perfect size at 36" square and I love the fabric.

Everyone's been asking about wall mounted bedside lamps, I think I'm going to order a few of these.

These recycled glass bud vases are only $6.00

The Essex sofa comes stocked in this linen cotton print, very daring for West Elm, but I love it!

Bull's Eye Silk Pillow Cover

Industrial Task Table Lamp a mere $59!

...Recently Purchased

2010-09-18T17:37:00.005-04:00

I just purchased these sconces from Pottery Barn. I'm working on a cottage and thought they would be perfect for the main bedroom. I had to ship them to a friend in Pennsylvania and he is going to ship them to me since Pottery Barn does not offer direct shipping to Canada.

I didn't discover them directly from the Pottery Barn website, I was looking at a fantastic blog called Myleshenryblog (thanks for the referral Jason Hudson) and he had shown them there. Very Cool!

A Bathroom Reno (while we were at it)

2010-08-22T21:34:00.003-04:00

So while we were restoring the basement from the flood we figured we might as well attempt the bathroom down there as well. It's hard to believe the last owner used this bathroom daily as it's been pretty much hermetically sealed since we moved in 4 years ago....and you can clearly see why. The nicest fixture in the room was this blue pedestal sink. When they demolished the bathroom they found a Toronto Star newspaper from 1977 so I guess that's when they "remodeled" this room.

The sink's label said it was made by Porcher which is French plumbing company (now owned by American Standard). A blue imported pedestal sink from France? Pretty fancy for 1977 I'm sure. I had it tossed in the dumpster but I now I feel like I should have called Porcher to see if they wanted it for their archives.....I'm sure they would have passed.

The House Has Seen Better Days

2010-08-19T21:07:00.000-04:00

So on June 12 we had a flood in our basement. The water main broke under the porch and pretty much soaked the front half of the basement. The insurance company was pretty quick in sending in a bunch of guys to pack everything (and and place in the dining room) so they could rip up the soaked carpet and begin the restoration. The sad part is that it's been over nine weeks and they are still not done! My dining room makes me look like I should be on the next episode of A&E's Hoarders.

Curb Appeal on Gilead

2010-08-10T21:38:00.006-04:00

Photography By Michael Graydon

The next time you're at Jamie Kennedy's Gilead Cafe, be sure to look across the street and check out the eight stunning loft style town houses that were recently completed, and designed by Architect Brian Kucharski. You can check out a bit of the building process here. Toronto Star's Architecture Christopher Hume wrote about this project and gave it an A, even before the project was finished.

I love how these dwellings have totally transformed the tiny street, and it's so nice to see modern houses being built in Toronto for a change.

Photography By Michael Graydon

Nice Stairwell!

2010-08-02T23:10:00.005-04:00

I went to a photo shoot last week at 224 Wallace Avenue in Toronto. It's a cool old building that's home to various studios for photographers, and other businesses including Ubisoft's new Toronto office. I had to snap a few shots of the recently restored the stairwells with my iPhone.

From what I can remember, most of the surfaces were painted before and now it's been sandblasted away. These newly exposed materials certainly reinforce the industrial vintage trend we all are seeing everywhere right now....this is as authentic as it gets without even trying - how cool is that?

Can't stop looking at...

2010-07-28T21:41:00.006-04:00

There is a photo of this sofa hanging in a co-workers office. Every time I pop in, this sofa just jumps out at me!

It's the Oscar Sofa designed by Matthew Hilton found at The Future Perfect. Modern and Traditional at the same time, how can you go wrong?

Original BTC

2010-07-21T23:17:00.006-04:00

I'll take any one of these beautiful lamps, heck I'll take a pair! They are a small sampling from Oxford UK based company Original BTC. They are made from combinations of aluminium, chrome and bone china.

Simple and chic - you really can't go wrong with that.

Perhaps my next kitchen?

2010-07-16T17:24:00.002-04:00

I'm not going to lie, I'd really like to have a kitchen like any of these some time soon. Slick and modern, with warm wood tones to keep it from feeling cold. These shots are from the kitchen company Henry Built, take a look at their site for more cool images. And for something as amazing with a smaller budget in mind, check out their sister company Viola Park.

Go and get a Dash & Albert

2010-07-12T22:50:00.005-04:00

Do yourself a favor this season and quickly update any room with a rug from Dash & Albert. Their countless cotton patterns will add a humbleness to a trad city living room or brighten up a casual country dining room. Check out their amazing indoor/outdoor polypropylene rugs for your mudroom or under your kitchen table, they are scrubbable and bleachable so those inevitable spills can be easily taken care of.

