May 17th, 2013
You had us at Gatsby
The spectacle of summer, (with a killer Jay-Z produced soundtrack to match), The Great Gatsby is Baz Luhrman’s technicolor take on the classic American novel. Herewith, our favourite Roaring Twenties-inspired pieces.
Summer weddings will be awash in head pieces, we predict. Make sure to pair with loose pin curled hair and a convertible roadster. $281 on Etsy.
The Twenties also marked the rise of the painted face: smokey eyes, rosy cheeks and bold brows and upper lips were all the rage. MAC's Veluxe Brow Liner ($23), the sophisticated Dame blush ($25) and palette of bright shadows like Contrast (purplish blue) and Humid (dark green with shimmer) will have you looking very Daisy Buchanan. 
For a touch of jazz, the sparkly Ireland clutch ($35) and T-strap Elva heels ($90) from Aldo fit for a night out on the town. 
Drop waists aren't for everyone and tassels don’t work at the office, but these 18K rose gold, diamond and white agate earrings feel classic, but never go out of style. $2,250 at Birks. 
He may not have Leo’s matinee idol face, but even the dude-iest of boys
would look dapper in this Pink Strip Linen Jacket ($698) from Brooks Brothers’ The Great Gatsby Collection. 
For brooding by a big picture window overlooking your estate, slip into this silk, bias-cut gown Long Luxe Gown ($310) from Vancouver's own Christine Lingerie. At Holt Renfrew in the fall. 
Prohibition is history, but long live forbidden cocktails! We’ll be serving up Southsides (gin, lime, mint and simple syrup) in this sophisticated Lady Diamond Pitcher ($49). For total authenticity, consult this Vintage Cocktails book ($50). Both at The Cross Décor and Design. May 14th, 2013
Top Shelf
There's a reason Scandinavian interior design is so coveted: clean lines and minimalism never go out of style.
Beltline design shop, Kit Interior Objects curates its collections with an eye towards this simple aesthetic. Muuto, a Danish brand, has released ‘Stacked’ (starting at $450), a gorgeous modular shelving system. The best thing about the shelf? Each piece will be completely unique as you get to choose different sized boxes and finishes to generate your custom shelf.
And bonus points for furniture we don't have to put together. —Kait Kucy
Kit Interior Objects, 725 11 Ave. SW, Calgary, www.kitinteriorobjects.comMay 13th, 2013
all's fair in love and shopping
Just like the folks at Calgary startup FairGoods, we love to buy products that have a story behind them.
Perfect for summertime coffee dates on the porch this Anchor Sugar & Creamer (US$32) from Brooklyn-based BROOKLYNREHAB is absolutely one of those items. Inspired by the designers studio window views, the nautical themed set was designed and made in her Brooklyn studio.
Plenty of Calgarian designers launching new product on their soon – you can actually keep track of in-progress projects to pre-order.
Who says life isn't fair? —Kait Kucy
By appointment, FairGoods, 403-351-0613, www.fairgoods.comApril 29th, 2013
knock on wood
Even with a function, some things are just too beautiful to use.
Take these charming walnut serving boards,($250) handcrafted in Toronto in the shape of sunflowers, tulips and marigolds.The collection is designer Trish Papadakos' first, and finds inspiration in vintage educational illustrations. Each board is made to order and takes several days to make.
You can load one with seasonal fruits, artisanal cheeses or baklava (the designer is Greek, if you hadn't guessed) or if you're like me, you'll simply hang it on the wall. —Athena Tsavliris
April 17th, 2013
Rock Solid
With an instantly recognizable furniture line and abstract aesthetic, we consider Martha Sturdy a grande dame of Canadian design (and we're not the only ones, Architectural Digest loves her, too).
Her new, limited-edition line, Ink, is a marriage of craftsmanship and gravity. Black ink is poured onto linen resin molds and left to flow any which way nature pulls it. The result is a contemporary piece of usable art (or as us plebs call it, a bowl).
Like all of Sturdy's work, Ink is influenced by the elements and natural beauty, specifically the veins that run through West Coast stones. Each resin piece is made at a zero-waste Vancouver production facility, utilizing locally sourced products and technicians.
Consider us bowled over.
From $270, find stockists here: http://sturdyliving.com/contactApril 3rd, 2013
Haute Sweet Home
Whether you’re seeking a slight seasonal update or an extreme overhaul, your living quarters will thank you for visiting Quartier Dix30.
The Brossard shopping mega-complex is home to the very first Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids stores in Quebec, as well as the province’s second Williams Sonoma. Combined, the three stylish stores span 33,000 square feet of home décor delights. Also in the new to the neighbourhood are hr2 and Lululemon – don’t miss ‘em! —Christine Laroche
April 3rd, 2013
bloom where you are planted
If you’re shopping for houseplants, avoid the typical peace lily or spider plant in favour of an elegant, no-fuss succulent that adds texture and colour to your living space.
Consider echeverias and sedum, displayed in one of these gorgeous bucket storage containers from Toronto’s Bookhou. It’s amazing how eye-catching a plant becomes when you put it in special container.
Buy more than one (plants like company) and line your windowsills, tabletops or mantles with them.
Home will feel green and cheery, whatever the weather outside.—Athena Tsavliris
At Bookhou, 798 Dundas St. W., Toronto, 416-203-2549, http://www.bookhou.com/March 25th, 2013
sleep on it
Time to Heather the nest.
A cozy new concept to Calgary, The Heather Company brings deluxe European-inspired (but made -in Canada) fabrics and bedding to your boudoir. Just like we are seeing the mixing of prints in fashion, the same goes for your home. We love this combination of the Addison Aqua print mixed with Chevron Natural pillow.
Bed head, here we come. —Kait Kucy
The Heather Co., 250-888-5419, www.theheatherco.comMarch 22nd, 2013
hop to it
Cheap chocolate is one thing, but what if the Easter Bunny left something lighter for your little egg-hunter?
Like, say, a White Rabbit of England lamp. Made in Britain of bone china, this little creature’s friendly shape would make for a very hoppy Easter. And the glow it casts would make for very peaceful nights.
It’s perfect for somebunny special. —Kelsey Dundon
$120 at Leuie.comMarch 15th, 2013
Apple of My Eye
As much as we adore shiny new things, there's also something special about an objêt with meaning and history.
Which is why we're smitten with the wooden household items – hand-carved spoons and ladles, cheese boards and knives, shelves and benches – on offer via Storyboard Furniture's Indigogo campaign. Toronto artisans are cutting and milling an old Brampton apple orchard that was ready to come down, and turning the wood into truly local decor pieces that are currently only available via the campaign but could pop up in downtown shops later this year.Waste not, want not, we say. —Kat Tancock
