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Online Sources for Affordable Art + My Current Favourites

Art can easily be the trickiest part about decorating a space but when you do find that perfect piece, it’s pure magic! When my husband and I were decorating our place, we couldn’t help but feel that something was missing until we found art we truly loved. It adds the perfect finishing touch plus an extra oomph to any room. Not only is there so much choice out there, but it’s also a challenge finding unique art at an affordable price. This is why I thought it would be cool to compile a short list of my favourite online sources for affordable art + my current faves. 

One Must Dash

I discovered this online shop recently while looking for some prints for a client’s dining area. She was craving a Scandinavian vibe and this site’s art truly fits the bill. I picture these prints within a minimalist design. Their selection isn’t huge but if you’re into the monochrome look, this shop will definitely be your new addiction. 

1) Honey Honey print  //  2) A Day in May print  //  3) Small Talk print  

Society 6

I can easily spend hours at a time on this site! There is so much variety to choose from in terms of modern photography and art prints. Keep an eye out for their email promotions and free shipping deals!

1) Marianna by Ruben Ireland //  2) Pineapple Top by Cassia Beck //  Dissolve Me by Daniel Taylor

Etsy

Etsy. Duh. Although this may be an obvious one, a great feature about Etsy is that you can filter items based on your location, saving you shipping costs. The prints featured here for example, are all by Canadian artists. 

1) Wood Stove by Mathilde Cinq Mars  //  2) Montreal on 27 April 1967 by Raymond Biesinger  //  3) Fiddle Leaf Fig by Richelle Bergen 

Art.com

It’s very easy to get overwhelmed on this site since the selection HUGE. Photography, abstract art, illustrations.. this site has it all. If you’re looking for that Andy Warhol print you’ve seen a million times but still can’t get enough of, this is the place to get it.

1) Untitled 1C by Jaime Derringer  //  2) Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1982 by Warhol  //  3 Sunbeams in Grand Central Station

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The Infamous White Wall 

What’s always remained a hot topic in the design community is the aesthetic of the white wall. It never goes away and that’s because people have such strong reactions to it. They either love it or loathe it. While I was working on three different living room concepts this weekend for a client I realized that all three of them had white walls and a fairly neutral color palette. Ok fine, one had pale grey as the main paint color but I really had to push myself for that. Had I too become comfortable with the ever popular all-white look? As I paused to think about this first world question, I came across this interesting article on Design Sponge, titled,  The White Wall Controversy: How the All-White Aesthetic has Affected Design. The author discusses how the look may have started, people’s reactions to it, and what it says about how we decorate today. 

We’ve all seen it all over our Pinterest boards--crisp, white interiors filled with leafy green plants, lots of wood accents and kilim pillows. I think the reason a white backdrop is so popular is because today, a lot of us are in constant movement;  renting vs. buying, traveling a lot for work, so we simply don’t have the time and are not in a situation where we can invest heavily into one place and put down permanent roots. We’re also a society that craves change and wants it fast. I guess you can say we’re a bunch of commitment phoebes. If I’m craving a change in my condo, it’s a lot more practical, quick and affordable to switch up some accessories than it is to start painting or undergo some kind of renovation. 

We’re also constantly being exposed to billions of images via blogs, Pinterest etc. so we’re constantly getting ideas and we want to implement them almost as fast. Plus, a simple, fresh white wall allows personal items to shine such as art, your latest vintage find or things passed down from family members. 

Something I keep hearing over and over from clients is that they want a space that feels fresh and airy. This is almost always most easily achieved with some white paint. Don’t get me wrong though, especially with Fall arriving, I’m a sucker for a dark, moody interior. What do you think of this white wall aesthetic?

Photos via

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Out with the Old, In with the New (Sort of)

We finally got rid of the grey curtains that were in our condo when we first moved in. I normally don’t mind grey but I found the curtains a little too heavy- looking and the texture also had a sheen to it which I really didn’t like. I wanted something natural and light and ended up finding it in the most unexpected place--our closet. I was going through some of our older stuff, trying to free up storage space and came across these linen-ish IKEA curtains Alex used to have at his old place. I actually helped him pick them out when we were dating but had completely forgotten about them after the move! I guess they got lost in the mountains of bags and boxes but I’m oh so glad they’ve been found.

