Sarah Walker The Curated House, Author at The Curated House

Autumn Has Arrived with Canadian Fashion | Smythe

I always know when it is officially Autumn as our wedding anniversary is September 21st {Happy Anniversary, babe!}. While the actual Autumn equinox happens in and around this date {sometimes sooner, sometimes later}, for me it marks the change of seasons in a very meaningful way. It marks my change of season from single to married; from temporary love to unconditional love; from dreaming on my own to dreaming together. Crisp air, sunshine, beautiful smells, cozy sweaters, walks in the falling leaves, snuggles by the fire reading books, hearty meals and abundant harvest. This is the backdrop for our celebration. The sights, sounds, textures and tastes are rich and soul-satisfying, just like our love. I’m a grateful girl.

I must admit, I also love this season for the change in wardrobe. I’m often the last to put away my flip-flops in exchange for leather and laces, but the cozy textures of wool, cashmere and soft mohair blankets make it an inviting change of pace. Add to that a fire crackling in the hearth and a gorgeous french oven full of Beef Bourgignon slowly cooking in the kitchen and I’m grinning like a Cheshire Cat. I’ll try to make that dish soon and share the recipe with you {it’s one from my English Great Aunt, a Cordon Bleu trained chef, and it’s such elegant comfort food!}.

As I’m looking into this season’s closet, here are a few pieces that have caught my eye and made it onto my wish list:

I am actually head-over-heels in LOVE with the shapes and tailoring, textiles and details from the sartorial Canadian design team at Smythe. The contemporary, flawlessly-tailored jackets and coats feature nostalgic colors, textures and prints that are distinct in their traditional menswear tailoring details while decidedly feminine in silhouette. All of their pieces are made right here in Canada {just in case you needed an excuse to love them more}.

For outer layers, these two beautiful yet very different pieces have my number.

I love the faux-fur-lined hood and collar on this Donegal Tweed Bedouin Wrap {above} – perfect for more casual outfits and ideal for layering over those gorgeous tailored blazers.

Check out the military detail on the shoulders of this elegant yet fashion-forward Maxi Coat! Perfect over dresses to keep the gams warm while sporting something sexy underneath.

What are your favourite things about this new season? Would love to know what’s on your wish list and your bucket list as we all dive head-first into Fall. More inspiration to come in the days ahead!

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|September 21st, 2012|2 Comments

Ann Sacks | San Francisco

I have a confession to make. I am addicted to tile. One of my favourite aspects of working as an interior designer is playing with the shapes, textures, colours and dimension that can be created using beautiful tile products. The tiles that make me swoon are always natural stone, but a gorgeous glazed ceramic can make me just as giddy with the right application.

That is why I have a HUGE design crush on Ann Sacks. I was delighted to happen upon their San Francisco showroom on my visit to the Design District and just had to share a few shots of Ann’s jaw-droppingly beautiful tile creations with you. Just feast your eyes on some of the deliciously detailed creations this innovative luxury tile and plumbing purveyor has to offer.

Drawing upon the rich history of mosaic tile patterns while innovating with new materials use, patterns and manufacturing techniques, Ann Sacks is one of the premier sources for exquisite luxury tile products in North America. Be sure to peruse their site for a seemingly endless catalogue of detailed tile collections. Whether you are currently planning a bathroom or kitchen renovation or just love to explore forward-thinking interior design suppliers, Ann will have you dreaming about the possibilities in all shapes, textures and colours of tile imaginable.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|September 20th, 2012|1 Comment

Fisher Weisman Interior Design | San Francisco

Sometimes not knowing the city you are exploring can be a blessing. Such was the case on my recent visit to San Francisco. Wanderlust matched with a gravitational pull towards all things breathtaking and beautiful drew me along a typically steep and visually charming street. In the distance, a bright red door {top half open to invite in the breeze and my admiring gaze} drew me forward. Then, through the opening I spotted the most unusual, elegant and over-scaled light fixtures. Assuming this must be an interior design shop, I impishly swung open the other half of the lovely paneled red door and invited myself inside. It was the surprised looks on the faces of this beautiful space’s beautiful occupants {along with their polite and warmly quizzical greeting} that led me to discover that I had in fact stepped inside the wonderful world of the Interior Design offices of Fisher Weisman. Not a retail shop, but undoubtedly a feast for the senses.

Given that they do not have a retail home to which I may direct you for a visit, I will instead share with you just a taste of this dynamic design duo’s incredible work.

Photograph: Grey Crawford via Simplifying Fabulous

As you can see, their portfolio is at once diverse, refined and highly sophisticated. Though each space is clearly as unique as its inhabitants, you may notice a signature element in many of them: custom pieces artfully crafted – or shall I say encrusted – with shells. {Note the ceiling mounted faucet above the tub in the elegant ensuite bath; the chandelier in the antique-mirrored dining room; and the large, open barrel chandelier in the modern living room above.}

It was just such a pair of enormous and elaborate light fixtures that drew me into their design studio on that fateful day. This is in fact one of their signature looks for some of the custom-designed lighting and furnishing they create for their clients. To me it looks as though each piece in this collection has been dipped into the ocean just long enough for magical sea creatures to adorn each table, chair and chandelier with a blanket of off-white shells. If barnacles could be transformed into beautiful jewelery, this is no doubt how they would appear.

Other custom pieces from Fisher Weisman – such as this paneled demi-lune table – can be found on Architectural Digest’s prestigious shopAD.

I am so delighted to have stumbled upon this award-winning design firm and their inspiring work. I hope this little glimpse into their portfolio leaves you dreaming in sea-shells, sophistication and grand scale today.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|September 19th, 2012|0 Comments