Two of these lovely side tables were placed in a client’s home yesterday. They are the perfect mix of rustic glam for her sleek, transitional space. And, they’re not so precious that they’ll show every bump or ding along the way.

Accessories are a lot like jewellery, they create personality. These ones have loads!

It was the second time I’ve interviewed the designer, Monica Stevens. This woman is amazing. Not only is she incredibly talented, but she forges these incredible relationships with her clients.

My favourite detail in the house? The double-sided limestone fireplace that greets you at the entry.

Read the story here: http://ow.ly/jtUx8

The lines look wonderful, but I prefer not to choose furnishings from a picture and West Elm doesn’t have a storefront in my town. So when it worked out that I was able to see it and sit in it on a recent trip, I was pumped. The chair checked out. It’s perfect. Sign me up.

Yesterday, I called to order fabric samples and discovered that if you live in Canada there are only two options: ink blue velvet, or patchwork. Neither is appropriate. I am bummed.

This leaves me trying to decide if I need to find a new chair, or whether I’d specify the chairs and then have them re-upholstered in a more suitable fabric. Their current price makes it a possibility against the other options I’ve found, but I’m not convinced it’s worth doing.

The other options from EQ3, Gus*Modern and Crate & Barrel are shown below, but each has a slight drawback in terms of size for this project.

Which “re” would you choose? Reupholstery, revise room layout or resume the search?

I know Art Deco is not everyone’s cup of tea and, truthfully, it’s not a style I’d do in my own home either. However, for the space and the occasion. Wow! The room looks stunning. Who wouldn’t want to hang out there for a while?

I love the swooping barrel back of the seating, which was supplied by Baker, and the oranges and blues that pop against a palette of browns, creams and golds. It’s definitely got a celebratory mood about it. HuffPost also did a great profile of the designer, Madeline Stuart, who was one of the magazine’s Top 100 architects and designers for 2012.

Photo by: Roger Davis

Here are the features I think really make the space:

>> The sumptuous Schumacher fabrics in silks and velvets and that chevron pattern on the chairs

>> Playing the simple curves repeated in the chairs and table selections against the linear details on the doors and panelled walls

>> Contrast, contrast, contrast between the polished black parquet floors, ivory rug and warm tones in the upholstery fabrics

>> That sleek, sexy Art Deco bar!

What type of decor says celebration and glamour to you?

I learned about the architecture school and saw how things are done there. Wright died in 1959, but the school carries on pretty much as it did during his lifetime. Except it now offers accreditation. Despite Wright’s reportedly large ego he never sought patents or to formally institutionalize his ideas. There are some differences today. Students are no longer responsible for doing all of the cooking, washing, cleaning, construction and maintenance. However, they do still participate in it’s operation and they do still camp out in tents in the desert upon arriving. Also, every second Saturday night is formal instead of every Saturday night as it was when Wright lived there.

Some of the ideas Wright advanced seem common sense now, but were revolutionary in his time. He believed in the value of learning to interact with all types of people, and that in order to design spaces you needed to understand how people functioned in them. Preferably by functioning in them yourself. I was able to see firsthand how those ideas were put into practice at Taliesin West.

I think my favourite of the spaces we saw on our tour was the Sunset Terrace, which provided a gorgeous vista across the Sonoran desert landscape. It was a quiet space that I can imagine being used for many things from an early morning yoga practice to a simple cinq à sept, or even a cocktail party under a blanket of stars. I’ve posted some photos of my favourite scenes from the site.  How would you use these spaces?

A layered canvas roof covers the performance theatre.

A hidden water feature in the sunken garden creates an oasis of blue in the centre of the desert landscape.

Exterior view of the drafting studio.

The terrace offers a sweeping vista of the Sonoran desert and opportunities for all types of events.

Cacti, mesquite and ironwood trees as far as the eye can see.

Many of the items at these major international shows are not always available in Canada, but they drive new product development and reflect the industry trends. **While I’ve never been a proponent of decorating to be ‘on trend’, there is no question the trends do influence what is available.

Innovative lighting was a big theme this year with new ideas using organic phosphorescent materials and solar power. An example is the Sphelar Lantern, which uses mini, rounded solar cells that generate electricity when exposed to sunlight. I love the hourglass shape and wooden accents.

Sphelar Lantern by Sphelar Power + graf

Reports are still showing colour as a big story too: both pastels and candy-hues. It seems that nature-inspired decor and shapes were also prominent as was the melding of organic shapes and modern materials. Think chunky wood blocks a la Brent Comber fused with metal or resin. The metals and accents are being shown in warmer tones like brass, copper and satin nickel vs. chrome.

This year the showroom floors were also filled with geometric patterns called tessellations. These are the combination of interlocking shapes such as hexagons, triangles, chevrons and curves. These patterns were found in everything from soft goods to upholstery to shelving. Take a look at the Kvadrat Clouds product for an idea how this works.

It looks like 2013 is off to an exciting start!

While the closets are small projects getting them ready for the new designs has involved packing things up, doing some demolition work, patching, sanding and painting and finding a home for everything that was in the closets until it can go back there again. Plus, it’s been a tiny bit messy. For me, that in between time has always been the toughest part of a project. I put together a little set of rules for myself to remember and thought I’d share them with you.

We are planning skating parties, ski days and loads of cookie baking and tasting. No matter what your plans include, here are some good wishes for a safe and bright holiday season.

Talk to you in the new year!

While the book is certainly less detailed than, say, a masters of architecture, it is an excellent reference for how to think about design. Almost any homeowner planning to renovate, redecorate or upgrade their space would get benefit from reading it. And, it’s a great go to for things to consider as a project proceeds. Cleaver touches on identifying your needs, developing and exploring ideas, decor styles, space planning, finishes and fixtures as well as tips for going it alone, or hiring the right help. She also breaks down various spaces within a home and the things to think about in creating an attractive space that will function well and fit your lifestyle.

She also makes an obvious point that I feel is often lost. “Different things make different people happy.” While there are commonly agreed principles of what elements create pleasing design there is no single style that is correct, rather there are trends. Much like in fashion. She also explains that, “When creating a home it is easy to confuse the process of design with the pursuit of good taste, but the two are different concepts.” I couldn’t agree more. We all lead different lives and are interested in and attracted to different things. Isn’t that what makes it interesting?