Condobox Wishlist!

Its that time of year. 

Tinsel and lights glisten in shop windows as the city pulses with shoppers searching for the perfect gift. For me, the perfect gift is something a little indulgent – something I wouldn’t necessarily purchase for myself - yet is still functional and beneficial enough to keep in my small condo. 

And while I appreciate the gesture,

knick-knack just leave me with extra clutter and I can only digest so much holiday cooking.

I have created a wish list, from the Condobox showroom, of items that will both dazzle and awe the individuals on your shopping list. These items are a little indulgent and yet practical - making them the perfect gifts.

***

Design Consultation with a CX Designer.

Who wouldn’t benefit from space planning, a color consultation, or an interior design makeover?

I would be head over heels in love with someone who gave me the gift of a design consultation with a CX designer. You can purchase a set number of hours (i.e. 3 hrs for space planning or color consultation) or, you can purchase a CX Package, which includes interior design services and furniture for a condo and begin at 15K.

Drink Dispenser

A drink dispenser. This is such a helpful item to have for Christmas parties and family gatherings. It’s also a great gift idea.

 $275

Fireplace

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping on your nose…”

Sipping tea, watching the snow fall, and cuddling in front of the fire is a wonderful way to spend an evening. Our Eco-Feu fireplaces are also great gifts to the environment as they burn clean, ethanol fuel.

$1100

Decorative Pillows.

 

I love decorating my bed and couch with pillows. I can’t seem to have enough – and I particularly love Alexandra Ferguson’s witty and stylish cushions. We have a huge bin of cushions on sale in our showroom at the moment – making this the perfect gift for the shopper on a budget.

$30-60 each (reg. $60-120 each).

Table Lamps.

The city is in search for more light during the winter months. Condobox’s lamps are functional gifts that boast special and unique touches.

Prices vary depending on style.

A Nemo vase/fish tank.

This is just one of those really unique pieces. If you fill it with fish, it’s sure to start conversations!

$125

Tis' the Season to Party!

The city is glowing and buzzing! I was at the Distillery District on the weekend and couldn’t help but notice the massive Christmas tree that they were decorating and the beautiful strings of lights adorning the cobblestone streets. 

The city’s annual event, Cavalcade of Lights, also just took place – stirring up some more of that holiday magic in the city.

At Condobox, our Christmas tree is glowing and we are excited to celebrate the season on December the 15^th at the Parlor Room with exciting cocktails, hors d'oeurves and a silent auction benefiting the: 

Open Box Foundation.

                                         

The Open Box Foundation is our way of giving back and supporting our community. By working with clients to refurnish and design their homes, we noticed that many could not decide what to do with their older, yet barely used,  furniture. It seemed a hassle to post it online or transport the donation. Joanna, the CEO and Founder of Condobox found an opportunity to help them and to help our community and this gave rise to our Open Box Foundation.

The process best described would be when we go to our clients homes to set up their new furnishings we then take their old furniture and send it to our storage facility. This furniture is then donated, along with our interior design services and the cost of delivery and transportation, to those people we are working with through Toronto Community Housing. Our clients, who donated their furniture, then receive a credit to our showroom - which they can use towards their new pieces of furniture.

It's a great way for us all to help each other.

Please RSVP to info@condobox.ca if  you are interested in joining us on December 15th and finding out more about our charity. 

Happy holidays everyone! 

Retreat | finding warmth in furniture

The leaves are dropping from the trees, the air is getting brisk, and I am finding myself spending more and more time indoors. Cultivating warmth is important to me during this time of year. I drink more tea, wear heavier clothes, eat more soup – and I tend to become rather nostalgic. I grew up in the country and like to remember the charm and simplicity it has to offer – the mountains of untouched, soft snow, rosy cheeks, and log cabins.

I remember the countryside for its rustic nature, its simplicity, and its charm.

