Posts Tagged ‘design’
Move over hoarders… there’s a new sickness in town, and I’ve got it bad! I’m a self proclaimed tee shirt FREAK!!! From Rolling Stones concert tee’s sold in the 70′s, to limited edition Billionaire Boys Club shirts there is no limit to what I must have… and don’t get me started on my most prized black on black tee from the fashion house formerly known as Yves Saint Laurent.
Sadly, with all things of value comes the threat of damage, loss or in my subject of collection – a feast by those vile moths and their appetite for fresh threads! Most of my tee’s have crazy cool prints on them, so I thought what better way to show them off than in a picture frame, and letting them hang like art. From that idea came the hunt for the perfect frame.
After countless hours of googling for inspiration, the solution was found in my back yard… well actually downtown!
Umbra has teamed up once again with the Pratt Institute in NYC for the 8th annual Umbra/Pratt Design Competition. The annual competition provides an invaluable educational experience for industrial design students to hone their skills. There’s the possibility of having a design produced by Umbra and royalties from sales support both the students and school.
The 2012 winner of the Umbra/Pratt Design Competition, T-FRAME, was designed by Caleb Ferris and Prakhar Mehrotra. This clever frame allows you to preserve and admire that all-important T-shirt instead of relegating it to obscurity in a drawer. Umbra’s T-Frame turns a tee into art, creating an homage to a sports legend, a concert or a special cause.
As t-shirt lovers, Caleb and Prakhar were inspired to design a product that preserved the iconic shape of a t-shirt while creating a way to display it in just five simple steps. T-Frame comes with a template showing how to stretch and fold the tee over a foam form followed by added support and backing to assemble a unique piece of art.
The frame retails for $40 and is available both online and downtown location at 165 John St (just north of Queen between Spadina and University). The frames are perfect for that man cave you’ve been meaning to build… just imagine all of your Jerseys, proudly on display!
If you’re looking for wall to hand your shirt on or a basement to convert into a man cave, give me a call… I’d be happy to help!
Posted in Must Have Mondays, Real Estate, Toronto | 
Tags: condo, design, house, loft, Mark Savel, Real Estate, Tee shirt, Toronto, Umbra | 
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Let’s face it, the Monday after St. Patty’s day is never an easy start… so grab your Blarney stones and listen up, because my good friend Corinne Korytkowski has some green coloured inspiration to brighten up your week and winter!
After a long, cold and dreary winter, there’s no better way to celebrate the energy of a new season than to spruce up your home. With spring right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to freshen things up. Some spring cleaning might mean that you toss out those items you’ve been hanging onto for years “just in case you need them”. You might also decide that you need to change your decor. After all, your home is your sanctuary – you should feel great in your space. This year’s trending colour will definitely add some spice to your life. Emerald green is proving to be the hot colour of 2013.
Incorporating a new colour really doesn’t take much. An accent chair, brand-spanking-new throw pillows or even a lamp can instantly change the feel of your living space. Introducing a new colour accent will always add a new dimension to a room. As Lisa Reis of Decorista.com explains, “If you’re tempted to use this vibrant colour but are a bit paint shy…try emerald green with something that’s easily replaced: lamps, vases, small appliances, curtains or chairs. Even if you grow tired of the colour in a few years, it may bring you out of your shell.” For those who are more bold, a new coat of paint (even just an accent wall) can really make a difference. The most important thing is to have fun with it all. Head out on a sunny weekend for a stroll through your favourite home furnishing store and find pieces that make you smile. Life is too short to live in a space that doesn’t inspire you.
Corinne Korytkowski is a Brand Coach + Consultant who works with entrepreneurs to create business opportunities around the skills and passions that drive them… she’s been busy working on a crazy cool website that you’ll totally want to check out in the coming weeks!
Posted in Must Have Mondays, Real Estate | Tags: condo, corinne korytkowski, design, emerald, loft, Mark Savel, Must Have Mondays, Real Estate, style, Toronto | No Comments »
Savel here! It’s Monday February 18th and I’m somewhere over the South Pacific Ocean flying past the islands of Tuvalu and Vanuatu on route to Melbourne Australia for some fun in the sun! As I catch up with family and run wild with the dingo’s I’ll be periodically be updating the blog… In my absence I’ve lined up some of Toronto’s finest to keep the content fresh!
First up is the super cool and ridiculously resourceful Renee Elliott… We met through Toronto’s Realty Queen at the IDX show a few weeks back. For someone who totes her self as a DIY’r she definitely backs it up -and right down to the custom made business card from recycled clothing tags! Both the vision and the brains behind RE: CREATIVE it’s my honour to have her share a few gems!
