julien macdonald wallpaper

British fashion designer Julien Macdonald may be most famous for his work with Chanel and Givenchy but his eye for design obviously wanders from fashion to home decor with ease. I just love these wallpaper designs of his. Pictured left is Ornate in black and blue and features a gorgeous and intricate baroque-inspired design. I love the drama. Pictured right is Glamorous in black and pink and, well, I think the name says it all.

“This has been an inspiring, refreshing challenge, and I’m delighted with the collection” says Julien Macdonald about his first ever wallpaper collection. “The designs are a true reflection of the influences I experience through travel and my work as a fashion designer. Seeing my signature style of glamour and elegance translated onto wallpaper is an achievement I’m very proud of.”

We love it too, Julien. And if I can’t wrap my body in your clothes, at least I can wrap my walls in your paper.

Available online at: grahambrown.com
Price: $60/double roll

Click here for tips on hanging wallpaper with ease.

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cozy chenille throws

I’m definitely not ready for fall (we’ve barely enjoyed a full summer here in Toronto). But it was chilly last night and whether we’re ready or not, the nip in the air reminds us that fall is just around the corner. So even though I’m not ready for it (have I mentioned that already?), I can’t help but think about it. When autumn does decide to arrive on our doorstep, I’ll be ready for it with these cozy chenille blankets. These soft, beautiful throws are available in plaid, solid and multi-stripe patterns and will look lovely draped over my sofa, ready to wrap me in warmth when the time comes.

Available at: Restoration Hardware
Price: $55

When you’re ready to start thinking fall, check out these 15 stylish ways to add autumn to your home.

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all-in-one printer

I’m all about multi-functional these days. I mean, why invest in three things to perform three different tasks when you can rely on one thing to perform three tasks? Yes, I am of the BlackBerry generation – one device for phone, email, music, calendar … I’m hooked! So when I discovered Kodak’s ESP-5 all-in-one printer, I knew I’d love it. It’s sleek and sexy and so easy to use. So what does this wonder printer do? It prints (duh), copies and scans but what I love most is the three-inch LCD screen for viewing and editing. And, it features memory card and USB slots so that you can view, edit and print your materials, even if you don’t have a computer hooked up to it. When did something as practical as a printer get so exciting? It’s both Mac- and PC-compatible and has space for two cartridges; black and a five-colour cartridge. Perfect for your home office as long as you actually work and don’t spend your day playing with your new gadget!

Available at: Staples Business Depot and London Drugs or online at kodak.ca.
Price: $169.99

Psst! We’re going to be giving one of these fab printers away soon on styleathome.com so keep checking back for our contest!

If you really want to stay on top of cool new tech toys, you should definitely check out our Tech Style blog by Style at Home’s senior editor Corinna VanGerwen.

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beautiful iittala bowls

OK, yesterday, I had striped bowls on the brain. Strange, I know. But I was checking out this story on styleathome.com (Bargain beauty: Decorating for less) and I couldn’t stop admiring the striped bowls that caught my eye in the story’s photo. So, I started looking for stylish striped bowls to include in my blog. Alas, I couldn’t find the exact ones featured in the story but I did find another set of dishware that I quite liked. (You can check out that blog post here.)

But, thanks to the help of my colleague (Helen Racanelli, editor of canadianliving.com, who insisted I credit her for the elusive find) I was directed to the designer/manufacturer of the exact bowls I was marveling at. Alors, voila!

These cheerful and bold bowls by Scandinavian design company iittala can be found online at dinnerplates.com and the full product line ranges in price from $10 to $42. P.S. dinnerplates.com ships to Canada!

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striped bowls

Love these striped cereal bowls and matching milk pitcher! This is certainly one way to start your day off in style. Available in ink or khaki, these oversized bowls are perfect for a hearty breakfast. They’ll also look great on display on your kitchen table or counter – why hide pretty things behind closed cupboard doors? Leave them out to be admired.

Available at: Chefs
Price: bowls, $9.99; pitcher, $9.99

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lovely lamp by designer Tord Boontje

I love this wide cylindrical pendant lamp by Dutch-born, London-based designer Tord Boontje. Known for intricate and intriguing graphic patterns, this colourful modern lamp is a combination of picture and pattern that’s delightful to look at. But what I love most is that when lit, this lamp jauntily projects the outer multi-coloured images onto the wall, creating a dancing display of shadows. A pretty addition to your home and a conversation piece, too — perfect!

