Celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving

This past Saturday morning started with a trip up to Avenue & Davenport to choose flowers for the Thanksgiving dinner table. With so much selection it was difficult to decide:


After about 20 minutes of dithering, I eventually decided on a scheme of burnt orange and deep yellow from Yang's. The late afternoon Sunday sun streamed through my condo's west facing windows, highlighting the gorgeous roses:


The amber water glasses continued the Autumnal theme, and what's even better, they were a fabulous Value Village find - set of 4 for $1.99.


My second annual Thanksgiving dinner went off without a hitch. No burnt offerings and no Pepto Bismol required. A rousing success!!!

Cool New Stuff at West Elm

I'm a big fan of affordable home decor, and West Elm has come through again this season with modern furnishings and accessories at what I call "real people prices". Canada's only West Elm location is right here in Toronto on Atlantic Avenue in Liberty Village. These are my picks for favourite new items:

Essex Ottoman, $299 USD

Organic Herringbone Blanket $79-$99 USD

John-Paul Phillipe Pillow Covers $29 USD

Safe Radio $99 USD

Convex Mirrors $24-$39 USD

Ion Glass Round Coffee Table $299 USD

Ceramic Owls $9-$16 USD

Status Symbols at Home

As an impressionable teenager in the 1980's, I learned that a person could attain social status by wearing the "right" designer labels. You know the usual suspects: Polo Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Swatch, Tretorn, Ray-Ban. Now that I've reached a certain age, I read a lot more "House & Home" than "Seventeen", but the status symbols still exist, even in home decor.

Exhibit A:
The Hermes Avalon Blanket ($1125 USD)

Lee Kleinhelter
Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles:

Stephen Shubel Design:

Martensen Jones Interiors:

Martensen Jones Interiors:

Calvert Wright
elledecor.com

Fern Simon
elledecor.com

Jennifer Ferreira

Canadian House & Home



Kyle via Knight Moves

The Hermes Avalon blanket makes quite a statement when draped across the arm of a couch or folded at the foot of a bed. Although it may not be the kind of statement we can all afford to make, there is no denying its role as a status symbol in the home.

Nuit Blanche 2010 in Toronto

Saturday night was Toronto's 5th annual nuit blanche, a dusk to dawn art event sponsored by Scotiabank and free for those who wish to attend. The night involved a lot of walking, several hot beverages ('twas a cold night), and the occasional "I don't get it". A good time was had by all.

Monument to Smile
Images appear set to Michael Jackson's 'Smile'.

Auto Lamp
A perforated van lit from within - quite pretty, actually.

Endgame
Creepy clown heads wedged between buildings,
of course I get it, don't you?

For Sale: 2193 Hixon Street

Well, the house is on the market!! The extreme home renovation project which my brother in law undertook this summer is complete and ready for a new family to move in. The project included the following:

• Removed overgrown trees & shrubbery, resodded front lawn.
  
• Replaced garage door, replaced siding, replaced all windows, painted exterior brick and installed new roof.
  
• Introduced new antique bronze door hardware throughout.
• Installed new hardwood flooring throughout main floor and refinished hardwood floors on second floor.
• Designed a contemporary kitchen with new cupboards and central island, open to living and dining rooms.
• Created completely new 4 piece main bath upstairs and 3 piece second bath on lower level.
  
• Freshly painted throughout.
  

I think the house looks absolutely amazing, check out the final results:

Main Floor Wall Colour: Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan HC-81
Trim: Benjamin Moore Cloud White CC-40

Main Bath Wall Colour: Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue, HC-144

Lower Bath Wall Colour: Benjamin Moore Alexandria Beige, HC-77

For those of you who can attend, there will be an open house this Sunday, October 3rd from 2-4 pm, or you can check out all the details on the MLS listing here: 2193 Hixon Street, Oakville