Furniture and interior spaces can also stoke up these feelings. In our showroom at the moment, we have some very unique side-tables. Made primarily of wood and just like trees found in nature, each piece is slightly different and special. They have an aura of warmth and charm.

The sidetable reminds me of a beautiful tree trunk - yet the polished finish and the rhythmic crevices add sophistication to its rustic nature.

This piece has a really lovely lightness to it.

The wood grain is very soft and polished. It has a humble presence.

I love the little bow-tie images on the top of this sidetable. To me, they look like little butterflies! The grain of this wood is also very interesting - the play with light and dark coloring makes it appear very fluid.

We Care

We care about our Community. We care about our Earth.

 We strive for sustainability at Condobox.

Working with and supporting our community.

We care about our community. Last week, Devon and I (Bronwyn) attended the Paradigm Shift Project’s (PSP) fundraiser (http://www.theparadigmshiftproject.org). We donated a $700.00 package composed of 3 hours of interior design work + a $300 gift certificate for our showroom. The PSP is a really amazing organization that creates documentary films about global issues. These films create awareness as well as give local non-profits educational and fundraising tools to reach new donors. At the fundraiser, Devon and I had the opportunity to meet the Executive Director of the PSP and filmmaker, Rebecca Sweetman. She was very inspiring. It was so nice to be able to support such a wonderful organization.

We are also excited to be donating to the United Way’s Rouge fundraiser (www.unitedwaytoronto.com/rouge) and The Young People’s Theatre Hullabaloo fundraiser (http://youngpeoplestheatre.ca). Come out and support these great organizations with us!

                         But did you hear…. Condobox also has its own Charity – Open Box.

We are very excited to launch our Open Box charity!

Here’s how it works:

From our customers, we purchase new and gently used furniture and give them CX dollars in return. We then donate the furniture, interior design time, and the cost of delivery to those in need. It’s a really amazing way to give back and to recycle furniture.

If you would like to donate furniture or cash to our foundation – please let us know.


Not only do we support our community and work with local artisans, but we order 80% of our products from high-quality Canadian companies. Currently, in our showroom, we have som eunique and environmentally sustainable pieces such as the Eco-Feu fireplace that burns clean ethanol fuel and a beautiful recycled barnwood table (see pictures below).

meet a CX designer...

Meet a Condobox Designer!

Name: Jamie Sadjak

Age: 24

Born: England 

Inspiration: all things

'Orbit Coffee Table' by Jamie Sadjak
Come see this beautiful piece in our showroom!

Design and creative subjects have always been my passion.

Tell me a bit about your experience as a designer:

My experience as a designer includes formal training at Nottingham Trent University in England where I spent four years studying furniture and product design. Outside of this, I have also worked on many different design projects from mass market designs to bespoke projects. The process of creating, communicating, and producing objects is very satisfying and I am excited to continue my career.

What’s your big dream?

I have always dreamed of producing my own range of furniture, using my own mandate of what good design is meant to be as the inspiration.

What sets your work apart?

The balance between production, art and the environment is very important in my work. I attempt to use eco-friendly manufacture processes, such as steam bending. Additionally, I try to reduce the impact of my furniture on the environment by using sustainably sourced materials and by designing my pieces so that they can be reduced in size and therefore packaged as small possible for transportation - cutting down carbon emissions. Most of all I try and make my furniture high quality, long lasting, beautiful and unique.

Why do you love being a CX designer?

I like working in a setting where I can be creative and help people envision and achieve their design dreams.

Lights

   

Warmth / Ambience / Light

Lighting is important. Studies show that the quality of light affects people in different ways such as productivity and emotional wellbeing. Consider, for example, the difference between bright white halogen lighting in conference rooms and warm, soft lighting in reading rooms. Personally, the bright white exposed lighting in large department stores and conference spaces make me feel agitated and give me a headache – not the way I want to feel in my home!

^ I love the ovular base and the rustic gold colour of the lampshade. 

