CANOE DESIGN

Before & After : Kitchen

2012-03-06T10:28:00.000-05:00

This is the second installment of our London renovation (to see the bathroom Before & After click here), and I am happy to be showing you the transformation of our kitchen. We really thought through the details and materials of the space as well as the layout of the cabinetry so as to maximise the space in the kitchen but not lose out on storage. When we were done we couldn't believe the way the space worked and looked, and feel that it came out even better than we were expecting - I hope you all enjoy!

It was clear to us when we walked in, and as you can see from the image below, the kitchen was in desperate need of a make-over. We knew that there was nothing that we wanted to keep and so quickly tore everything out. The previous owner had tried to fit as many standard cabinets in as they could wich gave the room a very fragmented feeling, and with all the appliances exposed it was all very messy. The flooring was a wood printed vinyl and had this weird squishy feeling to it when you walked (ugh) so that had to go. Things like the lighting under the cabinets was a great idea, just badly executed, same with the pendant, and so we felt that we could keep these, but just work them into the new layout in a better way.

Our whole renovation was on a budget and so we tried to work out where we wanted to spend and where we thought we could save. We knew that we were going to install hardwood flooring throughout the majority of the apartment so a large part of our budget was going to be put into that. As the overall layout of appliances and services wasn't bad we decided to keep the sink, oven and cooktop where they originally were so we didn't have to move plumbing and gas supplies. This also allowed us to install the dishwasher beside the sink and use the plumbing from there.

There is a large window in the room and so it gets a lot of natural light. This helped us feel like we could install dark grey lacquer cabinetry as not only is it reflective, but since the room is so tall, and the window brings in light, we didn't worry about it feeling dark. The cabinetry is IKEA Abstrakt Grey and the counters are IKEA Numerar oak, both were very cost effective and gave us the look we were going for. Since the ceilings in the house are so high this also allowed us to install the extra tall upper cabinets giving us that little bit more storage space.

The rest of the fittings and accessories were determined by the link we were creating between the existing architecture and new kitchen. We used a very simple slim matt white subway tile for the backsplash and it had a little bit of a beveled edge, playing homage to the age of the house. When it came to painting the room, we painted 3 of the the walls a very light grey, and the wall oposite the cabinets (the long one leading down the hall) we painted in Bone China Blue from the Little Green Paint Company just to give a pop of colour. Because of the chimney flue that sticks into the space we didn't have a whole lot of counter and for food prep this is key. Since we removed the table in the room we wanted to bring in something that not only we could sit at but could act as a worktop when needed. We discovered a great workshop called Gathering Moss, who work in recycled wood/ We commissioned them to make us a moving storage island out of old barn wood, and since we had a piece of countertop left over, had the top made from the same oak as the rest. After using the kitchen this quickly became one of my favorite pieces. On the whole we wanted to kitchen to feel clean and simple and with all the appliances tucked away (the on-demand water heater is in a cabinet above the sink) we really feel like we achieved more than we thought we could.

The room also had a door into it from the hallway, making it feel like an enclosed space smaller than it actually was. My husband had the great idea to remove the door, and surrounding wall, and create a seamless passage from the corridor into the kitchen (see below right image). This was probably one of the largest transformations of the space as it brought the kitchen into the rest of the apartment and with the opening being full-height really made the space feel larger and taller. It also gave us a great large 'canvas' for the blue paint I so wanted to use!

We wanted to keep the fittings and accessories in the kitchen simple, modern but as with the rest of the kitchen, we wanted them to work with the architecture of the rest of the space. Below are a few of the accessories and fittings that we purchased for the kitchen, and really helped to make it the space that we love and spent a lot of time in.

1. We are a huge fan of large industrial pendants. As the kitchen was modern, but in a traditional architectural space, we wanted something that would work with both. For me this meant not getting something too 'factoryesque', but rather a pendant with clean lines and a colour/tone to work with the scheme of the room. We settled on the Titan 3 from Original BTC and were so happy with the decision (actually installed a second one in another room, so stay tuned to see where...).

2. With the kitchen being IKEA, one of the best tips I can give is that if you change something, like the hardware, it helps to give the cabinetry a more custom look. Immediately it doesn't look like a standard kitchen, and it is a very inexpensive way to give the cabinetry a little lift. We used simple brushed chrome cube knobs on the doors and levers on the drawers and appliances (dishwasher, fridge and freezer) that we bought at a architectural hardware store called Franchi.

3. I think that the kitchen tap is so important both in terms of aesthetics but also functionality. For me, I have always wanted a pull out nozzle and so this was my chance. I had installed Franke taps on projects before and always loved their clean and simple design and felt that the Fuji tap was for us - monoblock, single lever with a pull-out nozzle. Perfect!

4. As mentioned above, we had a little mobile storage island made and we very much enjoyed sitting at for breakfast or just a little cheese board on the weekend and bought some red Tolix stools. They were comfortable to sit on and when we weren't using them, they didn't take up too much space. They also served double-duty as I am not very tall and sometimes needed help reaching items high up in the cupboards!

Inspired By

2012-03-05T11:46:00.001-05:00

Sleep No More! A few months ago we purchased tickets for the Punchdrunk production of Sleep No More taking place at the old McKittrick Hotel in Chelsea. I have to start by saying that I was very nervous and it was an idea of my husbands that I was not sure about - I don't like scary things, so the idea of attending a theatre performance in an abandoned hotel at 11pm with people wearing scary masks wasn't on the top of my list! However, after having attending I take it all back, it was such a fantastic experience!

We arrived just before 11pm (our check-in time) and were each given a playing card which was our "room ticket" into the performance. As we waited for our numbers to be called we were entertained with a cocktail in the 20's inspired bar. Once we entered the performance we were transported into a fantasy world of taxidermy, masks, and the most intricate set spread over 5 floors and about 100 rooms. For the next three hours we followed performers around and tried to wrap our heads around the story (based on Macbeth). It was a wonderful evening out to a truly unique performance, and if you are in the NYC area, and there are tickets left, I would highly recommend.

Taxidermy

Throughout the many rooms there were incredible stuffed birds, animals and bugs which added to the interior set design and helped with the overall feeling - and was very tredy! I have never been a huge fan of the stuffed animals, but the current trend has them incorporated into interiors in a classy and industrial manner which I approve of.

NY Times

Masquerade

As you may have heard every audience member is given a mask at the beginning of the performance and has to wear it throughout. This adds to the mysteriously eerie sense one feels throughout the performance. The masks are inspired by Venetian ones and have this elegant anonymity about them. It was quite cool looking around throughout the evening and seeing people with no discernible features around every corner.

Vanity Fair

Setting a Stage

As you can see from the small selection of images below from Interior Design magazine's article on the production (see whole collection of images here), the set was incredible. Each area was thought through in it's entirety with no detail left to chance. Each room was it's own unique set and the props were your to discover. Several times we walked into rooms and there were audience members just looking through the props, reading notes left around on the whole taking in the whole production.

Interior Design - Photos by Eric Laignel

Quintessentially New York

2012-03-03T12:18:00.003-05:00

Last night we had a great evening and discovered yet another highly recommendable NYC spot - The Stanton Social. This is a fantastic restaurant/bar/lounge on the Lower East side. The decor was a mixture between chic lounge and urban industrial with white painted brick walls, steel lights and leather upholstery. The cocktails and food were amazing - a kind of modern American tapas - and luckily we were six so much was ordered and I was able to taste a good portion of the menu. Delicious! The vibe was great, and although loud, like any typical Manhattan spot, was a wonderful place for an evening out with friends.

Stanton Social

Furniture Fridays

2012-03-02T08:30:00.001-05:00

Happy Furniture Fridays everyone! Today I am so happy to have a fellow New Yorker on the blog - Richard from The Modern Sybarite. Richard and I have become instant blogging buddies and i am so excited to have him here to share his favorite piece of furniture. TMS is full of unique and incredible posts on furniture, art, interiors and Richard's vision for design. I have also been enjoying the work he has recently posted on a project he is working on for private clients and it makes me appreciate his aesthetic and eye even more. Please take a moment and stop by (frequently) as you will love what you read and see.

