Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2023 - Vol.26 No.09 i Style At Home

As we put together one of my favourite issues of the year – the holiday decorating issue – news from around the world seems to give us the opposite of what we all wish for: peace on earth. At Style at Home, we can imagine how some might think talking about holiday decorating is incongruous with the struggles so many face. But for me, not celebrating beauty, light, love, family and friends would be giving up on hope. And so now, more than ever, as the song by Johnny Mathis says, I think, “We need a little Christmas, right this very minute.” We need our homes to be beautiful, calm oases, and that’s why I’m happy to bring you this holiday decorating edition. The feature homes in this issue exemplify…

INGREDIENTS MAKES 16 TO 20 SERVINGS Almond Cakes 3 cups all-purpose flour½ cup ground almonds1 tbsp baking powder½ tsp salt4 eggs, at room temperature1½ cups granulated sugar1 cup canola oil2 tsp almond extract½ cup 2% milk½ cup 2% plain yogurt Raspberry Filling 250 g fresh or frozen raspberries (about 2 cups)2 tbsp granulated sugar1 tbsp lemon juice4 tsp cornstarch Coconut Buttercream 2⅓ cups granulated sugar1¼ cups liquid egg whites3 cups unsalted butter, cubed and softened½ cup coconut cream½ tsp coconut extract (optional)2 (to 3) cups unsweetened coconut flakes Coconut Snowballs (recipe below) (optional) tip Coconut cream is prepared the same way as coconut milk but with less water, so it has a thicker texture. DIRECTIONS Almond Cakes Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease three 8-inch round cake pans and line bottoms…

“Treat your wrapping paper like a fabric story. Here, the plum, burgundy, pink and red patterned papers were the framework for accessorizing.” Clean minimal lines and textures with a timeless quality were the twin asks of the owners of this Toronto living room. Designer Lindsay Agnew of Si & Oui complied with a full rebuild that gave the room modern architectural features and strong focal points. Elements like the new fireplace and custom shelves fulfill the mandate for modern, while pedigree fabrics like raw, unbleached linen at the windows and a wool rug underfoot add a timeless quality. The homeowners were so happy with the new space, they invited Si & Oui back to dress the room for the holidays. Here’s how Lindsay imbued the room with holiday style. INSIDER…

While Michelle Berwick’s family celebrates Christmas Eve with savory homemade potato, bacon and blue cheese pizzas, the entire holiday season takes on a more confectionary tone. “My main floor has a creamy dessert colour scheme that inspires my festive decor,” says the designer, who shares the home in Sharon, Ont., with husband Gary and daughter Mia (11), son Brody (9) and Boxer puppy Piper. “Sticking to one palette and adding greenery is simple, yet chic and easy,” she says. “Layer in some ornaments and that’s all you need for festive fun.” TOUCH OF BLUSH A twinkly chandelier and pair of flocked wreaths tied together with velvet ribbon factor in a holiday warmth that doesn’t compete with the renovated exterior. “I wanted to keep the festive decor simple so as not…

FESTIVE FINDS YOUNG AT HEART SAY THANK YOU FOR THE CHEF GIVE COMFORT FOR THE ART LOVER FOR THE STYLE LOVER PRINT MEMORIES POWERFUL PRESENTS FOR SOURCES, SEE OUR WORKBOOK…

A country as big as Canada means we have wildly different weather during the holidays. Freshly fallen snow isn’t a given everywhere, yet amid the hustle and bustle of the season, snow or no snow, nature offers us free gifts if we slow down enough to see them. Conservation areas, city parks and country getaways offer respite from the festive frenzy. So take a break, bundle up, and press pause on the hectic to bring a little more joy to your world.…

When the owners of this Vancouver residence asked designer Stephanie Brown to dress their home for the holidays, her immediate answer was yes! “I’d designed the home, so I was already familiar with their sensibilities, style, and the fact that their blended family has six adult kids who visit often!” says Stephanie. “I wanted to give the rooms a holiday look that would support the style of the home, which is fresh and pure.” For this, she relied on Neve Floral, who sourced holly, ferns, cedars and spruce from Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. “Classic greenery exudes winter and says Christmas without being literal about it. And since the holiday mood is everywhere this time of year, even simple additions are enough,” says Stephanie. “A mere branch here and a…

Manage your subscription online with ease! RENEW MY SUBSCRIPTION Renew or extend your subscription online to enjoy uninterrupted delivery in service. Please note that our renewal notices are produced in advance. You may receive a notification even after you have replied or paid your bill. Please verify your account status online. CHANGE MY MAILING ADDRESS Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for processing your address change. MAKE A PAYMENT Check your balance and pay your bill easily and securely. GIFT SUBSCRIPTION Give or renew a gift subscription in just a few clicks! SUBSCRIPTION EXPIRY DATE Find out when your subscription will end. DELIVERY Please allow 4 to 8 weeks for delivery of the first issue. OTHER QUESTIONS Check out our FAQ page. Go to styleathome.com/service subscription@tva.ca…

