More Movie Sets

One of the Sets in the movie Eat, Pray and Love - The coachhouse

 

Niagara Icewine Festival

Ontario Icewine is one of Canada’s most cherished products. Celebrate for three weekends in January as the Niagara Region is transformed into a wintry wonderland.

Celebrating 20 years this year, the Niagara Icewine Festival offers plenty for every taste, from elegant gala evenings to irresistible wine and food pairings and outdoor activities from exploring Ice Street Villages to marshmallow roasting along the famed wine route.

If you haven't attended the Niagara Ice Wine Festival and you love wine then you must  plan on going next January.  There are still many events happening next weekend as well.  I was there this past weekend and what a fun time.  All of the wineries host special events and one in particular that we attended was at Pellar Estates where there were tours, and several different events taking place.  We went for the ice wine tasting and wine infused marshmallow roasting.  Need I say more -  yum!   

Over the weekend the town closed a portion of the main street and all of the different wineries were set up in their own booths as well as the different restaurants who had many delicious food offerings.  Great idea so no driving involved.  There were ice sculptures including 'cruiser' type ice tables and and fire pits set up with chairs around them for a little relaxing if you were so inclined.

At the Ice Wine Cocktail Colntest

 Roasting my marshmallow

After a fantastic dinner at the Grill on King, www.grillonking.ca  we headed out from our room on the main street to enjoy the evening of Sparkle & Ice which is a celebration with Niagara-on-the- Lake Icewinemakers and their VQA wines paired with Icewine inspired tastings and contest. While tasting the offerings, we had a live band to keep the spirits happy.   Such fun!n evening of Spa

Design Mistakes by Guest Blogger Jane Blanchard

Avoid These 4 Common Home Decor Mistakes

By Jane Blanchard

All those ideas for interior decorating look wonderful in the pages of your favorite magazines. All that inspiration provides a great starting point, but think before you leap over the creative fence. The best plans can be undone by common mistakes, so relax, and consider the bigger picture when you reimagine a room.

Bad Lighting Blues

Overhead lighting fixtures don't have a very good reputation. They cast more shadows than illumination, and a few lonely table lamps only contribute isolated pools of light. It's fine to fall in love with a chandelier, but don't depend on it to radiate a warm glow through the room all by itself. Give floor lamps and walls sconces a chance to play strong supporting roles that complement overheads and table models. These versatile fixtures also function as unique decorating accents. Don't overlook the levels of atmosphere created by recessed lighting and dimmer switches.

Surprisingly Dull Arrangements

Sofas and chairs are meant to work and play together, but they can't socialize well when they're shoved against the walls. While this arrangement seems practical, it isn't interesting, and it doesn't bring friends and family together. Liberated furniture helps shape conversation and direct traffic with layouts that group pieces into friendly areas. Don't let tradition dictate your choices. A daybed in the living room might set up a perfect transition between two small seating spaces. If you have more family than sofa, retire the lounge chairs, and add another couch.

Less Than Smooth Transitions

No room in your home is an island, so the transition from one space to another shouldn't feel like entering another decorating zone. A traditional dining room loses some of its charming grace when a glance through the door reveals a lively family space bouncing with bold colors. Contrasting styles don't have to fight each other. With a little compromise, differences between formal and contemporary can complement the flow from room to room. Continuity adds to your comfort level, and you can still go wild in private areas like the bedroom and bath.

Too Much of Anything

Favorite decorating accents lose any chance of doing their best when they're overdone. Shelves meant to show off family photos turn into visual clutter when they're overloaded. Plump pillows make the sofa inviting, but they don't belong on every piece of furniture in the room. Framed prints create beautiful focal points until all four walls close in with too much artwork. Moderation doesn't mean playing it safe to the point of boredom. If you love those accents, set them free to complement the decor, but don't let them turn into a herd that overruns your best decorating intentions.

Enjoy the inspiration in those magazines, take a little time, and avoid the easy mistakes that only become obvious when it's too late. Of all the rules meant to guide your decorating talents, the ones that count come from your sense of creativity, so decorate with confidence in your own good taste. For more interior decorating and home ideas check out Modernize.

