designa italia

found a really nice interior designer today. m* actually gets our weird italian obsession for things luxe and modern. of a very specific slant. of course, it helps that she's from bologna and has actually led a real life in all the coolest places on earth. makes for an easy sell (we're sold!) and a good bit of kaching for her i guess... but it's so exciting to be doing something about the space for real now: enough talking, it's time for doing.

i knew from within the first 5 minutes, she is the One. it's refreshing not to have to explain away the concrete ceilings and exposed vent piping. and no, she did not attempt to suggest we paint over the concrete pillars (gasp!)... yes, that was a true story, another guy did indeed make that blasphemous suggestion. omg, i almost jumped out of my skin - clearly, he was so wrong for us or maybe he just wasn't gay enough...

the engagement process seems deceptively simple, makes me wonder what the hidden punchline might end up being. she came to our place for a quick looksee, took lots of notes and asked lots of questions (also, endured all our opinionated rants). now we're waiting for her contract & estimate and then the fun will begin! she's going to bring to bear all her resources and contacts, which is really our point of using a design professional. in a new city where we know no one, it's good to have someone to just deal with all the contractors and bring us the trade sources, i can't wait to pick out lighting fixtures and get to see what she has in mind.

toronto is so full of surprises. i thought we've covered all the nice furnishing stores worth trawling by now, but she's come up with a few more we never knew existed. ooh, more uber-modern house schtuff... guess we know what we'll be doing this weekend! she has the same aesthetic we do, it's just so refreshing to speak to her. i hope we're going to make the budget work, it's very dangerous to let us loose in her company...

speaking of shopping, went to check out our local haunt last weekend. saw a wonderful pair just meant to live together but alas the stars didn't align. it was the tacchini meniscus coffee table AND moon chair all in sleek black - on sale! crazy priced though even after discount, but oh it was tempting. still, it was probably the right thing to do because after our paint color discussion with m* it's better to wait till we decide on the paint. oh well, the wallet survives for another day...