Champagne – that most sparkling of French exports – sparks intrigue. No doubt, the lore around the beloved bubbly is fascinating. Have you heard the story that champagne was actually invented in England? To that we say, Mais non! Or maybe you’ve heard that the voluptuous bowl-shaped champagne coupe was modelled after the breasts of Marie Antoinette? Ooh là là! Risqué origin stories aside, it’s a fact that the coupe, or champagne saucer, was depicted in The Oyster Dinner – a 1735 bacchanalian painting by French court artist Jean-François de Troy – thus cementing it as the de rigueur glassware of the 18th-century upper class. Since then, innumerable corks have popped, but to get a perfect celebratory clink between glasses, crystal is required. For that, Waterford, appearing on the scene…

WOODLAND MAGIC A painterly woodland scene on the china led the way in creating this magical forest themed table. A garland of gold and green magnolia leaves adorned with gold and frosty blue balls brings texture, while candles add height and mood. A tall pre-lit tree, wall-mounted lit garland, white wreath and holiday cushion make the room festive. Meanwhile, Jack waits patiently for holiday treats. RED & GREEN We’ll always love red and green. This year, try updating your table with softer shades of green for an on-trend look. Merry, berry-red accents transform everyday white china for your festive feast. Gold flatware elevates the look and picks up on the burnished gold details of the leafy wreath charger and napkin ring. A berry Christmas ball adds texture, colour and form…

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…or is it? For many of us, the holidays conjure up images of candy canes and Santa. Others prefer a more minimal look. Here, I look at ways to make your holiday decor magical – no matter your style – by focusing on festive palettes. The New Subtle Palette A less Christmasy palette that melds with your existing decor is now an established trend. Retailers have responded with holiday decorations in every palette. So, even if your home is creamy-dreamy with top notes of lavender and plum – like this room by designers Erin Feasby and Cindy Bleeks – you can dress it in holiday style without making big changes to your existing decor. Erin and Cindy love the look so much, they…

OUTSIDE & IN The door is always open at designer Sarah St. Amand’s classic 1950s home in Brantford, Ont. At Christmas, guests enter her merry-and-bright abode beneath a garland of fresh greenery. “It’s a classic,” says Sarah (shown above). Indoors, the look is traditional, but – secret revealed – that banister garland isn’t real. Says Sarah: “My tip? Tie it with wide satin ribbon bows. It drapes so beautifully.” GOLDEN LIGHT “It’s like fallen snow inside a winter forest,” says Sarah of the living room’s flocked artificial Christmas tree. The timeless mantel display features two faux garlands twisted together for a fuller look. Paper accordion trees make for a wintry windowscape. On the coffee table, Sarah filled a glass vase with faux snow, then nestled a battery-operated pillar candle inside…

Karyn Gordon balances many professional roles: CEO, leadership and relationship expert, author, public speaker, TV personality. But at the Muskoka, Ont., home she shares with husband Brent Penner and their 16-year-old twins, Baron and Chase, her favourite roles are hot chocolate maker and board game player. “Our place is so magical in the winter,” says Karyn, who designed the 2,400-square-foot abode, while Brent, Baron and Chase pitched in by building its custom furniture. When it came to layering in holiday cheer, Karyn called her designer friend Sarah Walker. “The Muskoka setting had everything to do with the styling direction,” Sarah says. “I wanted to bring the outdoors in and honour the beauty of nature that surrounds the property.” Her use of beeswax candles, organic textures and evergreens gets the look…

NUTTY CARAMEL POPCORN MAKES 16 CUPS 12 cups popped popcorn, unpopped kernels removed2 cups toasted whole almonds2 cups toasted pecans, halved2 cups packed brown sugar1 cup salted butter½ cup dark corn syrup½ tsp baking soda1 tsp vanilla extract Preheat the oven to 250°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet (also known as a jelly roll pan) with parchment paper. Place the popcorn, almonds and pecans in an exceptionally large heatproof bowl. In a medium saucepan, bring the brown sugar, butter and corn syrup to a rolling boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to mediumhigh and bring the mixture to the soft-crack stage (270°F to 290°F on an instant-read thermometer) without stirring. Remove from the heat and stir in the baking soda and vanilla. Pour the caramel mixture over the…

