An Argument for Antiques

In today's National Post online, I've been quoted in an article about buying antique furniture vs. new. The article, written by Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco, talks with Enric Rose, a former antiques dealer; Barry Gordon, founder of MaxSold; Cripsin Butterfield, of Urban Theory Interior Design and myself. We all share the same view: that antiques can be incorporated into a modern home as long as the combination is in balance. In fact, as I've stated on this blog many times, antiques are extremely affordable when found at estate sales and auctions, both live and online.

"...That’s exactly what Pamela Graham, the Gen X blogger and interior designer behind Cherish Toronto did recently for a young client on a limited budget. She looked at the lines — and imagined the possibilities. “We bought two antique bedside tables for a lot less than we would have paid in a big box store. They weren’t fine antiques, but they were solid. We painted them white and changed the hardware to make them look more modern, and they were gorgeous...”

Read the full National Post article here.

Guest Blogging at Krrb

Today I'm blogging over at Krrb (pronounced 'curb'). If you take a look, the post reveals a few extra details about how I put together the young lady's bedroom featured in my recent reveal, #ProjectA. There are some great Before & After photos of the furniture I used in the room, where I tracked it all down and how I pulled everything together to create a room my client loves.

Follow the highlighted link to read today's post, Thrill of the Hunt: Toronto Edition

 Above Image via Krrb

Thanks to Krrb for the opportunity to be a guest blogger!! When you visit their site, take a look around and check out the online classifieds, it's a great place to buy & sell secondhand and vintage goods in your area.

What's New

Things have been quiet around here recently. Mostly I've been waiting for the builders to repair all of the deficiencies listed on my Tarion warranty form, and they have finished up the last of the drywall repairs and other touch ups over the past couple of weeks. This means that I can get started on the painting. Yep... Time to get out the paint trays and rollers. Yep... Maybe next weekend?

In the meantime I've been scouting for interesting additions to the nest. During a recent visit to my Mom's, I picked up a vintage pair of framed embroidered linen panels. (If you're ever in the Peterborough area, Nostalgic Journey is a great place to browse.) I hung one on either side of the bed in the guest room, and they add a touch of colour to the bedside vignettes.

A Visit to Southworks

Even when I'm not looking to make a purchase, it gives me great pleasure just to look at pretty things. For me, a trip to an antique shop is akin to a trip to the museum (only with the added bonus that if I happen to see something I really like, there is always the option of taking it home). This weekend I spent several lovely hours wandering the vendor booths at Southworks in Cambridge - 30,000 square feet of vintage and antique goodness!! I could have brought home so many things, but alas, I took only photos. Enjoy!!

Coral Sadler Urn

McCoy Pink Swan Vase

Pale Pink Milk Glass Cornucopia

Royal Doulton Tulip Vase

Chenille Pillows

Carlton Ware Candy Dish & Vase

Retro Coffee Pot

Turquoise Frosted Glass

Paragon Teacup & Saucer

Peacock Wall Hanging

Footed Green Bowl

Pair of Black Pheasants

Pistachio Vintage Radio

All photos by Pamela Graham for Cherish Toronto

Stuff I Don't Want to Pack

I think the title says it all. Though I'm not running out to the store for empty boxes just yet, I'm starting to consider what will be moving with me when the time comes. So far I've sold some items of furniture on Kijiji, and there are a few more large pieces that need to be listed, but first I have to drag them out of the dreaded packed to the rafters storage locker.

For now I'm assembling, tagging and photographing some vintage housewares to list on Etsy. See something you like? Use coupon code 'CherishMoves' for 15% off your purchase in my Etsy shop.

The UnBlogged

Posts here on Cherish Toronto were very sparse during the month of December, and although I could use the holidays as an excuse, I think it was more a case of blog fatigue. Some days it's tough to come up with something that readers will find interesting. Today I've compiled a post of a few of the little things that I've been up to during the past while.

In late November my sister and I attended the One of a Kind Christmas Show & Sale. In what can only be described as a Christmas miracle, I actually went home with money in my pocket. The one thing I couldn't resist was this sweet Mountain Peaks mini basket from Alison Lovell:


In early December, I entered a giveaway on the Style at Home blog for a Panasonic Lumix Camera prize pack, and I actually won!!!!!! Hopefully this will lead to even better photos on the old bloggy blog:


One of my favourite past times is thrifting. Frequent visits to my local haunts Value Village, Goodwill & the Thrift Store have turned up some pretty awesome finds recently:

Vintage Cream & Sugar Set ($3.00)

Ornate Dart Mirror ($19.99)

Jan Korthals Cityscapes, 1965 ($15.00/pr)

Westminster, London

Tower Bridge, London

Vintage Vinyl Covered Footstool ($4.99)

I passed the little footstool over to Staci at Switch Studio,
and she recovered it with a neutral foil printed linen:

And of course, there were great Christmas gifts!! My Mom spoiled me this year with a fabulous footed glass bowl, and Celerie Kemble's latest tome, Black & White.