And if you're not in the market for one of these beauties, their website has such pretty photography to look at.

West Elm for Fall 2010

2010-07-09T19:00:00.005-04:00

I'm sure you've seen all of West Elm's fall collection, but I thought I would post it anyway. It's a mix that's earthy, but still graphic - very cool.

Is it July Already?

2010-07-03T21:24:00.003-04:00

Well I guess it is July already...and there's no better way to enjoy the summer than eating outside - have a few friends over while your at it. Take inspiration from these beautiful shots of recent soirees planned by none other than my super fab friends Blake & Laura at Household Horticulture in Los Angeles.

I'm not sure who the party was for, nor was I invited and that's totally fine (really). I'm just glad Blake took some snapshots so we can all wish we were there.

What if it's too bright and sunny out you say? No worries, they'll get you the perfect sun shelter like they did for this event.

The yellow and gray make such a pretty combination, it's casual but still sophisticated.

Niche Modern Lighting

2010-06-10T22:38:00.004-04:00

I'm sure these pendants from Niche Modern have been blogged about over and over again, but I'm not tired of them just yet. You can't go wrong with any of these hand-blown pieces, take a look at their website for table lamps, vases and chandeliers. I'm thinking of replacing my foyer fixture with one....but which one should it be?

Nice stuff from the Sundance Catalog

2010-06-06T22:31:00.007-04:00

Tolix Pull-Up Stool

I was checking out Jason Hudson's blog These Roving Eyes where he wrote about the gorgeous blog called myleshenryblog. There He showed the most beautiful blankets from Swans Island.
Those blankets inspired me to take a look at my "country home bookmarks" and I pulled up the Sundance Catalog as they have a great mix of country and vintage industrial looks - which I love. Arren Willams blogged about the Sundance Catalog last year and that's how I found out about them.

Here are 5 out of probably 100 things I think I'd buy there If I had a place to put them!

Sphero Chandelier

Provence Linens

Richardson Reeves Bed

Cottage Dhurrie

True Industrial Chicness

2010-06-04T23:35:00.005-04:00

I walked by this construction site today on Portland Street in Toronto and had to take a photo (I'm always amazed what an Iphone camera can do). I loved seeing how the old building was totally opened up to the foundation. The site is right on trend without even trying. If the floor still existed, I'm sure it would have made a great location for the next Anthropologie catalog.

Nice Beams

2010-05-31T23:26:00.000-04:00

One of my friends is building a new house. He has to take down an old building first, and I'm excited to see what he has in store for all of these ceiling joists. He thinks they are over eighty years old and they look like they are in great shape. They are over 16' long and about
9" tall. A bit narrow for book shelves but I'm sure they could be planed and joined for a great table top...possibilities are endless. Stay tuned!

Perfect little tables for your house in the country

2010-05-20T21:51:00.003-04:00

The Milford Table from The Company Store - If I had a house in the country, I'd get a pair. At $69 each, how could you pass them up?

Dream Home at the Merchandise Mart Chicago

2010-05-14T19:11:00.006-04:00

I took a few snapshots of the Dream Home concept at the Merchandise Mart when I was there a last month. It's open until December 10, 2010 so there's plenty of time to check it out if you are in Chicago. My photos aren't great (trying to avoid other visitors and small children) but I saw a few things I thought were pretty cool. All of the sourcing is on their website if you see anything of interest.

Foyer by Summer Thorton

Bedroom by Jeannie Balsam
My favourite space was the bedroom. I loved the use of cool gray and light wood with accents of orange for interest and warmth. The printed grasscloth on the walls added a nice texture.

Home Office by Tony Stavish
The home office had more orange. I thought the settee was great with the watercolours above it as well as the drapery in Thomas Paul's signature robin print fabric.

Magnolia in Full Bloom

2010-04-25T22:36:00.004-04:00

An iPhone snapshot of a beautiful magnolia in full bloom - great use for a camera phone!

Shore Club Hotel Miami

2010-04-25T20:45:00.001-04:00

I spent a few nights last month at the Shore Club Hotel in Miami. I find a lot of hotels can look amazing in their first few years of business but after that easily look worn, but Shore Club did not disappoint.

The all white interior was pretty classic for a boutique style hotel. The lobby had polished concrete floors, slipcovered seating and sheer drapery. My room had concrete tiled floors, white metal framed beds and teak accents to warm up the space.

