Thompson Hotel Toronto

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Andrea

In 2010, Thompson Hotels opened a location in Toronto! It is a beautiful, modern, clean, sophisticated hotel. It his down in the Liberty Village wareof the city,which is a popular neighbourhood for the beautifully-dressed young professional crowd. It usually hosts events for the Toronto International Film Festival, and made quite a splash on the Toronto scene when it opened.

To give you an idea, here is an image of one of their common areas:

They have a spa, and a yoga studio. The spa and studio is open to anyone – you do not need to be a guest of the hotel, It is decorated with clean spaces, and light bright colours – a lot of white – to create a calm and serene space:

The rooms are designed with space in mind. There is minimal clutter, and everything is very modern in feel. For some people the word ‘modern’ it doesn’t instill images of comfort. However, these rooms do not sacrifice comfort for style. Just look at the beds! These most definitely look comfortable. And the amount of seating in the rooms also gives the feeling of comfort:

The addition of wood in the modern rooms – on walls as well as on the floor and furniture – also adds a level of warmth and comfort to the rooms.

Like any luxury hotel, there is a pool…and this one comes with a gorgeous view of the city:

For socializing, there are countless options. This looks like a great place to have a drink and catch up with some friends:

In the good weather? I would like to be sitting on this rooftop with a cold cocktail, and the sun shining on my face:

I personally have never stayed at the Thompson Hotel Toronto, but the design of it is definitely beautiful and welcoming. I can see how this place would be a destination for people who love modern design.

Posted in Toronto, Travel | Leave a comment

Opinions Needed on Awesome Office Accessories

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Andrea

If you need a little fun, colour, and attitude in your workspace to help make you more productive, then I say you are my kind of person.

Just recently I completed some renovation work on my home office. I moved it actually, from upstairs to the basement and the office needed to be done from scratch (I’ll show a before and after later, once it’s all done). So, it’s been painted; new floors installed; new lighting installed; furniture has been ordered. We are now down to the details. So my attention has been focused lately on the accessories and storage part of an office. I not only have paper files that need to be stored, and the usual assortment of desk items like paper clips, stapler, pens, etc., but I also have fabric samples, wallpaper samples, and paint decks all over the place. It can be a challenge to keep it all organized.

Here is a roundup of some of the things I’ve been eyeing lately, and wondering what I want to make work in the new office space, and what I want to keep searching for.

These would be great for wallpaper samples, magazines, or catalogues so that stuff doesn’t take up valuable shelf space:

Felt storage bins – West Elm

I could put this on the wall next to my drafting table for all the drafting supplies:

Uten.Silo II – vitra

What I like about this is that you can customize the pieces for what you need. Don’t need a chalkboard? That’s ok, you can get 2 pinboards, or a white board. This is perfect for above the desk:

Daily System – Pottery Barn

These are just because they are so fun:

Airplane Push Pins – See Jane Work

My new desk is a glossy grey. To have a nice black walnut piece on it would a beautiful contrast in materials:

Tray – etsy store: portrhombus

Another option for drafting table item storage is this toolbox:

toolbox – vitra

Another option for wood as a contrast on my glossy desk is this wood pen and pencil holder:

pencil holder – etsy store: the bird on the tree

I don’t really like the large white memoboards on the wall, but I understand their purpose. This works for me:

ceramic memoboard – See Jane Work

What do you think? Any suggestions for me on office accessories I should be looking at?

Posted in Accessories, Office | Leave a comment

Doors

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Andrea

Adorable little door in the Distillery District, Toronto

Much like my obsession with windows, I also have an obsession with doors (and floors, intricately painted ceilings, baseboards, and the list goes on and on…). For a light Friday post, I thought I’d put up some of the images of doors I’ve taken over the last little while. These are just some of the doors I’ve seen that have caught my interest.

