New in - trivets and books

Some goodies have arrived lately in my mailbox that I wanted to share with you all, so here we go. First up are some gorgeous trivets from Canadian designer, artist and printmaker Lorraine Tuson. Her patterns are sooooo fun, and this one is my favourite. It's called Fingerprint Flower as it started off with her own fingerprint! She currently carries lumbar cushions, coasters, table runner, pouches and a few others, all made from 100% wool felt. While I plan to use my trivets just for decoration they have a cork backing so they don't slip and are water repellant and can be easily spot cleaned. She is selling her products at one of my favourite shops in Toronto, Green Light District Design, if you want to go check them out in person. We spoke about some new projects she's working on and I'm super stoked to see how they turn out! 

This first book I received is total eye candy and a perfect coffee table book you're going to want to flip through a couple dozen times. Out East: Houses and Gardens of the Hamptons is published by The Vendome Press, is written by Jennifer Ash Rudick with photos by Tria Giovan.

Out East captures the enduring appeal of shingled houses, modernist oceanfront designs, artists’ compounds, and Montauk surf shacks. Jennifer Ash Rudick, a long-time Southampton resident, leads an insider’s tour of more than 25 houses, cottages, and pool houses. Tria Giovan, a Sag Harbor–based photographer, captures extraordinary gardens, verandas, lakeside pavilions, farmhouses, and converted barns. This book is fabulous because it features such a wide variety of decor styles: from super traditional, to country, to mid-century modern and Scandinavian. This book has only been out since July 4th so go get yourselves a copy - trust me you will love it!

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A beach house in Vancouver

I am a big fan of Vancouver-based firm Fox Design Studio and I am smitten with this new project of theirs. This beach house features their signature style - lots of fun pattern and colour with a nod to nature in almost every room. It's cozy and inviting and I love that they went nautical in a subtle way. 

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Distilled luxury in white

Happy almost 150th birthday Canada! Preparations are well underway here in Ottawa for the biggest party of maybe the century and I will be one of the few federal government employees venturing to work today (we've been told to work from home given all of the road closures and general chaos). And on that note, I figured today was the perfect day to feature the work of a fellow Canadian. Peter Wilds' spaces have been showcased here before several times (like here, here, here, here and here) but we haven't shared this beauty yet. He calls it "Distilled Luxury". Elegance and simplicity in white. Simply gorgeous.  

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Stalking a home in Yellowknife

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories has a special place in my family's heart. Many years ago when my twin sister and I were starting university here in Ottawa, the rest of the family moved to Yellowknife for a few years. Yellowknife is WAY up north and is quite a unique city. It mostly consists of rock and lakes not much else. The house my folks bought was on one of the few streets where the yards had grass (it was considered a luxury given the freezing climate and terrible quality of earth) and the trees were not short little evergreens. There are many creative types up there who over the years have built many really cool homes...some on water and some, like in this case, on the side of a rock face. This house in Old Town is one everyone had greatly admired and we had always wondered what it looked like inside. 20 years later we finally know. :) 

Nestled into the rocky landscape, this now iconic to Yellowknife home was built by a long-time northerner and architect with every space, window and beam in the home thoughtfully designed, crafted and placed with purpose. Watch the sun rise over Great Slave Lake as you water the garden, witness the neighborhood fox hunting for his lunch as you wash dishes in the kitchen, enjoy the soft evening sun during your yoga practice in the loft and treat family and friends to panoramic lake and city views on the huge upper deck backing onto rocky greenspace, perfect for your kids to run around and explore. Originally built in 1978, with the addition built in 1990, the home features cedar siding, fir structural beams and fir and maple custom designed built-in furniture and detailing. Listed at a mere $899,000 ;)  

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Opulent spaces by Lori Morris

Unparalleled luxury. Opulent elegance. Traditional without boundaries. An avant-garde edge. Extraordinarily dramatic. Toronto-based designer Lori Morris is a force to be reckoned with. I cannot express enough how much I admire her boldness and originality. And her love of obscenely ornate moldings that make me want to cry tears of pure joy.  

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