A day in the life of Orange

Today was my day off - Mario, Mari-Sol, Ben and I took a long walk from our house across the Danforth.
Within the first couple of minutes I was thinking that it would be interesting to see how the colour Orange is more common then we think and not just the trend that is current.




Of course we didnt walk all the way down to the Hermes store - but it is a lot more interesting to see how Orange is in some of the most unusual places.... ( dont get me wrong a trip to the Hermes is totally interesting.......)

Walking along the streets of the city - orange is definetly on machinery, construction zones....the obvious pylons, jackets on construction men with neon yellow, signage everywhere.... a lot more common then you think

Any of the Hakim Optical stores have the big orange glasses - this one was one of the older stores and there was definetly lots of orange in their sign.....
Cars drove by - of course there is 2 different taxi companies in the city with orange - Beck Taxi with orange and green and then Diamond with Black and Orange

but then there was a lady who drove past in this.....

bicycle parked on the side

The obvious fruit markets with oranges

Continuing down the street many shades of orange popped up - on the sidewalk markers, the newspaper box

a planter outside of a store

Now ....the best part - walking into the LCBO - right in the very front - one of our favorite champagnes.....and guess what.....it was all about the orange.

and then finally.....after the long walk, a quick lunch and kids ready to go home - we took the subway.......and luckily found the old one with of course.....Orange doors...

I guess it gives something to ponder...Orange had its hayday in the 60's - came back again sometime in the 80's and now is a hot trend.....one of the most expensive companies Hermes has orange as their signature colour and really it is in our daily life hidden or not but blending with everything else that is out there.....

Way to go ORANGE!!!

Is there really such a thing as an orange cow?

We are currently working on doing the master bedroom in our new house - it is of course the last room to be finished for reasons not really know to either Mario or I?  We had a hard time getting the right inspiration i guess and then all of a sudden it is coming together....the reason of this post is not to show the bedroom - but the cool new cowhide bench that came into the store made for us from a company in montreal.

The hide is dyed Orange - this one came out a little bright - so hopefully the next ones will be in an Hermes Orange - the hide is then added to the shiny metal criss cross frame for a lovely custom bench in front of our bed.

If you notice - the Gerbera daisys that are in the white vase on the chest of drawers is the exact colour of the bench.......

So our next step for this room is to do an orange damask tone on tone wallpaper behind the bed  - stay tuned.......hopefully this wallpaper goes up easier then the last one did.....

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The trend of animals.....Faux or real?



 Lately it seems that everywhere you look it is antlers, hides, turtle shells , zebras etc.....Decorating with animal motifs has always been a trend - fashion has always been hot and they use it not only in clothing but handbags etc.. but more and more people are getting concerned with the impact on the animal world so its become faux......


zebra hide - printed cow hide...not real zebra




Faux zebra rug in orange - Jonathan Adler



this faux hide was available through QVC

 Cowhides - can now be pretty much any colour - any style - our son has a giraffe printed hide in his bedroom - zebra printed hides are seen everywhere and are beautiful on the floor - colours like Hermes Orange - we are working on a bench for the store...Fuscia , Turquoise....can be seen in many design magazines and of course available in faux hide.....

We did the above chair in faux snakeskin - classic style french chair gives this a modern feel...the faux snakeskin is pretty realistic in feel - rub your hand against the weave and it actually feels scaley

Antlers are everywhere lately - Antlers are one of those things that are still in the "Not so bad" category....every year deer shed their antlers - so its not like we are sending people out to get them from the animals...but resin has come a long way.....


antelope antlers on mount - resin

 They look great in decorating....

Always have to add something whimiscal in orange - this is a resin horse mount painted in Hermes Orange - we have rams heads as well.....

tortoise shell bowls - not real

Tortoise shell - resin

 So as you can see - it is easy to find items that are not real - no one needs to smuggle turtle shells across the border anymore - resin ones have made their way in the world and keeping our animals out of harms way.

Polar Bear rug made from Recycled rugs

Spring is in the air and new product arriving .......

Well finally we are over what was a long winter again....Spring is somewhat in the air - next weekend it is easter and we have filled the store with lots of new product....and oddly enough for a person who is afraid of lots of pattern and colour...I brought in some amazing new pillows......

Inspired by Anthropologie - the oversize pillows are linen backed, down filled and quirky......the butterflies, moths, bugs and animals come in an array of styles and add a great pop statement to your home decor

New chairs - like the classic Concierge chair in burlap and black nail heads show case the bold blue butterfly pillow - chairs like the one below - a classic french style in weathered oak with an interesting orange ( of course) coral pattern

One of my favorite pillows is the Zebra print below......neutral in look but a great statment piece

and who can have spring without the glory of birds.......

Stop by to take a look.....and Happy Spring

LOVE THE DESIGN

Love the design is now open....I was lucky enough to watch Christine Flynn transform the space next door at 1362 Queen street east from the old H&R block to what it is today.
Opening officially last saturday - the space houses her resin finished photographs - Vintage inspired and true to Christines aesthetic, as well as a mix of Industrial inspired furnishings, Modern Eiffel chairs in Acrylic against an old door table, Burlap covered chairs and a great collection of Steam punk lighting.

the cloche light is a steal at 195.00 with exposed filimint bulb

The space is awesome - the focal wall as you walk inside the door is Christines painstaking 30hr project of old book pages arranged in only the way an artist can do all over the wall....it is accented with the steamer engine piece of art which again is true to form of this talented artist.

