Bookshelves KitchenBookshelves TurnedBilly BookshelvesBook ShelvesBilly Bookcase Room DividerStack BookcasesShelving TurnedThree BookcasesIkea BookshelvesForwardThis is a nice-looking kitchen island, don't you think? But what if I told you that it's not a one-piece island at all, but rather a clever DIY project made up of a few IKEA pieces. Can you guess how it was done? [caption id="attachment_412" align="aligncenter" width="410"]Photography courtesy of EQ3.To be honest, I'm afraid I haven’t had all that much time for EQ3 in the past. With some degree of guilt (it Canadian brand, after all…) I’d written off their upholstery fabric options as underwhelming, and I found that it tended to embody the minimalist approach to modernism, which is a look that's never truly appealed to me. Recently -- and rather spectacularly -- the brand has redefined its vision of “modern,” and EQ3 has emerged as a seriously stylish player on theThis is most definitely a warmer EQ3 than what’s come before.
It’s shed any of the chilly “white box” sterility that came before, and now takes its design direction from the timeless design classics, and stocks iconic brands likeIt also proudly flaunts the fact that -- despite being an international institution, with stores and studios in the Bahrain -- it’s still based in Winnipeg, and manufactures all of its soft furnishings right here in Canada. So yes, you could say that I’m impressed with EQ3 – especially now that I’ve had the chance to preview the new 9,000 square foot flagship location in Toronto’s Liberty Village neighbourhood. [caption id="attachment_424" align="aligncenter" width="410"] Last night, I attended the press preview for EQ3's flagship location in the heart of Toronto's Liberty Village. The doors will open to the public on September 1st, but you can start pre-shopping with the new fall catalogue, available online at www.eq3.ca. Photography by Brett Walther.[caption id="attachment_425" align="aligncenter" width="410"]
An entire wing of the new store is dedicated to the punchy patterns of legendary Finnish design house, Marimekko. This shop-in-a-shop boasts an edited selection of Marimekko merch, including dishes, throw cushions and shower curtains. You can even get custom Marimekko upholstery on any of the soft furnishings in store. [caption id="attachment_426" align="aligncenter" width="410"] Bolt after bolt of eye-popping Marimekko printed fabrics. five fave finds from EQ3’s hot new lineup. 1. Valentin occasional chair, $249, EQ3. [caption id="attachment_413" align="aligncenter" width="391"]Keep an eye out for contrast piping this fall - you're going to see a lot more of it. fully upholstered tapering legs. 2. Scout Functional coffee table, $799, EQ3. [caption id="attachment_414" align="aligncenter" width="410"][caption id="attachment_415" align="aligncenter" width="410"] In its raised position, the open tabletop reveals tons of storage space. Let's face it -- we all eat in the living room at some point or another (I know I do).
clever coffee table design, with its rising tabletop, saves you from having to hunch over while tucking into your TV dinner, and would come in just as handy as a platform for your laptop when you're catching up on emails from the comfort of the couch. Marvellous mechanics aside, it's an incredibly handsome new piece in a beautiful 3. Asterisk 3-ladder desk in white, $149, EQ3. [caption id="attachment_417" align="aligncenter" width="410"] It's a mean, LEAN desk. Who said a desk always needs four legs? This ingeniously engineered piece props up against a wall just like a ladder. What's more, it takes up such a tiny footprint, you can create an office nook just about anywhere in your home. 4. Nautical 8-foot-by-10-foot flatweave wool rug, $600, EQ3. [caption id="attachment_418" align="aligncenter" width="410"] Simply can't get enough of those nautical stripes... Summer may be drawing to a close, but that doesn't mean I've had my fill of summery generously-proportioned rug (with a
great price point, considering not only its size, but the fact that it's made from hand-woven wool) has the added edge of an artisanal touch -- unabashedly imperfect stripes that appear as though the blue dyed bands have bled. How handsome would this carpet be, paired with some of my fave nautical finds from the 5. Hedge alarm clock, $50, EQ3. [caption id="attachment_419" align="aligncenter" width="238"] Confession: I've had the same alarm clock for the past 20 years. What do you get when you cross an LED display with a translucentWell, this hot little number, of course! This would be a fantastic gift for the teenager at home who, a) needs help waking up in the morning, and b) hates just about everything. For a full lineup of the latest and greatest at request one of their gorgeousHave you peeked at the catalogue already? Follow me on Twitter! Don't miss out: Subscribe to the Canadian Living Home & Garden blog! Photography by Jeff Coulson
Image by: Photography by Jeff CoulsonFlea Market Findsover @ Her Library AdventuresAND JOINING INTHRIFT SHARE MONDAYwith Apron Thrift GirlUmbra usually has some cool products, but nothing that I would probably purchase new. I had a sorry day of thrifting when I spotted a set of 8 for $1.99. I do not have the wall attachments (which people on Amazon said were just tacks) & I am missing one of the set, as they originally came with 9, but I love everything in even sets & sticky adhesive will work better on my walls anyway - too many firewalls in this apartment!Also pictured are 2 Fire King mugs for 49 each at Value Village.New Dots! The most I ever paid for a Pyrex dish in a thrift store. This 403 was priced $14.99 at a thrift store... At this particular store they know their Pyrex & they price it accordingly. I love my new dots & the 401, 402 & 404 are now on my want list.I got this unopened box of Spring Blossom Green (Pyrex) mixing bowls off of Kijiji for $15. The seller was wonderful & had told me she got them for a shower gift in the 70's & they sat in her basement ever since.
