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Ten practical picks from this weekend’s Interior Design Show (seriously, you’ll actually use these things)

Wandering around the 175,000-square-foot Interior Design Show can be overwhelming and exhausting. Big-name manufacturers tend to take over with large, flashy exhibits that make it difficult to spot some of the more unusual offerings. We did the legwork and found architecturally sculpted chairs, the coolest new folding chair and even an in-counter steamer (who knew a steamer could be cool?). Here’s a roundup of 10 products we scouted at IDS 2012 that are actually practical and would look great in any home. Check out our picks after the jump »

The Goods

From the Print Edition

January 12, 2012 | 10:30 am

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Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap 2012: how to decorate your home for less

Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap | Home

Edison bulbs
Eclectic Revival
3075 Dundas St. W., 416-766-5500
When LEDs and compact fluorescents became the norm, decor radicals opted for replica Edison bulbs—the low-tech lighting equivalent of a turntable. The bulb’s distinct amber glow is produced by fragile carbon filaments; it’s a warmer, softer light than the tungsten coil on an incandescent emits. They’re becoming easier to find—Restoration Hardware carries them now—but the city’s cheapest source remains the vintage lighting store Eclectic Revival. $15 each.

Check out our 17-item home guide to living the good life for less »

The Goods

Shop Talk

January 4, 2012 | 12:09 pm

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Introducing: Hide, a shop for leather enthusiasts that isn’t Northbound

Introducing: Hide, 789 Dundas St. W. (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)

The place: Sisters Susana and Sandra Erazo opened up Hide on Dundas West as a means to showcase Susana’s handmade leather goods, and along the way they’ve introduced some other local and handcrafted items. The store is fairly rustic, complete with vintage wooden crates and dressmaker dummies that display the goods: a wrought iron base of an old Singer sewing machine dresses up a table; necklaces are looped onto a pair of antlers; and bracelets are displayed atop a copse of tree stumps. Meanwhile, Susana’s studio is housed in the back.

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The Goods

Shop Talk

December 9, 2011 | 3:48 pm

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Introducing: Piquadro, a Toronto outpost of the internationally known Italian leather goods shop in the heart of Yorkville

Introducing: Piquadro, 1286 Bay Street (Image: Fraser Abe)

The place: Piquadro has over 100 stores in Europe, Asia and Russia, but this is the Italian luggage retailer’s first North American shop. The interior feels like a modern airport, with photos of planes and runways strewn about, and wall accents printed with travel-associated words like “arrivals, departures and city” (not to mention the Pearson line of luggage as a nod to Toronto shoppers).

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The Goods

Buyer's Market

November 21, 2011 | 5:00 am

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Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 90 of the best presents money can buy

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza

The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and we’ve tackled the ever-difficult task of narrowing down a list of items that would be perfect for the men, women and children in your life. We find it is always a big to-do finding that special something for the wine snob who likes to aerate his or her wine, but we’ve got it covered, and to spare moms, dads, uncles, aunts and friends from waiting in line for this year’s Tickle Me Elmo, we’ve found some cool options for rug rats that won’t break down and send a greedy child into a tantrum. Check out the 90 presents that make up our 2011 ultimate holiday gift guide in a gallery after the jump »

The Goods

Buyer's Market

November 21, 2011 | 5:00 am

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Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 18 yuletide treasures for the best darn gals ever

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza

Pay no attention to what the advertisers tell you: there’s no gift “perfect for every woman in your life.” Still, we’re pretty sure discerning females will find a few things on this list to love. As the winter drags on, a Philip Lim muffler is sure to get a lot of use (and envious glares), and for women with a style all their own, we’ll show you where you can mix some custom fragrances. Finally, for that very special lady, we have a diamond necklace that won’t break the bank. Check out 18 gifts that are sure to make any gal smile in a gallery after the jump »

The Goods

Buyer's Market

November 21, 2011 | 5:00 am

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Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 19 perfect presents for the jet-setting cosmopolitan

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza

We can’t all be glamorous jet-setters and playboys, skipping across the globe to test the slopes of Whistler, Kitzbühel and Les Arcs all in a single week. But for the trips your loved ones can take, they can do it in style with a high-performance pair of electric blue Salomon skis, a quality Olympus E-P3 camera and a sharp—and pocket-friendly—travel toothbrush. We even found some great maps that never crease no matter how much you abuse them (seriously). Check out all 19 of our travel and playtime essentials in a gallery after the jump »

The Goods

Buyer's Market

November 21, 2011 | 5:00 am

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Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 32 great gifts under $30

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza

Little treats are perfect for host and hostess gifts and stocking stuffers, so we’ve picked some presents under $30 to help with the stress of sticking to a holiday budget (and, really, there are always obligatory presents to buy for people we know nothing about). We have everything from a space-age travel toothbrush for that friend you used to have eight years ago who just came home from teaching in Korea (and is likely to depart again) to a baguette carrier for when someone chooses bread as their item for a potluck (it doubles as a wine carrier, if that’s more their style) to various smile-building knick-knacks. Check out our gifts under $30 in our gallery after the jump »