The terrace and pool was anything but neutral, it was all colour and so unexpected. It had an eclectic feel with a mix of Mediterranean accessories and mid century modern inspired furniture.

Merchandise Mart Benjamin Moore Showroom

2010-04-16T21:48:00.004-04:00

I spent the afternoon checking out a bunch of showrooms at Chicago's Merchandise Mart. One of the most colourful was Benjamin Moore paints. I had to snap a few shots because I've never seen paint chips displayed this way.

More Jocelyn Warner Wallpaper!

2010-03-23T19:48:00.008-04:00

I've blogged about Jocelyn Warner's lovely wallpapers before and I've finally taken a few shots of how I've used her Tree Tops pattern in a couple of spaces. The Blue colourway shown in this bedroom is the one I've used the most, and I love the look of the Mole colourway going up the stairs in this foyer.

Photographs by Ben Mark Holzberg

2010-03-15T19:29:00.000-04:00

I love this grouping of photographs by Ben Mark Holzberg. I found them at Canvas Gallery and I knew they would look perfect in this living room. They are images of various subway stations in Toronto, clearly several years ago when the TTC has seen better days.

A Favourite KItchen Reno

2010-02-24T21:09:00.007-05:00

Another space I had photographer Kim Jeffery take shots of was this kitchen I did a few years ago. The previous kitchen was original to the house when it was built in the 1990s, so you can easily imagine what it looked like.

We chose a classic shaker style door with Concrete coloured Caesarstone counter tops and pale green-gray 2"x8" glass tiles on the back splash. I always like to run the tile around the kitchen window when I can, it really finishes off that area. The maple flooring was used since it existed in other rooms on the main floor so we carried it right through to the kitchen and I like the warmth it adds to the room.

The old kitchen window was above the sink where the where the cooktop is now - it overlooked the neighbors less than beautiful brick wall so a two new windows were installed in the corner with a better view overlooking the back yard. I don't typically put the sink in the corner of the kitchen, but my cabinet designer Andrew Deir made this work really well. There's a great niche behind the sink now for a collection of vases.

I'm most jealous of the pot filler over the cooktp because I wish I put one in my kitchen when it was renovated!

"That space over the Garage"

2010-02-10T20:13:00.004-05:00

I worked on a small sitting room last year and I finally had photographer Kim Jeffery take a great shot of it for me. It was a tricky space to shoot as it's long and narrow with high ceilings so this was the best angle for the shot even though you don't get to see it all (the other side is a home office). The room is over the garage of the house and had a few awkward bulkheads on each side of the room, but we just worked around them. It was great that it had a fireplace but it wasn't in the best location.

I started with 2 armless chairs, a sofa and then filled the room in with accessories, a lamps and a cowhide rug. After we brought in the furniture and accessories, the homeowner brought out a large piece of art that really seemed to work with everything else in the space. I also got them two Shane Norrie paintings for over their fireplace. I like the way the cool blue and gray tones work with the warm wood floors and Benjamin Moore's Cloud White paint on the walls. It's turned out to be a great place to work or relax.

Great New Stuff at Crate & Barrel

2010-02-02T22:01:00.010-05:00

Pirouette Chair

Tailor Sofa

I was just at Crate & Barrel to grab a rug sample and ended up staying a bit longer than anticipated - they had a bunch of great new items that I spent over an hour there! They have used some unexpected fabric choices on their in stock upholstery pieces, and a nice variety of materials like stone and metal for their tables. I hope to fit some of these new products into a few upcoming projects I'm working on.

Everitt Dining Table

Trace Sofa

Tattersall Bed

Dot Table

French Kitchen Island

Vienna Side Chair

Trestle Extension Dining Table

Dan's Ikea Hack

2009-12-29T10:55:00.004-05:00

Before

After

I thought I would share a great Ikea hack that my friend Dan Ting came up with for his place. He is a brilliant industrial designer so I'm sure it was pretty easy for him to figure out.
An Ikea Hack is a project that re-purposes or customizes Ikea furniture. Just type Ikea Hack in to a search engine and several websites will come up showing some very creative product adaptations from our favourite retailer of flat-packed goods.

Take a look at his web site to read about the full transformation process.