PAINT PALETTE of the month WE’RE INSPIRED BY… all that glitters, and that doesn’t pertain only to gold! Silver need not mean second place, especially when paired with gold. Cool and warm, sophisticated and chic, the metallic duo looks elegant with white and black for a holiday palette that can’t be beat. Silver FOREVER TREES This Quebec-based online furniture store offers a cute (and practical!) alternative to cut Christmas trees and non-recyclable fake ones. Lilique Recycle’s whimsical, one-of-a-kind wooden “trees” are handcrafted, reusable, and made from old doors that would otherwise be scrap. Plus, they’re easy to decorate and will never, ever drop their needles! They are a charming, upcycled alternative for those looking for a way to celebrate the season and the planet. Happy 50th! Back in 1967, Canadians’ appetites…

HIGH$ 16,670 LOW $3,325 Tree Trend We are loving the rise of the sleek tree collar as an alternative to traditional skirts. Like a skirt, a collar hides an unsightly utilitarian tree stand, but it looks more tailored and refined and eliminates the tripping hazard that some skirts create. With so many styles available, it’s easy to find a material and colour that enhances your holiday decor. Light Fantastic “Oh, Christmas tree! You are so very hard to light.” Is that how the carol goes? Want to sing a new tune? Lighten your holiday tasks by opting for a pre-lit artificial tree. No more tangled strings of lights – ever! Get right to the fun decorating with balls, garlands and other ornaments. For the sake of the environment, invest in…

Merry Mixer Hello, holiday entertainers! Here’s a room for you: the stocked bar cart, dramatic black wall and modern chair mark the space as grownup. Yet details like the star-shaped cushion, a trio of trees, and a gold gnome tending the bar keep it seasonal and not stuffy. Festive Refresh Red and green is traditional, but we replaced the usual bright kelly green with a saturated yet subdued shade. Ivory-coloured accents and a wreath adorned with red balls pair with the festive decor on the bar cart for a holiday scene that merrily marries old and new.…

When the Griffith kids – Amelia, 8, and Noah, 12 – go to sleep in December, visions of sugarplums dance in their heads. But not only the Christmas kind. They also dream of sufganiyot, those plummy, pillowy doughnuts devoured at Hanukkah. “We celebrate Chrismukkah,” says Tamara Robbins Griffith, partner and principal designer at Kerr + Field Interiors, who grew up ringing in Hanukkah while her husband, Edward Griffith, trimmed a tree. Now their century-old blended-holiday home in Toronto’s Leslieville comes to life with twinkling lights, a pastel palette and natural decor. Here’s how Tamara decked the halls this year for a merry Chrismukkah! MERRY MANTEL Fireplace mantels aren’t just for hanging stockings. To get into the festive spirit, designer Tamara Robbins Griffith arranges assorted pastel ornaments along her mantel for…

Q1 I live in a split-level house. The stairs, railings, floors, door trims and doors are all yellowed oak, which I no longer like. Sanding and staining all the wood is incredibly costly. I am considering Montpellier coloured wood flooring from Dubeau. Any suggestions for the other wood finishes? Shiraz K., via email S@H Your home has a lot of wood, which is no longer in style, so making a change will update its look and add value. My suggestion is to paint the trims, interior doors and railings – it will be less costly than replacing everything and you won’t waste the perfectly good existing elements. The Montpellier flooring from Dubeau has grey undertones but also has a warmth, which is why I suggest going warmer rather than cooler…

A Allo Simone allosimone.com Alpaka alpakashop.ca Amara amara.com Ann Sacks annsacks.com Annie Selke annieselke.com Anthropologie anthropologie.com Article article.com B Barrymore Furniture barrymorefurniture.com Barter Design barterdesign.ca Bath & Body Works bathandbodyworks.ca Benjamin Moore benjaminmoore.ca Bergo Designs bergodesigns.ca Bloomsburg Carpet bloomsburgcarpet.com Bouclair bouclair.com Boutique Cassine cassine.ca C C&M Textiles cmtextiles.com Calligaris Toronto calligaristoronto.ca Canadian Tire canadiantire.ca Caplan’s Appliances caplans.ca Casalife casalife.com CB2 cb2.ca Centura centura.ca Christopher Farr Cloth christopherfarrcloth.com Ciot ciot.com Crate and Barrel crateandbarrel.ca Creative Bag creativebag.com D Dans un Jardin dansunjardin.com Déco Luminaire decoluminaire.com Decor-Rest decor-rest.com Denco Sheds dencosheds.ca Distinctive By Design distinctivebydesign.ca Dolce Bianca dolcebianca.ca E Ébénisterie AGR ebenisterieagr.com Elte elte.com Elte MKT eltemkt.com Epal North America epalna.com Ethan Allen ethanallen.ca Etsy etsy.com F Faithful Roots faithfulroots.com Fine Interiors fineinteriorsinc.com Fiori Floral Design fiorifloral.com G Gallery Jones galleryjones.com Gild…