New Addition

I recently came across a set of 3 bamboo chairs on Kijiji, and immediately I knew I had to have them!! They were just like the chairs I wrote about in this April 2009 post. Since I didn't need all 3 chairs for myself, I forwarded the ad to my friend Tim of Design Maze and we decided that we would split them between us. And so a deal was struck!

Ooh la la, bamboo goodness...

The caning is in excellent condition, but since I'm keeping this chair at my office until the new condo is ready, I've thrown a colourful cushion (from HomeSense) on the seat to protect it from wear and tear.


Eventually I'll be using this chair in my home office, so I will end up giving it a coat of paint and having a proper seat cushion made. Piece by piece, it's already coming together.

Special Delivery

If you follow me on Twitter, then you may have wondered what this Sunday morning tweet was all about:


Inside the big orange bag was a special delivery - a slightly belated Mother's Day gift which I've been working on for a few weeks. While my mom was here in Toronto over the Easter weekend, I dragged her to Designer Fabrics to help me search for fabric to create a trio of store window panels. Surrounded by so much selection, it's always a temptation to make impulse fabric purchases, but I resisted - instead suggesting a pink & green print to my mom that I knew she would like. "Wouldn't this make great toss cushions for your couch?" An idea was born, and soon we were at the checkout with a yard of said print and a yard of a textural woven solid.

My mom's condo is decorated in soft green and chocolate brown with dark woods, highlighted by a few hits of shrimp/coral. These cushions tie right into the existing scheme and add a punch of print and colour to the living room. Hope you enjoy your gift, mom!!




Now then, who's next? I'm looking for projects!!!

Sunny Days Ahead

Every spring my tiny balcony (it's only 4' x 8') gets a minor decor tweak. This year the pair of yellow urns I found at Homesense migrated outside, filled with an abundance of faux grass from Dollarama. A pair of yellow toss cushions that I made during one ambitious weekend back in March continued the colour story. The balcony now has a bright & sunny vibe - I just hope Mother Nature follows my lead.

Sneak Peek: Project Pantone

No long winded post today, I've been busy working on what I'm calling Project Pantone . As I mentioned just the other day, I have been inspired to make a colour change thanks to this year's Pantone colour of the year, Honeysuckle.

Here's a sneak peek at Phase One:

Design Details: Toss Cushions

I was thinking about what makes a room feel unique & individual. What keeps one person's decor from looking just like the next? It's all in the details, in the accessories. It's the books, the artwork, the bowls, the candlesticks...you get the idea. Today is all about toss cushions, and the way they bring colour and texture to a space. The images below are from Design Inc. As you browse, consider how different the space would look without the cushions.










In my own space I have used cushions on both the chairs and the couch, and they soften the lines of the contemporary furnishings. The best part of these pillows is the way the fabrics incorporate all of the colours in the room. I made these myself with fabric found at Designer Fabric Outlet, which is how I was able to get just the right colours and texture.




Not all toss cushions have to be custom made for your space. There are a lot of great options out there, and the best part is, they're generally inexpensive. You can get a lot of design bang for your buck!!

West Elm (Faux) Mongolian Lamb

West Elm (Faux) Zebra

Crate & Barrel Liza

Crate & Barrel Cherry Blossom

Crate & Barrel Layla

Pottery Barn Textured Solid

Pottery Barn Butterfly

Fluf Cushions (available at Hollace Cluny)

If your home needs to be freshened up, or you want to add some colour and texture to your surroundings, just throw some pillows on the couch and you'll see how they change the look of your space. They don't call them "toss cushions" for nothing!!