When I spied this pie cupboard in Almonte at Tin Barn Market, I knew I need look no further. It was close to the perfect size, had the character and history I was looking for and needs very little fix up. I am on the hunt for some vintage wire screening however.

She’s going here, on the right side of the post, where the irregular checker board is situated now. Notice the initials on the checker board…MC…top and bottom…Mike and Maureen Coates. I will find another suitable spot for this weird, but meaningful find.

Problem is, I need my new showpiece to be inserted into the logs so she will not jut out into the room. I’m especially anal about tight spaces and allowing for traffic flow, but I’m also especially anal about having this pie cupboard in exactly this location. In fact, this is the ONLY wall in the cottage suitable for the pie cupboard. Truth be told, I have never been fussy about ALL the log walls in the cottage, I wanted more painted walls, but Mike really wanted a ‘cabin’ feel, so I acquiesced…. for 8 years.

This is what I’m doing…..well in fact my son-in-law Jordan is doing this weekend, with my project managing skills. In the stairway leading down to the basement, he’ll be adding two new studs, and a header, taking down 2 original studs, cutting away the log siding in between the two new studs, trimming off  some of the bottom of the pie cupboard and inserting into place. I will then paint the exterior in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and finish off with a dark wax. Very soon this sweet pie cupboard will be displaying my red and white transfer ware collection ….and perhaps a few home baked pies.

The post Storage and a Log Wall Removal…YIKES! appeared first on Modecor.

Sonya specced one colour for all the walls and another for trim, purchased pre-made drapery panels, a few lamps, pillows and minimal accessories. The remaining magic was achieved through strict editing…..and this is where the hand holding came in to play.

Living Room Before

The rooms have dark oak fireplace mantels and surrounds, trim and doors, all original to the home. The clients have an abundance of silk flowers, gifted accessories, Christmas decorations, dated prints, family and friends photographs and furniture. We were tasked to make the rooms appealing, on a budget, using what was available except for the minor purchases mentioned above. We were given carte blanch with regards to moving furniture and clearing out the clutter, however, we were very much aware that we were also editing some beloved items. When we arrived Tuesday, the painting was complete which made a HUGE difference to the overall look of the spaces. (The above photos show a jumble of furniture, where in fact, the furniture had been pushed into the middle of the room)

Living Room After

Remember, we were not designing a new spaces. No new furniture was sourced or bought. We were using existing furniture and artwork, books and accessories in order to update and redefine the space. The wall colour went from grey to cream. A few items of furniture were removed entirely and others were added to the space.  The original sheers were removed from all the windows and chocolate brown side panels now frame the large picture window. The side windows were purposely left uncovered. The views from the Living Room have now been capitalized…the forest has been removed to see the trees.

Front Hall Before and After

This antique mirrored chest found a new home in the front hall. New candle sticks and candles are accompanied by existing carved wooden balls.

Family Room Before

 Family Room After

Again, the view from the Family Room is spectacular and Sonya and I endeavoured to make it the focal point by editing the clutter to see the view. We removed all of the photos and tchotchkes from the mantel then reorganized all the books. The outdated and dusty ruffled valances were replaced with cream side panels on the picture window. Side tables from he Living Room were repurposed here. New artwork was hung and a few pillows were added.

The Side Hall Before and After

Everything old is new again in this vignette. The desk lamp, books, framed print and metal sculptures were sourced from other rooms placed on the table to redefine this little nook.

Red wall begone. Armoire and surrounding space is completely edited. New light fixtures are still to be hung.

The clients were thrilled with the transformation. We’re not 100% positive that  the ‘forest” will not make it’s way back into these spaces. With encouragement and some hand holding on our part, we may have convinced the owners that their spectacular view is worth the continual editing.

The post Edit, Edit, Edit!!! appeared first on Modecor.

The window treatments below (both sets) are ridiculously too short, by a whopping 10″. This budget bedroom window originally had a black out roller shade but the client wanted layered window treatments to complete the look of the window and bedroom. But even budget window treatments should fit the window properly. OYE!

