Eating, Drinking and All that Jazz.....

I love going to Jazz festivals at home and away.....

I'm down in Lewiston N.Y., a favourite haunt of mine, enjoying the Historic Lewiston Jazz Festival.  There is so much going on.  The entertainment is absolutely fabulous.  The main street has been closed off for this event and all of the restaurants, wineries, breweries, etc have set up tables with wonderful fare.  One can dine on the street listening to great music at the various stages along the way or enjoy one of the great restaurants.  We selected Carmello's, http://www.carmelos-restaurant.com/.   one of our favourites for fine authentic Italian cuisine.  The ambience is what pulls you in - owned by mom Phyllis and son Carmello, head chef, this is definitely a place to go. 

The welcoming and cozy interior of Carmelos

Outside of Carmelos where people were dining and enjoying the music by the Tune Babes

Two of my favourite ladies - The Tune Babes  - April Mazzone & Lynne Fredericks,  were sponsored by Carmelos Restaurant and can really give a great performance.  Loved it!!  Check out their activities at www.facebook.com/april.mazzone

This Jazz Festival carries on from the Friday through to the Sunday and has over 40 offerings throughout the the main street.   It is in thanks to the many sponsors for their contributions that this wonderful event continues each year at end of August.  

We sampled fine food, and some great wines (which unfortunately we cannot purchase here).  I think I have been through every winery in Niagara on the Lake so thought it was time to start south of the border......

 We sampled a wine we had not tried before from Spring Lake Winery in Lockport http://www.springlakewinery.com/ and fell in love with their offerings.  I especially enjoyed the Riesling.  We were told that their grapes are grown and harvested in Lockport.

The Spring Lake Winery Booth

Freedom Run Winery - tasty wine too!  http://www.freedomwinery.com/

Kettlecorn

Enjoying Evening Music at the Main Stage - Looks like we were having a really good time!

One of the things that interests me in Lewiston, besides eating, drinking and shopping,  is the Architecture - very much like what we have in Niagara on the Lake, many different styles.

 Waterstreet Landing  - another place I like to eat at!  You can sit and enjoy a lovely meal and watch the sunset over the Niagara River.  It has had mixed reviews, but I have been there many times and always enjoyed excellent food!

Barton Hill Hotel and Spa  http://www.bartonhillhotel.com/- an incredible place to stay, eat and enjoy the spa,  again overlooking the Niagara River
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Local Architecture all with significant history - check out the officeal Lewiston, NY website for details http://www.historiclewiston.org/

It's worth a visit to Lewiston N.Y. - they have events going on all year round.  Last year I was at the Christmas House Tour and all of the other festivities in the town and had a great time.  I believe I will go again.  I may even go to the one in Niagara on the Lake, ON as well.

Keep checking..... I am off to Niagara on the Lake   http://www.niagaraonthelake.com/  for the September 18th Historic House Tour, visit some wineries and to see a play at Shaw...What a great way to spend a fall weekend!!

Kitchens - the hub of the house...

We all love kitchens and no matter what goes on we all end up in them. Everybody gravitates to the kitchen.

Recently I was as a new showroom in Burlington, Interior Works Inc., http://www.interiorworks.ca/, located in Burlington,  where you can do one stop shopping for all of your kitchen needs.  Interior Works has formed an affiliation with one of my favourite haunts - The Decorating Centre http://www.thedecoratingcentre.ca/  to offer everything from the planning, cabinetry, counter tops & back splash ideas as well as wonderful hardware choices and of course appliances.  There are a variety of companies represented including Richelieu, Cambria, Goemans; Oatman; Slate Flex, etc.

The warehouse where all the cabinets are created, was as clean as any living room!! What a feat. Besides giving us plenty of great information on what they are offering, we also enjoyed wonderful hors d'oeuvres (I know, I am always going to events where there is yummy food, I have to eat it, can't waste it, what can I say!)

Kitchens are one of the most popular renovations today for both your own enjoyment and resale potential. With all of the wonderful options around, it is quite the undertaking to try to make decisions on your own. That is where your decorator/designer and companies like Interior Works come into play.  We make it happen!!

