Oh Canada!
I must say that before blogging I didn’t really think that much about Canada.(Sorry Canada) Yes, I had made a trip there when I was little and currently have some family there, but that was where my bond with Canada ended.
Then came my introduction into blogging and through blog rolls I found so many amazing blogs based out of Canada. From the blogs I came to discover some of my favorite magazines: Style at Home and House & Home and of course my love for Canada followed into TV and I now need to catch every episode of Sarah’s House.
This past week I’ve been even more enamored with Canada, because Toronto has been hosting the IDS (Interior Design Show) and many of my blog friends are there rubbing shoulders with Sarah and Tommy from Sarah’s House as they check out all of the booths.
I must say that Style at Home’s booth is my favorite!
Check it out:
{Image via Poppy Talk via Holley & Gil}
What is not to love?
Bold paint color on wall…. love
Unbelievable striped floor…. love (I believe they were handing out a card with DIY instructions anyone attended and want to share the details?)
Chic gallery wall with a mix of art styles…love
Chippendale pattern on cabinets….love (Just told Jon earlier this week I wanted to do something similar to this and now voila a great picture to show him what I meant.)
Lovely mural on wall…love
Big blue tufted seat….love
My jaw dropped when I saw those images. One piece of the booth that I couldn’t forget was a piece of art:
I’m not sure why, but that massive sketch of the scissors had me at hello. I had to know more about it. After a quick search I found out that it was the work of Alanna Cavanagh a Toronto based illustrator and printmaker.
Here are some other works that she has designed that you might recogonize:
Here is a peek into at her inspiration board:
The best part of Alanna is that she blogs! Want details about the amazing mural from above that she designed? Head here to check it out.
Images 2-6 via Alanna Cavanagh
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get inspired with our own home tour
ON THE BLOG
My living room is one of the rooms that evolved drastically from when we first moved one. Originally I painted the walls chocolate brown and did accents of white, blue and orange. That lasted maybe 2 years.
Our dining room sat empty for months. Okay maybe it was empty for just a handful of weeks and then we couldn’t take it anymore and put in a folding table and plastic outdoor chairs, but in my mind that was still empty.
On the main floor of our house we have a Florida room. Being that it’s a Florida room it is a considered a 3 season room, because there is no heat in the room. The previous owners used it as an indoor patio with outdoor furniture and it looked like this when we moved in.
It’s true, Canada’s awesome! I’m glad you finally clued in! 😉
I adore Style at Home magazine, and it’s really quite inexpensive here in Canada. Something like $25 for a year’s subscription. Lucky me!
I was at the IDS this past weekend and I can tell you that the Style at Home booth was even more gorgeous in person. Alanna Cavanagh is so ridiculously talented and the mural she designed was so divine. I love how full of colour and whimsy her work is. Fabulous!! xo
LOVE Alanna Cavanagh’s work! That Style at Home booth is crazy awesome! Wish I could have seen it in person!
I love the scissors too ! I saw a wooden pair on Joss and Main yesterday and wanted to buy them but it didn’t say how big they were. They looked really big but I was afraid I’d get them and they would be tiny ! Canada does have some talent !
Sarah Richardson is fabulous! In addition to her show Sarah’s House, you should also try to view previous episodes of her first television design show “Room Service” and her second show just prior to Sarah’s House, ‘Design Inc.”
Wow! So much Sarah! Love it! Must find those tv shows.
I can never find teh Canadian magazines in the valley! its awful.
these are fabulous.
Us Canadians have loads to offer up north…..glad to see you enjoy.
Totally in love.
Great Post! It really seems Canada has been everywhere, proving there is amazing talent coming out of the country. I’m now adding Alanna Cavanagh to the list of talents I want to follow. Thanks!
Yes, we Canadians are so fabulous! When I lived in the US, I missed Canadian design shows but was thrilled that I could get my beloved House and Home and Style at Home delivered down south!
We are having a IDS show in Vancouver in the fall. Hope to hob knob with some style setters!
