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The Cycle of A Thrift!

May 13, 2013

How was your weekend? All-in-all ours was pretty darned good since we were able to capitalize on the bright spots in our mixed bag of weather!

Saturday we wandered through the Duncan Farmer’s Market, stopping in for a chat at some of our favorite stands. When we popped by Makaria Farm’s stand, little did I know a very cool story was about to emerge.

This is my friend Heather, and you might remember her from my earlier posts, here and here.

Heather McLeod, Makaria Farm

You see that little chalk board? We were together when Heather thrifted it back a few months ago. The perfect little stand. Small, fold-able portable, well-made as in dove tail corners, solid wood well-made, and above all, farm stand functional. All that packed into one thrifted little find!

Where the cycle of a thrift comes in? One of Makaria Farm’s long-time customers and acquaintances happened to ask about the new addition, specifically, where Heather had gotten it. And when Heather said she thrifted it, the woman was able to pinpoint from where! What are the chances?

As it turns out, this little chalkboard had once belonged to her! And… she had originally acquired it on her own thrifting adventures many years ago!

Now, how coincidental is that?

I love this story. You just never know where a good thrift has been, or when you might see it again. And you can be sure, there’s a story behind every one!

Do you have any thrifting coincidences like this to share? What have you got planned for the week ahead? Any treasure seeking adventures calling your name?

Thanks for stopping by!

Photograph by Sheila Zeller

TaggedCowichan Valley, Display, Duncan Farmer's Market, Heather McLeod, Makaria Farm, Table Top Chalk Board Stand, Thrifting Filed UnderArticles 10 Comments

Guest Post by Meghan Plowman from The Orchard: Tips for Decorating with Vintage Finds

May 6, 2013

Good morning and welcome to a special guest post feature!

Today I am really excited to introduce Meghan Plowman, lifestyle photographer and author of The Orchard blog! Meghan and I became virtually acquainted in a really neat kind of way… Believe it or not, I know Meghan’s aunt, Barb Nugent. Now having an acquaintance in common may not seem so unusual, except that Meghan lives in Perth, Australia… and as you know, I live on the west coast of Canada! Who knew our worlds would touch in this way? And for those of you living in the Cowichan Valley, you might know Barb, too. She’s a volunteer and fundraising organizer extraordinaire for our local Hospice Society – did you attend the recent fashion show fundraiser Barb organized?

From one thrifting vintage lover to another, thank you so much Meghan for being my guest today, and thank you Barb for the introduction!

Hello readers! I am thrilled to be contributing to sZinteriors blog today. I’d like to share with you some images of my own styling work and some tips about decorating with vintage finds, and what to keep in mind when looking for items to decorate with.

I am a lifestyle photographer and stylist living and working in Perth, Western Australia. You can see more of the work I get up to over at The Orchard blog as well as my Facebook page.

I particularly love bringing a mix of items into my styling work and tend to lean upon my ever-growing props cupboard for inspiration and interesting additions to imagery. Quite often you’ll find me either in a vintage market or peeling through layers of verge side household piles!

This first example shows an image I was asked to put together that had a real Autumn story.

For the sake of putting together this vignette I brainstormed all of the things I love about Autumn including:

Cooking
Fallen leaves and spending time camping in nature
Hot drinks
Rustic, earthy colour and texture
Reading indoors

It’s my belief that you can find the perfect touches for little or next to no cost, sitting just outside your door or at your nearest thrift store. For example, I found the pine cone and leaves from my garden, used a bottle I found at a garage sale and a camping cup I managed to find on the side of the road.

Next, this Easter table setting was created to inspire readers to dress their table for the holiday.

My table was inspired by the florals, fruits and textures of the cooler months of Autumn (it’s Autumn here in the land of down under when we celebrate Easter!)

Some inexpensive and thrifty ideas for dressing a table for your next soiree:

Use butchers paper or left over fabric roll as a table runner
Place brightly coloured fruits and vegetables as a centre piece or scattered along the centre of a table
Try a collection of glass jars in different heights and finishes for e.g. amber, frosted, textured, jars with labels or logos, grouped together with loose florals cut from the garden to create interest and an eclectic decoration.
Branches and twigs are an easy way to create height to a centre piece and act as a ‘tree’ for hanging decorations, name tags and sweets.
Add some quirkiness to your setting by adding a figurine or interesting knick knack. It will create a talking point for guests and makes things fun.

