Friday Find/ Graham Hill: Less = More

It’s GOOD FRIDAY! For this week’s Friday Find, we’re raving about Canadian founder of LifeEdited and Treehugger, Graham Hill. He travels the world and tells the story of sustainability design and living. He has experience the simple life of having fewer possessions. With an education in Architecture from Carleton U and Industrial Design from and E.C.I.A.D in Vancouver - this is what we call homegrown talent.

This ideology led Graham to his most recent project: flexible micro-homes. We love the whole concept that less stuff and a small space can lead to a happier, healthier and more sustainable life. LifeEdited promotes pared-down living and is planning to sell flexible micro-apartments that will create a new lifestyle. How great is that!

We even manage to snag the floor plans of the layout and how the space functions in four different layouts from LifeEdited.

Graham managed to create and fit eight rooms into 420-square-feet apartment. The micro-apartment is astonishing as you watch the small place transform. With these clever designs, you would definitely be able to live in a small and highly functional space. Here’s a video to show you how the micro apartment functions from Gizmodo on Vimeo.

GIZMODO - The Tiny Transforming Apartment That Packs Eight Rooms into 350 Square Feet

After watching this space transform, you’ll definitely want a micro-apartment for yourself. Are you interested in a sustainable lifestyle? If so, watch Graham Hill on TED as he talks about a lifestyle with less stuff equals more happiness and how to achieve it!



Sources: LifeEdited | TED | Vimeo

Thursday Travel Destinations/ Sunny Palm Springs - Indian Wells!

Introducing our new feature! Thursday Travel Destinations. Our first post takes us to Indian Wells California in Palm Springs Dessert. Once you settle into the retirement vibe and get away from your frantic everyday lifestyle this idyllic vacation spot presents several amazing pluses. A perfectly sunny and hot climate with NO humidity - plus tons of fun spots to SHOP, DINE and HAVE FUN. Here are a selection of our recommendations for accommodations, restos and activities.

When to Go

While March can be a dull month for the east side of North America the west provides the perfect escape. Palm Dessert has TONS to offer in MARCH & APRIL. Here are just a few – Food& Wine Festival, Fashion Week El Paseo, PNB Paribas Tennis Open and Coachella!

Where to Stay
Like the ideal view of snow capped mountains while lazing underneath a palm tree? Yup– you can them both! We stayed at the Hyatt Regency, a major destination for large groups of family’s & friends traveling together. For the tennis crazed the BNP Paribas has a shuttle bus that takes you to and from the grounds from the hotel hourly (a free DD for your trip - yes please!).

Travel must: The breakfast buffet and the fish tacos with a Pina Coladas by the pool.

What to Do

When you are not at the pool, the tennis tournament, on the golf course or at a fashion show and for the shopper in the group- ok for all of us! Check out The Gardens on El Paseo. This out door shopping center is full of sculpture, restos, beautiful landscapes and yes all the big shops – SAKS, J CREW, KATE SPADE, ANTHROPOLOGIE & many more.

Where to Eat

A short drive away in downtown Palm Dessert you will find the Art & Design District. With 1950’s architectural gems and vintage furniture shops galore all you mid century modern lovers will be in heaven. Come nightfall the strip picks up and there are plenty of great restaurants and bars to go to. We tried TRIO – a restaurant with a lively crowd, great patio and wonderful food.

Travel must: try the scallops, fish soup or the lamp – Delish!

Travel Must Do 

We’ve complied the links and dates to the most fabulous events going down in Palm Dessert in March & April. Now get started planning for next years mid March pick me up vacation! 

Dates to Remember:

Fashion Week El Paseo 2013 – March 15 to 23, 2013
PNB Paribas Tennis Open – March 3 to 16, 2014
Food & Wine Festival Palm Desert – March 22 to 24, 2013
Coachella – April 12 to 14 & April 19 to 21, 2013

Images: 01. Indian Wells Golf Resort 02.Coachella 03|04. Hyatt Regency Indian Wells 05. The Gardens on El Paseo 06. 07|08. Trio Restaurant 09. Palm Springs Life 10. Examiner 11. BNP Paribas Open 12. Mens Tennis Forum 13. Palm Springs Life

Tip of the Day Tuesday/ Easter Holiday Tabletop Tips

We’re looking forward to this long weekend, it’s finally starting to look like spring and Easter is just around the corner. This week, we’ll be giving you some tips on how to create the perfect table setting for the upcoming holiday weekend!

Here’s 5 Tips on how to the perfect Easter tabletop:

1. Think about colour scheme.

For instance, pastels are a nice selection or pops of bright warm colour.  Our favorite quick tip - keep it simple. Use your white dinnerware and add pops of colour with accessories and yup- your cuisine!

2. Layers.

It’s key to layer properly with your runner, placemat, napkins, and dinnerware. By layering properly, you’re table setting will look beautifully planned and interesting. Here's an image to give you a good idea on how to set up your dinnerware for informal and formal events.

3. Accessorizing. 

Choose simplistic, elegant, and beautiful placemats, dinnerware, and napkins. Use decorative centerpieces and nametags to achieve that sophisticated touch.

4. Flowers! 

Use freshly cut flowers for centerpieces. Ditch the complicated arrangements and go for a simple glass vase with one type of flower. Our favorites are classic tulips in pink or yellow OR peonies in deep red or blush pink. Quick tip- several smaller bouquets allow guests to see each other when seated at the table.

