Carita's Dining Room

Carita's dining room at King and Bathurst all styled and finished. Great deals include a print from Home Sense ($40), the IKEA BJURSTA dining table off of Craigslist ($150), gorgeous bench and chairs from Home Craft Decor on Queen W. Photos by Jonathan Castellino

Carita's Living Room

Carita's living room at King and Bathurst all styled and finished! Photos by Jonathan Castellino

Orion's nursery final photos

This was a wonderful room to work on- little Orion enjoys custom made curtains for privacy (and peek-a-boo). Great deals include DIY art with 4' x 4' canvas frames from Deserres, a lofty IKEA Besta storage unit, a custom made crib bumper from an IKEA pillowcase, and a few simple IKEA fames hung with those handy 3M strips. Photos by Jonathan Castellino

Personal time: a tired but happy and fulfilled mommy!

Reflection: I am coming up on my second year of running my interior decorating business. And what a wonderful / exhausting / exhilarating / messy two years it has been.

The best (and worst) of the last two years:

- Getting recognized as an HGTV designer on the subway. (Getting recognized on the WORST hair, makeup and wardrobe days)

- Designing a table for Willow Breast Cancer Support Eat to the Beat. (I was so sleep deprived at the event because I was up all night prepping)

- Shooting a pilot for a new HGTV show (that won't be going to air), but learning that there is interest to shoot another this year

- Memorizing Benjamin Moore paint chip codes (always misplacing the decks!!!!)

- Understanding what a double roll of wallpaper means (ordering way too few and panicking the day of installation)

- Making mistakes (sometimes costly ones) and learning to accept that I'm not perfect and with failure much learning comes

- Meeting incredible clients and being invited to be a part of their family and lives, one room at a time.

Oh- and of course, the best part of the last two years:

- Marrying the love of my life, and 9 months later giving that love a name (ie having my baby John!) While it has been an interesting challenge (and flat out struggle at times) being a mompreneur, the rewards of being able to raise my son and build a business have been so good.

Giving thanks today,

Lisa

Makeover Monday: More Pillows at Sean's

A few karate chopped pillows at Sean's to share with you. I am waiting on his artwork to come via etsy and for some shelving to be installed and then it will be complete!

I'm in love with this new coffee table from Structube. I've always loved the look of the glass but thought it was too impractical. Thanks to a chic white lacquered shelf practical can also look very good.

DIY Friday: Last Minute Halloween Inspiration

With baby and business I am sometimes tardy in my holiday decor- this year being no exception. So here are a few quick and easy ways to get your house ready for tomorrow's big day. (PS- I bought candy way on sale at Zellers, yesterday, they are already starting to mark down items)

The Sack-o-lanterns from Ready Made are so simple. Cut out your desired shape, throw some sand in the bottom, and light a votive candle and voila- no messy carving if you are strapped for time! I will be doing mine this afternoon...

From the poetic home a great way to use that typewriter you've got lying around. Type your visitors a scary message and leave it on your front stoop. I will be doing this one as well!

These are just amazing from decodir. Take a garbage bag, cut out a scary shape, tape it to your window and keep your lights on! It will cast an illuminated shadow for your visitors tomorrow night. Your your indoor guests, look how chic this table is. Proves that 99 cent spider webs can look classy. And of course, using regular food and coming up with spooky names for them is just so easy and simple.

What will my baby be for Halloween?

Just kidding. But this so so sweet!

For more ideas, check out my tips in The Toronto Star. Happy Halloween!

Wicked Deal Wednesday: Eames plywood repro

For my client Sean (I just posted progress shots here) we are adding a touch of mid century modern to his brand new condo- and I am just ecstatic I have been able to find an incredible spot for reproduction pieces (and very good ones at that) in Toronto.

Here is my lovely plywood chair being carried to the refinishers on the subway at Osgoode station. I was able to take it home from most! at Gladstone and Queen W for the throw away price of $129. Amazing!

Makeover Monday: Sneak Peek at Sean's

A quick peek at what's going on at my client Sean's house- good progress on good things, like this amazing new coffee table from Structube which combines the sleek line of the glass with the functionality of a white lacquered shelf.

More to come soon!

Lisa's first time at LG Fashion Week

My friends, meet Monica Mei, the petite powerhouse behind Aime Luxury, a gorgeous line of oh so pretty and oh so sustainable fashion (silks, bamboo, tencel and wool).

We have teamed up and I am designing her set design for next Thursday's show.

To see it, you must come! Thursday October 22 at 4pm in the new tent location at King and Shaw. I will be there with a pretty Aime bow on.

Follow Monica as she gets ready for the big show on twitter. And put your stilettos on- I'll see you this week in the tents!

Around the House Thursday: Damask Curtains

My regular design research leads me to rona.ca almost daily- and today I found the inspiration for my Around the House entry. These black and white damask curtains are only $32.99 from Rona- this is a steal!

Peruse a few inspiration photos on how you can add this classic print around your home.

From UK's housetohome

I love the contrast of the chair- a modern twist against a classic print from terry's fabrics

My fav- I love the mix of textures here. Oh textiles, thank you GP&J Baker

Wicked Deal Wednesday: Staging Warehouse clearout

My oh my bring bags and your empty trucks because this could be a good sale. A Toronto staging company is clearing out it's warehouse- I am definitely going to visit and nab myself some picture frames and mirrors if I still can!

Check out the bounty here. Happy hunting!

The fabulous Vanessa Ray

As designer on the first season on HGTV's Marriage Under Construction, I got to work with the lovely and talented Vanessa Ray. Little did we know that a mere two years later I would be married, with a baby and running my own business and she would be on Broadway and a soap star!

Here is the update: since starring in MUC, she played Olive in the National Tour of Spelling Bee, she has guest stared in the HBO comedy Bored to Death, she can be currently seen as Teri Ciccone on As The World Turns, and I just learned she'll be playing Chrissy on Broadway in Hair. On Broadway- New York readers go watch her now!

Hello talented! I'm so proud.

To keep up with the happenings of this star on the rise, follow @vrayskull on twitter.

Thanksgiving Treats

At the Canning house we hosted Thanksgiving a week early so we could relax with our large extended family this coming weekend- bonus, it means I get to share how I decorated my own table with you before the turkey festivities begin.

I was very inspired by Montreal stylist Nicola Marc's lesson in the November Style At Home on painting the stems of pumpkins silver- I took it up a notch and sprayed mine high gloss white and set them on dollar store candle holders.

My runner is a remnant of fabric from a client's pillows. Finally, I clustered a few more pumpkins in their natural state on my fire place for my festive foray. Enjoy!

IA:MM Showroom gets it's own makeover

IA:MM Showroom, a must stop in Toronto for buyers from Canada and the US (they represent glorious clothing and accessory lines including Love Quotes, Rebecca Minkoff, White & Warren and more!) just got a little Lisa added to their Richmond Street location.

In a two day blitz, we reorganized the space to make the buying experience seamless. With simple IKEA frames and shelving, each brand now has its own space to breath!

Update: Stephen's Condo

Photos and lighting make all the difference. I just need to add some orange accents and the place is complete!