Design Destination - Klaus on King East

As I've mentioned a few times lately, I've been spending a lot of time down on King East. In and out of shops of all shapes and sizes.  This past weekend gave me a great excuse. Many of the design focused businesses were supporting Habitat for Humanity with giveaways, some free design consultations, and gift cards.  

Cruising through Klaus is something I would do without an excuse, so supporting habitat and having a small furniture exhibition out back was all the incentive I needed.   The importance of furniture aside for a second. What I found when I walked around the shop was that the furniture was just put there to stop me, so I could look up at all of the fantastic lighting.

Catherine Menard was wonderfully helpful inside. You see Keri has been building up the courage to get a Tom Dixon Copper Shade light (pictured above).  Catherine popped over, answered our questions and offered other suggestions that could work for Keri's space as well, like the Beat Light also by Tom Dixon (pictured below).

Here are two shots of the Raimond light by Raimond Puts.  As you can see, its available in different sizes and lets a lot of "space" blend through it.  Great light for the smaller space where you need a little of the background to bleed through to the foreground, or a view you don't want blocked by a fixture.

The Pendant Lamp by Alvar Aalto is perhaps the most elegant light currently on display (also available in black).  I love it grouped like this.  Has a fantastic contemporary vibe but the material and shape have a prettiness that I think could work in a variety of spaces.

So go down to King East, stop by and say "Hi" to Catherine and explore Klaus.  Classic, timeless, high design. You really can't beat the look, or for that matter, the value of a classic piece, when you're working on a space.

Bill

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Design Destination - H.D. Buttercup - San Fran Edition Part 2

Two weeks ago I posted and showed you Timeless Treasures, an amazing little design store I came upon while visiting San Francisco. Its chock full of beautiful french inspired wonders.  Handsdown, one of the better finds I've ever had. It all developed from a quick little blurb (over at Design Sponge) online to a full fledged love affair.

Now I want to share my other favourite stop of the trip, H.D. Buttercup. This one was a total stubleupon.  Literally walking back from the Giants/Dodgers game, we walked by and saw the great entry.  How was I not going to go in to the store?  

The store covers every niche you could need.  It has a restoration hardware-ish section, that if anything, does them better.  Flags from all corners, including a little Canadiana.  The tension between the rough Union Jack of the tufted bench and the Aerospace age polished metals is something I want in my living room. 

Union Jacks on tables, chairs, benches, artwork, pillows... ...you get the idea.

There wasn't a lot of colour in the showroom, neutrals and muted tones dominated, but of those that were there, these three had to be my favourites.  Pop!  I love this red, and the yellow is great too, but can't you see that blue metal cabinet in all kinds of settings? I mean, you could put that in a farm house mudroom, an industrial office, or a living room in a loft. That's flexibility in design.  I love a store that offers that.

Speaking of that flexibility, how many stores that you know of offer metal cabinets, tufted flags and lights as elegant as this?  I want this light. I have sooooo many clients that need this light.  I should have bought and shipped this light. Don't even get me started on the ottoman pictured above it.

In the more, lets say "well lit" section of the store, there are many pieces to stop and take a look at as well.  The shelf above (ah, to make labels for those holders) would make an excellent addition to any office or wide hall wall.  Don't you want to fill it with every novel you've ever read?

To sum up, stop in at H.D. Buttercup and all of your needs will be met.  They really do cover all the bases. You can find light beachy sofa's, bright vintage chandeliers, or dark and moody industrial dressers.

  

Go by, check out the website, get what you need for your project, for your client, for yourself.

Bill
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Design Destination - Timeless Treasures - San Fran Edition!

While I was out in California a few weeks back, one of our stops was the wonderful, very foggy, San Francisco. Aside from the typical travel stops, good eats, bridges etc, I found a little time to stop in at a few designer friendly stores. 

Hands down, one of the highlights for me, was Timeless Treasures.  This is such a cool little spot and well worth the stop. The staff was amazing, and I'm soooooo embarrassed to say, I forget the name of the "Treasure Clerk" who helped me, but she was great!

