I read on the book Six Pixels of Separation by Mitch Joel how new technology will shape the way we think about building in the 21st century. It is not Mitch who made that prediction. It is an affirmation made by William Mitchell, a professor of architecture and computer science at MIT. This is how my topic for my post on Climate Change for Blog Action Day 2009 was born.

I wrote several posts over the years about the need for walking city planning. I think it is the best way to live is to not have to use the car every day. I see a glimpse of hope due to the Web and smart phones. Digital technology means that many people can work from everywhere as long as they can be connected to the Web. As we get more and more access to wireless connections, Voice Over IP and other means to be connected, we are not restricted to our desk anymore.

Inspired by the Village

The main appeal of the European cities is that they were constructed before the industrial revolution. This means that they were built with human scale in mind. Having shops, restaurants and residences nicely integrated in a neighborhood builds a sense of community. We already seen the revival of  abandoned neighborhoods built around multi-functional buildings.

Coworking spaces, which are offices to go to for consultants, developers and telecommuters that come complete with printers, high-speed internet access, conference rooms and community, flourish across North America. We have Station C in Montreal and Office Nomads in Seattle. They are hiccups like the closure of Workspace in Vancouver. This is normal since it involves a different way to do business. Still, the concept behind the community office makes a lot of sense for many people.

Looking at the Future

What do it has to do with taking about Climate Change. Everything! Sharing spaces or using them for double duty reduces our footprint in so many ways.

We have to reexamine how buildings are built in light of what the future will bring. They might not need to serve only one function: housing, work, entertaining. If we can work from everywhere, it changes our commute habits. If we share offices, it reduces the number of office buildings we need to serve everyone. I do not have the solution, but we must envision our actions with how we will live in the future instead of only considering how we live now.

I encourage you to read the last three sections of my post about Imprinting a new North American lifestyle and to check City Guides and European City Life post.

CREDITS:
+ photos: Station C, Kim Vallee (with my iphone), Bixi

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If you never went to Amsterdam, you are missing something. The gorgeous has its share of cool modern design shops, you eat well and it is an urban area where you will feel in vacation. It has been a while since my last visit. Looking at these beautiful pictures taken by Pia Jane Bijkerk, show me how much I miss the European city vibe.

Pia is a known interior and food stylist who currently divides her time working and living between Sydney, Paris and a houseboat in Amsterdam. What a good lifestyle! Naturally, Pia talked about these 3 cities in her blog. I guess it will become one of your favorite blog. I added Pia’s blog to my daily fab read blogroll.

Taking about blogroll, I discovered Pia’s blog while commenting about stylish lampshades on Design Hole.

+ photo by Pia Jane Bijkerk

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The photography and the recipes of Our Kitchen will inspire to cook. How can you resist the sight of this Lemon and yoghurt cake?

We can never read too many food blogs. I owe to my friend Lara of Ready 2 Spark the discovery of this blog produced by food lovers who work for the appliance maker Fisher & Paykel. This sponsored employee blog showcases everyday recipes.

+ photo by Emma of Our Kitchen

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For On the Web the scope is obvious: it’s social media. For At Home, I need 3 or 4 words to capture the essence of the blog. I am hesitating between 2 options right now. I want your opinion. Answer this Twitter poll that I created with twtpoll.

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I have been so busy lately that I just realized that At Home with Kim Vallee is a nominee for the BlogLuxe Awards organized by SocialLuxe Lounge in the Most Inspiring Blog Category. You can vote once a day until July for the first round. The five finalists will be announced July 6th, 2009. The two winners will be announced July 23rd, 2009 at the Swiffer SocialLuxe Lounge.

Nominations will close on June 23. Voting will remain open until July 6. You may vote once per day, per person, for your favorite blog in each category. The 5 blogs that obtain the most votes will become a finalist.

These awards are organized for BlogHer 2009. The winners will be publicly announced at the pampering party to kick-off BlogHer ‘09. The hostesses for the SocialLuxe Lounge are Allison Czarnecki of Petit Elefant, Jennifer Sbranti of Hostess With The Mostess, Jane Maynard of This Week For Dinner, Marie LeBaron of Make and Takes, Ciaran Blumenfeld of Momfluential, and Beth Feldman of Role Mommy.

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Over the next weeks, I will explain why and how I migrated to Wordpress and why I felt I needed a new layout. This series will be published on my second blog, On the Web with Kim Vallee, which will also get this look shortly (in a week or two).

