With spring just around the corner, indoor flower arrangements are an ideal way to bring new colourful décor into your home.  We especially love this antique mercury glass vase decoration full of unique charm and style.  Follow the tutorial below to make your own!

Materials:

• Various glass containers (must be glass, great ideas are mason jars, old milk bottle, ridged flower vase, candle holder, etc.)
• Spray bottle
• Water
• White vinegar
• Krylon looking glass spray
• Paper towels
• Newspaper or other protective covering

1. Cover area outside (or in an extremely well ventilated area) with newsprint or other protective covering — grocery bags will also do.

2. Thoroughly clean and dry all glass pieces you’ll be working with — you want to make sure the glass is clean in order for the spray to fully do it’s thing. Fill a spray bottle with 1 part water to 1 part white vinegar and shake to combine. Set nozzle of spray bottle to its finest mist setting.

3. Now, onto the real fun!  Gently spray a fine mist of vinegar/water on the outside of your glass container; you are looking for small droplets of water that bead up and do not run.

4. Follow up the water/vinegar spray almost immediately with a gentle and even layer of the metallic spray.  Allow it to dry for just a minute and apply another fine mist of water/vinegar solution — then let them sit.

5. Allow to dry for about 2 minutes, then gently blot the beads of water/vinegar with your paper towel — they should lift off areas of the mirror spray in a varied pattern. Don’t rub very hard as the metallic finish will streak, though you can apply gentle pressure in various places to achieve a more realistic and varied mercury glass look. Don’t worry that the glass is still see-through at this point, since you’ll be doing several thin layers to build up the look over time.

6. Just repeat the same process over and over, rotating between resting your glass container on its base versus its top so you get full coverage. 3-4 coats will suffice.  You want to go with several thin and even layers of the spray to avoid runniness and splotching. Keep adding layers until you are happy with the overall look and feel of your containers.  You’re done!  Before bringing it inside, allow to dry for at least 3 hours!  This allows it to set and seal.

This tutorial doesn’t just apply to vases though!  Follow the same steps listed above for any of the items below.  They’ll all make for great decorations too!

• Candy Jars 
• Furniture knobs
• Pillar candle holders
• Table or pendant lamps
• Glass holiday ornaments
• Colored glass votives or bottles
• Glass desk caddy or pen holder
• A serving tray or tray that holds candles
• An antique window with the panes sprayed as a mirror

Source:

http://www.17apart.com/2012/05/how-to-diy-antiqued-mercury-mirror.html

Image c/o http://www.punchbowl.com/p/winter-party-themes

The holiday season has come to an end, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun in different ways this winter! Here are several party themes, perfect for a friend or family get-together.

A gingerbread house party: Gingerbread houses make great desserts. Why not gather your friends and enjoy a casual evening with good conversation and delicious food, all the while getting your hands dirty to create the perfect gingerbread house!

Winter cocktail party: Why not host an elegant cocktail party? Shades of white and silver make for a stylish setting in the middle of winter. Choose white and silver tones to turn your home into an elegant winter wonderland cocktail party!

Winter sports party: For those of you who enjoy the snow, why not organize a sports-themed gathering? Whether it’s a sledding expedition, a skiing trip or a snowman making competition, bundle up and get active!

Beach party: Sure, it’s the dead of winter – all the more reason to throw a summer themed party in your home! Bring out the beach ball, fake palm trees and sea shells to decorate your home. Think of serving beach party foods like burgers and ice cream.

Comfort foods party: Sometimes, the best way to enjoy the cold weather is with comfort foods. Host a potluck where guests bring items such as: macaroni and cheese, chicken pot pie, mashed potatoes, cupcakes, soups or whatever else they would like to indulge in!

Have any more winter party ideas? Let us know!

Sources:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/the-party-need-not-stop-continuing-wintry-festivities-in-the-new-year-181869

http://www.statutoryholidays.com/

http://www.punchbowl.com/p/winter-party-themes

With the holidays in full swing, it’s easy to get wrapped up in all the holiday cheer by eating one too many treats and sipping countless cups of eggnog lattes. Granted, it is the holidays, and New Years is just around the corner, which we all know is the perfect time to kick all your bad eating habits into shape. But, what if you could detoxify right now, just a little, and not feel guilty about all those candy canes you’ve been munching on? 

Image c/o hipurbangirl

Pop-Up shop (open until January), The Detox Market, located at King and Spadina is a toxin free boutique specializing in natural and organic products. What’s nice about The Detox Market is that you don’t have to worry about spending hours at the shop sniffing and sampling 30 different lotions. Founders, Valerie Grandury and Romain Gaillard, wanted to make sure their store only carried the best of the best, so you can be confident that the product you select is certified organic, and is good for yourself and the environment.

Image c/o hipurbangirl

Carrying a range of products that will make you feel good, The Detox Market houses hair and skincare products, as well as tea and chocolate. The majority of the lines are exclusive to The Detox market and come from far off places. From France, you’ll find triple-milled Pure Provence soaps (scented in Pomegranate and Cranberry Acai) and fragrances by Honoré des Prés that come straight from Paris.

Image c/o rubyorganicsblog

Hailing from Finland, KIDE is a pure mineral foundation that contains vitamins and antioxidants that are healthy and safe to use on your skin. KIDE is also known to protect your skin from premature aging- a definite plus in our books.

