'Tis the Season at 219!!

I'm a bit of a Christmas crazy and this has only 

been heightened by the fact that Sarah has already 

put up her amazing black tree!! 

So I am in heavy duty holiday decorating mode trying 

to figure out the scheme for this year.

Definitely a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas 

and the subtler the decor the better, so this year I'm 

going to try to use as much "live/natural" 

accessories as possible. 

Loving the idea of using little trees in 
addition to the "Grand Poobah" tree. 

Mary McDonald

That peacock!!!

And if memory serves, I believe that this anything 
but little tree is in a guest room in designer 
Barry Dixon's home. 

Lucky guest!

Love all the saturated jewel tones, the casually 
placed garland and how it so perfectly complements 
the wallpaper (of course)!

I also love the drama and juxtaposition 

of these Christmas trees in the clay pots.

Wouldn't these be perfect outdoors either flanking 

an entrance or even a single depending on your setup?

And magnolia is a must!!

Sarah and I will both be donning one of 
these amazing lacquer magnolia wreaths.



We really fell in love with this collection 
and are very happy to be carrying it in the Boutique!! 

The wreaths are made with real magnolia leaves and 
will last indefinitely. They are available in several 
colours and sizes including this one in gold - our favourite!

Just send us a msg if you would like more info :) 

Also love magnolia or other live greenery throughout 
the house but particularly on the staircases.

Eddie Ross

via

And I most adore the idea of a collection of ornaments 
displayed somewhere other than the tree.

Country Living

Other goings on- Am meeting with a new client today 

to discuss a couple of projects, including a 

complete kitchen overhaul - love doing kitchens!! 

- and fireplace redo.

And the linen for my living room + office draperies 

has arrived, and I am pondering the details - 

to trim or not to trim...

Will elaborate on both next week - would love your 

input on my draperies!

Christine xo

Fashion + Find

So I'm having one of those blogger days... 

The type where you can't think of anything to post about to save your life! But alas, I am going to go with the failsafe fashion/finds post - two of my favourite things all mixed together into a nice little post! 

Here's a little outfit inspo for all you fashion lovers!

I'm loving navy right now. It's the perfect fall hue and coincidentally one of those colours that I've been enjoying for interiors as well! 

Shirt: French Connection

Boots: H&M

Jeans: H&M

Earings: Opening Ceremony

Purse: Givenchy

While throwing together this outfit board, It reminded me of a fabulous pair of sconces that I had found the other day which match oh-so-perfectly to this outfit!

via

How amazing are these! I could easily find a wall for these to adorn in my home - no problem :)

Speaking of walls to adorn (and I guess a follow up to one of Christine's last posts), I am itching to use this wallpaper! Black, pink and metallic silver?! Really can't get much better than that!

 via

I'm a little sick of Chevron lately, but this has an interesting twist that doesn't make it so bad...

If this is still too much Chevron to handle, you could go for some gold goodness instead!

via

*Obsesssed!* 

Can I please see this application on someones wall asap?!?!

.........

Hope everyone has a fabulous day!

S.

xo

Weekend Recap & Boutique Update!!

So we're bursting with excitement to tell you 
that the launch of the 219 Boutique 
is imminent - like days away imminent!!!

Bellus Designs

And what's more, we're working on a most exciting 

joint venture. Mum's the word for the moment, but we're 
hoping to be able to tell you all about it very shortly! 

In anticipation of the Boutique opening, we are 
of course continuing to get pieces weekly, and we 
had a funny little thing happen on Friday.

We had ordered several Zeus busts from Oly Studio, 

and we were most eagerly awaiting their arrival. 

This is what we had ordered: 

Obviously having overlooked the particulars re: 
dimensions, Sarah and I were expecting a 
modestly sized bust and in fact were just saying 
how we wished they were a bit more substantial in
terms of scale.

Careful what you wish for... ;)

When the delivery truck arrived, he asked me where 
I would like the "skid". 

Having envisioned the busts being packaged 
in one largish box, I'm perplexed.

Until we opened the first box!!!!

