At Home with Kim Vallee

COOKING tools, DINING | August 27, 2009

The Bodum Bistro Toaster Does More Than Add Color to Your Kitchen

I guess that a lot of college students will ask this toaster as a housewarming gift. I totally understand the appeal. You know by now that I love bringing color into my home. It is not the first time that Bodum introduced color in an unusual but tasteful way. The Bistro Toasters is not just a [...]

COOKING tools, DINING | August 26, 2009

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Better Ways to Prepare, Measure, Store and Serve Food with Royal VKB

I love the ingenuity of the design behind every Royal VKB products. Their motto, Thought for Food says it all. This Dutch housewares company always succeed to grab my attention. If only, I could find a Canadian retailer who carries the entire range of Royal VKB. A new product, Table Bin would appreciate by students who live with [...]

HOME + GARDEN, HOME decor, TRAVEL | August 18, 2009

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Missoni Hotel Teaches Us How to Use Bold Colors

Using bold colors and patterns requires more than an eye for design. One luxury company who is known for their bold use of colors is Missoni. The Italian brand opened their first hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland last June. Four more hotels is scheduled to open over the next few years. As you would expect, the room [...]

DINING, TABLEWARE | June 6, 2009

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Sebastian Conran’s Festa Collection Cheers Up Outdoor Entertaining

Festa caught my eyes with its sunny summer tones and a comprehensive line. At last, a melamine collection that proposes a mingle plate. Party Dish is practical and beautiful. It is well-thought with a whole to hold solidly the plate, a wine holder and a recessed plate to make sure nothing falls when you walk [...]

HOME + GARDEN, OUTDOOR space | May 24, 2009

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The Feminine Side of Outdoor Furniture and Fermob

French people, like many residents of European countries, are not afraid to infuse bold colors in their decor. They also do it in a tasteful way. The latest example is the April-May 2009 issue of Coté Sud, which is dedicated to the feminine side of summer. The mood of the cover says it all. Another reason [...]

ENTERTAINING, OUTDOOR entertaining | May 22, 2009

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Love the Kay Dinnerware Collection by Working Class Studio

If you are looking for fun and modern melamine dinnerware for your next picnic or barbecue that you can use all year long for cocktail parties, take a look at the Kay collection from the Working Class Studio. Kay Wolfersperger designed a complete outdoor dining collection with salad plates, dinner plates, charger plates, bowls and tumbler [...]

HOME + GARDEN, HOME decor | May 15, 2009

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Lit your home with Havana or Capri by Jonathan Alder

The few items of the latest collection of Jonathan Alder caught my attention. Let’s start with lighting. Contrary to lots of designers, I restrain the recessed lights to the bare minimum in my decors. I prefer to display gorgeous lamps for their decorative and functional input. The latest lighting collection by Jonathan Alder allows you [...]

HOME + GARDEN, HOME decor | May 15, 2009

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Three Looks for the Scoop-back Chair at West Elm

We all know this modern bentwood chair. It rests on a sturdy chrome-plated iron base. Many brands produce their version. What is fun at West Elm is the variety of the bendwood chair finishes. You can opt for the traditional solid color option, a print option and the new pebbled leather upholstery. The popularity of the [...]