lucyina moodie

Lucyina Moodie is a UK-based stylist and interior designer whose eye for style is (IMHO) nothing short of pure perfection! I just love the antique chic look of the spaces she designs and her use of pretty pastels that soothe and calm. Since she hails from across the pond, it’s unlikely that us Canucks will really be able to call on her services but the photos are certainly a source of inspiration. There’s a simple charm in these designs, a look that heralds an era long gone. Her style makes me think of a simpler time and reminds me to celebrate the important things in life.
For more information, visit: lucyina.com

For more design inspiration, check out these articles:
15 secret decor tips
15 tricks that will make your home look like it jumped off the pages of Style at Home.

Design lesson: Living well
Improve your quality of life at home.

Organizing 101: Making your home a haven
Create a space that’s beautiful and reflects who you are so that you feel at home with these home organizing tips.

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seeing stripes

There’s something about stripes that says spring and summer. Stripes add an instant nautical feel to your home, especially like the casual striped rug pictured here. Striped accessories like cushions and dishware are easy to add around the house and have a way of bringing a light and airy feeling along with them. The picture below makes me think of Nantucket in the summer; I can just smell that sea air  — I love the effortless look of beach-inspired decor.  Add some vibrant colour to your home with these fab finds:

1 Pieced Awning Stripe Mat
Available at: Pottery Barn

2 Melamine Lidded Bowl Set
Available at: Crate & Barrel

3 Brie Stripe, Granite
Available at: Tonic Living

4 Cottage Stripe Cotton Rug Collection
Available at: Garnet Hill

5 Iittala Mug
Available at: Iittala

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magnique: magnifique!

Spring is in the air and with the arrival of this much-anticipated season comes, for many, a renewed commitment to getting organized at home. In some ways, it’s like the new year; a fresh start, a new beginning. And these days, getting organized has never been easier or more stylish. There are all kinds of tools on the market to help making home organization easier than ever before. But getting organized doesn’t have to mean huge at-home overhauls involving new built-in closets or large-scale pieces of furniture. Sometimes the key is to start with the little things, like bills, paperwork, odds and ends. I recently discovered these magnetic boards from Magnique, a fabulous Canadian company. All of the Magnique boards and gorgeous glass magnets are handmade in Toronto. These customizable boards come in a variety of colours of leather and suede and can be used all over the house to organize paper, create vision boards, keep track of grocery lists and to-dos or even display photos. I love the colourful magnets, handmade in Canada with glass imported from Italy. You may want to buy some extras for your fridge.
Visit magnique.com for more information.

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feeling green

I’m feeling a bit green today. Not eco-friendly, do-the-environment-a-spot-of-good green. Just green. Spring arrived somewhat anticlimactically last week and hasn’t been seen since. But inside, I’m ready for it, despite the fact that outwardly, I’m still bundled up in all my winter gear. So until spring decides to come out of hiding, I’m going to think green. It’s such a bright, cheerful colour, one that evokes feelings of life and rebirth, rejuvenation and new beginnings. Here are a few things to help add a dash of green to your home:

1 Hariette chair
Available at: Garnet Hill
Price: $1,550 – $1,680

2 Pine Cone Hill lattice citrus window panel
Available at: Layla Grace
Price: $64

3 Soho Apartment dessert plates and mugs
Available at: Rosanna Inc.

Price: See website for details

4 Martha Stewart Collection green colander
Available at: Macy’s
Price: $19.99

5 Jamie Oliver lime green pitcher
Available at: Sears
Price: $22.99

6 Tonal stripe organic duvet cover and sham
Available at: Pottery Barn
Price: $23 – $135

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enviable designs

I’m one of those lucky people whose job it is to look at and write about pretty things all day long. Along my cyber travels, I find fab new products, beautiful photos and today, I’ve discovered a handful of interior designers, whose work is lovely and inspirational. Case in point: Enviable Designs is Victoria McKenney’s Vancouver-based interior design firm. With a tagline of “comfortable sophistication”, her work seems to accomplish this effortlessly. I love these photos of some of her projects; there’s a richness and elegance to these spaces yet the rooms still look easy to live in. Victoria’s bio says that her “personal style is an effortless blend of European classic with hints of modern and twists of traditional.” Love it!

For more information, visit Enviable Designs.
For more inspiration, check out our Decorating & Design section!