Great Zeus - Great big ZEUS!!
He is taller than my 18 month old 

and Sarah's youngest! 

Sarah and I are totally smitten - 

the scale is so substantial and they are 

amazing paired with gold!!

Kelly Wearstler

Two ZEUS busts will be available through the 

Boutique when we launch, but of course feel free 

to contact us in the meantime for more info and pricing. 

And this is what Sarah and I do for fun on the weekends!! 

Our kids play with superhero figures and dolls, 

and we play with Zeus busts...

(Just so you're not concerned, we were just trying 

to establish scale ;))

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What else did we do for fun this w/e??

Well, I bought this very fab 8" x 10" print from 

Caitlin McGauley for my office. 

via Caitlin McGauley

If you don't recognize the name, you probably 
recognize her work - she's done 

all kinds of amazing projects for the likes of 

Lonny, Hermes, Kate Spade, Tory Burch etc. etc.

This is an open edition print and proceeds will go to 

the American Red Cross to aid in disaster relief for 
the victims of Hurricane Sandy - obviously a very 

worthwhile cause and a little piece of Caitlin 

for you in return!

In case you want to check out the link: 

Caitlin McGauley

I'm also looking at this as a bit of a sign ;) as this 

here little beauty of a coat from Emerson Fry 

has been gracing one of our Pinterest boards 

for some time now. 

via Emerson Fry

My significant other laughs (most of the time) at 

how adept I am at justifying purchases, but the writing 

is so clearly on the wall in this case - 

I've loved this coat for some time, 

I come across a fabulous print with this coat, 

it's for a good cause... 

Right??!! ;)

And oh yeah, that little Jack Arnold French country 

home that I visited on the weekend was so so lovely!

Unfortunately, they were very strict about pictures, 
otherwise I would have been snapping 
away left and right.

This place though was the most 
inviting and cozy cozy home I can remember 
ever having visited.

It was so tasteful and beautiful and yet nothing 
in their home was "on-trend" per se.

They had an amazing butler's pantry with a built-in 
wall rack to house their platters, serving plates etc. 

via

They also had the most incredible three-season 
outdoor living room with a full kitchen, 
wine fridge and fireplace that overlooked their pool
and detached garage/guest house - stunning it was!!

via Elle Decor

Must sign off. Busy busy week getting ready 
for the launch - can't wait!!!

Have the bestest of days!

Christine xo

Friday Files

Iiiiiiiiiit's Friday, and the Friday Files are 
fast becoming my favourite post of the week - 
a little ramble of goings on and what's 
got us excited...

And topping that list is of course the crazy-talented 
Ruthie Sommers and her recent feature in Veranda.

This bathroom is exquisite and one
of my new all time faces!

And this next space reminds me of Victoria Webster's 
fabulous living room - another current favourite.

Ruthie Sommers

Victoria Webster via Cdn House and Home

And loooovie this space. The ebony floors, the pink, 
black and gold, and how it all works together 
so effortlessly. 

--------------------------

Also super excited to be going on a house tour this w/e - 
Homes for the Holidays - to benefit a local and very 
well-respected palliative care hospice.

One of the homes being featured is just around the 
corner from Sarah and me. 

Here is a view of its side entrance. 

via Homes for the Holidays: Hospice at May Court

It was designed by American architect Jack Arnold, 
and this picture, although beautiful, 
simply does not do it justice.

Another Jack Arnold design...

Sarah and I both have very much wanted to see 
this house, so what better opportunity than 
Hallowe'en - ha!! We were more excited than the kids!

Once there, we waited for all of the 
kids to clear before ringing the bell to ensure 
a completely unobstructed view of the inside - 
shameless I tell you!! 

Anyway, yippee, this weekend we get to see all of it!! 
Will give you the full report next week!

-----------------------------

And lastly, a wee update from an interior 
design project I'm working on.

It is for the loveliest of clients 
and his perfectly adorable son, 

and we are revamping a significant portion 

of their main floor. 

Initially the project scope was a total redo of the 

living and dining room areas. 

There was old carpet in the living room and 

a pre-fab hardwood in the dining room. 