A Giorgetti enigma

Coming up on my 250^th blog post, I had neverquite found another blogger whose views and aesthetic so closely resembled myblog themodernsybarite. Then I was introduced to Anna’s Canoe Design and I knew I had met my match. And so I was gobsmacked when last week Annainvited me to feature my favorite piece of furniture in her blog. I have not yet met Anna, but I know for sureshe has an impeccably modern eye for top design. Thank you for your invite!

Some people love clothes or shoes. I love chairs. And since these are slightly harder tocollect and fit in your closet or under your bed, I’ve had to limit mycollection to only those I can fit into my space. My obsession is such that years ago Ipreferred to live on a very tight budget for a couple of semesters at schoolrather than to give up buying my 2 Giorgetti chairs. Twenty years later, I’veforgotten half of what I’ve learned but I still have my chairs!!!!

However impossible as it may sound, these chairs have noname. They were made by the Italianluxury furniture firm Giorgetti and when I bought them in 1992, the descriptionon the invoice only read “chair #63330”. For this feature I contacted the firmand they could only tell me that these were part of the Progetti Collection thatwent out of production in 2009. But whenI Googled the description I could not find an image of my chairs. Therefore I want to think they are extraspecial and will one of these days be soooo expensive I will have to sell thembecause I cannot afford the insurance!!!

Visually what attracts me are the sinewy curves andbeautifully lacquered wood with its details in cherry wood. They remind me of an updated cross between therigid but beautifully made 18^th Century Chinese Hetaomu horseshoeback armchair and the Scandinavian simplicity ofHans Wegner’s 1944 China Chair or 1949Wishbone Chair as only imagined by agenius and chic Giorgetti designer.

What do you think?

Image credits: Giorgetti #63330 Chair – Kristal Davis

Denieuwegeneratie

2012-03-01T10:37:00.001-05:00

HA! Try saying that twice!!

I was perusing Trendland and came across an article about a super interesting house that I just had to share with all of you. It is by the Dutch design studio Denieuwegeneratie and is called their Dutch Mountain House. Not only is the architecture of the house incredibly interesting visually with it's prismatic angles and sheet glass facade, but it is eco friendly. Embedded into the site, the house sits almost completely underground allowing the surrounding earth to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. And the large glass walls we see are great for the view, but they also allow sun to warm the concrete structure as an added source of heat. The interior is open, modern and playful and the coolest part - they have converted an old jaguar into a bookshelf! Hope you all love the design and details as much as I do.

Photos courtesy of Trendland byJohn Lewis Marshall

Scott Frances

2012-02-29T10:01:00.003-05:00

Photographer Scott Frances is one talented man! I stumbled upon his website recently and realised that I have been enjoying and gawking over his work for many years through design magazines and designers' websites. I feel like I have experienced each and every one of the interiors he shoots through his photographs and the fantastic light and feeling he manages to capture. There is an incredible elegance and simplicity to his photographs that have me hooked. With a beautiful combination of architecture, interiors, details and landscapes, Scott's photos really have something for everyone. I hope you enjoy the selection and that it helps to inspire your day as it has mine!

All Photos courtesy of Scott Frances Photography

Before & After : Bathroom

2012-02-28T09:50:00.001-05:00

As you know we moved to Manhattan about seven months ago from London. We weren't really ready to leave London, but when my husband's company offered us the opportunity to live in New York how could we say no? The offer was kind of a shock as we were settling in to life in the UK and had even just purchased a 600 square foot apartment in North London (Tufnell Park to be exact) in July 2010.

With me being a designer, and my husband being great at DIY (I mean AMAZING!), we were looking for a project. Not only did we think that it would be a good way to increase the value of our investment, but neither of us could picture moving into a perfectly renovated apartment - we wanted to put our own stamp on it. We made an appointment with the estate agent to go and look at an apartment and when we arrived realised that we were not seeing the one we thought. The agent explained that the one we originally wanted to see was no longer available, however this one was so why don't we take a look. At first we laughed our way around - the apartment looked like something out of the 80's with bad kitchen cabinets and bathroom tiles, vinyl faux tile and wood flooring, surface-mounted cabling running all over, and a retro infrared multi-room stereo system. With all that being ridiculed, the more we walked around the more we realized that it was perfect! 8 weeks later we were the proud first-time apartment owners and had a big project on our hands.

Over the next couple of weeks I will take you through our renovation starting toady with the bathroom! As you can see from the images below the bathroom was in need of a serious facelift! The tiles were out-dated, the room wasn't well organised and felt really dark and tiny, and with very high ceilings in such a small room, it just felt like the proportions were all wrong. We wanted to make the room feel larger, brighter and more modern.

As neither of us really take baths we decided to remove the bath and install a walk-in shower instead. This really helped to make the room feel much larger as it opened up the floor space. We also wanted to make the scale of the room feel more proportioned so lowered the ceiling about 30cm - this gave us space to recess the extractor vent and LED lighting which added a lot of light and brightness to the space. We installed large white gloss subway tiles 3/4 way up two walls and slate tiles (both from Fired Earth) for the flooring to keep the material palette very simple. The paint on the other two walls and above the tiles was a gloss Slate III from Paint & Paper Library, a colour I used on several clients projects and was dying to have in my own house. We kept the fittings very modern and minimal with chrome and white porcelain. On the whole the room turned out exactly as we wanted, and with the mirrored cabinet above the sink we even got some much needed storage!

Welcome to the 2012 Homies

2012-02-27T16:59:00.000-05:00

Well, being relatively new to blogging I am learning more and more each day about this wonderful creative world, and how everyone works together. Canoe Design has been nominated by the amazing Apartment Therapy community for their Homies Award 2012 in the category of Best Home Design Blog. I cannot tell you how this has left me completely speechless. THANK YOU!

So, if you have a moment, here is how it goes - visit Apartment Therapy here to sign in and cast your vote (preferably for Canoe Design). Voting will end on March 2nd, and although I am happy for all the votes, I really am so happy to be considered and to be in the company of so many amazing bloggers - including Emma from The Marion House Book where I visited today.

Inspired By

2012-02-27T11:05:00.002-05:00

Safari! Well, I am so excited, I can hardly contain myself! In just under two weeks we are heading to South Africa for a holiday I have been looking forward to for ages now! My mother was born in Johannesburg and has not been back in over 30 years. As she just had a milestone birthday (mom, don't worry, I won't reveal how old you are!!) we thought that a great way to celebrate would be to head back to where it all began. My brother and I (and our significant others) have never been, so it is sure to be a trip we will all remember. Although I am very much looking forward to Joburg and the Cape, it is the time we are spending in the game reserve that I am most excited about. I have been thinking A LOT about out time on safari lately and thought I would share some fun and stunning inspired images with you.

A Well Travelled Woman

Ralph Lauren

Maison & Demeure

Apartment Therapy

Guest Post

I am also so happy to announce that today I am with Emma at The Marion House Book talking about my favorite things! Please head over for a look!

Quintessentially the Oscars

2012-02-25T11:35:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow night is the big one, and as I mentioned here, I love awards season. With the Academy Awards starting in the afternoon, I can hardly contain myself - all the red carpet glamour, Billy Crystal back as host and enough Hollywood glitz to make your eyes hurt! For the few years we were in London I missed watching and all the excitement of the live show, so I feel this is an even more special year for me this time. In honour of Oscar, and the great parties I am sure we are all hosting tomorrow night, here are some yummy treats, decorations and party ideas to go with this gold night! What have you got planned? Are any of you hosting parties of your own?

I love the palette of this table - black, white and gold - very Hollywood, very chic! And to customize people's drinks, you can do as the stars do down the red carpet; have a mini bottle of bubbly with a straw and a personal label. Not too keen on the champers out of a straw, but love the label idea!

Celebrations at Home

Twig & Thistle have some amazing make-your-own party templates available for download ont their website. I love the idea of everyone having their own personal oscar ballot to fill out before the ceremony begins. And what movie party would be complete without a drink (with your own personal tag) and your own personal bag of popcorn?