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Summertime Vintage Shopping in Toronto

Pictured above: Dartford Home

Happy Thursday! Hope you guys are having a great week so far. Invaluable recently featured a post about summer antiquing in the U.S. so I thought it would be cool to write a post on my favourite places to shop for vintage finds in Toronto. 

When I first moved to Toronto, I took a lot of long walks in my area in an effort to discover my new neighbourhood and I was thrilled to find a few vintage shops that I now visit pretty often. 

Elegant Garage Sale

1588 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON

Elegant Garage Sale (isn’t that name great?) is a colorful consignment shop featuring a wide array of antiques, vintage furniture, decor accessories and jewelry. I was so sad to find out they’re closing mid-September. I’ve found so many unique pieces here for our condo, notably framed art for really great prices. Three of the frames I included in my living room gallery wall were from here and if I would’ve known about this place before I moved, I definitely would’ve gotten our dining chairs here. It’s worth checking out before they close as there’s sure to be lots of deals.

I debated getting that trio of pear prints but decided against it since I literally hoard extra art prints between my bed and nightstand.

Love this Moroccan-inspired light fixture:

Dartford Home

613 Mount Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON

Dartford Home specializes in residential antiques and vintage homewares but I really wanted to include them in this post because I’m always impressed with their selection of nightstands. Whether you’re looking for a single one or a pair, this shop is a must-see. Plus, they’re able to refinish most of their furniture items in any color you like.

Jacaranda Tree

569 Mt Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON

Jacaranda Tree isn’t strictly a vintage store. It’s actually more of a high-end gift shop (think luxury candles, stationery, jewelry, linens, and baby items) but they do have a unique collection of vintage homewares and furniture throughout the shop. There’s two floors so there’s lots to explore. I was really impressed with how varied their vintage light fixture collection was last time I visited. From crystal empire chandeliers to midcentury floor lamps, something’s bound to catch your eye. 

Wouldn’t this chandelier look great over a rustic wood dining table?

Pale pink and salmon tones--straight out of a Wes Anderson film:

Still dreaming about this midcentury floor lamp I spotted:

Pagnello’s Antiques

1635 Bayview Ave, Toronto , ON

Pagnello’s Antiques definitely has more of a random selection of antiques and vintage finds. I always found the place to have more of a curiosities feel than the other vintage shops in the area. In addition to the usual furniture and light fixtures, I’ve seen toys, model cars, and trophies. They even once had a World War I soldier’s uniform.  

Besides vintage shops, my favourite place to look for antiques or vintage items is good ol’ Craigslist or Kijiji. Here are a few tips that may come in handy during your next search:

- If you’re on Craigslist, make sure you’re on picture view mode so you can see everything at a glance and scroll through your results quickly.

- Make sure to check different categories as you don’t want to miss that perfect item just because it’s been miscategorized or can fit into a number of categories.

- Some of my personal favourite keywords to define my search terms are: midcentury, mid century, eames, thonet, bentwood, campaign, rustic, bistro, brass, tufted, french, industrial, vintage--be careful with this one though as some people seem to think that last year’s IKEA model qualifies as vintage.

- Try spelling certain key words in different ways. For example, if you’re looking for a  mid century coffee table, try spelling it midcentury as well.

- Contrary to the above point, you should also try dumbing down your searches. Think like the average poster who just wants to get rid of their stuff. For example, someone may write that they have an “old, retro chair” when it’s actually an Arne Jacobsen.

Happy hunting!

All photos taken by me except the first photo of Pagnello’s Antiques (taken from their Facebook page).

