New in my living room....

....details and more photos coming next week!

Carben Food + Drink

Sunday was husband's birthday so he chose to go to a restaurant we had been wanting to try since it opened. Carben Food + Drink is located on Wellington St. about a 5 minute drive from our house. It's simply designed and I have always loves the space because it's quaint and has large windows along the road for great people-watching over the warm summer months. 

Lights are by Muuto and Bend, from The Modern Shop. The chairs are the Emeco Broom by Philippe Starck from A Modern Space (they are SO comfy - would make for awesome patio chairs). 

We started with some cocktails. I had the 'I Want Moore' - 100% Rye + honey syrup + coconut oolong tea + coconut. Jeff had 'The Mexican' - tequila + lime + agave syrup + prosecco.

My beet salad appetizer was so gorgeous I didn't want to eat it. But of course i did. :) sheep's milk yogurt + pickled & raw beets + cucumber mint purée + fresh peas + puffed amaranth + pearl onion petals + pistachio brittle + chili oil. This was fantastic. 

Jeff's main was scallops - beet splash + blood orange + compressed rutabaga + chai tea figs + pork belly. He loved it. 

My main was sturgeon loin - foie torchon + caramelized onion purée + arugula + radish + lemongrass asparagus + black garlic aioli. This was yummy, but I was a bit disheartened about the portion size. 

Jeff's main was the short rib - espresso celeriac purée + red pepper gel + pearl onion + sun chokes + leeks + smoked potatoes + jus. He loved this too. 

My dessert was really good - 'Bananas On The Side' - chocolate sponge + nutella mousseline + roasted banana ice cream + caramelized bananas + coconut gel + soft banana wafer + honeycomb.

Jeff's dessert was 'The Orange Carrot' - swiss carrot cake + guava splash + vanilla cream cheese ising cloud + orange blossom water + guava jelly cubes + cinnamon feuilletine + asian pear and thyme sorbet + carrot lace tuile 

I wore head to toe Rick Owens. Because I had a cold and Rick always makes me feel better. :)

Oliver Gustav

OLIVER GUSTAV IS A CREATIVE CONSULTANT WITH FOCUS ON AESTHETIC DEVELOPMENT, ART, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DESIGN. HIS APPROACH TO INTERIORS IS ARTISANAL AND HOLISTIC. HE CREATES SPACES WHICH CONVEY A QUIET AND YET DRAMATIC ATMOSPHERE, WHERE THE STARK AND MODERN IS CONTRASTED AGAINST RARE ANTIQUE FINDS AND EXQUISITE CURIOSITIES. EACH PROJECT IS DEVELOPED WITH INTRINSIC RESPECT FOR FRAMES AND CHARACTER.

FROM HIS STUDIO, SHOWROOM AND BOUTIQUE IN CENTRAL COPENHAGEN, OLIVER GUSTAV OFFERS UNIQUE AND LIMITED EDITION PIECES, FROM A CAREFULLY CURATED EDIT OF INTERNATIONAL DESIGNERS AND ARTISTS. SET ON A MONOCHROME BACKDROP, MIXED WITH STRONG AND MODERN CULTURAL INFLUENCES, OLIVER GUSTAV’S PEACEFUL AND SPELLBINDING INTERIORS MAKE STRIKING USE OF LIGHT AND SHADOW – UNDERSCORING HIS ATTENTION TO SURFACES AND SCALE. WITH THIS SERENE AMBIENCE, OLIVER GUSTAV’S SPACES OFFER A TRULY SELDOM EXPERIENCE ROOTED IN A TIMELESS AND BEAUTIFULLY HONEST SIMPLICITY.

Timeless and beautifully honest simplicity indeed. This is all you need to create perfectly curated spaces. 

Castor - lighting

Castor Design (castor is beaver in French) is a Toronto-based practice run by Brian Richer (a trained architectural stone carver with a degree in English literature and philosophy) and Kei Ng (a trained architect with a background in set design). They are interested in the middle ground between art and design, bringing a sense of irreverence to each project. Materials and their reuse make up an important part of Castor's aesthetic; burnt out bulbs to make lighting, a rusty shipping container to make a sauna. I have been a fan of their lighting for a long time and thought it about time I do a little feature. Here are my favourites:

Anita - Equinox

I saw this beautiful ceramic garland installation at souk @ sat in Montréal and was mezmerized. By Anne Cahsens of Anita, Equinoxe is garland made of handmade ceramic spheres, linen cord, brace spacers and brass and copper bells. Kicking myself for not having bought one.