On the hunt...

...for a new house!  It's official, my beloved home in TO is on the market and I've accepted a wonderful offer to move back to Calgary.  I really am happy to head back West to be closer to my friends and family. I am also really looking forward to the opportunity to actually turn Wink Interiors into something - what that "something" is remains to be seen.

I am sad to leave TO which I have grown to love and all my fabulous friends here.  I'm also sad to leave my house as I have enjoyed the last 5 years making it my own.  I know I'll never be able to find something with so much history and character out West but I am looking forward to the challenge.

Here is a snap of me and my mom on my front porch over the Christmas holidays.

Light love

I stopped in a my tracks when I saw this light at the Conran Shop within ABC Carpet & Home.  It caught my eye over a year ago when it was featured in a shelter magazine and I haven't stopped thinking about it.  I covet it!

La Voliere Table Lamp  is a French-made table lamp that was inspired by an aviary and has decorative birds adorning the copper wire shade.

I think it's ridiculous but really, really want it all the same.  I love the whimsy of the piece, as well as the simplicity of the design. The raw wire shade and base give the lamp an "airy" feeling which works well with the small feathered birds.  If I had this lamp, I would keep it in a room where I would see it every single day.

Covet Garden - Issue Twenty-One

The latest edition of Covet Garden is out and they are profiling a 390-square-foot apartment.

Photo by Michael Graydon

The resident of this little apartment runs the on-line shop Herriott Grace which has some gorgeous hand carved and hand turned wooden objects and other beautiful kitchenware.

All images via Herriott Grace

Apartment Therapy - the story of the logo

Apartment Therapy recently posted the story behind their logo.  It's a great read and gives you some personal insight behind the orange squiggle.

West Elm - feels like summer

Looking through the latest arrivals at West Elm, I was instantly attracted to the muted tones and how they made me think of summer - days spent at the lake, browsing the stands at a flea market, brunch in a cozy cafe, and nights on the patio.  Spring has just arrived but I see summer on the horizon.

Everett Striped Chair

Clinton Friedman Wall Art



Istanbul Rug



Driftwood Lamp

Salvaged Woodshelf

Maria Moyer Bud Vases

Loving letterpress

I have a thing for gorgeous stationary.  I'm always on the hunt for something unique when looking for birthday, Christmas, thank you cards, etc. and stop in every stationary shop I pass.  Etsy has some fantastic letterpress options and I'm really loving the following sellers:

Letterary Press

Pixies & Porcupines

Ink Print Letterpress

Sapling Press

April Reading

Just look at this delicious pile of design goodness. Perfect for a lazy Sunday with some coffee (or graduating to wine as the day progresses).  The collection of monthly reads has grown exponentially in the last few months and obviously doesn't include on-line magazines and the 40+ blogs I follow.  I will say that I actually read all of the text in a shelter magazine as compared to the on-line equivalents - I guess I just feel that they require that kind of respect given the long lead-time to create them.

My favourite is still the first one I ever subscribed to which is Style at Home.  I used to tear pages out for inspiration and when I was finally in my first place, began to go through those pages to determine my decorating style.  When I moved to Toronto, I pulled out those inspiration pages again and happily realized all the sources noted were actually stores in TO that I could visit.  My first few months in the city were spent in a lot of home decor shops and the pieces I picked up are still some of my most treasured.

NYC - Part IX - Everything Else

 Images of NYC.

NYC - Part VIII - The Met

The Met is overwhelming.  There is so much to see and each room opens up into the next in the fashion of a labyrinth.

I totally geeked out looking at all the furniture.  I was reading all about the in-lay, pietre dure, japanning and ogling the Duncan Fife exhibits. 

 They have a wonderful exhibition which is an actual re-creation of the living room from Northome by Frank Lloyd Wright.  Eveyone that walked in just stood in absolute silence taking it all in.  It was such a gorgeous space.



Off to one side in the archives, there was a workbench, tools and templates from the Tiffany studio.  There was also piece after piece of Tiffany glass throughout the American Wing.

A couple of pieces from the modern furniture room.



NYC - Part VII - John Derian

John Derian (6 East 2nd Street) has some of the most beautiful decoupage plates, vases, trays and paperweights I've ever seen.  It's a bit pricey but worth every penny for a handmade keepsake.

NYC - Part VI - Williamsburg

I visited the very hip Brooklyn neighbourhood of Williamsburg and stopped by two fantastic shops - The Future Perfect (115 North 6th Street) and A&G Merch (111 North 6th Street).  Both shops were recommended in the Design*Sponge Brooklyn Guide.

I have been smitten with the David Trubridge light fixtures for some time and previously blogged about the Piet Hein Eek scrapwood wallpaper and it was great seeing them together at The Future Perfect.

A&G Merch had equally great pieces and is right next door.

The accessories all had a wonderful sense of whimsy to them and most were in brillantly bright colours.

NYC - Part V - Brooklyn Flea

I visited the Brooklyn Flea on the last weekend it was being held indoors - so thankful of that as the weather was not conducive to being outdoors plus I got a chance to see the former Williamsburgh Savings Bank (now an event space called Skylight One Hanson).

There are tables throughout all three levels, including inside the old bank vault.  You can pick up vintage clothing, artwork, reclaimed typewriters, old toys, jewellery and even some fantastic coffee.  

I really liked the Hunters and Gatherers booth with its many natural curiosities (mixes well with the current tribal trend).