If you find yourself with a collection of seemingly unrelated finds that you are unsure what to do with, perhaps take a step back and look at what the items have in common visually, if anything.

Are they similar colours or textures?
Were they bought or found in the same location?
Do they tell a story, for e.g. are they items found at the beach or are they all travel mementos?
Can you create a visual story with the items?

The next two images show examples of how I grouped a mix of random, found objects together to create a story, one based on the idea of reading books in a cozy corner, the other a seaside tale. The reason these two work well is because I tied them together through their similar colour and textures.

Items I used for the first image:

A road side chair which we painted grey
A discarded old book with the pages carefully peeled away and taped to a wall to create a background texture
A stack of my favourite design books with the spines showing text
An ampersand gift tag to create drama and a focal point
A vintage camera –why not display your picture taking equipment?
A ball of garden twine, and
A favourite scarf

The second idea:

Thrift store found vases
Left over soft rope
Found twigs, feather and pine cones
Mixed teatowels and scraps of art canvas roll
Garlic peelings! – These create a lovely texture for still life
Scraps of fabric
Found bottles
Old book pages
Found sea urchin and shells

I hope I have given you a few ideas for decorating with old, found or simply scrap items you have lying around your home! I am a believer that beauty can be found in anything, it’s just keeping your eyes open to seeing it. I’d love to hear your ideas and feedback! I can be contacted through The Orchard blog.

Have Meghan’s tips enticed you to head out and see what treasures you can find? I bet you have a corner, a mantle, a wall, a porch, a __________ (you fill in the blank!) waiting to be freshly styled. I love the theme that it’s not necessarily what so much as how you choose to display your objects. Mixing up textures and telling a story is the key! If you get a chance, please pop over to The Orchard and introduce yourself! And if you check out Meghan’s Facebook page there’s a certain connection posted there to my post from yesterday! Do you think you can find it? ;-)

Thank you once again Meghan, for sharing at sZinteriors today.

TaggedAccessorizing, Autumn Decorating, Blogger, Decor, Decorating, Decorating with Vintage, Display, Interior Styling, Meghan Plowman, The Orchard Blog, Thrifting Filed UnderArticles 3 Comments

Guest Post: Decorating With Bottles Of All Sorts

April 22, 2013

Today I’m excited to introduce my guest, Mari from Arcadian Home! If you haven’t shopped Arcadian Home, you really need to pop over. There is inspiration and eye candy galore. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

Thanks so much for joining sZinteriors today, Mari!

Hello, everyone! It’s wonderful to be here with you at sZinteriors with a guest post from Arcadian Home blog. It’s an awesome place to find lots of interior design inspiration including beautiful home decor ideas from oval wall mirrors to lovely lighting for the foyer and much more.

Today, we’re going to take a look at decorating with bottles of sorts. From clear glass to brilliant cobalt blue, the vintage bottle is at once versatile and charming as a collection or a single perfect piece. Please enjoy!

Thanks to Sheila for letting me stop by for a visit.

~ Mari

Bottles in Decor

Two large green bottles can be seen in a living room bookcase filled with antique books, coral, seashells and interesting found objects. Shelves are also a great place to display collections of smaller bottles.

Bottles in Decor

A white vintage mantle looks so pretty with a collection of green, blue and clear glass bottles—made even more interesting by choosing each bottle in a different size. It’s such a fresh look for spring or summer.

Bottles in Decor

Vintage medicine bottles and other drugstore-related boxes and containers line the shelves in this white kitchen. What a clever idea to create a little theme by displaying the medicine bottles just below the pharmacy sign!

Bottles in Decor

A collection of mostly pale blue vintage glass bottles looks pretty on a thick glass floating bathroom shelf. How cool is the idea to hang a framed photograph of a contemporary meets rustic bathroom in a vintage bath.

