Maps

I love maps. I think it's because they let you dream of the places you want to visit and remind you of all the wonderful places you've already seen.  Summer is also one of the best times of year to take some time off and explore a new neighbourhood, city or country and I have a big collection of travel guides and driving maps suited just for that.  No huge travel plans this year as I'm taking some time to reacquaint myself to life in Calgary and explore a little closer to my new home.

Toronto neighbourhoods - Ork Posters

The Toronto poster above was hung in my own living room and I love the different sizes of fonts used.  It's now a perfect memento of my time living in TO.

Prettymaps (Paris) by Aaron Straup Cope

I love that this isn't an obvious map and the colour combination is really unique and graphic.

NYC Globee available from Pylones

These single-city globes would make a great souvenir.  Other available cities include:  Venice, Rome, London, Los Angeles, Sydney, etc.  I could see someone amassing a collection of different cities for a home office.

Tokyo handkerchief from Muji

It's rare to find such a chic handkerchief.

Room designed by Grace Home Design, Inc. Map available at World Maps Online.

I think this is such a great idea for a kid's room.  Maps are a perfect wall covering to fuel their imagination.

Oh, Canada!

It is Canada Day and it's the one day of the year when unassuming Canadians wave the flag and drape ourselves in red and white.  I think a little Canadiana in your home though lets you celebrate this great country on a daily basis.  Some of my fave finds are:

Prairie Tables by Gus* Modern

Walking Bear Table by Moss & Lam

Great Lakes Pillow by Nicole Tarasick

HBC Point Blanket

Schtick Hockey Stick Hangers by Urban Product

Canada Type Map by Bold & Noble

Store Love - 507 Antiques

507 Antiques (50 Carroll St.) is having a pop-up shop on Queen St. West for the next 4 - 5 weeks.  The Carroll St. store is a cavernous warehouse and you wind your way through the aisles in awe of treasure after treasure.  Seeing a sample of these items in a smaller shop really lets you appreciate each piece and I think the items chosen for this shop represent well the full selection available at the main store.

Store Love - Zenporium

Zenporium (998 Queen Street East) is full of items that feel exactly like their name.  The space is calm and soothing with white walls and reclaimed, rustic pieces of furniture.  They take old, vibrantly painted fishing boats from South East Asia and turn them into chairs, hutches and benches.  They also have uprooted coffee trees which are stripped of their bark to form beautiful sculptures.