{It's All In The Details} Spring Table Setting Ideas

 Images from Canadian House and Home magazine

Check out these gorgeous Spring table settings. I love the orange and pink colour combination in the first one. The tablecloth looks like a beautiful tapestry adorned with exotic plants, flowers, palm trees - and even elephants! There's also a lot of attention to detail from the hand-written place-card to the butterfly clip on the napkin. Eggs seemed to be a recurring theme in many Spring table settings I looked at. Either decorating eggs and using them as unique place markers to using them simply as decoration the way nature intended (naked!) Keep in mind that creating your own setting for a party or event can be really simple (as shown in the last image). Just find a pretty vase and arrange flowers in it as you wish. Even simple things from the garden, like babies breath or berries, work as beautifully as expensive flowers from the florist. It's all in the details, my friends, not necessarily in the budget. Which setting is your favourite?

{Inspirational Spaces} Fashion-Forward Design

 Photography by Virginia Macdonald

Here's something for the fashion lovers. When I first came across jewelery designer Maryam Keyhani's home in Canadian House & Home magazine, I was blown away by how she mixes her love of fashion with an eye for home design. Maryam's space is truly a beautiful work of art. It's simple, elegant and refined. One of my favourite pieces in her Victorian home in Toronto are the hat pendants. How cute are they? In the dining space, I love how she mixed many elements that don't traditionally go together - like concrete (the bench), velvet (the chairs) and mirror (the table). Her shoes, hats and accessories aren't hidden away in wardrobes and closets, but instead, they're beautifully displayed for all to see. Looking at her artwork, you can tell this girl loves her fashion. I thought it was quite cheeky how she draped a dress over art, almost as if it were a 3-dimensional art piece. What is your favourite thing about this space? Do you love it as much as I do?

Fine Fabrics: Martyn Lawrence Bullard for Schumacher collection

 1.Pasha Paisley (Pomegranate)2 & 6. Pasha Paisley (Sky)  3.Darya Ikat (Jewel) 4.Nebaha Embroidery (Citron) 5 Sinhala Linen Print (Jewel) 

Bright and colouful inspiration for the weekend: Designer Martyn Lawrence-Bullard has created a line of fun, flirty and luxe fabrics for Schumacher in vividly bold colours with a bohemian twist. These fabrics are very "of the moment". Plus, they're the perfect inspiration for spring due to their bright hues and eye-catching fabrics. If you're looking for ways to make a statement on drapes or upholstery -- look no further! Martyn was inspired by his travels to exotic locations like Morocco, Turkey and India. I also like this collection because you can mix-and-match the fabrics. Don't be afraid to select your favourites and go crazy! Like the image above with the couch filled with cushions and canopy draped above. It shows fabric on top of fabric on top of fabric ... but looks stunning! What look is your personal favourite (and thanks for Canadian House & Home for the inspiration!)