Bottles in Decor

Colorful glass bottles march along a shelf above a built-in desk in the living room of this newly renovated 100-year-old home. Modern pendant lights are hung above the dining table and in the living room.

Bottles in Decor

A large fat glass bottle is a perfect decorative object for this coastal living room dressed up in a watery blue and soft tan color palette.

Bottles in Decor

Blue green antique spritzer bottles draw the eye to the top of a rustic white paned-glass cabinet. Blue canning jars hold white tulips on the table. It’s a lovely combination that ties the room together nicely.

Bottles in Decor

An interesting mix of vintage and contemporary bottles is just right for this eclectic outdoor dining room. I would love to see twin Mid-Century buffet lamps on either end of this washed wood sideboard. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

What do you think of these bottle decor inspirations? Leave us your comments below and visit our blog for more home decor and lighting inspirations!

TaggedAccessorizing, Arcadian Home, Collector, Decor, Decorating, Design, Display, DIY Project, Interior Styling, Vintage, Vintage Bottles Filed UnderArticles 4 Comments

Vintage Lowney’s Campfire Marshmallow Tin

April 1, 2013

Not too long ago on a thrifting round I spied a bright, cheerful tin hanging out with a bunch of old tools and things.

Vintage Lowney's Marshmallow Tin c1930-40s

Maybe it was the ‘Campfire’ label that suggested a fit, but to me it looked out of place among the rusty grit and grime of the others.

So I pulled it off the shelf to take a closer look.

Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval

Marshmallows. Who knew marshmallows once came in a tin? Along with a ‘Tested and Approved’ Good Housekeeping Institute seal of approval to boot! No wonder this tin didn’t belong in the grimy group!

A little digging confirmed the tin originated in Montreal, and was manufactured by Walter M. Lowney Co. Limited – as in Lowney’s the maker of all things candy, chocolates ‘n yummy, sweet treats! According to the Canadian Museum of Civilization this particular tin dates back to no earlier than 1930, and no later than 1940. I love it when dates are so precise!

Here’s another look at the sweet marshmallow tin.

Vintage Lowrey's Marshmallow Tin c.1930-40

I didn’t leave it behind, but I didn’t bring it home for me, either. My friend, Heather loves yellow, and was on the hunt for a cool, old tin so I decided to pass this one on to her. I figured orange was part of the happy yellow family, and the label more than made up for the rest!

Here’s how she utilized the tin.

Vintage Campfire Marshmallow Tin Sewing Box, c.1930-40

{Photo by Heather McLeod}

And this is the nice little note she sent with the photo above.

I LOVE my marshmallow tin. It fits all those awkward sewing supplies that don’t fit in my little tins (e.g. the one on the right), like fabric pens and tall stuff and scissors. I haven’t come close to filling it yet.

Thank you Sheila!!!

And this is what treasure seeking is all about. I love it when outings end like this!

Linking up here…

Junkin Joe

Between Naps on the Porch

Thanks for stopping by.

I hope you had a really great Easter weekend!

Photographs by Sheila Zeller unless otherwise stated.

TaggedCollector, Display, Lowney's Campfire Marshmallow Tin, Repurposing, Sewing Tin, Thrifting, Vintage, Vintage Campfire Tin c.1930-40 Filed UnderArticles 18 Comments

It’s All About Personal Taste!

March 18, 2013

Not too long ago a mid-century style vase caught my eye, but I decided to walk away. Good, right? Well you’d think, except I couldn’t let it go. I kept thinking about it and knew I’d be back in the area in a week… but would the vase?

Enter my friends the following week, and I near dragged them to the back of the thrift store where the vase had been… and as luck would have it, still was!

MCM Gray Glazed, Brown Ribbed Vase

Um, they weren’t so smitten. So I sent this pic to my hubs to get his reaction. Only, his response didn’t reach me in time. I paced, and contemplated, waited until I had to make a decision. Was it walk away for a second time, or buy it without hub’s feedback?

