The original purpose of the trip {cause we all know how it goes with Ikea shopping…} was to pick up this high chair for Carys, which I’ll be doing a minor Ikea-hack to and painting it a glossy black {I know I know what you’re thinking “She thinks EVERYTHING looks better black”. Well, guilty as charged }.  Carys’ old chair was a portable highchair that strapped onto a seat and I was frankly done with it. This is great as it can be pushed right up the table and doesn’t require a tray….I’m also a fan of the fact that it’s not plastic or a rainbow of primary colours!

Among other things {a tray, napkins, curtain panels, curtain rod, striped pillow covers, and a $1 breakfast if you’re curious}, I also grabbed a couple “Henny” pillow covers for the Family room. It was love at first sight with these, I adored the imperfect painterly quality to the dotted pattern, and since I’ve been wanting some blue accents in that room, they fit the bill. {Literally and figuratively. I mean, they were only $7.99 each!}

I was thrilled when I got them home, threw in some inserts, plumped, karate-chopped slightly and stood back to admire.

Something about the pattern made me instantly think of that great painting Jenna Lyon’s had above her fireplace in the Domino spread on her town house…remember the one?

Anyhow, the pillows are looking very lonely at the moment, but I reassured them some friends are coming, and they cheered right up. I’ve been patiently waiting for some back-ordered Thomas Paul fabric to arrive for a couple pillows, and I’ve got some Navy Imperial Trellis  remnants around that I was going to sew up a boudoir pillow with for a chair in the adjacent entry.

{Beautiful Blues!}

Combined with some white linen jute edge pillows I’ve already got, these babies will add some nice colour scattered around the sofa and chairs.

Anyhow, just wanted to pop on and say a quick hi and share the details on my “hang out” with my newest bud. Have a wonderful day!

PS I know you all are wondering, did she cap the trip off with a cinnamon bun? Proud to say the will power was strong, though I did partake in the free {before 10am} coffee. I never say no to a caffeinated bevvie!

**Also, a reminder that today is the last day to enter the giveaway….you could win a gorgeous pair of Kelly Wearstler Imperial Trellis pillows! Click HERE to enter.

Can we be friends?

I have to confess, for years I’ve not been too fond of you….

Maybe I spent too many childhood years putting together lego, but all those pieces required to assemble your furniture just turned me off. I can’t say I enjoy spending 2 hours screwing in a million screws with those tiny tools in order to make a sidetable.

I guess I always figured, if I could buy something unique, vintage, and good quality for the same price, it was a no brainer.

But I have to say, you’ve slowly been winning me over. You DO have some good qualities, after all….

Your bookshelves are pretty useful, and I do like the pricetag {saving on storage so there is money left over for pretty pillows is a good thing in my opinion}.

And when I visit your store, I’m all over your cheap candles and fun patterned paper napkins….they make summer outdoor entertaining that much better.

You know what is also genius? I’m a sucker for the snacks at the end {which I must mention also work well for coercing toddlers to behave on shopping excursions}. Hot dogs, ice cream, and fresh cinnamon buns for $1 and a plethora of interesting Swedish food have roped me in. Williams-Sonoma and Restoration Hardware take note: Feed them and they will come.

And can we talk about your rugs? I think your rugs are the best. I’ve been smitten with the Madeline Weinrib-esque “Stockholm Rand ” one for awhile, even before Nate showed how great the pattern could look:

Ikea “Stockholm Rand” Rug ~ $399 {for 11.5′ x 8′}

Here are some of my other favourites:

Ikea “Jorun” Rug ~ $199.99 {just bought this for Jeff’s “man room” and it looks amazing, love the charcoal and gray!}

Ikea “Hessum” Mat ~ $13.99

Ikea “Sveje” Rug -$9.99 {black, navy, red, green, orange}

But when I stop to ponder it, I think the moment I came to the realization that we needed to be friends was when I discovered your feather pillows. Seriously, I need to take a moment and mention the pillows. Feather pillow inserts for $6-8! C’mon, this is a ridiculous price, and it fills me with joy knowing no one has an excuse not to have lovely downy pillows on each and every chair and sofa. Kudos Ikea.