Update Your Blogroll

I published my Daily Fab Reads at the bottom of the page. It shows 7 favorite links. I will alternate them from time to time. I will also update my blogroll to reflect what I am reading right now. It has been a while since I did it. My blogroll catalogs what I read; for me, it is not about link exchanges. As a curator, I want my blogroll to be a representation og my tastes and sources of inspirations.

Please note that I changed the URL of my blog. If I have the honor to be on your blogroll, I would appreciate if you update my link to http://athome.kimvallee.com/

Places is now fully integrated with my blog. It will enable me to take advantage of the best bells and whistles of the Praized platform. Places also migrated to a new URL.

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I am not invading any country or engaging in combat but we have been planning for so long my blog revamp that it feels like we are at D Day. Today is the day where we will migrate for real my blog to Wordpress.

We took this opportunity to update everything: the logo, the color palette and the layout of the blog. We selected a 2-column layout blog design because it feels more airy. My Twitter followers had the chance to get some clues of the new design.

There will be no downtime. You will be able to browse my posts as usual except that we will close the comments at some point. The comments will reopen once the migration is completed.

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I wrote three posts so far. The first one is the Must-Have List Before Your Start Your Blog (Blogging 101), my opinion on Top Bloggers Lists and what it means for me to blog.

I inspire you at home, now I guide you on what is happening on the Web. Have a look at On the Web with Kim Vallee and fell free to comment.

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Realistically, I aim for a release late January or February. Yesterday, we finalized one big item on the list: my new logo. I am thrilled about the new look and color. I am impatient to show it off, so here it is.

Follow-Up on my Blog on Women, Social Media and Technology

Earlier, I announced my plan for an upcoming blog about the Women & Moms Blogs Movement. I will explore with you the dynamic universe of the women and mom blogs including how women deal with social media. We will also examine how technology meets or fails to meet women’s expectations and needs. The blog is taking form. As soon as we set up a Wordpress theme for it, that blog will go online.

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Jaime is a happy housewife hoping to become one day a domestic goddess. When I asked her to talk about herself Jaime told me that she was very blessed to have a husband who supports her love for weddings and blogging. So you could say her day job consists of blogging full time and planning weddings and events for friends and family.  She can’t get enough of it! I can rely to that.

Let’s start with the interview about her blog and her tips for home parties.

At Home with Kim Vallee (AHWKV): When and how did you get into blogging?

Jaime: The wedding obsession started after I planned our own wedding back in 2003. After our wedding, I didn’t want to stop planning; I enjoyed it too much! I think it might be because I’ve always loved being “artsy crafty”, so our wedding just inspired me to use that love in a way to help others plan. Oh, how I do love it!

I started blogging as a way to keep all of my creative thoughts, ideas and finding in one spot – nice and organized.  It was also a way for me to share ideas for friends and family who were getting married, as I was helping many of them plan. I never expected it to take off like it has, but I couldn’t be happier! I absolutely love blogging about weddings and entertaining. I am happy that I get to help other brides.

AHWKV: What is the concept behind your blog?  What people can expect when they read your blog?

Jaime: The tag line for my blog, It’s A Jaime Thing is, “Wedding inspiration, ideas and all things creative”. That’s exactly what it is. I try my best to update my blog at least 2- 3 times a day (sometimes more) with fresh content. I love sharing pictures and ideas that are creative and unique – things that I’ve never heard of or seen before. I also enjoy posting about cool finds from fashion to décor. My hope is to be able to help brides personalize their weddings to make it their own, rather than just like everyone else’s.

AHWKV: How often do you entertain at home?  On a personal level, what kind of party do you host?

Jaime: I recently hosted a bridal shower at our home, however I normally entertain else ware. I’m not too domestic when it comes to cooking. So I’m always joking with my best friend (who loves to cook) that she can host the dinner parties and I’ll host the cocktail parties!

When I do host parties at home, I love to keep it simple and intimate. I focus on creating a nice, comfortable atmosphere for my guests with fun décor, good music and very yummy cocktails along with finger foods. Oh, and cookies too – while I have issues when it comes to cooking, I do actually bake pretty well. Is that strange? My favorite saying is, “when you’re sad and feeling worse, just keep a cookie in your purse!”.

AHWKV: What lessons did you learn from organizing parties?

Jaime: Don’t stress. If there’s something you wanted to do but didn’t get done in time for the party, it’s ok! Nobody but you will know.

Allow yourself enough time to plan and prepare! Entertaining can get costly, but if you allow yourself enough time you can shop around for the best deals.

Make lists! There is nothing worse than remembering to buy enough cups but not enough napkins. Keep the list with you, and as you shop for your party, check the items off of the list.

