IDS12 wrap-up + lots more to come

IDS12 has come and gone, and I have to say I think this was the best IDS show that I’ve been to. My brain is about to explode with all the amazing information that it absorbed over the last four days. There’s just too much to share in one blog post, so instead of cramming everything into one long post, I’m going to devote the next few weeks to posts about IDS12 and the related events. For today, here’s a really quick overview of the weekend, starting with the TBBs hangin’ with the very charming & funny Brian Gluckstein at the Canadian Design Blogger Meetup.

The beautiful & talented TBBs from left to right: Sonya, Donna, Lisa, Brian Gluckstein (our honourary TBB!), Maureen, Kelly, and Nicole

Not to name drop or anything, but here’s Glen Peloso reading the menu to us at Brassaii on Saturday night ;-)

There were so many amazing products, amazing people, and loads of amazing information everywhere. Here’s just a small sampling to whet your appetite (I’m still sorting out my pictures and will give proper credit once I figure out where I took them all!)

Living Lighting

 

Bloomsbury Kitchens

 

AM Studio

 

Flou

 

Elte

 

Identity Apparel

 

UpCountry

 

 

Alfred Sung

 

North on Sixty

 

Wetstyle

Want to see more? Of course you do! And I have a whole lot more to show you, plus I have lots of information to share from Kimberley Seldon’s Business of Design launch, BlogPodium, and the Canadian Design Blogger Meetup. February is going to be IDS12 month here – don’t miss it!

Actually, how about we turn this into a big IDS12 link party. If you’ve blogged about IDS12, please leave a comment or send me an e-mail with your URL(s) and I’ll include them in my IDS12 posts. Then everyone can visit everyone else and it’ll be like being at the show all over again :-) Here are just a few…

Canadian Design Blogger Meetup Designwali Money Pit Love Rambling Renovators Little House Blog Sonya Kinkade Design Cherish Toronto

Sense and Simplicity Creed Maureen at Modecor Muses Lisa Goulet Design Dans le Townhouse House & Home Style At Home

lifeovereasy Part I lifeovereasy Part II Solace Interiors

Studio North at IDS12

Just over 24 hours until all the IDS12 fun begins – there are so many exciting events happening over the next four days, it’s going to be hard to squeeze everything in. But I’m sure going to try!

My favourite part of IDS is Studio North. There are always amazing pieces on display created by super-talented Canadian design makers and ateliers from coast to coast. Here are a just a few of this year’s Studio North exhibitors and creations that I’m looking forward to seeing.

Manila Rope Light by Atelier 668.

Spiral Nest light fixture by Zac Ridgely

Console table by Christopher Solar Studio Furniture.

Jeremy Kehoe created this amazing Wood Wall from scrap wood for a condominium lobby in Toronto.

Why Not Table by Kino Guerin.

Orbit Coffee Table by Nomo Creations.

Wall coverings by Mushaboom Design (how fun is that name?!)

Custom wallpaper by Rollout.

And that’s barely scraping the surface of all the amazing exhibitors and pieces that will be on display at Studio North and IDS12. I’m REALLY going to try to focus this year and make sure I don’t miss booths like I did last year. I still can’t believe I totally missed the Ikea kitchen… DOH! I’ll have my laptop with me in TO, but I may or may not have time to post pictures and updates about the show. But for sure I’ll be sharing all the IDS12 eye candy with you over the next couple of weeks.

Pack your bags TBBs, TO & IDS12 await!

Extreme Makeover: Kindness Edition 2012

Last year, myself and six of my friends (who just happen to be uber-talented interior decorators here in Ottawa) participated in Extreme Makeover: Kindness Edition.

The Extreme Makeover Design Dream Team!
Back row, L to R: Donna, dh designs | Kelly, JAX Decor & Design | Sonya, Sonya Kinkade Design | Lisa, Lisa Goulet Design
Front row, L to R: Nicole, Solace Interiors | Maureen, MODECOR | Mary Anne, Otta Decorate!