Twig & Thistle

What party would be complete without Oscar's presence? Well click here to see how to make these amazing cookie statues - they look amazing!

Bakerella

If you aren't in the mood to bake, there are several websites that will deliver delectable Academy Award worth treats right to your door. My favourite is Eleni's where their cookie and cupcake categories include Best Actor/Actress, Best Picture and Hollywood Quotes.

Eleni's

Furniture Fridays

2012-02-24T09:27:00.002-05:00

Today I invite you all to join me in welcoming Lysann from Pure Living Interiors for Furniture Fridays! Based in Germany, Lysann has a wonderful eye for design and always features unique and beautifully simple interiors on her blog. Being relatively new to the blog world (like me), I think Lysann brings a fresh look and enthusiasm to her posts, and PLI has become a daily read of mine. I am truly excited at her selection of 'favorite furniture piece' as it is one I covet (love the combination of leather and steel). Thank you Lysann for your great post and I highly recommend everyone to stop by and enjoy her site.

I was very excited, when Anna asked me if I'd like to guest post for her Fridays series. I'm following her truely inspiring blog since nearly the beginning and so it was just an honor to get invited. Thank you, Anna.

Her brief was to pick my favourite piece of furniture, which wasn't easy, as there are quite a few I really adore. But as a young love is always extra sweet, I thought it would be a nice idea to share the latest one I fell in love with. Some weeks ago I visited the 'Trendset' Fair in Munich, Germany and stumbled upon two beautiful brown leather eye-candies - an upholstered bench as well as a round coffee table. Aside from the brown ones recently I also found the same bench with a woven leather seat in dark brown, which is very gorgeous, too. I love the foldable bases, which means you can easily move the bench around your home - from being a stool in your hall next to the front door to a bench in front of your bed, to replacing your desk chair or becoming an extra seat for guests. The first feature that caught my eye was definitly the vintage look of the leather. And did you spot the hand stitching details on the seats as well as at the edge of the table top? It looks just wonderful, doesn't it? For sure it makes these outstanding pieces.

Lysann x

Urban Barn

Hübsch A/S

Janson Goldstein

2012-02-23T10:21:00.002-05:00

The work of Architecture and Interiors firm Janson Goldstein is one I have been keeping my eye on for quite some time. They are a New York based company that approaches each project with an all encompassing design view - each element contributes to the whole. The use of refined materials (both in architecture and interiors), elegant colour palettes and a wonderful mixture of custom designed pieces with some more unique items, gives their interiors a really comfortable and individualised look. You can see the client's taste and lifestyles coming through in each of their projects. With projects ranging from the very modern to the rustic, I feel that Janson Goldstein really can tackle anything that comes their way in a tasteful and refined manner - just look at the elegance of the library below!

All photos courtesy of Janson Goldstein LLP

PS - Apologies to all about the flip flop these last couple of days on the blog design. I am trying out some new things (and thinking about what I learnt in yesterdays Alt Summit class) and so I appreciate your patience. Any thoughts and recommendations on the layout and design are appreciated - after all you are what make me succeed! Have a great Thursday all!

Chocolate Heaven

2012-02-22T09:24:00.000-05:00

I was perusing one of my favorite inspiration blogs Bjorn's Randoms and came across a delicious post on the Godiva store in Tokyo's Harajuko district. Although the store was complete a couple of years ago it is just too good to not write about. Designed by the local firm Wonderwall, the shop features melting chocolate walls, ceilings and a much more playful approach with this 'themed' flagship than the more traditional shops the brand is known for. I don't know about you, but the combination of sleek marble, chrome and chocolate make this a design success good enough to eat! Enjoy the treat...

All Photos courtesy of Wonderwall

Guest Post - Design Shuffle

2012-02-21T10:01:00.001-05:00

My Inspired By post yesterday was not only inspired by the colour and pattern of David Hicks, but I thought that it would be a good segway into todays guest post from Design Shuffle. I am happy to welcome this collaborative opportunity and hope you all enjoy this treat of "Colour in Design".

Hi, I'm Susi, a blogger for Design Shuffle, a wonderful site that brings together designers and design lovers from around the world to showcase their projects and find inspiration. I'm so excited to be visiting Canoe Design today. I loved Anna's post on Diane von Furstenberg's colorful apartment and was inspired to do my eye candy guest post about color in décor. Hope you enjoy the interior design eye candy!

Jennifer Brouwer Design

The tomato red of this buffet table is dramatic in a predominately black and white room.

Using contrasting colors gives this living room and dining room a synergy between the two areas. I love the turquoise chairs against the backdrop of the yellow abstract painting.

The bright green upholstery on the banquette and chair seats is a nice contrast to the greys and white of the city view beyond the window.

This beautiful living room has a more transitional traditional feel to it that works best with more subdued colors. Adding grey as an undertone to greens and blues softens the color.

Color in décor can be bright spots as well as bold swaths of color. I love the deep fuchsia accents and blue lamps against the soft grey in this bedroom design.

Colorful décor doesn't stop with the furniture and decorative objects. This colorful patchwork carpet is offset by the grey sectional and rose accent chair.

This intensely colorful living room design was designed by Marjorie Skouras. Deeply hued walls set a dramatic backdrop for colorful furnishings and lighting. The room would feel very different with

neutral ways.

These colorful and patterned accessories remind me of Anna's post on DVF's NYC apartment above the High Line. Bold colors and patterns can be mixed for a chic bohemian look—lovely decorating ideas that could be used in just about any outdoor living space.

Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8What's your favorite bold color?

Inspired By

2012-02-20T11:28:00.001-05:00

Pattern & Colour! I was reading through my book David Hicks : Designer last week and although I have inspected its pages several times before am still as inspired by his work as I was the first time.

David Hicks was a British designer who used bold colours and patterns in his interiors: A very interesting mix of antiques and contemporary art and furnishings, creating very unique interiors. Recently there was a re-introduction of his patterns with wallpaper by Cole & Son and carpets by Stark (see first two images below). More and more we are seeing designers embrace colour and pattern in their interiors, creating some truly wonderful - albeit eclectic - spaces. I enjoy seeing patterns and colours being mixed in all avenues of design (hot pink and orange anyone?) and with the right placement they can create a tasteful and timeless interior. Do you like patterns? How do you think they work in a space, and can where can one draw the line of tasteful versus over-the-top?

houzz & The Decorator

Interestingly people have compared Kelly Wearstler to a modern David Hicks, and I can see the similarities. Her interiors are bright, full of pattern and feature an eclectic mix of furnishings combined with colour and texture. What are your thoughts? How does she stand up to his work?

Kelly Wearstler

Happy Weekend!

2012-02-18T10:16:00.000-05:00

Last night we had a wonderful dinner with a new friend on restaurant row (W46th Ave) and feel invigorated for having discovered yet another new part of this amazing city. It is a bright and sunny day here in Manhattan and we are off to do a little horse riding this afternoon - so excited.

There are some exciting projects in the works for next week so stay tuned. I am also happy to say that I am now - finally - connected to the world of Twitter (@CanoeDesignBlog), so stop by, have a look and follow me if you are so inclined.

I hope you all enjoy a fantastic weekend and leave you with a little architecture and travel treat to inspire us all!

A x

Furniture Fridays

2012-02-17T09:46:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone! I am so happy to have Niki from My Scandinavian Home with us today for Furniture Friday! Niki is inspired by all things Scandinavian and her blog is a wonderful illustration of this. With interiors to drool over her beautifully simple blog is always full of interesting posts and inspiring images. I am constantly discovering new designers, homes and stylists and highly recommend you all stop by and enjoy this fantastic blog. Thanks Niki!

I was truly honoured when Anna asked me to write a guest post about my favourite piece of furniture on Canoe Design. But honestly, where to start? There are so many absolutely FAB newsworthy pieces out there?!

In the end I went for the Tolix Model A Chair. Why? Firstly it has withstood the test of time (it dates back to 1934) and is now enjoying a wonderful revival in fresh colours. And secondly, I absolutely love me a little industrial design and no chairs add an industrial feel to a room like a Tolix!

