Roll up the Shades....Here comes Hunter Douglas

Well I seem to be going to and writing about many Design Events these days.  It is one of the nicest parts of my job.  You get to see all your colleagues which is important for those of us who work alone in our own business.   You really need that time to network and see what's happening out there and just talk!

There is usually some great refreshments offered at these events which may be just why my clothes are a little snug this spring!  I have no willpower when faced with great hors d'oeuvres and sweets.  Oh well I will just have to do more exercise.   

It has been joked that we just love to go to these events to eat, drink and have fun.  Well we do that, but it really is educational - what better way to keep up with with trends and find out what is "new" out there so we can pass on this information to our clients.

Last week I attended a wonderful event hosted by Hunter Douglas and co-ordinated by The Decorating Centre at the Casablanca Inn in Grimsby.  We were treated to dinner and as well as great desserts.  The presentation put on by Hunter Douglas was very informative and well done.  I believe we all walked away from this event with much more knowledge on window coverings and all the new enhancements made to the Hunter Douglas product lines.

Danny Tulino and Rui Bernardino from Hunter Douglas

Doug & Lin Munro from The Decorating Centre in Burlington, who along with their daughter, Tara offer decorators/designers a vast inventory of everything required to create beautiful spaces.  This wonderful

"One Stop" Design Industry Resource Centre is a must for anyone involved in Interior Decorating & Design! (more to come on TDC)  The Decorating Centre

Here are photos I took of some of their many window treatments.  To view the many options available, including many with motorized features, visit Hunter Douglas at their site www.hunterdouglas.com

Luminette Privacy Sheers & Modern Draperies

Beautiful Shades

Woven Wood Shades

Silhouette Shades

CDECA AGM

Last Week I attended the CDECA Annual General Meeting of Members and Awards Celebration at The

Estates of Sunnybrook - The Vaughan Estate, on Bayview Avenue in Toronto.  What a beautiful venue!

We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast, fabulous lunch and enlightened workshops.  The first workshop was presented by PPG Pittsburgh Paints on "Colour Trends 2010/2011"  followed by "Designing Reality - Change your Perspective - Change the World" with keynote speaker Dan Trommater courtesy of Hunter Douglas.  Great presentations by both speakers.

Following the presentations we had a very special Tribute to

one of our decorators who we recently lost to cancer -

Ingrid Kyranis.  Ingrid is missed by all those who have

known  and worked with her.  The entire room did the

"pink gloves" dance in honour of Ingrid and there was a slide

presentation of many events in which Ingrid was involved.

Our table decor was "pink" with many pink gloves

surrounding a floral arrangement like a wreath!  How clever!

Once we had been treated to some desert, we got down to the business of our Awards Presentations.  Our Decorators/Designers are incredibly talented and should be really proud of themselves!

Decorators on a Field Trip!

This past week a group of GTA West CDECA decorators were off to tour the showrooms at SOFA -

Source of Furniture and Accessories) at the International Centre. (formerly the Furniture Mart)

We had a short business meeting prior to our tour, where Shelley Levy from the Resource Centre gave us an update on SOFA happenings.  Currently Bobby Wertman, director of Leasing and Tenant Relations, SOFA  is at the High Point International Home Furnishings Market checking out what is new and exciting as well as looking for new showrooms to join SOFA.

SOFA has been working on their branding and  have been trying to have consistent hours of operation for all of the showrooms.  This can only make sourcing easier for us.  They welcomed us by providing yummy refreshments and gave us some updated information on what we can expect in the coming months.  They are planning on introducing some "perks" for those who do business with them.  Information on these "perks" will be coming in the near future.

We enjoyed a tour directed by Taline, a student from Sheridan who will be graduating this May, who is on her 3 week placement at SOFA. We were well received by the many showrooms we visited.  SOFA is definitely a place to consider when sourcing beautiful and Canadian made pieces for our clients. 

