Lynda Reeves

Here are some of my favourite fabrics and websites for reference.

Ralph Lauren Home is a great source for classic prints. These three are examples of traditional toiles and one- and two-colour floral prints on muddy taupe backgrounds. I think a darker background feels more modern than a white background and gives weight to the print. From left: And They’re Off! Toile in Pink; Beaumont Blockprint in Ink; Cote d’Azure Floral in Poppy. Ralph Lauren Home.

Ralph also has wonderful paisley patterns. The top one, Waltham Paisley, is being used in this year’s Princess Margaret Home Lottery showhouse that we’re just finishing up — ready for you to tour this September! The middle print, Dovima, was used in last year’s showhouse on the ottoman in the living room (right). It’s very dramatic because it’s printed on linen, which gives the colours extra depth. From top: Waltham Paisley in Loden; Dovima Linen Paisley in Onyx; Traquaire Paisley in Bordeaux. Ralph Lauren Home.

I like these stripes because they are random and restful. The bottom two are especially calm and could be used in place of solids. Clockwise from top left: Cap Ferrat Stripe in Azure; Maritime Linen Ticking in Riviera; Ice House Stripe in Barn; Driftwood Stripe in Squid Ink. Ralph Lauren Home.

Tribal prints from all cultures are a personal favourite. I think they lend a sense of history and soul to a room. The middle and right prints are both North American Aboriginal woven prints that I have used for throw pillows on a khaki sofa — they looked great! From left: Galapagos in Lapis; Shakopee Blanket in Canyon; Sacred Mountain Blanket in Churro. Ralph Lauren Home.

This one is a tone-on-tone damask that works well with other patterned fabrics. Bedford Crest in Coronation Red. Ralph Lauren Home.

John Robshaw prints are usually small, all-over patterns on soft cotton, perfect for bedding and table linens. These are some of my favourite examples. Clockwise from top left: Maansi Walnut; Champa Vista; Algiers Lotus; Vintage Stripe Kashmir; Diggi Lotus; Indigo Diamond Ikat. John Robshaw Textiles.

I love these three prints from Les Indiennes. The first one, Yvette, is actually a large 8"-long teardrop paisley pattern on a solid background that you can buy as a duvet cover. I have it on my bed (above). From left: Yvette; Timothee; Pippi. Les Indiennes.

Victoria Hagan is a great resource for graphic prints with fresh, dramatic patterns. Clockwise from top left: White Dove in Coral Red; White Dove in Citrus; White Dove in Espresso; Early Spring in Espresso; Early Spring in Sky; Early Spring in Lilac; Early Spring in Coral; White Dove in Indigo. Victoria Hagan Home.

David Hicks also produces strong graphic prints that I’m drawn to. This Domino cover shows a curved Chippendale-style love seat in a geometric print that I think is so unexpected and current. From top: La Florentina in Wine/Magenta, Blue and Aqua. David Hicks.

George Smith and Bennison Fabrics offer quiet, restful floral prints. The “tea-stained effect” lends a vintage look. From left: George Smith Gollut Number 15; Bennison Fabrics Roses in Regular Blue on Beige Linen.

London’s Andrew Martin is the source for English motifs like crests, flags and banners. The bottom left print, Magna Carta, is a classic that I have used on a small hall chair with great effect like in the photo above. From top: Fante Flags Red in Red; Magna Carta in Red. Andrew Martin Fabrics.

Decorating with prints is an easy way to bring character into a room. Please, send me your favourites — I would love to learn about any new resources.

Hope the rest of your summer is warm and lazy!