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Before & After: Our Condo

Our house-hunting journey began a couple of months before I actually moved to Toronto. We explored the idea of getting a “fixer upper” thinking we’d save money and get the opportunity to design the place exactly to our liking--obviously I was really excited about this! To say I had sticker shock comparing the housing prices in Montreal to Toronto would be an understatement. I had always heard the prices in Toronto were higher but I didn’t think they were that high. The first place we went to visit was an open house type of thing. I’m normally pretty good at looking past places that look like a “dump” and envisioning what they could look like. This place however was less dump and a little more crack house. Some areas were sectioned off and the entire place smelled like cat pee. Abandoned would be the best way to describe it. The real estate agent who was there, fittingly named Zen, said that it wouldn’t take much to get the place in tip-top shape. I had my doubts...especially when you factor in the already astronomical price tag before renos. After this reality check, Alex got in touch with a real-estate agent he knew through a friend and the hunt was officially on. I tried to make as many condo-viewing appointments as I could but sometimes my participation went only as far as being part of a skype video call. After seeing a bunch of “boxes” as we came to call them, I decided to highjack things and began obsessively pouring over listings. I was so obsessive that I actually found our future home before our real estate agent. We sent her an email and she went to check it out herself first. We scheduled an appointment soon after.

Before:

The place was very open which we loved and unlike any of the other condos we had viewed, the ceilings were pretty high! I didn’t feel like I was in a confined space at all. The previous owner actually did an amazing job of staging the condo, the decor was just a little too Brault et Martineau catalog for my taste.

After:

The dining chairs are from Modern Furniture.ca, a Canadian company. Shipping was super fast! I received the chairs in 2 or 3 days. The two models can be found here and here That cushioned bench against the couch is surprisingly from Walmart and the wood platter on the table is from Winners.

The previous owner left the light fixture over the dining table and that was one of the first things we changed besides the paint color. I loved this empire chandelier from Restoration Hardware but not the price so I found a pretty good replica on Wayfair for under 200$. Its unfortunately not available anymore but the brand was “River of Goods”.  I normally love grey, but the grey paint that was there was more of a purple/grey and I found it a bit much to have that color everywhere in the condo. I found it was too dull of a color for a small space so we immediately painted the main area in “Decorator’s White” by Benjamin Moore. It really made everything feel more airy.

The large gold mirror was found on Kijiji and so was the marble tulip table. I was searching everywhere for a marble tulip table but the ones in-store were too pricey. If you’re furnishing a new home, my number one piece of advice is to hit up Kijiji, Craigslist, vintage stores or flea markets in your area. You’ll be amazed at some of the unique pieces you can find and you’ll save so much money. The black bench under the mirror is the Lack model from IKEA

Textured wallpaper is one of my favourite ways to add interest to a small space without overpowering it. Since the main area is mostly white I wanted to do something cool yet subtle with the middle wall and turn it into an accent wall. I found this wallpaper at Home Depot and it’s actually paintable if white isn’t your jam. The blue candle above is from Bath&Body Works, I really loved the dotted effect. The plant is a snake plant from IKEA.

The console table is this one from Wayfair and we switched up the knobs (Home Depot) to give it some more character. This is by far the easiest way to transform a pice of furniture and it makes all the difference. The print on the console table is from Concepcion Studios who’s Etsy shop I love! Alex and I are both big fans of Wes Anderson so this Moonrise Kingdom print was a no-brainer. It’s place has since changed though since I’m always moving stuff around! The antler in front of it is from Urban Outfitters. The picture ledges are the Ribba model from IKEA, the sunburst mirror is from H&M Home and I got the wooden matryoshka dolls in Brighton Beach when we went to visit Alex’s family.

In hindsight, I actually regret going with a sectional sofa. It creates a separate area for the living room by separating the living room from the kitchen but at the same time it partially blocks the flow of the space. It’s a sofa bed though, which really comes in handy when we have out of town guests. We got a really good deal on it at Leon’s but I always think basement couch when I look at it haha. One day I will have my damn chesterfield sofa! We still need to change the grey end curtains and the curtain rod, they are driving me crazy. Maybe I’ll write a post about curtain options.

I’m so glad we decided to go with a gallery wall for over the couch. The largest print is from Mathilde Cinq Mars. I love her illustrations and I definitely recommend checking out her work. Plus, she’s from Quebec! The other prints are a combination of Indigo prints and prints I found in New York and at vintage stores such as Elegant Garage Sale. The deer head is from Homesense. My number one tip for arranging a gallery wall is making cut-outs the same size as your actual prints and then placing them on the wall to get an idea of how the shapes will look altogether. If you’re tech-savvy you can always use Photoshop. I think the key to a good gallery wall is finding a bit of balance amid the chaos. While the middle portion of my gallery is a little haphazard, many of the frames on the outside have their matching frames at the opposite end. 