Although the window treatment rod is hung close to the ceiling (as it should be folks, makes the room and window appear larger), if it was hung just above the window frame (horrors), these window treatments would STILL be too short. Hellloooo… Target, I’m suggesting you make your window treatments longer by at least 18″ to account for taller ceilings and decent hems. I solved this issue by adding an insert to the existing panels. The inserts for the grey panels came from existing IKEA off white panels and the inserts for the patterned sheers was achieved by buying one extra sheer to use as the insert.

Solution:

To add inserts, and therefore a little interest without having to touch the hem. Yes, this can be done.

What you will need:  

fabric for inserts, sewing scissors, sewing tape measure, sewing pins, sewing machine, coordinating thread, iron and ironing board, a stool for removing and re hanging and an extra pair of hands (optional) to help with the rehanging.

Instructions:

1. While panels are hanging from correct rod height, measure from the bottom of the existing hem edge to the floor / carpet …these panels were too short by exactly 10″. Make sure your measurement allows for 1/4 clearance above the floor /carpet.

2. Determine where you want the insert to be. We decided to visually have it where the lower window frame begins, or about 1/3 approximately from the bottom of the treatment. This is really an arbitrary decision, but the insert should divide the treatment in thirds, quarters, fifths…NEVER in half.

4. We needed 10″ extra inches to achieve the proper height for the finished window treatment. But seam allowances must be included before cutting the inserts. I wanted 1/2″ seams. Therefore I needed to add an extra 2″ to the 10 ” for a total of 12″ unfinished insert.                                                                                                                                                          *1/2″ at TOP of insert sewn onto 1/2′ of  TOP existing panel = 1″ Plus 1/2″ at BOTTOM of insert sewn onto 1/2″ BOTTOM of existing panel = 1″ for a total of 2 extra inches*                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               ** keep in mind that the 1/2″ seam allowance needed from the top and bottom of each panel reduced the overall length of the finished panels by 1″, therefore, the insert ended up being 11″, but the desired total finished length was achieved **

NOTE: for the patterned sheers, I knew I couldn’t match the pattern repeat, so I cut the insert lengthwise, so the pattern would purposely not match. I measured and added enough length to include the two side hems to match the existing side hems on the panels.

5. The inserts were cut to 12″ and thankfully, the IKEA inserts were only slightly wider than the panels so a quick side hem was done to make them the same width.

6. To ensure the inserts was going where we wanted them, I pinned the inserts to the panel at the desired height which in our case was 28″ from the hem edge.

7. I then cut each existing panel at the 28″ from the hem. I pinned the TOP of each cut panel to the TOP of the insert and sewed the 1/2″ seam allowance. I then pinned TOP of each panel including the newly attached insert to the cut BOTTOM of each panel and sewed 1/2″ seam allowance.

IRONING IS IMPORTANT…

8. I ironed the two seam allowances on each panel OUTWARD and then topped stitched on the RIGHT side, close to the seam edge, to hold in place.

VOILA…semi custom store bought window treatments that are not only embellished, but are now the correct height.

The post How to MacGyver Store Bought Window Treatments appeared first on Modecor.

McGuire

My arrival at McGuire was delayed due to a mix up with transportation, so I wasn’t able to take as many photos of their showroom as I would have liked, but I was afforded time to have a chit chat with Modenus 2nd in command, Flo Von Pelet and Sarah Sarna, which more than made up for our tardy arrival.  Besides, we were greeted with more champers. I must beg your pardon for this fuzzy shot.

Creative Director of McGuire Furniture, Jim Caughman introduced us to the McGuire Story and Legacy. I was not familiar with this furniture line, but I do have a huge appreciation for artisans and craftsman, and I shortly became aware that McGuire prides themselves on their workmanship. I was interested to learn that for the past 6 decades, McGuire has held steadfastly to their original heritage of combining outdoor elements with indoor comfort and elegance. Original owners, John and Elinor McGuire were committed to the highest standards of design and craftsmanship and this commitment is very much adhered to today. Attention to elements of design, including, proportion, scale, balance and form are enhanced with with natural materials and and exquisite textiles. Each McGuire product is handcrafted by trained artisans for maximum comfort and timeless appeal. McGuire has collections from Barbara Barry, Bill Sofield, Jacques Garcia, Thomas Pheasant, Robert Kou, Laura Kirar and Orlando Diaz-Azcuy. Comprehensive information on the these designers and their McGuire product lines are available on the McGuire website.  Below are examples of the craftsmanship valued by McGuire, designers and consumers …hand tied leather on the arms, beautiful wicker and luxurious fabrics, not to mention wood and concrete and leather.