                             First stop was Chair-Tech Inc 

                     

  

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Korson has something for everybody.  Fabulous furniture & accessories

 

Marcantonio Designs have fabulous leather and other fabrics on many different styles.  They also do custom so you can take a piece and change it to suit your needs 

Here is our little group browsing Sunset Lamp Inc.

 West Bros Furniture

Bailey Street with our wonderful tour guide - Taline

 

  

Karen enjoying a little rest at Villageois Inc. 

We visited many other wonderful showrooms and appreciated the wonderful reception we were given at each one.!  Thank you SOFA

"Back to School"

Last week I had the opportunity and pleasure to visit some of the Interior Decorating Students in their final year at Sheridan College, http://www.sheridaninstitute.ca/ and view their portfolios.  Sheridan has a great reputation for superior education and the students in Audrey Macdonald's Business class are keeping this reputation going.  They presented their portfolios and "sales pitch" to Interior Decorators from CDECA who acted as "potential clients" for the upcoming graduates.  What a fantastic idea and learning tool for them to gain a little practice and feedback in order to prepare them for the outside world of design and decor.  "Hats Off" to their instructor Audrey for arranging this special event as well as to the students who have worked so hard.  Great job!

Audrey Macdonald & students

Let's Go To The Movies Again....

Oh how I love to check out fabulous decorating!  The movies have some of the very best set designs you will see.   They usually have decent budgets, many sources and talented designers/decorators to pull it all together.  We can dream and get great ideas from these sets to interpret into our own homes. I know I have been down this road a couple of times previously with some of my favorites but here I go again....

By now everybody has heard about the incredibly funny movie "It's Complicated" and once again a great set design by Nancy Meyers.  The home of the lead female character, played by Meryl Streep is a little eclectic yet comfy/casual.  This home is cozy and has a "lived in" look that is so relaxing.  You just want to drop in and have a glass of wine there!

One old favourite for anybody who loves Traditional Design is the

"Father of the Bride Movie(s)"

And of course "Franck" designed the most elaborate Nurseries

Another great set design was the movie "The Nanny Diaries"

Outside Hallway

Interior Hallway looking into Living Room

Living Room

Another great kitchen - I love kitchens even though I don't cook.

Very elegant traditional bedroom

OK, I WANT THIS SHOE CLOSET!

Red, White & Drunk all over.... (This is the title of a wine book by Natalie MacLean)

Yes, you guessed it.  I am talking about one of my favourite beverages - wine!  I am no connoisseur but know what I like and enjoy drinking it.  I do happen to be married to a connoisseur so that does help!  If you are interested in more wine info regarding storage  please visit Oakville Wine Cellars, http://www.oakvillewinecellars.com/.  My own personal wine connoisseur suggests that you also follow Natalie MacLean as she has incredible knowledge, http://www.nataliemaclean.com/.   The important thing about wine is the storage and here is where a little decorating advice comes in.  When we renovate our kitchens, or purchase a new home we feel really on trend if we add that "built in" wine rack somewhere, perhaps over the refrigerator or some such place in the kitchen.  Well..... if you didn't know it before, I am telling you that is just not a nice way to treat your wine.  You must keep wine in a dark place, with consistent temperature, hence the kitchen is the absolute worst place to store your precious wines.  It is sunny, with varying temperatures and humidity levels from cooking, etc.

Wine is best stored in a cool, dark place, however if you really want to showcase your stock, be kind to the wine and purchase a nice wine cooler.  They come in many different styles, sizes, shapes and price points.  Many have a dual control for both red and white wines.  And... yes red wine can be kept a little cool, just not as cold as white.  When you remove it for drinking it is always a good idea to decant the reds for better flavour.

Below are a few samples of how to store your wine - everything from a simple wine rack to a wine cooler which can be installed anywhere (even the kitchen) as long as it is not in direct sunlight and then the ultimate -a complete wine cellar.  How devine!