I’ll admit I’m slightly jealous that Mark is away right now in the land down under (who am I kidding – I’m big time jealous)! Being the nice guy he is, Mark helped me out with a guest post on my blog while I was away a couple of weeks ago, so naturally I’m stoked to return the favour. I’m always on the hunt for cool items and I have a love for anything with a vintage or industrial vibe, so needless to say vintage marquee lights have been on my radar for quite some time. They can add a ton of visual impact to any space not to mention a ton of character & personality!
Whether you want to hunt for them at your local antique market or do a search on Etsy or perhaps even make one yourself, you really cannot go wrong by adding one of these babies to your home!
Posted in Must Have Mondays, Real Estate, Toronto | Tags: blog, condo, design, DIY, house, loft, Mark Savel, Real Estate, renee elliott, Toronto, vintage | No Comments »
It’s fact that 4 out of every 5 hipsters within 1km radius of Trinity Bellwoods Park own at least one “garage-sale-bought” bike… k, maybe it’s not a fact but I’ve definitely been seeing more of these 80′s inspired bikes on the road lately! Having come from the 2013 Interior Design Show in Toronto, I just had to share the Les Classiques Bike Handlebar from F&Y in Montreal as a Must Have Monday item!
The team was at the show selling their one of kind, wood handle bars! Truthfully, I hardly ever ride my bike but seeing these baby’s kinda made me want to polish it up and get back out.
The F&Y team is comprised of two Montreal based designers and woodworkers. What started as a project for themselves has now evolved into a collection of 8 different handlebars that’ll give you that classic and elegant look!
The bars range in price from $90-130 and are made of a variety of materials including Morado, Walnut and Cherry wood to name a few. They ship the bars worldwide too! Watch as the bars come to life in the video below:
Posted in Must Have Mondays, Toronto | Tags: Bikes, condo, Custom, Cycling, design, loft, Mark Savel, Montreal, Real Estate, Toronto, wood handlebar | 1 Comment »
The first day of the Interior Design Show kicks off in Toronto today, and I’ll be there snapping some pics of the cool trends to look out for in 2013! The show runs from January 24-27 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and tickets can be purchased online.
I have my ticket in hand and am ready to go!
Just arrived and have a lot of ground to cover!
There’s a mini car show going on at the entrance… The Kia Design icons is the first display to see at IDS! Part of the “Design Icons” exhibit, several well known designers including Karim Rashid, Christiane Lemieux, Douglas Coupland and Jürgen Mayer H. have lent their talent to styling the cars!
Coolest wine case ever? Easily the most organic! Now if only it came in a whiskey version. Tomas Berinstein of Wood | Stone | Metal Inc. was a pleasure to talk to and a modern day master of his craft. Located in Toronto, Tomas offers a variety of services for modern furniture, cabinetry, doors and wall treatments.
Soy mineral material and wood? Sure why not! I loved everything about WET Style – from the booth set-up to their innovative tubs. The shell shaped tub is nothing new, but the addition of the “surround shelf” adds a welcomed level of practicality… and the walnut grain is the perfect look for the tub!
Relax on your very own spider chair! This Chinese traditional inspired bamboo woven art got a ton of attention from passerby’s. According to it’s display card: it’s elegance and unconventional design is a bold statement. Add fun to your space and show your unique attitude toward life. The adjustable legs allows you to enjoy utmost comfort and an extraordinary view of your space. Ingenious design; bold originality and function; humorous form. The series symbolizes your passion for life and independent spirit. In my own words – it’s just really gnarly! Spin by the Limitless both to see this and more.
A mans kitchen must have the CornuFé AlberTine from La Cornue. The company has it’s roots deep within Canada dating back to it’s humble beginnings in 1908. Three generations later the company is still thriving with 15 Showrooms, more than 250 retailers, in 30 countries all over the world!
The CornuFé range is available in 4 enamelled colours and 3 different finishes: Satin-finish nickel, satin-finish nickel and polished brass or even satin-finish nickel and copper.
Summer isn’t that far away in this patio! Presented by Earth Inc, these guys put together one of the most impressive displays, in fact one of my biggest regrets of the show this year was not taking more pics of their work. With all the traffic of the show, it was walking through this booth that calmed the day down. Instantly you felt like you were in another world (even with a mini snow storm a stones throw away).
According to their website: we specialize in transforming landscapes into award-winning extensions of your home. Through our unique horticultural and architectural expertise, outdoor spaces (gardens, bowers, pools, ponds, patios, porches and decks) are re-imagined, becoming peaceful retreats that offer a welcome respite from everyday stress. This is Earth Inc. – thoughtful landscape design informed by your personal objectives, tastes and styles.