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simple human sensor soap pump

Every now and then, you find a product that you never knew you needed. And then suddenly, there it is, in all its glory and you wonder how you ever lived without it. That’s sort of how I feel about Simple Human’s sensor soap pump. We’ve all used sensor pumps in public washrooms but it never occurred to me how brilliant it would be to have one at home. Well, now that I’ve used this, I realize just how great it is. Particularly in the kitchen, this soap pump makes a lot of sense. Let’s say you’re working with raw meat and you need to wash up frequently. With this pump, you don’t need to touch a soap dispenser with your contaminated hands. Just place your hand underneath the sensor and voila! Just enough soap comes out for you to wash up. So simple, so smart.

Available at: Home Outfitters or visit simplehuman.com for more information
Price: $49.99

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10 things to do in January

The craziness of the holidays is behind us now. I don’t know about you but my December was frenzied. So I’m happy to welcome the slower, more civilized pace that January brings. But I don’t need to come to a complete halt either. If you’re looking for easy, practical things to do around the house this month, you should check out our story, 10 things to do in January, written by styleathome.com contributor Carmen Taylor. I’ll give you a sneak preview, but to read the rest, click here.

1 Review presents and hostess gifts
Of course your friends and family love you and were grateful for your hospitality, but no doubt you don’t really need all the tokens of affection you received. Surely someone else could make better use of that collection of tea, those pot holders or that picture frame? Hold on to what you love, by all means, but get rid of the rest by dropping it off at Goodwill, Value Village or your favourite charity.

2 Tapers, tea lights, scented …
Candles make the season and since you’ve probably gone through a whack of them, replace your stock now. They don’t have a shelf life so it’ll be one less thing to shop for next year.

3 Move the furniture
You may be surprised what you find there. Take the cushions off sofas and chairs, vacuum along the wall behind the furniture and then turn your attention to the inside of the furniture itself. After the hosting you’ve done, no doubt it needs it.

Image courtesy of Crate and Barrel

Read more …

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halloween decorating

At every turn, there’s no doubt that it’s Halloween today. Although, as a colleague of mine astutely pointed out, traveling on Toronto’s subways, it’s not always entirely possible to distinguish the once a year costumes from the every day streetwear of some. But I digress. Since Halloween conveniently falls on a Friday this year, I’m sure many of you are attending Halloween parties or perhaps hosting one yourself. If you’re looking for some last-minute decorating ideas, that are more chic than cheap, check out these seven ideas. They’re inexpensive but will look good around the house, year after year. I love these (pictured above): Twig Hurricanes, starting at $39 US (right), Glitter Skull, $19 US, Pottery Barn (left).

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museums of canada

I’ve just recently discovered the Museums of Canada website and love the array of products available for purchase online. But first, here’s what the Canadian Museums Association is all about:

The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector. Established in 1947, the CMA has over 2000 members, who include non-profit museums, art galleries, science centres, aquaria, archives, sports halls of fame, artist-run centres, zoos and historic sites across Canada. They range from large metropolitan galleries to small community museums. All are dedicated to preserving and presenting our cultural heritage to the public. These institutions hold our collective heritage in trust for the Canadian public. Millions of art works, objects, specimens and documents are preserved for safekeeping by Canada’s museums. Each year, more than 55 million visitors attend our museums and a further 60 million visit our historic and natural parks.

Great, right? Well, things just get better when you check out some of the beautiful handmade items that are available for purchase on the Museums of Canada site. I’m particularly drawn to the work of Nova Scotia artist Pamela Kinsman, whose intricate and detailed work with glass turns everyday objects into true pieces of art. Pictured left is the Signature Art Glass Vase ($44.99) and I just adore the whimsy of this design. Pictured right is the Signature Tea Mug ($19.99), another exquisite piece with fine gold detailing that gives this mug something really special.

For more, check out: museumsofcanada.com

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clean for the cure with dyson

As I mentioned yesterday, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) has partnered with a variety of companies to raise funds for breast cancer research. Dyson is one of those companies and to support the cause, they have launched two limited edition pink vacuums; an upright (pictured left) and a canister vacuum (pictured right). While Dyson vacuums are known for their superior quality and easy handling, these two special designs are a wonderful way to support the CBCF’s efforts and bring home a vacuum that’s the perfect marriage of form and function.

