At Home with Kim Vallee

HOME + GARDEN, KITCHEN design | October 10, 2009

Modern Rustic Kitchen that Feels More Modern

The wildness of the oak wood kitchen on the cover page of Elle Decoration UK edition caught my eye. I envy anyone who has a kitchen with floor to ceiling cupboards. It looks neat but more importantly for me, it reduces the amount of spring cleaning. Plus, using more vertical space for storage keeps the [...]

GAMES and Toys, KIDS + BABY | October 8, 2009

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Cultivate your Kid Imagination with PlayShades

I think this new toy could be a hit this Christmas. Every parent wants to invite again the aunt who arrives with a playful educational toy. Plus, kids need toys that they can easily carry around inside and outside the house. The 74 rubber wood blocks are cut in smooth, subtly painted shapes. Kids and adults [...]

DINING, DISHING tips | September 25, 2009

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Breakfast Inspiration

I love this picture. The superb crafted table, the breakfast scene, and the angle of the shot. I dream of having enough room in my house for an extra-long dining table. You save space by putting benches and stools instead of chairs. + Via July 2007 edition of Living etc

ENTERTAINING, TABLESCAPE | September 24, 2009

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Rustic Tables for the End of Summer Cottage Season

Fall officially arrived. In a few weeks, the cottage on the lake season will close for many of us that live North. Wood slice trays are nothing new but I still like them. Plus, using handcrafted organic elements to contrast modern pieces is one of the 4 trends for Christmas 2009 (more on that later). Wood slices [...]

HOME + GARDEN, HOME decor | August 20, 2009

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Inspiring Reclaimed Wood Walls at Les Enfants Terribles

I wish to talk about this restaurant not for his cooking, since I have never ate there but for its decor. Les Enfants Terribles is a pub located in Outremont, Quebec. What strikes me is how the architect Louis-Joseph Papineau play with depths on the reclaimed walls to create storage and decorating shelving. Naturally, he [...]

ENTERTAINING, PICNIC | May 6, 2009

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Paper+Cup Birch Utensils at Anthropologie

Whenever you do a picnic or an other event when you wish to add a vintage vibe, you are that wooden utensils will set the right tone. The beautifully crafted wooden utensils of Paper+Cup are available at Anthropologie. Think of reusing the red and white strings on your party accessories. If you wish a custom message [...]

DINING, TABLEWARE | April 27, 2009

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Edward Wohl’s Sandwich Boards and Wooden Spread Knife for Mother’s Day

Thanks to my resourceful mother, I will get my own DIY sandwich boards; I opted for an 8 x 12-inch board since I want enough space to put a small bowl of soup and a sandwich. A wooden board absorbs the condensation out of toasted bread, which is part of the appeal. As I put my [...]

COOKING tools, DINING | January 11, 2009

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The New Jme Kitchen and Dining Collection by Jamie Oliver

On my previous post, I admired the visual of the Jme packaging for food in glass jar. Now it is the time of his kitchen gadgets, grinders and food preparation bowls and boards. There is also a line of everyday dinnerware, glassware and flatware. Jme proposes a range of kitchenware that looks modernly rustic. I fantasize [...]