I always get questions about the hexagon mirrors/shelves arrangement over the TV. I had seen a lot of cool ideas on Pinterest using these Honefoss mirrors from IKEA and when I saw these hexagon shelves on Wayfair I knew they’d make a unique combination. I’ve also just always been obsessed with anything honeycomb. We toyed with a few different layouts in Photoshop before we settled on this one.

We’ve since switched up our coffee table. I found it on this app called Bunz. The way it works is, you basically trade things you don’t need or want anymore for things you do. I traded some tomato sauce and spices for this coffee table! If you’re really cheap like me, you’ll definitely get a kick out of this app. I’m not sure if we’re going to leave it turquoise or refinish it in a natural wood finish.

The TV stand is yet another Wayfair find. I wanted something rustic but not bulky so this fit the bill. The price was pretty reasonable too. The candles and the floor lamp are from IKEA. So is the rug, it’s the ever-popular Lappljung ruta model. No first-time home is complete without a few IKEA items haha.

A huge thank you goes out to my amazing friend Amanda of Amanda Amato Media Services for taking these photos--all of them except for the ones with the turquoise coffee table (that’s clearly me haha). If you’re in Montreal or the surrounding area, don’t hesitate to contact her! 

For more photos of my space, you can go here , here and here

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IKEA 2017 Catalog Sneak Peek

Getting Personal

I was checking out Apartment Therapy and was ecstatic to find a sneak peak of the IKEA 2017 Catalog! It always feels like Christmas when it gets released! Pouring over it with a cup of coffee as I dog-ear the pages is one of my favourite things to do when I have a moment to myself. If you prefer browsing through the app then I’ve got good news--a new catalog app is on its way! Goodbye Expectations. Hello you! is the theme of this year’s catalog. From what I’ve read, the IKEA team wanted to reflect on how much pressure people face in their day-to-day lives to be perfect and instead present people with products that help them live in a way that’s true to themselves, caring less about other people’s opinions and more about what they want in a home. In other words, less catalog and a little more lived-in personality--of which I’m a big fan! This personal approach extends to a new feature in the catalog where 13 individuals and their spaces will be featured. The stories will be sourced from all around the world.

I really like this more personal/approachable direction they’re headed in. As a blogger, decorator and human, I can definitely relate to the pressure to be perfect. And I think a big part of this is social media. Whenever I snap a picture of my space or a project I’ve been working on...to say I think twice before putting it on Instagram is a huge understatement. I think a bazillion times because I’m constantly asking myself, Is this good enough? Does this look like you do this for a living?? The pressure is definitely on to look perfect in that little Insta-square we’ve become all too familiar with. I think we can all benefit from keeping it a little more real and showing our personality rather than just the manicured portions of our life.

My favourite item from the catalog is the Barkaboda (photo 1) wooden herringbone countertop! Having a portion of the kitchen counter or just the top of an island in wood is one of my favourite looks. Add the herringbone pattern and you’ve got a match made in heaven. It’s on-trend and classic all at once. 

The Vallentuna (photo 4) sleeper sofa system is a modular sectional with a sofa bed and storage. I love the modern-Scandinavian vibe on that Gronodal (photo 7) rocking chair. It’s made from caned rattan. If I was currently on the hunt for a rug, I’d pick the Lobbak (photo 8) model. Designed in a traditional herringbone pattern, it’s flatwoven so can also work in a dining room. If you find the popular Lappljung ruta rug a little too busy for your liking, this is a great, more subtle alternative. 

If the decor and window displays at Anthroplogie and Urban Outfitters are your jam, then you’ll love the Harliga glass dome (photo 9). The Kvitsbro storage table (photo 10) not only has a great wired pattern but also does double storage duty--perfect for the living room as an end table or in a kid’s playroom. 

The entire catalog comes out on Aug. 8th

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Living Room Updates for the Summer

Hi Strangers! Life has been busy to say the least. Between work and wedding planning, I haven’t had as much time to blog but now I’m back at it again and am also going to set aside some time this week to post a proper before and after post about the changes we made to the condo since we moved in. My friend Amanda who’s an awesome photographer came by recently from Montreal to photograph my place and I’ll be including those photos in the before and after post later this week. You will be spared my photography skills for once! 