Back door leading out to the patio at the small cottage of the Martin House Complex in Buffalo

An interior door in the Duomo in Bolzano, Italy

Front door to an apartment complex in Chicago

One of the many buildings on the University of Toronto St. George campus

Exit door at the observatory in Central Park, New York City

Entrance for tours and tastings at a winery in Tuscany

Interior doors leading from Frank Lloyd Wright’s studio to the foyer of his office, within his home in Chicago

Posted in Room Inspiration, Travel | Leave a comment

Saw It On Etsy

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Andrea

Looking for vintage glass?

Look no further.

Olly Oxes on etsy is the place to check out!

First, there’s gorgeous milk glass:

I have a small obsession with pitchers, and so this blue one caught my eye:

How much do you love these adorable salt and pepper shakers?

How about some dramatic goblets for a dinner in?

I remember something like this at my grandparents house…it brings back happy memories:

I know I’ll be checking back here when I’m ready to do some accessorizing in my new kitchen…
Check out Olly Oxes on etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/OllyOxes?ref=seller_info

Posted in Accessories, Profile | Leave a comment

Armani Hotel in Dubai

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Andrea

First opened in April 2010, Giorgio Armani designed everything himself – the bedding to the furniture to the menus.
Dubai is not known for subtle elegance, but from the photos I have seen of this hotel, that is exactly what this hotel looks like.

The grey/beige/brown neutral palette of the hotel is a nice welcome change from bright colours and lots of patterns. Armani is not known for cozy and comforting, and I don’t believe that is the effect he was going for here, either. Rather, it’s more modern, simple, clean which is definitely keeping in line with his clothing aesthetic.

There are multiple options for dining, as well as a spa that was also specially designed by Armani. The views from the restaurant must be breathtaking, seeing as this hotel is located in the Burj Khalifa – the tallest building in the world.

Then you get surprises like the one below, which while still a neutral colour palette, add a bright bolt the hotel with pattern and scale. A hallway to the lounge:

I can definitely see myself on vacation eating breakfast in this hotel restaurant while planning out my day for fun in Dubai:

Does this hotel intrigue you enough to check it out if ever travelling to Dubai?

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Not Boring Blue Dining Rooms

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Andrea

Soft blue is often used because it is seen as a ‘safe’ colour. It can go with so many things, and it makes a room look clean and fresh. Let’s try and use blue in different ways – and what better way to do that than in a dining room?

When done in the right tone of blue, and offset with crisp white or a rich brown, or even a playful green or yellow…a blue dining room can go from blah to WOW!!! To illustrate what I mean, it is easiest to show you examples.

This dining room is sophistication and elegance with the use of a pale blue that doesn’t take over the room:

Suzanne Kasler

Blue is a versatile colour and can still be sophisticated while still working with elements of whimsy, and hits of other bright colours – don’t just stick to blue and white:

Elle Decor

Saturated blue gets the most notice, whether that’s a light blue or a deep, dark blue. The more saturated the blue, the more it will stand out against another colour. A good example is the room below. It’s not a deep shad of blue, but the richness of the colour works really well against all the white:

justbesplendid

Deep dark blue doesn’t only need to go against bright white. In this room, the rich brown woods work really well with the rich dark blue. Don’t be afraid to go dark. It can be classic, and add sophistication to rooms:

Lonny

Blue doesn’t need to be sophisticated only. It can also be relaxed, and bring feelings of the beach, or the cottage, or wrapping up in comfort. This room really shows that. Again, a saturated rich colour, but it is so comfortable and welcoming:

Marlaina House

Pattern always adds visual interest, and can evoke either sophistication, or playfulness. This gingham pattern definitely adds a level of playfulness and is still extremely welcoming and not too bright, despite it being a rich, bold blue colour:

And this one just screams comfort and long evenings of tea, cheese, and lots of laughs with friends:

Elle Decor

I would love to hear all about your adventurous blue dining rooms.