Fun Decor Ideas for Christmas

It's happened!  The new colour for 2015 has been announced.  EVERY year since 1990, the Pantone Colour Institute has nominated a Colour of the Year, forecasting which specific hue designers and consumers will all supposedly be using, wearing, and buying for the following 12 months. Last week, Pantone announced that the 2015 Colour of the Year is Marsala.

In a company press release, Pantone described the colour as “a naturally robust and earthy wine red.” While last year’s Colour of the Year, Radiant Orchid, “encouraged creativity and innovation, Marsala enriches our mind, body and soul, exuding confidence and stability,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute.

A rich colour, it's red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness. This hearty, yet stylish tone is universally appealing and translates easily to fashion, beauty, industrial design, home furnishings and interiors,” Pantone proclaimed.

Below are some pictures where this new colour can be found.

Decking your Halls....

I am a little late with this post but since some of us are also a little late in 'decking our halls' I thought it  may help.  It always seems to just creep up on us.  This year I was at a little event where the theme for decorating this year is natural, red and gold.  Well that should be easy to accomplish.

When it comes to decorating, why not just enjoy the fun and anticipation.

Step back in time to when things were much simpler. Come up with new ways to showcase your treasured, current decorations along with adding new, simple refreshing additions. Have fun decorating!

There are many places to purchase décor items where you are not spending large amounts of money. One of the most inexpensive decorating sources can be in your own back yard or nearby parks – pinecones, fallen branches, anything organic is environmentally friendly and looks warm and cozy.  You can re-purpose items you already have in a new and different ways.  Since it is only seasonal, the look or theme can change each year without purchasing an entire new collection of decorations.  What fun!  Here are some different themes to ponder – 

Natural Rustic/Organic Theme 

• Greenery and pillar candles on kitchen counter       
• Tree decorated with fruit in urn on kitchen table      
• Small trees in baskets         
• Grapevine or natural evergreen Wreaths in all windows
• Tray on kitchen counter, which holds a small live Rosemary tree, paper whites and candle
•   Large flat basket of greens filled with green apples, limes and pillar candle.
• Christmas tree decorated with strings of cranberries, gingerbread men, twigs, dried fruit – apple and orange slices, etc.
• Trays with greenery, and small votive & tea lights candles
•  Collect fallen branches, trim your own evergreen bushes and perhaps some thicker birch type pieces and arrange in a tall glass cylinder
• Fill different sizes of glass containers or baskets with pinecones
•  Fill several different size glass containers with cranberries and then add some fresh flowers or branches
• Bowls of fruit, nuts, pinecones
•  Groupings of candles, especially battery operated for safety, among evergreen branches
• 3 large glass candles with greenery, cinnamon sticks and oranges 
• Light Fixture decorated with greenery            
• Burlap wrapped presents in a basket on porch
• Urns filled with greens, sticks, fruit and lights

 If you have a collection of Christmas Items why not showcase them -

Collection based theme – Santas, Nutcrackers, etc. 

• Santas or Nutcrackers grouped with greenery and twigs around them
• Group of Santas or nutcrackers on a bakers rack or shelving
• Christmas Tree with small nutcrackers mixed among the other treasured ornaments you already have
• Greenery on table with large candle    

Natural Elegance

• Sugared fruit on buffet
• Large glass with greens, cranberries and floating candles on Dining Table or Hall table
• Vase of greens, sticks and amaryllis on counter
• Wooden (olive) trough with berries and votive candles
• Amaryllis in glass with moss and cranberries
• Greenery lit up on top of kitchen upper cabinets
• Row of boxes on counter with greens
• Amaryllis, orchids, paper whites, greens and candles in arrangement on kitchen island counter
• Sleigh with greens, soldiers, green moss, trees and balls
• Christmas Tree with a color theme of treasured ornaments you already have with perhaps a few new ones added
• Tray filled with round Christmas Balls with pillar candle in center
• Tall glass cylinders filled with small Christmas Balls 

With the above options you can definitely add the three prominent options for this year - natural, red and gold to enhance your decor.

Try to take a casual and relaxed attitude to your decorating so that you enjoy it and leave leave more time for the fun part of these upcoming celebrations – entertaining family and friends; community events; walks in the woods; sitting by a cozy fire; making cookies with your children; decorating the tree or whatever your heart desires.