The Stylist

Source: Raina Kattelson

BlogTourNYC learning expanded into the afternoon at the McGuire showroom as we were introduced to stylist Raina Kattelson.  I think in my next life, I would like to be a stylist. Raina, whose work appears in Country Living, and Thom Felicia’s book American Beauty not only styles food, interiors and lifestyle shoots, she also produces, designs sets and art directs photo shoots. We are somewhat kindred spirits as it turns out, I too used to design and sew clothes for my Barbie doll. As a designer, I certainly know something about styling, but I had no idea how much time and effort not to mention energy and brawn are required to successfully complete a styling effort. As you flip through a magazine, it is likely that every photo shown had a stylist who managed, arranged  and perhaps brought all the props to the shoot location…. in a BIG truck.  The stylist, after conferring with the art director, producer and photographer does her homework and brings every element to the shoot that will complete the look the art director is trying to convey. In the above photo, the table, and all the items seen on it, plus all the books in the background were styled by Raina…in fact, she may have brought every item to the shoot in order to have this space look precisely the way it does. The stylist needs to be prepared and will therefore ensure that many more items are brought to the location, than may ever be used.

Follow Raina on her award winning blog A Stylists Life at  http://www.astylistslife.com/ as she dishes about renovating a 150 year old house and other adventures in styling.

The Photographer

Michele Scotto Trani of Sequined Asphalt Studio is an award winning Architectural and Interiors photographer and she was invited by Tina and Sarah to guide us in a photography session on our last day of BlogTourNYC. Michele works with Architects, Interior Designers and other professionals in the creative field and her photography has appeared in several shelter magazines including New England Home Magazine. Takeaways from Michele’s session…

1. always use a tripod

2. consider the light source… natural light, open or closed curtains to filter light

3. lamp light can blow out the shot so should be dimmed or turned off

4. lights turned on can show up as a different colour

5. consider the view….do you want the view in the shot

…and Hellooooo…did you know there are camera lenses for your iPhone? … from Photojojo http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/cell-phone-lenses/  I’m not sure I can wait until my birthday to get these.

source: http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/cell-phone-lenses/

To read more about Michele’s photography, tune into her Tripping on Asphalt blog at http://michelescotto.com/blog/                          

The Architect

Neal Beckstedt…. young, suave, debonair and a wonderful architect who launched his thriving business in 2010. His philosophy and mine totally jive….interiors are for living rather than for admiring. “The people should be the focus, not what’s around them.” Perhaps this philosophy was evident when BlogTourNYC visited Neal at his office. He was very generous and gave a wonderful talk about his young business, his clientele, his new digs, and his philosophy….he encouraged us to take photos of four of his project boards including plans and finishes, but preferred that we not take photos of the actual office space.  Neal’s website is super classy. Moving shots of his completed projects convey the Neal Beckstedt Studio story.

As you can see from these boards, his residential spaces are elegant, and modest, yet work in tandem with luxury finishes. Neal’s floor plan program of choice is SketchUp  , and they were very detailed, which surprised me a little as I thought Architects were more likely to use a program like AutoCad. I’m going to investigate SketchUp a little further for my own floorplans. I was thrilled to find out that Neal hires, Interior Designers and Decorators to compliment his architectural skills….they are a full service design studio.  No wonder clients such as David Lam seek and hire Neal Beckstedt Studio to design and complete there elegant spaces.

Thank You, again to Tina Ramchandani and Sarah Sarna of Franklin Eighth. It was a huge pleasure to meet you both and have you escort BlogTourNYC on the wonderful tour you organized for our final day. Thank you also to McGuire and Jim Caughman for welcoming us into your showroom and introducing us to your iconic brand. Raina Kattelson and Michele Scotto Trani for taking time out of your busy schedules to enlighten us about styling and photography…they both go hand in hand in designer’s lives. A delightful late afternoon spent at Neal Beckstedt Studio was a wonderful way to cap off our day, before our farewell BlogTourNYC dinner. Finally, words cannot adequately express my thanks to Veronika Miller / Modenus, her lovely daughter and right hand woman, Flo Von Pelet and all of the BlogtourNYC attendees who made this final day utterly joyful.