I bought, I left, and in came his response… always the way, isn’t it? Nope, he wasn’t sold, either. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it, just not all warm and fuzzy about it! Apparently I was in this one alone – my daughter flat out hated it, and another friend diplomatically withheld comment.

Well that was a month ago. Every day I look at this vase, and every day I still like it. Why? I don’t know, I just do. I’ve researched it, but can’t come up with much.

This vintage white glazed French jar and lid, c. 1940, was the closest I could find.

1st Dibs - White Glazed French Jar & Cover, c1940s

{1st Dibs}

1st Dibs - White Glazed French Jar & Cover, c.1940s

{1st Dibs}

Can you believe this piece is 4′-8″ tall x 34″ wide?

I’m certain my vase isn’t this vintage, but who knows, maybe this French jar was the inspiration piece!

Here’s the bottom of my vase.

MCM Gray Glazed, Brown Ribbed Vase Bottom

You’ll notice it doesn’t have any glaze on it, but do you see the etched mark? That’s likely the symbol of the artist. And the dark brownish marks indicate to me that this bottom was once covered in signature felt. You might remember my Royal Haeger vase with its signature felt bottom here. If I had to guess, I’d guess this vase is c.1970s, but if you know for sure, I’d love to hear from you!

To make a long story short, my vase is a great reminder of what’s important when you’re choosing pieces for your home. Never second guess what speaks to you. Surround yourself with things that draw you in, even if no-one else seems to see what you see. If you do this you’ll always feel at home in your home, and that’s what it’s all about!

Oh, and guess what was on the cover of my latest HGTV magazine?

HGTV Magazine Cover - April 2013

Do you see it? Not the same shape, not the same colour or finish… but don’t you think the ribbing suggests they could be relatives?

Maybe there’s someone out there who can see what I see in my beloved vase afterall!

Do you have anything in your collection that makes others roll their eyes? Well, that’s okay, just remember what happened to the Ugly Duckling!

Thanks for stopping by!

BTW – this vase may or may not turn up in my bedroom makeover… but you’ll have to wait and see!

I was featured over at Junkin Joes. Thanks Andrea!

Photographs by Sheila Zeller unless otherwise stated.

TaggedAccessorizing, Artwork, Decor, Decorating, Display, Mid-Century Modern, Modern Vase, Vintage Filed UnderArticles 16 Comments

Thrifting: What Story Hangs Here?

January 21, 2013

Another treasure seeking adventure…

This time I came across a whole collection of vintage wooden hangers, some marked, and some designed without a name!

I thought it would be fun to peek inside a few historical closets, and get a glimpse of what these hangers might have seen.

LAURIENTE’S, Trail BC

My Dad was born in Trail, so let’s start here!

Waymark

Lauriente’s general merchant store (building to the left) was built in 1904 by Camille Lauriente, an Italian immigrant who arrived in Trail at the turn of the century. Lauriente’s clothing store is said to be the first brick building built in the Trail area.

Waymark

These front steps were made of marble tile, and constructed as steadfast as the business itself, which was in operation for 70 years! No wonder a Lauriente hanger still remains! The Laurientes were a large family, and a colourful piece of Trail’s history. You will find the Lauriente name weaving through the Kootenay area still today.

HOTEL VANCOUVER, Vancouver BC

Did you know there were two Hotel Vancouver’s prior to the one that stands today?

Vancouver Skyscrapers

Yes, the predecessors were located a block away from where the Hotel Vancouver now sits. The building you see here was the second hotel, and was built in 1916 by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). It became a troop barracks during World War II, but was demolished in 1949 under the ownership of the Canadian National Railway (CNR). Construction of the new hotel was halted for many years as a result of the Depression, but in 1937 was finally completed and opened its doors in 1939 becoming an icon in the city with its dramatic Chateau roof.

Vancouver Skyscrapers

Interesting facts:

The CPR built Chateau style hotels in most major cities across the country.
Vancouver zoning regulations required setbacks at the 10th and 15th floors, which you can see in this photo.
A ghost lives here! Yes, known as the Lady in Red and thought to be the ghost of socialite, Jennie Pearl Cox… read more here!