If I had my pick (yes please!) I would definitely go vintage - I looooove rusty, authentic looking Tolix chairs in galvanised silver. However, I also wouldn't say no to a very cool shiny new sunny yellow one or maybe the 'rouge glacis' hue to add a pop of colour to my dining area while keeping in step with my grey and white colour scheme.

Yes they may get a little uncomfy over lengthy dinner parties, but beauty is pain people, beauty is pain! In any case, you could always add a cushion (my answer to everything).

So I say, merci to the French for this wonderful piece of furniture and Vive la Tolix A model chair! Have a lovely weekend!

Decorpad

In My House

Sköna Hem via The Style Files & Tolix

via French by Design

via Greige

A Milestone!

2012-02-16T10:06:00.002-05:00

Photo from Glogirly

Wow, it is hard to believe that this day has arrived after only 5 months! I am very excited that today is my 100th post on Canoe Design! I have really enjoyed creating each and every of my 100 posts and hope that you have enjoyed reading them. My introduction to the blogging world has been one that I am touroughly enjoying and I have met some really wonderful people. I love being part of this community and thank you all for your continued readership, connections and support.

I am also happy to reveal my blog's new look! I thought that this would be a good opportunity for a little make-over, and being new to HTML, it has taken a little time to plan, but I hope you all like it!

As this is (at least for me) a pretty big milestone, I thought I would share 10 things about me and my blog with you...just so we can get to know each other a little better.

1. I am a die-hard blackberry fan and cannot every imagine switching to an iphone - I might eat these words in the years to come, however for now I am holding strong.

2. My blogging buddy is our Italian Greyhound Lina - she is a great support and is always by my side!

3. I only signed up for a twitter account 4 days ago. I know...behind the curve.

4. My favorite drink at Starbucks is a "Half-sweet-skinny-chai-with-a-shot-of-espresso". Also known as a Dirty Chai!

5. I have just finished a series of interviews for a top Manhattan Interior Design company, and am crossing my fingers that things work out.

6. Scary movies and roller coasters terrify me.

7. I have been fortunate enough to travel to some incredible places in the world including the Galapagos Islands, Fiji, Costa Rica, the Maldives, France, Italy, New Zealand and Australia to name a few.

8. My girly guilty pleasure is to get my nails done on a regular basis.

9. I miss the incredible Gastro Pubs in London. We have seen some here in Manhattan, but nothing compared to what there was in the UK.

10. I love everything to do with the water and if I hadn't become a Interior Designer I wanted to be a Marine Biologist!

Glacial Paradise

2012-02-15T09:09:00.001-05:00

The incredible French artist and designer Antoine Wygand has teamed up with architect Ronald Toupet to design a room at the Swedish Icehotel of Jukkasjarvi. They have (appropriately) named the room "Diamond genesis" as they worked the ice into shapes playing on the prism of a diamond's gloss and transparency. They carved the room out of a shell of ice and even made the bedframe and furniture out of ice - incredible! The room is stark and cold, and I could never have it as a full-time thing, however the idea of a night (or two) in a room and hotel made of ice is so cool! Have you ever stayed at an ice hotel? I would love to hear what that is like!

Trendland

On the Horizon

2012-02-14T15:37:00.000-05:00

I sincerely hope you are all enjoying this day of the heart. Whether you are with a love, loved one or anyone that holds a special place in your heart, I hope you are feeling special today - YOU ARE!

I am really excited this week as Thursday is my 100th post (I cannot believe it has come so quickly) and I have some very exciting things on the horizon! Canoe Design Blog will undergo a serious make-over this week and I cannot wait for you to all see the changes. As well, I am also putting together a post on the renovation to our apartment in London and cannot wait to share these transformations with you so stay tuned!

Here is a little sneak peek on the apartment...

Happy Heart Day

2012-02-14T09:19:00.001-05:00

A little heart inspiration for you all to enjoy on this Valentine's Day.

Anna x

vi.sualize

A Cup of Jo & Ideas to Steal

Design Sponge

decor8 & flickr

Decor Hacks

Modern Design Interior

Inspired By

2012-02-13T10:33:00.000-05:00

The Grammy's! Well, we are in full swing of this years Award Season, and last night was the biggest night for the music industry with the grammy awards. The red carpet fashion was hit (and many misses), and the show was full of it's usual glits and glamour. As the elite from the recording world strive to get their hands on this little gold gramophone, it got me to thinking about all that inspires when it comes to the recording industry - the clothes, the colours and the spaces. Hope you enjoy. What do you think is the most inspiring part to these award shows?

The Inquisitr

The Osbourne's staircase is lined with Gold and Platinum records - a great music industry variation on the clutter of framed art that is a huge interior trend at the moment.

Interior Design Files

Vibe Factory recording studio in Copenhagen. I can really see the Danish inspiration with this studio, really love the simplicity and elegance of this space.

May Sun Days

I came across this image a little while ago and saved it to my pinterest account, because I love this idea. What a beautiful piece of large-scale art this blown up sheet of music makes - so simple yet so stunning!

Mirrors & Metallics

This is Glamorous & RCFA

Nude & Copper

RCFA & Desire To Inspire

Black with Gold Accents

Habitually Chic & RCFA

Quintessentially New York

2012-02-11T10:39:00.001-05:00

Flickr

Last Friday we had drinks and dinner with some friends and the bar we went to was so interesting I couldn't leave it off my Quintessential series. We found ourselves at Smith & Mills a bar the size of my pocket on North Moore in Tribeca. The bar has no signage and is as close to unnoticeable from the outside as one can get, but the dark, hipster atmosphere inside felt like a real corner of New York. It was very busy to say the least, but if you are fortunate enough to get a table the oysters looked yummy and they make the best Dark 'n Stormy I have ever had. This is for sure a place we will be back to enjoy again and again!

On a side note as mentioned in my post here I signed up for an Alt Channel Class on 'Expanding my Readership' and it was fantastic. The class was taught by Nicole author of Making it Lovely, and she really had great advice and experience to lend. There was fantastic chat going on with all those participating in the class and as a result there have been a lot of connections with fellow bloggers. I will for sure be registering for a second class and will keep you all updated on which one - perhaps we can take it together?

Furniture Fridays

2012-02-10T08:40:00.005-05:00

Today Furniture Fridays is written by the wonderful Katie from H2 Design Blog. Not only is this an inspiring blog on all avenues of design, but Katie is half of the incredible husband and wife team behind H2 Design + Build a design and build studio based in Washington. Her blog is one of my go-tos for inspiration, information and is always well written with lots of eye candy! Katie's aesthetic is clean and elegant with the integrity of the materials and craftsmanship playing a key role in her work. I hope you will all check out her studio and blog. Happy reading!

I have to be honest, when Anna asked me to be a contributor to her favorite piece of furniture guest post series, many exciting and timeless pieces came to mind. To narrow it down, I thought to myself... "what do I really want these days?", and "what fits into my modern vintage with a dash of industrial aesthetic?" And then it hit me! Tom Dixon's industrial Screw Table. That's it!

This versatile table (available in two sizes) can be used as a dining, coffee, or side table, in indoor, outdoor, commercial, or residential settings... Simply put, the screw table can do it all! The table consists of a bomb proof cast iron tripod with an aluminum screw base, which allows you to adjust the height to your heart's content. The table is topped with an elegant, but solid, marble slab. Not to mention, Tom Dixon is one cool designer.

That said, here it is... Tom Dixon's Screw Table (I wish the name was a little more refined, but you can't have it all!)

Photos courtesy of Tom Dixon

Town Hall Hotel

2012-02-09T09:13:00.001-05:00

I was perusing Yatzer yesterday and came across these amazing images and article on Town Hall Hotel. It is the stunning new boutique hotel to hit London's East end and it has me dying to head back to the land of tea & crumpets for a visit.

Set in the old Bethnal Green Town Hall, Rare architects married the existing Edwardian building with a new extension enveloped in a lazer cut, powder coated aluminum. The interior is no different with all the original architectural features meticulously restored and new contemporary features installed. There are glass walls, and minimalist bathrooms & bedrooms suites floating in Edwardian panelled rooms. This hotel is really one for the books and the photos leave me wanting more. I love love love the integration of old and new and the selection of furniture used throughout. What do you think? Is the contrast between the original building and the new renovation too extreme?