The post McGuire Furniture, a Stylist, a Photographer, and an Architect …BlogTourNYC appeared first on Modecor.

Later on when Bunny was discussing antiquing and how to find that special something, I mentioned that I have trained myself to always look up and she readily agreed. Hence this photo of a wrought iron chandelier hanging from a skylight in the middle of the shop.  You never know what you will find when scrutinizing in every direction…up, down, over and under. We were served a wonderful lunch as well. Beautifully displayed … I love this entirely unique table scape. Bunny sharing her thoughts on travel, antiquing and her design business. One of my biggest take aways from Bunny’s thoughtful discourse was her advice that all designers should take drawing classes. Drawing or sketching helps train the brain to really see objects in their true form and in their surroundings. This translates into aiding the actual design process as you develope a sense of scale and proportion, shape and size etc. Great advice if you ask me….I’m a bit of sketcher now, but I might invest more time in this relaxing activity. As mentioned before, I’m a huge vignette enthusiast. When done well and with purpose, a vignette can convey the love of a certain colour, or a theme, present a beloved collection, beckon you sit down and let a moment of time pass unhurried. Treillage vignettes not only exhibited the wares for sale, but also encourages the shopper to replicate the importance of vignettes in their own homes.

Bunny Williams Home collection… Button Down Chest in Cerused Oak…..LOVE!!! The mix of furniture, colour, texture and pattern compels the customer to sit for a spell. An example of Bunny Williams for Dash and Albert rugs completes this inviting ensemble. A trio of glass vases adorned with palm leaves is complemented with colourful tea light holders lamps and frogs.  BlogTourNYC reflected in a mirror in Treillage. There are a variety of mirrors sprinkled throughout the shop and each one echos the image of another wonderful Treillage find. I did some shopping. I couldn’t help myself. I asked Bunny if she would sign my new purchases and she willingly obliged. I’m so excited to have these two books, displayed in a vignette in my living room. ….and now Bunny Williams and I are like  X THIS X. THANK YOU, THANK YOU , Bunny Williams, John Rosselli , Tina Ramchandani, Sarah Sarna of Franklin Eighth and of course Modenus for this most wonderful shop tour, lunch and chat at Treillage.

More information on Bunny Williams Home website . More information on John Rosselli Antiques.

The post Treillage, Bunny Williams and BlogTourNYC in Vignettes appeared first on Modecor.

Imagine being invited to go to New York City in March. Now imagine that invitation includes starting your day in the Chelsea Flower District at 9 am. For this ‘north of the 49th parallel’ designer, it was like Christmas, the births of my three daughters, and my favourite vacation rolled into one euphoric event.  On our first full day of Modenus #BlogTourNYC we had flower arranging classes with Tess Casey from Aisling Flowers. Providing classes for the bloggers was a first for any BlogTour and we blogger guinea pigs were excited and up for the task. We left our hotel at 8:30 am and proceeded to the Flower District, where we met up with Tess and her assistant Miles. Our education began immediately with a walking tour of some of the Flower District wholesalers. I could not get over the assorted bunches of flowers lined up OUTSIDE along the street. Thankfully there are no pictures of me …they would have certainly shown me with my mouth agape, catching flies or picking my jaw up of the pavement. WOWWW!!!

PART ONE:

THE EDUCATION BEGINS

We went from flower shop to flower shop. You can imagine this colour lover in a frenzy to take it all in after being starved of these glorious hues since October. I had left Ottawa with 3ft of snow on my front lawn and now I was walking in shoes, in a flower market that was drenched in every variety of flower and colour combination imaginable.

We ventured inside several flower wholesale outlets and were again greeted with the most heavenly flower scents and sights. Every conceivable flower, florist wire, ribbon, container and accessory were displayed row upon row, shelf upon shelf.