Regards,

Lynda

Photo credits:
1. From left: And They’re Off! Toile in Pink (LCF18840F); Beaumont Blockprint in Ink (LFY64037F); Cote d’Azure Floral in Poppy (LFY64050F), Ralph Lauren Home
2. From top: Waltham Paisley in Loden (LFY63007F); Dovima Linen Paisley in Onyx (LFY40272F); Traquaire Paisley in Bordeaux (LFY63003F), Ralph Lauren Home
3. Clockwise from top left: Cap Ferrat Stripe in Azure (LFY64106F); Maritime Linen Ticking in Riviera (LFY64079F); Ice House Stripe in Barn (LFY60458F); Driftwood Stripe in Squid Ink (LFY50151F), Ralph Lauren Home
4. From left: Galapagos in Lapis (LFY50039F); Shakopee Blanket in Canyon (LFY64164F); Sacred Mountain Blanket in Churro (LFY64179F), Ralph Lauren Home
5. Bedford Crest in Coronation Red (LFY50465F), Ralph Lauren Home
6. Clockwise from top left: Maansi Walnut (JRCL 12-04); Champa Vista (JRL 02-04); Algiers Lotus (JRL 77-58); Vintage Stripe Kashmir (JRL 21-18); Diggi Lotus (JRL 41-58); Indigo Diamond Ikat (JRIK-03), John Robshaw Textiles
7. From left: Yvette (38); Timothee (76); Pippi (46), Les Indiennes
8. Clockwise from top left: White Dove in Coral Red (4002-03); White Dove in Citrus (4002-02); White Dove in Espresso (4002-05); Early Spring in Espresso (4001-05); Early Spring in Sky (4001-02); Early Spring in Lilac (4001-03); Early Spring in Coral (4001-06); White Dove in Indigo (4002-04), Victoria Hagan Home from Decorati
9. From top: La Florentina in Wine/Magenta (2430-GWF-97); La Florentina in Blue (2430-GWF-51); La Florentina in Aqua (2430-GWF-136), David Hicks from Kravet/Lee Jofa; Spring/Summer 2005 Domino cover from Flickr.com
10. From left: Gollut Number 15, George Smith; Roses in Regular Blue on Beige Linen, Bennison Fabrics
11. From top: Fante Flags Red in Red; Magna Carta in Red, Andrew Martin Fabrics

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An avid blogger, with no time to blog. That’s been my story.

You can’t imagine the conversations I have had with you — in my mind.

So, please forgive the delays and let me start fresh.

Last year was such a rough year, with all media under huge pressure from the troubled economy. But we weathered the storm thanks to the support of all of you, our readers and viewers, designers, homeowners, retailers — and advertisers.

Thank you so much.

And then this spring, as if by magic, it has turned around, and things are good again.

Our magazine issues are getting fatter and House & Home TV is rolling again — this time online which is so convenient. Curled up in bed with my laptop and my headphones has become my favourite way to watch TV. Don’t you agree?

There have been plenty of changes at our magazine. You might have noticed a new, fresh energy on our pages. I hope so. I certainly see the difference, and I like it a lot. The mail has been great! Your feedback and suggestions to our editors and TV and website teams have been so helpful. Please keep them coming!

Personally, I have never been busier. This past winter, I renewed my determination to exercise and eat a more healthy diet. I’m lucky to have a great trainer, Stacey, who has been preaching the importance of fuelling — all day long — with lots of small meals that start with vegetables and fruit and low-fat protein. In February, I went to the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa for a week of extreme discipline — and I mean extreme!!

It was a huge eye-opener. Never a breakfast person, now I start my day with steel-cut Irish oatmeal. Lunch is a big salad topped with chicken or tuna, and dinner is meat or fish. Sometimes it's brown pasta and veg — and lots of berries and non-fat yogurt. I learned that if I can do this for five to six days a week, then it's okay to eat just about anything on that seventh day, along with a glass or two of wine.

Not so bad.

Most of all, I have so much more energy, which I need because life is hectic. Besides the day-to-day at the magazine and taping online TV shows, there are events throughout the week — plus the biggest project — the fourth showhouse we are building and decorating.

It’s once again on a great lot in Oakville, Ont., but the big news is our dream team — led by architect Gordon Ridgely and landscape architect Ronald Holbrook, with Coivic Contracting doing the stone work and planting and PCM (Project and Construction Management) building the house. So much amazing talent!!

Of course, the H&H in-house design team is on the job again.

This year’s theme is “A House in the Hamptons,” inspired by the famous beach house in the movie Something’s Gotta Give. It has the big front porch, the wood-shingled exterior walls with big windows, plantation shutters and a gorgeous, classic interior featuring a great room and separate eat-in kitchen. I think you'll love it. You'll recognize Diane Keaton's dream home from this shot of the exterior.

Here's the famous kitchen from the movie. Ours will be very different!

Here are a few snaps of the construction underway — even though you can’t tell much, you can at least see the amazing great room space and some of the many french doors in every room.

There’s even a sunroom with full walls of windows on two sides, slate floors and a painted tongue-and-groove wood ceiling. Very romantic.

I went looking for inspiration in NYC — and saw the decorated rooms at the Ralph Lauren Mansion on Madison Ave.

Back home, we're busy finding inspiration from the great stores in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary. Like this sofa from Restoration Hardware, for the living room of the showhouse.

This month, we’ll be out every day looking for furniture, rugs and accessories. Only eight weeks until the finish line!

Almost forgot to tell you about the most exciting thing that happened at our house this past spring. Michel’s daughter, Aria, married her prince charming, Elie Deshe, in a wonderful three-day wedding weekend at the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Las Vegas — right next to the new Aria Casino, which was a fun touch.

Here are some snaps of the beautiful couple, Elie's parents, and us, having so much fun.

Michel and I and our great friend, Rodney Birrell.

