My Inspiration - A little Orange Box...

Years ago when I opened my first store my inspiration was the Robins Egg....I did Robins Egg blue for almost 8 years and when looking for the inspiration of my new store - I found myself drawn to packaging.....now we are not talking about any old box here....it was the colour of the Hermes Box...rich orange with chocolate brown ribbon that drew me in - who could resist that....

I guess those of you who love Tiffany's could react, as the Tiffany Box is as popular an inspiration...the perfect blue the shade of turquoise almost... I guess both of these boxes, as both of the stores are tell tales of rich....wealth etc...but for those of us who cannot afford an Hermes Bag - specifically the one that I am coveting as my new messenger bag... the box is equally kind of satisfying  ( well sort of...if you have to settle of course)....I searched sites to see about buying Hermes boxes only and found that there are many of us out there who love boxes and using them in decorating not only for inspiration....

How can I resist?  I have been on the hunt and found a vintage clothing store that sells Hermes boxes......now the dilema is ...when do I stop? I could fill my store with them and who knows what else...I am a bad collector..I do not like to wait for a collection to gather I want it and I want it now...so I searched Ebay, Etsy, any site and found some more...even bought some from a store in Germany....so my problem is...how many more do I need?

 

Well..I guess when they all arrive I will know what I do...my first thing will be my window display I know that for sure..but does it really matter...I just love them and if it makes me happy...I am sure it will also make someone else happy...it surely did the person I bought them from.







This will be me one day...skinny legs and all







Our Twist to Christmas Decor

I am lucky enough to have grown up with traditions and I wanted our children to have the same, this week was Nicholaus - the nite of the 5th our children were supposed to polish their shoes and in the morning - the visit of St Nicholaus would bring them chocolates etc or if they were bad...then Black Peter would come and bring them a stick...after talking to a bunch of others who share this tradtion - we were all petrified of Black Peter - so we didnt even discuss this with our kids...plus really - would our kids be bad?

Mario and I also talked about the christmas tree - I wanted it to be magical for our kids so we set it up on the Nicholaus nite and when Mari-Sol and Benji came down in the morning they saw this magical tree.....I will always remember Mari-Sols reaction and how sweet it was...

For our house though -we had worried that Benji would rip the tree down and all the ornaments would break....so I went on the lookout for not only a colour scheme that would match the new tones of our house but something that the little man could not destroy...

Overall....shopping at Canadian Tire, Zellers and the Dollar store....would never have guessed that our tree could look sp wonderful and truly not look like they are mass produced unbreakable ornaments..

We carried the orange through the house in decor - those of you who read my blog also know that I spray painted the one wreath in orange - as pictured on the cabinet in our living room....

The one thing I do have to note is that orange is so not a traditional colour and yet it looks so beautiful in the tree and around our house..I love it and am pretty confident in saying it is probably my favorite of our trees so far

The Pie Shack has been Flik'd

 I was lucky enough to have Tim from the Pie Shack call upon me to do the interior of his new venture The Pie Shack http://www.thepieshack.ca/ - he is one cool guy with a lot of energy and a passion for Pie....

His location was small but he knew what he wanted in it...a casual space where someone might walk in and feel like they were in their old cottage...something that felt like you wanted to stay there and just enjoy a great cup of coffee and a delicious piece of pie..

the quote from his site :
I love life and I love pie, I mean real pie, the kind I grew up on made by my mom and all the moms in my neighbourhood.
I love people and love talking to them or just hanging around them.
I love cozy places, places that are like old sweaters…comfortable, and welcoming.
Well The Pie Shack is that place, my dream place, where the pies are not just the best pies but unforgettable.
Tim McConvey
"The Pie Guy"


Last week Tim called me to see if I would decorate the space for Christmas....understanding that since the place already had so much character I would need to use neutral christmas decorations....I remember doing the paint by numbers as art in his space, the rustic door tables and work benches and then last years addition of the sofas- vintage and really quite the perfect colour...so the tame golds and creams in the christmas decor would work well....

Little reindeer on the tables with pine comb candles finished off the decor and when I was finished..Tim was happy and knew I would be the right person to do the job....

The thing about the Pie Shack is....not only is the food great , the atmosphere fun - but Tim is the best...he loves what he does and it shows...and I have to say from my experience that is why we hit it off.....

Stroll down to the beaches and enjoy a piece of pie....

PILLOWS, PILLOWS, PILLOWS......

FINALLY THEY ARRIVED....We met a woman on line who produces these amazing pillows that finally just came in....some in Linen, some in Burlap but all are awesome......
See for yourself....

and of course the burlap chair is amazing too..

Getting into the Christmas season with Flik

Sometimes I sit in my store and think......hmmm.....was it a good idea to move away from a spot where everyone knew where I was?.....but then I also realize that for many reasons it was a good move...Less traffic, far more 1 on 1 time with clients and well, the chance to actually do things.....
Maybe there is time where I want to do too much but I have realized that while thinking of how to decorate my store for the holidays I am really liking the spray paint can....

I bought a wreath that was from Canadian Tire...not really trying to be a supporter of big box stores but I have seen these wreaths in many of them.....so it is made of plastic - was the standard christmas colours of red and green ( the one shown is in silver) ..took my trusty can of Tremclad spray paint to of course use the colours of my store - a standard Hermes Orange... and sprayed it with 2 coats....and then.......cool.....turned it into a Hermes orange bubblegum like wreath...will add a nice orange grosgrain ribbon and hang it in my house on an old mirror.....

