Furniture Fashion: Choosing the Right Furnishings

 We are getting well into spring now. If you are yet to redecorate your home for the season, consider doing so, and it’s important to choose the right furniture. A home is not just its occupants, but the fittings and the manner the whole space is presented. As we all

Travel back to the 70s with a retro revamp

 Take a blast from the past with some not-so-subtle nods to the 1970s. Incorporate iconic vibrant colour palettes, inviting textures and décor with groovy silhouettes into your home using tips from Sharon Grech, the colour and design expert for Benjamin Moore. Bold pops of colour. This decade was all about bright

Perkins+Will Open Up the Bank of Canada with Renewal

 The sun glistens off the triangular point that is part of the new Bank of Canada building. The corner space of Bank and Wellington, once mainly concrete, now is punctuated by greenery. Around it people congregate, sip coffee on their lunch breaks, read, and relax. This is what architectural firm

2018 colour and design trends

 Your home is a treasured place for living, relaxing and hosting guests. Give it new energy with these trending looks. Lovely lavenders. Move over, millennial pink — this soft shade of violet is the “it colour” this year. Lavenders and lilacs are an evolution of the popular pink, and lend an

3 tips for designing your dream kitchen island

 From bold patterns to stand-out pieces, the kitchen is getting a lot of attention from designers this year. Whether you are planning a reno or new build, these tips may inspire you to create the perfect trendy kitchen island you've always wanted. Make it the focal point A kitchen island

Karissa Besharah is Designing for the Modern Woman

 Born and raised in Ottawa, Karissa Besharah is a designer pushing limits in the women’s fashion industry. Growing up, she always found a need to be creative, whether it was designing home decor, costumes or repurposing clothes in her closet. After attending Richard Robinson Academy of Fashion Design, Karissa had

HerCampus UOttawa Steps into The Wild at Capital Catwalk

 Photos courtesy of HerCampus Uottawa It was truly a jungle in Lansdowne’s Horticulture Building on the evening of February 10th, when HerCampus UOttawa hosted their 6th annual Capital Catwalk. Models prowled down the runway in original and unique fashions designed by Zarucci, Zargara, Alexandra Guraliuc, Kristie Lance, Rowes Fashion and

10 energy saving winter hacks

 The holiday season can be full of cheer, but it can also be expensive. Heating costs at this time can eat up a large portion of your energy bill. Follow these winter hacks from Hydro One so you can keep heating costs down: 1. Keep the cold out by sealing

Richard Grenier Designs: Finding connection in custom woodwork

 “Making a personal connection to our surroundings through design and creativity has a long lasting effect on ourselves and the environment,” says Richard Grenier, founder and craftsman of Richard Grenier Designs. From commercial and residential projects, to indoor and outdoor spaces, Richard has had the opportunity to work in all

Fendor’s History of Innovation

 In Mike Nichols’ classic film The Graduate, Dustin Hoffman’s Benjamin is memorably told by a businessman that a single product will define the future: plastics. According to Greg Westwell however, the future has long been in aluminum. Westwell is the owner of Fendor, a company that installs windows, doors, and

Cloudy with a Chance of Design

 It is a bit overcast in Miami today, perfect day to mooch about in the Design District. I popped by for a cappuccino with my friend and designer extraordinaire at Tui Lifestyle. I absolutely love Tui’s take on furnishings… Miami modern chic meets warm inviting home. I could spend endless

A sneak peek at the Milton Shoe Company

 We've got a little secret for you. If you're looking to put the right foot forward into your next business venture, or you've always wanted to walk a mile in the shoes of great movers and shakers (and just plain stylish men), but never had the funds to do so...now is

This Will Floor You

 “Hi, I’m Shelley Alexanian”… ha ha. Some of you may recognize me from TV as the Alexanian Carpet and Flooring spokesperson. Contrary to popular belief, I am not in fact more than five feet tall. I am a mother of three, proud wife, and I enjoy a healthy style of

John’s Reno Tips Spring Into Reno Season

 Photos courtesy of John Gordon.  As we enter the key renovating season, there are certain trends that are turning up everywhere. Fresh from the Ottawa Home Show, here are a few of John's hip tips. Kitchens and Living Areas Mixed materials in kitchen such as rustic wood beams, stone columns,

Ottawa’s Tulip Festival Kicks Off With a Bang

 All photos by Arizona Lanceleve. The 2016 Tulip Festival kicked off yesterday at Lansdowne Park in a big way. Guests were invited to come see a spectacular bout of fireworks to celebrate the 71st run of Ottawa's famous spring festival. People flocked to the opening festivities last night to see

Ottawa Welcomes the Colourful Alt Hotel to the Nation’s Capital

 You would never guess that the Alt Hotel in Ottawa was having their grand opening Tuesday; dozens of guests were already staying at the hotel and enjoying some of the amenities offered in the café and lounge. In fact, the Alt Hotel Ottawa has been accepting guest for the past

Learning Graphic Design with Butter & Honey

 All photos by Alexandra Gunn. Graphic design is all around us these days – from magazines, product packaging, websites and even social media. You can’t leave your home without seeing and – quite possibly – being influenced by it. In the ever expanding digital world, understanding the principals of graphic

Capital Catwalk Showcases Best of Local Fashion Designers

 All photos by Mireille Sylvester,   Ottawa’s fashion community dressed to the nines to raise money for cancer on January 30. The University of Ottawa branch of HerCampus, an online magazine for university students, hosted its 4th annual Capital Catwalk in support of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. The glitzy

The Best Restaurants in Ottawa

 A dish by Tomo. Photo by Lakyn Marie Felix Photography.  We all know that Ottawans are attracted to great food, and luckily for us, it seems like great food is drawn to us as well. This city is loaded with fantastic places to grab a snack on the go or

A Short History of Jeanne Henry Côté

 Jeanne Henry Côté received her first drawing contract at the age of five. “Someone needed a drawing done by a five year old child. I was free to draw what I wanted, so I drew a turkey in a pan ready to go to the oven.” By the seventh grade, Côté

A Night of Glam and Gourmet at 5IVE5IFTEEN

 All photos by Eric Vance. Many hold to the thought that Ottawa is a tame and quiet town, and on Oct. 15 the organizers of the recent 5IVE5IFTEEN did their best to bring some flair back to the capital. Blackbook Lifestyle, an Ottawa marketing and communications agency, and Arc the Hotel,

Algonquin College is making waves and winning awards

 Cheryl Jensen is making an impact. Jensen became Algonquin College’s eighth President just over one year ago in August, 2014. She brought 31 years of experience as a professor, dean and vice president and a reputation for  creating strategies that responded to both industry trends and to the needs of students, employees,

Kayla Pongrac: Bringing Local Flavour to Life with Art and Design

 Photo credit: Blair Pongrac  When you head to one of Ottawa’s top restaurants, like Ace Mercado on Clarence Street, you go for the experience. It’s not just about the great food, but also the atmosphere, smells and sounds. A lot of thought, planning and passion go into creating that atmosphere

Putting kitchen costs on the chopping block

 Save your kiss for the cook and not for bidding your money goodbye. Staying within budget is one of the most challenging parts of home improvement. Keeping costs in line, while not compromising dream renovation plans, sometimes seems impossible, especially when it comes to the kitchen. Luckily, there are ways

ME Milan Il Duca: Shop, Sightsee, Stay in Milan’s Fashion District

 Planning a trip to Italy but not sure where to stay? You’re in luck because ME by Meliá is opening its first luxury Italian hotel, ME Milan Il Duca, this month. If you are looking for a spectacular location where you can both shop and sightsee, ME Milan Il Duca