Prices:
DC07 Upright: $499.99
DC21 Canister: $599.99

Available: while supplies last at The Bay, Home Outfitters, Future Shop, Best Buy, The Brick, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sears, Lowes, Home Depot and Dyson authorized independent retailers.

Proceeds from the purchase of these vacuums go towards a minimum donation of $50,000 to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

To find other CBCF partners, click here.

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kitchenaid stand mixer

If you haven’t invested in a KitchenAid stand mixer, I really don’t know what you’re waiting for. And if you’re not going to, encourage your mom, sister or aunt to get one (and then go over to their house and use it!) I’ve always loved to bake but never more so than when my mother purchased her first KitchenAid stand mixer – suddenly, there was no need to make a mess in my own kitchen when I could do it in hers and get to use her mixer. It makes everything so much easier and I swear, makes things taste better, too. This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and there are so many ways to help, to contribute, to stand up and say I care and I can help. Supporting the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) by purchasing products from one of their many partners is just one of those ways. KitchenAid makes a $100 contribution to the CBCF for each pink stand mixer that is sold.

Available at: homeoutfitters.com
Price: $449.99

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the wallpaper company

While I haven’t had the courage yet to wallpaper a room in my home, I’m definitely thinking about it. I love the idea of wallpapering one feature wall with something bold and dramatic but I just haven’t gotten around to it. But as I research my options, I’m finding more and more beautiful designs and now the problem isn’t so much whether to wallpaper as it is which design to choose. I recently discovered a great line of wallpaper products available at Home Depot. They’re from The Wallpaper Company and the designs are beautiful. Pictured left is a sample from the Jewel Tone collection and pictured right is a sample from the Mystic Purple collection. On the Home Depot site, you can choose a sample room (including living room, kitchen and bathroom) and then select from a wide assortment of papers, to see how they will look. It’s fun to browse through the options and I’m sure you’ll be inspired!

Before you get started, check out Style at Home’s tips for hanging wallpaper and check out other ways to dress your walls in style.

Visit us at the Style at Home Show, Oct. 17 to 19, at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto. Go to styleathomeshow.com for more information and to order tickets.

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home and garden makeover contest

Hi everyone!
We’ve got some exciting news at styleathome.com. We’ve just launched a great new contest and you can win some fabulous prizes. Entering to win is fast, fun and easy. We want to see your before and after pictures of a home makeover project, whether it’s indoors or out, and others will vote on the photos they like best. It’s fun and interactive and it’s a great way to show off a home makeover project you’re proud of. First and second place winners will win a washer/dryer pair from Maytag along with laundry products and third through tenth place will win a 12-month subscription to all four of our Home & Garden Network magazines — Style At Home, Canadian Gardening, Canadian Home and Country and Canadian Home Workshop. Click here to check out all the prize details. Ready to enter for your chance to win? Click here!

Once you’ve submitted your entry, you and your family and friends can vote once a day so spread the word.

Submissions Open from: Oct 1, 2008 to Oct 31, 2008
Voting Ends: Nov 14, 2008

Good luck!

Visit us at the Style at Home Show, Oct. 17 to 19, at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto. Go to styleathomeshow.com for more information and to order tickets.

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condo buying guides

Buying a condo is a big investment! And before you make your final decision, there are so many questions to ask. Do you know everything you need to know? In case you’re a) in the market and b) a little uncertain about all the costs involved, check out our condo-buying guide; it’s full of helpful information about real estate prices, maintenance fees and resale value. Plus, we’ve got 25 insider condo buying tips on everything from starting your research to making an offer (and everything in between). If you’re selling a home too, check out our 10 inexpensive home selling tips. We’ve got some great advice for giving your home a bit of extra flair to make it more attractive to prospective buyers.

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beautiful blankets

They say a picture speaks a thousand words and this one says ‘cold nights and hot drinks’. Summer isn’t even over officially yet but I’m not fooled. Autumn is on its way with winter quick on its heels. I can see them both, just waiting around the corner, giggling and waiting to pounce the moment my back is turned, those sneaky little devils.

Get your home ready with beautiful fall and winter accessories like these gorgeous Lima Alapaca throws from Crate and Barrel. Handwoven in Peru, these beautiful blankets come in a variety of cozy colours like plum, chartreuse and charcoal.

Available at: Crate and Barrel
Price: $169

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