Before serving the meal at your next dinner party, ask your guests to take a number.

A numbered seat, that is.

Designed by Dade Art and Design Lab, the sleek elm chairs are numbered 1 through 10 and are available as a set ($3,000) or individually ($380). Great conversation starters, they can also offer amusement if the dinner conversation is a little dry—switch numbers everyone!

And if handsome guest number 2 pulls out your chair and pours the wine, it could be your lucky number. 

Dade Art and Design Lab, 1327 Ninth Ave. SE, Calgary, 403-454-0243, www.dadeartanddesignlab.com

We love French cookware company Le Creuset because its cast iron wares are indestructible and oh-so-pretty.

It boasts over 70 cool colours like Elysee yellow, Cherry red and its just-launched Cassis, a regal shade of purple that’s right on point with fall fashion. Collect the entire enameled set including the Round French Oven (from $255) and Iron Handle Skillet ($175), or mix and match with classic hues like Kiwi or Dijon.

Now our kitchen will be aflame with colour (as opposed to actual flames, we hope).

For retail locations, click here.

After appearing on tennis courts in 1933, the green crocodile has been sported on the courts, off the courts, and everywhere in between.

Now the company behind the classic tennis tee has brought that laidback feel of sportswear to the bedroom with the Lacoste Home Collection. Choose from a handful of different sets, each one inspired by the bright colours and modern styles of Lacoste’s ready-to-wear collections. The duvet sets start at $200 for twin ($250 for queen) and can be paired with solid twill sheets (from $70) and a croco-knit throw ($110). Finish off the bedroom with a classic crocodile print cushion (from $70).

Love all, indeed.


Lacoste Home Collection at The Bay.

We asked Frank Turco, Senior Manager, Trend and Design, Home Depot Canada, for ideas on simple ways to update our pads this summer. Herewith, his five tips on how to go from drab to fab with easy projects that can be done in one day max.

1. Change up your kitchen by pulling off the cabinet doors for an open storage look. For added punch, apply a sheet of bright wallpaper or a bold paint colour to the inside of the cupboard.

2. Have fun with your staircase by adding a new finial to the banister. Go bold with a glass globe or change up a modern setting with a rustic pick.

3. Boring bathroom? Add glass mosaic or textured wallpaper to one of the bathroom walls. Turco recommends spicing up the wall behind the toilet as it’s often overlooked.

4. Shine up old furniture with a high-gloss gold spray paint or the easy-to-use stainless steel paint Rust-Oleum.

5. If you’re a condo dweller, make your concrete-floor balcony more inviting by placing weather-resistant Enviro-Tiles made from recycled rubber tires (18”x 18”, $8.99 each).

Inspired by the then futuristic 1982 sci-fi flick Tron, Design + Conquer’s new collection is also ahead of its time (think Lady Gaga meets Battlestar Galactica).

Made from malleable plastic polymer, the bold necklaces, cuffs and wearable art pieces form against the body but retain an airy lightness perfect for everyday wear (smaller items from $59.95, and larger pieces up to $1,275). 

Spaceship not included.

Check out the new collection May 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Marquee Room; select pieces available at AG Silver Boutique, Upper Level Fashion Central, 212, 805 First St. SW, Calgary, www.fashioncentral.ca

We’ve all made sacrifices for the environment (like chipping our nails bringing out the recycling). Have a laid-back Earth Day with our editors' tips.  

Simple Shoes (you probably wore a pair in the early ’90s) are still kicking, but now the brand makes footwear that’s eco-friendly to the nth degree. This season they introduced their BIO-D collection, which will actually biodegrade after they hit the landfill. www.simpleshoes.com
Joy Pecknold, Vancouver editor

Make your own dryer sheets by adding a few drops of essential oil to a damp cloth. Toss in the dryer, and voila! You’ve beaten global warming and static cling in one fell swoop.
Marianne Wisenthal, Montreal editor

Now that carrying a plastic bag is an even bigger faux pas than toting a fake Louis, notable totables are a must. Pack your veggies in this set of three organic cotton drawstring produce bags ($23). www.lavishandlime.com
Maria Tallarico, Managing editor

Kim Mitchell’s “Patio Lanterns” may be a radio station deal breaker for some, but Ikea’s new outdoor Solig solar-powered lighting collection (from $9.99) has us wanting to spruce up the garden, make lemonade, and cue the 1986 hit.
Malwina Gudowska, Calgary editor

Why not opt for natural cleaning products straight from the pantry? Lemon juice makes a great copper polish and a decent bleach alternative, too. Vinegar removes mildew, cuts grease and removes coffee stains and wax build-up. Cornstarch is super on windows, carpets and rugs. A shot of vodka cures all ills, and it even cleans chrome and porcelain.
Athena Tsavliris, Toronto editor
 

We scoured the Calgary Home + Garden Show for spring's must-haves. Herewith, our top picks:

Divided into three sections (interiors, exteriors and resources), The Decorator’s Journal ($34.95) is the ultimate in reno organization with pages for sketching floor plans, measurement charts and zip-lock style pockets to hold paint chips, fabric swatches and wallpaper samples.

Eco-friendly and energy-efficient, the Bio Flame Bioethanol fireplaces are sexy, sleek and ideal for small spaces.

The lightweight concrete vanities by 2Stone Designer Concrete make for a bold bathroom statement. Sinks (pictured) come in over a dozen hues and each piece is handmade and tailored to your home. http://2stone.ca/

Spruce up a room with funky aluminum lighting from A Plus Lighting Inc. 130, 3221 Sunridge Way NE, Calgary, 403-263-3331.

Baby’s breath and greenery filler be gone.

At the new floral boutique Modern Petals, the mandate is let the flowers shine. With an L.A.-boutique feel, the shop’s large windows, stark white interior and contemporary artwork set the scene for the modern floral arrangements.

Inspired by popular cocktails, choose from bouquets (from $35) online, including the Tequila Sunrise, Cosmopolitan Twist or our pick, the Perfect Manhattan (pictured).

Now you're in bloom.

Modern Petals, #147-5005 Dalhousie Dr. NW, Calgary, 403-247-3344, www.modernpetals.com

Sometimes you want something old and sometimes, something new. And when it comes to your home, who said you can’t have both? 

The collection of dressers (from $550) by Just Raquel Boho Vintage Furniture lets you pay homage to bygone eras while still maintaining a modern esthetic.

Antique dressers are hand-sanded, refurbished and painted in bold hues. Each drawer is lined with damask wallpaper and adorned with funky new knobs. So if you love grandma’s dresser but it just doesn’t work in your home, get it redone in a fire engine red and voila, it’s the perfect entryway piece that’s still part of the family.

At Poor David’s, 312 First St. W., Cochrane, 403-851-2070.

At your next dinner party, add a little personality to your cheese platter with a wood cutting/serving board by German home accessories line Pension fuer Produkte.

Made of acacia wood, the boards come in different sizes (from $31) and each one has a little character engraved on the edge. Choose from an Eskimo, a skier, a golfer, a fisherman or an astronaut, among others. Great conversation starters, they’re also the perfect gift for the chef in your life who also dabbles in other extracurricular activities.

At Steeling Home, 1010 17th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-245-0777, www.steelinghomestore.com