It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

This week I decorated a Christmas tree in the Lobby of the Sutton Place Hotel, for a very worthwhile fundraising initiative benefiting Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. Canuck Place is a story of courage and vision and offers a continuum of care to over 350 children and teens with life-threatening illnesses and their families throughout British Columbia. I am very honored to be a small part of making a difference in the lives of these children and teens. The trees (9 in all) will be on show in the Lobby of the Sutton Place Hotel through January 2, 2009.

It all started in August of this year when I teamed up with my buddy and fellow Interior Designer, Linda Sale, to collaborate in the decorating of this tree. What happens when two creative minds, and two 'Type A' personalities come together? 

We decided to make the decorations, with the theme being 'Home for the Holidays', represented by Children of the World made of gingerbread, dressed in their native costumes and holding the flag of their Country. Our first batch of gingerbread in September crumbled and we then tried a Martha Stewart recipe and it was a success.  The holes to hang the gingerbread were formed with a straw and we put an egg white glaze on the cookies.  After they were baked they were cured in a 200 degree oven for hours. That Sunday we were well under way with 7 dozen cookies prepared. We then spent the next three months creating costumes and the flags for these little treasures, as well as Jerseys for the entire Canuck team. (Insider Scoop: 7 of the Canucks are currently living at the Sutton Place Hotel, so if you are a fan, you might by chance see one of them walking through the Lobby as we did the day we were decorating the tree.)

 

Before decorating - Linda & me                                   After decorating

  

 

  

The presents were wrapped with the greatest of care....

  

Canuck Jerseys were hand made to hang on the tree.....                           

 

   

   

Opening night and the unveiling of the tree.......

  
Alexa, Linda & I standing in front of the decorated tree

    
                                                                         My nephew Sean

  
Fellow Blogger Maria Killam, who I officially met for the first time that evening

                                                                                  Interior Designer Colleen Jamieson

Every vote for the best tree costs $5.00 and all proceeds go to Canuck Place so if you are downtown, be sure to drop in and place your vote!
Or go on-line to get your ballot.......we are tree #3.

 

Patricia Gray writes about emerging trends, her inspirations, and "What's HOT" in the world of Design. 
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My Favourite Curves

My favourite curved backyard.............

 

My favourite curved staircase

 

My favourite curved chair

My favourite curved ceiling detail

My favourite curved Banquette

My favourite curved mirror

 

My favourite curved headboard

My favourite curved sofa

My favourite curved back dining room chairs

My favourite curved fireplace sculpture

My favourite curved driveway

My favourite curved garden

 

 

My favourite curved bench by Qerat 
The "C" bench natural wenge and linen

 

PATRICIA GRAY INC is an award winning interior design firm writing about lifestyle and
WHAT'S HOT in the world of interior design, architecture, art and travel.
2011 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing all my American friends a Happy Thanksgiving

Patricia Gray writes about Interior Design inspirations, emerging trends, and the world of Design. 
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What's Hot - McGuire Furniture

 
Classic McGuire Circa 1973

McGuire Furniture is celebrating it's 60th Birthday and they have just introduced a new collection of furniture for the Kitchen.  For those of you who aren't familiar with this Company, it was founded in 1948 in San Francisco by John and Elinor McGuire. When I was in Design School I will never forget rendering McGuire's glass topped octagonal black bamboo table surrounded by Cane chairs.  You can never go wrong with purchasing McGuire.  It is a time tested and proven classic, as I am sure their new Kitchen Series will be, for generations to come. 

McGuire glass topped Octagonal Black Bamboo Table Circa 1985 

New Kitchen line Circa 2008

Slatted Chair in Walnut or Oak                                        Danish Chair 

 

Woven shelter chair or barstool                       

Walnut Swivel Counter Stool

Chaparral Table                                                                 Heritage Table

PATRICIA GRAY INC is an award winning interior design firm writing about lifestyle and
WHAT'S HOT in the world of interior design, architecture, art and travel.
2011 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

While you're here, subscribe to this feed so you don't miss out.

Santa Baby - Get a Head Start on Christmas

Good Books Make Great Gifts

A brand new book is slated to hit the bookstores just in time for Christmas - The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging
with a Section titled: THE BLOG REVOLUTION IS HERE! (but we know that already)

 
This book refers to Blogging as "the advent of a new form of human communication - one that is more
interactive, more democratic, and just more FUN than what has come before."  But we all know that 
Blogging and Blog Surfing is  fast, interactive, and totally cool.....and I will add that it is also extremely
informative.  News, Ideas and inspirations take mere seconds to share. And to prove that Blogging travels
at the speed of lightening Liberty Post has also just talked about this book on her Blog.

 

Patricia Gray writes about Interior Design inspirations, emerging trends, and the world of Design. 
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Leonard Cohen in Vancouver

 

I got an invitation this week for an exclusive showing of the artwork of the  legendary Canadian singer Leonard Cohen.  I did not know that Leonard Cohen was also an artist, and when I viewed his artwork I discovered that he draws and paints in the same poetic way as he sings. I quite like his bold, free, and graphic approach, and his wit certainly does shines through. For those of you who haven't heard of him, his first album - Songs of Leonard Cohen was released in 1967 with songs like: “Suzanne,” “Sisters of Mercy,” “So Long, Marianne” and “Hey, That’s No Way to Say Good Bye,” all now longstanding classics.  You can listen to a YouTube of his song "Suzanne" here. I remember this particular song from my teen years and wanting to learn to play the guitar and sing other songs of the time like Mockingbird by Carly Simon and James Taylor. (Yikes I'm dating myself)

Leonard's son, Adam Cohen, a renowned musician in his own right will launch the exhibition and sale of the 37 pieces that make up “Leonard Cohen: Artworks,” starting Dec. 3rd until Dec. 31 at LINDA LANDO FINE ART.

Full Press Release here

http://www.lindalandofineart.com/

Patricia Gray writes about Interior Design inspirations, emerging trends, and the world of Design. 
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Today I am Loving....

This beautiful and classic wall sconce designed by John Saladino.

 

The Soho wall-mounted fireplace that uses natural gas or propane. It measures
33" h by 33" w by a mere 12" deep, which has to be one of the shallowest fireboxes
on the market. I would Install it on a wall, just like a piece of modern art. It has a brushed
nickel front.

Miele's new Clean Touch Steel finish which protects against smudges and scratches with a
thin layer of glass coating the stainless steel. It debuts in December on G series
dishwashers. www.miele.com.  Now that is some cutting edge technology that
will be appreciated!

Patricia Gray writes about Interior Design inspirations, emerging trends, and the world of Design. 
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