June 2009 - Posts

Jun
29

Question of the Week: Is Flying a Canadian Flag on your House too American?

Permalink
Posted by Elana Safronsky 6/29/2009 5:15:00 PM
How many times have we heard someone say, “Wow, they’re SO patriotic over there – flags everywhere!” in reference to our ardent neighbours to the south? However, over the decades I’ve seen the Canadian flag gain ground amidst our own, less demonstrative
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

30 Comments

Jun
29

Video Interview: Igor and Cheryl of Restaurant Makeover Reveal Trade Secrets

Permalink
Posted by Elana Safronsky 6/29/2009 8:05:00 AM
Funny, when I was at home with my baby, Restaurant Makeover was one of the shows to which I was fatally addicted. I may have seen every episode of the five seasons, but, sadly, now that I’m employed there’s no chance of really proving that… Needless to
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

0 Comments

Jun
28

Shop Review: Beige, Montreal

Permalink
Posted by Guest Blogger 6/28/2009 11:15:00 AM
This shop appeals to a wide range of customers. Men and women from 20 to 80 shop at Beige . It is a must place to shop for unique home décor that adds personality to your home. Best of all, it stays affordable. Michael Stratulak , the young owner of Beige,
Read More »

Posted in: , ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

0 Comments

Jun
27

Bargain Saturday: Vintage Canadiana Artwork

Permalink
Posted by Alicia Cox 6/27/2009 9:05:00 AM
No Cold Storage In Canada, $5USD, from Inktiques I'm feeling patriotic this week, kicking off with yesterday's post about the Top 5 icons of Canadian design , so for today's Bargain Saturday inspiration, I did one of my favourite things: trolling for
Read More »

Posted in: , ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

3 Comments

Jun
26

Top 5 Friday: Icons of Canadian Design

Permalink
Posted by Alicia Cox 6/26/2009 2:40:00 PM
How would you answer this question: What's the most internationally recognized symbol of Canada (besides the flag)? In honour of Canada Day next Wednesday (Happy 142nd Birthday, Homeland!), this week's Top 5 Friday showcases a little Yank-style patriotism
Read More »

Posted in:

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

5 Comments

Jun
25

Makeover: Dirty Business Tiny Spaces-Turned-Huge Project

Permalink
Posted by Vanessa 6/25/2009 1:42:00 PM
The Dirty Business team had their work cut out with them when landscaping and redecorating the tiny front and backyards of this urban home. The homeowners have two children who need a little room to play but the couple also wanted a formal, attractive
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

2 Comments

Jun
24

Design Dilemma with Carson Arthur: Where to Begin with a Ravine?

Permalink
Posted by Elana Safronsky 6/24/2009 4:42:00 PM
Today's Outdoor Design Dilemma comes to us from Erika C., who along with her husband will be retiring to a large farmhouse with a ravine lot. Overwhelming indeed! To help Erika get started on trimming, clearing, digging and taming the overgrown ravine
Read More »

Posted in: , ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

0 Comments

Jun
24

Moving Mayhem: Win One, Lose Many

Permalink
Posted by Scotch Mommy 6/24/2009 12:08:00 PM
This house hunting thing is getting old real quick. It used to be fun wandering around people's houses, imagining us living there, and then at some point it stopped being fun and got tiring. Possibly when we lost our first bidding war. The house needed
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

0 Comments

Jun
23

Gardening Advice: The Best Time to Plant Purple Basil

Permalink
Posted by Guest Blogger 6/23/2009 8:32:00 PM
Question: "When is the best time to plant purple basil? What about soil and location? Every season I try AGAIN to grow this herb but it just doesn't like what I am doing." Answer: Basil is one of those herbs that like the heat and are very tender and
Read More »

Posted in: , ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

0 Comments

Jun
23

Home Tour: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia is Chic!

Permalink
Posted by Elana Safronsky 6/23/2009 4:42:00 PM
Not everyone with means rushes the hills of West Vancouver, Montreal’s West Mount or Toronto’s Victorian/Edwardian neighbourhoods. Some people prefer the less trodden, tranquil beauty of lakeside living in, say, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia , where they can
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

4 Comments

Jun
22

Question of the Week: Do You Use Reusable Shopping Bags?