Image c/o beautylish

Known for its fabulous colours, Kusmi Tea is made with the highest quality tea leaves. What’s special about this fun tea is that their blends have been created using the same recipe for over 140 years. Labeled with fun and funky names such as Sweet Love and Be Cool, Kusmi Tea makes for a great Christmas gift.

Image c/o ilovetoronto

Located at 367 King Street West, The Detox Market is open daily from 11AM-7PM. Make sure you visit before the New Year as this location is only a pop up shop!

Sources:

http://www.thedetoxmarket.com/

http://www.postcity.com/Eat-Shop-Do/Shop/September-2012/The-Detox-Market-an-all-in-one-eco-friendly-shop-pops-up-on-King-St/

http://www.hipurbangirl.com/2012/09/hip-urban-store-detox-market.html

Since our last update, Charlie has made quite a bit of progress. Most notably, it looks like cladding is finally complete on all 36 storeys! Check out our latest images.

Charlie from the future site of the King Charlotte. Image c/o A. Wood, Axon Capital Realty Advisors ©

At street level from the corner of Charlotte and King Streets. Image c/o A. Wood, Axon Capital Realty Advisors ©

And looking up from the same intersection. Image c/o A. Wood, Axon Capital Realty Advisors ©

Charlie is defined by high style. Designed by Diamond + Schmitt Architects, Charlie features contemporary clear glass and heritage brick, in honour of the historic neighbourhood it is located in. Inside, Charlie is just as stylish and innovative, with the interior design by Cecconi Simone. Suites feature 9’ ceilings, wood flooring, modern kitchens, and beautiful washrooms.

Charlie also hosts numerous amenities that centre on the purpose of enabling residents to have a good time. They include things like a pool with a BBQ and seating, a state of the art fitness centre, a stylish lounge, and a games room.

If you would like more information on Charlie, please feel free to contact us at (416) 929-1660 or email us at resupport@axoncapitalrealty.com. We would be happy to help you find the condo you’ve been dreaming of!

Renderings of Charlie, designed by Diamond + Schmitt Architects. Image c/o dsai.ca

Developers of condominium projects get a lot of attention these days, but what about the architects behind all the stunning designs? The comparable lack of focus on the architects is why we’ve decided to take a closer look at the firm in charge of architectural design for Charlie, Diamond + Schmitt Architects.

Diamond + Schmitt Architects was established in 1975 and, today, it is one of Canada’s leading full-service architectural firms. Over the years, it has gained national as well as international recognition for its innovation and design excellence.

The firm’s projects are not limited to Canada. It serves clients throughout North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Likewise, the firm is not limited to multi-unit residential building. In fact, its portfolio includes many cultural, academic, and commercial buildings as well. 

Since 2004, it is the only Canadian architecture firm to be named among Canada’s “50 Best Managed companies.” This is due in part to the firm’s commitment to a collaborative workplace. They operate like a studio would, with different teams working on projects from beginning to end. This instils a sense of ownership and coherence in the work.

The firm offers a large array of services in addition to architectural ones. These include things like feasibility studies, interior design, and master planning & urban design.

The Charlie project was led by David Dow, a Scottish architect who joined Diamond + Schmitt in 1999. He has also taken a leading role on other projects such as Bridgepoint Hospital, the Sick Kids Research and Learning Tower, and Paintbox condominiums. 

If Charlie seems like the right condo for you, please feel free to contact us for more information. Reach us at (416) 929-1660 or email us at resupport@axoncapitalrealty.com. We would be happy to help you find the perfect condo!

Sources:

http://www.dsai.ca/

http://twitter.com/DiamondSchmitt

Hey folks,

I just got back from attending a tour of the penthouses still under construction at Charlie and I have to say, I liked what I saw. I also got the latest V.I.P. Broker pricing updates for all units at Charlie straight from the developer. Stay tuned for pictures from my tour, but for now, here’s a breakdown of some of the pricing, suite, and building features for your reference.

*NOTE: I did not receive a price list for the penthouse suites still under construction, but these units start at $2,000,000 and are still available.

Parking and Lockers

$38,000 per parking space. Parking is available for all 2 Bedroom Suites, 2 Bedroom +Den suites and Denim Suites from floor 9-35.

$3,500 per locker.

Suite Features

Luxurious finishes include a choice of pre-finished engineered wood flooring in living/dining areas, foyer and kitchen. Porcelain floor tiles in the bathroom. Stunning contemporary kitchen cabinetry designed by internationally renowned interior design firm Cecconi Simone. Choice of granite or solid surface countertops. Stainless steel appliances including frost free refrigerator, self cleaning range, built-in dishwasher and microwave. Stacked brand name washer and dryer.

Building Features

Charlie is a dramatic 36-storey building featuring an elegant lobby designed by Cecconi Simone with 24/7 concierge service. “The Zone” ont he 7th floor will include fitness and weight rooms, aerobic/yoga studio, co-ed steam room, his and hers change rooms, media lounge, catering kitchen with dining room, billiard room/lounge, library and poolside lounge. This floor opens onto a spectacular fully landscaped rooftop garden which will include an outdoor pool and seating areas.

Occupancy is slated for August 15, 2012. If you’re interested in purchasing a unit at these V.I.P. broker special prices, call me, Kaive Wong, today at (416) 929-1660. I can also be reached via email at resupport@axoncapitalrealty.com. I’d be happy to help you choose your dream unit!