It's been great catching up!! See you back here tomorrow!!

Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

Now that I've found the bamboo bedside tables I've been searching for, I can finally move forward with the guest room design. Although my move in date is at least 9 months away, I think we can all agree that it's a good idea to start early. I mean, seriously, it took 6 months just to find the right nightstands!

These lily lamps are the room's jumping off point.
Obviously they will need new shades and finials:

Of course, each lamp will sit atop one of these
vintage faux bamboo Thomasville nightstands:

The new bedside tables will get a lick of Herringbone
SR73, Para Paints, Sarah Richardson Designer Palette:

Perhaps I'll add a pair of these pretty knobs
from Haveli Home to the drawer fronts:

I would love to use this Ophelia fabric as drapery
since there are so many colours to play with:

But that would mean this Sanderson Lilia
wallpaper is out of the question:

A tufted headboard covered in a plush velvet
will add a touch of luxury and warmth:

I've decided on this creamy Pearl for the walls

SR30, Para Paints, Sarah Richardson Designer Palette:

The bedding will be restful, like this simple

Lexington Quilt in pearl from West Elm:

It's all starting to come together!

Do you have any interesting design projects you'd like to share? I love getting comments, so leave one below and let me know what you're working on!!

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait...and Wait...and Wait...

Remember this post? After visiting numerous vintage shops both near and far, trolling through antique shows, and lurking on the internet for hours, I am here to tell you that...

...I finally found these on Kijiji!!!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!

I am on my way to pick these babies up today, and after months of searching, I'm so excited to get them into my hot little hands. With a lick of paint and a new set of hardware, they are going to look splendid in the new guest room!! Yippee!!

Bamboo Bedsides or Bust!

Just last month, my friend Shannon of What's Up Whimsy was antiquing in Fenelon Falls when she came across a fabulous pair of vintage faux bamboo bedside tables. Through the magic of Twitter, she tweeted this photo of her find:

Photo courtesy of What's Up Whimsy

When Shannon revealed that she didn't need the tables, I asked if she wouldn't mind picking them up for me (they would be perfect for the guest room in the new condo). Unfortunately, by the time she went back to the antique shop, the tables had already been sold to another customer. Boo :-(

Ever since that day, I have been unable to get these tables out of my head, and I've been looking for a similar pair on Craigslist, Kijiji, and at every vintage, consignment and thrift shop in town. If anyone finds a pair of tables similar to those pictured above please, please, pretty please let me know!!

Lily Lamps Resurface

So those Vintage Lily Lamps I posted about a few weeks ago somehow managed to find their way to my house. The fact that I have no idea what to do with them is kind of the point of this post. Yesterday while browsing through wallpapers at Primetime Paint & Paper (formerly Ontario Paint & Wallpaper), I found some gorgeous papers with hits of chartreuse that coordinate beautifully with these new lovelies. Wouldn't either of these combinations make an amazing bedroom focal wall? Hmmmm......

Toronto Vintage: Queen West Antique Centre

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of meeting up with Shannon of What's Up Whimsy and her friend Ness for a little vintage browsing at Queen West Antique Centre. In Toronto's west end, where Queen intersects King (@Roncesvalles), there is a mecca of shops for vintage lovers. If you're seeking a sleek teak console, cool industrial storage, or perhaps a rare Eames shell chair, you're apt to find what you're looking for at QWAC. Just be prepared to pay market value, this is not your neighbourhood thrift store.

Cool Stuff to Sit On

Walter Nugent Teak Couch

Eames Upholstered Shell Chairs in Need of TLC

Eames Shell Chairs Stackable Set of Four

Set of Four Industrial Stools

Cool Random Stuff

Industrial Storage

Tons of Trophies

Vibrant Map of the U.S.A.

Rotary Dial Telephones

Pinball and Board Games

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Horsey Ride Anyone?

Queen West Antique Centre is affiliated with FILTER at 75 Jarvis Street (north of King), where they stock all of the really good stuff that's in perfecto condition. Check them out too!!