Jo's favorite things @ BoConcept

For my "favorite things" this month. . . I have falling in LOVE with BoConcept and I wanted to share my favorite pieces with you. I do have to say they have stunning lines to all their products but the thing that beats all of that is their customer service!! Amazing, and as a bonus they set up the products you order . . . I know don't faint. So if you haven't heard of BoConcept or haven't been to their showroom, make sure to take peak and say hi for me!!
http://www.boconcept.ca/default.aspx?areaid=220

Until next time,
w&c designer girl!

Jo on BT "Savvy Spending Decorating Tips"

If you missed Jo on Breakfast Television this morning, don't worry you can catch her

Savvy Spending tips online:

Link : http://video.citytv.com/video/detail/1454506550001.000000/design-ideas-on-the-cheap/

Splurge products from:
Chair - BoConcept
Coat Rack - BoConcept
Art Piece - BoConcept
Table - Bombay
Pillow and Throw - Bombay
Lamp - Home Sense
Crystal bowl - Home Sense

Smart spending products from:
Chair - IKEA
Coat Rack - IKEA
Frame - IKEA
Table - Home Sense
Pillow and Throw - Bouclair
Lamp - Bouclair
Bowl - Bouclair

"If you have a champagne taste but a beer budget, check out the high end stores as research and see what colours they are using, how they are styling their pieces, what furniture pieces they have and then find similar pieces with a lower price tag. However don't feel that you have to have everything high or everything low, mix some splurges with smart spending pieces to get a Savvy spending appeal! Choose your larger, high traffic pieces to be your splurges and have fun with accessories on a budget! Have fun shopping!!"

Until next time,
w&c designer girl!

Penthouse Showcase Media Event

Saturday I held a Pop Up Private Media Open House at my Penthouse Showcase Project. To enjoy some wine and cheese with industry friends and to showcase how you can furnish an entire space with only shopping at two stores on budget with only a week turn around time. Thank you BoConcept and IKEA! (with a few w&c pieces mixed in)

Opening the party with TV personality Nicholas Rosaci, Blog extraordinaire Vitania M Liscio, Eventful PR Sharyn Smith and Moi.

PR rep Sharyn Smith and Yummy Mummy writer and City Line personality Sarah Gunn.

The stunning interior designer Jennifer Brouwer posing with City Line and Dabble DIY Nicolas and PR rep Sharyn.

City Line colour expert Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault enjoying the cheese platter.

My design assistant Chanele Cote enjoying the party after long hours spent at the Penthouse putting everything together with me and Maeve.

Dabble editor Victoria and Dabble DIY'er Nicolas ending the night for us at the event and posing with BoConcept's catalog.

Real Estate listing and details of the Penthouse.

http://www.venturehomes.ca/VirtualTour.asp?TourID=25831

Thank you everyone for taking a peak at the space and I want to say a special thank you to BoConcept and IKEA for the awesome furniture pieces and time spent with me on the this Project. I know it was a very tight time frame, you guys were awesome!

Make sure to watch out for the entire project showcased on City Line in the next couple of weeks!

Until the next Pop Up Media Event,

Jo Alcorn

w&c designer girl! xo

White Kitchen Inspiration!

No words needed . . . .

(was searching google images for white kitchens and this is what I found)

Oh I am so in LOVE with white . . . . .

My Favorite!!! xo

Until next time,

w&c designer girl!

Eco-Jo: Let's talk Flame Retardant!

Read the article at :

http://verdigrisvie.blogspot.com/2012/01/eco-chic-flame-retardant.html

Until next time,

w&c design girl!

My Favorite Things @ CB2

So my favorite picks for the month of January is at Crate and Barrel's sister store CB2, just in time for their Queen Street East location opening very soon!! It's about time Toronto got a CB store. . . . www.cb2.com

Until next time,
w&c designer girl!

Guest post by Design Shuffle - Fun Walls!

Happy 2012 everyone!! To start this new year Design Shuffle is sharing with us Stylish and Fun Walls and Colour trends that you will be seeing this year! Oh lala . . .

"Hi, I’m Joanna, a guest blogger with Design Shuffle, and online showcase of interior designers work from around the globe. I love all things design and fortunately, I spend my days searching the web for the most creative and beautiful rooms. Thanks for letting me share some of my finds with you today. Bold colors and big patterns are not for the faint of heart. To decorate and live with these design elements takes a fearless attitude. We love how a classic home can be transformed by simply using brilliant hues and patterns on the walls. Take a look at some of our favorite interior designs with stylish walls.

This chartreuse wall is framed in black with a soft blue background. The black makes a strong statement in a contemporary bedroom.

A country kitchen gets a splash of tangerine above the board and batten wall. This vivid shade of orange is trending hot right now.

A traditional style living room goes contemporary with brilliant blue walls. The touches of blue on chairs and tables anchor the color on neutral furnishings.

A soft silver metallic wallpaper gives this simplistic interior design a sophisticated feel. The modern lamp in silver and chrome carries silver off the walls and into the room.