Posted in Colour, Room Inspiration | Leave a comment

Ready For The New Year

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Andrea

Am I a little late to the New Year’s resolutions party? Seeing as it is February I am going to say yes. However, that is not going to stop me. A new year always brings with it the excitement of starting again, getting started on accomplishing things we keep telling ourselves we didn’t have time for before. And all of that can be thrilling…and overwhelming. So many things, what do I focus on? What do I do? Personally, I make goals and by the end of February I’m over whelmed because I had so many things to do, and I haven’t made any significant progress on the goals I set for myself just 2 months ago!
Well, not this year. I decided to not only take January to really figure out what I wanted 2013 to look like, but to plan for it. What did I want from this year? What did I expect from myself?
In order to come up with a strong, realistic plan I had to take a good long, hard look at myself and how I work. When am I most productive? Is it realistic to expect to work every weekend? How about working from 8am-8pm four days a week? Ummmm….no. So, I had to adjust my thinking. What is realistic? What is a healthy approach to work and life? With so many exciting things happening in2013, I wanted to make sure I had time to do everything I put in the plan, without getting frustrated with myself for not doing what I set out to do. Editing my wants was difficult, but necessary.
So, what does my year look like? According to my spreadsheets, charts, and calendars my year is full of aggressive but realistic goals. I’ve got on there a good mix of business and personal goals, and everything is well-planned and spaced out so that I don’t overwhelm myself by trying to do them all at once…NOW! I’m not going to spill all of my secrets, but I can tell you this will be a very exciting year for I Was Here Designs (and for myself).
This isn’t to say I’ve waited until now to get a start on these goals, I haven’t. In fact, I am currently on track with all of my plans and it feels really good. Here’s to keeping up with goals in 2013. I am looking forward to the end of the year when I can look back and be proud of sticking to my plan for 2013.

I say, if you haven’t yet planned for 2013 (or even if you have and you’re already off your plan), start now! It’s never too late to make this the year you want it to be.

Posted in Editorial, Toronto | Leave a comment

Saw It On Etsy

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Andrea

Today, I am going to show you…Lucent Lampworks

I got completely sucked in to their etsy store with their round pendant lighting, but once I was there, the vast array of various vintage style lighting was what kept me.

First, look at this gorgeous glass semi-flush:

That is not normally my favourite type of celing lighting, but that one I wouldn’t be able to resist.

Or, a square pendant light:

This red number is a great way to inject colour to any room:
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And the whimsy of this one is just too hard to pass up:

Definitely take some time and check out the store, Lucent Lampworks:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/lucentlampworks?ref=seller_info

Posted in Lighting | Leave a comment

Nightstands

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Andrea

It is somewhere to put your nighttime reading, or a glass of water, or your extra cheque books,this is important for storage (and to fill the empty space next to the bed). So since you’re going to need the all-important piece of furniture known as the nightstand, why not make it a beautiful, stylish piece that adds to the feel of your bedroom?

I have pulled together 10 of my favourite nightstands. If you take a look through, you just might find something that strikes your fancy.

Catalina, Shelter Furniture

Wilson End Table, Gus Modern

Turned Table, Anthropologie

Sierra, Crate and Barrel

Componibili, kartell

Restoration Hardware

Slice Wall-Mounted, cb2

Hughes Side Table, Elte

Case Study Alpine Bedside Table, Design Within Reach

47 Table, Design Within Reach

So, can you see any of these in your bedroom?

Posted in Bedroom, Product | Leave a comment

Saw It On Etsy

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Andrea

For today’s Saw It On Etsy post, I am looking at a wood furniture maker called MSTRF. The furniture has beautiful cut out designs.

These coffee tables are beautiful, and yet still functional. Sometimes a beautiful design just isn’t practical to use. These definitely are.

This coffee table looks like a heavy piece of furniture. It would require a large room to balance it out, but in the right room this could be a stand-out piece:

I imagine this coffee table in a sunroom or muskoka room at a cottage. It just has a wonderful light feeling to it:

Lastly, this coffee table I can see in many spaces. It’s a little simpler, but just as striking:

If you’re interested in taking a look at any other pieces, check out MSTRF on Etsy.

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Thompson Hotel Toronto

Opinions Needed on Awesome Office Accessories

Doors

Saw It On Etsy

Armani Hotel in Dubai

Not Boring Blue Dining Rooms

Ready For The New Year

Saw It On Etsy

Nightstands

Saw It On Etsy

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