Photos courtesy of Yatzer

A Second Chance

2012-02-08T11:53:00.001-05:00

As I am still new to the world of blogging I feel like I am playing catch-up with all the events and seminars that take place for bloggers to participate in. Alt Summit was held a few weeks ago and really would have been wonderful to attend. I really like the idea of hearing fellow bloggers speak about all aspects of this community and feel like I would have learned a lot. Well, all is not lost! Thanks to Eileen at A Creative Day, I am now aware of Alt Channel - a virtual classroom that offers daily online seminars in a variety of different topics to help us bloggers better hone our skills.

I am looking forward to participating and have signed up for tomorrow's class on Building Readership, so I'll let you all know how it goes. Anyone want to participate with me?

The Queen of Prints

2012-02-08T10:28:00.005-05:00

My AD arrived about a week ago but things were just a little too busy for me to sit down and really sink my teeth into the issue. I finally took a moment to have a read and really enjoyed this issue - it is full of interesting and diverse homes, several of which I am looking forward to posting about, so stay tuned! Being new to Manhattan I recently discovered the high line and truly think it is one of the most fantastic public spaces the city has to offer. Near the end of the highline in the Meatpacking district, Diane von Furstenberg's headquarters pop up like a stunning beacon of old and new.

WORKac has converted this old warehouse into a contemporary bright corporate and retail space for this vivacious fashion line. On the top of the building they have made Diane a contemporary private oasis. AD featured her apartment here and it is for sure worth a read. We all know her eclectic style from her fashion line, and it really comes out with the use of pattern, colour and quirky pieces of furniture throughout the space. Her bedroom and master bathroom sit within a glass prism on the very top (see image above and below) giving panoramic views over the city. Diane aesthetic really comes out in this apartment and it really is a gem in the city...lucky lady!

Photos Courtesy of AD

Hariri Pontarini Architects

2012-02-07T10:12:00.000-05:00

I was born and raised in Toronto and went to Ryerson University in the same city for my Interior Design degree. Since I haven't lived there in over five years, sometimes I find myself forgetting about the amazing interior design and architecture firms that Toronto and Canada have to offer. My mom directed me to an article on the former RIM CEO's house (see in Globe & Mail here) by Hariri Pontarini, and it got me thinking about the firm and their work which I used to be so familiar with.

Hariri Pontarini Architects is a Toronto based company whose aesthetic is contemporary and refined. They incorporate wood, stone and glass into their buildings and interiors and this creates an aesthetic that is not only stunning but really works with the surrounding vernacular. They are responsible for the creation of my favorite building in Toronto (see first two images below), and although it was built 14 years ago, still feels so current and relevant. I hope you enjoy their work as much as I do - happy stalking!

All photos courtesy of HPA

Inspired By

2012-02-06T10:24:00.002-05:00

The Super Bowl! First I would like to start off by saying that I am not a football fan. I think that yesterdays game was the first I have watched all the way through. I had to get my husband to explain all the details and rules throughout, however as we moved to the US six months ago it felt like this was a part of the culture we should partake in (it seemed like everyone had football fever). The game wasn't very interesting (sorry football fans) but it was interesting to see how much fanfare there was surrounding it all. The inspiring colours - Red, White and Blue - was shared between both teams uniforms and are great colours for interiors, accessories and all things design!

And finally, I don't usually post on food (although I love to cook and eat), however there have been some incredibly creative and talented bakers out there and I just love the detail and creativity of these cookies!

Etsy

Eye Candy

2012-02-04T12:24:00.001-05:00

A little peek at some of my latest pins.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

A x

All photos available through my Pinterest account

Furniture Fridays

2012-02-03T10:43:00.002-05:00

Today I am thrilled to have Tobe from Because It's Awesome with me for Furniture Fridays. I discovered BIA several months ago and now cannot get enough. Tobe's insight and posts on the world of interiors and all things design are truly inspiring. She has a stunning aesthetic and I am always fining new and unique inspiration in her posts.

Tobe is in the process of designing her home and there have already been some amazing posts on the progress (see her living room here). While Tobe is waiting to publish the "Big Reveal" on her master bedroom (cannot wait) she has put together a great post for me on her favorite headboards. I look forward to Tobe's posts and images and hope you will all stop by for a look!

hello! tobe from because it's awesome here, talking about my favorite piece of furniture. i have to say this was nearly impossible for me to hone in on. i'm sort of a big fan of all furniture; the more interesting and quirky, the better! my first inclination was to go with wingback leather chairs. but since chairs have been done a time or two for this series, my second thought has everything to do with the two bedrooms we're decorating essentially from scratch. i've come to realize that i have had a serious thing for upholstered headboards! happily, i just purchased one for our master and i must say, i'm feeling quite fancy. this is my first "adult" bed, and while mine has regency style tendencies, i can definitely appreciate all shapes and sizes.

Interior Design by Grace Bonney

Interior Design by Michelle Adams

Interior Design by Lee Kleinhelter

Interior Design by Michelle Adams

Interior Design by Pereira Associates

all images via lonny magazine

thanks for having me, Anna! ox

Kate MccGwire

2012-02-02T09:56:00.004-05:00

I was first introduced to Kate MccGwire's work a couple of years ago while working in London. She is an incredibly talented British artist who creates stunning sculptures and installations with feathers. I was reading through some blogs yesterday and came across an update on Kate's work on My Love For You (a great blog I recently discovered) with other work and interviews by Kate here and here, and just had to share it with all of you. As you will see from the images below, her work is unlike anything I have ever seen - there is a serene quality to her pieces and I feel like each time I see them I not only notice different things, but they make me feel different emotions, a really rare achievement for me. Please enjoy the works below and have a look at her website, it is really something unique and wonderful!

Photos Courtesy of Kate MccGwire Artist

Wall of Books

2012-02-01T10:20:00.001-05:00

As designers we are alway striving to control our client's interior - wanting to make sure that everything is perfectly arrange, works together and looks good. We build spaces for our clients to live and I feel that one of the best ways to see their impact on a space is the evolution of a bookcase. There is a fine line between a space looking cluttered with overflowing bookcases and the books being an organized design feature in the space.

Habitually Chic

The collection of images that I have put together are truly inspiring. I love the idea of having bookshelves that run floor to ceiling and actually grew up with these in our TV room (didn't appreciate it growing up, but now I see what a fantastic feature they can be, sorry mom!). Whether the shelves are just for books, or you want to incorporate accessories and frames on them, a bookshelf can be an amazing feature in any space. Do any of you have feature bookshelves in your home? What do you think about this architectural detail for a home?

Pinterest & Design Sponge

Remodelista & Pinterest

Apartment Therapy

Moorish Love

2012-01-31T10:33:00.001-05:00

Moorish style is an aesthetic that I am truly fascinated with. There is an attention to detail and a methodical working out of these details that I think is stunning. The ornate aesthetic is full of colour, pattern and texture brought to life by natural materials. Whether it is with a subtle hint (the shape of a doorframe) or more obvious detailing (a mosaic wall or mashrabiya panel) there is a timeless elegance to it that I love. I have done some work in the middle east and was always fascinated by this incredible aesthetic and do hope you enjoy the selection of images below.

Alberto Pinto

Elle Decor & Studio KO

Wikipedia

Almitra & Pinterest

Rue Magazine through Pinterest

Superstock

Brilliant Asylum

Inspired By

2012-01-30T11:03:00.001-05:00

Industrial Lighting! Last weekend we made our way down to Chinatown and went to Vanessa's dumplings for a Sunday lunch (highly recommend, amazing!), and on our walk to digest after walked through the lighting district on Bowery Street. It was great to see so many incredible styles and deals all in one area, but the thing that caught my eye was the DIY section in one store. They had every brass part you could ever want and an amazing assortment of different size filament bulbs so you could design and assemble your own as the image below - Sorry I forget the name of the store but it is on the NW corner of Bowery and Broome.