From the movie - It's Complicated

2009-12-27T21:04:00.010-05:00

Everyone has been blogging and writing about the new Nancy Meyer's film It's Complicated. Not necessarily about the story line but about the set design. Typical of her filims like Something's Gotta Give an my favourite The Holiday, the interiors by Jon Hutman are always beautiful. I found these photos on the Traditional Home website, sadly they are not the best quality, but you will just have to go to the movie theatre and see for yourself! Interestingly, the interior of the house was built at the Broadway Stages studios in Brooklyn.

If I had a second home, no doubt it would have several of these design elements. William Birch style arm upholstery, linen drapes, unfitted kitchen, black metal windows, limed oak floors and maybe even a claw foot tub - just give me a few more years....

Bookshelf Details

2009-12-12T18:24:00.000-05:00

Wow books, so what? I took the first snapshot at the Cooper Square hotel in New York and the second at a friend's place. I love the way books can look, even on the the simplest shelves. These work for me because they are all on their own - no accessories, covered storage or picture frames.

Furniture Trend: The Hutch

2009-12-04T20:29:00.003-05:00

According to House & Home Magazine the hutch and buffet combo is a big furniture trend for 2010 - especially when it looks something like this. This is the Pacifica Buffet/Hutch Top from Crate & Barrel and sadly it's being discontinued (go figure!), but I recently purchased it for a client to hold linens on their second floor. That's the great thing about a hutch, It can be focal point in any space and it's pretty versatile - it doesn't always have to be used in your dining room to store dinnerware.

Loving Electrolux Icon Refrigeration

2009-11-30T22:26:00.002-05:00

I've always wanted to design a kitchen using this refrigerator/freezer combination. This all fridge and all freezer is from Electrolux and are well priced (about $2400 each CAD) for the amount of space you get in each one (over 16 cubic feet each). It's actually more for the design of them - of course. They are counter depth and when they are paired with the optional trim kit they look totally built in. I love the simple full height handle and flat door, nothing curvy. Another nice feature is that you can place them side by side or separate them. Now the hard part is finding a client with the need and space for over five feet of refrigeration.

Union Jack

2009-11-24T21:51:00.014-05:00

Over the past year or two, there's been a lot of home furnishings and accessories covered in the Union Jack. The latest sighting was a pair of chairs at the Ben Sherman Store in the Beverly Center in Los Angeles. If you are not up for the upholstery commitment, or a Vivienne Westwood rug from The Rug Company or her new wallpaper mural from Cole & Son, you can get one of her throw cushions.

Actually I've seen the Union Jack mostly on throw cushions.

Karen Hilton via Etsy

Henry Road

Jane Hornsby

Vivienne Westwood

Malibu Lumber Yard

2009-11-20T20:11:00.007-05:00

James Purse Vintage-Style Beach Cruisers

Today it was a toss up between an afternoon in Malibu or Palm Springs for the night. But since I had driven so much just in the L.A area alone, 240 miles to Palm Springs and back did not seem too relaxing. I was anxious to stay at the new Ace Hotel there, but that will have to happen on the next visit.

36 miles round trip sounded much better so I went to check out the Malibu Country Mart and the recently opened Malibu Lumber Yard. The Lumber Yard has 15 shops and galleries including J Crew, Kitson and Tory Burch. I mainly went to see the James Perse store and Crumbs Bake Shop. The entire complex is spectacular, but the cupcakes at Crumbs were worth the drive, all on their own.

Vanilla/Chocolate Vanilla/Lemon/Red Velvet/Strawberry Vanilla

Double RL & Co By Ralph Lauren at the Malibu Country Mart

Abbott Kinney Blvd Revisited

2009-11-19T18:58:00.001-05:00

Today I went back to Abbott Kinney Blvd in Venice California. When I was there last year it was the at night time and a lot of stores were closed. This is one of my favourite areas in Los Angeles since it has a fun neighbourhood feel, making it a great place to walk around. The streets are lined with traditional bungalows and contemporary buildings. It also has more design shops than average which always is plus for me!

This place was called Tumbleweed & Dandelion, super cute country chic.

Colcha Home collection includes beautiful John Robshaw textiles & furniture from Bo Bo Intriguing Objects

This place was closed, but I couldn't resist snapping a shot of the great counter with Eames stools and stacks of Fiesta ware on the couter. It's Shima Sushi 1432 Abbott Kinney Blvd (310) 314-0882

Bountiful Home was my favourite store - mainly because of the stacks and stacks of cake stands.

Plantation was another cool shop with a great mix of styles.

And this building was an example of the contrast in styles on the street. I'd live here!