Now, since this is the beginning of a new relationship, I want to be honest with you. In the past I have been a little unkind, and I need to apologize….

 I’m sorry for referring to some of your products as “Ikea crap” {this most frequently happened when I was trying to put something together and decipher your instructions….I was just frustrated because I’m not very handy, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you}.

I’m sorry for laughing about Swedish accents when I’ve watched your commercials {I’m from Canada~ feel free to joke about me saying “eh” and “aboot”, I deserve it }. 

And I’m sorry for griping about how people selling Ikea furniture has cluttered up Craigslist and made it difficult to find other things like the perfect faux bamboo table or a vintage bankers chair. It’s not your fault.

So Ikea, here’s to a fresh start. I truly mean it when I say “let’s be friends”. I mean, don’t take that the wrong way, I’m not saying I want to be BFF’s or anything….we’re not going to start calling each other every night or hanging out several times a week. I just mean that we are on good terms, and I might pay you a visit once in awhile {cinnamon bun afterwards of course}.

Your bud,

PS have you entered the giveaway yet? You could win a gorgeous pair of Kelly Wearstler Imperial Trellis pillows! Click HERE to enter.

I loved how it had that John Robshaw, Indian block print feel that everyone is crazy for at the moment {for a very very nice pricepoint…$32}. For some reason though, I didn’t get around to ordering any, and temporarily forgot about it {that happens to me sometimes…}

But then my lovely pillow jumped off the pages of the latest Lonny Magazine the other day {hello, lover}

and the infatuation has been renewed….scurries off to find her Mastercard for a late night potterybarn.com rendevouz…

__________________________________

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I ordered the pink version from Persimmon and Pink’s Etsy shop:

I plan to pop it in an antique gold frame I already have. I think it will look great with her room scheme.

Have you had any great Etsy finds lately??

]]> http://www.kerrisdaledesign.com/decorating/art-print-from-persimmon-and-pink-etsy-shop/feed/ 3 http://www.kerrisdaledesign.com/good-stuff/random-lovelies-courtesy-of-anthropologie/ http://www.kerrisdaledesign.com/good-stuff/random-lovelies-courtesy-of-anthropologie/#comments Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:07:16 +0000 Kerrisdale Design http://blog.kerrisdaledesign.com/?p=872 I don’t often frequent the Anthropologie site, and in fact I’ve never even been to a store in person. But I found myself on their site last night and spent some time browsing. Here are some lovelies I came across….many of them perfect Christmas stocking stuffers if you are an organized enough person to shop this far in advance! {ahem, not me!}

Like me and hate the sight of ugly Technicolor toothbrushes stuck in a holder on your bathroom counter? Imagine how excited I was to see this minimalist beauty {Acca Kappa Toothbrush, $8}

I love the elegant peacock feather design on this plate {though not fond of the ones showing the bird head!} Perfect for mixing up with my classic white dinnerware!  {Peacock Dessert Plate, $16}

Suzie Homemaker I am not, but I’m confident if I started wearing this darling apron around the house, my housekeeping skills would improve tenfold. {The Lady’s Apron, $44}

A far cry from your usual measuring spoons, aren’t these ones gorgeous? {Shell Spoons, $14 and Dining Room Measuring Spoons, $28}

And don’t these pretty striped straws beg, no, DEMAND “Make Ice Cream Floats”!?? {Stripey Straws, $12}

Prettiest bottle of dish soap I ever saw…beats the pants off a bottle of Palmolive sitting beside your sink! {Pure and Good dish Soap, $16}

Jeff and I have been bitten by the gardening bug…making this book our perfect companion. {Growing Stuff, $24.95}

Love the vintage vibe, and who couldn’t stand to learn a thing or two from Coco herself? {The Gospel According to Coco Chanel, $24.95}