Christine takes inspiration from many things - the industrial edge is a hot look right now in design and the space is really reflective of it.. The touches of Gold - which have almost become a signature of Love the design is even transferred on her logo in the window.

As you all know from me writing about Christine before - Horses were some of my favorite - the dyptich of Levi the horse is spectacular - the 2 pieces make you feel like the horse is breathing on you....

Welcome to the hood Christine

http://www.lovethedesign.com/

The reveal of my ceiling......

When I moved into my new store space a couple months ago - it was a great space with school house lights, old tiled floor - good walls and character but it had the standard drop ceiling. I had fallen in love with the space because of the size and the simplicity of it and wanted to be able to change my look, my aesthetic and the overall feel.
It was not until Christine of Love the Design - who is moving next door to me removed her drop ceiling and our landlord had said that there was initially tin tiles under it.
Christines ceiling was drywalled over top - but I had taken a quick peek under my tiles and saw this mustard coloured ceiling. I could not live with myself - knowing that above me and under the pathetic tiles was this awesome ceiling waiting to be exposed. So I hired our contractor and lo and behold the reveal ( oddly enough I sat at my desk for almost 2 weeks pondering whether or not to do it) who could resist?

The detail of it is amazing - who would have thought that back in September I would move into my dream space and then have my dream ceiling. It is so beautiful. I come in now everday still in awe - a little dwarfed feeling as my ceiling is now 14ft high - but it is awesome...

My next steps are going to plaster the wall where the colour meets to look like an old french storefront - with aged walls - the back corner of the store already has it so I will copy the version to give the feel.

Someone came in the other day without knowing what the feel was supposed to be and she commented that she felt like she was in Paris. - Thats the feel. My aesthetic has changed to of course my Hermes Orange but also to old French and the feel of modern day France - my store is true to me - true to how I look at aged pieces and true to how I see modern - I am so happy with this space and cant wait for Christine to open next door...

so sources for doing this on your own....there are lots of replica ceiling tile places - authentic and old ceiling tiles can be purchased at http://www.legacyvintage.com/ 12 x 12 vintage tiles are a very inexpensive 6.00 each.
Post and Beam in the Junction carry antique pieces http://www.pandb.ca/ as does the Salvage Shop on Kingston Road.

New tiles are available online - Home Depot, Rona, Lowes etc all carry them. They are easy to apply and come in either tin or plastic and can be painted any colour.

A trend toward Orange.....Equestrian and Hermes




this is Hermes ad campaign for India

 

I guess inspiration comes from many things....my children inspire me daily, my store gives me inspiration - even my husband gives me inspiration.....lately it has really been all about Hermes....I know it sounds odd...but I received a shipment of Vintage Hermes boxes from Germany - they are currently sitting in my store window stacked like the ones I saw in a french magazine...they are awesome - I look at them daily...who would have guessed I would be inspired by orange boxes...

I now have developed an infatuation with the Hermes Orange....everything I see all around me is linked somewhat to the Hermes Orange - new blogs, tv, magazines, everything - it seems that the trend has led itself to orange, horse themed decor and well you guessed it Hermes...

People have been trying to colour match the Hermes box....one of the blogs posted a Benjamin Moore swatch that is pretty close. Electric Orange 2015-10 - a client of ours just did there kitchen in Benjamin Moores Tangy orange and I know Nancy loves the colour - her cabinets are all white and her walls are the wonderful tone of tangy orange.
I have been leaning towards painting furniture in a high gloss orange for an instant pop of colour - found the right person to spray the pieces now just need to take the plunge.

Mario, the kids and I are moving in March - the new house has a ceiling height of 20 ft or so in the living space - we will have the loft space upstairs and now are looking for a different inspiration. For those of you who saw our house in the Sept Issue of Chatelaine - some of it will change, whose kidding who...,most of it will change.  I have been inspired by the high ceilings and the odd shapes in the house to lean towards a clean mid century look with over the top french - something like you would see in Elle Decoration magazine. - The room above has a beautiful painted headboard in Hermes orange that is the great pop of colour. - Kind of great.




this is also great - an Hermes orange upholstered headboard

 Flipping through Living Etc - they featured stairs and runners, the space below is so cool - to be daring enough to add the Hermes orange runner and take the step would be ....well...awesome

When I think of how many years I loved Robins egg blue and how successful the colour was for me - I would never have guessed I could give up on it so easily. The orange has been like home - it is a friend - it is cheery and vibrant but also zesty and warm - it is a colour I would never have guessed I would have liked - but it has brightened my outlook on what is out in the design world and left me with a sweet citrus taste.

I need to end with the rest of the Hermes Campaign for India - the photos are stunning and quite comical.....

Oh and one last thing.....delivered the other day via courier was the absolutely wonderful messenger bag....you might have remembered that I wrote about it the other postings.....the Hermes Steve Messenger bag...it is so freaking awesome you cannot even imagine...I was in the Loblaws yesterday and a lady came up to me to say how beautiful it was....today another compliment.....let them keep coming - because it is worth it....