Come one, come all to the Humber Event March 28th!

Looking to hire a student for the summer or needing a graduate student on a full time basis? You don't want to miss this showcase event!!! We have some interesting surprises throughout the evening as well . . . .

Eventbrite invite:

http://designshowoffs.eventbrite.com/?ref=enivtefor&invite=MTc2Mzc2Ny9TdXNhbi5LcmF1c3pAaHVtYmVyLmNhLzA%3D&utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=inviteformal&utm_term=attend

Penthouse Showcase Project

"By thinking out side of the box you can utilize your floor plan by choosing furniture pieces that will bridge two rooms together. Creating the illusion of one large entertaining space and allowing you to have more comfortable sitting options at the same time. People seem to entertain more casually these days, so formal dining rooms are some what extinct. So don’t feel like you have to have a large dining table with chairs, entertain the space with pieces that you will actually enjoy. Allowing you to use the space wisely."

"The country kitchen is famous for many reasons,the main one is the comfortable sitting area that is usually within the eating space. We know that kitchens are the heart of the home and why not have comfortable seating options for your guest to hang out in while you are preparing the meal. We can adopt this idea within any design style and create a conversational area that links all your rooms together. "

Take a peak at this Penthouse Project through the Real Estate:

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

Until next time,

w&c designer girl!

Damask& Dentelle Stops By To Talk Vintage Office Finds!

We have a special guest that will be stopping in once and while to share with us her thrifty finds and projects on the go. My vivacious Montreal friend Vanessa!

Hello hello,
My name is Vanessa and I am the creative mastermind behind the Québec décor directory Damask & Dentelle. Let’s just say that by starting D&D almost 3 years ago, I basically created my dream job! Everyday I get to meet shop owners and creators, designers & artisans, telling me about what they do and sharing with me their passion for design. How cool is that?

Through it all I basically completely forgot about my own digs. My office was a wreck!!! After almost a year of moving the Damask & Dentelle offices, I was still living in boxes and makeshift desks and storage units. Enough! January 1st I decided to attack the boxes and the lack of storage and …well 2 months later, it's done! Let me walk you through my Modern Vintage transformation.I am a firm believer in anything vintage… for 3 reasons: the craftsmanship was flawless, the design exquisite, and vintage furniture leaves no carbon footprint on our well worn Earth.

(Hayan Art Work)
So vintage it is for the office. First, I needed 2 sturdy work surfaces to be to together in a large L shape. I got 2 beautiful oak doors, one natural and one white. If the idea of doing the same pops into your head make sure you choose doors that are not warped and that have carved patterns that allow for your keyboard and screen to fit in. The natural door had just that, but the white door was too ornate, so I also bought a vintage tempered glass door panel, just the right size to fit on top of the door.

I then reused the red metal credenza that I had in my old office. It is non descript and brightly colored, so why get rid of it right? I styled it with bright pops of colour, a Jonathan Adler vase, a gorgeous butterfly lamp found at Buk & Nola in Montréal, and my faithful Charlie the cockatoo.

The mood board deserves no introduction. It is a collection of my inspirations of the moment, my friends & kids, my appointments and favorite business cards. It is not completely finished though. I have ordered some fabric remnants in bright colors and I will cover the cork surface of the board in the near future.

Storage was an issue in the office, so I went to the St-Michel Flea Market and on Etsy and found myself some of the most beautiful teacups I have ever seen. Now they house pushpins, paper clips, rubber bands and small knicks knacks. Plus they have something so feminine about them... I could not resist.

I rented a loft as an office because I love open floor plans. But open also means no hideouts. This was indeed a problem to make my ugly filing cabinet disappear. I always keep the wallpaper remnants from my different projects, the colourful rolls are attractive in themselves in a basket beside my desk, and they can come in handy from time to time.

Lastly I spoiled myself with great eye candy with a Leigh Viner fashion illustration as well as a Cozamia herringbone modern art print.

http://www.damasketdentelle.com/en/about-us/

Thanks so much Vanessa, its great to see how vintage finds can become a new idea!

Can't wait until the next guest post! xo

Until next time,

w&c designer girl!

My Favorite Sarah Richardson Bathroom Makeovers!

For some reason I have been doing so many bathroom consultation and makeovers these last months and I have been turning to one of my favorite designers for a bit of inspiration, my top picks of Sarah Richardson's bathroom makeovers!

Happy bathroom inspiration week everyone!!

Until next time,

w&c designer girl!

Jo's New Lighting Line, has Arrived!

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!