Love this compilation of transit maps from all over the world. I bet some great {cheap!} frameable art options. {Transit Maps of the World, $31}

Basic lessons for kids with retro flair! Again, bet there are some great images that are perfect for framing for a kids room! {How to Behave and Why, $21 and Manners can be Fun, $21}

Ben would get a kick out of these twig coloured pencils. {Branch and Twig Coloured Pencils, $10}

I’d buy this Voluspa candle for the pretty jar alone! {Voluspa Panjore Lychee, $22}

And finally, monograms are always fab, so why not an oversized zinc letter proclaiming the first letter of your surname? {25″ Oversized Zinc Letter, $118}

Have a wonderful day,

I have long coveted the Eames Management chair. I adore the edgy contrast of  how a white one looks paired with a rougher wood table or desk, and that has been my plan for our office/den space. Now, confession, I did not fork out the money for the real deal. Yes, that is a huge debate in blogland (replicas vs. authorized repros) which I will leave for another time. The one I ended up getting was a replica, and a steal at that. I scooped up a floor model from Eternity Modern for a mere $220! Score! The chair is incredibly comfy, and I have to say, I do enjoy being able to pivot back and forth slightly as I type away on the computer!

Originally designed in 1958, this chair has reached iconic status, and has become a true modern classic. Want to see some gorgeous interiors which have made use of this style? It appears to be the choice of many for office chairs, but don’t count it out at the dining table too (in the armless version). I think my kids would be too distracted spinning if we had them at our dining table, but I love the look that designer Colleen McGill has created with their use in her project (last image).

EDIT: Totally forgot this lovely image (editors office from the movie “Sex and the City”) when I first published the post!

So what kind of chair do you have at your desk? Anyone with an Eames Management Chair, replica or real deal?

1. Waking up to sunshine and Ben crawling into our bed for a “tuddle” (cuddle). Love that boy.

2. Freshly ground Starbucks Breakfast blend in a soup bowl sized cup, with just the right amount of light cream and Splenda. Mmmm

3. Hitting Main street in Vancouver (great for vintage/antique shopping) to go to the Sellution, a favorite thrift store – Ben and Carys in tow.

4. Finding a fantastic dresser for Carys – similar in feel to the one on my inspiration board,  in budget and requiring no work! I had been using a temporary cabinet in her room, but she needed something with drawers STAT cause the clothing situation kept getting a little out of control in a piece that just had shelves. Sorry no picture yet…it’s still in the garage till we get a chance to move it up to Carys’ room.

5. Having some random 24 year old guy who was shopping at the Sellution, stop, look at my kids and comment “Geez, you have really good looking kids”. I won’t lie, I was beaming. For those of you reading this who don’t have kids, let me let you in on a little secret… all parents think their children are ridiculously good looking. To the extent that if other people notice this fact, we can’t help but subconsciously think to ourselves “Umm yeah, duh!”. Needless to stay I ate up the compliment from this {obviously very observant tehe} guy.

6. Finding a great source for CHEAP designer fabric online. And I’m happy to share the goodness: BuyFabrics.com

7. The DQ Mint Oreo Blizzard I am presently eating, as well as the episode of Lost Season 1 I am heading off to watch with Jeff. Yes, I know, we are a little behind {like 5 seasons behind….please no spoilers!!!} but we are making steady progress. A quiet house,cozy pj’s, snuggled in a warm bed and driving ourselves nuts wondering WHAT IS UP with that crazy island they are stuck on….A fantastic way to end the day.

Hope you all had a great Friday too….what were the highlights of your day?

For ages I was sure on colours etc and the general direction for her room. It was going to be a simple scheme of gray and white with accents of a nice vintage-y yellow or a melon pink. I didn’t want anything TOO froo-froo or babyish for her, just something elegant and pretty.

That was until I stumbled across this wallpaper ~

Cole & Son’s “Magnolia”

And my plans went out the window! I’m now picturing this pretty pattern all over just one wall (the one the bed will be against) and the others a fresh white. A white linen upholstered headboard with antique brass nailhead detail would look gorgeous against this pretty pink wallpaper!

