Finds - In the Junction

If you know me or follow me on social media, you know I love the finds.

A recently checked out a local area called The Junction; an artsy neighbourhood just west of the downtown core home to interesting shops, restaurants and markets.   More info here.

I popped into Cornerstone and found some French inspired pieces with a rustic feel that I loved.  

It can be hard to find stock cabinetry that's nice quality, has good scale and great hardware - but these would be fantastic for extra storage in a home office, living room, dining room or kitchen.

I would put some of these pretty jars and bottles in them too!

These upholstered pieces have beautiful lines that generally work well with a simple linen fabric

However, this stately, barrel-back chair is just not living up to its potential with this fabric...

it needs a PUNCH of one modern drama - perhaps with one of these fabrics

Maxwell Fabrics - top sellers for June

or a little more subdued, but nonetheless gorgeous...

Kelly Wearstler for Lee Jofa

Staying on the COLOUR bandwagon for the love of Summer....

I then popped into a shop called Haveli Home and was greeted by a cute little bulldog 

(I didn't get his picture because he was too busy licking my ankle at the time!) 

 but he looked a bit like this

source

They had lots of beautifully carved furniture from India, but what caught my eye was these colourful blankets in a lightweight cotton that's perfect for summer bedding or an evening lounging outdoors with a nightcap.

Haveli Home

Next, I wandered a bit down the road and came across a couple of little vintage shops and picked up a sweet little hand-painted green vase from Italy that will get some freshly blossomed pink peonies and go straight to Mom's house this weekend - she'll love them!

Antique Shop & my backyard peonies

There were some great cafes and restaurants, but I didn't have the time (aka anyone to drink with) so I headed back to the office to get some work done.  

At least I got some fresh air, sunshine and the inspiration I needed!

Digging for Gold

I've struck gold... or it struck me!!

As someone who's always appreciated the blingy things in life, I must say that my love for all things gold was stuck in the 80's but as of late, it's been totally revived.  

Any shade of gold will do...burnished brass, vintage gold, even antique bronze.... all good! 

The brass movement in design been making its way over from Europe for the past couple of years but has really hit hard in the decor industry in the last couple of seasons.  It's not the shiny yellow stuff from the decades past, but a more weathered, warm tone that works so well in almost any home.

Here's what I'm digging lately.  

The first 3 pics are vintage finds I've picked up recently at my favourite antique shops.

I picked up  this Italian tray for a client who has an eclectic space
with a mix of Asian and European antiques with blue accents

This is one of a pair of lamps that I found with mega-ugly shades.  I love all the details.
They'll be topped with black drum shades with gold interior lining.

Three is better than one when the tables are this pretty.

Closet Door Handles

I love the mix of shiny and weathered brass/gold.  

The curves and ribbing in the lamps and mirror are details that make these pieces extra special.

Another amazing mix of rough & smooth, polished &  matte elements!!

Elegant hotel door knob - can you imagine what's inside?

Cole and Son wallpaper

I love layered jewelry - this is the best way to dress up a simple outfit

Dripping in it!!

Ciao for now!

all images via here

A day out in St. Jacobs

I have a couple of clients wanting some vintage and unique pieces of furniture so I decided to head out to St. Jacobs this week.  It's a little village (yes, they call it a village) just north-west of the city that I've been wanting to check out for a long time because I had heard it was very quaint and there was a large salvage/vintage shop there called Artefacts that I always see advertised in the decor mags.

So, I headed out with a friend on a beautiful late summer morning for the one-hour drive to the country (sounds so Gatsby but we took Highway #401 most of the way).

We landed here and I was excited just to see the warn barn boards and garden pieces outside - couldn't wait to see what was inside.

When we walked inside the place was just brimming with vintage goodies from church railings, wood and iron shutters and stained glass, to hardware, tiles and lighting.  Just feast your eyes on these beauties:

green doors - right on trend for 2011

this fixture hung from the barn ceiling (about 20 feet high) and it still looked big!

Door knobs and door knockers in all types of patina
almost looks like a shoe display, doesn't it?

pewter door pulls

 

intricate wood panel would look amazing over a large doorway
or even over a sofa

buckets of vintage brass door knobs
I could see a collection of these on a wall as a unique display

Egyptian tiles with colourful patterns
the large white one on the top left is a drawing of a woman on a hand-made tile

vintage tiles

All kinds of doors, windows, columns and decorative objet!

fretwork shutters - could be used as wall art they are so pretty
 imagine these painted in teal or green lacquer

stained glass windows (oops on the dark photo)

love the patina on these oversize columns

decorative vent covers with intricate patterns

don't care for the shiny gold but look at the intricate details on this piece

We left the barn with thoughts of coming back after we toured the shops but ended up spending some money on jewelry (spelling is not Canadian) we found at this cute shop that sells designer inspired pieces:

the lovely Karen Lamarche was so helpful and sweet!

dark grey walls with hits of hot pink everywhere

my friend got this necklace for her birthday
 it comes apart into 5 different strands to give you lots of options on how to wear it

I got this Cartier-inspired silver ring (shown wrapped around a paint chip)
and a pink, summer butterfly bracelet

I also got this leather,  studded clutch

We found a cute little boutique that sold funky, well priced clothes and accessories called Traces of Heaven and we both picked up a couple of items there too.   

 

Then we had lunch at a great cafe/deli called Kokken Village Cafe.  The roasted red pepper soup and panini were amazing and fresh pastries are made daily by this lovely lady.

It was a perfect day out in St. Jacobs and I know I'll be back for some architectural/salvage pieces 

or for next season's clothes shopping.

Have you ever been there?