Chair redo

I've got a little before & after for you all this morning. It's from Sandra, whose dining room and den we've blogged in the past. She had an antique Victorian chair redone and wanted to share it with us. I absolutely love the fabric she selected - so fun! Thanks Sandra!

Modern Light

It seems I've been a bit busy around the city these days, despite the fact that I'm about ready to hibernate from yet another dreadful Ottawa winter. First there was the Third World Bazaar that I visited (a couple of times) last week where I scored some awesome finds, and then this week there was an opening of a lighting store that I was SO excited about and an annual fabric flea market (to benefit the Cambridge Street Community School) that I anxiously await each year. Let me start off with the lighting store. 

There once was a store called Found Design. It sold mainly vintage mid-century furnishings and lighting and I loved to visit this store whenever I was shopping around Bank Street. I of course made some purchases there every now and then (a Panton-esque lamp, a repro Componibili storage unit, a vintage Eames shell chair, some retro fabric and a Witco wooden cat, and a bamboo screen). Sadly Found Design is now only a web-based shop BUT in it's place is Modern Light! They carry all sorts of brands I've always admired and drooled over such as Modernica, Flos, Jonathan Adler, Lotte, Luceplan, Studio Italia, Moooi and others. They don't just carry lighting but furniture, accessories and artwork (much from local Ottawa artists which is really cool). Modern Light's grand opening was Thursday night and I had a great time attempting to take photos of lights in a artificially-lit store at night. (LOL) So you'll have to excuse the mess of some of the photos below but I had no clue how to deal with the lighting situation. So here are a ton of photos from the opening of what is now the absolute coolest lighting shop in Ottawa.

**Many more photos of Modern Light and my fabric finds after the jump.

  
  
  

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be still

This is a quick post to introduce a new advertiser to DTI that I'm really excited about because it's a Etsy shop and I am completely obsessed with Etsy. The shop, bestillshop.etsy.com,  was created by Sarah Robinson and here's a bit from her profile: "be still homewares was founded in January 2009. My name is Sarah Robinson and I'm an Australian Industrial and Graphic Designer with a love of fabric and pattern. On moving to Bangkok in 2008 I was amazed and excited by the fantastic fabrics available here. I've decided to do something with all of this fabric. I currently live between Australia and Thailand." These said fabrics are gorgeous and she has several pages full of cushion covers and napkins that I'd love to get my hands on. My favourites are below. (Welcome Sarah!)

Some of my Mexico finds

I've been asked several times to show what I came home from Puerto Vallarta with. Besides a wicked suntan, some jewelry, 3 tops, a pair of pants, 3 pairs of super cheap and funky sandals, a bag, a few Spanish shelter mags, a lime squisher and a big bottle of vanilla, I brought back a few things I thought you guys might be interested in (yes, shopping was a high priority on this trip). Keep in mind I only brought one suitcase with me with as little in it as I could possibly manage so there wasn't much I could bring back. A few of these items I bought with someone you know in mind (sounds like Bo).

Why I wanted a shipping container - part 2

Here is another store in Puerto Vallarta that I almost passed out in. It's called Ponciana, located downtown, and was filled with everything under the sun. Clothing, tons of linens (lace, tablecloths, pillowcovers, runners...), mirrors, furniture, glassware, dishes, pottery, paintings...you name it. And I went a little nutty in this store knowing I could fit little bits and pieces in my suitcase. To my delight I did end up purchasing several items. Here's a peek inside Ponciana, and coincidentally you'll get a glimpse at a few of the things that came home with me (which is another post for later).