I found online a picture of a bathroom where someone used this pattern to give an idea of how it looks on the wall:

Decisions, decisions. I think I’ll be back with design boards for each scheme and get some feedback from you stylish readers!

I’m back after being off for Spring Break! Hope you have enjoyed/are enjoying Spring Break too!

We were just up at our local Home Depot to grab something and check out the new Martha Stewart products that are in. Funny how you can walk in to pick up a hook and come out with something larger…like, say, a rug?

Martha’s “Fretwork Outdoor Rug in Coffee and Black” to be exact. For whatever reason (promotion for new product?) they were listed as only being $69 for the 5′ x 7′ size, although online it says that they should be $97 for that size…I’m not one to complain about a deal! This is destined for our porch “outdoor living room”, and I think it will look gorgeous with what we’ve got planned!

PS if you go to the Home Depot website HERE  they list a few other sizes of this rug, and even at the regular prices they are pretty well priced.

I think we are going to make a nice family dinner tonight to celebrate, and I know Ben is excited about giving Mommy, Daddy, and Carys Valentine’s after the fun he had with his preschool friends exchanging them this week. Want to see what I got from my sweet boy on Thursday? We were at the grocery store picking up some things and he decided he wanted to get me some tulips (though from what money I don’t know…he didn’t bring his piggy bank!). “Pink ones Mama!” he insisted. So home we came with beautiful pink tulips. Jeff thought I’d made this up as an excuse to get flowers for myself Then my “niece” Eliana (my friends daughter) brought me some red ones, so now I have the perfect Valentine’s arrangement!

Now, I know all you blog friends appreciate a great deal, and ESPECIALLY on pretty things, right? Well, I spied this mirror last night at Home Depot (yup, Home Depot on a Saturday night…I lead a crazy exciting life ) that is a STEAL at $64.99! It’s 24″ x 36″ and could go anywhere. And we all know how much modern venetian mirrors can go for in home decor stores, they are pricy. Anyhow, get yourselves on over to your local Home Depot and snap one up…the way I see it, it is the perfect Valentine’s gift (for yourself ), a great alternative to an overpriced bouquet that’s not gonna last more than a week!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

If Dorothy Gale were a Vancouverite, would her ruby slippers look like this?

Earlier in the week it had appeared that Christmas had definitely arrived (according to Ben anyhow, to whom snow=Christmas). After I spent Tuesday afternoon frantically searching for new snow boots for Ben so he could enjoy the winter wonderland outside (helping Daddy shovel, making snowmen, and generally jumping around in the white stuff), we had a delivery of  warmer temps and what I’ve heard affectionately called “liquid sunshine” by optimistic {delusional?} Vancouver residents. The result? A mushy, slushy wet mess. Yuck!

This scene is what prompted me to leave a message for my husband saying “if you perhaps have time after work, would you mind picking me up some rainboots???”

And when he called awhile later asking which colour I wanted (black or red), I went with my inner Dorothy and said “RED” emphatically. ‘Cause while I love black, these boots are the most perfect ruby red, and what better way to face a rainy day than with this cheery color keeping me dry?

After time spent running errands today in my new “ruby slippers” I’m back at home, getting cosy and hunkering down with some great reads (and a yummy vanilla latte!)….will post my thoughts soon on the new design trends for 2010!

I was browsing your shop last night in my daily (ok, twice or thrice daily) Etsy browse. I fell madly, deeply in love with your Truffle handbag. Since all the colors are lovely please send me one of each. Yes, I said one of each.

Yours Truly,

Girl with a Bag Crush

PS could you perhaps throw in a white and a mid- gray one too? ‘Cause both colors would be divine on that lovely bag.

Truffle in Cognac

Truffle in Black- GORGEOUS!

Truffle in Burnt Red – LOVE LOVE!

Morelle is a handbag designer in Prevezca Greece. Checkout her gorgeous bags at her Etsy Shop. I dare you not to want to add every single item to your Christmas wish list!

