House & Home May 2021

I LOVE BRITISH DECORATING MAGAZINES and have not missed an issue of House & Garden for several decades. I love it because, through the last 10 years of boring beige no-colour interiors, this magazine ignored the trend for soulless rooms and carried on featuring the joyful colours and patterns that we see in London flats and country houses. You know the classic look of English decorating. Many have tried to ditch it in favour of minimal, modern schemes, but now millennials are embracing the look as their own. You see the influence in things as small as floral-patterned lampshades and whimsically painted wood furniture. Light fixtures in burnished brass with flower-shaped shades, rock crystal drop sconces like jewelry on your wall and white porcelain commode sinks are big. And, of course,…

My husband and I have been longtime readers of your magazine. When I say I fell in love with the Urban Farmhouse look (“Fresh Flavour”) in your March issue, I’m not exaggerating. From the walnut inset to the perfect shade of green on the cabinets, everything about this kitchen was jaw-dropping — even the fridge! That hardware was the perfect finishing touch. — DAVID AUSTEN, Toronto Your magazine doesn’t disappoint, even through these tough times. It helps to take my mind off other matters and to dream. — ROCHELLE GIBSON, Aurora, Ont I wanted to say how much I’ve enjoyed the March issue of Canadian House & Home. I appreciate the variety of design styles and have enjoyed the updates on Lynda’s lakehouse. My husband is an architect who’s designing a cottage for our…

KARI RENAUD Garden Expert, “Garden News” (page 44) A certified landscape designer and self-proclaimed hockey mom, Kari is the principal of Lilydesign Studio. What’s your backyard style? Modern and timeless with a pop of colour. I love modern design that is comfortable, functional and a bit funky. How do you freshen up your home for spring? Some bright flowers and foliage out front help give a fresh vibe and benefit the feng shui of our home. IRIS BENAROIA Writer, “Personal Style” (page 54) Iris is a Toronto writer who shares a Georgian house with thousands of books, her bikecrazed boyfriend and their son, Charlie. Favourite spring flower? My namesake flower fits me perfectly. Seeing them on my desk makes for a meta moment, and the purple, yellow and white mix is nice. What…

Lifestyle store Cadine opened in Vancouver’s Cambie Village last December and quickly became a style destination. With an emphasis on natural materials and soulful goods for everyday use, the exclusive designs chosen by owners Brenda Li and Paula Li span the worlds of fashion, beauty and decorating. Hand-glazed ceramics that give traditional silhouettes a modern twist, locally made wood furniture by Manner Studio and vases wrapped in vegetable-tanned leather are among the home items custom made for Cadine by artisans in Vancouver, New York and beyond. “Our intent is to provide artful and meaningful pieces that stand the test of time,” says Brenda. The store itself was designed by Ste. Marie Art + Design, an award-winning firm that combined archways, warm marble and wrought-iron details to create an elevated shopping…

Why do you think tole-style lighting is popular again? Recently, there’s been a lot of appreciation for more traditional aesthetics, allowing tole fixtures to be seen with fresh eyes. Designers are reinterpreting what traditional is and tole lighting adapts well to this approach. Why was a vintage tole chandelier right for this fun kids room (left)? It has an inherent charm and sweetness that spoke to the room’s overall feeling of lightness and happiness. Is the tole light in this living room (top left) a contemporary take on the style? It’s a reproduction made by Woka in Vienna, Austria. We love its sophistication and whimsy. The arms are straight, which allows for a bit of modernity to balance out the whimsical floral and leaf design. Any tips for where to buy light fixtures…

Farrow & Ball, the boutique paint company famous enough to be poked fun at by Saturday Night Live, is back in the spotlight with an exclusive colour collection created with celebrity designer Kelly Wearstler. Inspired by California’s diverse landscape, the eight sun-kissed hues range from foggy pale blue and bleached terracotta to bright citrus yellow — colours that could mix easily in Kelly’s high-profile interiors or hushed, personal rooms ready to be freshened up. Text by Kimberley Brown/Photography by Amy Neunsinger (Q&A, Todd and Amy’s portrait)/Roger Davies, courtesy of Rizzoli (Q&A, living room, bedroom)/Trevor Tondro, courtesy of Farrow & Ball (Cool Collab, sitting area)…