January 2010 - Posts


Top 6 Saturday: Small Space Dining Ideas Twitter Talk: Answers From Chad Rogers of Million Dollar Listing Bargain Saturday: The Writing is on the Wall, in Chalk Makeover: Wishful Thinking From Sarah's Cottage DIY Preview: Building a Hallway Closet Ask an Agent: How Old is Too Old When Buying Resale Condo?  Gift Giving: Crate&Barrel Hearts Valentine’s Hotel Tour: Opus Hotel and Koko Restaurant, Montreal Video Question of the Week: Is No First-Floor Powder Room a Deal Breaker? Splurge vs. Steal: Colourful Rugs Flickr Round Up: Against the Wall Live Blogging Tonight: Marriage Under Construction, Episode 4 Giveaway and Photo Gallery: Behind Franke's Green House and Conscience IDS10: Hosts, Designer Spaces and More! Top 5 Friday: Kids' Rooms A Shoestring Makeover Gone Wrong: My Sofa Gift Giving: A Valentine's Fouresome  Makeover: The Unsellables UK Design Dilemma: Carson Helps out a Texan! IDS10 Sneak Peek: Jason MacIsaac Actually Tells Us What He's Doing! Home Tour: The Posh Digs of a Confirmed Environmentalist  Live Blogging Tonight, Marriage Under Construction, Episode 3 Question of the Week: Exotic Vacation Home or Country House? IDS10 Sneak Peek: Architect Drew Mandel on the ULTIMATE Space Entertaining At Home: Feedback from our Fans and Followers Bargain Saturday: Dear Paper Lanterns, I Never Got Over You IDS10 Sneak Peek: Arren Williams on the ULTIMATE Space Makeover: Cook-Friendly Basement Suite from Income Property Supper Club Tour: The Roosevelt Room Ask an Agent: How Important is the Size of a Lot When Buying a House? Photo Gallery and Final Trend Summary: Canadian Home Furnishings Market Splurge vs. Steal: Glass Top Dining Tables Live Blogging Tonight: Marriage Under Construction, Episode 2 Question of the Week: Does Your Closet Work For You? Store Review: Provide, Vancouver Sneak Peek: The Canadian Home Furnishings Market Top 5 Friday + 1: Lounge-in-your-Pajamas Seating Upcoming Events and Trend Reports to Come Makeover: Basement Rec Room Turned Elegant Family Room Decor Trends 2010: What to Keep, Buy and Store Giveaway and Review: New Classic Interiors  New Winter Shows and Returning Favourites! Question of the Week: Do You Want Answers? Live Blogging Event Tonight: Marriage Under Construction Premiere Store Review: The Tin Box, Edmonton 
 
Jan
30

Top 6 Saturday: Small Space Dining Ideas

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/30/2010 4:07:00 PM
It's nice to shake it up once in while, right? Well, ok, the reason it's Top 6 Saturday and not the usual Top 5 Friday is because I was hanging out with Rod and Nat of Marriage Under Construction yesterday...for like 3 hours!! Alicia, Video Dude Earl
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Jan
30

Twitter Talk: Answers From Chad Rogers of Million Dollar Listing

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Posted by Alicia Cox 1/30/2010 12:30:00 PM
Have you been watching season 3 of Million Dollar Listing on Tuesdays? I admit to being sucked into the lives (professional and otherwise) of Los Angeles and Malibu real estate agents Chad Rogers , Madison Hildebrand and Josh Flagg . If you watch the
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Jan
30

Bargain Saturday: The Writing is on the Wall, in Chalk

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Posted by Jessica McLaughlin 1/30/2010 9:25:00 AM
Chalkboards aren't just for kids. Actually, chalkboards aren't just for... boards. You can slather chalkboard paint on any wall, piece of furniture, appliance or whatever. It's an affordable and dramatic way to turn something as plain as a bare wall into
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Jan
28

Makeover: Wishful Thinking From Sarah's Cottage

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Posted by Alicia Cox 1/28/2010 12:22:00 PM
That's the master bedroom deck space and the dining room/kitchen, before. January: It's cold, it's grey and spring still seems far off. Boo. Lucky folks who can afford a vacation get to leave the country while the rest of us have to dream. And who's better
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Jan
28

DIY Preview: Building a Hallway Closet

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/28/2010 9:29:00 AM
For Monday's Question of the Week I posted about the importance of a first-floor powder room, something we resentfully scratched off our 'must-haves' list when we bought our house. Well, another thing we had to scratch off that list, that pained me almost
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Jan
27

Ask an Agent: How Old is Too Old When Buying Resale Condo?

