My Week in Photos

Wow!! This week went by so quickly, it's a complete blur. The closing date for the new condo is November 14th and I'll be moving in on the 28th, so there is a lot to do over the next few weeks. Here is a recap of the week that just went by:

Although I almost skipped it due to Monday night's storm, I decided to stop by Indigo Bay & Bloor for an interview and book signing with John Taylor, who is currently promoting his new memoir, In The Pleasure Groove: Love, Death, and Duran Duran. This was a pretty big thrill for me - I've been to several Duran Duran concerts over the years, but I've never been this up close and personal...

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On Wednesday when I got home from work, the mailman had delivered Heather Clawson's gorgeous new book, Creativity at Work. You may recall that I met Heather during a trip to New York a few years ago, and her blog Habitually Chic is one of my favourite daily reads. The book is full of original photos, all taken by Heather herself, and features the work spaces of many creative people such as Bunny Williams, Jenna Lyons and Jonathan Adler, among others.

Heather will also be visiting Toronto for her own book signing, which I will definitely be attending! If you can make it, the event starts at 7 pm on Thursday, November 8th at Indigo Bay & Bloor...

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Last weekend I worked on several projects with my Mom, including a mouse motel and a gold leaf mirror. Now I'm on my own to gold leaf the matching mirror, and I've also taken on a few new DIY's. For one, it's time to get started on the campaign chest I found last February at the Village. I haven't been able to find spray paint in the shade I'm looking for, so I'm going to paint this piece with a roller, but first it has to be sanded and primed...

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I managed to squeeze in a quick sewing project this afternoon - a quick and easy pair of envelope pillow shams (luckily the pieces had already been cut and prepped with Mom's help last weekend). I adore this printed linen which picks up on the chartreuse and grey colour scheme happening in the new guest bedroom...

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And since my condo was feeling a bit chilly tonight, I thought it was the perfect time to turn on the oven and bake a raspberry pie. Yum. Break time!!

Planning a Gallery Wall

The more I look at the floor plan of the new condo, the more I realize how few walls there are to work with. Of course the abundance of natural light will be a huge bonus, but it will take some ingenuity to find a spot for artwork, photography and mirrors. Here is the plan:

• Yellow Wall - Entry Console Table with Mirror
• Orange Wall - Gallery Wall of Photos & Original Art
  
• Pink Wall - Sideboard with Starburst Mirror
• Red Wall - Jackson Pollock, Number 8, 1949
  
• Blue Wall - Media Console & Shelving
  
• Green Wall- Floral Wallpaper
  
• Purple Wall - Chinoiserie Wallpaper

The gallery wall will be at the end of the entry hall, and it is where most of my framed photographs and artwork will hang. I like the impact of a gallery wall layout, as long as it appears neat and draws interest without being overwhelming. My favourite examples incorporate both photography, art, and even mirrors in a variety of frames.

Nate Berkus Design:

Charlotte Moss via Habitually Chic:

Mazen El-Abdallah via House and Home:


Tommy Smythe via House and Home:


via House to Home:


via House to Home:


Tori Mellot via Habitually Chic:


Suzanne Dimma via House & Home:


Michael Angus via House and Home:


Heather Clawson via Habitually Chic

Being a highly organized planner, I decided to try a "mock-up" for a potential gallery wall. Using photos of all my framed photographs and artwork, I grouped them together on a dark and dramatic navy blue wall. This first attempt is very neat, with all of the outside edges aligned.


For the second trial, I tried to let the gallery flow more, even though it goes against my orderly nature. There is alignment within the grouping, rather than around the edges. A vibrant kelly green wall really draws the eye to this gallery.


What do you think? Dark, dramatic and orderly? Or bright and free flowing?

Habitually Chic: Heather Clawson

On my last trip to New York City, I met with Habitually Chic blogger and designer, Heather Clawson. We spent an hour chatting over coffee while I picked her brain and asked a million questions about her life in Manhattan and about how she became involved in interior design. I learned from her that life is an evolution, and that it's never too late to make a fresh start and do what you truly enjoy. For Heather, being laid off from her position with a prominent design firm gave her the push she needed to go out on her own and it's probably one of the best things that ever happened to her. Today Heather is busier than ever, writing daily blog posts while taking on design projects for Habitually Chic Design.

Just this month, Heather was featured in both Canadian House & Home magazine, and in the premier edition of Rue Magazine, an online publication. Congratulations, Heather, and thanks for the inspiration!!

Rue Magazine Feature:
(Click on photos to enlarge)

Canadian House & Home Feature:

Roll Call

I'm super excited to announce that Cherish Toronto is currently on the Blog Roll lists of both Habitually Chic and Eddie Ross, two of my favourite blogs. In the online world, this is quite an honour, and I'm pleased to be recommended by these two popular designers and bloggers.

Heather Clawson writes Habitually Chic, a blog about inspirational interiors and the design community in New York City. Eddie Ross, who appeared on HGTV's Top Design, pens a self titled blog featuring flea market makeovers and DIY design projects. Check out both of their blogs by clicking on the links below:

Heather Clawson
www.HabituallyChic.blogspot.com

Eddie Ross
www.EddieRoss.com