A few Highlights from Christie Classic Antique Show

Summer is a time for outdoor flea markets and antique shows. Here in Ontario, the season for bargain hunting always begins here with the Christie Classic Antique Show in mid-May.

The setting for the show is the lakefront at the Christie Conservation Area north of Hamilton. 

Lucky for all attending this spring's show, the weather was picture perfect!

Here are just a few highlights:

I wonder what he is going to do with all those frames?

Tiny shoes too small to register on an antique scale.

A vintage fan.

There were cheerful pansies everywhere.

This naked mannequin looked so bizarre standing high on a table and over looking the crowd.

Hey, you have to try it out before you buy it!

Buttons in a glass jug.

A painting of a reclining figure being carried away.

 I bought a watering can (as if I need another one) 

and a pretty oak plant stand. 

All in all, we had a wonderful afternoon!

Pandora's Box

Call it my Pandora's Box. 

We've walked up the hill and are standing on the plateau to the west of the little river valley where we live. 

Every time I pass this circle of trees that bend like a team of football players standing in a huddle, I have wondered what secret they are hiding at their core. 

What do you think? 

Is there a pond at the centre of that thicket of trees?

This concrete structure certainly looks like it was part of some sort of pump apparatus, don't you think?

The house on the property was torn down a few years back to make way for a shiny new subdivision. 

Last year someone still used the farm field to grow corn, but this land's days of producing food are numbered.

Les's Winter Walk Off seemed like the perfect opportunity to solve the mystery: pond or no pond.

Our little expedition of discovery seemed like a simple matter of walking across a field, but as you can see here the snow is still about a foot or more deep. 

Pandora's box indeed! Curiosity sometimes has a price.

With the wild mood swings in the weather, the surface of the snow had a thin crust that only sometimes held our weight. Underneath it was a much less stable layer that was a grainy mix of ice and snow particles.

Snowshoes or cross country skis would definitely have been helpful!

At one point I my left leg sank down to my knee cap and my foot became like a hook trapping me under the weight of the snow. It took the two of us working together to lift me out.

There were however, moments of beauty on our walk.

And here we are at last. 

I was right. The trees were watching over an old farm pond!

The only surprise was how really deep it was.

With this post I am participating in Les's Winter Walk Off challenge. To see winter walks taken by other bloggers please be sure to visit a Tidewater Gardener.

Highlights from IDS 2014

Andrew Richard Designs 

Yesterday I braved the cold and took in the last day of the Toronto Interior Design Show. 

I don't know if it was the weather or the fact that it was the show's last day, but the floor seemed rather sparsely populated when I arrived mid-morning.  

Maybe it's just me, but I also got the impression that there were fewer exhibitors as well. Perhaps the recession continues to take a toll on big exhibitions like this.

All in all I enjoyed IDS 2014. Even though I have less involvement in the decor industry these days, it's still fun to walk around and take note of all the trends.

So...the trends of note: lots of dark, grainy wood and mixing of metals. 

Charcoal grey and black seemed to be a recurring color theme.

 casalife

Cocoon always has a great room on display. 

This year they used a deep, sage-green that really grabbed your attention for better or worse. Mixed in with all the green was a cream carpet, dark wood and gold accent pieces.

The Ikea booth is another IDS standout. As they did last year, the Ikea designers grouped light fixtures to dramatic effect. 

The display kitchen had no less than four full-sized chandeliers.

The large cluster of light fixtures in the Ikea dressing room was especially striking. Everyone had to open the cupboards and peak inside, so I would have to conclude that the 

display was doing a great sales job. 

Isn't the day bed pretty?

More statement light fixtures and contemporary kitchens that mix charcoal and dark wood.

Word play at Urban Barn.

Calmtomlin

This bath display made interesting use of barn board as a backdrop. 

What do you think of that tub?

My favourite part of the show is always seeing the work of up-and-coming designers. We have some pretty talented young furniture designers here in Canada!

My second most favourite part of the show was this incredible booth by Klaus. The unfinished plywood floors and walls were a seamless backdrop for the bold contemporary furniture. 

I love, loved the fearless use of color and the oversized modern paintings resting on the floor.

Klaus

Klaus

 Klaus

Princess Margaret Showhouse 2013

Traditional details mixed with modern elements in this year's Hampton's style showhouse in support of the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation. 

Though I often find these grand homes are a little too impersonal for my liking, I have to admit that I was impressed with the attention to detail in this year's showhouse.

Nothing was overlooked. The smallest of details; everything from the copper eaves on the exterior to air vents seamlessly incorporated into the marble flooring in the family room were all carefully considered. 

Overall the interior design by Brian Gluckstein is elegant and restrained.

The drama begins just inside the front door with this two storey library. A bedroom on the upper level was sacrificed so that the library could reach up the full height of both floors. 

Instead of a traditional sofa and chairs, there are four club chairs around a circular table.

Across the front hall from the library is the living room. 

Here the color scheme was kept to lighter shades of creams, greys and gold. The accent pillows are luxurious satins and silks with beautiful embroidered detailing.

  

 In the wide foyer that leads to the back of the house, Gluckstein took a photograph of a Versailles interior and had it enlarged to make a mural that is 8 or 9 feet in length.  

To sit beneath this large scale artwork, he designed a clean, contemporary bench with a soft cushion cover that is held in place with two decorative ribbon trims. 

Outdoor lanterns that sit on lacquered pedestals add a touch of drama to the lighting at night.

Between the dining room (above) and the kitchen there is a small servery with a glass 

floor that opens onto the wine cellar below(not shown). 

The open kitchen, breakfast area and family room are located at the back of the house. 

The family room has a modern feel with a limestone mantle flanked by tall bookcases. On an adjacent wall, there is a big screen television (television not shown on the left) and rows of horizontal plate rails that hold a collection of black and white photographs. 

As you can see on the right, all the draperies have beautiful detailing.

Just off the great room, there is a small home office with a oversized cork board covered with inspiration.

On the lower level, there is an exercise room complete with a big screen television. Who wouldn't want to work out in a room like this?

At the opposite end of basement, there is a home entertainment room complete with a bar.

The main area of the media room is perfect for cozying up and watching movies. 

As well as a spa-like bathroom and a guest bedroom on this level, there is also laundry room 

with a pet grooming area.

Finally let's head upstairs. Here there is a generous master bedroom with a walk-in closet that can be accessed through doorways on either side of the four poster bed.

The master ensuite has a two person tub, heated flowers, matching his and her vanities, a rain shower, water closet and what has become a bit of a signature for the designer: a small library.

In the central hallway on the upper level, Gluckstein has hung a gallery of photographs featuring gardens from all over the world. To complete this garden oasis, he has adding a contemporary table covered with glass topiaries, orchids and candles.

Are you surprised that this foyer was one of my favourite spaces?

The 2013 Princess Margaret showhome is currently open for public viewing. For details please see the information and links below.

More information and links:

This year's showhome is located at 1522 Devon Rd. in Oakville. Hours are: weekdays from 1pm to 8pm; weekends and holidays from noon to 5pm.

Take a video tour of the 2013 Princess Margaret Showhome

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Welcome Home Sweepstakes

Gluckstein Home