How coincidental that this Canadian should come across your blog for the first time today?:) Love the blog!
Canada is amazing for design (and plenty of other things too!). So glad you’re feeling the love!
I am addicted to Sarah’s House! Love love love it. And man, that striped floor space is fabulous. I need a home office so I can attempt to do that!
You are one of the American bloggers that inspired me to start my own blog recently. Thanks for noticing us Canadians and thanks for the great stuff you show! I’d be thrilled if you’d offer some comments/suggestions, as I’m a newbie.
Thanks!
Sarah’s House is my favorite!! I wish the showed more of her shows here! Thanks for the colorful photos. Just what I need on a dreary Atlanta day!
Yay Canada! IDS 2011 was really good this year. I thought the best part was The Studio North portion which offered up forward-thinking, edgy Canadian Design from right across the country.
Oh and good news if you love Sarah Richardson – she has a new series that started in January called Sarah 101. Check it out! http://www.hgtv.ca/sarah101/
I love the cabinets too. I’ll have to figure out how to incorporate that pattern into my house…I’m going to be experimenting with a painted rug soon. Also, I wanted to let you know that I’ve followed your DIY Chevron Rug tutorial (fantastic) and featured the finished product in my home tour: http://monogrammedsuitcase.blogspot.com/2011/02/to-show-house-tour.html. I’m new to blogging, but hope you enjoy!
I am a huge fan of Sarah Richardson and watch Sarah’s house all the time, some episodes several times – lol. I’ve just found one of her earlier shows called Design Inc and that is great too. I have heard that there will be a Sarah’s cottage at some point, hopefully SOON.
LOVE these gorgeous images! Thanks!
this is quite ironic! I just happened to stumble upon your blog today, and your latest post is about the land I love and call home!
It’s a wonderful blog, and I have already started compiling some ideas for my new apartment (I have yet to actually get…as I move out in….September). Also if you like Sarah’s House you might like Sarah 101.
Can’t wait for what’s to come!
Canada sure has it’s share of good design!
Have a great weekend!!
xoxo
Edyta
http://edytaandco.blogspot.com/
love these photos so much & the colors are so beautiful.
Oh I love those prints!! I love all of those rooms too.
We’re a stylish Canadian bunch, glad you’re feeling the love!
Was at IDS & a bit disappointed that it’s become more of a “retail”/”home reno” show vs. a true design show but nonetheless there were some inspirational booths for sure. The new line of “vintage” rugs from a Canadian store called ELTE was to die for.
Much love 😉
Thanks so much for sharing I can’t wait to dive into both magazines!!!!
Hi Camilla,
Thanks for the lovely post.
Glad you like my work.
You should come up and visit Toronto some time.
Alanna
I want to live in that booth. I love the orange steel table,the white fabulous armoires, the floor everything…
Btw Sarah Richardson is not on in the us yet this year. I have all her old shows taped. She is so fabulous.. You can find some old episodes of design inc.
I’ve been following the IDS posts around the blogosphere and the Style at Home booth looks amazing indeed. Love Alanna Cavanagh’s work! Thanks for the introduction!
It has a real fantasy-type quality to it…like Alice in Wonderland or even more like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory- like you could walk in and lick the walls or take a bite out of the table décor and it would all taste like candy. What fun! I recently saw painted stripe floors that looked very similar in Better Homes & Gardens magazine…they’re quite playful. http://www.bhg-digital.com/bhg/201102/?pg=211
You have such a gorgeous blog, just ended up here accidentally and I’m so glad. I’m definitely clicking follow.
These images are wonderful, I hope I own a home like that one day.
♥ http://www.blahblahbecky.co.uk
Thank you Becky. Off to check out your site as well.
Great images of that booth – have seen multi-colored painted floors a couple of places now. And love the tie-dye/color splotch pillows as well. You always find the coolest things – thanks so much for sharing!
My daughter (she is only 10 yrs.) and I love Sarah’s House and think that Tommy is a hoot.