In the meantime, I thought I’d share the changes I’ve made to our living room. I love switching up my decor once in a while and especially with the seasons. I get bored easily. I’m also a freelancer and while working from home has its perks, it can also leave you feeling very restless/annoyed with your surroundings. Or maybe I’m just a freak like that. So, I think it’s very important to feel calm and actually like what you’re surrounded by most of the time. Same goes for people. Look at me, doling out life advice ;)

You can switch up your decor without spending a mint. My favourite way to do so, especially when summer rolls around, is with plants. They add such a fresh feel and can last if you do your research and select the appropriate plant for your space. I’m pretty much a plant serial killer so I looked up which plants require the least care and came across the Pachira or “Money” tree. Our place gets lots of light but it’s a lot of indirect light and that’s what this plant apparently thrives in. Plus, it only needs water every ten days or so and has this gorgeous braided trunk. I picked it up at the grocery store and I believe it was around 20$. It’s been doing well and I love the tropical look it has to it!

Our gallery wall is complete and I added some pastel touches with the two vintage radio prints (purchased from Indigo). I got the two small rectangular gold frames from Elegant Garage Sale, a vintage shop in Toronto and added decorative craft paper featuring different types of postage stamps (a super cheap option to create “art” on a budget). The small circular frame with the flowers is also from there, such good finds all the time! The largest print is from Mathilde Cinq-Mars, a Quebec artist--definitely check her out! I’m obsessed and you will be too. I’ll probably continue to switch up some of the artwork but I’m really loving the overall arrangement for now! A little tip--arranging a gallery wall can be tricky so I found cutting out the shapes of the actual art/frames I wanted to use using paper and then taping it to the wall helped visualize what the arrangement would look like. We also put images of the prints in photoshop prior to hanging to see how it would look.

I think the key to a good gallery wall is finding a bit of balance amid the chaos. While the middle portion of my gallery is a little haphazard, many of the frames on the outside have their matching frames at the opposite end. 

We’re still on the hunt for accent drapes! If you know of any unique places or online resources, feel free to let me know. I really hate the grey ones that are there now.

Another new addition is the IKEA Raskog cart. I’ve been wanting it in turquoise for so long and recently received an IKEA gift card so I ordered it right away. That along with a rolling pin since I’ve been using empty wine bottles to make pizza for the longest time, ha!

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Bohemian Chalet in the Alps

This looks like one of those places you’d see in an Airbnb top ten list. I definitely wouldn’t mind escaping whatever remains of the winter and curling up with a good book in this bohemian styled chalet. It was once a 19th century farmhouse that was recently converted to a cozy retreat in the French Alps by Belgian designer, Lionel Jadot. He’s known for his bohemian and global influences and not only did he transform the interior, but much of the original structure was restored as well. The oversized windows look out onto Mont Blanc and you can enjoy the view from a beautifully nordic, sheepskin-accented outdoor nook. The kitchen island is definitely a standout, covered in pixel-like Bisazza mosaic and that black range hood contrasts beautifully with all the wood. I love how nothing’s too matchy...the colorful textiles, the mixed materials and patterns, it all comes together for a relaxed vibe.

Via

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Chairish Diva Den -- Midcentury Casual

The folks at Chairish contacted me about creating a mood board for my own personal getaway room, a certain Diva Den as opposed to the common Man Cave, if you will. I obviously jumped at the chance seeing as how I love creating mood boards. I do it for clients, my own home projects, basically everything. If I could plan my life using mood boards, I would be way more organized!

I was so happy to discover Chairish because it combines everything I love about interior design. Every featured piece is hand-picked due to its unique character. Its a curated, online vintage marketplace where design lovers can buy and sell furniture, artwork and accessories. 

I picked out the Findahls Danish  bar stools first. I was drawn to the emerald green cushions combined with the pale wood. Since I’m more of a neutral kind of girl I knew they’d also provide the perfect pop of color in my light, airy room. I wanted to create a casual, eclectic feel with midcentury accents so I chose a tulip-style pub table and warmed up the modern pieces by adding some global-inspired patterns like the rug and vintage teak lounge chair. Above the wine cabinet, I picked out an antique round leaf mirror. Round mirrors are everywhere lately and I couldn’t be happier. They give so much personality to a room. I decided to anchor the room with the Modern Workstead Brass Chandelier because I’m just a sucker for anything brass and with bare bulbs! For me, an ideal getaway spot in my own home involves lots of wine, cozy seating and a great book--which is why I made sure to add a book shelf to create a little reading nook.