 Dave Routery, President & his wife Brenda, Interior Design Consultant where the warehouse is kept amazingly tidy and clean!

Representatives from Cambria 

Sara Rooney, District Manager for Cambria

Beautiful Kitchens

Again, here we are smiling for the camera!!

Debbie Travis supports Walls of Hope in her new series "All for One"

This past spring, Debbie Travis challenged different communities across Canada to step up to the plate and honor their hometown heroes. These are the people who are the glue of a community. The go-to people. The folks that make the place we live, well, just better. All For One is a heady mix of construction, decorating, family, friends and most of all community. It is about an entire neighbourhood coming together. It is modern day ‘barn raising’.  The "hero" selected from Oakville was a lovely woman, Sera Mansueto who is the person who started helping others and started Walls of Hope.http://www.wallsofhopecanada.com/

Founded in 2005, Walls of Hope has already helped the lives of 10 families. We believe that through home transformations we can create an environment that will inspire and create a home atmosphere that does not reflect the hard circumstances a family has fallen into. We have witnessed this philosophy work!!!!

Walls of Hope looks for families who have fallen on hard times, through no fault of their own, and are truly trying to change their lives for the better. We prefer to work with famlies with children as they are the innocent ones.

A colleague of mine, Linda Graydon is very involved in this charitable foundation called "Walls of Hope". I felt this was something I would like to be involved in so I mentioned to her "count me in".  The project we were involved in was right here in Oakville where Debbie re-designed several rooms in the home of the woman who started Walls of Hope way back.  She is always helping others and not taking any time for herself or her own home so...... Debbie along with many people from Walls of Hope and neighbours, friends, etc jumped in and took over this house for 5 days to create something really special and it was done while Sera, the owner was away so when she returned home she in for a huge surprise.  So glad she loved what was done!!  It really looked splendid.  Photos of the home are below.

All For One with Debbie Travis launches 26th of September at 9:00 pm on CBC Television.  The home in Oakville will be aired October 31.  If you miss it go to and have a look   www.debbietravis.com/blog.

Below are some photos to show just a "few" of the many people who helped make this such a success and are courtesy of Karen Hubert.!!

Debbie and a couple of Walls of Hope members create gorgeous lampshades.

Another great idea to raise money for Walls of Hope was the creation of a calendar of some of the great men who worked on this project along with a "ladies only" evening at Oliver & Bonacini http://www.oliverbonacini.com/ where these great guys  strutted their stuff on the "catwalk" and were auctioned off.  They volunteered 4 hours of their personal expertise to the lucky ladies who bid the highest and all of the money raised goes directly to help Walls of Hope help others.  What a great idea!!

Debbie announcing the Walls of Hope "Studs" to be auctioned off.

A quick peek at what you missed! (photo courtesy of Audrey Madconald)

p.s.  The first printing of the calendars sold out, but there will be more coming...

Here are some of the photos of rooms we worked on

Daughter's Room

Another Daughter's Room

Master Bedroom

New Office for Walls of Hope

Summertime and the livin is easy.....

There really was a song by that name, and now that I mention it, I am really dating myself.  Oh well...

We missed summer last year and for most of the previous year so this year I had a lot of hope running on it.  We have had a variety of weather - hot, rainy, hot again and so on.  Enjoying the outdoors is all part of what we do here for those precious few months that we can, and having a nice space in which to enjoy the summer months is paramount.  Outdoor decorating has really evolved from the days of my youth.  No more the portable round grill with briquettes and a couple of folding web chairs sitting in the back yard.  We now have rooms created within our outdoor spaces with areas for relaxing, sunning, dining and so forth.
Covered areas to keep out the strong rays are a must as is good seating.  Some of the more elaborate gardens sport "cooking areas", water features and fire features.

Our outside spaces are now being co-ordinated to the style of the home as well as the interior decor.  There are so many looks around.  Let's see some of them.....

My own spot for relaxing!

and dining....

'Wine 101'

Here I am back on one of my favourite topics..wine!