The client wanted to replace the flooring, and we 

decided on a site-finished hardwood floor in ebony.

Delivery day with my little assistant :)

But beyond this area was the foyer, which was 

covered in a large ceramic white tile and beyond that a 

family room with light-stained hardwood 
- have I lost you?? 

Anyway, we decided that the biggest impact 
would come from addressing the foyer and family 
room at the same time as the other areas with 
a view of making the ground floor read as one 
cohesive space.

So out came the ceramic in the foyer 
and in went the same ebony hardwood. 
We preserved the existing wood in the family room but 
are having it re-stained in ebony as well. 

This is all happening literally as I write. 
Yesterday the stain was applied, and now we are 
just waiting for the final two coats of finish.

And talk about inspired timing - this just in!!
(Client snuck in to check out the new stain :)) 

Apologies for the poor quality shot, 

but hopefully you can get a sense.

Omgosh, what an amazing difference from the ceramic - 

the client is thrilled, and so am I!! 

He plans on addressing the staircase as well, 

but for now the focus is on the living and 

dining room areas. 

Will definitely continue to post as this project 

progresses, but in the meantime, I'll tell you 
that a Billy Baldwin-style sofa is definitely happening... 

(I adore those brass wall sconces/lamps as well!!)

...as is this Tom Dixon Style pendant in the d/room.

I'm so enjoying this project and working 
with such a wonderful and receptive client! 

Anyhoo, that's about it at this end I think...

Hope you all have a wonderful end of week! 

Looking forward to visiting again next.

Hugs, 

Christine

Wall Wonder

 Sarah was over the other day helping me to 
contemplate the fate of the walls 
on my ground floor (you may recall my post 
from last week).

Most definitely in a wallpaper frame of mind, and 

instead of having to decide which room to wallpaper, 
I'm having to talk myself down from which room I'll spare! 

There is just so much bounty out there that 
it's impossible to resist - eeeeks!!

Case in point, the wallpaper in this bathroom 
is exquisite - colour, scale, pattern 
- it's got it all. 

via

It has a definite art deco vibe along with a 

little Palm Beach and a little 70's - 
what's not to love!

My daughter Dahlia's room is high up on 

the redo priority list, and while I was 

strongly considering Alan Campbell's Saya Gata 

in pink lines on tint, I could definitely be 

swayed by this pattern (need to find out the name!) 

or something similar!

A Jay Jeffers stunner.




And as for the master, I am still so stuck on 
Osborne & Little's Asuka!

via

If my house had more of a mid-century or 
contemporary vibe, I wouldn't be able to resist 
the yellow colour way, but my house being 
a bit more classic, I think the gold and cream will 
hit just the right note!

Osborne and Little Asuka

I also still adore this zebra print. It would be 
fabulous in so many places, but I love the thought 
of it in a small space similar to this interior - 
I think it would be stunning in a den, office or library.

via

Love this paper and this company. In addition to their 

existing collections, Mr Perswall manufacturers 

custom wall coverings based on your very 

own digital image!

Mr Perswall

Endless possibilities. 

Another example of an incredible custom wall covering. 

via Lonny

Love that custom papers are increasingly 

becoming an accessible option!

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On a completely separate note, had a visit with a 
very dear friend of mine yesterday.

Her home is pretty incredible -  
steeped with character and style with unique pieces, 
art etc. at every turn.

We always talk about wanting a space to feel 
"collected", and her home is one of the best examples 
of that that I've seen.

A wee while back, she was searching for a 
gift for her husband's birthday and came across this 
bronze beauty that I had to share with you:






I have loved this since the day she 
brought it home (from a local antique shop). 

Magnificent!!! 
It is very substantial in scale and commands 
such a presence - loooovie it!!

And note the back-drop of beautifully- 
styled built-ins and the stunning marble 
tabletop. The caramel in the marble 
so perfectly picks up the bronze in the statue.

 Oooooh starry eyed I am!! I'm telling you - 
this house is somethin'-somethin'!

Will see you again tomorrow for the Friday Files.

Until then, hugs!
Christine