Runway to Workway Fashions: Classic Trench

Good Tuesday Morning!

Here is the thing, it is winter, yes in most parts of the world, but we all travel, and even here in Calgary, we get chinook winds and that means +15C within a day going from -20C or so.

Therefore, let us just focus on the most versatile, always needed, perfect classic, elegant TRENCH coat to start the 2013 fashion report;

My very recent purchase (besides the leather sofas) was a Jean Paul Gaultier trench from a store in Calgary, Ooh La La, who's owner Chris is on top as always! She gets the runway pieces and I got myself an amazing piece there (that looks like a futuristic "never gets dirty" fabric, which is great when near my boy all day).

Here is my trench coat:

Here is the model wearing it (very similar version) at JPG runway show:

Promising, I will wear more than a bra underneath...

And here is a tip for a good value purchase of an (almost identical) olive trench from the Outnet, by Gryphon:

And because my leather sofa mania is not out of my head yet, it is an impulse (my apologies) photo sharing with you all here...., this Parisian sofa beauty in leather would make any French style living or family room modern and chic in an instant!

Sometimes too much fabric in our interiors especially with classic style, be it French or Tuscan or English can bring this feeling of "old" upon us and having been recently discovering the "new" styles of leather sofas and chairs myself, it is safe to say, they have drastically evolved and surpassed its' long-suffered banishment into men's dens or libraries only...smiles.

Source: unknown

Source: Hancock & Moore

This other white leather sofa is also named Parisian, its leather is as soft as butter and it snuggles beautifully. I say it because it is the sofa we have now, but in gray hue.

And I just have to share with you this stunning leather covered bench, that blends the history and sleek modernity. It begs the question: "Do I have space for it?"

Source: Hancock & Moore

Hope you all have a fashionable week finding the perfect classic trench and/or sitting on stylish classic upholsteries!
XO, Z

Creating a New Living Room:

We did it. Moved the giant flamingo sofa to our Theatre room and chose a new one for the Living room near our Kitchen:

I fell in love wih this traditional Hancock & Moore "Chanel like" quilted sofa in a perfect Gray shade and the two Scottish wing chairs.

We are so not done!!
Need a coffee table;
Need pillows;
Need a painting;
Need a carpet.

Seriously it is fun.

Looked at some galleries as we want Rockies scenery here...

Which artist is your cup of tea?

1. Graham Shaw:

2. Pei Yang:

3. Jim Vest:

So pretty. Cubistic or impressionist ... Gorgeous. Which artist do you like?

Wishing you a productive start of the week.
XO, Z

Living room sofa, why the dilemma?

This is our living room...

Once again I would love to hear from you and hear your opinions!

The giant 14ft Marge Garson rococo sectional (and the table) is moving into our theatre room downstairs, that will become our relaxing family room and that is a lovely thing.

Now what to do upstairs...? In my mind I was gonna create this softly elegant French inspired living room... Until I run into this gorgeous victorian sofa, but I would select a true soft gray shade of leather.

COMBINATION A: VICTORIAN SOFA, SCOTTISH CHAIR:

I also equally love this practical side chair, which was discovered in an old gentleman's club in England. Especially in this light colored leather and partly soft gray leather combo. So stunning. Never mind the pillows and the coffee table that are just there in the store (Eisenberg Calgary).

Normally I lean towards these types of "easy on the eye" sofas on photos...smiles.

This French modern sofa...below, not bad, by Marge Garson.
Gray it MUST be!

ADDITION TO MY ORIGINAL POST:
I WENT BACK TO THE STORE...AND SAT ON LOTS OF COMFY SOFAS!

FINDING THIS ARGYLE BEAUTY, I admit, this is a very unusual combination for me but I am falling in love with it by the minute, mixing traditional style with modern fabrics and textures and messign with the centuries is jut fine by me...

COMBINATION B: CLASSIC ARGYLE SOFA, SCOTTISH CHAIR:

This beige piece below is more modern sleek or deco ...goes with lots of interiors but I doubt the Scottish chairs would be fine here... and perhaps not the best over all. Quite lovely though...another life, another room ...

Similar in leather, hmmm, not now, not our house.

So why do I love sitting on, looking at the Victorian reproduction piece cir. 1880 now? I don't know but I love it... How do I make it more casual in our living room and more sophisticated and yet casual French style? What is your recommendation here?

Please let me know and send me some photos or sofa makers I should look at! This is a fun process and I love these dilemmas, don't you?
Back to doing puzzle with my little boy!

Hugs Z

P.S. PLEASE TELL ME WHICH OPTION (A or B) is your favourite one? Thank you!

2013 STARTED with fun, happiness and being together.

Happy New Year Everyone!

We have slipped into 2013 as a family enjoying the Rockies and skiing ... Which was fun and made me acknowledge that I have to put efforts into arranging more family trips to unwind and be together.

There is nothing more important nor better than spending time with my husband and my son.

Also, snow was perfect, it was warm and we had a blast, can you tell?

Ok our boy said NO to skis first, but simple explanation that the ski helmet is what soldiers wear...had him sold on skiing down hill and cross country followed...

Hope you all had a loving and happy start of the year too!
XO Z

Time to decorate ... And bake!

Excited yet? We are... Baby Jesus took our son's letter with his present wishes from the window sill and that means a happy Christmas when he rings the bell after supper on December 24! Right?

This is the time we put up our tree (well I should wait until December 24 really!) and bake our Xmas traditional cookies, which mostly all have walnuts in them (chopped, ground... ) to celebrate our favorite fall produce in the Czech Republic.

Our tree is usually eclectic ... Not a theme one, with hand made ornaments (glass, wood or straw).
Like this one...

We have even a high heeled stocking... And some fun ones.

Keeping the decor subtle and nature true ...with only bee wax candles and simple style.

Someone wanted his own tree in his bedroom... Smiles.

Made this vase for our breakfast nook:

And some easy ones for our dining room, starting with empty bowl and basket:

Having time to visit the Heritage Park in Calgary and see the Xmas Train display ...and horse wagon ride.

Also, we made time for our mother-son baking team and made some delicious cookies together! (ate lots too!)

Now, my Czech recipe and my mom's for a wonderful Xmas biscotti is here:

250g icing sugar
250g all-purpose flour
120g chopped walnuts
200g candied orange/ lemon peels
100g dried currants (or raisins)
3 eggs
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Touch of ground cloves and allspice and nutmeg

Mix it all together well, first with a spatula then with our hand, don't over mix, it becomes sticky. And use flour on your hands to shape int 3 equal parts:

Place on buttered and flour dusted baking pan at 325f for about 20-30 min. Do the toothpick test!

Cut into slices while warm or after a day or two, store in a container.
Enjoy!
Happy Holidays!

XO, Z