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Posted by Catherine Jheon 1/27/2010 4:42:00 PM
It's time for another installment of Ask an Agent where you have the opportunity to ask an actual real estate agent questions about buying and selling. Our gal of expertise is Avryll McNair of Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage . She’s been selling and
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Jan
27

Gift Giving: Crate&Barrel Hearts Valentine’s

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/27/2010 2:32:00 PM
I don’t know if this is your thing – I’m not so into theme-y occasional tabletop – but if you are, Crate&Barrel has done a pretty classic and admirably restrained job with their Valentine’s Day offerings . Here are three picks that could certainly
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Jan
27

Hotel Tour: Opus Hotel and Koko Restaurant, Montreal

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Posted by Alicia Cox 1/27/2010 1:03:00 PM
Left, the exterior; right, the rooms are bright and colourful (Photos courtesy of Opus Hotel) Ah, j'adore Montreal ! On a trip just before the holidays, I was invited to stay at the stylish Opus Hotel in the Plateau neighbourhood. Opus is a boutique hotel
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Jan
26

Video Question of the Week: Is No First-Floor Powder Room a Deal Breaker?

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/26/2010 2:49:00 PM
Like all first-time buyers, when we were looking for a home we had a long, inflated list of 'must-haves' which we eventually had to eat. When we finally met and fell in love with our dilapidated beauty, the list of things we said we absolutely could not
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Jan
26

Splurge vs. Steal: Colourful Rugs

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Posted by Vanessa 1/26/2010 9:30:00 AM
Jonathan Adler 's Design Your Own interface and rug designs. I just discovered an exciting service courtesy of potter-turned-top furniture designer Jonathan Adler . Design Your Own allows you to do just that: design your own rugs, pillows and tote bags
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Jan
25

Flickr Round Up: Against the Wall

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Posted by Camille Hemming 1/25/2010 8:21:00 PM
What's the status on wall units these days? Do people still use them or are built-ins reigning supreme? Most often, living room storage is the anchoring feature in the room, housing books, collected treasures, art, music and perhaps family photographs
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Jan
25

Live Blogging Tonight: Marriage Under Construction, Episode 4

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Posted by Camille Hemming 1/25/2010 1:25:00 PM
To kick off: a little reno strife. Rod wants a dream kitchen; Nat desires a bedroom spa. Enter the engineer who settles it by pointing out which walls are load-bearing and can't be removed, so Melissa diverts Rod and Nat's attention by suggesting a backyard
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Jan
23

Giveaway and Photo Gallery: Behind Franke's Green House and Conscience

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/23/2010 2:24:00 PM
As promised: Part Two of Franke James... Franke's house, "Before". This past Tuesday on Home Tour , I posted the home of a Toronto-based artist, writer, speaker and environmental activist, Franke Jame. Franke had an energy audit done on her older, north
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Jan
22

IDS10: Hosts, Designer Spaces and More!

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/22/2010 6:10:00 PM
Well the party was a hit! The show feels much smaller this year, but at the same time more edited. Terry, Alicia and myself did some thorough perusing of the design on offer and of course, made the onerous trek through the line-up into the Designer Spaces
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Jan
22

Top 5 Friday: Kids' Rooms

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Posted by Alicia Cox 1/22/2010 3:42:00 PM
Our office is kind of laden with kids. Everyone seems to have one or two under five and a few recent births (which added one more of each to the office child pool) had us all celebrating once more. Who doesn't love babies? Of course, a new family member
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Jan
21

A Shoestring Makeover Gone Wrong: My Sofa

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/21/2010 3:35:00 PM
This is what my sofa looks like today. I’m pretty happy with it. But though it sits there as if it always has, it was quite the $$$ journey. Much of what I purchase, not the least of it furniture, is a compromise. I can't afford what I want so I always
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Jan
20

Gift Giving: A Valentine's Fouresome

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/20/2010 5:14:00 PM
Clockwise from the top: His and Hers ceramic toothbrush holders ($10 US); MIC Love pillow set ($28 US); 'Sperm Bank' ($10 US); HEART photo sleeve frame ($10 US). Is it too early to start thinking Valentine's Day ? I know it's a polarizing 'holiday', but
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Jan
20

Makeover: The Unsellables UK

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Posted by Vanessa 1/20/2010 10:07:00 AM
Bedroom before and after, from The Unsellables UK , episode: The Kinchleas Kitchen before and after from The Unsellables UK , episode: The Kinchleas If you haven't caught an episode of The Unsellables UK yet, particularly if you're a fan of the original
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Jan
20

Design Dilemma: Carson Helps out a Texan!

