Remodelista

Photographer and graphic designer Christine Flynn applied her designer’s eye to home decor and furnishings when she opened Love the Design in the Lakeville area of Toronto. A quick glance around the shop (the motto is "where design is art") demonstrates a keen talent for mixing and matching with a dash of the unexpected.

Photography via Love the Design, unless otherwise noted.

Above: Flynn's finds are a combination of upcycled vintage and modern industrial.

Above: Flynn often applies a layer of graphics to her vintage finds.

Above: Flynn is an award winning photographer and sells her distinctive resin-coated glossy photographs in the shop.

Above: Handmade mica rich vases sit on an an old wooden door, which has been turned into a table.

Above: Flynn has upcycled the chair with a signature graphic photographic collage.

Above: The collage on the entrance wall of the shop displays Flynn's predilection for mixing letters and bold graphics (the wallpaper is comprised of book pages; it took Flynn 30 hours to assemble and paste the pages into place).

Above: Vintage galvanized metal planters add to the collage on the entrance wall.

Above: A vintage drafting stool with a few vestigial graphics. Photograph by Rebecca Wood.

Above: The grass carpet was rolled out at a recent celebration of Love the Design's first birthday.

Rescued from the tide, a former general store in rural Maine is reborn as a modern summer cottage.

When Fiona Hooper first set foot in the dilapidated general-store-turned-cottage, she fell in love with the view. Where Harbor Cottage is set—right against the bay in Martinsville, Maine—the high tide literally laps at the porch, which also caused the basement to flood. Fiona staved off the tide with some initial improvements. But when it came time for a total interior overhaul, she called on architect Sheila Narusawa (a member of the Remodelista Architect and Designer Directory) to set things right. With the addition of painted ship lap and many more windows, Narusawa brought Harbor Cottage into the 21th century, while paying homage to its history and heritage.

All construction at Harbor Cottage was carried out by Harbor Builders. For rental information, go to Habor Cottage Maine. To see more photos, go to Design Skool.

Photography by Justine Hand.

Above: A silkscreen print by British artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham hangs above a sideboard featuring stones from Fiona's three continents: Maine, Plettenberg Bay in South Africa, and Dungeness in the UK.

Above: A view of the living room; Narusawa added double-hung windows to take in the view of the bay as it wraps around the point.

Above: Red and blue privet berries are dotted throughout the house.

Above: White paint on the walls and ceilings throughout the home creates a sense of seamless interiors. Fiona recovered the sofa in antique French linen from Marston House.

Above: A long table doubles as a desk, with spectacular water views.

Above: In the kitchen, the ship lap is applied to the drawers and cabinets; even the fridge is paneled.

Above: Narusawa used open shelving in the kitchen and soapstone counters from Vermont.

Above: Tucked under the eaves, the expanded upstairs bathroom has a New England rustic vibe.

Above: A farmhouse sink sits atop a rustic wood countertop.

Above: Narusawa gutted and reconfigured the upstairs, creating a master suite from three small bedrooms, with space for laundry and storage. In the master suite, she anchored the bed to an island in the center of the room, allowing the area behind to serve as a dressing area/office.

Above: The view from the bed creates the illusion that one is floating on the sea.

Above: Harbor Cottage, seen from the marsh at low tide with a view of the original general store windows.

Here's an idea we haven't seen before; a lightweight knitted blanket inspired by the iconic Hudson's Bay blanket (perfect for summer). For full instructions, go to Purl Bee.

N.B. If you're in Manhattan and you're a knitter (or a want-to-be knitter), the Purl Bee shop on Broome Street, between Greene and Mercer, is well worth a visit.

Above: For thorough step-by-step instructions on recreating the Hudson's Bay blanket, go to Purl Bee.

Above L: Purl Bee recommends Anzula's For Better or Worsted hand-dyed blanket yarn in au natural, teal, ducky, candied apple, and juniper. Above R (top to bottom): Use Addi Turbo Circular Needles or Skacel Addi Lace Knitting Needles.

What is it about cork that is so appealing (perhaps it's the association with wine)? From Vancouver-based design studio Molo, the simple Cork Peg is ideal for hanging jackets and sweaters or small tools and supplies.

Molo's Cork Pegs work with a magnetic mounting system and have a weight-bearing capacity of 2.7 pounds when an item is hung from the end and 4.8 pounds when an item is hung from the middle; $50 for a set of two at the Molo Store.

Above: The Cork Peg comes with magnetic connectors that screw into your wall.