Looking for more? Check out this story on achieving the perfect lighting in your home.

Price: $359 US, free shipping to Canada
Available at: Generate

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mighty leaf teas

Nothing says rest and relaxation more to me than cozying up with a hot cup of tea and as the weekend approaches, I welcome the chance to sit down and unwind. Wrapping my hands around a hot cuppa and inhaling the fresh aroma of a perfectly brewed cup of tea seems to melt my stress away. This tea set from Mighty Leaf is a sweet treat for the tea lover and comes with an assortment of tasty teas to try: Breakfast Americana, Organic Earl Grey, Bombay Chai, Orange Dulce and Vanilla Bean. Mmm! I can just feel myself starting relax! Once you’ve got your mug in hand, start a new tradition with styleathome.com’s guide to teatime etiquette, plus find tips for brewing the perfect cup of tea.

Available online at: mightyleaf.ca

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earth-friendly cleaning products

Used to be that environmentally friendly products were a scarcity, hard to find and limited in options. These days, it’s easy to do your part. So think about protecting and preserving our planet. This great line includes products for fabric, dishes, hard surfaces and hand soap, too. I love the laundry detergent. Free of petrochemical derivatives, this concentrated laundry formula is hardworking; a one-litre bottle suffices for 35 loads. I love that this product is hypoallergenic, free of phosphates, dyes and artificial fragrances. Scented with essential oils, the laundry detergent comes in  the following fragrances: Lavender & Grapefruit, Bergamot & Tangerine and Ylang-Ylang & Lime.

For more information, visit: cleanattitude.com

Plus, check out great organizing ideas for your laundry room.

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wallies chalkboards

When I was a kid, I used to write reminders to myself on my hand (ew!) In university, my roommate and I put a whiteboard in our foyer to write each other notes about everything from empty milk cartons and bread shortages to exam schedules and weekend plans. Efficient, sure. Unsightly, definitely. If only we’d known about Wallies back then. These peel-and-stick chalkboards are perfect for around the home, plus, they’re removable and repositionable. What a great idea! No more leaving notes around the house that may or may not get eaten by the dog. These chalkboards, while running the risk of being a tad kitschy, end up being totally stylish because they’re so clever. And inexpensive, too! At about $9.99 a sheet (prices vary depending on size), they’re a bargain to boot.

Available online at: wallies.com

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felix doolittle stationery

These nifty notecards from Felix Doolittle make me think of the Beatrix Potter books I used to pore over as a child. Not only is the artwork reminiscent of Beatrix’s style but the size and shape of the notecards is just like her books … perfect for small hands. (Does that matter or am I just rambling?) If you’re as fanatical about pretty paper as I am, you’ll surely want to add this find to your list of must-shop stationery stores. The designs come in themed collections, notecards, invitations, memo papers, even baker’s labels. Even though these pretty delights are born and raised in West Newton, Massachusetts, you can shop online and have them shipped to Canada via UPS. We LOVE the Internet!

Available online at: Felix Doolittle

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information for garden lovers

If you’re gardening this fine summer weekend, you might want to check out the fabulous new canadiangardening.com. Our sister website also had a makeover this week and the results are bloomin’ beautiful! This gardening site is an incredible resource for everything gardening-related. You’ll find lots of articles with helpful hints, fun quizzes and an active forum community where you can connect with other garden lovers. Plus, check out editor-in-chief Aldona Satterthwaite’s blog Gardener-At-Large. Each week, Aldona offers readers off-the-cuff, irreverent blog posts—sometimes about gardening, and sometimes not, she says. Enjoy!

Looking for more great garden info? Check out styleathome.com’s garden section, too!

Have a great weekend!

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beautiful beach cottages

Separately, the words thrill and make my toes tingle. Beach. Cottage. Both are delightful. But combined, these two words evoke a feeling far more intense, conjuring up images of a summer by the sea, the smell of salt in the air. Not Hawaii or Jamaica. This is like Nantucket. Quaint. Historic. Rustic. Mary Emmerling’s Beach Cottages: At Home by the Sea (Random House, 2008 ) is a book of beautifully photographed beach cottages around America. Check out an excerpt here.

And if you’re lucky enough to be heading to a cottage this fine summer weekend, enjoy!

Book price: $37.95
Available at: randomhouse.ca

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