Retro Modern Interior Design Essentials

1. Arco Floor Lamp

Original Flos Arco Lamp available at Gabriel Ross for $3,977.

Cheaper Alternatives

A close replica called ZETA lamp for sale at Structube for $349. Similar design called CAST floor lamp through EQ3 for only $200, although the lamp base is not as solid and elegant as Arco or ZETA.

2. Barcelona Chair - Original: $6,470 at GabrielRoss with Stainless Steel Frame.

Cheaper Alternatives

Costco's Lux Accent Chair offers excellent quality with genuine leather and steel frame for 1/10 of the price at $700.

3. Knoll Saarinen Large Round Dining Table - Original Design with Marble Table Top at $2,000.
Cheaper Alternatives

Ikea's DOCKSTA Dining table with laminate table top has similar look and is for sale at a fraction of the original price.

4. Vitra Verner Panton Chair

5. Bertoia Diamond Chair

7. Damask Pattern Wall Paper or Fabric

8. Aluminum Bowls - Nambe Dharma Bowls Set of Two for $200

Cheaper Alternatives

Structube aluminum bowls from $39, made in India.

One down, dozens more to go

Call us tightly-wound you may, but we went ahead and ordered our appliance package yesterday from Sears. We had to provide appliance dimensions to our builder anyway for built-in cooking. We looked at a few options, but decided on the KitchenAid package with Whirlpool Duet laundry pair (see the picture). It didn't take us much effort to shop for the best deal in town, and Sears managed to knock it down by a few points. We walked away very happy customers, and with over $2000 below our initial budget for appliances. We were also able to take advantage of an EneryStar tax exemption program so for once we actually owe CRA less money!

If you are looking for pleasant shopping experience, superb customer service, and competitive prices, look no further than Sears in Richmond Hill on Red Maple. And remember to ask for Maurice! Please PM me if you need his contact information.

Greenpark's Princess Margaret Hospital Show Home is going for $2M!

If I was the one who won the PMH lottery show home that Greenpark donated, I would defintely keep it, even though if it meant 20g per annum in property tax! Unfortunately this lucky winner didn't share the same view, and listed this home for sale. Since I missed the show home open house, I was happy to find some pictures from the property listing.

I need to find out who the designer was behind this. I love the crisp black-n-white combination!

Another reason why I need to locate this designer...I happened to buy a few cushions that are almost the same as these ones! This is the one I bought...and look again in the picture! I should be a domestic diva or an interior designer...definitely not in software sales! :->

Bathroom floor tiles are exactly the same as the ones we chose. Yatta!

I like the clean look in this kitchen. But playing light color especially white is risky. If the cabinetry, appliances, countertops, floor tiles, backsplash are not tastefully coordinated, the entire kitchen will look cheap.

Again, I like the clean look in this master ensuite, but I don't think I am going to take the risk.

It's a different story, though, for laundry room. Practicality is the key, so I think I am going to plan my laundry room exactly the same as this one.

This is the pewter color stain and wrought iron pickets/spindles I mentioned in one of my previous blogs. Our staircase will look like this, with the steps all stained in pewter (instead of white/pewter combination).