EMKE is a charity event sponsored by The United Way Ottawa and the Yummy Mummy Club as part of Kindness Week. Our challenge in 2011 was to transform the lobby and in-house store at The Good Companions Seniors Centre in Ottawa – with a budget of $0. That’s right, we had NO MONEY – we had to beg, borrow, and steal (well, no, we didn’t REALLY steal!) everything for the makeover – furniture, paint, lumber, carpeting, artwork, labour... It was a lot of work, but thanks to the amazing generosity of some great people and businesses, we managed to transform this cold & industrial space…

All photos of The Good Companions Seniors Centre by Danielle Lynn Photography

Into a warm and welcoming space…

EMKE 2012!

We’re back at it again this year, along with Sarah Kidder from Sarah Kidder Design. Our challenge this time around is to make over the computer and homework rooms at the The Foster Farm Family House Homework Club. It’s a place where kids who live in the Foster Farm community can go to do their homework a few days each week. Right now, the rooms are very uninspired and drab. We’re going to transform them into a bright and comfortable spaces where the kids will have all the supplies they need to do their homework. These are a couple of our colour palette inspiration pictures…

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House Beautiful, February 2011

We already have the following donors onboard:

• Sherwin-Williams Paints in Orleans, Ontario is providing all the paint and paint supplies.
• Ottawa Valley Kitchens is providing custom-made cabinetry.
• Danielle Lynn Photography is working with us once again to take all the before and after photos of the project.
• D.E. Kinkade Konstruction Ltd is once again providing all the construction and labour.
• Tag Along Toys is donating an Intelliglobe and other educational materials.
• Matt LeBlanc is donating an original abstract painting.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

It’s a great start, but we still need more donations to get the job done. We need:

Wall shelves Memo peg boards Large clock Small wall mounted TV and VCR Office supplies

Window shades Durable flooring Two window unit air conditioners Track lighting Lumber and supplies

If you would like to donate any of these items for our makeover project at The Foster Farm Family House Homework Club, please contact Sonya Kinkade at sonyakinkade@bellnet.ca or 613-838-5252.

With your help, we’re going to be able to create another great space for some very deserving kids :-)

Linking up to Metamorphosis Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch.

Click the following links to read more about last year’s Extreme Makeover: Kindness Edition project.

• The Process
• The Reveal
• The people who made it possible

One more week till IDS12!

Way back in September, it felt like it was forever till the end of January and IDS12. And now it’s just one week away – WOOT!

The annual Interior Design Show in Toronto is billed as Canada’s largest contemporary design fair. And believe me, it’s HUGE! There are all sorts of things to see and do during the four-day event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. This year’s show  kicks off on Thursday, January 26th with the Opening Night Party. Imagine being surrounded by the who’s who of Canadian design…

Oh yes I did!

Food and drinks for everyone (I hope the burnt toasted marshmallow ice cream people are back again this year!)…

And amazing designs every direction you look…

Andrew Ooi, IDS11

UpCountry booth, IDS11

Glenn & David Dixon, Sibling Revelry, IDS11

A very special event taking place at the Opening Night Party is the Cherish Auction. 20 Magis Julian children’s chairs are being re-imagined by 20 different designers. The chairs will be up for auction at the party, and all proceeds will be going to ONEXONE, a non-profit children’s foundation. I have a feeling this year’s show is going to be bigger and better than ever. Like last year, the TBBs (minus two) are making the trip from Ottawa to Toronto for the big show. We’ll start things off at Kimberley Seldon’s Business of Design Launch Party & Tweet-Up at Modern Weave on Thursday afternoon. Then it’s over to the MTCC for the IDS party. Friday starts bright and early with BlogPodium. BlogPodium is a quarterly conference series aimed to educate and empower bloggers and deepen relationships within the design community. I’m looking forward to seeing some of my blog friends again, and meeting some new blog friends :-) After the conference, it’s off to the show for Trade Day. My feet are already hurting just thinking about all the walking we’ll be doing! We'll probably hit some home decor stores on Saturday, and then we’re going to the Canadian Design Blogger Meetup at Brasaii Restaurant & Lounge. And then back home to boring Ottawa on Sunday (after more shopping!)