Permalink
Posted by Terry 6/22/2009 3:34:00 PM
Earlier this month, the city of Toronto introduced a new by-law which requires all merchants to charge customers 5¢ for each plastic bag used at all points of sale in order to discourage the use of plastic bags and ultimately to reduce the number of them
Read More »

Posted in:

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

14 Comments

Jun
21

Shop Review: Drake General Store, Toronto

Permalink
Posted by Alicia Cox 6/21/2009 1:10:00 PM
The Drake Hotel in Toronto's West Queen West Art & Design District (or Queen West West , as many locals call it for some reason, myself included) encompasses many things: boutique hotel, restaurant, cafe, bar, patio, dance floor, art gallery, live
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

1 Comments

Jun
20

Bargain Saturday: Sunshine Photography

Permalink
Posted by Alicia Cox 6/20/2009 10:09:00 AM
Early Monday morning, at 1:45am the Summer Solstice begins -- marking the first day of summer and the longest amount of sunshine we'll see all year. To celebrate soaking up all that vitamin D, I rounded up some affordable Etsy photography featuring sunshine
Read More »

Posted in: , ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

1 Comments

Jun
19

Top 5 Friday: Bird Houses

Permalink
Posted by Vanessa 6/19/2009 2:17:00 PM
This weekend marks the official start of summer. Why not welcome the warm weather (fingers crossed) by inviting some wild life into your life? Today's Top Five includes my favourite online finds for the style (not necessarily type) of bird you hope to
Read More »

Posted in: , ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

2 Comments

Jun
18

Blog Round-Up: Father's Day Crafts

Permalink
Posted by Alicia Cox 6/18/2009 1:05:00 PM
While hand prints in clay and misshapen ashtrays are always sweet (Do kids still make ashtrays? Seems a little Mad Men to encourage Pops to smoke) -- here are some other Father's Day craft ideas from around the Web that are just as sentimental. Images
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

0 Comments

Jun
17

Design Dilemma with Carson Arthur: Think Vertical to Improve Curb Appeal

Permalink
Posted by Guest Blogger 6/17/2009 5:20:00 PM
That Carson Arthur is quite the guy. As host of HGTV's Green Force and the principal behind his namesake landscaping company, he’s totally on the case of all your Outdoor Design Dilemmas . Today we’re rolling out the first of the bunch; this Dilemma comes
Read More »

Posted in: , ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

2 Comments

Jun
17

Moving Mayhem: Home Hunting

Permalink
Posted by Scotch Mommy 6/17/2009 11:50:00 AM
What is it they say is more stressful, divorce or moving? So far, our bid to sell our home to find a bigger one has gone well. Not to say it hasn't been stressful. We've had so many showings over the first six days (44, not including open houses) we haven't
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

3 Comments

Jun
16

Splurge Vs. Steal: Chic Watering Cans

Permalink
Posted by Guest Blogger 6/16/2009 9:30:00 AM
These super stylish watering cans make caring for plants less of a chore! Unlike dingy plastic models, these stainless steel beauties look fantastic on a counter or shelf and stand as a reminder to give the blooms a drink every now and again. A tip —
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

3 Comments

Jun
15

Question of the Week: Do You Shop at a Mall Because of Its Decor?

Permalink
Posted by Terry 6/15/2009 3:27:00 PM
A few weeks ago I was in Edmonton visiting my mother and one of my family's favourite past times is to go shopping at the many malls throughout the city. Mall culture played a substantial part in my life growing up in Edmonton as malls were always epicentres
Read More »

Posted in:

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

11 Comments

Jun
12

Top 5 Friday: Five Ways to Landscape that Grass Out of Your Life

Permalink
Posted by Elana Safronsky 6/12/2009 5:25:00 PM
Despite what your eyes may tell you, a lawn is one of the least “green” investments you can make. The water and energy it takes to maintain a “healthy” lawn is hardly justifiable in the face of its positive environmental kickback, such as swapping carbon
Read More »

Posted in: , , , ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

1 Comments

Jun
12

Torontonians, Save Energy, Get Rewarded

Permalink
Posted by Vanessa 6/12/2009 9:25:00 AM
This weekend and next, Torontonians are invited to bring old, inefficient room air conditioners and dehumidifiers to the Home Depot in return for a $25 (for an air conditioner) or $10 (for a dehumidifier) gift card. This Keep Cool initiative is just one
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

0 Comments

Jun
11

Makeover: Expert Tips for a Fabulous Eat-In Kitchen

Permalink
Posted by Vanessa 6/11/2009 9:30:00 AM
Not very many people can have skylights, 12-foot ceilings and a marble backsplash in their kitchen but that doesn't mean that some of the most luxurious kitchens can't help inspire your own space. In the Champions of Breakfast episode of HGTV's Top 10
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

3 Comments

Jun
10

Gardening Advice: Growing Strawberries in Hanging Baskets

Permalink
Posted by Guest Blogger 6/10/2009 11:19:00 AM
Question: Is it true that strawberries grow very well in hanging baskets? Answer: Strawberries have small root systems so they are good candidates for hanging baskets. In fact, on recent trip to Malaysia I visited a commercial strawberry farm where all
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

