BYOB, Toronto's Bar Accessories Boutique

Walking into this quaint store on Toronto's Queen West brings back a roaring twenties-like era, filled with objects of artfully crafted bar accessories. From vintage decanters and shakers to sets of carved crystal champagne flutes and scotch glasses, BYOB promises to compliment any home bar and aperitif with their one of a kind pieces. Amongst our fav is the animal-head bottle stoppers!

photos by Blair Johnson

Future Odyssey: Solar Boat Encourages Sustainable Living

After journeying over 48,000km using only energy from the sun, the world's largest solar-powered boat docked in Abu Dhabi on January 15th after a year long journey to mark the opening of the annual 2012 World Future Energy Summit.

The MS Tûranor PlanetSolar's is a 101ft catamaran layered with 537 square metres of photovoltaic cells and was built to demonstrate the potential for reducing the carbon impact of shipping, which as an industry is thought to account for around three per cent of global emissions.

"PlanetSolar's voyage around the world spreads an important message about renewable energy and sustainable living and encompasses the vision to create a greener future though a unique platform," said the green energy developer.

Interesting Fact: the ship’s name, “Tûranor”, was derived from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings saga, which means “The Power of the Sun”.

The Perry

We are proud to release the first official image of The Perry! 

Mansouri Living is offering a limited edition collection of 45 luxuriously appointed suites, located in the heart of Toronto at 128 Pears Avenue.

The boutique building offers exquisitely-crafted architecture designed by Young & Wright / IBI Architects; abundant natural light; spacious contemporary interiors by The Design Agency; top-of-the-line standard luxury finishes including kitchens by Poliform and appliances by Gaggenau; manicured terraces and balconies; floor-to-ceiling glass and a minimum nine-foot clear ceiling height.

For more info visit: www.theperry.com 

Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera Coming to AGO

We are thrilled with the announcement that the work of the most dynamic duo in the history of 20th century painting and culture, Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) and Diego Rivera (1886-1957) will be at the AGO this year in October. It will be a major exhibit, titled “Frida & Diego: Passion, Politics and Painting”, showcasing 75 of the works by both Kahlo and Rivera. The show will open on October 20, 2012 and will continue until January 20, 2013.

Fun fact: During an interview for an article Frida, referring to Rivera of whom she was 20 years younger, said “he does pretty well for a little boy, but it is I who am the big artist.” 

Photo of the couple

Frida and Diego Rivera, Kahlo, 1931

Portrait of the Adolfo Best Maugard, Rivera, 1913

 Viva La Vida, Kahlo, 1954

Watermelons, Rivera, 1957

Self Portrait, Kahlo, 1940

 Portrait of Cristina My Sister, Kahlo, 1928

The Two Fridas, Kahlo, 1939

El Vendedor De Alcatraces, Rivera, 1942

Paola Lenti - Outdoor Furniture as Art

We are excited to announce that our outdoor serenity terrace at The Perry will be dazzled with Paola Lenti pieces! Her artful, contemporary yet timeless outdoor furniture is a marvel. She approaches each design as an interpretation of materials and textiles. Through experimentation, technical knowledge merges with curiosity to create modern fibers that honour traditional hand-crafted techniques. The colours are rich yet settled, making each piece a unique jewel for any space it floats in.

Lenti was born in 1958 in Alessandria Italy, where she completed classical studies. She later moved to Milan and graduated from Milan's Polytecnico. In the early eighties she started  working as an image coordinator and graphic designer for several events and fashion companies. In 1994 she founded the company, Paola Lenti, located near Milan. In a few years, the company has become  an international reference point for textile innovation in the design world, and has been recognized for its dedication to research, experimentation and for its entrepreneurial dynamism.

Mark Laita - Ephemera

Mark Laita, a common name in Industry Photography circles has created beautiful artwork of colour, form and movement captured in a vessel of water after drops of colour are introduced. The result is a thing of serenity and beauty. 

The Safari Dream: Makanyane Lodge in South Africa

Travel: Safari Vacation Plans? We found a dream destination!
Makanyane Safari Lodge consists of a beautiful main building and eight stunning suites, which lie hidden in the lush forest, offering spectacular views over the tranquil Marico River. Situated on 1,800 hectares of private ground within the 75,000 hectare Madikwe Game Reserve, the area is South Africa's second largest game reserve.

Established in 1991, Madikwe was the site of operation Phoenix - the largest translocation of game ever undertaken - with over 10,000 animals reintroduced into the reserve. Madikwe Game Reserve is more than just an incredible safari destination, it is an internationally significant conservation initiative. 


The species that populate Madikwe include lion, leopard, rhinos as well as large herds of elephant and buffalo. Cheetah, spotted and brown hyena, giraffe, zebra and numerous antelope species also roam the reserve. 

So surreal to see an elephant meandering past your bed.

Surrender to the outdoors and sleep in the open, (with an insect net) - still you are under the stars!

Gorgeous.

East Meets West Ceramics - CTRLZAK for SELETTI

Cast as single objects in bone china, this old world aesthetic re-visited amalgamates a hybrid of east meets west motifs. Each half is decorated with different graphics by CTRLZAK for Italian company SELETTI. A beautiful addition to any tabletop!

Tom Ford Santa Fe Ranch by Tadao Ando

Recently published in Vogue Paris, guest editor Tom Ford revealed photos and details of his Santa Fe ranch. Designed by Tadao Ando, the aesthetic is clean, modern and unobtrusive of the views and surroundings. 

Recently Tom Ford and Karl Lagerfeld discussed the house in Santa Fe. Here is an excerpt:

Tom Ford: I'm half in London and half in L.A., butI sold my house in London and my new house there will not be ready until March. So between now and then I'm mostly in L.A.

Karl Lagerfeld: What's the difference between the two houses?

Tom Ford: The new one is bigger [laughs].

Karl Lagerfeld: Good, good, good!

Tom Ford: ....and it's really classic, English house whereas the one before was a Victorian house that I made very modern. This one I'm going to keep quite classic.

Karl Lagerfeld: And how is the [Tadao] Ando house coming along?

Tom Ford: He has designed several buildings for us, and we've started on one of them. We're still redesigning the main house. I like working with him.

Karl Lagerfeld: Oh, he is devine! I worked with him for many years and we always had so many problems with planning permission. You know in France you cannot build these kind of house. They said it looked like a church of a sect. At the end, I stopped it and introduced him to your friend Monsieur Pinault, and he got the museum. Where is he building your house?

Tom Ford: Outside of Sante Fe

Karl Lagerfeld: It will look great there.

Tom Ford: That's why I hired him, I think he is so much about walls and light. And the local architecture of New Mexico is of course adobe and fortress like, and the light is very strong there, so it's about light and massive walls.

Karl Lagerfeld: I think it's very creative to build houses.