Gift Guide Part 2 : Home

For the second instalment of my guide I wanted to share things for the home - after all this is an Interior Design blog and the fun part.  I was very conscious when making my selections to consider that not all of us are prepared to spend six figues on gifts for the home this holiday season, and so my selection are thing I would love and that aren't going to break the bank.  What would make the top of your list?

1. Roberts Retro DAB Radio. Okay, this has been on my list for the last several years.  I think that it is an amazing addition (aesthetically) to an interior, and adds a little touch of quirk  with this said, do people still listen to the radio??

2. Pillows from Christian Zuzunaga

3. Alvar Aalto Squiggle Vase

4. Adnet Mirror. This is probably the priciest item on the list, but seeing as he is one of my favorites, I couldn't leave him off my home gift list.  Many have tried to copy his mirror, but when it comes down to it, the stitching detail and proportions just can't be beat with an original!

5. Tea Bag Infuser

6. Petrified Wood Book Ends

7. Soda Stream Source is the latest addition to the Soda Stream Family and I think the best one yet.  The craze of making ones own sparkling water has really picked up and for this addition to their collection, they have enlisted the design help and environmental expertise of Yves Béhar,

Gift Guide Part 1 : Her

I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend and for those of you that took part in the craziness that is the Black Friday shopping weekend, you got some great deals and have had a good start to your holiday shopping.  I thought that since today is Cyber Monday, it would be a good time to have the first instalment of my 2012 gift guide. Over the next couple of weeks I will share the things that I think could make great gifts for those around you this holiday season.  

1. Cole Haan Skylar Reflective Oxford shoes. These Shoes are incredible. I have actually never seen anything like it.  They are the classic leather oxford shoes with one change - they have a reflective material coating on the upper of the shoe making them completely reflective with flash.  The shoes are black, but when they are caught in light they become high viz silver. 

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs ring

3. NewbarK Lazer Cut clutch

4. Chan Luu Ombré scarf

5. Essie Nailpolish

6. A tablet sleeve. I am a big fan of felt and leather together and think that the softness of felt is perfect to protect ones tablet device.  An Etsy shop called Fele Case makes cases for pretty much any kind of tablet, eReader or electronic device and I think that they are the perfect combination of cool and functional!

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is American Thanksgiving and we are very lucky to have a long weekend to enjoy some rest, relaxation and good food.  If you are celebrating today here is a little desert inspiration to get you ready for this day of festivities.

I hope you have a wonderful day - whatever you are doing, and wherever you are.

Anna x

Style Me Pretty

Some of my Favorites

It has been a while since I shared some of my favorite pins with all of you, and I thought that today was a good a day as any.  My series on Photographers last week really got me inspired by interiors of all kinds and has got the creative juices flowing.  There are some exciting things on the horizon here at  Canoe Design that I cannot wait to share with all of you.   I am also so thrilled to be included in the Modenus top 100 Interior Design Blogs with some truly inspiring people, so if you feel so inclined come on over and give us a thumbs up - there are only 9 days left to vote!  Well that is all for now, but enjoy the wonderful images below and let me know what you think...there seems to be a theme to them, it must be the time of year. 

Enjoy!

A x

All Photos available through my Pinterest account

Photography Week - Part 5

I thought that it would be fitting to have the last photographer in my series be British.  Simon Upton is a  London-based photographer who has shot some of the most incredible interiors in the UK and around the world for some of the most predominant magazines and designers in the industry. There is a simplicity about how his settings are framed, yet as a viewer it is clear to understand the complexity of each space. 

This week has been a truly fantastic adventure for me into the wonderful world of interior and architectural photography and has not only inspired me but has made me excited to have my projects photographed in the future.  I hope that you have all felt as enlightened as I have and that we have discovered some wonderfully talented people together.

Simon Upton Photography

Photography Week - Part 4

For todays photographer I wanted to stretch my geographic reach to Europe as many of the interiors and designs coming we are currently seeing are at the top of our industry, and Xavier Béjot is no exception. This French photographer works with the likes of Jean Louis Deniot and we all recognize his work from covers of magazines such as Architectural Digest, Elle Decor and Interior Design.  I love the way he uses surfaces in the interiors to tell a story not only about the materiality of the space, but also what the photograph is not able to show you - the reflection int he mirror below, or lacquer panels in photos 2 and 3 and the surfaces in the last image. 

Xavier Béjot Photography

Photography Week - Part 3

Todays photographer is the California based Dominique Vorillon.  Featured in publications such as Veranda, New York Times Magazine and World of Interiors her work always has a clean, crisp and easy to understand quality.  She has a way of capturing light in a space that gives her photos an almost etherial quality, something I find so mesmerizing.  The color saturation and framing of each shot brings me into the space, and whether I like the interior or not, I find I am always inspired by her images.

Dominique Vorillon Photography

Photography Week - Part 2

Our second photographer of the week is one which I have admired for quite some time, and with covers of Magazines like Elle Decor and Architectural Digest in his portfolio Pieter Estersohn is definitely a heavy hitter in the design world.  His photographs are an eclectic mix of colours, materials and styles and he has an amazing ability to bring the viewer into the space.  He has photographed some of the most luxurious and interesting interiors and I am always truly inspired by his work.

Pieter Estersohn Photography - 1stDibs

On a small side note, Modenus is hosting it's top 100 Interior Design Blogs curated by their audience   Canoe Design has been added to the list, so stop by here and give a little thumbs up  if you feel so inclined. I am in very good company so please thumbs up to all your favorite blogs, lets share the inspiration!! Thanks to everyone for your continued support and readership - you guys really are the best!

Photography Week - Part 1

I have been looking through a lot of concept images recently getting inspiration for some new projects we have.  Most of my images have come from photographers and so I thought I would do something a little different this week and highlight five photographers whose work I am currently admiring.  I have always been interested and inspired by interior and architectural photographers (see here), so it shouldn't come as a surprise, however I thought that it would be interesting - and hopefully enlightening - to showcase these amazingly talented artists over the next five days.  I hope you all enjoy and welcome any and all thoughts.

We start out with the incredibly talented William Abranowicz, a New York based photographer whose work is well-framed, sparse and at often times monochromatic. He has a wonderful way of highlighting key items in a photo guiding the viewer through the interior and photograph to best understand the space - a telent I truly admire.

William Abranowicz Photography - 1stDibs

Dune : Paradise Islands

What a week it has been! With Hurricane Sandy blasting it's way through our city and surrounding areas we were very fortunate to go through it rather unscathed. Gripped to our TV watching what was going on in the area we could and can hardly believe what people have gone through.   As luck would have it one of my best friends was scheduled to get married in the Bahamas last Saturday and we found ourselves battling cancelled flights and delayed trips until we were finally able to head south on Thursday.  I was in the wedding and so it was so important for me to be there for my friend.  The wedding was at Atlantis and so we found ourselves on Paradise Island for four days.  It was a beautiful wedding in an incredible setting and I am so happy we were able to make it.

Well, those of you that know me know that I live and breath design and so I would just find it impossible to not spend a little time - no matter where I am - in a fabulous interior.  We were given the heads up the that Ocean Club (one of the hotels in Casino Royal) was just down the beach and so we decided to share our last night's dinner with some old friends at Dune Restaurant. Part of the One & Only hotel chain (see post here), the restaurant is everything you would expect from a beach setting, but with a twist. The wood has been limed and ebonized, there was lots of leather, and everything was calm, funky with a little edge!  Designed by world famous designer Christian Liaigre, this was an interior that I will remember and reference for quite some time.