I asked her why she didn't use them & she told me she had gotten so many of them (what a dream that would be!) that she just never got around to using them. She still uses a set of Spring Blossom Green to this day. She opened the box slightly & peeked inside, but the bowls have only got a peek of light.. they still can't make their way out.this funky caterpillarAnother item to cross of my want list... A Super Mario Brothers cake pan! $1.99 at Value Village. Seriously thought this was never going to turn up. Can't wait to make this cake! Sir Thrift-A-LotINthrift share mondayFlea Market FindsWhoever said there was a Pyrex drought in Tdot? I have to thank the uneducated Pyrex hunter at the Bloor Value Village for leaving the JAJ Red Gooseberry behind. Peeling the tag a bit to see if it was Pyrex, seeing the JAJ symbol & passing it up. $3.99 for that was a decent deal. Another set of great condition Spring Blossom Green picked up in different locations. Another Gooseberry & a great, large casserole in very good condition for a mere $5.99 from Talize.I am loving this guy...
Believe it or not, I found another set of these, the exact same, not even 15 minutes away in another store in the same city, didn't buy them though, they were missing the smallest ones. This set was $5.99. Until that day that I found them, I'd never seen anything like them before, made by Rubbermaid.Holly Hobbie cake pan. Saw one of these on Kijiji a few weeks ago & it became a wanted item, didn't know they existed either. $3.99 for a 1975 Holly Hobbie cake pan from Talize.Random things, some very cute vintage wrapping paper, Troll party invitations, 1980's Care Bears table cloth & Fester's Quest. I'll let the pictures do most of the talking, but I was lucky enough to cross FOUR items off of my thrifting want list off this past weekend after a mini thrifting tour of Southern Ontario. I made a partial want list last week, but didn't mention a few items. The items I was lucky enough to cross off were: unopened bottle of Orbitz drink, set of Butterprint Pyrex mixing bowls (missing the #404, but that's cool), the 2 missing bowls for my Friendship Pyrex Cinderella set (funny too, especially since that's all I needed for the set!) & I was able to complete my set of Butterprint refrigerator dish set.
It was a pretty good trip! & the trip took part on the most beautiful winter day in Southern Ontario I have ever seen, almost 80 degree weather! - Check out the rest of my haul below...Here is the Orbitz drink. If you are not a resident of Canada you may not have heard of it, since it was released only in Canada by the Clearly Canada Beverage Corporation & oddly enough, my boyfriends father used to produce this stuff in this factory & said it was "a bitch to make". Introduced in 1997, it was only for sale for a short time before being discontinued due to poor sales. At this time there is no plans to start producing the drink again. You can read more about the drink on Wikipedia.Linking up to Thrift Share MondayLinking up t0 Flea Market Finds. A part of me thinks my scale must be manipulating numbers. It must be broken.Let's bounce back to last week...236 pounds to 229.6 in 7 days. That's 6.4 pounds in a week. My goal was 234. Not the recommended "healthy" weight loss, but I just changed my diet & little things.
I've went back to the gym - 2 times so far this week. I take the stairs as often as I can, down more than up right now. Fresh fruit for breakfast, haven't ate breakfast since I was in grade school. Fresh fruit for snack. I drink water now. It's make your own salad at work everyday for lunch. I hope I don't tire of it. I used to eat fast food 5-6 times a week, drink half a case of pop or more in a day.. I was once up to 3 litres of Pepsi a day & little to no exercise a day. & trying hard not to eat 2-3 hours before bed. It didn't happen tonight.Stay tuned for some Pyrex finds! Can't seem to sleep, so here are a few obtainable items on my want list:Patti Smith recordsI once had Easter. I bought it from a grumpy old man in a grimy old vinyl shop downtown Hamilton about 10 years ago. I don't know what happened to it. Have only seen one Patti Smith vinyl in the thrifts - heart skipped a beat when I saw it & then sank when I saw why it was still here - it was cracked!A full set, barely used Butterprint mixing bowls.
I already have the 401, but could always use an extra.Another heard chair in excellent condition.A Super Mario Brothers cake pan:(cake source) Sunday Goal Link Upover @ Thrift Core!1. Goal is to lose 2 lbs this week. Fresh fruit in the morning, dreadful as it is - taking the stairs both up & down from my apartment on the 9th floor, 50 jumping jacks before work every morning & adding in more exercises when I can handle it.2. Add collectibles, uniqueness & personal touches to my new green Ikea Billy Bookcase (Ikea stock photo above).3. Scan vintage photos for eBay. Cross fingers, toes that they will sell.4. Start preparations for balcony planting. I am highly leaning towards strawberries & cucumbers...5. Gym 4x this week. Participate in step class this Monday.my latest eBay purchaseWendy's puffy stickers from 1984Last time I participated, one of my goals was to find a family doctor. I am proud to say: . The nurse was like, ", I don't have an opening until April 9th." I'm all like, "it's okay, I haven't had a family doctor in about 10 years, I don't think another month would hurt!"
Good luck with your goals this week! Another week has come to an end, check out some of my finds from the past 24 hours..A set of 4 Royal Alma (bought 2 of the birds, one not pictured) mugs, Made in England from Value Village. Also from Value Village this cute set of vintage mushroom tins by J.L. Clark Manufacturing Co., Made in USA.Another one of my storage problems coming to an end with this vintage Rubbermaid stacking kit from 1976. Spices, pills meet your new master!I've now completely new Pyrex nesting bowl set with the purchase of a #404, priced out of my usual range, but a bowl I have yet to see - in any condition - during my thrifting adventures. I paid $15 to complete my set. Item crossed off my kinda want list.I can cross another item off a want list, but this is "I'LL DASH ACROSS THE STORE IF I SEE IT" want list. My sister had this Coke can growing up in her Coca-Cola collection, whether this Coca-Cola collection was actually wanted by her or just forced on by her, the world may never know, but this is one of the cans that I wish we had kept!