The GTA West Chapter of CDECA closed off the year with a wine tasting and information evening which covered everything from what food to serve with what type of wine through to proper storage and serving temperatures. 

My husband, Allan offered to share information on how to design for wine storage and covered different options ranging from simple racking up to amazing wine cellars.  Allan Wisby, Certified WSET Consultant, and owner of Oakville Wine Cellars  also consults on creating custom Wine Storage options and is currently working with a colleague to import wines from different countries that cannot be purchased here in Canada through LCBO.  Excellent for collectors as well as gift giving.

To enhance our enjoyment of "wine 101" we were treated to extremely tasty food selections.  Paring food with the correct type of food makes all the difference in whether it is enjoyable or not so much!

Everyone went home with detailed and  informative packages on all aspects of wine, including some of his own recipes.  (he cooks too!)  To end off the evening there were several draws for wine items - we all love the chance to win something.

Once again, here I am writing about how we are fortunate to enjoy refreshments while learning.  I love this business!!

A great evening was had by all in attendance.  Thanks Allan..

The Wine Master - my hubby, Allan

Designer Glass and all that jazz....

I recently attended a Seminar on everything you would want to know about Glass,  at SGO Designer Glass in Burlington        http://www.sgodesignerglass.ca/ . This small company run by mother and son team of Glenda and Josh van Koot offer exceptional quality, innovative designs and service and is definitely a place to check out.  They carry everything from mirrors to complete window and door designs.  I have a few photos from our seminar to share, however please have a look at their website to really see some fabulous creations.  In addition to so much information about glass, this seminar is also approved by the NKBA!

I'm back.....

....and so it appears is our economy, if the busy spring and summer so far are any indication.  I can't believe it has been so long since I have entered anything on my blog.  Usually things slow down a little at this time year, but not so much this year.  Horray - I am definitely not complaining, I am thrilled to be working on so many great projects.  I also was notified that I had been nominated again this year for one of our local newspapers - Oakville Today's Readers Choice Award for Interior Design/Decorating and was a Diamond Winner!!  Many thanks for the nomination and to all who voted for me.

Now back to blogging.....

I'm In Love.....

Yes,  that's right and so would you be if you had the chance to visit The Decorating Centre in Burlington, Ontario.  Most decorators and designers who live and work in the GTA and surrounding area are well aware of this treasure trove of everything you require to create beautiful interiors.

The Decorating Centre has it all.  This one stop Design Resource Centre for designers & decorators offers the highest quality and variety of products with so many options you feel like a kid in a candy store. Their knowledgeable staff are always available and happy to help with even the smallest of details.  Owned and operated by Lin, Doug and daughter Tara (Manager) this business has grown in leaps and bounds from its early beginnings.  This can be credited to the fact that they are always obtaining input from the very people who will be utilizing their services - the designers & decorators and trying to make our jobs easier.

They host many different educational seminars throughout the year so that the designers and decorators are always up on the latest offerings they can pass along to their clients.  Every fall they host a fabulous Design Trade Show where many of their suppliers are on hand with displays and current information.  This is a great day where we are treated to a wonderful luncheon,  many prize draws from their suppliers and seminars throughout the day on the latest in design.

This is a trade only business but clients are always welcomed when accompanied with their designer/decorator.  The extremely professional staff are very efficient & knowledgeable about everything in their showroom and will bend over backwards to obtain any information required.  That being said, The Decorating Centre still maintains a casual and welcoming nature that makes everyone who enters feel comfortable and glad they stopped in. 

Their most recent information seminar presented a new line - Norwalk Furniture which they have recently brought in. The information presented was excellent and the product itself, something I would not hesitate to specify.  In fact, after trying out all of the comfy sofas and chairs, I want new ones for me!  The fabrics, furniture, lighting, rugs, paint & wallpaper not to mention all the fabulous accessories available at this shopping mecca, will set your head spinning and the creative juices flowing.

Just a tiny part of their great showroom!

Great food as always.....

Patrick, Sheila and Tara

some happy decorators along with yours truly

I just received another invitation from TDC for a to an information event on Kitchens -

You can always learn more - I think I will go and sign up!