CANADIAN NATIONAL SYSTEM, Canadian Railway

Given the enormity of the Canadian railway system in our history, I was thrilled to find a connection in the hanger collection. Do you think this hanger might trace back to here…

Rail Archive

Or do you think it’s more likely to have traveled here?

eBay

Regardless of when or where this vintage wooden hanger hung a coat, it’s safe to say it played a role in time for what has become a rich piece of our Canadian tapestry.

JOHN BULLOCH LTD, Toronto ON

John Bulloch, an Irish immigrant to Canada, formed his business, Bulloch Tailors, in the Depression era, and was known for ‘CASH only’ sales, no credit, no trade!

Bulloch Tailors/Peter Bulloch

Bulloch was also known for his outrageous ads, often offending special interest groups by the tone and message of his adverts. In fact, according to his son Peter Bulloch, editorial advertising is credited to John Bulloch!

Bulloch Tailors specializes in custom made suits for men, and in their words, ‘Custom Tailors to Gentlemen’. Read more here.

Bulloch Tailors/Peter Bulloch

Interesting Facts:

John Bulloch made full 5-piece made-to-measure uniforms for the Canadian officers during the war. But he didn’t make just any uniform. These uniforms were the best quality money could buy, and cost $200 – the same amount the government gave each officer for their military uniform! In this way John Bulloch did his part for the war effort, and at the same time created a following of satisfied officers who would in all probability stay with him after the war. Smart.
Smart? Definitely. Read more here on how John Bulloch secured enough gold braid for the uniforms he tailored at a time when gold braid was in high demand, but a serious shortage was developing!

John Bulloch, Bulloch Tailors Ltd. Another iconic name in our Canadian history.

HILTON HOTELS, hotels ‘Around the World’

Well now. A Hilton hanger. And we all know Hilton stands for, ‘Hotels around the World’! Who knew a Hilton hanger would show up in the mix?

Back in 1925 Conrad Hilton opened the high-rise Dallas Hilton, the first hotel to carry the Hilton name.

Hilton Worldwide on Pinterest

What’s so interesting about this particular building is, since air conditioning hadn’t yet been invented, the building was designed so that no guest rooms faced the western sun. Instead, the elevators, laundry chutes, airshafts, and other non-customer facilities were placed on that side of the building. Conrad Hilton Sr. didn’t miss a beat, and if you watched Mad Men, you will see his son, Conrad Hilton Jr.’s character portrayed in a way that shows the Hilton legacy didn’t get there by chance!

From vintage wooden hangers to a glimpse into the closets where they came from…

I hope you enjoyed my take on how thrifting can turn a moment in time into a piece of history, and in this case, a hanger to hang it on!

It’s all about the stories, wouldn’t you agree?

Thank you for stopping by!

Photographs by Sheila Zeller unless otherwise stated.

TaggedBulloch Tailors Ltd, Canadian National System, CPR & CNR, Decor, Display, Hilton Hotels, Hotel Vancouver, Lauriente's Trail BC, Organizing, Thrifting, Vintage, Vintage Wooden Hangers Filed UnderArticles 23 Comments

‘Twas Almost Christmas When All Through the House…

December 20, 2012

Christmas is only days away – can you believe? I’ve finished my course, passed my exam, and done as much decorating as I’m going to do!

Want to take a little peek?

Last year I tried my hand at cedar boughs on the banister, and this year I decided to swag it up instead.

The bobbles are thrifted vintage Shiny Brites! I was thrilled to find 5 of these all in one place

And a nice collection of beautifully patinaed and worn ones, too!

We have lots of glass and twinkling candle light…

Under the glass cloche are vintage jingle bells…

Glass Cloche & Vintage Jingle Bells

And yes, that’s Angel Hair that you see!

In the background is a handmade straw ornament by Ursula at Sea to Canvas, and we have smaller ones on our ginormous Blue Fir tree!

Our tree skirt is a swath of burlap wrapped around the tree, with warm white mini lights sprinkled underneath… another idea I found on Pinterest!

If you’ve been following along, you might remember this brass urn I thrifted for my Paperwhites.