The Beat that my Heart Skipped

It got me to thinking about this industrial lighting craze that has been going through the deign world and the incredible selection of shades, materials, bulbs and styles available. The options really are endless and I do love the vintage bulbs and cage fittings. What do you think of this trend?

Etsy & Etsy

Quintessentially New York

2012-01-28T09:35:00.001-05:00

Last night for our Friday night drinks we went to both the Peninsula and the Palace. At the Peninsula we decided to give the rooftop bar Salon de Ning a try, and although a third of it is enclosed there were people sitting outside under heaters - I know, so mild for the end of January. The space was super dark and pretty simple and they had created a cluster of framed paintings, however instead of hanging them on the wall as one usually sees they had them hanging on the ceiling. Other than the art it wasn't our scene and left a little to be admires - we really wanted to be in the Private Members University Club next door!

Peninsula Hotel New York

After one drink at the Peninsula we decided to try somewhere else and wound up in the Gilt Bar at the Palace. The interior of the New York Palace is much more stunning than the Peninsula with mosaic vaulted ceilings and gilded details throughout. The actual Gilt bar is a very modern structure in the centre of a classical architectural room with a barrel vaulted ceiling. We really felt like we were in a quintessential New York bar and will for sure go back.

New York Palace

Furniture Fridays

2012-01-27T10:18:00.001-05:00

For today's Furniture Fridays I thought I would do something a little different. I am so excited by this feature and cannot wait to see all the amazing pieces that my fellow bloggers (or taste advisors) come up with. And on a side note I think it is interesting that we have had three chairs in a row! Although my "Favourite Piece of Furniture" post will come later in the year I just couldn't help myself and I thought I would do a little post of my short list and get some advice from all of you on which piece (or pieces) you covet. Any suggestions? What would you include?

Le Corbusier LC4 Lounge Chair

We have one in black leather and it is so comfortable, and really like a piece of art in our living room.

Home Designing

Eileen Gray Transat Chair

Fanatique

Saarinen Oval Dining Table (with Carrara marble top)

Knoll

Polder Sofa by Hella Jongerius

Vitra

Nelson Swag Leg Desk

Apartment Therapy

Nelson & Associates CSS (Comprehensive Storage System)

Wright

Jacques Adnet Bar Carts

Wright & Art Value

Stay tuned for next week when we will be hearing from Tobe at Because It's Awesome!

Equestrian Elegance

2012-01-26T09:38:00.001-05:00

The Equestrian world has been a part of my life since I was very small. I started riding when I was little and right away I was hooked - weekends at the barn, riding camp, competitions, I just couldn't get enough. I rode at many different stables and as I started to develop an eye for design was more and more fascinated by some of the lavish settings our horses live in (mine for sure didn't look like any of these!).

I have put together a compilation of stables around the world with incredible architecture, materials and details. I hope you enjoy reading this post as much as I enjoyed putting it together! Anyone else into the equine world? Are there stables you know of that should be included?

Amazon - Ultimate Horse Barns

As we all know several Royal Families are heavily into the equestrian world. Here are a couple of images of royal stables - the first is the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, England and the second is the Royal Stables in the Netherlands (I just love those vaults!).

Sights and Culture

Flickr

How could I not include a stable made by a master of design - Leonardo da Vinci. This is the stable he designed for Sforza Palace of Vigevano in Italy. I just love the height, the arches and the light. Stunning!

Flickr

And just to make things a little sweeter, favourite luxury brand, Hermes, has updated their quintessential saddle. The Talaris Saddle features carbon fiber to keep it super light, and Hermes' super subtle leather. For me this is the ultimate accessory!

Selectism

Liebster Blog Award

2012-01-25T10:08:00.000-05:00

How Does She

I would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Katrina at Dot Dot Dash for bestowing the Liebster Blog Award on Canoe Design!. The Liebster Award (a German word meaning Dearest) is given by fellow bloggers to blogs that have less than 200 followers, and I am honoured (this is my first blog award!).

Once received there are a couple of simple rules to follow - To thank the blog that gave you the award and link back to their blog, and then to Nominate 5 fellow blogs and post a comment to each of them. While there are so many blogs I adore reading, I love the idea of bringing new readers and audiences to up and coming blogs (like me), and so my selection is as follows (in no particular order):

Share Design Inspiration

47 Park Avenue

The Modern Sybarite

Amourette

My Scandinavian Home

What a great way to start the day! Happy Reading and Thank You!

A x

Shootfactory

2012-01-25T08:44:00.002-05:00

One of my favourite websites when I was in London was Shootfactory - a website set up as a library of locations for film, tv or photo shoots as well as party venues. I used it as inspiration on many projects as there are really interesting, unique spaces and you can find a concept image for really anything you are looking for. Wouldn't you imagine my surprise when I discovered that one of my favorite newly discovered blogs 47 Park Avenue is written by the key creative minds of Shootfactory! He has been posting on his home transformation (see post on his hall here, reception room here and en-suite here) which as you will see is an incredible representation of his stunning aesthetic.

As a result of this "small world" discovery I thought I would post some of my favorite spaces from Shootfactory for you all to drool over too. What do you think? Has anyone used one of their locations? I recognised the apartment from the movie Closer here.

London Apartment - Clapham Studio

London Apartment - Air

London House - Cadogan

London House - Hammersmith

Other House - Rochester Kent

Other House - Henley on Thames

Venues - Carousel

International Location - Stefan Antoni House, Cape Town

International Location - Ibiza 3

Little Piece of Paradise

2012-01-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while a hotel comes to me and just looks like a little piece of paradise. Today is no exception as I feature Hotel Palafitte in Neuchatel Switzerland. Really I think that the photos say it all...ENJOY!

Hotel Palafitte

Luxury Culture

Inspired By

2012-01-23T10:11:00.001-05:00

Green! I have been interviewing for positions here in the city, and since it has been ages (like years) since I last interviewed I realised my 'power outfit' was seriously lacking so I took a little stroll to Zara. As always their new year sale was great and I picked up a few key additions, one of which was an amazing silk emerald green top.

Oh Happy Life

Green is a colour that has really come into its own and we are (thankfully) seeing more and more of. Designers like Kelly Wearstler have been using it in their interiors for years (think chairs at the Viceroy Bar Santa Monica), and it seems as thought it is spreading through the design world. I think that if you aren't going to tie it in to the architecture - tiles, details, wallpaper - or have it as a accent in it's natural form (plant-life) then a little pop here and there is great, but too much can be overwhelming. Do you agree?

Apollinas

Volang

Pinterest & Designspiration

Crush Cul de Sac

Ideas to Steal & Oh Joy

Pleasing Aesthetics

California Home + Design

My Future House

Happy Weekend

2012-01-21T11:05:00.001-05:00

Well, it is the first major snowfall of the season here in Manhattan (I don't really count the freak storm in October as part of the season) and all I want to do is stay inside and keep warm.

Here are some warming images to keep all of you who are feeling the chill cozy inside.

Wishing you a happy weekend!

A x

The Purl Bee

Remain Simple

Apartment 34 & A Cup of Jo

Furniture Fridays

2012-01-20T08:32:00.000-05:00

Happy Furniture Fridays everyone! Today we have the lovely Anna from La Boheme with us to share her favourite piece of furniture. I don't only love her because we share the same name, but La Boheme is full of inspiring posts on all aspects of design and Anna's insight into Interiors, Architecture, Fashion and Art is always intelligent and thoughtful. She has an amazing aesthetic and La Boheme is for sure one of my daily reads!

When Anna asked me to select my favorite piece of furniture, I went to the Danish designer Poul Kjaerholm and his PK 22 chair from 1955. There is something elegantly timeless about this chair that I am drawn to and I love the fact that it can be placed in just about any interior space, holding its own no matter the surrounding style. Of course the combination of steel and leather balanced to detailed perfection only adds to the intrigue of what is feminine and what is masculine in this design. I think this chair fulfills both and it is this understated confidence that makes is so appealing.

PK 22 is part of the Fritz Hansen production.