Move to L.A

2009-10-31T18:27:00.006-04:00

Hollywood sign far off in the distance (middle right behind small palm tree!)
My two good friends Jim & Dave have ventured to sunny California for a new chapter in their lives. They arrived Friday and already have an amazing apartment!

I've been emailing and texting with them suggesting sofas and other important furniture requirements for their new pad. Trying to find an in stock sofa can be tricky but I've directed them to all of the typical places like West Elm, Crate & Barrel, CB2 and Room & Board.

They finally decided on the Westwood sofa from Room & Board. I love it's retro style, high arm and legs. A nice feature is the legs are removable so they should not have too much trouble moving it in to the space. They didn't go for the stocked Espresso fabric and are going to be sitting on their floor for 7 weeks while they wait for a medium gray fabric called Ink. I'm surprised, but impressed that they didn't settle as most people in a new apartment without any furniture would do.

They have a lot more shopping to do but with this big purchase out of the way then can now move on with a better vision for the rest of the space. I'm going to visit in 2 weeks so I should be able to help out a bit more (whether they like it or not).

Colour (Color) Reform @ ABC Carpet

2009-10-25T22:52:00.005-04:00

Shall I write more about my trip to New York? - okay last time I promise! One of the ABC Carpet & Home ads in the current issue of Metropolitian Home magazine reminded me to post some photos of the overdyed rugs I saw there back in August.

Thanks to Natalie Moore via her blog Orchid Studio she found out more about them:

"Joe Siscelli, a sales representative for ABC Carpet and Home, explained to me that the rugs are vintage Turkish rugs that have been bleached then re-dyed to give the rugs its new color. At first, I was disappointed when he said "bleached" until he explained to me that the bleaching process wasn't with that nasty toxic chlorine bleach. He said the rugs are soaked in lemon juice and then laid out in the sun until the original colors fades. The rugs are then re-dyed using nontoxic synthetic dyes."

I love this idea and wish I could do it to an existing hand me down rug (just don't tell Grandma!).

New York Highline

2009-10-12T18:37:00.004-04:00

When I was in New York back in August I checked out the High Line which opened in June. High Line an old elevated railway that is now a park. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District will eventually go all the way to 34th Street.

The Standard Hotel also opened this year and is an integral part of of the High Line at the south end the park.

La Bottega @ the Maritime Hotel

2009-10-02T19:54:00.005-04:00

Trying not to look like too much of a tourist (no flash is helpful), I snapped a few shots of a great restaurant at the Maritime Hotel in New York's Meetpacking District called La Bottega. I saw it as a vintage diner, Italian bistro and chic boathouse all in one! Subway tiles, warm wood clad ceilings, wide slat blinds and leather upholstery on the banquettes are classic elements that all worked so well together.

One of my Favorite Books

2009-09-30T20:56:00.010-04:00

I've had this cool decor book for a few years and it's not from Phaidon or Taschen. Every time I pull it off the shelf it makes me laugh - it's the Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book published by Meredith, way back in 1956. There are fourteen tabbed sections dividing topics like Apartment Planning, Colour Families and Window Fashions.
It's dated but super nostalgic, and what's funny is that there are so many elements that are still used in decorating today. Overscaled wing back chairs, window valances and blue and white printed fabrics can be seen in any current decor mag. Almost all of the decorating rules written way back when still apply.

I'm pretty sure Pottery Barn had a tile print shower curtain similar to the one here, in one of their recent collections.

A fully illustrated section on choosing the right lighting for your space.

Slim Tables from Room & Board

2009-09-28T22:54:00.006-04:00

I can't get enough of the Slim table collection from Room & Board. They come in a range of sizes and work well in so many different spaces. They are made of natural steel and are hand welded in Minnesota. The best part is they are such great value. The round cocktail table is $199 and the desk starts at $349 U.S.

End tables from $120

Console from $399

The Home of Stylist Arron Hom

2009-09-15T20:45:00.005-04:00

I got the October issue of House Beautiful last week and can't stop thinking about the San Francisco area home of Stylist Arron Hom . As much as I love colour, I always seem to revert to a more neutral palette and am now thinking of what objects I can remove and slipcover in my own place for more of a natural west coast feel.