Well, they’ve been replaced with a little Alberta Spruce tree. You see, the Paperwhites grew waaaay to tall and leggy.

Here’s what I’ve done with them now!

You’ll even find a small splash of greenery in a few unsuspecting spots…

So this is a little tour of our home this year. I haven’t taken photos of everything, because you might already have seen some of it last year. To see last year’s decor, click here. We use the same advent calendar, always have an advent wreath, and our stockings and crèche scene are set out.

I am feeling mostly ready, but still have some things left undone. How about you? Are you finished with your list of things to do?

Thank you for stopping by!

Photographs by Sheila Zeller

TaggedChristmas, Christmas Decor, Decor, Decorating, Display, MCM Bar Cart, Vintage Filed UnderArticles 12 Comments

Paperwhite Progress

December 13, 2012

Some of you might be wondering where I’ve disappeared to lately. Just know, I am trying to catch blog posts and leave the odd comment, but these last few weeks have been consumed with something I’ve been working on for a while. And I’m down to the crunch.

This is currently my can’t live without tool!

Nothing too festive about this, right?

So, I thought I’d update you on the progress of my Paperwhites instead!

You might remember back in early November when I planted the bulbs.

If you missed that post, you can catch it here.

Well, one month later this is where they’re at!

We’ve even had a few bloom!

They are getting a little leggy, and I was warned they would, so I’ve tied them together with some jute. But for a first go at growing them, I’m pretty impressed they took!

Do you plant Paperwhites? What are your tricks for keeping them upright and looking nice for the Holidays?

P.S. – here’s what my desk looks like right now!

Can I just say, it doesn’t usually look like this!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I really appreciate that you did

Photographs by Sheila Zeller

TaggedChristmas, Christmas Decor, Decorating, Display, Paperwhites, Winter Season Filed UnderArticles 11 Comments

Great Performances & Billionaires!

November 12, 2012

Do you remember back in September when I hosted a giveaway for my hubby’s newly released book, Great Performances: The Small Business Script for the 21st Century?

Well, we just had its official launch, so I thought I’d follow up with a photo story of the evening for you.

The event was held at the Old Firehouse Wine Bar. It was booked by reserved seating, and was filled to capacity!

Notice the … & Billionaires? More to come on that!

Special thanks to Jeff Downey, owner of the Old Firehouse Wine Bar, for providing the venue, and to Jeff and his team for ensuring the evening ran smoothly from start to finish!

A quick photo opp with Jeff and Clemens before the evening got started.

And another of Clemens before his guests arrived…

My Dad made the book stand for Clemens’ a few years ago for his cook books. Who knew it would become a display stand for his very own authored book?

This was the ‘Billionaire Basket’, given as our door prize for the evening…

I know, what’s up with the billionaire piece? Patience, patience!

Four copies of Great Performances were also given away throughout the evening in random draws.

Another special thank you goes out to Julie Salisbury of Influence Publishing.

Clemens will be the first to tell you that without Julie, this book would not be the publication it ultimately became. Julie coached Clemens through the writing and publishing process from beginning to hard copy end!

Clemens raised his glass in gratitude and thanks to Julie…

And in that glass was a Billionaire cocktail! All part of the theme!

Then the evening got underway with Clemens reading small sections from his book…

After each section there was a pause for questions/answers and discussion about the content. No question was off limits, and no answer was left undone. Clemens, a believer in having an exit strategy, was asked what his own strategy was… and if you were in the room, you were the first group ever to actually hear what his strategy is!

And then the moment all door prize ticket holders were waiting for… the draw for the Billionaire’s basket!

Have you figured out what all the billionaire buzz was about yet?

Here’s the thing. Jeff specializes in vintage cocktails, and for this event he introduced a prohibition era cocktail called The Billionaire! And so, to play on the theme and make the evening complete, we put together this billionaire’s basket filled with all the ingredients to make the infamous cocktail.

First, Jeff’s recipe.

A set of Villeroy & Boch cocktail glasses.

And all the cocktail fixings!

Also included were gift certificates from The Old Firehouse Wine Bar, Impact Visual, and Clemens himself!