I don’t have time to write a full post until later tonight when kiddies are sleeping and I have a bit of quiet, but in the meantime I wanted to post this….a wonderful Christmas sale put on by the even more wonderful Angela (whom you will remember from our store). The perfect way to kick off the holidays in my opinion….can’t wait!

Plumcushion sells some of the most gorgeous designer pillows I’ve come across. We’re talking Schumacher, Kelly Wearstler, etc. Yum! Each pillow is meticulously finished inside and out, and comes with a sumptuous feather insert. I ordered several for clients a few months back, and they arrived wonderfully packaged in cello tied with raffia, and a handwritten note on lovely paper from the owner Melanie. Honestly, the beautiful packaging and the fun of opening it alone was such a delight that I’m excited to order more from this Etsy seller. Checkout the Plumcushion shop  for great pillows and (new for Christmas) stockings in designer fabrics.

Enjoy!

PS. I’m eyeing Plumcushions Kelly Wearstler ‘Gordian Weave’ pillows for my living room…what do you think? I’m sold, just gotta convince the husband

The store has a fresh new collection of original artwork just in. Pop by to see the lovely new paintings in person, as the website hasn’t yet been updated with images of the new works (although we will be getting to it shortly!).

Hope everyone had a lovely Mother’s Day!

• Add a splash of color by painting a feature wall a beautiful shade (My pick? My favorite duck egg blue).
• Consider the unexpected… Hermes orange on a beautiful piece of furniture to punctuate a neutral room.
• Change your throw pillows or add original art in vibrant hues that speak to you.

And of course, please don’t forget flowers! You deserve them! Flowers can be stress relievers, adding calm and pleasure in the midst of our busy lives. One of my favorite things in the shop is a tall glass urn. This is a must have classic. Fill it with one color of your favorite blooms and enjoy the beauty it adds to your space.

For many other creative ways to add colour whether soft and subtle or rich and saturated, stop by the shop for a visit and a chat!

Angela

Come visit the store and check out the napkins and placemats that are now in stock, perfect for mixing and matching to create a unique and stylish look for your table!

Dwell’s lovely bedding and other home items are also available for order, just let us know if you would like to have a peek at their catalog when in the store!

Our wee little 500 square foot store is getting a little crowded…and there are beautiful new Spring things on the way! Help us clear out some winter stock (pillow covers, rugs, mirrors, accessories, and furniture) and make room for the new goodies that will be soon arriving.

We will be in your gratitude for assisting us gain a little elbow room!

See you soon,

Karla and Angela

It’s always fun to have a package arrive in the mail, and doubly so when its several pallets worth of boxes! Here is a glimpse of some of the new goodies…

The look is natural. Not in a granola-eating, Birkenstock-wearing type of way, but with an elegant eye that appreciates the intrinsic beauty of materials drawn from nature… 

The subtle sheen of silk with its slubs of texture, and the woven pattern of linen.

Handwoven baskets. 

The antique ivory and browns of bone, and the deep mottled tones of horn- taupes, browns, charcoals, and blacks. 

The sheen of silver and nickel, and the burnished tones of aged brass. 

Blown glass tinted in amber, smoke, and chocolate, and coming in a range of sinuous shapes. 

Inspiration from pieces that have brought beauty for centuries… 

 Crème chinoise vases in a bevy of classical profiles. 

Stacks of lacquer boxes, trays, and bowls, all thickly coated in lustrous lacquer – grays and creams punctuated with black. 

Boxwood topiaries to add an accent of crisp green, and ocean finds to evoke memories of seaside holidays. 

It’s a collection of accessories with a sense of history, that speak of quality materials and fine tuned design. Kerrisdale Design provides a Spring/Summer collection to help our clients create a look that is thoughtful, refined, and inspiring.

Now, I have to admit, I flip through those magazine’s as hungrily as everyone else does, anxious to be au courant and not appear dowdy or unstylish. But, when I think about it, the whole idea of “trends” bothers me. Should we be running endlessly after fleeting trends, only to replace the whole shebang next year according to what the new “Trends” issue dictates?