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Grey ~ The Old Faithful

Every time design writers or industry insiders try to predict that grey is finally “out”, I laugh. I’ve heard it for the past two years yet I continue to see the most gorgeous interiors feature this warm, familiar and friendly shade. This 721-square-foot Swedish home contains so many of my go-to favorites--grey paint for a cozy feel, charcoal kitchen cabinets, white subway tile complimented with dark grout and colourful textiles to pop against the grey in the living room. The kitchen is pretty sizeable, especially considering its square footage! The flooring and grey walls add a touch of dark elegance while the subway tile backsplash and unique lighting really brightens up the space. I’m loving those white vintage dining chairs and the pattern on their seat covers. Another standout is the Moroccan tiled hallway at the entrance and the arched window in the bedroom. An honourable mention goes to the quirky artwork. Especially the monkey lying casually in the grass on what looks to be the same pillows that are in the living room--nice touch.

Via

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Decor Trends 2016

Hope everyone’s having a great start to the New Year! I thought it would be only fitting to have my first post of 2016 highlight a few trends that I’m happy to hear will be big.

1) Imperfect, Eclectic Kitchens

I feel like this one has been around for a while but I couldn’t be happier to hear that everyone’s predicting it will stick around. Say goodbye to cold, polished kitchens and hello to warm, casual dining atmospheres. Mixed materials will reign supreme as homeowners attempt to create a personalized space with contrasting styles. Just take a look at that kitchen--rustic wood, subway tile and a vintage rug all come together for the sake of comfort.

2) Statement Mirrors in the Bathroom

You all know I love a unique mirror in any room. It’s one of the easiest ways to instantly add style to a space. It doesn’t have to be costly either--there’s plenty of uniquely shaped vintage mirrors to be found at your local thrift store or even Craigslist/Kijiji.

3) Tech-less Living Rooms

As a decorator I’m a little torn on this one. While I think it’s every designer’s dream to craft a living area without that ugly TV in the way, it’s just not realistic. Especially when most people have only one space or room dedicated as a living room. However, if you do have the space and want to have a family room that’s unplugged, go for it! It sure is pretty to look at.

4) Round Furniture

It’s all about curves in 2016. Designer Timothy Corrigan says it best, “Who doesn’t want to rub their hands along a smooth, rounded piece of marble? Touch is essential to design.”

5) Ornamentation

Think any type of rich detailing--beads, tassels, fringe, and brocades. Everyone’s looking for a bit of nostalgia to dress up their interior.

Via Elle Decor, The Wall Street Journal, House to Home, Pinterest, Urban Outfitters

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Last Minute Gift Guide for the Host or Hostess

If you’re anything like me, you still have a couple of gifts to buy. Every year, the gifts that I find myself scrambling for at the very last minute, are host/hostess gifts. For some reason they just always slip my mind and I end up picking something up the very day of a party or get together. This year, I singled out some cool and covetable gifts that I think any host or hostess would be happy to receive. So even if you are a last minute gifter, at least you won’t have to think of what to get:

1) Tequila Mockingbird, Urban Outfitters 15$

I don’t know what cocktails with a literary twist are but I know I need this book.

2) Stadium Plaid Throw, Indigo 34.50$

This throw is so plush and who doesn’t love plaid? More importantly, who doesn’t love to lie around buried under a blanket watching movies all day? Everyone can use an extra throw, it’s never a waste!

3) Mugs, V de V 8$ and 14$ (Montreal)

V de V is one of my favourite home decor stores in Montreal. I have a very eclectic collection of mugs and I feel you can never have too many!

4) Olive Oil, Olive Oil Emporium (Toronto) 

You know what else isn’t a waste? Things people can EAT or DRINK. A gourmet food gift is always a treat because it isn’t something people regularly buy for themselves. If you’re in Toronto, I highly recommend this place! I’ve been a couple of times now and the service is always great and their selection is incredible. They sell fine, extra-virgin olive oils along with beautiful wood cutting boards, bowls and various mediterranean spreads. 