Summer is around the corner. Our garden is almost planted, and this weekend I'll be filling my pots with herb plants, getting ready to make basil pesto — my favourite.

Speak to you soon!

Lynda

Photo credits:
1-2. Something's Gotta Give
3-5. 2010 Princess Margaret Hospital Showhouse by Lynda Reeves
6-8. Ralph Lauren Mansion by Lynda Reeves
9. Restoration Hardware
10-14. Lynda Reeves

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Last week I visited the SIDIM (Salon International du Design Intérieur de Montréal) design show and I found a few gems:

1. From DuRoy comes Vinyl flooring that I swear looks so much like real plank flooring that I was fooled. They even have the new greyed oak colour that we love.

2. At Dismo International I saw the new Tototo chair in crayon colours including this bright citron.

3. I found a great display of new Kohler sinks at Thalassa Domicile. My favourite was the rubbed brass sink, perfect for a powder room done in an exotic style. It’s called Kamala.

4. There were interesting glass shower stalls with doors that slide across instead of opening on a hinge. The tracking system was smooth and allowed for different shapes and configurations of stalls. The company was called Kinetik. Go to Fleurco to see more.

5. For the kitchen there were spigot taps, or "pot fillers," in the newest oil rubbed bronze finish that I had not seen before, from Moen. We’re just figuring out the kitchen in the Showhouse we are building in support of the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation. The theme of this year’s house is "modern farmhouse" and I can see this tap working perfectly along with the matching sink faucet and sprayer.

6. Have you heard about Fatboy? These big square, flat pillows are light as a feather and can be molded to fit your body, offereing amazing support and comfort. It’s the old bean bag concept using modern technology.

Here I’m relaxing with Kirby Miller from HH Media and the two “Fat Boys” Denis Dumas and Michel Abitbol. I won’t be putting these chairs in my living room any time soon, but I could see them in a dorm room, a playroom, kid's bedroom or first apartment.

7. This tracking system for hanging art is discreet and modern looking. The company is called AS Hanging, and they carry many designs ranging from simple, industrial-looking systems to more refined residential syles in many different finishes.

8. This good-looking upholstered chair is from Montreal-based DIB Design. They have this classic tufted slipper chair in a wonderful generous scale, and their claim to fame is a simple Parson's-style dining chair that is engineered so it does not need any cross supports between the legs — and yet it’s super strong.



9. Finally, I was inspired by the concept room at this year’s show. Called "Canoe House", it was designed by canühome to look like an inverted canoe with beautiful blond wood ribs forming the curved roofline.

Inside was a complete "house" with a kitchen, dining area, great room and a bedroom that included stackable laundry appliances and closet hanging and storage. Of course everything was made of sustainable materials, and the whole house was eco, portable, convertible, economical and energy-efficient.

The kitchen was outstanding, designed and built by AYA Kitchens and Baths.

To read more about the house, visit canühome.

It was not a big show, but there were some great finds, and best of all, I could walk the whole show in a few hours
and my feet were not killing me at the end!

I've saved a few kitchen finds for my page in House & Home Magazine. It's all about my passion — kitchen design.
Look for it in the September issue, on sale August 4th.

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Just picked up the May 2009 issue of Town & Country...annual spring home issue. Thin, yes, but still inspiring. (They say the bottom of this crappy economy is in sight, and by next year at this time all of us mags will be fat again. Fingers crossed...)

I like the story on page 100, "Safe Harbour," and especially the rooms on page 100 and 103.

With all the retro, boho, mod mixing going on in design, it can be hard to find a grown-up room that still stays true to its classical roots, and yet is fresh and current, like this one above.

I am torn between the super-cool rooms I see in our magazine — with the vintage postmodern furniture and '70s palette — and my desire to have rooms that are calm, sleek and serene, with hits of colour like the pillows on the sofa shown above.

There's nothing serene about an eye-popping mix of unexpected elements, is there?

I think these rooms hit a great note because they are dramatic, have classic elements, but they've brought in bits of trendy furniture, like the raw wood bench/coffee table and this wonderful metal etagere (above). Essentially all neutrals, these rooms glow with different tones and shades and are anything but bland. Shows that with lots of texture, great shapes and interesting pieces, neutrals can be exciting.

Love the natural oak doors and striped rug in the study. Has me dreaming about some updates to my house. I'm almost ready to share some snaps of rooms in progress.

P.S. Speaking of progress, I'm off to see the progress of the next Showhouse we are building for the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation. It's in Oakville, Ontario, and it's so amazing it keeps me up at night. Stay tuned for details!

Photo credits:
Maura McEvoy
Room design: Sharone Einhorn, Honey Wolters, Ruby Beets Design

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