Fritz Hansen

Eric Piasecki

2012-01-19T09:46:00.003-05:00

I have a thing for photographers lately. Something about looking at different interiors, details and sets through the lens of these incredibly talented people is so telling. They have a truly fantastic eye and frame their shots with talent and insight.

One of my favourites at the moment is Eric Piasecki. He is a New York based photographer with an eye for capturing colour, texture and details. He has worked for heavy-hitting interior magazines such as Elle Decor, Architectural Digest and House Beautiful, and as you can see from his stunning work below, very deserving. What do you think is important about capturing an interior?

All photos courtesy of Eric Plasecki Photography

Vintage Wine Jugs

2012-01-18T10:03:00.000-05:00

This is one interior trend that I am fully on board with. I love these glass vintage wine jugs - the variety of shapes, colours, sizes. I think that they are a great addition to an interior whether they act as decoration, a vase or are converted into a lamp.

Many interior accessory and furniture companies (like Pottery Barn and West Elm) are coming up with their new versions, however I think that the vintage finds are the best and if you are really lucky you can one that still has an original label on it (see images three and four below). The most common size is a DemiJohn (a 15 gallon glass jug) but as the images below show, there are many different sizes and colours so start your collection with whichever style you like best.

Vintage Mulberry

Design Fabulous

Eclectic Interior Design Blog

Shades of Light

Flickr

Pottery Barn

Prouvé Raw

2012-01-17T09:34:00.001-05:00

There is a new collaboration in town : G-Star RAW and Vitra. And who better for them to collaborate on then the limited edition designs of Jean Prouvé. Last summer on the Vitra campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany there was an exhibition of 17 furniture re-interpretations of some of his incredible pieces of furniture and lighting. The great news - nine of these are now available for purchase as special editions following the exhibition - amazing!

With a palette of steel, leather and wood these pieces are simple, modern and unique and hold the essence of Prouvé's designs in hand while working with the raw essence of G-Star. I love these re-editions and wish I could have had a look in person. I guess I will have to visit Vitra's Manhattan showroom to peek at. Anyone else as excited about these as I am?

All photos courtesy of Vitra

Inspired By

2012-01-16T11:39:00.003-05:00

Black and White! Such a simple and timeless combination of tones, yet the ability to create such interesting and contemporary design. Last night Claire Danes wore this incredible black and white J. Mendel dress to the Golden Globes (see image here) and it got me to thinking about the simplicity and elegance of this combination. Although they are oposite in "colour value" they work so wonderfully together that whether it is an interior, piece of furniture or item of clothing you are sure to get classic result. I think that one just needs a little contrast to create a bold statement, and whether stripes, colour blocking or a complete interior, the images below are great examples of how I think these two work so well together. What about you?

Anouska Hempel Design

Carina Ciscato Artist (through Joanna Bird Pottery) & Frama via Lotta Agaton

Charles Zana Architect

Lazaro Rosa-Volan

Vitra

Desire to Inspire

La Boheme & Ashes of Laughter

The Latest

2012-01-14T18:09:00.001-05:00

Just a little peek at some of my latest pins.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

A x

All images available through my Pinterest account here

Furniture Fridays

2012-01-13T09:55:00.003-05:00

I am happy to announce that this week's Furniture Fridays guest post is Katrina author of Dot Dot Dash. An architecture, interior and design blog, Dot Dot Dash is a creative look at all things design related. Katrina is trained as an architect and interior designer and has an amazing eye. Her posts are always brilliant to read and beautiful to look at - not to mention that she is a great baker and her cupcake series is mouth watering!

I Covet: Eames DSW Side Chair

When Anna asked me to pick my favourite piece of furniture, right away my mind flashed to Charles and Ray Eames’ plastic side chairs. I still don’t own any key pieces that are post worthy, but my dream is to own a set of these.

I chose this chair because of its timeless simplicity. I love the clean lines of the seat and the structural detailing of the base.

Designed in the 1950s, Vitra continues to produce variations of the Side Chair. Although they come in amazing colours, my choice is always the white seat with the maple legs and wire cross struts.

x kat

Nest

Black White Yellow

Andrea Ferrari

2012-01-12T10:51:00.000-05:00

I have admired the work of Photographer Andrea Ferrari for many years now and have included her photos in previous posts of mine - see here, here and here - but I thought that it was long overdue for her to have her own post. With Editorial shoots for Elle Decor Italy and Domus magazines, she is a name to know in the interior photography world.

Andrea is a an Italian photographer with an incredible eye (a must if you are going to go anywhere in that industry). Her interior shots are simple and calm, however you can feel a little underlying edge to them which give each photo a little oomph. She really gets to photograph incredible places and spaces and captures their essence in a thoughtful and thorough manner.

All photographs courtesy of Andrea Ferrari Photography

Msurizio Cattelan : All

2012-01-11T12:25:00.001-05:00

I went to see the Maurizio Catellan : ALL at the Guggenheim Museum yesterday. Before the exhibition I didn't know much about his work - and after having seen it I have to say while I understand and am a little more familiar with his work, a lot more research has to be done in order for me to get a real grasp on it! However, it was truly fascinating to see the works suspended in the rotunda of the Guggenheim like that. This suspension and method of presentation made it possible to see each piece from all angles which was very important to the artist and to the viewer in understanding each work. I would recommend going and taking a look at the exhibition not just to see the works but to spend some time in the museum in such an interactive way - the spiral space allows a retrospective like this to work together, something not many other galleries can offer. Has anyone else seen it? Thoughts?

The nice thing was to see everyone gathered around the edge of the spiral looking into the rotunda. The architecture of the space really played an important role in the presentation of the exhibition and it was nice to see people interacting with it in such a positive and active way.

* Please excuse the photos, the camera on my blackberry isn't as great as I want it to be and I sadly left my real camera at home yesterday.

Rees Roberts + Partners

2012-01-10T09:31:00.000-05:00

Yesterdays "Inspired by" post on windows (see here) featured a house by Rees Roberts + Partners LLC and has actually inspired me for todays post. They are a Manhattan based company specialising in interiors and landscape design and their entire portfolio is stunning. With works that have an incredible attention to detail, materiality and palette they create spaces that are crisp clean and modern.

They were published in the February edition of AD for a project in the Rockefeller Apartments on W54th street (see my post on the building, one of my favorite in this city) and it is for sure worth a read - see images 3 and 4a below for a sneak peek. They are the sister company to Steven Harris Architects and between the two firms they really do create works that leave me breathless. Enjoy the eye-candy below and take a look at their extensive portfolio online because it is really worth a look - and I welcome any and all thoughts!

All photos courtesy of Rees Roberts + Partners LLC

Inspired By

2012-01-09T10:21:00.000-05:00

WINDOWS! One of the most interesting architectural details for me is the execution, materiality and aesthetic of windows. I love how they give views out - or in - and allow people a glimpse of "what is on the other side". Whether they offer panoramic views over a city, or let light in, I feel that they are one of the most important architectural feature in any space.

As we become more and more able to manufacture glass in larger and stronger pieces, the limits to how this material is used keep getting pushed. For me the simple slim steel or iron profile of a frame with several glass panels is still the epitome of a modernist aesthetic, and one which I love. With this being said, an entire wall of glass to let light in and views out is a thing of beauty too. What is your preference?

Wit + Delight

Style By Emily Henderson & Defined By Design

Design Therapy

Jose Hevia Photography

Standing Elements

Standing Elements & Knight Moves

The Glass House

Plain English

Quintessentially New York

2012-01-07T09:43:00.003-05:00

With all our travelling around and being home for the holidays we haven't had much of a chance to explore the city as we usually do. Last night however, we kept up our Friday night tradition - but with a twist. For the holidays my husband received two tickets to Dizzy's Jazz Club at the Lincoln Centre and last night we went and had a fantastic time. We had tickets to the 9:30 seating and were given a table front and centre, and lucky us because Jimmy Owens: The Monk Project was playing and they were superb.

The room is interesting with acoustic wood panelling creating these beautiful horizontal waves along the back wall and around the sides of the room. The backdrop to the stage is a panoramic view over Columbus circle and Central Park (facing East) - AMAZING! We had a great time and highly recommend this evening out to anyone. Has anyone else been?

