Design 'Episodes'

15.11.11

DesignVerb – Paint Chip Card Holders

How radical is this! Check it out:

http://www.designverb.com/2006/11/12/paint-chip-card-holder/

6.10.11

How a Canadian Shops in America

I just received word that after weeks of 'soon', I'm going to Florida to help renovate and decorate a vacay condo. How exciting right?!

Having perhaps lost my sanity, I thought it would be fun to drive two days down there rather than fly two hours. I figure it will be some deserved one on one time with my pop (who's joining me on this trip) while discovering some cool finds within the states along the way.

This is gonna be interesting!

Having not been to the U.S. in some time, I can't tell you how many things I can't wait to buy when I'm there!

Jif Peanut Butter

Missoni Line for Target

...ok so those are the two things I can think of right now...

but rest assured, I'm well educated in the craft of shopping, and there will certainly be more than these that I'll be bringing home!

As we speak, I'm waiting for my ride - I'll take lots of pics on my journey and you know I'll be posting them here!

Look out for new posts!

See you later!

2.10.11

Nuit Blanche aka. Crazy Night for Those Who Don't Speak French

B, some friends and I had a blast this weekend at 'Nuit Blanche'! It seemed like all of Toronto was out to view the spectacular works! Some images I took throughout the night are displayed below;

Nathan Philips Square

Queen Street West

'Cardiac Combustion Chamber', Richmond Street West and Bay

Adelaide Street West

'I just know that something good id going to happen', Dundee Place, Adelaide Street East

Bay Street

'Soon', Commerce Court, King Street West

'Barricades' Yonge Street south of Queen

'Barricades' Yonge Street south of Queen

'Infra', Victoria Street

Among the installations and the many MANY people out, we also happened to see a security guard pushed into a fountain and pedestrians getting run over by a city garbage cart! Did you get down to the events that night?

What things did you see? Like? Dislike?

29.9.11

What Are You Up To This Weekend?

Yippie! Friday's here!

What kinds of trouble will you be stirring up?

I'll be trekking to the core of Toronto with my B and some friends to see what beauties 'Nuit Blanche' will have. It was fantastic last year, and by what I've read, it'll be the same this time!

You can find more info about the night and its events at the link here.

Image by K.Sturino

Where will you be this weekend? I want to know!

Wherever you may roam, I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Talk to you soon...

Office Makeover - Leather Side Table

Hey everyone, today we're making over the side table which is to go beside my new reading chair!

This is what we're working with...

This table is as green as that grass and that colour certainly doesn't work with the new colour palate!

First, I sprayed the base and surface with a satin finish ivory spray paint which I found a half-full can of in my garage. Let it dry for 30 minutes in the shade.

Next, I found a piece of leather sample in my craft box. Measuring the circumference and height of the tables neck I draw out the lines for cutting.

After cutting, I line 1cm from the edges with some craft white glue. This would not work as well if I wasn't using leather, so if you use a different fabric, test this part first!

Stretch the leather so that the ends butt-up nicely. The white glue will turn clear once dry, so don't fret about oozing that might happen. If the oozing is much, wipe with a piece of paper towel.

Let dry, and viola!

That's all folks!

28.9.11

K is M.I.A.

Alo alo!

Sorry I haven't posted this week, I've had a cold and a bit of the blahs, but I'm back!

This past weekend, the 'Fall Home Show' was on in Toronto. It was pouring rain all Friday afternoon when I went, which explains my cold! I checked it out to see what could be interesting, but it wasn't much! I was unimpressed with the lack of vendor turnout, and there weren't any products that seemed innovative or new BUT products that did catch my eye were the following;

Beetling 3D wall designs - they're Canadian!
Wouldn't this be fantastic in a pediatrician's office or a children's store?
www.beetling.com

Incredible art from wroughtironman.ca
Check out the website, his work is awesome!

Although the show wasn't fantastic as I had hoped, I'm still happy to have discovered these two companies. Let's hope for the best next year!

23.9.11

Office Makeover - A Penny Saved...

The room is ready for making over, and I decided on the must-have's for within it. With my $250.00 I bought the following;

~From Ikea~

Shelf Unit - $16

Wall Shelves - $34

Wall Self Brackets - $21

Mini Shelf & Brackets - $5

Closet LED Light Strip - $13

Reading Lamp - $17

Certificate Frame - $10

~From Wal-Mart~

1 Gallon of Paint - $24

Inset Drapery Rod - $9

2 Cans of Spray Paint - $10

Drapery Panels - $25

~Misc.~

Chair from Craigslist - $25

~Total Taxes~

$16

Brings me to...

$198.00!!!

I've purchased everything I need for this project and I'm STILL under-budget!

I'm looking to reinvent most of the furniture I have already, which is why my penny's were able to stretch this far! The one major piece I purchased was the new reading chair which I nabbed off of Craigslist for a mere 25 bananas! I can't show it to you until the end, or else I'll spoil most of the final reveal. Sorry, but you'll have to wait!

Items I'm going to revive are:

Side Table

Desk Chair

Drawer Unit

Desk

I couldn't afford the throw pillows I wanted, so I'm going to make my own accent pillows.

There's lots of stuff to be done - I better get started!

22.9.11

Office Makeover - Inspiration

I needed some serious inspiration for my office makeover, so I started looking through my old fabric samples I snagged while at school as well as looking over all the things that will eventually be needed while using the space. My guy B has his own 'Man Cave', so I defintely want to make this space work as both my place of inspiration for work AND an area to retreat to for some often needed quiet time.

Shall we say - 'Glam Cave'?

I think so!

In addition to all that, as if it didn't have enough tasks to pursue, it contains the only closet I have left in the house for my accessories and jackets.

Back to inspiration...

I discovered this small but increadible sample of fabric and I couldn't put it down! It's definitely going to be my starting off point. You likey???

Pattern: Archduke Colour: Shell

It looks something Missoni might have designed, but it's by Robert Allen. I love that the vibrant pattern is calmed by the soft colours. I'm not a huge fan of pink, and I don't want to 'hyper-feminize' the office, but the balance of neutral colours and playful pattern make this the perfect jumping off point!

Stemming from this fabric, I developed a little inspiration vignette:

Do you like it?

Now that I've got my inspiration, time to move forward with the design!

Office Makeover

Hello all...

Since the end of school I hadn't really made any advances on the catastrophe better known as 'My Office'. We moved into our new home mid semester, so what was dropped off during moving day remained in the same place - until now! I'm taking the bull by the horns and giving this deserving space a total makeover! It's time to get this office out the obvious 'student' look and into something much more professional, organized and fabulous!

...

Hmmm, money might be an issue! Last I checked, my pockets were wearing quite thin!

Just as well, now we can up the ante on this project!

I'm going to give myself a spending budget of $250.00 to get from this:

Via

To something incredible!

Stay tuned in over the next few days to see my progress!

Catch you later - gotta start thinking up ideas!

24.4.11

This is my first!

So, welcome. :)

This past weekend was spent slaving away behind my desk, finishing up my final thesis project for school. To be honest, I am not entirely proud of this one, it felt rushed. I wish that I had more time to think out my concept as well as other key components. Alas, I can assume that is something that I will have to learn once in the industry - there are times you can't beat around the bush and waste your time on things. The reason a designer is hired is because they are able to make those decisions. Wether or not you may regret those decisions is irrelevant and regardless.

I've posted images from my final project last semester. It was an event space in the Distillery District of Toronto. It was a team effort - I had a partner on that one, my best school buddy JP. Check out the final product of that;