For serving cocktails and food, set up a few areas where guests can fill up so that one corner of the party doesn’t get too crowded. This also helps keep the party traffic flowing.

Have everything ready before the guests arrive, so that you can enjoy the fabulous soiree you’ve created!

AHWKV: When you are doing a party in Chicago, what are the best stores for party supplies?

Jaime: Believe it or not, I love Family Dollar! You can find fabulous party supplies there if you’re on a tight budget. I also love Hobby Lobby, JoAnn Fabrics and SaveOnCrafts.com. Craft stores have loads of items you can incorporate into your event, especially if you like to think outside the box. I’m in my own personal “heaven” when I’m at a craft store. Not only do they offer a lot, but it’s a great place to go to get inspired and get your creative juices flowing.

AHWKV: Which vendors do you use when you organize a party?

Jaime: Fresh and Silk Flowers located in Carol Stream, IL. – They offer excellent prices, wonderful customer service and the most beautiful flowers that you know, coming from them, will always be fresh!

DJ Jimmy Manno with People’s Choice DJ, located in Lombard, IL. – I’ve been to so many weddings. This is by far the best DJ in the Chicagoland area! He’s professional, talented and really knows how to keep the dance floor full. When he DJ’s an event, every guest stays until the last song. Even grandma! He knows how to choose the right songs to keep everyone happy. With him as your DJ, your wedding or event will be one people will always remember as “the best!”. Did I mention DJ Jimmy Manno is extremely affordable compared to the many out there? He even works well with vendors, which is really important too.

Patrick Kramford Videography, located in West Chicago is one of my absolute favorite videographers around. He’s professional, talented and through the beauty of his work you can tell he really cares about it. When you book with him, rest assured you’ll end up with a quality video of your event – and you’ll watch it over and over as if it were a movie. He’s that good! He’s also very affordable compared to many others.

Of course you have to have a photographer? But there are too many wonderful ones to name. We were thrilled with our wedding photographer, Maureen Martini, owner of Portrait In Time Photography, out of Lombard. Again, she’s very professional, talented and affordable. We took 2 years to plan our wedding so you better believe I interviewed like a crazy bride! I found the best vendors at the best prices – we couldn’t have been happier, they all truly did a wonderful job!

AHWKV: Which are the best venues? And what is so special about these places?

Jaime: Oh goodness, there are so many around Chicagoland that it’s hard to name them all – so I’ll name just a few of my personal favorites.  Of course I have to mention the venue we married at – Avalon Banquets in Elk Grove Village, IL. The entire staff was super friendly, helpful and professional, the food was amazing, the prices were great, and they’re newly renovated. We were so happy we booked Avalon Banquets for our wedding!

Two of my other favorite venues for weddings are Riverside Receptions in Geneva, IL and also Danada House in Wheaton, IL. They’re very scenic and both offer outdoor space for your event along with their gorgeous buildings. They’re lovely!

Part 2 of this interview, the city guide, is next.

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Today’s interview is with a charming, joyful and talented interior designer who works in the Detroit-metro area on both residential and commercial projects.

I had the pleasure to have dinner with Jennifer Mitchell of Design Hole and her husband last December when they visited Montreal. This is when this picture was taken.

You may recall that Jennifer wrote three remarkable guest posts for ATWKV last May to help me when I got my ACL surgery. She inspired us with her Amusing Painting Party, her Book Club Party, and her Mother’s Day Breakfast Menu.

Let’s start with the interview about her blog and her tips for home parties.

At Home with Kim Vallee (AHWKV): When and how did you get into blogging?

Jennifer: I’ve always loved writing and have written free-lance pieces for magazines and newspapers for years. A blog gives me the chance to pursue my love for design and my love for writing. I decided to start a blog on an impulse. I had been forced to slow down my working life due to a hip injury. One day, while I was feeling particularly cranky about it, I decided that if I couldn’t practice my craft in real life (however temporary) then I’d write about it instead. I had no long-term plan, or any plan, for that matter. Two years later, I’m still writing. I feel lucky to be a person who’s vocation is also my avocation.

AHWKV: What is the idea behind Design Hole?

Jennifer: I write about Interior Design, with a focus on helping readers design their own homes. Design Dilemma is a regular feature whereby I help a reader solve his or her design problem. Readers send me photos and questions. I love writing these posts. I also enjoy writing about color and lighting. I get the most questions about those topics. I also follow trends and new products.

AHWKV: I must add that the Chair of the Day column is a fantastic way to learn amazing facts about iconic chairs and the latest design.

AHWKV: How would you describe your blog?

