They may pee on our beds and chew up our shoes, but after all the cursing has passed, we still love our pets, no matter how many headaches they cause. When a client is looking for a new sofa, one of the first questions I usually ask is pet status – it’s important that what you bring into your home not only looks good, but matches your lifestyle. Lots of people walk into the store specifically looking for leather because of concerns about shedding and durability, but with a few judicious choices, don’t be scared of upholstery either!

Here's some of our four-legged friends

The main thing that you want to look for when choosing a fabric is how tight the weave is – if you’re able to slip the tip of a ballpoint pen under a thread, I would avoid it. Even if your cat or dog doesn’t deliberately scratch, claws will eventually get caught and pull the threads. An example of a nice tight fabric we offer would be the “Polo” collection – a tweed-like polyester fabric available in lots of great colours (which at the time of this writing, the Lure, Tribeca and Manhattan floor models are covered in). Save a looser weave for a pillow instead if you really love it.

Here's Simba after a brush. Doesn't he look happy?

Another reason the Polo fabrics are popular is the texturing and depth of colour – fur will show less clearly on a textured fabric that uses several different colours of threads than on one that is relatively flat. When it comes to shedding, hedge your bets – unless you really really feel strongly one way or another, I would suggest picking a shade that your pet’s fur won’t contrast too strongly with, and keep a lint brush or roller handy (believe me, with a dog whose undercoat drops twice a year, I sympathize with your battle. This photo was taken after only one minute of brushing! But ain’t he cute?).

Here's Phoebe and Tiamo out for a shopping trip. Looks like Tiamo's being put to work!

Another easy way to extend the life of your sofa would be to invest in arm covers (starting at approximately $70 / pair) – the arm is usually the favourite launch site for cats, and rear claws can leave tell-tale marks. It’s a modest investment that can make a big difference in the long run. Even if you don’t love the look of them, you can just throw them on for when you’re out of the house and your feline prowls with impunity. I’ve read several sites that give advice on how to deal with cat-clawing (such as double-sided tape on the couch arms for the first week or so), but another thing to think about would be your pet’s history. Cats generally have personal preferences about what they will destroy – if they’ve avoided microfibre in the past, it might be wise to think about another piece in that texture.

If you have specific questions regarding your pet and furniture, feel free to post them below, or reach out to an associate at your local Urban Barn – even bring them in to the store! We’ve got a lovely parade of pooches at our King Street location (I’ll admit, we stock treats behind the desk), so enjoy a little gratuitous cuteness here on us!

As the seasons turn, so do the swatches! With spring upon us, fashion trends are updating as well – and on the sales floor. Walking through a mall recently, I was struck by how many trends crossed over from fashion to furnishings. One of the biggest current trends is a punchy pallette – bold, saturated hues in attention-grabbing colours.

Images courtesy of zara.com, aldoshoes.com; Zazi Cushion green, Globe Birdhouse yellow, Blush Table Lamp, Buddha purple, Piazza Bistro Set, Davis Tin Bucket aqua - all from Urban Barn,

Tangerine is one of the “it” colours this season, and is showing up from head to toe, and Marni to Michael (Kors). We’ve got some great examples of it, like on the Piazza bistro set. While all shades of orange are making a stand, super-saturated colours in general are making their statement. Any shop that sells denim right now is almost guaranteed to have that “pant rainbow” laid out on one of their tables, and bright colours were a main point for the spring 2012 campaigns of both Gap (“Be bright”) and Calvin Klein. Urban Barn is featuring this trend with everything from toss cushions to lighting and everything in between. Our stores are bright and full of colour!

What else in our stores have you seen strutting down the streets?

“Mahwidge. Mahwidge is what bwings us togevah, today.”

  -The Princess Bride

Whether it is a glittering Will & Kate-type affair or a homespun gathering in the backyard, a wedding is a special event for not only the happy couple, but the loved ones that attend too. Coming into the opening stretch of wedding season, I’ve been fielding questions from both the betrothed and the attendees for about the last month, so here are some tips and ideas for those on both sides of the equation!

If you’re the one that is planning and preparing…

Get clear inspiration. If you haven’t decided on your colours yet, theknot.com suggests that you consider your season, venue, and style (a more modern look will probably have only a few bold colour choices, while a more traditional one might use a more diverse, less punchy palette).

Image Courtesy of greenweddingshoes.com

A little care and creativity with centerpieces can really save you some big bucks. weddinggirl.ca has a great blog post with cost-saving ideas here – some of my favourites were using creative fillers like coffee beans or split peas in your arrangements, or even tinted water.

Images courtesy of weddinggirl.ca, marthastewart.ca, and weddingbells.ca

Image courtesy of weddingbells.ca

Candles give a great romantic glow, but do try a test burn first! Take note of how long your lights will stay lit – I think an 8-hour tealight is probably a safe bet to keep the room glowing while the dance floor is going, while 2-3 hours will usually fizzle out mid-meal. Also, double-check with the venue whether the candle must be within glass.

Image courtesy of bride.ca

Look for fun solutions for mundane tasks. For example, this antique-style birdcage (shown below: Tweet Square Bird Cage – small $19, large $29 – from Urban Barn) is a great option to put at the gift table as an envelope box, and is an accessory that can easily be used again in your home. (I really like them with a small potted plant inside – super cute!)