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/20/2010 9:08:00 AM
Not that Texans are an exotic species, it’s just that I always get super excited when we get emails from faraway places. And while I know it’s cold in Canada, I wouldn’t mind talking backyards for a moment to remember what green looks like… Today, a popular
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Jan
19

IDS10 Sneak Peek: Jason MacIsaac Actually Tells Us What He's Doing!

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/19/2010 8:23:00 PM
Ministry of the Interior showroom; Soft Citizen by Ministry of the Interior, via Mocoloco.com Jason MacIsaac, alumni of Ontario College of Art and Design is an art and design renaissance man. His oeuvre includes fashion photography, curating and managing
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Jan
19

Home Tour: The Posh Digs of a Confirmed Environmentalist

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/19/2010 3:36:00 PM
Franke James is an artist, photographer, writer, speaker and environmental activis t. We first heard her name in 2007, when she challenged the city of Toronto to amend an outdated bylaw that applied only to her north Toronto neighbourhood: all residential
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Jan
18

Live Blogging Tonight, Marriage Under Construction, Episode 3

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Posted by Mia Rodak 1/18/2010 1:57:00 PM
We're back for episode 3 of Marriage Under Construction ! If you missed our live blog of episode 2 , do go back and read the conversation and comments. This week, with the basement out of the way, the couple focuses on the design of the rest of the house.
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Jan
18

Question of the Week: Exotic Vacation Home or Country House?

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Posted by Vanessa 1/18/2010 10:24:00 AM
From left: Home buyer in Paris; France, Punta Cana, Domincan Republic, both from House Hunters International ; Guest room; Cottage exterior, both from Sarah's Cottage . My boyfriend and I have always had this plan to one day buy a house in the country
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Jan
16

IDS10 Sneak Peek: Architect Drew Mandel on the ULTIMATE Space

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/16/2010 8:28:00 PM
Drew Mandel; his award-winning Ravine House in Toronto. Next up on my IDS10 teasers is awarded Toronto Architect Drew Mandel . Coming at the ULTIMATE Designer Spaces project from a very different direction than Arren Williams , Drew Mandel grapples with
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Jan
16

Entertaining At Home: Feedback from our Fans and Followers

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Posted by Alicia Cox 1/16/2010 9:30:00 AM
Happy Saturday! Maybe you're taking a break from preparing to entertain tonight or maybe you're just relaxing with some quality internet time (thanks for stopping by!) -- whatever you're doing, we want to know how you feel about entertaining at home .
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Jan
16

Bargain Saturday: Dear Paper Lanterns, I Never Got Over You

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Posted by Jessica McLaughlin 1/16/2010 8:56:00 AM
There was a time, not so long ago, that you couldn't walk through the IKEA lighting department without being bombarded by a slew of different paper lanterns -- every shape and size imaginable. I had more than my share ( way more than my share) of these
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Jan
14

IDS10 Sneak Peek: Arren Williams on the ULTIMATE Space

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/14/2010 5:00:00 PM
The ULTIMATE Team, from the left; Designers Munge Leung and client Charles Khabouth of INK Entertainment; Arren Williams, Designer; Architect Drew Mandel; Jason MacIsaac of Ministry of the Interior. For this year’s IDS 10 , coming up January 21st to January
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Jan
14

Makeover: Cook-Friendly Basement Suite from Income Property

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Posted by Alicia Cox 1/14/2010 9:30:00 AM
Top: The empty space, before and after, where the kitchen went; Bottom: The same room from the other side where the living room is now. If you missed Income Property on Monday, no need to fret! Evelyn and Armel had an energy audit and are now spending
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Jan
13

Supper Club Tour: The Roosevelt Room

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Posted by Vanessa 1/13/2010 2:17:00 PM
Late last year, foodnetwork.ca 's Terry Wong and I were given the opportunity to check out one of Toronto's newest hot spots, The Roosevelt Room . Opened in October, this true supper club brings together the glitz of the Art Deco movement with some of
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Jan
13

Ask an Agent: How Important is the Size of a Lot When Buying a House?

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Posted by Catherine Jheon 1/13/2010 10:25:00 AM
It’s been a while (!) since our inaugural post, but it’s time for another installment of Ask an Agent where you have the opportunity to ask an actual real estate agent questions about buying and selling. Our gal of expertise is Avryll McNair of Bosley
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Jan
12

Photo Gallery and Final Trend Summary: Canadian Home Furnishings Market

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/12/2010 5:05:00 PM
Tenth annual Trends Display, by André Caron and Pierre D'Anjou. The Canadian Home Furnishings Market wraps up today, and as promised, here's a hefty gallery of my favourite finds. I also spoke with one of the two designers of the show's Trends Display
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Jan
12

Splurge vs. Steal: Glass Top Dining Tables

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Posted by Jessica McLaughlin 1/12/2010 8:40:00 AM
When I fantasize about my perfect dining area, one item is a constant: a glass dining table . They aren't for everyone, I know; they highlight finger prints, some people perceive glass as being a little bit cold, and there's the paranoia of accidentally
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Jan
11

Live Blogging Tonight: Marriage Under Construction, Episode 2

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Posted by Alicia Cox 1/11/2010 2:00:00 PM
We're back for another week of Marriage Under Construction , Hot Rod and Natalie! If you missed last week's premiere episode and live blog , you can watch it online and read the conversation and comments. With their dream home purchased after backing
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Jan
11

Question of the Week: Does Your Closet Work For You?