Furniture Fridays

2012-01-06T08:15:00.000-05:00

As promised I have some exciting ideas coming up this year, one of which is starting today with my new weekly feature - Furniture Fridays! As the blogging community is growing and there are some truly inspiring "taste makers" out there, I thought that it would be interesting to put a collection of favourite furniture pieces together. I have asked bloggers I admire, read and respect to send me their favourite piece of furniture owned/made/desired and will be featuring these over the next 52 weeks.

I am so happy to announce Nicole, author of Sketch42 will be starting this feature off for me today. Sketch42 is truly an inspiring and creative blog, and Nicole is not only an incredible writer, but she is a brilliant artist too. I recommend everyone check out her blog and thanks Nicole for starting this off for me!

My favorite pieces of furniture are usually the newest! I found these two chairs online at the Minty shop's site… I instantly fell in love with the shape. They reminded me of many chairs that Kelly Wearstler has used in her projects.

Before the chairs even arrived, I found the fabric and randomly bought 15 yards! I thought the raised polka dots were so chic! Ultimately, I think the chairs are fun, interesting and definitely add a punchy little kick to my somewhat serious living room.

You can see the whole before and after on my blog!

Stylish Winter Retreats

2012-01-05T10:24:00.000-05:00

For me the best way to get over the winter blues is to escape to a tropical paradise (see incredible hotel post in Bali from yesterday here). However, this got me thinking about all those that love the snow, and all the activities and interiors that go with it. I do enjoy hitting the slopes and ski chalets are definitely a highlight of the winter experience for me. When I think of a ski chalet I think of rustic wood, animal skins and huge fireplaces. With this being said, times have changed and with more design firms trying their hand at contemporary chalets here are some incredible examples of how a winter escape can be just as stylish as city homes.

Pinterest & Pinterest

My Pinterest page

Winter Escape

2012-01-04T10:02:00.001-05:00

Today is the first really cold day of the winter here in Manhattan. I know, we are really lucky that it is January and things are just starting to freeze, but after a walk in the park with the dog I am feeling cold to the bone! Weather like this, and the post-holiday blues, always make me want a holiday...and what a better place to escape but to a tropical island paradise.

The Alila Villas Soori in Bali is a member of the Alila Hotel Group and is pure perfection! This escape offers guests luxury private beachfront villas designed by SCDA Architects of Singapore. The hotel is contemporary with natural materials being the principal players in a simple asian inspired design. It is all about the view and bringing the amazing surroundings in while offering guests the ultimate in eco-luxury. I don't know about you but this looks like one holiday location that would cure my winter deep freeze!

Alila Villas Soori

Marvelous Marble

2012-01-03T09:34:00.001-05:00

Marble is a natural material with truly beautiful variations in colour, pattern and application. There are many different varieties and so the possibilites for installation and colour really are endless. I love the amazing patterns possible from the veining and installation methods and the ability for this natural material to really stand out as a work of art.

Bathroom, kitchen and feature walls are the most common interior applications - and as you can see from the images below marble really does act as a statement.

Source unknown

But there are some less tradition uses for marble which I think are truly spectacular, how about you?

Moco Design

Daily Mail

Phillips de Pury & Company

Inspired By

2012-01-02T10:38:00.006-05:00

Frank Gehry! Well it is 2012 and I am excited to see what this year has to offer. We rang in the year at a great party in a new iconic Manhattan building - The New York by Gehry - and it felt like a sign from the design gods that this year is going to be all about architecture, interiors and design with a capital D. The newly built tower is the tallest residential tower in the Western Hemisphere and sits on the lower East side by the Brooklyn bridge with incredible views in all directions.

The buildings interior is simple with lovely wood panelling in the public areas and there are touches of Gehry all around - the door hardware throughout, the simple junctions between materials, and the organic shapes throughout. The exterior of the building is clad in stainless steel similar to the Guggenheim in Bilbao or the Disney Building in LA, and has a lovely fluid movement like vertical rippling waves moving up the building. I have thoroughly enjoyed Ghery's addition to the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto (see here) and I welcome this addition to our iconic Manhattan skyline.

The door hardware throughout - available through Valli & Valli

The simple wood kitchens are well planned and have nice appliances and hardware.

The floorplan of the apartment we were in - standard developer layout, but in this building it is all about the view!

Photos and plan from The New York by Gehry

Elevator bank on the ground floor - simple use of materials and details but helps with the grand feeling of the building.

The key plan on every floor - I love that they included the waves of the building facade!

Quintessentially Canoe Design

2011-12-31T11:28:00.001-05:00

Image available from my Pininterest page

Well it has been an exciting and exhilarating year. Thank you to everyone for your continued support and readership. I have truly enjoyed sharing my thoughts, inspiration and ideas with everyone and am looking forward to an even bigger and better 2012! Looking back on the past year here are links to my five favorite Canoe Design posts from 2011.

Wishing everyone a very HAPPY NEW YEAR and all the best for 2012!

JOAQUIM TENREIRO

RUSTIC SOPHISTICATION

HIGH GLOSS

INSPIRED BY.... SNOW

PURE BLISS

A Place to Work 2

2011-12-30T08:31:00.000-05:00

Following on from my post yesterday here, I have been thinking about interesting places to work and the environments people set-up to inspire them. Whether the space allows one person or several people to sit, a clean, simple space seems to be a reoccurring theme that draws me in. Here are some great images of working space that inspire me - how about you?

Number 19 Blog

The Brick House

Bildlista & My Ideal Home

Greige

Home DSGN

Inside

Standing Elements & Habitually Chic

A Place to Work

2011-12-29T09:16:00.002-05:00

I am at my computer most of the day so it is important for me to have a space that acts as a little home office/study. We have a 'small' Manhattan apartment and therefore I am not lucky enough to have a separate study to work from and so I have had to carve out a nice little working space at our dining table. With all the reference material around me that I could need and a great amount of light coming though the window - something I think is a must if you are going to be sat at a computer all day - I really feel quite cozy and comfortable here. What are your home-office essentials?

Here is the view out of our window. We are on the west side just above mid-town so it is nice to have the morning sun coming in the window and the eastern skyline - we can even see a sliver of the Times Square ball!

A House with a View

2011-12-28T09:16:00.001-05:00

I recently re-watched the Canadian movie "Where the Truth Lies" and was mesmerized by its styling and architecture. It is a pretty intense film in terms of plot, but with this being said, one of the main sets is filmed in the Stahl House - Case Study House 22, an architecturally intense setting.

The house was built in 1959 as part of the case study project - a programme implemented by Art & Architecture Magazine to get renowned architects to design and build inexpensive houses for the American housing boom - by architect Pierre Koenig. It is a single story house in the Hollywood Hills with incredible views over Los Angeles. It has walls almost entirely out of glass - both internal and external - and to me is a total piece of paradise! The house is now used for movies, commercials, parties and visits, and is for sure on my list of must-sees next time we are in the LA area.

The Stahl House

Arch Daily - Photos by James P Miller

Inspired By

2011-12-27T09:53:00.001-05:00

New Years! The holidays seen to have gotten the better of me yesterday and I am a day late on my Inspired by post. New Year is a fun and exciting time of year full of promise and hope for the year to come - not to mention resolutions that we all try to keep. We have been invited to a party so are looking forward to having a little bubbly and meeting some new friends. I hope everyone has some fun and exciting plans - what are you up to?

For all of you in New York, here is some inspiration for the big party at Times Square - the Swarovski crystal ball!

Now wouldn't this make an amazing venue for a New Year party? It is the Lal Bagh Glasshouse in the Bangalor botanical gardens...amazing!

Wikipedia

Reading Guide

2011-12-27T08:53:00.003-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I am sorry to have been missing for the last few days. My husband and I drove up to spend Chrismukkah with our families and are now back in NYC.

I would like to send a big thank you to everyone for their support and following of my blog this year. A big mention to Desire to Inspire as Canoe Design has made their 2011 reading list (see post here).

We are getting ready for 2012 and some exciting ideas and projects in the pipeline.

Anna x

Paper tiger press