We were introduced to wrapped bunches of beautiful flowers. Florists and Floral Designers had likely been through the wholesale market earlier in the day….I mean, much earlier as in 5 -7 am. You need to get get to the Flower Market in the wee hours after the imported flowers have been delivered in order to secure the best flowers available

 We were told that while the customer continues to peruse the never ending stalls and shelves of flowers, their previously selected flowers are put aside on check out shelves, just like the ones below.

PART TWO:

THE HANDS ON EDUCATION CONTINUES

We bid farewell to the Chelsea Flower District and walked to Tess’s business, Aisling Flowers. I just knew from the sign on the door we were entering a very special space.

Oh…look at that, Miles is behind the ‘bar’ preparing Mimosas just for us. I must say, we were treated like royalty on #Blogtour NYC

THE STUDIO

Our ‘classroom’ greeted us upon entry. HELLOOOO! Isn’t it lovely and bright?  Tess’s wedding dress is hanging between two windows….and why not?  And the ginormous pendants in the back corner drew resounding oouuu’s and aahhh’s from all of us. In reality, we were mostly speechless, drinking mimosas and snapping photos of this utterly fabulous studio.

These pendants caught the attention of us all and rightly so, They were hand made by Tess and Miles. I can’t remember the number of man hours it took to complete, but it was a ridiculous number. They were constructed from hanging pot racks and adorned with regular ball chains found at any hardware store. Aren’t they magnificent? Now this is thinking outside the box that all designers appreciate.

More of the studio shown below. I love vignettes, and this studio was chock a block full of them.

 Did I mention that Tess Casey is a floral designer for movies such as”The Devil Wears Prada”  and “Sex in the City”  ?  Above is the famous wedding scene where Carrie Bradshaw and Mr.Big have an altercation with the wedding bouquet. I believe there were 50 bouquets assembled for this scene.

 FLORAL ARRANGING LESSONS BY TESS

In the photo above Tess is explaining some of the ways in which flowers can be arranged with chicken wire, frogs, floral foam etc. Also shown in this photo, behind and to the left of Tess are the very generous Troy Hanson and Megan Reilly of WestEdge Design Fair. They sponsored this unbelievably informative day and wrote a lovely post about #BlogTourNYC and Tess Casey here.

Tess discussed everything floral including buying decorative garbage cans and using them as large receptacles, prepping flowers by removing all leaves below the water line, positioning flowers in a vase using scrunched up chicken wire, hiding stems in glass vases with coloured elastic bands and much more.  Below is a selection of succulents, orchids and greenery, which will be displayed on a mirror. SHARP scissors, and knife and floral tape are the tools required and are as necessary to a floral designer as the scalpel is to a surgeon.

LESSONS LEARNED AND PUT INTO ACTION

The props for OUR  floral designs are beautifully displayed

NO ONE exhibits group concentration quite like #BlogTourNYC. Tess Casey’s valuable floral lessons were put into practice. The result was an array of  at least 16 bouquets….each one slightly different than the next, depending on interpretation, floral additions and imagination.

My bouquet  above. I would create something entirely different given the opportunity again. Floral design is infinite!

Tess was proud of each and every one of her #BlogTourNYC students.

A day in NYC and floral lessons I will never forget!

Thank You WestEdge Design Fair, Tess Casey and Aisling Flowers including Miles and Maria, Modenus and #BlogTourNYC….

The post Tess Casey and BlogTourNYC Classes appeared first on Modecor.

I’m a colour gal, but I found the absence of colour in the displays of furniture, art, textiles and accessories extremely soothing.  Please enjoy the following vignettes. As you will see, Calypso SoHo Home enjoys neutral and monochromatic schemes where pattern and texture take centre stage … with random pops of colour.

Yes, I did love our visit to Calypso, St Barth, and will I return. Thank you for feting #BlogTourNYC …we thoroughly enjoyed your lovely shop.

The post Calypso Soho and BlogTourNYC in Vignettess appeared first on Modecor.

Michele welcomed us into her gorgeous eclectic SoHo shop with champagne. Beginning an evening with champagne is a fabulous way to get to know new friends and of course, our hostess Michele. As you can see above, Michele and fellow blogger Marcy Michaud are sharing a tipple and having a special moment, as reflected in one of the many mirrors displayed throughout the store.