5) Le Creuset, matte black sugar & creamer The Bay 80$

Le Creuset. Matte black. Need I say more?

*Honourable mentions go to alcohol and home-baked goods :)

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Hotline Fring

I have a confession to make. I don’t mind drinking the Drake Kool-Aid from time to time and I love the Caribbean vibe of Hotline Bling. I figured it would only be appropriate to feature a recent Toronto venture of his--his restaurant Fring’s, with celebrated chef and Chopped Canada judge, Susur Lee. The space was designed by Bent Gable Design Inc and I’m loving all of the rich textures involved. Velvet, fur, leather, brick, fringe--you’d think these would be disastrous together but they unite to warm up and add a certain richness to the industrial space. The ladies from Bent Gable Design Inc were once clothing designers and this really comes through in their work. The standouts for me are the pops of vintage turquoise, the worn olive green leather of the banquet booths and of course, the red fringe lighting. The restaurant officially opened in October and while I won’t be going anytime soon, (I’m too old to wait in line for things) I’ll probably head over there in a few months on a weekday at around 6pm. That’s how I roll.

Via

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Living Room Revamp

I hope everyone is doing well! Apologies for the little blog hiatus. I got busy with a freelance translation project and my eyes are officially burning from the glare of my laptop. I know you know the feeling.  Anyway, we’ve further decorated the living room. Here you can see the hexagon shelves and mirrors we put up over the TV, but the wall above the couch remained bare for quite some time. We originally had hung 3 12X18 Wes Anderson-inspired prints which I loved but they were just too small for the space (you can take a look on instagram). They kind of looked like they were floating since our walls are pretty high for a small space, especially by Toronto condo standards. I’ve always loved the idea of a gallery wall but knew it would take some time to complete since I’m super picky and indecisive when it comes to artwork. 

This is our little gallery wall so far and we intend on extending it from the sides. The print with the speakerphone and flowers is from Mathilde Cinq-Mars, an insanely talented Quebec illustrator. I fell in love with her work and she was so sweet to experiment with printing in a custom larger format. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out! The print on the lower left was purchased at Elegant Garage Sale (in Toronto) for 10$, framed and all! There is no greater rush than the one that comes after a great vintage art find! The bow tie print is from Indigo, the bottom photograph was bought from a street vendor in New York and the deer bust is from Winners. 

I switched up the pillows too since I wanted more of a winter-feel. It never fails, every year come December, I become instantly obsessed with everything buffalo check. I had been eyeing that black and white pillow from Indigo for a while and finally got it on sale during Black Friday. The cream coloured pillow was a bit of a splurge. I purchased it at Century 21 during a New York trip and couldn’t resist the pale wood bead detail. You win some, you lose some. This week we’re aiming to get the Christmas tree up so I’ll post photos of that soon as well as a holiday gift guide! 

[boutiquebirichina]

Living Room Update + Rug Pad USA GIVEAWAY

We finally finished the TV wall in our living room and I’m super happy with how it turned out! I’m still debating how to arrange the artwork on the opposite wall (over the sofa) so I’ll have a full living room update for you soon. I’ve long coveted the Honefoss hex mirrors from IKEA and I had to visit a few stores to find them as they are often sold out. I blame Pinterest. What I love is that you can create any pattern you want and then I had the idea to mix in the wooden hex shelves I got on Wayfair. Shoutout to my fiance for doing all the measuring and making it happen while I directed from the couch. The black plant stand on the left is a Kijiji find that I painted black and the side table on the right is from Target. The candlesticks are new from IKEA and they come in a set of three for 30$. The magazine bucket with black crosses is from a great online shop called Baba Souk.

You all know how much I love my IKEA Lappljung Ruta rug! Do I see it everywhere? YES. Does that make me love it any less? NO, because I am not a rug snob. However, something we should all be snobs about is choosing the right rug pad for our space. That’s right, not all rug pads are created equal. When the kind people at Rug Pad USA contacted me about reviewing one of their rug pads I was curious to see if there was actually a difference between my big-box store pad and theirs.