You really have to be at IDS to fully appreciate the size of the show and to experience all amazing designs and talented people. Here’s a short video that gives a quick synopsis of the show…

Will you be at IDS12?

A Lesson in Green: Eco-friendly Garage Doors

I was recently contacted by a representative for Garaga Garage Doors in Ottawa about their eco-friendly garage doors. I thought this topic might be of interest to my readers, so they provided me with the following information and images about their products. Hope you find it helpful…

Most people buy a new garage door as a matter of necessity or convenience. They’re either replacing a broken door or converting to an automatic. Most aren’t thinking their garage has anything to do with the environment. Nevertheless, one of the newest types of garage doors on the market, the eco-friendly kind, provides green benefits as well as a wide range of financial reasons to upgrade now.

What is Eco-Friendly?

For those not up on their lingo, eco-friendly means green or nature friendly. A green product is an item that inflicts no or minimal harm to the environment during manufacturing or operation. In addition, power-using eco-friendly products tend to be more cost-effective long term because they draw far less juice.

What is an Eco-Friendly Garage Door?

An eco-friendly garage door is manufactured almost entirely of recyclable or recycled materials. These materials are resistant to aging and weathering, and they’re every bit as high quality as the conventional garage doors on the market are. Moreover, an eco-friendly garage door is a better insulator than a standard door is, which is a primary motivation behind most eco-friendly garage door Ottawa purchases. Attached, unfinished garages can be a great waste of money. A green garage door can often save enough to pay for itself in a short period.

What is the Difference between a Standard and Green Garage Door?

Often, there is very little difference, and most green garage door purchases aren’t much different from standard garage door purchases. In other words, a homeowner doesn’t have to settle just to go green. These doors have the same level of materials and build quality, and due to the growing popularity of this home upgrade option, the doors are often available similarly priced or at a discount.

What is the Long-Term Value of an Eco-Friendly Garage Door?

• An eco-friendly garage door has a minimal environmental footprint from the moment of manufacture. Even when the owner eventually discards of the door properly, they are having a positive effect on the environment.
• A green garage door insulates the garage and any attached structures by completely sealing the door area. Standard doors tend not to sit perfectly flush. A green door is precise, and that allows it to trap warm air in the cold months and cooled air in the hot months.
• In Canada and the United States, eco-friendly garage doors often qualify for federal tax credits and province/state rebates. In some cases, these rebates are substantial, and they can usually offset any premium associated with opting for a green garage door over a standard one.
• Throughout North America, eco-rebates are also available through private organizations. If a homeowner is fortunate to have all three credits available, it is possible for the new door to pay for itself in under a year or even to be a zero-sum home improvement.
• Eco-friendly doors provide a great level of home security. Earlier, we mentioned that standard garage doors tend not to sit flush. This is actually a common weakness in most home security systems, and a skilled thief can use this as their access point into the home.
• When it does come time to replace a garage door, you can sell the old door, whether it’s green or not, to a recycler. The benefit of a green door, in this situation, is that the recycler will pay more for it. Selling a door this way isn’t exactly lucrative, but the additional money can go a long way toward offsetting the cost of the upgrade.

Conclusion

Eco-friendly garage doors aren’t just luxuries; they’re significant home improvements with long-term value. If you’re in a need of a new door or have an attached garage, consider this option immediately. With a little planning, the cost will be cheaper than you expect, and the long-term savings will be worthwhile.

Are you doing something to live more eco-friendly? I’d love to hear about it – leave a comment and let me know!