2 Comments

Jun
09

Moving Mayhem: Keep It Clean

Permalink
Posted by Scotch Mommy 6/9/2009 2:42:00 PM
Last week I talked about getting our house ready to move. It's a week later, our house has been listed, and, I have to say, I'm a little surprised I survived. Our home is more of a workhorse than a show pony so it needed a good decluttering, which took
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

0 Comments

Jun
09

Home Tour: Store Owner Gets a Fashionable Loft

Permalink
Posted by Vanessa 6/9/2009 9:30:00 AM
A few weeks ago, Jaclyn Genovese, the managing partner of Toronto's trendy Queen Street West boutique Jacflash , invited Terry and I to take a tour of her gorgeous loft. The modern, open-concept space is near the store and shares the same designer. Clayton
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

0 Comments

Jun
08

Question of the Week: Are Home Stagers Worth It?

Permalink
Posted by Elana Safronsky 6/8/2009 5:38:00 PM
Before and Afters from Stage It Right , servicing the greater Victoria area, BC. Speaking with our Slice.ca guest blogger, Scotch Mommy (aka Reni Walker), about her “Moving Mayhem” I was surprised to hear that she made use of a home staging service in
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

16 Comments

Jun
06

Bargain Saturdays: Cheap Summer Centrepieces

Permalink
Posted by Vanessa 6/6/2009 9:30:00 AM
Today's bargain is also a DIY . Whether you're hosting a shower or an al fresco dinner party this summer, these easy centrepieces will class up any old picnic table. If it's a big event you're working on, like a wedding or reunion, you're probably looking
Read More »

Posted in: , ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

0 Comments

Jun
05

Top 5 (+2) Friday: 7 Creative Ways to Divide Your Living Space

Permalink
Posted by Elana Safronsky 6/5/2009 8:23:00 PM
We all know what the traditional room divider looks like. And there are still, to this day, a zillion permutations of it so we need not go over all the different fabrics and screens that could be to your liking. Instead, for this week's Top 5 Friday --
Read More »

Posted in: , , , ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

3 Comments

Jun
04

Shoestring Makeover: Balcony Love

Permalink
Posted by Alicia Cox 6/4/2009 12:36:00 PM
Last summer , I didn't spend a lot of time on my apartment balcony . Maybe because it was one of the rainiest summers in Toronto history, but most likely because it was dirty and rundown from neglect. This year, I vowed to not let the summer pass without
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

11 Comments

Jun
03

Moving Mayhem: Getting Ready to Sell

Permalink
Posted by Scotch Mommy 6/3/2009 2:20:00 PM
After nine years in our little downtown Toronto house, we’re ready to sell. We’ve been saying this every spring for the past four years, but now, after watching House Hunters every night, we’ve got the moving bug and it’s GAME ON!
Read More »

Posted in: ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

1 Comments

Jun
03

Carson Arthur Answers Your Outdoor Design Dilemmas - Send in Your Photos

Permalink
Posted by Elana Safronsky 6/3/2009 8:47:00 AM
Last month I ran into landscape and outdoor spaces designer, and host of HGTV’s Green Force , Carson Arthur . He was presiding at a Salute Wine + Food event at the University of Toronto, for which he had designed an outdoor space that was the subject
Read More »

Posted in: , , ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

9 Comments

Jun
02

Splurge vs. Steal: Kitchen Textiles

Permalink
Posted by Jessica McLaughlin 6/2/2009 4:03:00 PM
I'm guilty of buying the occasional overpriced textiles; tablecloths, placemats, napkins, you name it. Let's face it, we're not all doing loads of cooking and a couple of strategically-placed oven mitts and pot holders can add a little something to your
Read More »

Posted in: , ,

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

1 Comments

Jun
02

Photo Gallery: Canadian Tulip Festival 2009

Permalink
Posted by Guest Blogger 6/2/2009 9:01:00 AM
The story of Canada’s tulip festival begins in an Ottawa Civic Hospital room during World War II . At the time, several members of the Dutch Royal family were exiled in Canada. One of them, Princess Juliana , gave birth to a daughter, Margriet, in 1943,
Read More »

Posted in:

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

2 Comments

Jun
01

Question of the Week: Do You Have A For-Show Living Room?

Permalink
Posted by Vanessa 6/1/2009 3:39:00 PM
Photo: Colin & Justin's Home Heist To be honest, I've never understood the formal living room. Maybe it's because I live in a small condo where space is at a premium but I'm of the mind that you should use every square foot you have to its full potential.
Read More »

Posted in:

Add to:   Add to Del.icio.us   Digg it!  

12 Comments


Back to Top