But now back to the store...I love the holidays...i just am not fond of the clutter that comes with it...so....my store is simple - a few trees spray painted orange of course and some glass balls in variations of orange placed throughout the store.....and then my favorite ...spray painted reindeer..... I bought it new, it was a muted silver and yet again got the spray paint out and transformed it..
Looking into the retail environment lately - Christmas is not all about the red and green anymore...it is about using what you love and transforming it into the season. I love how the deer turned out I just need to stay away from spray paint now...otherwise who knows where it will lead.

Transforming my store for the holidays was fun - I like the sparkle of the season and also the simplicity - I love using things and changing them and of course our Christmas will be awesome this year - Mario and I have invested in unbreakable ornaments for our tree - every year the theme or colour of the tree changes - this year it changed for one specific reason......a little man named Benji...our 18month old is everywhere and true to form of most little boys is a little destroyer - so unbreakable ornaments it was...
Maybe when it is set up - I'll take some pics to show it off...

Good luck in your decorating, dont stress and just take some time to have fun...the season is short and full of positive .....enjoy.

GETTING READY FOR WANDERLUST

This thursday nite....Nov 18th from 7-10 Leslieville is host to Wanderlust..most stores and restaurants are participating. I decided I would serve "Fliktini's" of course orange in colour.  Bobette and Belle ( the newest addition to Leslieville ) will be preparing French Macaroons for sampling in our store.

Also that evening the store will feature more art from Christine Flynn - Love the Design. I have spoken about her work before and love it - high gloss resin photographs.

I have been re working the store with all the new merchandise that is coming in....pieces that make my heart go a flutter and then really wish I could take them home...we just got a set of French chairs in circa 1920 in original leather - they are amazing....the loveseat is new - it is french inspired with weathered oak trim and stuffed with down - a great piece as well.

And of course in spirit of the upcoming season - Orange christmas decorations.

Mario and I are trying to decide how to incorporate orange on our tree at home and found some unbreakable decorations at the dollar store and canadian tire - due to the reason that Benjamin is probably going to tear the tree down we figured we would be smart. Even though I love the variations of the orange ones above...they are glass and we are guessing will be the fasting things to break.....at home that is..

So Join me in my store on thursday nite....from 7-10 and share a Fliktini and a macaroon to start off the holiday season....

Inspiration

I picked up a copy of the Elle Decoration magazine in the local Presse International magazine store....reason being was the cover was total inspiration....


so the reveal is now in my window....a paris settee - uphlostered by Joe our upholsterer - he has a name on facebook called brokenheartedsuperhero if you need an upholsterer or you can ask me...but he is great...he picked it up last week and brought it to me.....it has been reupholstered in an orange silk and poly fabric - and is "awesome"

Oh and can I tell you....it is amazing with the Louis Vuitton pillows.......drop in and check it out for yourself...

FLIK BY DESIGN - NOW OPEN

Well the store is finally open - we actually opened a couple weeks ago and have been still tweaking it until I get the colour balance right...I love the new space - it feels like home inside and so far from the many customers coming through they all agree... I am adding a couple or more images of new product that is currently in my store - there are many one of a kind items that we have had made exclusive to Flik and I think most of you will like the orange as the new blue....

The metal cabinets come in various sizes , art of course is from Love the Design - by Christine Flynn - her work can be seen in my store and in her gallery under Quince flowers past Broadview on Queen or her site

http://www.lovethedesign.com/

I am working on a bedroom right now for a client - Chloe - she is 6 years old - she painted the below picture of the ladybugs and it will be the new addition to her room makeover...Christine actually attached it to a wooden mount and resined it...now it is an awesome piece of art that she will not only have for her life but it has become this one of a kind beauty with a modern high gloss art gallery finish

The colour orange has been brought in to the store in accessory form - custom Louis Vuitton or Chanel pillows, furnishings like the custom upholstered chairs and much more.

Stop by sometime...we are open Mon - Sat 10 till 5, Sun 11-4 and Closed Tuesdays

There is a lower level as well which has some amazing pieces.

Thank you to all of you for your loyal support and thanks to those of you who have welcomed me in the new Hood....



SNEAK PEEK INTO MY NEWEST VENTURE

I just wanted to take the opportunity to give you a sneak peek into the new store "Flik by Design"
the store will be more interior designed based with a new tag line " Where French meets Industrial with a twist to mid century" It will be a balance of design, texture and just awesome hand picked items available...

First Item - the coffee sac chair -  A Classic Bergere with an orange tweed like fabric and a coffee sac upholstered back - these have been featured already in Chatelaine (Sept issue) and the shopping guide for Toronto Life Aug 19th...We will have some wonderful upholstered items...all in our newest of colours....

Next item - Art....seems that high gloss is all the rage and resin finished art is a must - this artist meets all the needs - she is wonderfully talented and very "Flik" in photography....the inspiration of my store colours were Hermes.....the horse pic with tones of orange trademark of Hermes is just awesome... lots of new photographs will be featured exclusively...

Who can't live without Louis Vuitton....our custom pillows made from Louis Vuitton silk Stephen Sprouse graffiti scarves.... a must in all decor....in orange of course...

The Inspiration of old world french and industrial - doctors cabinets made from Vintage metals and authentic doctors cabinets, side tables, coffee tables all industrial inspired.

This is just a touch of our items....the store is full of items that are tactile and fun...the feather headress comes in orange or white and is almost an inspiration on its own....

One of my new favorite items is the Orange Transparent Ghost chair - they are UV coated and can not only be used indoors but also out....a new take on a classic....

So Join us next week when the new store officially opens and take a look at the new direction of Flik by Design 1360 queen street east at greenwood  647 352 3133