Photography by Julian Wass

Sophisticated, Casual & Welcoming

2009-09-06T21:02:00.006-04:00

Photography By Keith Scott Morton via pointclickhome

This room shows the look that I'm loving right now. A client just emailed it to me as one of her inspiration shots so I think that means its getting popular. Sure you might say it has all of the typical urban traditional elements - sisal rug, light upholstery, white walls and dark floors. But take this usual suspect, add some light rustic wood finishes, a small hit of colour, and some well chosen accessories. Those are the extra layers that make the room much more current.

Cooper Square Hotel New York

2009-08-29T21:58:00.007-04:00

Lobby

I was in New York last week and stayed at the Cooper Square Hotel. It's a new hotel and building in the east village. I knew I would love it from the moment the taxi pulled up. Italian Designer Antonio Citterio did the interiors, I especially liked the common spaces which were modern, warm and welcoming.

Reception

Reception

Corner Room

The guest rooms were classic boutique style - with white linen and neutral colour schemes but the one thing it had over other hotels was a view of the city. Being in a corner suite gave me an amazing view of Manhattan looking south and west. I'm still not sure how they got the duvet covers so crisp and wrinkle free but I wouldn't mind having them do that at my house every morning.

Manutti - Belgian Outdoor Furniture

2009-08-22T15:09:00.005-04:00

A friend of mine recently returned from Belgium where he found some gorgeous outdoor furniture from a company called Manutti. A little late in the season to talk about outdoor furniture, but most of their pieces would easily work indoors as well. They have several collections, but my favorite is called Malibu, shown in the images here.

Going Gray (at Ikea)

2009-08-14T19:24:00.007-04:00

Gray - we all know it's the new taupe. The cool neutral was hard to find in fabrics and accessories a few years back, but when you can now find it as a colourway for almost everything, especially at mainstream sources like Ikea, you know it's here to stay.

The Ektorp sofa (above) must be one of Ikea's best sellers. It once looked best in their white cotton which is still available (a steal at $499.99), but now I think gray is where it's at.

Joe Beef & Liverpool House Montreal

2009-08-03T10:50:00.009-04:00

Photograph by Dominic Gauthier via voir.ca

I was lucky enough to dine at a fantastic Montreal eatery this weekend. My friend Peter took us to his friend David McMillian's restaurant Joe Beef. We were going to start out at their other restaurant Liverpool House (which is right next door, pictured above) but we decided to have drinks and starters in the garden patio at Joe Beef. A vegetable and herb garden that they use for some of their dishes.

The food was amazing. Even more than what you would expect from the chef of one of enRoute magazine's 10 best new restaurants in Canada - but what I didn't expect is how causal and laid back the atmosphere was. The two spaces had a classic bistro meets east-coast style to them, right down to to the gingham tea-towel napkins and blue & white serveware - all so chic.

A few starter dishes

Is that a meal or a Bloody Cesar?

In the Joe Beef Garden Patio

Cobi Style

2009-07-30T18:56:00.006-04:00

Photography By Virginia MacDonald

Former Canadian House & Home Editor Cobi Ladner has launched her new website Cobistyle.com. Check it out, it's great.

Tall Ceilings & Some Ikea Bookcases

2009-07-17T17:49:00.004-04:00

I love what my friend and Architect Brian Kucharski has done to take advantage of a really high ceiling in this Tip Top Building Loft. He used two Expedit bookcases from Ikea (at a mere $169.99 each) stacked on top of each other and secured to the wall. Besides looking great, they divide the kitchen from the office area and offer ample storage and display space.

Budget Bathroom Reno For A Tough Client

2009-07-13T21:34:00.010-04:00

I'm working on a bathroom reno for very tough client - my Mother. The entire family talks about renovating the bathroom every time we visit my parents 1960's bungalow, because parts of that room are original to the house - right down to the powder blue toilet and tub. This is not going to be a show stopping, design magazine worthy reno, just one that is long over due.

This "in progress" shot actually shows vast improvement from it's previous state. A coat closet and linen closet have been removed to make the space 12 square feet larger - sounds like a small amount, but it's equal to 25% of the original space.

I think she forgets I do this type of thing for a living, as she's been to every plumbing fixture store and big box outlet in her area searching for the right toliet, a tub that's deep enough and floor tile that isn't slippery. In the end, I've ordered everything and it's all ready to go in.

Palihouse Holloway Hotel

2009-07-05T21:47:00.006-04:00

I was just reading green living expert Danny Seo's blog and he mentioned he had recently stayed at the Palihouse Holloway Hotel. I checked out their website and I think I must stay there the next time I'm in L.A. Trouble is - from the look of the images on their website, I don't think I would want to leave!