5. Less is more.

 Last but not least, just relax and enjoy the holiday with your family. That’s what the holidays are for and keep it simple. Don’t stress out and go all extravagant because most of the time… LESS IS MORE!

Here are some inspirational photos to give you an idea of how to decorate and prepare for the Easter holidays! If you love our tips, send images of your tabletops to us and tell us how your table settings turned out!

Images: 01. Boxwood Clippings 02. Weddbook 03. Martha Stewart 04. Houzz 05. Yankee Magazine 06. A Secret Forest 07. Martha Stewart 08. Martha Stewart

Music Monday/ ATOMS FOR PEACE: AMOK

We’re completely into Atoms for Peace’s latest debut album, AMOK, which was released on February 25, 2013. The band consists of Thom Yorke (lead singer of Radiohead), Flea (Chili Peppers’ bassist), Nigel Godrich (Radiohead Producer), Joey Waronker (Beck & R.E.M), and Mauro Refosco (Chili Peppers).

There’s a consistent progression from song to song in the album, which has an ethereal and up-tempo beat. When listening to Yorke’s voice it delivers a specific echo, against the backdrop of the dance beat, especially in Before Your Very Eyes.

The experimental techno is so enchanting we want to hear more.

We’ve put together the AMOK Album Playlist for you on grooveshark. Here’s a music video for DEFAULT from youtube. Let us know what you think of this album and we’ll see you again next week for Music Monday!

Images: Filter Magazine

Friday Find/ FASHION MEETS INTERIOR DESIGN – KORHANI HOME

We have a little something special for you today! Age of Design was invited to World Master Card Fashion Week happening in Toronto MAR 18^th – 22^nd.

Wow! It has been one hectic and inspiring week for the team. As WMCFW excitement winds down, we took a reprieve to share one of the most fantastic shows we’ve seen so far…

The runway show from Korhani Home featuring the latest F/W 2013 Collection showcased new trends for this coming fall & winter in an explosive and creative way. We love how Korhani Home fused Fashion and Interior décor together! The entire collection is made from beautiful and embellished carpet textiles.

Korhani Home’s Creative Director, Kirsten Korhani, has become an expert at infusing fashion concepts into home design. We have some amazing photos for you right from the runway!

Make sure to check out the goods from the runway during WMCFW and the exclusive interview (coming soon) with Kristen at MyETVMedia.com. Check out the RUNWAY video created by MyETVMedia.

Images: My ETV Media

Wine & Dine Wednesday/ Patria Restaurant

NEW FEATURES! Look out for Wine & Dine Wednesday  & Thursday Travel Tips. Read our reviews on design & travel hot spots featured right here on the blog on alternating weeks. We’ll be introducing you to some of our favorite places to wine, dine & travel in Toronto and all over the world. Get ready for mouth-watering food and design destinations!

The King West neighborhood in Toronto is a buzz with new restaurants. One of our favorites and the second collaboration between restaurateurs Hanif Harij and Charles Khabouth, Patria offers authentic Spanish cuisine. With plenty of delish imported ingredients, products, and wine right from the motherland. We’re definitely gushing over the food and the beautifully designed interior space.

Cuisine

The food is authentic to the Spanish tapa tradition. Serving small plates to share amongst your party. The small dishes are designed to promote conversation and provide a variety of flavors.

Fact: Tapa cuisine is also known in Spanish as Bocas (literal translation “in the mouth”) Boca means mouth in Spanish.

Top AOD Menu Picks:

ACEITUNAS House Marinated Olives $6

PAN CON TOMATE + Manchego       $6

SECRETO IBÉRICO CON PIMIENTOS PIQUILLO YMERMELADA

Ibérico Flank S teak + Piquillo Pepper Jam $28

PIMIENTOS DE PADRÓN Blistered Peppers + Sea Salt $6

DÁTILES CON TOCINO IBÉRICO Dates + Ibérico Bacon + Manchego + Quindillas $9

THIS ONES A MUST TRY FOR BACON LOVERS!

Interior

If you think the food’s amazing, the interior is equally as good. Upon entering the restaurant, Commutes Homes dramatically expresses the Spanish theme throughout the restaurant using rich bold colours, antiques, and grand paintings of traditional Spanish women. The amazing and prominent feature of this restaurant is the cross-stitch installation screen, consisting of 17,000 stitches spread over 21 - 4’ x 8’ steel panels on the entire 500 square-feet wall fabricated by Laura Carwardine.

The screen is mounted over the two-storey feature wall of a flamenco dancer, which was designed by Marlo Onilla of Biography Design. The process of the installation took a total of 485 hours, just over two month to complete. Here's a video created by Henry Salonen on Vimeo to show you the whole process of the screen.

Making of Patria Restaurant Cross Stitch Art Installation from Henry Salonen on Vimeo.

If you haven’t swung by this place to have a bite, then you must try it! The food is scrumptious and the interior is completely breath taking! Perfect for a lively date night or a gathering of friends. Be sure to book reservations in advance, this hot spot gets booked up quickly!

Look forward to Thursday Travel Tips next week and like the Spanish say, “BUEN APETITO!!!”

Images: Toronto Life + Cargo Collective