HOT HOME PRODUCTS
Products hurry spring fever
February 26, 2010
Vicky Sanderson
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Consumers often feel rushed by retailers who will, for example, start hawking Christmas wares before the Halloween candy has gone stale.
Spring is probably the one season that we don't mind being launched prematurely. In fact, many homeowners are all too ready to fast-forward to the next season, and will start adding new accent pieces or accessories to their homes to create the illusion that winter is already dead and gone.
Fortunately, spring fever can even be nursed from the privacy of your own computer, even while a late-season snowstorm rages outside. It was at the web store CSN that I found several items in what is supposed to be this year's hottest colour for spring – turquoise. Personally, I think it's best confined to small splashes and quick hits, as in the cheerful floral motif on the Lush pillow from Unison, that's made from 100 per cent cotton and filled with a 95/5 per cent feather/down fill; it sells for $36 (U.S.).
Trend watchers are noting a movement toward rustic, textured fabrics, and to increasing interest in eco-friendly and natural textiles in 2010. Among these is alpaca wool, which can be spun as soft and silky as cashmere, and is touted by industry organization Alpaca Canada as being warmer and stronger than sheep's wool. Alpaca is starting to pop up like crocuses in May.
I recently saw attractive alpaca wall hangings that are being sold at craft fairs and events by a newly formed venture called Indigenous Crafts from Bolivia. They're done by artisans from Artesania Sorata, a Bolivian fair trade group that specializes in alpaca that is hand-spun and dyed with natural dyes. The quaintly simple, pastoral scenes in the pieces reflect Bolivia's Aymaran culture, everyday life and their "earth-centered" spirituality.
For more information, go to www.craftsfrombolivia.com.
Less rustic and more refined are the alpaca rugs, throws, pillows and furniture by designer Rosemary Hallgarten, who has turned her hand to everything from jewellery to textiles. Hallgarten's pieces are exclusively available in Canada at Industrial Storm (1099 Queen St. W. www.industrialstorm.com), where you'll find her stunning rugs. These beauties are made with Peruvian alpaca, often combined with new eco-friendly fibres such as cactus and banana, or wool, silk and cashmere. I also love the look of the hand-finished throws, especially those that have a different colour on either side.
If there's lots of entertaining in your spring calendar, you might want to treat yourself to a new cake stand, a retro tabletop accessory that's enjoying a renaissance.
A new cake stand by Nambé, which makes tableware out of a proprietary alloy of eight metals that produces a tarnish-resistant silvery lustre, would serve as a pretty platform for sweet spring confections. Designed with trademark sleekness by Karim Rashid, it has two rounded metal arms that support glass bases, and is available for about $228 by special order at William Ashley (55 Bloor St. W. www.williamashley.com.)
Flowers are one of the surest harbingers of spring. Until they're blooming reliably outdoors, you can get the look for your walls from Farrow & Ball's new Chelsea line of wallpapers, which include the Peony design, inspired by richly detailed woven jacquard silks that were popular in the 19th century.
They come in come in soft blue and grey colourways. A 33-foot roll sells for $295 (www.farrow-ball.com). For more affordable options, check out the new floral patterns from the Wallpaper Company that are available at Home Depot, where prices for a 56-foot roll start at about $35.
A movement away from decor and accessories with a "mass merchant" look may help drive sales of original art in 2010. At least that's what the organizers of The Artist Project are hoping. This three-day event, which will be held from March 4 to March 7 at the Queen Elizabeth Building at Exhibition Place, is a great way to view the works of more than 175 emerging and established independent artists. It also may be the perfect place to find an original piece that fits both your space and your budget.
Looking at beautiful art for a few hours may also have the salutary effect of taking your mind off the fact that no matter how much you might wish otherwise, spring is still several weeks away. The $12 ticket will be small price to pay for a few hours of bliss.
For more information go to www.theartistprojecttoronto.com.
Visit Vicky's blog at www.thestar.blogs.com/onthehouse.
Email her at vswriter@sympatico.ca.
Vicky Sanderson's Hot Home Products runs Saturdays in New in Homes & Condos.
Toronto Star