And of course, a copy of Great Performances to make the basket complete!

Then the drum roll for the draw…

And the lucky winner of the basket was Barb Stevens, owner of Hair at 60 Queens!

Congratulations, Barb! We couldn’t be more pleased

But like all great performances, this great evening eventually came to an end…

With Clemens’ final words to his guests,

‘That’s it. You’re on. Break a leg.’

Can I just say, I’m pretty proud of my author!

With any great performance, there’s always so much that goes on behind the scenes, and that’s where I came in. My job was to help take care of the details!

But I thought to wrap this up, you might like to see a quick behind-the-scenes shot of Clemens in full-on work mode. When he’s not out meeting with clients, he is often in the office Skyping with ones who don’t live nearby.

Can you tell he loves what he does? No, the smile was not for the camera – he didn’t know I was creeping him to take this shot!

For more information on Clemens’ book, click here. To learn more about his business, visit www.clemensrettich.com

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported Clemens’ book launch, to all of you who have purchased a book, and to you, my readers for following along! Thank you for being part of this journey!

Photographs by Sheila Zeller

TaggedBillionaire Cocktail, Business Coaching, Clemens Rettich Business Consulting Ltd, Display, Great Performances & Billionaires, Great Performances Book Launch, Great Performances: The Small Business Script for the 21st Century, The Old Firehouse Wine Bar Filed UnderArticles 29 Comments

IDSwest 2012: A Final Tour Through the Show

October 3, 2012

Now that the buzz has died down a bit, I thought I’d do a photo tour through the show with you! And seriously, this is just a snippet of IDSwest this year. But you know how it goes. It’s hard to see and do everything! Even so, this post is photo heavy, so you might want to grab a coffee, and settle in for a bit!

Up first are the whimsical Chickadee bird houses designed by Trevor Coghill and Nathan Lee of Contexture Design.

Chickadee Bird Houses

This exhibit features the prototypes designed for the Chickadee! If you’re loving them, the Chickadee bird houses are slated to be launched in time for Christmas.

This next exhibit was created by Hatch Interior Design out of Kelowna. This design firm specializes in sustainable interior solutions for the modern work place.

Hatch Interior Design Exhibit

5 interior designers were invited to create 4′x4′ spaces for IDSwest, and this is the space created by Hatch! I’m thinking all you need is a laptop, and you’re good to go, but I’m not so sure about the ergonomics of that stump

In the background you see the sign for MOES Home Collection.

Want a closer look?

MOES Home Collection Exhibit

MOES is a family owned and award winning home decor retailer. They have been in business for over 20 years, travel the world for fashion forward furnishings, and they source new pieces every week.

And we also had IZM modern furniture featuring their high quality handcrafted pieces.

IZM Modern Furniture

IZM furniture is built to last, to age gracefully, and to stand the test of time.

Back again this year was Salari Fine Carpet Collections with their always popular Salsa Lounge poufs by Paulig.

Knitted Poufs

Don’t you just love their texture and colour? And you have to admit, they bring in a little cozy, too! Salari also launched a new collection of hand-knotted carpets that were inspired by photography. Totally stunning, but sadly I didn’t manage to get any photos of these beauties

And speaking of cozy, how about this Trapper Chair by Identity Apparel’s Home Division?

Vintage Hudson's Bay Point Blanket Trapper Chair by Identity Apparel Home Divison

Identity is a brand stemming from the ideals of what it means to be Canadian. And this one-of-a-kind chair is made from a vintage Hudson’s Bay Company point blanket. Now how Canadian is that?

The glow of light you see hanging in the background of Identity’s exhibit is actually this!

Identity Apparel - Antler Light Fixture

Antlers. Are they in, or out? Either way, I thought this was a pretty cool feature that totally suited the theme.

And then there’s Montauk Sofa.

Montauk Sofa

Seriously. What’s not to love? I wish I captured the whole grasshopper lounge chair in this photo, but it was super hard take a photo of this exhibit without people walking in front. This was a veeery popular stop!

Here’s a close-up of the walls (and the ceiling)!