I was immediately inspired by the unique vignettes arranged strategically throughout the space. I’m a vignette lover…vignettes bestow a story. Michele’s stories begin with her original wallpaper and fabric designs on sofas, chairs and pillows, combined with art and doodads, tchotchkes and candle sticks, imagined conversation areas…you want to sit a spell and take it all in. You don’t want to miss a SINGLE tidbit in the carefully curated vignettes. This is what designers do best….they convey a visual story …. extract segments from various design elements and compose a space that is interesting and ultimately comfortable. Michele did this beautifully! Take a look….

You must be sure to look up, or experience the disappointment of missing the heavy cardboard ‘Egg Carton Pendants’…

…or the white cotton masts floating from the ceiling above adorable animal prints and white crockery .

And if your eyes wander sideways you’ll catch the heavy planked swing dangling from two heavy ropes in yet another vignette. Perhaps if no one is looking, you may find yourself seated on that very swing.

Michele’s wallpaper artfully displayed.

Tables are adorned with black dishes and candlesticks and your thoughts dribble back to your own kitchen where your dishes are primarily white….hmmmmm

A colourful explosion of pillows on metal racks with a sentinel blue wire chair.

texture, texture, texture…..

A warm, warm Thank You to Michele for welcoming #BlogTourNYC into your shop…. it truly felt like home. I will be visiting again.

If …no, WHEN you go to NYC, it is well worth your time to visit this unique shop in SoHo

• 27 Howard St
  New York, NY 10013
  United States

  b/t Lafayette St & Crosby St in SoHo

More #BlogTourNYC Vignette posts coming….. Calypso, Aisling Flowers/ Designer Tess Casey, Treillage /Designer Bunny Williams, AD Home Design Show, McGuire Furniture…..

The post Michele Varian and BlogTourNYC in Vignettes appeared first on Modecor.

BLANCO ONE collection…three single sink sizes with coordinating accessories. Each under-mount ONE Single sink has a 9″ depth bowl, is made from 304 Series Stainless Steel and comes in Satin Polished Finish.

ONE Single Medium has 25 x 18″ bowl

ONE Super Single has 30 x 18″ bowl

ONE XL Single has a 30 x 20″ bowl

ONE Accessories fit each of the ONE single bowl sizes:  Magnetic Sink Caddy, Custom Grid for protecting the sink, Workstation for sharp knives, Ash Compound cutting Board, and a Multi Level Grid exclusively for XL Single bowl. The ONE kits or à la carte  accessories enable your sink to do double and even triple duty with ease while accessory integration allows for clean prep surface.

The second BLANCO Single sink I have become familiar with is the raised edge ATTIKA Steel Art™ sink. It is available in two sizes 20.5″ x 18.5″ x 8.25″ D  and  26.75″ x 17.75″ x 10″ D and is also made from 304 Series Stainless Steel, 18 Gauge Stainless Steel and comes in SatinPolished Finish. This drop-in sink is gorgeous and a must consideration if an under-mount sink is out of the question.

Now that I have seen how glamorous and functional the BLANCO ONE and ATTIKA Single Sinks are, I’m confident that downsizing from a double to a single sink will be quite manageable. I do know that BLANCO is the chosen sink manufacturer for each condo unit, but I am not apprised of which BLANCO model. Stay tuned!

In anticipation of EARTH DAY, Modenus #BlogTourNYC was invited to do live videos with BLANCO, another one of our fabulous sponsors.  We were asked to join BLANCO PR rep Lori Dolnick in the DIFFA table displays area while attending AD Home Design Show. BLANCO has joined DIFFA’s Specify With Care® program in an effort to ensure that DIFFA has resources to help HIV/AIDS  organizations. BLANCO is donating a percentage of their sales from the award winning ATTIKA™ sink …as shown above… in their effort to support DIFFA’s fundraising goals. Lori divided us into 4 groups of three and each group was asked three questions.

1. What Earth Day or Earth Friendly tips do you have for home and for the kitchen? …to save water, recycle, compost, buy eco-friendly products etc. How can people save the earth every day?

2. If you were to compost or if you do compost –  what would you put in the BLANCO SOLON Compost System? How can we connect our indoor and outdoor environments more?… Composting inside to gardening outside.

