Packed with recipes from Italy’s Calabria region, Rosetta Costantino brings old-world fare inspired by the seasonal ingredients from her family’s garden to the North American kitchen in her cookbook, My Calabria. www.chapters.indigo.ca

You can hang this spherical copper light alone or in groups to form shiny chandeliers. Either way, this gleaming Tom Dixon fixture reflects its stunning surroundings. www.abchome.com

Wrapped in smooth leather and accented with orderly nail studs, the Yucca Chair from Zilli Home brings life to any room, adding a distinct, edgy look.
www.zillihome.com

Impossible to miss, this massive chandelier is made from a meadow of paper flowers and glows with soft warmth – the perfect addition for the more whimsical homeowner searching for that pastoral ornament. www.anthropologie.com

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Brimming with rustic charm yet detailed with modern accents, the Verge Bed is built from discarded wood, giving each bed a different colour and pattern, and you a unique piece of furniture. www.abchome.com

Handmade. Unique. Beautiful. The Petite Maison Olive Wood Cheese Board is made from olive trees too old to yield fruit, and will receive as many compliments as the food it serves. www.chapters.indigo.ca

Finished with a bold yellow colour, this Dalloway Armchair is crafted by hand from maple and ash wood. It may be simple by design, but this high-backed seat makes a tasteful addition to the home. www.anthropologie.com

As the sun rises and a light breeze brushes your cheek, vivid flowers greet you with the morning light on these Breeze-Blown Bouquet Curtains made from soft cotton voile. www.anthropologie.com

The colour of this fluffy pillow will transform any couch or bed into a vibrant wonderland of comfort. Made from sheared Mongolian sheep fur, this pillow is a cuddler’s dream. www.anthropologie.com

Since 1988, Creative Matters has covered the floors of homes and businesses alike with its high-quality, handcrafted rugs. The hand-spun Tibetan wool and Chinese silk of the Pepe, for example, is unbelievable to the touch. www.creativemattersinc.com

Shaped after the iconic Louis XVI chair and infused with contemporary design, the transparent, otherworldly styling of the Ghost Chair will certainly be a conversation-starter. www.wayfair.com

A simple-to-make, delicious-to-taste appetizer, the Brie Baker makes it easy to serve this delightful cheese. Just stick a wheel of Brie inside, heat in the oven, and serve. www.chapters.indigo.ca

From premium furniture, home accessories and occasional pieces, to lighting, children’s furniture, bedroom and dining sets, Decorium is more than just your average furniture store. With a showroom that soars at 60,000 sq.ft., unending styles are conveniently divided into five design categories. Noting the confusion that comes with packed big box furniture stores that don’t offer one-on-one design consultations and fashion advice, Forberg asks, “Why visit five stores when you can visit five stores in one?”

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If you’re searching for the blueprint to an effortlessly elegant home, the Classic or Full Traditional rooms at Decorium abound with timeless furniture pieces and exquisite additions that will transform your house into a well-dressed home. If you prefer an eclectic look, the Modern, Contemporary and Metropolitan rooms spill with deco glam pieces that will saturate your condominium or office space in style. “A lot of people come in and don’t know what they want, but we work with them to suggest certain styles. Once the design consultant has determined their style, a client is then guided to the lifestyle area of the showroom that suits their taste,” says Forberg. Thirsty for fresh pieces to brighten their lives, homeowners and design enthusiasts alike visit the emporium regularly to get a glimpse of up to 100 new pieces that are added to the showroom weekly. Involved with several charities, such as The Princess Margaret Welcome Home Sweepstakes, and having worked with most of the city’s developers – including the renowned Shane Baghai – the Decorium brand is ubiquitous.

While a trend of restored wood paired with linen dining chairs and sofas is hot right now, Forberg makes it clear that quality craftsmanship never goes out of style, and that every customer request is fulfilled. “If a customer likes a certain chair but the fabric of another, we’ll make them the chair they want. We’re big enough to move a lot of product, but we’re small enough to care.” Synonymous with prestige, Decorium’s products and bestsellers are always on-hand in its 40,000 sq.ft. warehouse.