Fun and feminine wallpaper dresses up this bathroom for a fresh and cheeky look. The white sink and dresser add just enough contrast against the busy pattern.

Another chic bathroom takes the pattern into the shower and out into the bathroom. Does this room inspire any interior design ideas of your own?

A peacock blue sofa takes center stage against chartreuse, black and mint green walls and doors. White trim at the doors make the other hues pop. This room is filled with decorating ideas.

Lots of bright color, whimsical pattern and brilliantly hued furnishings give this room an adrenaline shot.Images 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Are you inspired enough to take the color plunge? You'll find more great color ideas and inspiration at Design Shuffle. You can learn about interior design styles and connect with Boston interior designers and more!"

www.designshuffle.com

Thanks Joanne! Have fun everyone dressing your walls this year :)

until next time, w&c designer girl!

2012 Design Trends on Breakfast Television

Jo was on Breakfast Television this morning talking trends! Watch the segment on

http://video.citytv.com/video/detail/1342536435001.000000/thursday-8am9am/

Items supplied by:

Daniel Stuart Studio www.danielstuartstudio.com/

Bou Clair

IDEE 17 www.idee17.com/

Home Sense

Check out Jo's 2o12 Design Trend Forecast on the Home Sav Blog;

" We all have to turn to someone for inspiration. The fashion industry turns to the cosmetic companies to forecast their trends, and the Design industry always turns to the fashion world to forecast the newest trends for the upcoming year. We’ve been watching the runways, and here’s what’s in store for 2012 décor.

Colour is back! We’re exiting an era where walls were neutral and we relied on our accessories to pull colour into a room. 2012 will bring walls with actual colours! 2011 brought us blues, purples and moody hues in accessories, and 2012 is bringing that colour scheme to our paint choices. It’s an updated throwback to 80s décor: over-accessorised, textile crazy and moody bold colours will slink into our rooms. (We all remember the deep wall colours, dramatic drapes, and multiple patterns from the 80s).Of course, we’re not looking to repeat the trend exactly. Instead, we’re inspired by the 80s elements and can pair them with modern design aesthetics to achieve a truly unique look! For an example of beautiful 80s inspired décor, I have two words: Kelly Wearstler. Long considered ahead of her time, she’s now the icon for achieving this new look. Do I dare even mutter the words, wallpapered ceilings and coloured trim???Proud Patterns! Multiple patterns will be mixed and used to create humour within spaces that were once all one colour. Don’t be afraid to be quirky: pair traditional floral patterns with loose geometric patterns. Before, one bold pattern would set the tone for the entire room. Now it’s a competition of how many you can use! Tricia Guild anyone?" . . . . To read the full article http://livsavvy.com/?p=3725

Until next time,
w&c designer girl!

Great Speakers!

We had yet another fabulous semester of speakers at Humber College North Campus this Fall term. The students and myself were able to learn so much from each speaker and what they had to bring to the table on the design industry and the products and companies within it.
I want to send out a huge THANK YOU too:

Janine @ Para Paint
Fernando @ International Logistics & Stone Distribution
Carson Arthur
Morgan @ Richelieu
Mike @ Keilhauer
Terry Edward Briceland
Michael @ IDEE17
Vitania @ Verdigris Vie
Zsolt @ Zsemba

Thank you all for helping to shape the minds of the future designers. Appreciate your time and expertise shared with us!

Sincerely,
w&c designer girl!

2012 Design Trends Forecast!

Check out Jo's 2o12 Design Trend Forecast on the Home Sav Blog;

" We all have to turn to someone for inspiration. The fashion industry turns to the cosmetic companies to forecast their trends, and the Design industry always turns to the fashion world to forecast the newest trends for the upcoming year. We’ve been watching the runways, and here’s what’s in store for 2012 décor.

Colour is back! We’re exiting an era where walls were neutral and we relied on our accessories to pull colour into a room. 2012 will bring walls with actual colours! 2011 brought us blues, purples and moody hues in accessories, and 2012 is bringing that colour scheme to our paint choices. It’s an updated throwback to 80s décor: over-accessorised, textile crazy and moody bold colours will slink into our rooms. (We all remember the deep wall colours, dramatic drapes, and multiple patterns from the 80s).
Of course, we’re not looking to repeat the trend exactly. Instead, we’re inspired by the 80s elements and can pair them with modern design aesthetics to achieve a truly unique look! For an example of beautiful 80s inspired décor, I have two words: Kelly Wearstler. Long considered ahead of her time, she’s now the icon for achieving this new look. Do I dare even mutter the words, wallpapered ceilings and coloured trim???Proud Patterns! Multiple patterns will be mixed and used to create humour within spaces that were once all one colour. Don’t be afraid to be quirky: pair traditional floral patterns with loose geometric patterns. Before, one bold pattern would set the tone for the entire room. Now it’s a competition of how many you can use! Tricia Guild anyone?"

To read the full article http://livsavvy.com/?p=3725

Until next time,

w&c designer girl!