If you’re one who is eagerly attending… 

Gift registries can be your ticket to stress-free shopping. If you know the last names of the couple, we can pull up the registry at any store across Canada (though it helps to know which location they signed up at). What I’ve found works well is actually calling the store you plan to shop at ahead of time – if you tell us around how much you’d like to spend, we can pull certain items to be ready for when you arrive at the store.

Truthfully, many couples do appreciate gift cards. They’re especially great for couples that are planning to move into a new home, since they can count towards large items that they wouldn’t normally put on their registry (like a sofa or bed). And if you’d like to add that personal touch, you can actually order them online with a photo where the two look particularly lovey-dovey (you can probably snoop on Facebook for something appropriate)!

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been an avid reader – in fact, I’ve learned from my last few moves that I actually own more books than I do clothes! Even with a digital reader added to my collection, there’s something about the physical act of reading that can’t be had with anything but hard copy. If you’re like me, there is a pretty decent chance that you’re also tripping over piles of reading near your bed. Lucky for us, there are plenty of relatively easy ways to make a bookshelf not only functional, but a compelling design element of a room.
Colourblocking: You’ve probably seen this on television sets and in magazines for a while now, but it’s an easy and dramatic way for a shelf to make an impact (can’t you totally see the Brosna with each shelf done in a different colour?). Alternatively, a clean monotone can be achieved by covering your books in paper of the same tones. You’d have to run a very organized library to ensure you can find your books though…

Stacking: Just because the libraries put their books with spines neatly arranged up and down, doesn’t mean you have to! While I’m not personally crazy about the idea of doing a whole collection like this, having a few stacks of books here and there does add a nice contrast - I really like the casual look it gives, and I love how they can even be used as a surface for personal items. Which leads us to…

Vignettes: Just because it’s a bookshelf doesn’t mean that it needs to be a solid wall of literature. I love the addition of little art pieces and boxes into a shelf – little hits of colour in the shelf can help tie it into the rest of the room (like the addition of teal in the built-in white shelf that connects it to the large piece of art hanging to the right). And while it depends on just how many books you have to cram on your shelves, a little bit of negative space isn’t a bad thing either.

I found these photos totally inspiring, and am now suffering from a bit of shelf envy…next few days off, I may have to rework mine! Which are your favourites?

What is it about the allure of a sexy bartender? Whether you’re rocking it out classic Tom Cruise ‘Cocktails’ style or planning a ‘Coyote Ugly’ themed romp, here are a couple of recipes that anyone with basic barslinging skills (read: owns a martini shaker and can make ice) should be able to mix up to impress that special someone. I pulled together a few friends to get their feedback and opinions, and snapped some pics of the results!

Red Velvet Cupcake

Red Velvet Cupcake
A rich chocolately drink with a kick, one of my friends described it as “mmmm…pow!” I rest my case.

•  2 oz vanilla vodka
• 1 oz creme de cacao
• 1 oz buttermilk (if you don’t have it, you can make it by adding a tiny splash of vinegar to your shotglass of milk)
• 1 tbsp chocolate sauce
• 3 drops red food colouring
• 8 drops vanilla
• cream cheese frosting for the rim of the cup (simply whip together a little icing sugar and cream cheese – if you don’t have any on hand, even normal sugar can serve)

Throw all the ingredients (save the cream cheese, of course) into your shaker with ice, agitate well, and serve in a martini glass.

Recipe from The Daily Beast

Sorbet and Champagne

Sorbet and Champagne Cocktail

The most universally popular drink of the evening (I literally turned around to wash a cup, and when I turned back, glasses were empty), it was also the simplest to prepare. And I quote, “It’s ice cream and bubbly. How can you not like it?”

• spoonful of fruit sorbet (this picture is of mango, however raspberry is also good!)
• chilled champagne / prosecco

Depending on how sweet and juice-like you want it, put anywhere from a teaspoon to a tablespoon of sorbet in your champagne flute, then fill it up to the top with your bubbly – I found that the drink needed a little mixing with a fork / spoon to get the sorbet fully incorporated.

Recipe from Martha Stewart

Between The Sheets

Between the Sheets

A sultry name for a drink that means business - it seems to have come by its name because, as one of my friends put it, “it’ll get you there!” It has a nice mix and balance though, and if you wanted to soften it up, my recommendation would be a dash of orange juice.

• 1 oz white rum
• 1 oz Cointreau / Grand Marnier (fyi – G.M. is apparently sweeter than Cointreau, take your pick. However, if this is not something you keep in your cabinet, they have the bitty baby bottles of Grand Marnier at the liquor store that will make just about 2 servings)
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz cognac

Everything in shaker with ice, shake and pour.

Recipe from Esquire

Sour Raspberry Martini

Sour Raspberry Martini

In a break from all the syrupy sweetness of Valentine’s, a sour drink out there for the defiantly single! Voted prettiest drink of the night, it smells amazing too…

• 1 oz vodka
• 1 oz sour raspberry schnapps
• 1 oz pomegranate juice
• raspberries for garnish

All the liquids in the shaker, add ice, shake, pour. Throw berries on top, and you’re done! If you’re feeling creative, this is a super basic recipe that can be modified very easily (ie. swap in apple schnapps and apple juice, et voila, you’ve got a sour apple martini).

What are your favourite Valentine’s Day recipes?

All glassware shown is from Urban Barn