Black and White Designs!

Okay like many of you, I am sure your intentions are to jump on to pinterest just for a few minutes and then a hour goes by and you are still lost in all the images!!  Well I stumbled upon Valerie Anglade's boards, and wow they are nicely organized!! Well as most of you know I am in love with the colour white, needless to say I feel in love with Valerie' black and white decor board, take a peak at why . . .

 

And endless more . . . .http://pinterest.com/valanglade/black-white-decor/

 

J'Dore!!

Until next time,

w&c designer girl!!

Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto

Oh so Boutique and Charming!  When my friend Christine invited me to see the hotel I had to say yes for I have always wanted check out what was behind those grand wood doors!  Well I was quite blown away for the design style was very charming and traditional but with an eclectic twist added to the mix.

Every hotel room has a bit of a different design concept to them and hosts a different instrument to really make the rooms interesting, right down to a baby grand!! The rooms have kept a traditional charm to them, but never the less they are welcoming and interesting.

 The hotel has a great banquet hall for events, which apparently InStyle Magazine transforms every year for their big event, but shhh that's a secret, however I could only image how much fun they would have in the space below! They also have a fine dining restaurant, a stylish bar hangout and the afternoon tea room, all just steps away from Bloor Streets fab shopping quarters.

  Have you experienced their Afternoon Tea?? Windsor Arm's is quite famous for this celebration which they host two sittings a day during the week and on the weekends, reservation only, but of course. It is a must do in the city, however I am not going to elaborate because their will be a full blog post about my experience come September. On a lasting note for $5 you can rent an English hat which is in support of the charity Look Good Feel Better, great fun and for a great cause, all in the name of charity! https://www.lgfb.ca/

  

 Windsor Arm's also has about 28 residence living quarter just to add to their on going accommodations. Nancy Pencer's 5,000-square-foot apartment, was featured in Toronto Life, and I think you can see from the youthful contemporary design approach that Windsor Arm's just isn't another old city hotel.

The hotel also has a great full service spa, pool, private movie theatre, meeting rooms and more, all nestled in a old charming building on a tree covered side street, what could be more romantic then that!! www.windsorarmshotel.com/

Happy touring my friend!

Until next time

w&c designer girl!

Junction Flea - A must SEE!!

This Saturday while I was sipping my Starbucks coffee and reading the paper after I just bought my local veggies for the week from the St. Lawrence Market. I found an article about the Junction Flea Market, to be honest the image actually sold me, (Second image) I didn't even need to read about it I just knew I had to go and I am glad I did!! Sunday was an over cast day with the sense of a rain down poor any second, however you would never know by the amount of people in attendance of their second last market for the year. I knew I was going to be in for some amazing retro antiques but I had no idea that I would be transformed to whole other market realm. The vibe and atmosphere was retro eclectic, the people were artists in style and the food was a  master of sensations. I felt like I was in inspiration heaven!! It is a must see, must shop and a must do!! But load up the wallet for this is not your usually flea market pricing, it is an retro antique show! Last one of the year is Sunday September 9th, don't miss it!! www.junctionflea.com

Until next time,

w&c designer girl!  

Oh LaLa Alimento Fine Food Market in Toronto!

Last week I had the pleasure of attending one of Alimento Fine Food tastings at the new location on King Street, what can I say OMG the food is amazing, the atmosphere is too cool, the food market selection is huge, and the customer service is awesome!! Torontonians can experience an Italian restaurant/food mart with a unique spot to sit and eat/taste all the foods in the market within a chefs recipe in the Bar Mozza. They have over a 140 different Italian cheeses, tons of meats, pastas, desserts, olive oils even and more in a urban market setting! Make sure to stop in and take a peak/taste for yourself, I tell you though it is a must to have a glass of wine and devourer a cheese platter! www.alimento.ca

 Until next time,

w&c designer girl!

Coastal, Cottage, Seaside decor whatever you call it is lovely!

Guest post from Farah at Beige is Dead Blog:

She sells sea shells by the sea shore . . . .

Coastal cool isn’t just for beach cottages anymore. Even if you’re landlocked, introducing a nautical theme can bring a little summer fun into any space. What I love most about nautical décor is the balance of structured, streamlined design and effortless shabby-chic. It totally brings back memories of perfectly pressed towels and carefree beach getaways.

Earn your stripes

What’s the easiest way to add a nautical charm to a room? STRIPES! Think striped throw pillows to help tie together furniture in a seating area. While navy and white stripes are classically coastal and reminiscent of summer, a softer, creamier tone of white makes a subtler statement and still does a great job of making your accent colour pop. Try sun-washed white in combination with cheery coral, sky blue, tangerine orange, buttercup yellow or Kelly green. I love how Martha Stewart (Queen of Nantucket decor, herself!) mixes stripes and solids in her sitting area design (above).