Montauk Sofa Exhibit

Did I mention how much I love the Grasshopper Chair? See, there it is again, bottom left!

If you saw my last post featuring Matthieu LeBlanc’s reclaimed wood creations, then you know how much I love his approach to design.

So when I saw these pieces by mth woodworks…

mth woodworks - organic resin in hollowed out stumps

I was totally blown away to learn these salvaged pieces have been filled with organic resin! Isn’t this the coolest eco-friendly idea yet? And if these pieces from mth’s Bloom Collection aren’t enough, what do you think of this coffee table, also from their Bloom Collection?

mth woodworks - Bloom Coffee Table

I am totally loving the juxtaposition of this modern top and salvaged wood base.

ox + monkey. This gorgeous ceramic sculpture is one of theirs.

ox + monkey - ceramic sculpture in acrylic case

Yes, you read that right. This sculpture is ceramic, made to look like torn paper! Can you imagine the work involved? This piece was actually in a clear shadowbox, and I can see why!

I loved this colourful exhibit by Beyond Beige Interior Design. I just thought it was so much fun, and really demonstrated a great mix of pattern and colour.

Beige is Dead Exhibit

And even though I’m not a huge fan of yellow, I thought this light fixture made a perfect statement in this space! If you want to see your space infused with character, there’s no doubt, Beyond Beige can make that happen!

Lighting is always a big draw, and these pendants were no exception. They marked the Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre exhibit, and when I saw them I just had to get a photo.

Duravit - Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre

Don’t ask me what that green horseshoe is on the glass shade! I think it’s just the way my lens caught the light!

But for lighting the real show stoppers were definitely Omer Arbel’s Bocci 28D desk lamps.

Omer Arbel 28D Bocci Desk Lamps

Do you think the fact they lit up the bar, facilitated the ‘stopper’ part? Well, okay, it might have been the price, too. These lamps were being sold at an incredible price, for the show only, and were available in both yellow and gray.

One of the exhibits that caught my attention was Global Surface Solutions. Concrete fabricators out of Kelowna, they specialize in crafting unique concrete surfaces and products suitable for both interiors and exteriors.

Like this fully sealed concrete desk.

Global Surface Solutions - Kelowna

Looove this desk!

And all that you see here including the wall!

Global Surface Solutions - Kelowna

My friend and thrifting buddy, Carol from Carol Smyth Colour & Design was on the inside track with this exhibit! She consulted with this company to help them plan their booth. Check out Carol’s blog article for close-ups of the gorgeous vignettes she planned for them, and for a little more behind-the-scenes scoop!

Also working with concrete, was Sticks & Stones Furniture.

Sticks & Stones Exhibit

Sticks & Stones specialize in custom built furniture that features the contemporary beauty of wood and concrete. They work with recycled or reclaimed wood and materials to create one-of-a-kind furniture designs that are both modern, and functional.

I know the Aya Kitchen designed by Kelly Deck Design has swept the internet, but I couldn’t imagine leaving this star out of the mix!

Aya Kitchen Design by Kelly Deck Design

I interviewed Kelly Deck at IDSwest last year, and if you missed it, you can catch up on the interview here. You will see reflected in this kitchen, the intelligent, timeless design Kelly speaks of!

Would you love to call this kitchen your own?

I know I’d sure love to call the Brent Comber table my own!

Kelly Deck Design - Reclaimed Stump Side Table

Did you notice the gold detail in the crevices?

What I really appreciate about the Aya kitchen is the collaborative effort that went into its conception, and which ultimately resulted in its standing ovation success!

And as we exit this photo tour, I wanted to leave you with a little more of…

Brent Comber Exhibit

A creator of sculpted and functional objects, design environments, and a specialist in designing modern urban forms from ancient sources.

Brent Comber Exhibit

Isn’t Brent’s work incredible?

I hope you enjoyed the show as much as I did.

{UPDATE: The Marilyn Denis Show did a great recap of IDSwest}

{Click here to view}

I’d like to extend a special thank you to Jason & Leonie for once again providing our dlbWEST group with press passes, bubbly and the opening night tour! Definitely a great way to get the show started!

Thank you for stopping by!