House & Home November 2019 - The Holiday Issue

The moment my husband and I had kids, the holidays took on a new importance. For the first few years, Myles and I would pack up the whole family and head West to spend Christmas with our relatives but, after a couple of attempts at boarding flights with strollers, car seats, Christmas presents and even snowboards and skis, we came to our senses and decided the season was best spent in Toronto (even if the skiing wasn’t as good). Suddenly, we had to figure out how we wanted to celebrate Christmas — and which traditions we would embrace and which ones we would skip. When it comes to decorating our tree, I lean toward ornaments we’ve picked up on our travels (something my mum always did), toilet paper rolls dripping in…

I subscribed to Architectural Digest for about 25 years and it got so over the top that I could no longer relate to its content. There was absolutely nothing offered that I could afford or even aspire to because of the opulence and extreme nature of every home they presented. I searched for a new design magazine for a few years and stumbled upon yours on a trip to L.A. What a find! I signed up immediately for two years. I now have had almost two years of checking out your magazine and have never been disappointed in the quality and your sensitivity to your consumers, who are not the one per cent of income earners. I always find something that is either useful, inspiring or generally attainable! Thank you…

ANGELA WHEELER Designer, “Oh, What Fun!” (page 102) Angela set out to decorate her Port Perry, Ont., home and discovered her passion for design along the way. Go to hostess gift? One of my 12-year-old son’s handmade charcuterie boards! Most are made from walnut grown on our farm. This time of year, you have a sweet tooth for… My mom’s Nanaimo bars made using the recipe from The Laura Secord Canadian Cook Book. TODD McMILLAN Designer, “New Traditions” (page 94) The Burlington designer runs design and build company Ben Homes with his wife, Kristen. What’s your holiday entertaining essential? A playlist with a mix of classic holiday music and feel-good tunes from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Holiday tradition you want to start? Doing less on Christmas Day — staying home, hanging out…

BABY’S BREATH Although it’s often overlooked as filler for bouquets, this member of the carnation family is eye-catching when a healthy handful is tucked into a vase en masse. For the holidays, mix it with a few delicate evergreen sprigs. FUN FACT: Baby’s breath became popular in the Victorian era as a symbol of purity and everlasting love. KING PROTEA So named because its spiky bracts look like a crown, this regal flower has a natural grandeur due in part to its size — blooms can reach up to 12 inches in diameter and plants can be over three feet tall. Arrange one or two in a simple white vase. FUN FACT: Proteas are among the oldest flowering plants, dating back 300 million years. PAPERWHITES Part of the genus Narcissus like the daffodil, these…

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST THOUGHT WHEN HOLT RENFREW ASKED YOU TO DESIGN ITS TOILE? That it was too good to be true! I had to pinch myself. HOW DID YOU BEGIN? My process starts with creating a mood board. The design brief was for a toile de Jouy that presents the natural beauty of Canada with an arctic spin. My research led me to elements special to Canada, such as snowcapped mountains and fir trees. AND WINTER-LOVING ANIMALS! I think they’re perfect for the theme of the design. The three featured are the polar bear, arctic fox and mountain hare. WHY DO YOU THINK TOILE HAS SUCH TIMELESS APPEAL? It has a lot of character and it often tells a story. For me, the most exciting part is incorporating different elements that give…

WHO: Stephanie Taylor, designer and creative director, and Kyle Taylor, marketing director and CEO WHERE: Sutton, Ont. CONNECT: blacksaw.co, @blacksaw.co THE SCOOP: The couple’s sustainable yet luxe alpaca blankets are coveted as both wall art and a cosy layer. “Traditional wool blankets tend to be itchy and dated. Our goal was to make something incrediby soft and eco-friendly,” says Kyle. LOCAL COLOUR: Stephanie and Kyle both worked for fashion brands and had been looking for a business to build together. While vacationing in Peru in 2016, the avid travellers noticed herds of alpacas grazing amid the snowcapped Andes. “We realized the alpacas were the answer we’d been looking for,” says Stephanie. “We plotted everything for Blacksaw during a 14-hour bus ride.” OUT OF OFFICE: The couple works where inspiration can…