When I came into work today, I was pleasantly greeted by these beautiful new lamps. Joanna picked these lamps out while she was at the New York Gift Show back in August and they arrived earlier this week. They glow soft and warm. With unique touches to the base and lamp shades, they also add ambience to your home as pieces of artwork in their own right.

^ Light reflects on the base of these lamps dynamically because of their texture - adding sparkle and ambience to your space. 

products that we love / products that our customers love

Products that we love

Products that our customers love

When selecting furniture to fill our showroom and our clients homes, it is important to us to have products that will last, that fit into the aesthetics and the physical space of the condo, and that are unique, interesting, and reflect current design trends. This week I have decided to pick out a few pieces from our showroom that are loved by the Condobox team and, most importantly, our customers.

Amelie Sofa

comfortable + high quality

The Amelie Sofa can be configured into many shapes and sizes to best meet the needs of your space. It comes in a loveseat, chair, chaise, and sectional with options to add a sofa bed or storage. Available in a variety of fabrics, the Amelie Sofa bed is truly made just for our clients.

Why do we love it? Made with-high density foam and a solid wood frame, the Amelie Sofa is more than just a beautiful sofa – it is a sofa that will withstand dinner parties, children that like to jump on furniture, and hours of cuddling up in your favorite corner of the sofa with a blanket and a cup of tea.

What does high-density foam mean? Remember that time when you sat down on what appeared to be a comfy looking chair—but you sunk through the cushion and could feel the metal or wooden supports? …ouch!

This is what happens when a couch or chair is not made with high-density foam – after a year or two the cushion begins to lose its structure and firmness. All of our pieces at Condobox are made with high-density foam—ensuring that our clients are purchasing comfort that will last.

Eco-Feu  Bioethanol fireplaces

ambience + kind to the earth

With the winter months just around the corner, the addition of an Eco-Feu fireplace to your home is a great way create ambience and feelings of warmth and relaxation. Many different finishes and designs are available. For more information please visit: www.eco-feu.com and gives us a call at Condobox to order your Eco-Feu firplace.

Why do we love it? It can easily be mounted onto your wall and the flame burns clean without odor or smoke.

Riechman Wall Bed

multifunctional + comfortable

The Riechman Wall Bed, commonly known as a ‘Murphy Bed,’ is a great option for condo owners wishing to convert a room into a multifunctional space or for guest rooms. Unlike a sofa bed or daybed, the wall bed takes a standard mattress, making it a great alternative and comfortable solution for a full-time bed. The Riechman also comes in a variety of finishes to ensure that it will suit your space.

Why do we love it? Custom-made desks and cabinets can be built around your wall bed in a matching finish so that when the bed is up, it can function as an office space or library.

Twist Coffee Table

unique + airy

The Twist Coffee Table is a custom design by Condobox and is made locally, in Toronto. It comes in a variety of finishes and sizes, and like most of our pieces, can be customized to meet your specifications.

Why do we love it? The glass top makes the piece light and airy – perfect for a small space. The undulating wood base also makes the piece unique, special, and sophisticated.

the transformation of our showroom / part 3

[the bedroom]

What is more important than a good night sleep? 

Clean surfaces, simple lines, and a tidy environment enhance your ability to relax, to unwind, and to soften into a deep sleep.

Condo-sized bedrooms offer an interesting design challenge. It is important to have enough storage space to house your clothing and your accessories without feeling overwhelmed or congested. This fall, our showroom bedroom will be both functional and relaxing as well as display some of the latest design trends.

< the peacock feather is one of our colour  inspirations for our fall/winter look.

[nicole bed]

The biggest feature of the bedroom is, of course, the bed. We have decided to display our Nicole Bed. The Nicole is one of our custom design furniture pieces, providing functional storage space for small spaces with deep drawers that hold enough room for linens, extra bedding or clothing. As the Nicole is a custom piece, our clients can customize the finish, the headboard, the size of the bed, and can have customized nightstands or drawers made to match. Endless possibilities! For our showroom, we will have the Nicole bed done in a soft grey lacquer with violet undertones and with a pin-tufted headboard.

