If you know me at all, you know I'm a fabric nut. Fabric is definitely my favourite ingredient in the decorating tool kit. Today I was trolling Designer's Walk in Toronto. Well, what can I say about Designer's Walk fabric showrooms -- HEAVEN. I couldn't possibly pick a favourite -- they all have something lovely to offer. But today's discovery is a collection called John & Henri's. It's just a single small book of samples I found at the Primavera showroom. What did I love about the fabrics? Absolute simplicity. No embroidery, no ikat, no damask, no toile, no birds, no flowers. Just stripes and checks in very honest classic colourways and pure and simple fibres. Aaaah. Just perfection -- and completely unpretentious. I don't know if you've heard, but unpretentious is tough to find in the design business sometimes. A little digging reveals that the John & Henri's collection comes from a Dutch family textile business -- six generations no less! Visit their site here, plus I've added a few more pics for inspiration below.

Lutyens bench, Restoration Hardware

 Hestercombe gardens, Taunton, Somerset, UKsuper fun red lacquer version!

Oh fickle fickle fickle me. Last post was all about the beauty of simple. But today is another love story. This is my fave thing in Hubs' shop ChairTableLamp currently. Isn't she pretty? All gilded and curlycued and filigreed and fancy pants. She's a beaut! I would cheat on simple for this. Find more yummy stuff from his shop at his little bloggy blog. Hubs is a fresh-baked Mac addict now that he's the proud papa to a spanking new clean white MacBook (again, simple is good), so he's getting going on his web space (with a little help). Do visit here.

Mud Australia

Sometimes you just don't need gilt or filigree, or carving or cabriole. Sometimes, well, quite often actually, simple is best. Simple is good, straightforward honest design that just makes you go, ahhh, perfect. Nothing to hide, not a bell or whistle in sight. It comes down to quality materials and just enough design, but not too much. You might cheat on simple occasionally, but you will always come back. You can't live without simple. Here's my celebration of the best of simple. Do you have any simple faves?

seating for dining, Ilse Crawfordmortar & pestle, Labour & Wait

brush and dustpan, Labour & WaitFarm table, Design Within Reach

Robin Day chairchinos, Gap

carafe, IKEA

notebook, Muji

brogues, J. Crewstapler, Swingline

laundry tote, Muji

Kulla, IKEA

Canadian flag, designed by George F. Stanley and John Matheson

So now, for a moment just scroll back up and check out this pic of them in their Park Avenue place. Please. They kill me with their coolness. Art on every inch of wall, the gilt mirror, the fine furniture, the fresh colours. Hello -- dinosaurs on the table in the foreground! Andy's outfit: schlumpy cords, button-down and blazer, Kate in cheery yellow with retro bracelet sleeves. I have often thought how I would so love to be a guest at a party given by them. It would have the best music, the most interesting guests and a neverending supply of cocktails. And there would surely be dancing until the wee small hours.

To learn more about Kate and Andy and their biz check out this article in New York mag, which I found through my guilty pleasure The Fug Girls blog here.

designer: Cal glamour girl Windsor Smith. photog: Victoria Pearson.

Loves: 1. the table itself is all marble and gilt gorgeosity. 2. the fashion photo - glorious. 3. Orange as an accent colour (but more on that later). 4. the photo composition and lighting are flawless.

Beefs: Styling. 1. jumble of vintage empty bottles - meh. 2. a stack of Hermès boxes screaming at me "Hey, look how rich I am. I've got a bunch of stuff from Hermès!" OK, the colour is fab, but those boxes are the most overworked prop since the chunk of coral. 3. Windsor, why are there riding boots in your master bathroom? huh? I can only think of 2 reasons: either a) you are knocking me over the head again with the Hermès narrative. or b) you and Mr. Smith get up to some shenanigans in your master suite with the wearing of boots. (if so, I don't want to know about it). A styling colleague (and sometime reader of this blog) and I once agreed -- tomatoes and red peppers don't belong in the living room. Likewise, riding boots don't belong in the bathroom.

designer: NYC designing gentleman Eric Cohler. photog: Jonny Valiant

Loves: 1. this console could wipe the floor with the other one -- check out those legs! 2. the art, the art, the art, the art. Um hello, a Picasso etching beside a junk shop sketch. genius. 3. the mini easels. they give great presence to the smaller pieces. 4. The painting leaning on the floor below the table -- nonchalance = confidence. 5. the way the shape of the sculpture echoes the shape of the table legs - sexy. 

Beefs: a blossom or leaf or some speck of nature would be welcome here.

So, the winner IMHO is Eric Cohler's lovely console. I know, it's a shocker, especially since the bloggonet is all quivery over Mrs. Smith. But don't get me wrong, her whole place is wonderful, but in the console styling smack down, I'm going with Cohler for the win. BTW, His place is right up my alley too -- it's all Farrow & Ball and Cole & Son and great legs and layering and collections. Am looking forward to hearing him speak in Toronto this week.

photo: Lillian Bassman via Tatar gallery

And finally, some words of wisdom from the man himself:

sources: 1&3: Veranda. 2: saladinostyle.com

Some days aren't as good as others. This has been one of those not as good ones. When one is surrounded by words like murder, assault, cheating, lies, suicide and sickness, one can sometimes feel the weight of the world -- and the world is heavy. But a taste of Paris and some magnificent cherry blossoms help a little.

source: the cherry blossom girl

So pretty and happy. You can never go wrong with pretty and happy.

...and this is a bedroom. Good morning gorgeous!

Said to my hubs just the other day that I had reached my saturation point on Kelly W coverage, but here I am with the pic of the BG resto at Bergdorfs. Had to.

It's not just the wallcovering, it's the hidden door (have always loved this idea - to conceal a tiny Room of One's Own), and of course the carpet. Fun.

Tom Dixon, meet Fromental. Fromental, meet Tom Dixon.

Another secret door. Handsome.

God knows I love an elephant in design (perhaps bested only by the monkey).

sources: 1-3, 6&7: De Gournay. 4&5: Fromental.