Anchors away

Hardware plays a big role with anything nautical. With space at a premium on ships, hardware was designed to be practical and functional. Whether it’s for your own galley-style kitchenette or family kitchen, a faucet with a rubbed brass finish expertly balances the softer colours and textures. Brizo’s Baliza faucet incorporates nautical styling without an overly-industrial look. The bud vase adds a touch of whimsy.

Texture in hidden treasures

Another way to incorporate this seaside theme into your space is to showcase natural textures in accent pieces. I especially love the laidback look of accessories that look like they just washed up onto shore. If only all décor was that easy! A pearlescent shell-inspired lamp fits into the theme without being overly kitschy, and provides a soft glow. Mismatched silver spoons, colourful glassware and vintage lifesavers are charming finishing touches.

 About Farah:

Farah blogs at Beige is Dead (beigeisdead.com) – the corporate blog for Masco Canada, a company that represents faucet brands such as Delta, Brizo and Hansgrohe.
Sources
1.       Brizo Baliza kitchen faucet: http://www.brizo.com/kitchen/collection/baliza.html
2.       You Are My Anchor poster: http://www.polyvore.com/you_are_my_anchor_poster/thing?id=56912994
3.       Coral: http://www.thisnext.com/item/9B84F6BA/Cast-Open-Coral
4.       Summer decorating ideas: http://www.marthastewart.com/274784/60-summer-decorating-ideas/@center/276964/60-days-summer#/354735
5.       Beach glass bottles: http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/beach-glass-bottles
6.       Nautical spoon set: http://www.etsy.com/listing/97044923/nautical-spoon-set-high-tide-low-tide
7.       Mosaic shell glass pendant light: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003D54618/186-8609739-2085463?ie=UTF8&ref=cm_sw_r_pi_dp_jAgNpb0NAXKNN

 Thanks for sharing Farah, appreciate the fresh take on the Seaside decor!

Until next time,

w&c designer girl!

Breakfast Television's Kithchen and Bathroom Tile Segment with Jo!

Let's talk tiles for your Kitchen and Bathroom Renovation Project.

Starting a renovation can be very stressful let alone trying to figure out your tile scheme . . . .

Missed the segment it watch it online!!
http://video.citytv.com/video/detail/1751752101001.000000/kitchenbathroom-reno-101/

Tiles Supplied by:

www.antica.ca

Make sure to tell them Jo sent you :)

Until next time,

w&c designer girl!

Carbon Footprint Controversy

For our next GREEN topic, I thought I should start by breaking down some very important terms. So today we are tackling the Carbon Footprint Controversy! Now I was surprised in today’s times that I can find people that don’t exactly know what a Carbon Footprint suggests. However at the same time I am not that surprised, with so many confusing definitions and information out there the word Carbon Footprint is loosely tossed around with no real thought processes behind it. So, to simplify the term it is literally the amount of energy used to create or develop. For example if I walked in a straight line to the other side of the room I would use less energy then if I zigzagged; to really simplify the meaning. So when products come from over seas they have created a larger foot print then a product from North America. Which make complete sense in laymen terms; however there is a controversy to everything and this one can be tricky. Just because something takes longer to ship does not always equal a larger Carbon Footprint. You must also look at how the product is produced and the materials that are used within which can lead to a larger Footprint. So if a North American company had to order a certain type of wood from a company overseas before they can ship it to you in another Province. The amount of energy to have both companies involved is greater then buying direct from the overseas company.
Wow, I feel like I am talking math equations here. However to really understand the power of the Carbon Footprint, you must think of it as a math formula. I know not that glamorous or fun, however once you get it, you are completely reshaping the environmental movement by keeping track on the Carbon Footprint. Hence the reason why Farmers Markets have become once again popular. Not just because it is supporting your local economy but because it has the lowest Carbon Footprint. When weighing out the math formula of a Carbon Footprint you must take in consideration the materials within the product and ask where they are from to figure out the amount of energy used. Where is the fabric produced and shipped from or wood that is used to make your sofa and so on and so on.
You might be surprised to find out that most of the big retail stores that are claiming they are GREEN actually have the largest Footprint. Due to the fact that most of them have had to rely on multiple countries to create the materials used within. Or the process that they have had to use to create a fibre or material within North America uses more energy then another country. To use Hence again, look at the oil market. Canada has one of the largest oil supplies in the World; however it is very evasive to produce which also mean more expensive, which is why we rely on our relationship with our Oil friends overseas.  I know this can be confusing but mostly more time consuming then anything to figure out the Carbon Footprint. However it is one of the best steps to in becoming GREEN!  The Carbon Footprint is just as important as the GREEN materials used within the product if not more! So next time you go buy a product find out the actual size of the Footprint before trying it on.  To quote Kermit the frog “it isn’t easy being GREEN!”

Until next time,

eco-jo

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w&c designer girl!

Elle Decor White Interior Inspiration

 . . .  Oh LaLa!!

Stay clean in those rooms . . . hehe

Until next time,

w&c designer girl!