	So what happens when we create a custom piece for you – and love it so much that we bring it into the store to sell? We call it after you! The Nicole bed is named after Nicole, a client who owns the original bed design.

[the walls]

To add some more interest to the bedroom walls, we have been considering incorporating decorative moulding. Moulding will add depth and sophistication to the space. The walls will be painted in a light, earthly olive colour to accent the bed and be in keeping with our rustic theme with feminine undertones.

< this is the beautiful duvet cover that will be featured on our Nicole bed. Also notice the decorative moulding on the walls - a great way to add elegance to your bedroom.

[accessories]

Accessories are also important. On the bed, we will feature a soft and airy duvet to accent the colour palette of the room (see picture below). Side tables, customized storage, artwork and wall scones will add utility and atmosphere to the bedroom. Below are some of the accessories we have featured in the past.

< these wall scones are actually on sale at the moment - part of our 50% off floor model sale. We need to sell them to make room for our new scones. 

Artwork is great for adding some interest to the walls and setting a mood. This original oil painting is done by one of our local artists, Bronwyn (bronwynloucks.wordpress.com).

Custom-made shelving units are great way to maximize storage space within a small area.

the transformation of our showroom / part 2

[making space]

In order to fill our showroom with new products this fall, we need to make space. With this in mind, last week we began a huge floor model sale selling our furniture and accessories at 50% off. Products are moving quickly – and new products are arriving just as quickly!

Domitalia is an Italian made company known for its clear-cut design, high quality, and comfortable products. We carry a number of their products and have selected a few to display in our showroom this fall. Life, for example, is a beautiful walnut veneer dining table designed by Domitalia. It is an extendable dining table which makes it perfect for family gatherings. The walnut finish generates feelings of warmth, bringing us back to feelings of harvest season and thanksgiving dinners.

While at the New York Gift show in August, Joanna saw a number of pieces of artwork that she ordered from Leftbank art. They arrived last week in our showroom and Devon and I were eager to see the work for ourselves.  While it is not original work, the pieces are textured and from a distance they look like soft, multi-layered encaustic paintings.  The horse painting below, reminds me of a still from an old black and white film mixing feelings of nostalgia with romanticism.

the transformation of our showroom / part 1

[a change of season]

Fall and winter are a time for reflection, comfort and warmth. A time where we spend more of our day indoors – cuddled up in cozy blankets, enjoying the heat of a blazing fire, and entertaining loved ones.

Here at Condobox, the change of season also signifies the transformation of our showroom. Twice a year our 600sq foot model suit is remodeled to demonstrate what one of our Condbox Packages could look like, to illustrate current design trends and to showcase some of our best selling pieces.

[the inspiration]

homey / simple / sustainable products / calming / relaxing / back to our roots

Back in August, Joanna Kakkavas, the principal and founder of Condobox, was inspired by the rustic industrial trend with a soft and feminine feel that was featured at the New York Gift show. This fall and winter our showroom will reflect this trend. We want to create a space that evokes and cultivates feelings of calm, warmth and simplicity.

^some of the photos that Joanna took at the New York Gift show

Inspiration can also be found when you least expect it - and as we were discussing the remodeling of our space, the cover of a Benjamin Moore paint catalogue with a peacock feather on it caught our attention. The rich and vibrant indigo's and blues of the feather in combination with earthy olive and taupe tones transposed themselves into our colour palette.

With a colour palette to guide us, our next steps are to choose fabrics, furniture and décor that both relate to this palette as well as cultivate the emotional response we are striving for within our space.

The evolution of our showroom will be documented on our blog.

I invite you

to visit our blog regularly and track the progress of our model suite. To gain an insiders perspective of how a condominium is both designed and furnished and a glimpse into the world of interior design here, at Condobox.