Can you believe it’s Ikea?!? Time and time again they impress me with their affordable designs and modern flair… case and point, the lamp chandelier above!
More ikea… Brass brass baby! Though I don’t think this is available in stores, the look it perfect for a rustic themed home!
Tile, not wood from Tile Curation
Stir stick swag at the Beauti-Tone booth.
This ain’t your mamma’s wallpaper… Custom Wallpaper by ROLLOUT. Established in 2005, ROLLOUT is a creative studio that designs and digitally prints custom wallpapers by the square foot. From maps of New York to the stars on the ceiling at Grand Central Station these guys have an incredible collection to choose from!
Tat Chao’s loligo lumineers! Hailing from Montreal, Tat’s booth had a ton of interest… We shared a quick chat and a promise to follow up with a blog post in the near future!
Sit on your investment with the “Toronto Condo Chairs” from The David and Chico Show! The newly formed duo (aka DACS) have a pretty cool story behind the chairs:
Some very close friends recently purchased a Condo in the heart of Toronto. They asked if I would design a pair of unique and original stools for the kitchen. The result… ‘Toronto Condo’ To personalize the stools, the main building was given 21 floors, representing the floor they lived on. Also, clear views of the CN Tower and the Island Airport can been seen from their east-facing balcony, so the tower and plane were added to the graphics, through reflections in the glass.
You can view this and other items from their gallery online!
I’ll take one of each please… From NickDay Design
And last but not least, a long sit down to relax the feet in the media lounge! What’s not pictured here were my accomplices for the day (and access to the lounge lol) - Ola Oleksak of Realty Queen TO and Renee Elliott of Re: Creative!
The Show runs until Sunday and is a “must see” for inspiration in design! And of course if you need a home to design, Contact Me… I’d be happy to help!
Posted in Architecture, Furniture, Photo Friday, Real Estate, Toronto | Tags: 2013, condos, design, Downtown, IDS, Interior Design Show, lofts, Mark Savel, Real Estate, Toronto | 2 Comments »
Time is a funny thing… you can have all the money in the world, yet you can’t always buy more of it! From $30 Casio’s to $30,000 Rolexs we all have our own way of telling it, and showing the world how we keep it.
My first real love of watches started when my father purchased me a Briel timepiece while on a family trip in Rome. I was so fascinated by it’s transparent design and self winding mechanisms. For those who’ve yet to discover the joys of an automatic watch – it basically winds itself up as you walk. No need for batteries, just strap it to your wrist and go… the down side is getting it to accurately hold the correct time when not being worn.
For this, there’s the entire market dedicated to holding ye old watch and keeping them “on time”! For over 175 years Wolf Designs has been manufacturing some of the worlds finest watch winders! After spending countless hours researching the subject, these guys came highly recommended time and time again. They’ve designed an array of models capable of keeping the time accurate for either a single watch or a series of them.
The boxes work on both battery or electric power. The box can be set to turn Clockwise, Counter-clockwise or Bi-directional all while keeping your watch ticking while it’s not on your wrist. Wolf Designed watch winders vary in price from $150 and up, and come in a variety of options! You can check out the entire collection here - www.wolfdesigns.com
Posted in Must Have Mondays, Real Estate, Toronto | Tags: Cartier, design, display, Mark Savel, Real Estate, Rolex, Toronto, watch winder, Wolf Design | No Comments »
I don’t know if it’s just “a guy thing”, but it seems like us males have a strange obsession with watches… and I’m no exception to the rule!
A photo of my dream Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Oyster, 40 mm, Yellow Gold hangs on the office wall as a goal of what I’d one day hope to own… until then I’ve been feeding the obsession with a variety of other brands and styles.
The latest is a limited edition French designed, Swiss made concrete watch made by Dzmitry Samal! One of the most common materials found in the modern-day City is being incorporated into a watch. The outer shell will be cast in concrete with a rubber strap and pin buckle.
To say I’ve become obsessed with the concept is an understatement. Dzmitry shys away from the typical gold/silver/platinum often used and went with a much more realistic and topical material. The “hands” have skyscraper cutouts to complete the metropolitan look. If concrete is good enough to hold up our City, I say it’s good enough hold time!
Dzmitry Samal started his career as a car designer for Italian and French car manufacturers such as “Stile Bertone” and “Renault” but has now made the leap into fashion and design!
He’s making only 100 pieces, each numbered and available online! They range in price from $980-$1240 Euros and will be ready in late November. Until then, check out the designs below:
Posted in Architecture, Must Have Mondays | Tags: concrete watch, design, Dzmitry Samal, limited edition, Mark Savel, Must Have Mondays, Real Estate, style fashion, Toronto, watches | 1 Comment »