Riverbend, Kohler Wisconsin

2009-06-30T22:34:00.007-04:00

If you ever find yourself in Kohler Wisconsin and someone invites you for drinks or dinner at Riverbend, I suggest you take them up on their offer. I attended an event there last week and snapped a few shots while we were on tour of the property.

Riverbend is a historic mansion that was built in 1923 by Walter J. Kohler who was once the Governor of Wisconsin. It's now owned by Kohler Co. and is a private members club. And don't worry, the $150000 initiation fee is 80% refundable after 10 years of membership.

Jayson Home & Garden

2009-06-20T20:14:00.003-04:00

I've often seen Jayson Home & Garden sourced in some of my favorite decor magazines, so I made it a point to check it out for myself when I was in Chicago this weekend. I love the mix of materials and textures that make up their look. If you can't make it to Chicago they have a great website too.

Colorstrology

2009-06-16T21:21:00.002-04:00

What's your Colorstrology? Mine is Pantone 17-1842 Azalea - Love it!

West Elm for Fall 09

2009-06-05T09:03:00.005-04:00

When most of us are thinking about summer, retailers like West Elm are previewing their product for Fall to designers and the media. I'm usually drawn to cool colours, but the warm tones shown here paired with white walls look really fresh. I love the use of scale on a lot of the products - chunky desk legs, over sized woven platters and graphic bedding patterns are all great.

Macarons

2009-05-31T22:26:00.000-04:00

I was checking out a really great blog called The Selby. They were featuring Pastry Chef Pierre Herme's home. Included was this beautiful image of one one of my favorite french foods, and one of his specialties - macarons.

Not so closely related to design or decorating, but the texture and colours are so pretty! It quickly reminded me about being in Paris and eating all of my favorite flavors like lemon, mocha and pistachio. Luckily I can get Macarons almost as good (only because I'm not in Paris eating them) a little closer to home at Patachou and Moroco.

Before I ate them (all), I took a snapshot of these from Laduree in Paris.

Inalco Ceramica @ Mettro Source

2009-05-25T21:54:00.005-04:00

One of my favorite places to shop for tile in Toronto is Mettro Source. One of their most innovative product lines is from a company in Spain called Inalco Ceramica. Large scaled tiles and interesting patterns really set them apart from other manufacturers. The floor tile in the image above is called Costume, it's 60cm x 60cm square and has a really cool plaid pattern. The floral wall tile in the image below is called Dahlia and is 33cm x 100cm.

Kithaus: Design Within Reach Prefab Houses

2009-05-13T19:35:00.006-04:00

One of the newest and coolest products from Design Within Reach is Kithaus - a series of prefab houses. It comes to your site in about 4-6 weeks, takes a few days to assemble and voila! It's fully insulated, pre-wired and made with eco-friendly materials.

They start at $32450. U.S for about 117 square feet and have several options (including suggested furniture packages) that quickly add up giving you the hippest beach house or guest house around.

Pottery Barn Kids for Summer

2009-05-07T22:34:00.003-04:00

I got a kick out of what Pottery Barn Kids has out for the upcoming season. The Chesapeake Oversized Sandbox and Outdoor Bean Bags are only a couple of items from the collection. Where was Pottery Barn when I was growing up?

New Shane Norrie Pottery Collection

2009-04-24T22:52:00.004-04:00

I've shown my friend Shane Norrie's work before. His new pottery collection was inspired by a recent trip he took to the Caribbean - and it's my favorite so far! I love the shapes, textures and neutral tones. You can find his work at the Art Gallery of Ontario Gift Shop and the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art .
Photography by Brian Reiser

Flor Carpet Tiles

2009-04-15T18:33:00.000-04:00

Last week I ordered a few carpet tile samples from Flor. The ones I picked are called Needlepoint Stripe from the Martha Stewart collection. Carpet tiles are nothing new but I really like their versatility from covering an entire floor or just a simple runner. Check out their website to see lots of great images like this one.

Hotel Indigo

2009-04-13T21:14:00.006-04:00

I'm going to Ottawa next month and have reserved a room at the Hotel Indigo. My friends from Ottawa were telling me it was "the new boutique hotel in town". When I did a little research, I learned that the affordably priced brand has been around since 2004 and is owned by Inter Continental Hotels Group. The concept reminds me of Starwood's cool Aloft hotels. What's fun about Hotel Indigo is that they design each hotel with the city's local characteristics in mind and they make changes seasonally throughout the hotel to offer a new experience every time you stay - they call it their "Seasonal Renewal" program.