In a world where diapers and even spouses are disposable, has design become disposable too? Are the candlesticks and lamps you buy today destined for next summer’s garage sale? Or worse, the trash?

It used to be that people bought something for their home carefully, and with much thought. They selected things that would last, brought them home, and enjoyed them for decades. Was it that people of my grandparents generation simply bought things of quality that lasted, or did they have a different attitude about style that wasn’t so dictated by trends? Not growing up in the Ikea-mindset and being unfamiliar with coffee tables that last a year and get put together with allen wrenches, doubtless home decor choices were made differently.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not touting the benefits of ignoring what is happening on the design scene, or only owning one sofa for the rest of your life (although its amazing what reupholstery can do, not to mention the environmental benefits!). What I’m talking about is making choices that have more permanence. Taking care to bring pieces into our homes that are timeless treasures. Buying things of quality with a focus on beautiful, natural materials- silk, rich woods, silver, nickel, crystal and the like. Pieces with versatility that can move from room to room and act as props for you to create new and interesting rooms year after year.

Just some food for thought for 2008. As we move into this new year and spend time planning the direction for Kerrisdale, these are the thoughts in my mind. I trust that our wonderful customers will enjoy the new “timeless treasures” that will be in the store this upcoming year.

After hearing about it for several weeks, I finally got a chance this afternoon to stop by and take a look at what everyone has been talking about. Me and my ever present sidekick, 11 month old Ben, took a half hour on this beautiful sunny Friday to enjoy the tour at 15554 Royal Avenue, White Rock . (Ok, so mom enjoyed the tour while Ben alternated between smiling at the lottery staff and gazing around with a bored expression!)

In usual Sarah Richardson fashion, it was beautifully put together home with a West Coast relaxed elegance. I’m sure that whomever wins the grand prize will be thrilled with a house like that! If you haven’t yet visited the home, I won’t spoil things for you by going into detail. What I did want to mention was a few lovely items in the home that we happen to coincidently be carrying in the store at the moment too.

Gold and Silver toned glassware from 18Karat. ($14 – $46 at Kerrisdale Design)

Pillow covers made with black and white graphic trellis patterned fabric. Sarah used the navy and white version of this same fabric on dining chairs. ($46/cover at Kerrisdale Design)

Square modern-style venetian mirrors with convex circle centres. Sarah displayed a pair of them one on top of the other, and we think they look fabulous in multiples too. ($320/ea at Kerrisdale Design)

Cowhide. Sarah placed a cowhide covered cube ottoman in one of the bedrooms at the showhome. At Kerrisdale, we are selling gorgeous cowhide rugs to add a bit of glamour to your space. ($680/ea at Kerrisdale Design)

Whether or not Sarah and I are decor soul mates, I’m not sure, but we certainly share similar taste. We both gravitate to beautiful fabrics and well designed pieces with clean, classic lines. If you too love to decorate with simple classics, take some time this weekend to visit the lottery home in White Rock. And don’t forget to stop by Kerrisdale Design afterwards to check out some of the items you saw at the house.

I’m back home now after our meeting, my little boy is napping, and I’m enjoying my third cup of coffee for the morning (busy mom + small business owner + fulltime student= caffeine addict!) while pondering this subject still.

I’m pretty passionate about art. I can’t claim to be an art history expert, nor am I able to spout impressive terms or names of techniques. I suppose perhaps it’s in the blood. My mom’s side of the family is ripe with artists of various sorts, including the famous Australian artist Agnes Goodsir. My brother is an incredible artist studying at the University of Victoria, and my mom herself is a jewelry designer whose creative energies find outlet in many other fields as well. 

Somehow the art gene has found its way to me too. I’ve learned that I enjoy very much the creation of something beautiful from paint and canvas. In my opinion, there isn’t anything terribly complex technically to the style of painting I practice, but rather something more emotional. It’s a creative process of playing with colour and texture, adding, removing, building up, washing over. Following a gut instinct rather than a formula.

