HomeGoods. No, HomeGreats.

We Canadians have a tendency to complain mention how shopping is always better in the US. Well, I have to say that after two trips to my local Toronto HomeGoods store in the last month, I really have to disagree! I am shocked at the affordable furniture and accessories they have for my eyes to feast on and have not been disappointed at all, not even a bit. For some economical furnishings, I am coming back to this place. I can't say what the quality is like, but for the prices, HomeGoods is worth a try.

I believe this had a $600 price tag...solid, heavy wood people!

I know these chairs were only $200 each because I would have two for the ends of my dining table if I had my house by now...

Loved this for our cottage, maybe it will come home soon. Can't remember price but think it was around $300...

Yes! If I had my office, this would be delightful. It was $500...

ps - the table, not the ottomans :)

A fun little mirrored chest...

These Wegner wishbone stool knock-offs were $96 each!

And the only thing that actually came home with me from this list, a pair of wire farm baskets. Ah hem - $12 each!

I also picked up an adorable little glass and steel terrarium greenhouse thing that I love but didn't take a photo. I will show it off when my bedroom is finished at the cottage. We also loved this raw-edged shower curtain for one cottage bathroom, displayed so beautifully by my daughter for my mum via text.

Target + Missoni

I just read about Target's next designer collection with Missoni and almost fainted. Wow. I need a little Italian jewel-toned joy in my home accessories collection, and thus I've already started planning a short road trip to our friendly southern neighbour in mid-September. 

{via Missoni}

Cannot wait to see the home-wares, of course, but I'm also hoping to find something to add to my closet (and its lonely Missoni scarf). Coming to Target September 13, 2011.

Project: Muskoka Bedroom

I've started to think about our cottage bedroom and have been getting my hands dirty with some minor projects for it lately. While we are trying to save all of our money for our first house purchase, I am attempting to reuse old furniture and items my parents have hanging around - many of which were already one step out the door and on their way to the dump!

Here is a little peak at one item I salvaged from my aunt and uncle who have a cottage next door. This turquoise number has started its transformation...

It is an old, dovetail joint tool box from Scandinavia that has been waiting patiently for a facelift. My dad's uncle gave him an almost exact match which was never painted and it looks beautiful in the cottage entry. I can't wait to see this one in our bedroom! You will have to come back and see how I plan to use it...

Project: Muskoka Front Door

It has been hard finding time for blogging with this great summer weather we are finally experiencing in Toronto! As I promised a few weeks back, here are some after photos of our cottage front door, all painted and pretty!

We wanted something that worked well with the putty coloured faux-wood board and baton and shingles, and the orangey rough douglas fir accents. We were also trying to stay away from the usual cottage suspects - dark green, deep rust and brown. 

The solution: BURNT ORANGE

In order to minimize, or play down, the orange colour of the fresh douglas fir, we chose a burnt orange. It may seem the opposite, but by using an analogous colour-scheme (where colours are from the same side of the colour wheel) and using a colour that blends in with the redwoods, it actually makes the orange shade of wood less noticeable. Analogous colour-schemes are more relaxing and pleasing to the eye - perfect for easy living at a cottage! If we had chosen a blue or green paint, the colour-scheme would have been more dynamic complimentary scheme (where colours are from the opposite side of the colour wheel) and the douglas fir would have actually appeared more orange. 

the perfect napkin

While at the cottage and sipping away on these...

...and browsing through the June issue of Better Homes & Gardens, I found these PERFECT napkins. The best of both worlds, MYdrap are made from real fabric (cotton or linen) but breakdown after six washing machine cycles. I love how I can offer guests real napkins, in an assortment of gorgeous colours and patterns, and don't have to worry about keeping them free of stains forever.

They also come in various sizes from cocktail napkin to placemat, and are handily unrolled like paper towel. So cool!

Project: Muskoka Getaway

Today I'm going to introduce you to a project that I have been helping with, on and off, for the past couple of years! My family is lucky to own a fantastic little piece of Muskoka - aka beautiful cottage country in Ontario.

