News — English

Every Canadian city has its Cottage Country – rustic homes away from the pace of everyday life where families go to reconnect with nature and one another. In Montreal it’s the Laurentians, a series of gentle mountains and clear lakes an hour’s drive from the city. For Diane and her family, the Laurentians were the weekend destination of choice for many years before they decided to buy land and build their own family retreat overlooking the Saint Sauveur valley. “I used to come here as a child,” remembers Diane. “Then when my kids learned to ski, it became a very...

Confession: I’m a travel writer by profession, but when I’m on a trip, however exciting it is, there always comes a point when I’m counting down the days to returning home. I’ve invested so much time and energy into creating a space that feeds my soul that I can think of nothing better than enjoying it without interruption. And besides, whenever I take off, I miss my dog. I’m pretty sure other people feel this way too. I stumbled upon an article recently that responded to a study saying the biggest pleasure of a vacation is the anticipation, not the...

There’s nothing more sincere than being given a gift that is handmade—the time spent creating the work, the patience to perfect each line—each fine detail makes the piece feel special and no two are alike. Unique, authentic and enriched: these are the words that we use to describe the handmade designs we love.   This Mother’s Day we want to help inspire you to create beautiful handcrafted gifts and make your home a place where you can express your individual creativity and panache for personal design and decor. What better way to show the mother in your life (or mother...

Here’s something to try the next time you walk into your living room: Looking at everything without thinking about it in words. Can you observe without judging? Can you see everything as it really is — the parts you love and the parts you don't? Mindfulness is the practice of being present, being aware, being focused and intentional in everything we do in our lives, right down to the simplest and most mundane tasks and sensations. The term has been on our lips a lot in recent years, as people living in the West find refuge from their hectic and...

In a world of mass production and copy-cats it’s not easy to offer authenticity and originality. Providing unique products that have been crafted by hand and carry a piece of history is no simple task. It takes dedication, commitment, passion and a true love for what you do. For Eyal Shoam, the co-owner of Artemano, delivering ambiances that are filled with objects and items that embody the spirit of the countries they come from, is a must. Eyal who is avidly involved in the sourcing, creation and design of the brand, says that doing “the research, studying and understanding the...