Leading Decorium successfully through shaky economic times and burgeoning competition, Forberg continues to apply his family’s winning formula of high-level customer service and affordable prices to a furniture business that has stood the test of time for three generations.
www.decorium.com
416.736.6120

One of the first cosmetic alterations homeowners tend to make is replacing their windows. While this can make a major esthetic impact on a home, it’s important to consider the transformative power of dressing your new or pre-existing windows with quality blinds and shades.

Sunshine Window Fashions has a customer-focused business model that goes above and beyond solving window challenges, making the lives of its clients easier. One of the ways this is accomplished is through energy saving motorized lifting systems that, with the click of a button, conveniently rise or lower. Sunshine Window Fashions’ most popular product, Silhouette window shadings, will help you let the sheer beauty of sunlight into your home.

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Complimentary in-home consultations are the best way to find out how Sunshine Window Fashions can cater to your individual needs. Clients can also visit one of the company’s three exceptional Hunter Douglas Gallery showrooms located across the GTA.
www.sunshineblinds.ca
1.888.713.2862

There’s another reason why their names might ring a bell. The ambitious partners were commissioned to design the entrance lobbies, spa, ballroom, conference facilities and hotel rooms for the highly anticipated Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Toronto at Bay Street and Yorkville Avenue. Yes, the same hotel that recently made headlines for breaking a record with the sale of a $28 million penthouse, the priciest condominium quarters in Canadian history. “The premise behind the Four Seasons was to create a hotel that was a more contemporary Four Seasons Hotel; to create a Four Seasons Hotel that looked to the future, but at the same time was not trendy – a hotel that had longevity and was tasteful. Particularly, a hotel that represented the Four Seasons brand in a more modern way,” says Pushelberg, who likes to dine at Toronto’s trendy Ruby Watchco and shop at the self-designed upscale fashion and furnishings retailer Lane Crawford in Hong Kong. The luxury property-to-be will consist of east and west towers and is expected to come to life by summer 2012. “I think it is representative of us, which is important,” he adds.

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Owning personal digs in New York City (Calvin Klein, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman are neighbours), the Hamptons, and Bennington Heights in Toronto, you can say that Yabu and Pushelberg live for the indoors. “It’s important that each interior has its own identity,” says Yabu. In business and in life, the two have been a team since they established their Toronto firm more than 30 years ago, which has since diversified to New York and China. Their future plans include evolving their furniture and furnishing designs and ideally working on a gallery and/or museum space. “We would love to do both because there’s a rigor to it. It’s a more difficult challenge than designing a store or hotel, in a sense, because there’s more inflexibility and we love challenges,” says Yabu.

In fact, it’s the obstacles that particularly inspire Yabu and Pushelberg to continue pushing the envelope when it comes to exploring the infinite possibilities of design, whether its travelling to India to learn about stone carving and lacework or taking on blank-slate ventures that offer opportunities to innovate. “I think personally we have an obligation to always challenge ourselves when it comes to creating new projects. Through that, we’ve become design icons for Canada,” says Pushelberg. “We take on projects that incorporate a challenge to create something that captures the essence of its existence,” adds Yabu.

www.yabupushelberg.com

1. Roche Bobois waves its contemporary wand in this dynamic dining room. Vibrant wool upholstered chairs from the Chabada collection will make any modern interior stand out. With a palette of 18 colours, there’s no need to play musical chairs. www.roche-bobois.ca

2. Dazzling plum sequins bring a dash of drama to your home’s décor. Accent a chair, sofa or bed with this fun and fearless Starlight Cushion from Bouclair Home. www.bouclair.com

3. Drop your passport and pick up a paint brush with CIL Paints’ exciting new decorating concept. Destination painting lets you travel around the globe from the comfort of your abode. The Asian-inspired colours seen here are CIL’s Oriental Poppy, Amazing Red, Jade Valley Green and Palace Purple. www.destinationdecor.ca

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4. Yanic Simard mixes rustic pieces with sleek, modern elements in this gorgeously diverse bathroom. The talented interior designer’s divergent portfolio makes his work unique and desirable. www.tidg.ca