  

Joan O'Connor, who I unfortunately didn't get a chance to meet, has built a wonderful french inspired little spot. Small vintage pieces adorn every surface, mirrors and wall hangings adorn every wall. There is glassware, memorabilia and enough stamps, old type face and signage for every crafty project you have in mind.

Very beautiful vintage inspired, jewelery pieces.  I believe (forgive me if I get this wrong, its been a few weeks), these are made in France, from vintage molds.  Silver and gold and pearl and semi-precious...   ...you get the idea. 

The "Can't Miss" in the store is the very obvious well stocked, vintage, colourful, letter collection.  You can request anything.  I've been told they will spell the word for you, grab a couple of snap shots, and send them out.  

Then they ship the letters to you, wherever you may be.

Designers pay attention.  You can basically spell anything, and they'll help you give it a unique flavour for whatever space you need.  Sounds like a win-win to me.

 

  

Hey, I have that book!

  More to come on San Fran, but do yourself a favour and stop by if you are in the neighbour hood. Hell, make time if you're anywhere near them. At the very least check out their blog here.  Timeless Treasures is worth discovering.

Bill

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Good Morning and Happy Monday

Good Morning, Sunshine.

  Some driving this weekend (up to see my sister and niece in Peterborough) and some furniture shopping as well, because really, who doesn't want to do that?

Knocked off a touch early on Friday and stopped in at Of Things Past on Bridgeland.  I just grabbed a couple quick pics while I was there.  I really love the door detail on this piece, it was basically full height on a huge wardrobe.

Early morning Saturday at the St.Lawrence.  Sooooooo glad Ontario strawberries are in season. 

The family visit led me to Knock On Wood in Peterborough on Saturday.  Its a retail/furniture/decor store built around a big variety of home furnishings with some custom options, fabric, finish etc, with a good selection of Kitchen gadgets as well.  And though I didn't find a lot there that felt like my style, there were some decent country pieces and randomly, this wild Beatles St.Peppers bench.  

While up in Peterborough,  I snapped some pics of my Sisters kitchen.  She hired me on, (at a substantial family discount of $0.00) to plan and design it for her.  The kitchen is part of a big, very warm addition onto the back of a classic Ontario red brick farm house.  Here's a little preview of an upcoming post detailing the kitchen.

Bill

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Design Destination - Design Republic - UPDATED

UPDATED- New links, head to the bottom!

 As I mentioned in my post earlier this week, I was all over Toronto this weekend.  

We went east, we went west, downtown and back north.  

While we were out and enjoying the sun on Queen west, I spotted Design Republic. 

This was my first time walking through and what a great find.  It turned out to be a huge store, with tonnes of design ideas and products.  I posted a pick earlier to my pinterest boards of one of the pics below if you want to have a look.

 

You really can't miss the storefront. No, really. You can't miss it. Gigantic red flags let you know you're in the right place.

 

As you can see, the store is large, 2 levels.  The top floor is worth exploring, take the back steps and head up. Pretty cool steps actually, and look above your head as well. I don't have  a picutre, but I loved how they were clad.

 

On the 2nd floor, you'll find more furniture, and get a much closer look at many of the carpets and original artwork.

They make a huge part of their inventory in house.  What they don't make is largely 

(though not all) sourced from local manufacturers.  

To you, this means a relatively green footprint and huge customization options.  

Who doesn't want a piece they've had a hand in designing for their own home?

This pillow is such cool Canadiana.  

You have the queen, the outdoors, and good, warm wool

This lime bench and bed, with a hint of tufted UK was one of my favourite finds here.  I love the faux alligator texture, paired with that industrial feeling headboard.  

 If you're near by, stop in, this is a Design Destination. Well worth the visit.  You'll find inspiration and maybe, just maybe, your next sofa.

UPDATE

Hey folks, I was recently contacted by Terry Edward Briceland to let me know this last pic, with the amazing green bench, and union jack headboard were his. He has a store within a store at Design Republic - Teb Interiors.  Check out their site for all kinds (one of  a kinds) of couture furniture, bedding, pillows, cool silkscreens etc.  Its some "awesome crap for your home".

Bill

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