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Leave a Comment July 30, 2010

Conserving water at home: not just a drop in the bucket

By Susan Legge

Are you looking for ways to help save the environment and also save money on your utility bill?

Some companies are taking notice of the demand for water saving fixtures and are creating new products with conservation in mind. Companies like Price Pfister, who was one of the first faucet companies to partner with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program out of the U.S., are catering to those looking for ways that they can help be more environmentally conscious.

Here are some tips on how to conserve water in the home by just making a few changes:
· Installing water efficient faucets can save 2,500 gallons per month.
· Installing water efficient showerheads can save 500-800 gallons per month.
· Fixing leaky faucets or plumbing joints can save 20 gallons per day for every leak stopped.
· Turning off water while brushing your teeth can save 3 gallons each day.
· Shortening showers can save 700 gallons per month for every minute

By switching to water efficient plumbing fixtures, the average household can save $170 every year on its water bill. You can use the EPA water saving calculator http://www.epa.gov/watersense/calculate_your_water_savings.html to see how much money you can save each year by changing your faucets and shower heads.

Price Pfister’s traditional water-pump inspired Ashfield model can reduce water consumption by approximately 30 per cent without compromising your water experience

Leave a Comment July 29, 2010

Trend preview from HomeSense

By Sara Duck

One of my favourite trend previews in the industry is the one from HomeSense. Twice a year its showroom is transformed into inspiring vignettes that showcase all the drool-worthy products soon to hit its stores. I of course eagerly attend to find out the latest trends so I can then report back to you, our beloved reader! I haven’t met anyone who isn’t absolutely mad for the fabulous finds and this fall season is no exception. Here is just a little sneak peek at what you can expect to see in stores starting this September.

Exotic Flavour: From eyelet metal hanging lanterns to colourful throws and embroidered pillows, it’s all about eclectic and vibrant pieces being paired together.

Cool Britania: Call me biased (I’m a true anglophile at heart), but I think a touch of British flair is always in vogue! As you can tell by the photo, don’t be afraid to display the bold union jack in a living room set-up, or for a more subtle approach, take a cue from the flags colours and accessorize to fit.

Vintage Office: Maybe it’s because I have Mad Men on my brain (Season 4 starts on Sunday!) but this set-up looks like it’s channeling the vintage vibe. I love the green wallpaper mixed with the dark furniture and the zebra-print rug. Oh and those clocks! What a fab idea to create an art wall using clocks of different styles and sizes mixed in with black and white framed photos.

Leave a Comment July 22, 2010

Winter holiday preview adds a little sparkle and shine to summer

By Susan Legge, homeTRADER Editor-in-Chief

No snow in T.O. on this balmy July morn, but the The Spoke Club was ready for a winter holiday celebration thanks to the chic vignettes stylist Arren Williams created for the preview of inVU Drapery Co.’s Winter/Holiday 2010 collection.

CEO of inVU Drapery Co., Lisa Nicholl, gave us the tour.
She’s been around the globe getting inspired for the upcoming season by seeing what’s new in the world of fashion and by adding the occasional antique piece of furniture or decorative tribal Suzani throw to her stores’ collections.

Yes, yes, it’s only July – but a look-see at the upcoming patterns, textures and colours are a good reminder that not everything you buy needs to be classified as a “Christmas decoration” when you’re out shopping.
In fact, quite the opposite is true.

As Lisa noted, most all of these pieces can be featured in your home all season long. All that’s been added is a little sparkle and shine.

Above, a “Black Tie Affair” using metallic pieces, mirrors and glass goes into holiday mode when giant magnetized snowflake ornaments are added to the Ghost chairs and Jonathan Adler-inspired glossy white porcelain pineapples and tableware are matched with silver-trimmed bowls. Modern, sleek and easy!

The classic ghost chair below retails for $249.99 and Lisa is getting the latest ’spindly-leg’ ghost chairs in-store later this fall.

Below, Lisa in the second vignette: a candy-cane inspired Home for the Holidays theme. Loved this “Ready-to-Wear” Madeline lined cotton drapery panel in Rouge which retails for $299.99.

Matching Madeline accessories such as pillows and reversible stockings are also available to pull this look together for the holidays – sweet!

Visit www.invudraperyco.com for locations.

Leave a Comment July 21, 2010

Ready, Set, Cook!

By Sara Duck

We give you the lowdown on two cookbooks that will inspire you to create a fabulous (and healthy) feast!

1. Recipes from an Italian Summer. $45. Visit phaidon.ca

It’s the ultimate Italian summer cookbook, filled with delicioso recipes for picnics, light lunches, entertaining, dessert and everything in between. The book is also beautifully bound with mouth-watering pictures of food mixed in with gorgeous shots of living la dolce vita in Italy.

2. The French Women Don’t Get Fat Cookbook by Mireille Guiliano. $32. Visit chapters.indigo.ca

A collection of delectable, healthy recipes and advice on eating well without gaining weight. Organized around Mireille’s three favorite pastimes — breakfast, lunch and dinner — these recipes emphasize pure flavours, balanced ingredients, and easy cooking methods, all with a certain je ne sais quoi!

Leave a Comment July 14, 2010

Be “ONE STEP” ahead this summer

By Sara Duck

As you shimmy this summer from one garden party to the next, eating, drinking and schmoozing, don’t forget to pack a secret weapon; One Step’s nifty travel size sanitizing wipes. These pocket-worthy wipes kill 99.9 per cent of germs. Let’s be realistic – it’s a dirty world and bacteria, good and bad, live on everything we touch. So why ruin a long, hot summer with a nasty infection? Be prepared! I’ve been hooked and love the convenience of throwing them in my bag and knowing I can pull them out anytime and anywhere. One Step Hand Sanitizer is available in a variety of different forms at most mass food and drug retailers across Canada.

Leave a Comment July 12, 2010

Pear Perfection

By Sara Duck

We went ga-ga over this Pear Pillow ($98 US) by Jonathan Adler. That Mr. A does whimsical design so well! This decorative cushion will look great perched anywhere, just make sure it get’s the spotlight it ripely deserves. For more garden themed products pick up our August issue, which comes out July 31st.

Leave a Comment July 6, 2010

Letter of the month

Home and Décor magazine is a good magazine to help one choose a good furniture store. My dad and I were looking for a new kitchen table which had to match our custom made maple kitchen cabinets. We were excited when we found an ad in the May 2010 issue of Home and Décor by Alta Moda Furniture which custom makes furnishings to one’s needs. Not only did the Alta Moda Furniture store custom match our kitchen cabinets with the kitchen table and chairs, we also bought a matching hatch! It helped us save a lot. Home and Décor is for sure a one-stop resource magazine for all you décor needs. Keep up the excellent work.

From a happy reader of your magazine:
-Anna Maria

Leave a Comment July 5, 2010