As someone who so very much understands the connection between artist and work, it then bewilders me the thought of people putting “art” that isn’t original into their homes. One can’t compare the beauty, depth, or soul of an original piece of artwork with some mass produced print bought at Winner’s (or Ikea or Homesense, so as not to pick on any chain in particular). To even put the two in the same category is like saying that a photo of my son is the same as the giggling, drooling, slobbery kiss-giving real life version. No comparison! 

So next time you are pondering how to fill that blank spot in your home, make the choice for original art. Visit a gallery or two, or pop into the store and spend some time simply enjoying the beauty of original art. Then, just go with your gut instinct. Select a work that speaks to you, and enjoy the fact that your investment goes towards an artist who has poured part of themselves into the creation of something wonderfully unique. I could blather on and on about how you’ll also be supporting local artists rather than importers of mass-produced copies, or that its much more of a style statement to own original art, et cetera, et cetera. The bottom line though? Original art has just got a little more soul. 

With a celebrity following counting the likes of Heidi Klum, Jennifer Aniston, and Martha Stewart (she thinks its a “Good Thing”!) as devotees, I was sure little old me would think the products were pretty great too. So, when my order arrived several weeks ago, I was amazed at how it managed to exceed my already high expectations. It was like Christmas unpacking those lovely scented black and white boxes, and I was positively giddy, spraying testers like a mad woman and trying in vain to choose between the scents to pick a favorite. It took all my willpower (and my husbands voice of reason) to keep me from dragging the boxes down the hall to my laundry room and unpacking every last item to keep for myself!

Since then I’ve been sampling some of the different products, and each and every one has been a dream to use. The Signature Detergent leaves my clothes soft and lightly scented (which I should mention lasts a long time) without needing dryer sheets, and I can’t help but feel good knowing its not full of chemicals that are bad for the environment. The Fabric Fresh (“fancy Febreeze” I’ve heard it described) is heavenly, coming in four yummy scents- Baby, Lady, Classic, and Cedar. Even my husbands not-so-sweet smelling runners are no match for it.

I could babble on and on about my new found love for The Laundress, but you should really try it for yourself. Pop by the store and pick up some of their fabulous products for yourself or a friend. And then go home, throw in a load of laundry, and enjoy! You’ll soon be thanking Gwen and Lindsey at The Laundress for turning the drudgery of doing laundry into something downright enjoyable.

You’ll also understand why, when asked if I want to go out on Friday night, I smile and say “I should probably stay home. I’ve got some laundry to do”.

-Trish, Vancouver

My mom inherited a beautiful set consisting of two chairs and a sofa from her grandmother. Dark oak with cane on the sides and back of each piece; I have always thought it was lovely. Of course, it helps that it came from my great grandmother. This is the same great grandmother who, upon receiving my baby picture sent to her in Australia, proclaimed me “the beautiful baby” in her retirement home. I figure, she has great taste in babies, it must extend to furniture too, right?

Cane furniture has made a comeback lately, and can be seen in various interpretations all over the place. Restoration Hardware has brought out their “British Cane” collection, very traditional in a dark brown finish.

The other extreme has been spotted as well, with cane chairs and sofas done up ultra-femme in gilt finishes and cotton candy-toned damask straight out of Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette.  

Pretty indeed, but not something my husband or son would enjoy lounging on while watching sports highlights.

Meanwhile, Kerrisdale Design has their own take on traditional cane furniture. We’ve re-interpreted it in a clean, modern, and classic way. A black finish highlights the unique pattern of the cane and gives it a crispness. Natural fabrics in tone on tone patterns add another layer of interest. Altogether, Kerrisdale Design’s version of cane furniture is a must in today’s pared-down interiors. 

Are your rooms feeling a little bland? Try adding a hit of texture with some cane furniture. Visit Kerrisdale Design’s Furnishings gallery to view the latest pieces.