5. Make a bold statement with Urban Barn’s 100 per cent aluminum Kool Bench Square. This piece brings a modern edge to the traditional plush ottoman, making it the perfect addition to glam up your living room. www.urbanbarn.com

6. A wise decoration that is sure to turn heads, the owl’s dramatic beauty is emphasized by its sleek finish. Standing 16 centimetres tall, hoo wouldn’t want this bird perched on their mantle? www.bouclair.com

7. In a pickle because you can’t find that perfect present? Learn how to make delicious treats and package them for friends and family with Pretty Pantry Gifts: A Recipe and Wrapping Kit for Jams, Sauces, and Pickles. (Chronicle Books, 2008). www.chapters.indigo.ca

8. As plush as it is posh, this solid pine Ella armchair from Structube is the punch of colour missing in your living room set. The textured material invites you to sit back and relax as it livens up your home. Accent the rich purple with neutrals to make it pop. www.structube.com

Founded by brothers Andrew and Richard Bockner, the team at ARD feels backyards and patios are extensions of the home and should create the same comfortable feelings as any other room in your dwelling. “It’s about lounging and enjoying it, having the space to do so, letting your mind go, distressing and relaxing. That’s what I believe outdoor living is about,” says Andrew Bockner.

Striving to refurnish dated outdoor memes, Bockner crafts furniture for the modern individual who craves tranquil feelings from their outdoor seating. “The way to go is to get some deep seating. Get something comfortable. Grab a sectional and a couple of chairs. There’s nothing wrong with doing your barbecue in a more relaxed casual environment. People appreciate that,” says Bockner, who also designs furnishings for many commercial projects, including The Ritz-Carlton in Toronto and the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

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To keep a mellow mood and bodies at ease, Bockner leans towards larger pieces, like outdoor daybeds, large-scale sofas and massive sectionals. It’s about bringing indoor luxuries outside, as he adds, “You can create the comforts of your indoor environment outside with everything from refrigeration to music and stereos.”

After all, it’s your leisure time so why not indulge? “We work so hard every single day, why not have an oasis to come home to at the end of the day for the three or four months we can enjoy it in this town. I think it’s such an important part of life.”

Q&A with Andrew Bockner
Q: What’s one feature of outdoor furniture customers should always keep in mind?
A: Durability, I think. This is an investment in yourself and in your home. It has to be strong. It has to be durable. Remember: outdoor furniture has to be built much differently than inside stuff because it’s going to take more abuse … So the most important thing to do is to buy a few quality pieces that you can have over a period of time … This doesn’t have to be ‘throw away stuff’ after one year.

416.298.4770
www.andrewricharddesigns.com

There once was a time when you strung some patio lanterns here, threw a spotlight there – no big deal. Today, the team at Prima Lighting understands that the art of illumination takes more than arbitrary lamp placement. “You have to be very careful with the number of lights and where they’re positioned,” says Luca Filice, co-owner of Prima Lighting. “Every light has it’s own job and it’s own unique style.”

Lighting should blend into the surrounding, feel organic and not obstruct movement. Whether employing landscape-irradiating spotlights, ground-lining well lights, walkway-illuminating path lights, or simple wall-mount fixtures, arrangement is key. “It’s important to use the right light for the right application, obviously not to over do it and do it in a subtle way,” adds Filice.

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“It has more to do with lifestyle; with how you’re going to use your backyard,” says Filice’s partner, Sam Folino. “Let’s organize the lighting around that, figure out how the lights will function and then work out the set-up.”

The right lighting can transform backyards into a romantic rendezvous or a mystical engagement, and with Prima Light’s award-winning showroom, in-house or on-site consultation, an incandescent and passionate staff will surely enlighten you.