I was sent the Eco-Cushion Non-Slip Rug Pad which is best suited for the laminate floors I have in my condo. If you visit Rug Pad USA, you’ll see that you can shop by the type of flooring you have which not only takes the guess work out of selecting the right pad but is also crucial to protecting your floors. Most rug pads are made of PVC or plastic and are chemically-ridden which can damage your floor over time. Rug Pad USA offers eco-friendly rug pads that are made in the USA. You can even choose a custom size if your rug is an odd shape. I’ve had my new rug pad since early summer and I love it. With my old rug pad, my rug would still budge here and there, especially around the corners which if you’re accident prone like me, is not a good thing. My old rug pad was also sticky to the touch which just makes you wonder what they put into even the most generic household products.

If you’d like a chance to win 1 rug pad of your choice, simply like this post and be sure to be following. If you aren’t on Tumblr, you can leave a comment to enter. One winner will be chosen at random from both Instagram and Tumblr participants. The giveaway will close on Nov. 24th at 10PM and the winner will be announced on Nov. 26th. If contests aren’t your thing, Rug Pad USA kindly offered the following 15% off promo code to Birichina readers: PR15OFF

[boutiquebirichina]

Unexpected & Budget-Friendly ways to use Bold Tile

If you’re as obsessed with tile as I am, you’ll find any excuse to use it. And doesn’t it hurt when you find the perfect tile but it’s way over your budget? I feel you. It’s the reason we painted our kitchen backsplash when moving in rather than replacing the tile. However, if you’ve completely fallen in love with a bold or mosaic-style tile that’s out of your price range there’s usually a way to incorporate it on a smaller scale.

1) Behind the Vanity

Section off a vertical area behind the sink and mirror to create a feature wall with your patterned tile then cover the rest of the wall in a simpler, cheaper tile. If it’s a powder room you can even leave the rest of the walls untiled. 

2)  On a Fireplace

This look is super unique and will surely be the focal point of any space. It’s also an unexpected and eye-catching alternative to stone.

3) As A Stair Riser Accent

This is a great way to use a pricier tile you love on a smaller scale and include it in your home in some way. 

4) As an Accent Stripe

An accent stripe of tile adds an artsy touch to a classic subway wall. This works in both a bathroom and kitchen.

5) On a Bathroom Floor

If you have your heart set on a tile for your bathroom wall but it’s simply too expensive to cover that much surface area, think of using it on the floor instead. You’ll need less of it and it’ll look just as good. As a general rule, pair a busier floor tile with a neutral wall tile when it comes to bathroom tiling.

6 + 7) Feature your Unique Tile Finds

If you’re an avid vintage shopper and love a good craigslist find, show off your goods! Placing a few interesting tiles behind a sink in a powder room or small kitchen can really look like a work of art and have just as big of an impact as fully tiled wall. 

Via Apartment Therapy, Home Stratosphere, Pinterest

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Le Toasteur Villeray

I finally feel semi-alive again after the worst cold/flu. I miss the days when I used to get over a bad cold in a few days but now I feel like it takes me weeks! Getting old sucks. But you know what doesn’t suck? Discovering a new brunch spot! A friend and I discovered Le Toasteur a while ago while wandering around her neighbourhood, Villeray, in Montreal. It was around 1pm on a Wednesday and we were still craving brunch so we figured any greasy brunch place would do. I googled “brunch place near Jarry metro”--like I said, we were too hungry to be picky. Guys, this is the one time Google did not let me down. I had never heard of this place before but there’s apparently another one on Laurier. They serve classic brunch fare--eggs benedict, pancakes, crepes and have a few breakfast twists such as the poutine plate, which I plan on trying next time. I ordered the eggs benedict which came with a side of potatoes and fruits. The ham wasn’t too thick (which I was happy about) and the hollandaise sauce was some of the best I’ve tried (I have eggs benedict at almost every brunch place so trust me on this one). The menu varies from 10-15$ which I think is pretty reasonable. While this isn’t a gourmet brunch spot, they do what they do well--hearty, classic breakfast dishes served in a cozy atmosphere. And I’m not gonna lie, those bistro chairs, tin ceiling and chandelier also drew me in.