Decorating

Flame food and Design on Bloor Street  Cafe 23, Queen Street West  

The Ivy is way more than a celebrity dining spot. The decor is so lush, warm and inviting that it has influenced other restaurants and decor enthusiasts alike. What's interesting is that you can find similar wares, art, baskets, mirrors and other items at second hand stores. Fresh flowers, time worn decor mixed with classic pieces and yummy food and drinks.   

 

I've heard some really good and really bad things about it. As someone who wants to buy less new things, I really like the idea of it. However, I saw something happen outside a thrift store once. A woman was waiting with a bunch of merchandise. We caught glances as I entered the store. When I was leaving I saw the same person yelling at a man to 'go get the money for the items.' I was a little confused at first and then realized what was going on. People also keep telling me that I need to go with a second person to sell or buy anything. Have a 'buddy system' in place. I thought about getting these nice wall decor pieces from a lady selling them on fb marketplace. I later changed my mind only because the drive would be too long. Maybe you have heard of Homeworthy on Youtube. Lots of folks appearing on the program seem to have gotten many of their most unique items from Marketplace. I'm still a little nervous about it... Above: A seller's pretty art and wall ...

There is something about nostalgia: what was in style when you were in high school, what you wore, your favourite shows, your favourite perfume... it's all stored in your heart. There where a lot of things I loved then and there was the stuff I was not so into that popped up in my mind later on in life. My mom, grandma and I used to watch Gilmore Girls. Back then, I was half paying attention, half doing homework and mostly somewhere else in my imagination, but sitting in front of the TV together after dinner is one very comforting memory. There are die hard fans which I was not simply because there were other things I was more interested in. But now I can't seem to stop googling images of the show's set design. It's iconic for good reason. The quaint and very charming small town feel, the Dragonfly Inn, Luke's, fairy lights, cozy Holiday scenes and the granny quilts, botanical lamps, flea market bits everywhere and of course, the sweet lace curtains. Comfort is my p...

 Botanical bits, Family Pictures and Feel Good Things. Natural spaces and imagery calm me and so many others. Even having the colour green in ones home is linked to feelings of calm and happiness. I grew up loving flowers and enjoying trips to the gardens in Niagara Falls and watching the river rush through Erindale Park. Yet I never thought about it as a kid. My Mom and Dad would get hanging baskets of fuchsia and I would watch the it gently swing around while the spring rains would pour down, release the scent of cherry blossom and scatter the petals with it. At some point, as with all of us who realize that we can be very intentional with the space around us, and starting with my own pink childhood bedroom, I began asking my mom if I could take little decorative things from around the house to place in my room. She loved buying me Disney themed things but she also gave me a folkloric book that really inspired me, it was so unusual in my mind. Vasilisa the Beautiful. I swear, I h...