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Posted by Alicia Cox 1/11/2010 9:15:00 AM
I wish this was my closet! From All Dressed Up, HGTV's Top 10 dressing rooms I spent the weekend clearing out my standard apartment-sized closet in an honest, if perhaps a bit futile, attempt to reduce the amount of clothing inside it, the large dresser
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Jan
10

Store Review: Provide, Vancouver

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/10/2010 10:48:00 AM
Co-owner Robert Quinnell and I (Elana), Provide That there good looking fella, Robert Quinnell, and I, grew up in the same nabe in north Toronto! I do see why many of you accuse us (me) Torontonians of thinking we live in the centre of the universe --
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Jan
09

Sneak Peek: The Canadian Home Furnishings Market

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/9/2010 3:00:00 PM
Did you know that furniture is big business for Quebec? Well it is. A significant chunk of all furniture that gets produced in Canada is produced in Quebec, which is why the Quebec Furniture Manufacturers' Association puts on what is considered the most
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Jan
08

Top 5 Friday + 1: Lounge-in-your-Pajamas Seating

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/8/2010 3:53:00 PM
It's cold here. And if it's not cold in the rest of Canada, it's grey (looking at you, most of BC.) What does that make me think of besides vacation? Hibernation. Comfy socks, cashmere leisure suit (dream), a fine mug of fragrant tea, a proroguing (ha!)
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Jan
07

Upcoming Events and Trend Reports to Come

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/7/2010 3:20:00 PM
Lots of stuff going on this month! Design and decor shows are gearing up for the winter season, vying for consumers' attention with their take on what's new. Because you can't be everywhere at once (plus, some of these shows are not open to the public),
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Jan
07

Makeover: Basement Rec Room Turned Elegant Family Room

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Posted by Vanessa 1/7/2010 10:35:00 AM
The dark rec room before and after the Pure Design team redecorated. In the season two finale of Pure Design , Samantha Pynn and her talented team took a pretty typical-looking, dark, boring rec room and turned it into a bright, cozy, Hamptons-inspired
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Jan
06

Decor Trends 2010: What to Keep, Buy and Store

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/6/2010 2:48:00 PM
First off, I’d like to say that the “Keep” pile is the name of the game. If you really want to be green, buy less and keep more – virtually anything can be re-styled, re-tweaked and repurposed, so take the accompanying “Buy” and “Store” suggestions as
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Jan
05

Giveaway and Review: New Classic Interiors

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/5/2010 3:22:00 PM
“Fashion was too impermanent” says Chicago-based, Italian-born interior designer Alessandra Branca , which may be more telling than anything else when trying to assess her style. In her book , New Classic Interiors , the style that comes through is mature,
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Jan
04

New Winter Shows and Returning Favourites!

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Posted by Alicia Cox 1/4/2010 4:00:00 PM
Happy New Year, readers! January brings new shows, seasons and episodes of your returning faves, so let's get started -- what show are you most excited to see? New Shows House of Bryan: Premieres Thursday, January 7th at 9pm Disaster DIY host Bryan Baeumler
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Jan
04

Question of the Week: Do You Want Answers?

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Posted by Elana Safronsky 1/4/2010 3:30:00 PM
If I've said it once I've said it a zillion times: I/we love it when you talk to us. We love your comments here on Style Sheet , be they friendly or biting, and want you to know that we read every one. And because we read every one, we've noticed that
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Jan
04

Live Blogging Event Tonight: Marriage Under Construction Premiere

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Posted by Vanessa 1/4/2010 12:19:00 PM
The premiere episode of the third season of Marriage Under Construction airs tonight and we're pretty excited about it around the office. The new couple, Rodney and Natalie look quirky, cute and really quite funny. They start the season renting a room
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Jan
03

Store Review: The Tin Box, Edmonton

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Posted by Terry Wong 1/3/2010 1:30:00 PM
Located in the heart of Edmonton's Old Strathcona community, along Whyte Avenue , is an eclectic store called The Tin Box . It's full of chic and stylish decorating treasures and it definitely has something for everyone. The products that they carry range
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