Jazz & Taxi Cabs.

2009-04-07T21:02:00.007-04:00

So I have a new painting by my friend James Fowler. After selling his work in almost every size and colour to my clients, I finally have one for my place. James can take your favorite colours and go from there. I didn't commission this one entitled Jazz & Taxi Cabs but I really liked the size and subtle palette. You will notice it's leaning on the desk, since I'm not sure if that is where it will live, plus I think I'm going to add a frame around it - one day.

Sarah Richardson's New Website

2009-04-01T20:14:00.004-04:00

Take a look at Sarah Richardson's new website. The pages are filled with photos from her portfolio, furniture line, and info about her TV shows. She even has "source sheets" for the rooms in her portfolio so you can find out where to buy the products in the rooms.

Rubie Green's Marilyn Fabric - So Pretty

2009-03-28T23:40:00.003-04:00

There has been a lot of buzz around the launch of the new organic cotton bedding line by Rubie Green, so I don't have to write much about that - just the fact that I hope they start shipping it to Canada like they do with their Fabrics. Speaking of fabric, I did want to share one of my favorites from the collection - It's called Marilyn. I think it has a great vintage vibe but still feels fresh and new. Take a look at their website, all of their product images are as pretty as this one.

Blomus Chimo Ethanol Fireplace

2009-03-24T17:55:00.005-04:00

I know nothing beats the look of an authentic wood burning fireplace but when that's not possible I think these ethanol based ones work pretty well. This one is from Blomus and it's about $1800. It's one of the more modern looking styles and I've ordered one for a client to install in his "bachelor pad"- all you have to do is hang it on the wall! Inflame also makes a log set which looks more authentic and can be inserted into one of their own fireplaces or an existing firebox.

The Range in My Kitchen

2009-03-20T08:41:00.008-04:00

I was on the blog Decorno and her post on Stoves - a simple enough topic sparked over sixty readers to leave a comment! I renovated my kitchen three years ago and went for a 36" Italian made range from a company called Bertazzoni. It looks more refined than your typical commerical style range and I really liked that it sits flush with the countertop (as some other brands are deeper). It is available in four widths and several colours like red, blue, yellow and white. It was also under $3000 which is almost half the price of others. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles but it's good enough for me and looks good too.

Borough Market London

2009-03-11T22:05:00.004-04:00

If you find yourself traveling to London be sure to go to the Borough Market. You won't find antiques or quilts or vintage clothing - just food. It's London's oldest food market, and is not only a feast for the palette but for the eyes as well. I didn't buy much but I took a lot of photos! It's open Thursdays to Saturdays so make sure to fit it into you next visit.

West Elm's Everywhere Storage

2009-03-09T20:53:00.010-04:00

I'm not sure if West Elm's Everywhere Storage is available at their store in Toronto - as the website says internet/catalog only (something no Canadian shopper wants to see or hear). Regardless, I thought this image was a nice sign of warmer days to come. I loved the leafy green grass cloth, combined with all of the white surfaces and accessories. The table height storage components are a nice relief from covering an entire wall with cabinets and shelves.

They come in several different configurations and the nice part is that you can buy bases which elevate the units by 2" and add a really nice detail. I'd throw a 3/4" slab of Statuario marble across the top to cover the seams and make them look more built-in.

Is that who I think it is under the Black Parasol?

2009-03-04T21:20:00.009-05:00

Two of my friends recently stayed at the newly opened Viceroy Hotel in Miami. They were eating breakfast on the rooftop and thought they recognized a familiar face. As non-design celebrity followers they weren't 100% sure it was "that girl who designed the hotel and was a judge on that show on Bravo" so they did not approach her - but they did take a photo of her for me (how nice). This was none other than Kelly Wearstler who is indeed the designer of the luxe Viceroy hotel chain, and several other amazing projects. Pretty cool huh? (click on the photo for a closer look)

Ikat Everywhere

2009-03-01T20:59:00.007-05:00

Urban Outfitters

Pottery Barn

Mitchell Gold

I was checking out the blog Decorated Life and saw the Urban Outfitters Ikat Slipper chair in Indigo. It made me think of the Brooks chair at Pottery Barn and the Zondra Chair from Mitchell Gold. I find armless chairs always look best in pairs, and a classic pattern like Ikat will look great for a long time.