Etsy - Felt Birds

How cute are these birds sitting in little dishes? They are made by Feltmate

Montreal Design Guide

Design Sponge posted a Montreal design guide today. It is a handy guide to take on your next rendez-vous organized by neighborhoods.


http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/04/montreal-design-guide.html

Ottawa Real Estate Guide

Ottawa magazine has an issue out this month, which focuses on buying your first house. I haven't read it, but I have seen the nice pictures of young couples in their new houses online. The cover picture is especially cute.

"...Writer Jen Lahey and photographer Rémi Thériault team up to produce the evocative photo essay “My First Home.” Seven buyers, seven homes. It’s a rite of passage that generally brings with it pride, joy, a healthy dose of anxiety — and a long-term sizable mortgage. What spurred them to settle down? Did they decide to go urban or suburban? Condo or house? Our seven novices gamely open up about their still new adventures in ownership."







Ottawa magazine also has a special edition each year called Ottawa Interiors, which is probably one of the city's best interiors guide.

White Bedroom on Flickr (14989 results)

I love heavenly airy white bedrooms that are modern but also rustic so that they don't feel like an office. You have to give some of these people credit for having the guts to paint their floors and ceilings.

Here are some I came across on Flickr after a quick search.






(from skona hem)

SAS Lounge

Speaking of Swiss, last year I went to Switzerland and had to stop over in London. I got to see the SAS Lounge because it is a Star Alliance partner with Air Canada. The lounge was complete with things you'd expect from Sweden like a smorgasborg, minimalist furniture, a child friendly atmosphere.....

and buddhas in the desk area

I'm Back

So I hibernated all winter!
I didn't feel like updating, so I just went with that. So now, after a 6 month hiatus, here's something I found from Swiss Miss.

The all in one card stamp.

TTC decals

These decals are made by Toronto-based designers by the name of Walloper. They come in all sorts of colours (about 16) and of course, since it's the Toronto Subway System, all sorts of fonts too! (Only click that link if you are a typography nerd)

Part-time nerds can simply use these Gills Sans-y decals on their walls.

Modern Quilts

Etsy shop Napoleon Quilts makes these hand embroidered quilts that are so modern, fun and pretty.

Handy folder-shelf

I feel bad for copying someone else's post, but today a friend of mine (hi Carly!) told me she went on Design Sponge and saw a really great idea for a place to throw your keys, bills etc when you get in the house.

I have a very small amount of space in my foyer so putting any kind of solution there has been impossible.

This is one of the BEST crafts I've seen in a long time! You may probably recognize the file folder from IKEA.






here’s what you’ll need:
wooden magazine holder
stain and/or paint (optional)
two screws and two washers
1. paint, stain or decoupage your magazine holder (or leave it plain)
2. pre-drill two holes for the screws and mark your wall where the screws will go, making sure they are level.
3. mount your box to the wall, using washers so the screw heads don’t sink too far into the wood.
4. if you’ve got an outlet nearby, you can even charge your cell phone or ipod by snaking the cord through the hole in the front of the box.

Design Sponge and Derek & Lauren get full credit for this idea and post.

Wall Planters

Urban gardening is such an exciting topic. I love the idea of urban cities with living and growing roofs and walls and I hope it continues to catch on.

Living walls have been trendy recently. The Bridgehead Cafe near my house has one, which prompted me to look for a smaller-scale wall planter for either indoors or out.

This outdoor planter (these drip) is made for succulents is available from The Gardener's Supply Company for $59.99. They are perfect for people with tiny backyards... or no backyards, just a small concrete balcony.



The planters below can be mounted indoors and for only $169.00, they end up being cheaper than most artwork, yet are prone to start more discussion and interactivity.