The Goods

Buyer's Market

November 21, 2011 | 5:00 am

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Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 27 impressive mid-range presents from $100 to $499

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza

Sometimes it is hard to stick to a limit, because sometimes the gifts over $100 really are the perfect presents. We’ve found a touchably soft mink fur bear (don’t knock it till you’ve touched it) that will win the heart of any child or, really, human being, as well as a humidor for the lady or gentleman who subscribes to Cigar Aficionado, a pelt rug, an intoxicating men’s fragrance from Eau d’Italie and everything in between. Check out 27 higher-end gifts between $100 and $499 in a gallery after the jump »

The Informer

A Message from Toronto Life

November 19, 2011 | 10:30 am

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Weekend Reading List: top stories from our sister sites, from chimpanzees to zucchinis

Every weekend we round up the highlights from the other websites in the St. Joseph Media family. Check them out, after the jump.

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The Goods

Buyer's Market

November 4, 2011 | 3:52 pm

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Hey, everyone: Philip Sparks is joining the Danier collaboration game with fine leather goods for fellas

Pretty soon the Philip Sparks man will have a smart attaché (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Danier continues its expansion into the fashion world beyond the Eaton Centre, announcing another round of designer collaborations, this time with stylist George Antonopoulos (who has already partnered with the company on a line called Object for Danier) and designer Philip Sparks. Danier is no stranger to these diffusion lines, having previously paired with Greta Constantine and Mark Fast. Antonopoulos will expand his line launched last fall with accessories like wallets, clutches, bags and clothing, while Sparks will offer men’s accessories (sadly, there’s no butch way to say it) like iPad cases, backpacks and duffle bags. Look for items in select Danier stores in spring.

The Informer

From the Print Edition

August 4, 2011 | 1:00 pm

2 Comments

Best of the City 2011: Our picks for Toronto’s top services—from beard trimming to doggie fitness

(Image: Liam Mogan)

Spray paint removal Beard maintenance Canine workout Bedbug exterminator Personal shopper Tattoo removal Artful mani Cleaver care Bicycle repair tips Sole saviour De-clutter

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The Goods

From the Print Edition

July 4, 2011 | 2:30 pm

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The Thing: our newfound appreciation for the classic backpack

(Image: Jessica Milan)

Backpacks, a natural extension of the scruffy-prep “found-this-in-the-back-of-my-closet” look, are everywhere this summer, and for good reason. The schoolyard staple is eminently practical, a bag that’s purpose-built for carrying life’s real necessities: gym clothes, organic sausages, six-packs. Knapsacks even showed up on the runway at the most recent LG Fashion Week. Branksome-girls-turned-design-darlings Chloé and Parris Gordon (Chloé Comme Parris) featured iterations so chic they could have been ripped right off Kate Moss’s bony back, and a Bay Blanket bag was the jewel of the ridiculously buzzy Klaxon Howl show. Meanwhile, Queen West’s haute hipster outposts are churning out simpler versions that are big and boxy, with subtle flourishes like exposed stitching and leather trim. The look is almost anti-fashion, which, of course, makes it even more fashionable. But what we like most is having hands-free storage space and shoulders that don’t ache at the end of a long day. Whoever said “fashion before function” needs to update their accessories.

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The Dish

Neighbourhoods

April 8, 2011 | 12:02 pm

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Rosedale-Summerhill Guide: 23 need-to-know places along Yonge Street’s poshest stretch

Yonge Street’s poshest stretch, from Ramsden Park up to the Summerhill LCBO, has two strong suits: food and decor. Locals from the tree-lined side streets keep the shops going during the week, while the weekend brings floods of shoppers from further afield. Here, our list of 23 essential restaurants, food shops, furniture stores, clothing boutiques and beauty parlours along tony Toronto’s main drag. By Laura Cameron, Carley Fortune, Matthew Hague and Renée Suen | Photography by Jamie Hogge, Emma McIntyre, Renée Suen and Jenna Marie Wakani

START THE ROSEDALE-SUMMERHILL TOUR »

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The Goods

Weddings

March 23, 2011 | 12:44 pm

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Weddings Week 2011: Sarah Houston, Yorkville’s new bridal boutique

Enter Sarah Houston's boudoir (Image: Lia Parsley)

The place: What used to be a mutual fund trading office on Hazelton Avenue is now the latest Yorkville bridal salon. The main floor is open and airy, with a bright showroom of sophisticated dresses, while the second floor “boudoir” houses fuller, more formal gowns. We loved our journey upstairs, where we tested out a birch runway, equipped for sashaying, twirling and hand-on-hip posing. The private (read: no moms allowed) dressing room is fit for Marie Antoinette, but, alas, there is no cake

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