Being scared of the dark is no longer an excuse for putting off bedtime.

Meet the Glo Nightlight, a bedside lamp with removable glowing balls that act as portable nightlights. The phosphorescent balls aren’t electronic and don’t get hot, so they are safe to snuggle with when the room goes dark.

The balls’ light will fade 30 minutes after they’ve been removed from the base, and you can select one tone, or have a rotating array of colours. We suggest you choose the colour that will best ward off any monsters lurking in the closet.

Boon Glo Nightlight, $84.99 from Saf & Benjamin, 1081 Marinaside Cres., Vancouver, 778-328-8194 and online at www.safandbenjamin.com  —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

Tired of the bright colours, weird characters, and hideous graphics on most children’s homewear? We are, and that’s why we love this wooden alphabet by Toronto-based husband-and-wife design duo Bookhou.

The A to Z birch wall hanging is in Courier New, which is the font they used for their logo. It wasn’t intended for children’s rooms, but has proven popular with some design-savvy parents.

So when our kids grow up and want Justin Bieber posters on their walls, we can move this piece in our home office. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

Wood alphabet, $50 from Bookhou, www.bookhou.com

Normally we hate folding. Laundry, napkins, poker—you name it, we’d rather not.

But these folded ceramic platters from Vancouver company Butter & Fly caught our eye. Available in two sizes (medium, $89 and large, $109), they’re modern and so very delicate-looking. We’re envisioning them on our coffee table as we entertain our guests pre-dinner party or on our dinner table as we serve dessert. In other words, they’re beautiful and versatile.

So we have a reason to get bent out of shape. —Kelsey Dundon

www.butterandfly.weebly.com

Much too lovely for laundry, we first spied industrial-style canvas storage baskets displaying French baguette at an East Vancouver bakery. Next we discovered one in a photography studio bathroom in Toronto holding artfully arranged toilet paper rolls.

Now, we’ve found a local source in new-to-Vancouver design outpost Style Garage which stocks the original 1921 version. Sturdy enough for firewood, handy for kids toys, all we know the only place they won’t be hiding is the laundry room. —Sarah Bancroft

From $95 at Style Garage, 125 W Hastings St., Vancouver, 604-558-4343 and 938 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-534-4343, www.stylegarage.com

The title quote is probably one of Yves Saint Laurent’s most recognizable sayings, and now we can mount his words on our wall.

Fashionotes.com has just launched a series of posters called Fashionable Faces, featuring the illustrated face of some of the world’s most recognizable fashion designers, paired with one of their quotes. Some of them are very positive, like Diane Von Furstenberg’s saying about being happy with yourself, others a bit crazy, like Valentino’s rant against short evening gowns. And some sum up the designer very, very well, like this one from Karl Lagerfeld: “I’m very down to earth. I’m just not from this earth.” —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

Fashionable Faces posters, $30 plus shipping, at Fashionotes, www.fashionotes.com

Six-thousand-square-foot loft. Features brick walls, exposed beams and tons of natural light.

No, it’s not our place. It’s Montauk Sofa’s brand new Gastown digs. The Canadian company (each piece is made in Montreal) is much lauded for its aesthetic, which manages to be sleek and inviting at the same time. It’s that warm, modern look that makes the new space so open and airy. And it’s outfitted with impeccably designed furniture, to boot.

So, ahh… when can we move in? —Kelsey Dundon

Montauk Sofa, 228 Abbott St., Vancouver, 604-331-2363, www.montauksofa.com

Creamy, classic and made from materials you already have, ceramic dipped silk flowers are an easy art project with big impact.

The project is the brainchild of uber crafter Danny Seo whose book, Upcycling, digs into your junk drawers and storage closets for dozens of projects that take what you already have and turn it into something you want to put on display.

Supplies
Plaster of Paris, silk flowers, a basket and a chunk of Styrofoam, all of which can be purchased at Michael’s.

Method
1. First, mix plaster of Paris according to the instructions making sure there are no lumps.
2. Next, dip silk flowers one at a time into the plaster, shaking it off to remove excess plaster.
3. Place the plaster-covered flowers in a Styrofoam block to dry.
4. Dip the flowers in the plaster again until there is no colour peeking through and let them dry again.
5. Use the excess plaster to paint a basket or bowl.
6. Arrange the plaster-covered flowers in that plaster-covered basket.

Voila. Like magic, or old-fashioned craftiness, you have created a centrepiece your friends will covet.

—Jaelyn Molyneux

Children might like bright colours and crazy animal shapes, but when it comes to interiors, it’s hard to decorate with garish yellows and reds.

So, we’ve met them halfway with these Jonathan Adler nightlights. Shaped like a lion, giraffe or elephant, but made in white porcelain, these lights are the perfect addition to a room. They look modern but cute, sort of like our kids, right?

Oh yes, and these lights are sure to keep away the monster in the closet. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

Jonathan Adler nightlights, $49, at Ella + Elliot, www.ellaandelliot.com

Summer came so late this year we are refusing to let it go so soon. That’s why we’ll be dining al fresco right through Labour Day weekend.

Pehr Napkins $11 at Provide
After our third ear of corn, we’ll be using these beautiful napkins from Toronto’s Pehr to wipe globs of melted butter off our faces.

Union Wood Company Cheese Platter $80 at the Cross
Home décor trends are leaning toward the rustic and we love the French country feel of this distressed cheese platter from Union Wood Company.

Ripple Pitcher $149 at Mint
This white-glazed pitcher is begging to be filled—and then re-filled—with white-wine sangria.

Stainless-steel smoker box $57.95 at Williams Sonoma
With a little help from this fancy hickory chip-filled smoker box, our barbequed salmon will be smokin’.

The Summer Collection $25 at David’s Tea
Need we remind you, oh Mr. Golden Sun, that summer is supposed to stay around until September 21st? We’ll be serving fragrant loose leaf iced tea until then, thankyouverymuch.
—Kelsey Dundon

Incense connotes exotic allure or hippie vibes, but not this one: a balsam-fir stick that smells purely of home and land.

Paine Products, of Maine, USA, claims to be the “original balsam company,” and no one is arguing. Their best-selling product is balsam-fir incense, which comes in short, thick sticks, 24 to a box. The formula hasn't changed since 1931, and with one deep, enchanted sniff, you'll see why it shouldn't. Each stick burns for a few hours, filling your space with—paradoxically enough—a super-clean smokiness.

You won't be able to smell the forest for the trees.
—Sarah Nicole Prickett

$8.95 for 40 sticks at Old Faithful Shop, 320 W. Cordova St., Vancouver, 778-327-9376, www.oldfaithfulshop.com