Jennifer: My blog is information, but mostly it’s fun to read. I like to think that my blog is fun to read, even if you’re not into interior design. I’m not afraid to share my opinion on design – both good and bad.

AHWKV: What people can expect when they read Design Hole?

Jennifer: I really hope people will enjoy reading it. Of course, I offer good advice and new ideas. But if a blog isn’t fun to read then you can be the best designer in the world and no one will care. Being a good writer is almost as important as the design ideas. Fortunately, that’s a lot of fun for me.

AHWKV: Why do you like blogging?

Jennifer: I’m a famous chatterbox. If I can’t talk someone’s head off, then at least I write my own off! Seriously, I have a lot to say about design. I have a definite opinion and a blog gives me an opportunity to share it. I also like helping people who couldn’t otherwise afford a designer. Recently, I helped a firefighter with a family of four figure out how to spruce up their home. He was so thankful. Being able to help people like that makes life worthwhile. So for me, blogging is satisfying on many levels.

AHWKV: When you are doing a party in Detroit, where do you shop for your supplies?

Jennifer: I like to make my own centerpieces. So I shop at places like IKEA for centerpiece materials, Bureau of Urban Living and The League Shop for special things plus guest towels, Blossoms for flower arrangements and Trader Joe’s if I’m making my own. Also, Hirtz’s in the Eastern Market is great for gourmet things and baskets. I DO NOT buy food from Costco because everyone knows it came from Costco.

AHWKV: Which vendors do you use to organize your party?

Jennifer: The Rattlesnake Club does an excellent job with catering. Blossoms is great for interesting flower arrangements if I don’t have time to make my own. They have more than the usual thing when it comes to flowers. Sometimes I make my own placemats. I create them on Photoshop and get them printed at Kinko’s.

Stay tuned! Jennifer will share her favorite shops in the second part of the interview. I will try to publish her city guide of Detroit tonight.

LOCATIONS:

• Find an IKEA near you
• Bureau of Urban Living
  p 313.833.9336 | 460 West Canfield Street, Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48201
• League Shop Inc
  p 313.882.6880 | 72 Kercheval Ave, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, United States, 48236
• Blossoms
  p 248.644.4411 | 33866 Woodward Ave, Birmingham, Michigan, United States, 48009

MORE READING:
+ Design Hole
+ Image of Jennifer Mitchell and Kim Vallee taken at Laloux in Montreal – copyright Jennifer Mitchell

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Toys can be eyesores in a house. Let’s face it toys take place. If you can afford them, try to opt for something else that the mass-produced plastic kind.

You can get at Land of Nod high-end toys with a cute vintage vibe. Since kids outgrow or get tired of their toys fairly quickly, try to get a few items that can be repurposed as display.

A Little Bit of Nostalgia

The Kitchen and Grocery section at Land of Nod is incredible. I adore the Shop ‘Til You Drop market, shopping cart, cash register and well-balanced scale. The chalkboard would let your kids advertise their daily specials or set the price at the lemonade stand. You can use it whenever you have a garage sale.

Make-belief games are an important part of child play. I recalled that running a shop was one of my favorite games. My parents also got me a stunning salon kit that they probably bought from the United States. It had a special meaning since my mother was a talented hairdresser with her own salon.

More Toy Ideas

If you are a regular reader, you probably notice my teepee fascination. I cannot imagine a boy or a girl who would not enjoy having a roomy teepee in their playroom. A teepee is also great when you are hosting kid parties.

The French-designed Zamiloo Cardboard House with the coordinating Squirrel Family can decorate the nursery and toddler room until the little girl is 3 years old. The same goes for the On the Right Racetrack.

Wooden toys can be repainted and can be repaired if broken. For that reason, they are more environmentally friendly.

Toy Exchange Party

Lisa Kothari invited me to write a guest post on Peppers and Pollywogs blog.

With the current economical climate and the green living trend, I selected an unusual theme for a kid related party. Learn how to organize a Toy Exchange Party in your community. Get answers from how to select a venue to what are the rules for the exchanges up to what to serve as refreshments.

SOURCING:

+ Shop ‘Til You Drop Market – $199 USD
+ Meet Me in the Teepee – $119 USD
+ Honey I Shrunk the Football Table – $59 USD
+ This Full Playhouse – $54 for Zamiloo Cardboard House, $19.85 for the Squirrel Family characters
+ On the Right Racetrack – $39.95 USD
+ Tabletop Puppet Theater – $89 USD
+ Wood Roller, Sorter and Stacking Ring Maker – $14.95 – $29 USD
+ image from Cupcakes with three locations in Vancouver, Canada

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