Meredith Heron Design: Fort York Condo

Good morning Small Space Dwellers! Hope you had an enjoyable weekend! I spent mine getting some much needed rest and catching up with friends and family. While visiting a friend I was asked the question, "Who is your favourite Torontonian designer?". I had to think hard for a few minutes. Nobody readily came to mind... I mean, I love the designers in my city but there was no one single designer that popped up. So when I got home I got on my computer and got to searching. I still can't say that I have a favourite but I found a good handful of designers that inspire me. One of which is Meredith Heron. She has an elegant way of putting a space together while never forgetting to add subtle pops of unexpected interest. Take a look at a Fort York 1 bedroom condo she designed that was featured in HGTV's Small Space Photo Gallery.  

Wooden Barrel Planter Side Table DIY

This is absolutely genius! I honestly love this guy! I mean com'on Joel... so creative! This is so simple I'm jealous that you thought about it before I did!

House and Home's design editor, Joel Bray, transforms an inexpensive wooden barrel planter into a side/coffee table. Not only is this incredibly easy, it's also ridiculously chic! The possibilities are endless. You could leave the natural wood, white wash it, paint the planter in a stripe pattern... I think you see what I mean... endless.

Take a look at how he did it or watch the Easy DIY Side Table video and other genius DIY ideas at House and Home TV.

Apartment Tour: Meredith & Gwyneth, The New Yorkie

All weekend I was in design mode working on making a bachelor apartment feel like home for a single gal that just moved into the city. I am super excited about the project! Her place is a blank canvas with great bones and is turning out wonderfully so far. Don't worry, you will all get first eyes on the finished project and my DIY timbits along the way.

Now while I was looking for inspiration and a design direction for the 'Single Gal' Bachelor, I came across the apartment tour for Meredith & Gwyneth, The New Yorkie; a blog about Meredith and Gwyneth and their design adventures of making New York feel like home. I particularly like this home tour because it shows how a generic, parquet floor cover, white walled pie in the sky, you-know-the- ones-I'm-talking-about apartment can be personalized into a beautiful apartment of style. Not to leave out the fact that she as done it all in 470 Sq. Ft! This is what it is about! Living and loving life and a place, however small, that you can call your very own... I love it!

Check out Meredith & Gwyneth, The New Yorkie and their apartment tour.

Nate Berkus: The Things That Matter. Does Your Home Tell Your Story?

Anyone who knows me knows that I adore Nate Berkus, so I am ecstatic to announce that his new book entitled, The Things that Matter, will be on the shelves on October 16th, 2012.

Setting the tone as a memoir that includes details of the devastating 2004 tsunami when he watched his boyfriend as he was swept away, Nate shares intimate stories about his life taking us through the aftermath, how he put his life back together and his realization that the 'things' that fill our home should be nothing less than a reflection of our lives, loves and passions.

In his book, Nate introduces us to people who influenced him and helped him forge his sense of style, and discusses remarkable experiences that have left an expression on how he lives today. From his most cherished flea market finds, to the many extraordinary mementos he's collected in his travels, he emphasizes how every piece defines who he's become and what endures in his world.

Nate also adds design timbits, invites readers into his NYC apartment and into the home of twelve others, including a sleek steel-and-glass high-rise that soars above Chicago, a rustic cottage in the Hudson Valley, an ultra-chic atelier that maximizes every inch of space, a Greenwich Village townhouse that holds multiple art collections, and a study in meaningful minimalism in Marfa, Texas. He shows how the distinctive interiors of all featured home open a window into the lives of their owners and the inspiring choices that have made then who they are today.

The Things That Matter is not just a design book, Nate Berkus shares his philosophy that things do matter, our homes should tell our stories and reflect the places we've been and the people we've loved along the way. Design with an inspirational twist!