Over the past few years my parents have been renovating what was a tiny summer cottage (I am on the hunt to find some before photos) into a larger all-season home (see below). While I don't get final say in ANYTHING (boo!) my brother (an architect) and I (an interior designer) are asked our "expert" opinions whenever possible - this was hard while I was living in California which was the reality until a month ago. 

 A little background, this new cottage was designed by an architect before my brother was even in school to become one, and also before I started ID school. This is also not my parents' first stab at home renovation. They built my childhood 4,000 square foot home from the ground up - my father's hobby is very likely the reason both of his children fell in love with architecture and design! Back to the cottage, we LOVE the architectural design, but there are definitely issues that we all wish were realized and addressed before building commenced. Seriously, think about how furniture will be placed in each room while you are still finalizing floor plans and elevations,  and deciding on colour-schemes and materials BEFORE you start these types of projects is highly recommended! Figuring things out as you go is NEVER easy or best!

Enough talking at you, here is the basic shell of the cottage when you arrive...

{cottage in 2009 via cell phone camera}

We've been working slowly at finishing more of the entry, both exterior and interior, and here's a peak at some of the completed parts and other things that are in the works...

I'll reveal what we've finished after this weekend. The front door colour was a difficult decision!

living in a treasure trove

We are currently squatting at my in-laws while we permanently settle into the city and find a house to buy. While helping execute a small purge of the garage and basement, I rescued a few items from the yard sale box. One man's garbage, another man's treasure right?!

I saved a few adorable vintage bottles/beakers and a glass apothecary jar, a handful of really old books (I'm talking 1800's) and my favourite, a pair of vintage silver pineapples...

I can't wait to use them to style my future home but the best part is that they are actually an old lighter and cigarette holder. So darn cute! Pineapples are also signs of hospitality, so they are great to display in a public area of your home. Can't wait to see what else is hiding down in that basement...

Have a super weekend! x

seasonal sizzle {for the home}

This past week I stumbled on a few amazing finds for our summer homes. It's too bad I can't afford to buy all of them. How hot would these look in our yards, during a fantastic bbq with friends?!

I love this new Barbara Barry birdbath so much that I've already been concocting a plan for how to DIY it - the $3,200 price tag is a tad out of my doable range.

{Barbara Barry's Bowmont birdbath by McGuire}

I just purchased a full set of these Iittala bowls, along with the small plates and larger platters. Originally designed and sold from 1964-1988, Iittala just reintroduced them this year. I absolutely love them and am excited to mix them with my casual and formal china sets. They add some much desired sparkle and texture to my white table settings!

{Iittala Dewdrop bowl}

And to help get our delicious bbq'd food into our mouths, we will all need this stunning bronze flatware, AND cheerful steak knives, available at Anthropologie. These alone will make any table fabulous and memorable.

{Bronze Age Flatware & Laguiole Steak Knives, Anthropologie}

It's Tasty Season

Settled & Ready for Summer

Yes, it has been more than a month since I last posted, but we are FINALLY in Toronto and have settled (sort of) in our temporary home. We had an amazing time driving cross-country through gorgeous Utah and Colorado, 

and enjoyed a quick stop to play in Chicago.

Now that life is slowly becoming normal again, I have started to get excited for summer to arrive. I want to share two of my warm weather MUST-HAVES for keeping your lips and feet looking great this season....you NEED these!

My girlfriend Katie had us wear Tarte lip surgence in Hope for her wedding in April and I am hooked. There are no harmful ingredients, it smells like peppermint, goes on so smoothly, and the best part is that it is matte! I love this look for summer - a nice change from the glossy lips you see everywhere!  It also claims to increase your lips' moisture by 6000% in 28 days.

{Tarte, available online and at Sephora}

Next, everyone needs a pair of Tkees sandals! Have you seen these before? They are popular with all the celebs, and come in amazing colours. The collections are named after different facial cosmetics (foundations, shadows, liners, etc) and they are perfectly simple and chic.

{Tkees, available online or at Gee Beauty & Holt Renfrew in TO}

 I have my eye on a pair from the foundation collection for this summer - love that invisible look and they can be worn with everything. I guess I'm not the only one who digs this idea...

Summer 2011 = tarte & Tkees