Q&A with SAM FOLINO
Q: How would you achieve a modern look to your backyard with lighting?
A: “Well, first you’re going to have modern landscaping and modern décor, so I would highlight the focal points. You’re going to be layering the lights according to how the backyard is designed. The pathways would be lit up; if there is a pool that would be lit up as well. If a customer has a waterfall, there are LED lights that go on a waterfall that can change colours. If there’s a tree you’re going to up-light the trunk of the tree only, and that will go up. Sometimes you might silhouette the shadow of the tree on the house. There are so many possibilities.”

www.primalighting.ca
905.851.1188

While Hayman’s firm fulfills a diverse array of landscaping dreams, she says that a rising trend in outdoor space solutions is to take existing abandoned garages and transform them into functional escapes. One of her most recent projects was retrofitting an unused double garage by creating an L-shaped storage area with French doors, an elevated cathedral ceiling with a chandelier and a stone patio with sectional seating. “We essentially created a true outdoor structure or room using what was already on their property,” says Hayman, who has a garden design degree from the Oxford College of Garden Design.

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Since it’s the season of patio furniture purchases, Hayman has a few wise words. “It’s like a wardrobe: you have your staples and then you have your fun, hot trend pieces. You certainly normally don’t invest in those trend pieces – you want to invest in the staples.” So take the time this summer to stop and smell the roses – in your own backyard.

Q&A with JENNIFER HAYMAN
Q: What are your favourite plants and flowers to work with?
A: I love textural plants. I love a lot of the ornamental grasses and the sedges. I like to use a strong palate of greens and whites – I find that very calming. Green and white tends to stand out and brighten up a dark garden. Hydrangeas are one of my favourites; it’s the sedges and really creating that combination of textures and colours that will give you interest throughout the year.

1.888.969.4029
www.jhdg.ca

“It’s like having your own waterfront property,” says Ed Gibbs, president of Gib-San Pool & Landscape Creations. The world’s first ISO-certified pool company and a member of the coveted Master Pools Guild, Gib-San is more than just a pool-builder. For over 40 years, it has been designing and creating pristine properties, renovating backyards into little pieces of paradise. “You really have to have designers and architects involved if you want to achieve something more than an average backyard and pool,” he adds.

From landscaping to barbeque and dining areas, it’s all part of the Gib-San package. “It’s the feel, the touch, the smell, the sounds, the lighting – all of those things really complete that circle of what everyone should be thinking of when putting in a backyard resort,” says Gibbs, who was also the former president of the Pool and Hot Tub Council of Canada.

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But a well-made pool is more than just stunning esthetic; it’s also a means of bringing family together. “Really, the important aspect of a pool is health, wellness and family time,” says Gibbs. “I know from a family standpoint, the best times we’ve ever had as a family is around our swimming pool.”

Q&A with ED GIBBS
Q: What are some tips for first-time pool buyers?
A: “Research, research, research, and don’t buy on impulse. Most important, get a master plan, do your homework, really do some soul-searching of what you’re looking for, why you’re looking for it, how it will bring the family together, how it will bring friends together, and what are you going to be using it for now and as you move forward.”

www.gibsanpools.com 416.749.4361

First and foremost, the wood must be prepared. If your deck and fence has seen a few winters and you’re looking to recoat the lumber, cleaning is crucial. “It removes any mould, grime and dirt from the wood, and gives the finished product a more pristine look,” says Claudio Grisolia, owner of Steeles Paint.

If this is the first season for your timber, you’re in luck: no cleaning is required. However, if you just recently built your deck and fence, Grisolia highly recommends sanding the wood. “This removes the mill glaze – the polish left by the saw from the mill – and opens the pores to allow the stain to soak deep into the wood.”

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Weather and temperature also play key factors when applying stains. The wood needs to be completely dry, but if it is too hot outside the product won’t properly penetrate, either. “When the sun is beating down on the surface, it’s actually heating the wood,” says Grisolia, who first opened Steeles Paint in 1988, and has over 30 years in the paint business under his belt. “What happens is the stain will start drying the minute it hits the wood and won’t soak deep enough in.” The ideal time to apply a stain is early in the day or later in the evening when the sun is away from the deck.

For the environmentally conscious consumer, Steeles Paints also carries a variety of eco-friendly, waterborne stains from companies such as Timber Pro Coatings and Benjamin Moore. These biodegradable products give a spectacular look, while remaining gentle on the environment.

If you’re still apprehensive towards the process, Steeles Paint’s more than knowledgeable staff can guide you step-by-step, as Grisolia concludes, “We won’t sell anybody anything unless we walk them through it.”
416.743.4040  www.steelespaint.com