3. What do you do to connect with the outdoors in your home?

The four Earth Day videos are a representation of 3 questions asked with a wide range of answers. Twelve bloggers who live in varying communities from several US states and 2 cities in Ontario, Canada answered the questions with eagerness a variety of helpful tips, and solutions. I encourage you to view the four videos on  BLANCO  by Design  and enjoy our answers and the various ways in which we all endeavour to participate in Earth Day, EVERYDAY.  One thing was certain after the interviews….we all agreed that BLANCO SOLON Composting System was practical, great looking and a convenient way to encourage kitchen composting. My family is diligent about composting and our city, Ottawa, has a compost pick up service every week. Right now, our compost goes into a little brown bag fitting into a plastic container under the sink. The bag is removed when full and put into our outdoor green recycling bin until garbage day. It can be a bit messy. I’m seeing the benefits of installing a BLANCO SOLON Composting System in my house very soon, and hopefully in our condo as well.

A hearty Thank You to BLANCO for  Modenus #BlogTourNYC sponsorship and to Lori Dolnick for making all 12 of the bloggers “famous” in her Earth Day videos.

The post BLANCO and BlogTour NYC appeared first on Modecor.

But would you have guessed that this brand is celebrating 15 Decades of fixture and faucet heritage in a celebration called DXV ….

DXV, another sponsor of Modenus #BlogTour NYC has curated fixture and faucet collections into four broad movements …. CLASSIC  1880- 1920, GOLDEN ERA 1920-1950, MODERN 1950-1910 and CONTEMPORARY 1990 -present. Each of these movements have been comprised to reflect the decorative look of the past combined with the functionality and aesthetic qualities of the present. Within each movement, there are one or two collections showcasing fixtures and faucets which reflect the historic qualities of the time period. However, the products can easily transition from each collection or movement to create an original and aesthetically gratifying kitchen or bathroom as dictated by the requirements of the the designer or client.

The  CLASSIC MOVEMENT  includes The Ashbee,  The Landfair, The St. George, The Orchard and The Victorian collections. These bathroom and kitchen fixtures and faucets are reminiscent of yesteryear. The form is more intricate with curved lines and detail.

The DXV GOLDEN ERA MOVEMENT typifies less ornamentation and detail apparent in the first decades of the 20th century. It is a simpler time and as illustrated above, The Fitzgerald, The Keefe, The Pop, The Randall and The Wyatt collections have sleeker lines and are slightly more linear.

The Rem, The Roycroft and The Fresno collections of the  The MODERN MOVEMENT , highlight the forward thinking and fewer constraints going into the second half of the 20th century. There is a contrast of fluid lines and geometry and an expression of moving forward.

With The CONTEMPORARY MOVEMENT, shared influences from around the world are seen in The Lyndon, The Percy, The Seagram and The Isle collections. Contemporary is au courant, it is not static it is limitless and continuing to evolve.

To further celebrate DXV… 15 Decades, Veronika Miller, CEO of Modenus collaborated with 6 well known designers to design six spaces, either bathrooms or kitchens with the 4 DXV Movements and collections. The results were astounding. #BlogTourNYC was invited to attend the DXV Showroom in NYC and view first hand not only some of the DXV product line, but to also view the videos of the DXV Design Panel  and their completed 5 bathrooms and one kitchen.

Below are the result of the designers’ visions incorporating the DXV kitchen sinks, toilets, tubs, bathroom sinks, faucets and co-ordinating accessories.

As you can readily see, the DXV Design Panel designers have incorporated and interchanged the fixtures and faucets from the various collections. I encourage you to view all of the projects by watching the videos and scrolling through all of the accompanying photos. They are beautiful examples of  luxury bathrooms and a kitchen. Each project video and photo gallery is full of detailed inspiration, concepts, drawings and finally photos of the completed rooms. Congratulations must be extended to Veronika Miller… DXV ‘Curator in Chief’, the DXV Design Panel and American Standard for their 15 Decades of influential fixture and faucet design.

I would also like to express my gratitude to DXV for their BlogTourNYC sponsorship and the fabulous private lunch they hosted at Eataly, prior to our visit at the DXV showroom.

The post DXV from American Standard and BlogTourNYC appeared first on Modecor.