The Cross Decor & Design BLOG - Things We Love

The Doctor’s Closet

06 Mar 2012 | News

Last week, Monika, from The Doctor's Closet Blog was featured on Glitter Guide. She is a huge fan of The Cross and the feeling is definitely mutual! Her blog is so fun and filled with great fashion and decor ideas. And yes, she is as sweet and wonderful as she looks in these photos. All these beautiful photos were take by Ellen Ho of Hong Photography and a little styling help from Stephanie at Lulu & Drew. Many of the items in her home are from The Cross. See below for the details.

Such a beautiful home! Enjoy.

She's doing a giveaway today on her blog 'The Doctors Closet' for one of the perfume Trays you see in the images. Check it out!

Get The Look

Juju Headress White Moroccan Pouf

Galway Engraved Tray Vionette Pillow (different size as shown in Moniks's place)

Please don't hesitate to email or call us if you have any questions about the items here

604-689-2900 sales@thecrossdesign.com

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White and Grey

29 Feb 2012 | News

Post by Megan

Lately I've been really attracted to very monochrome interiors. This post is no exception. I love the peaceful and serene feeling of this entire home. The chevron pattern in the hardwood is to die for and the personal touches so thoughtful. What do you think?

Source: Delikatissen

1 Comment

‘Dress up your Guest Room’ with Susie Wall

22 Feb 2012 | News

Yesterday, the fabulous Susie Wall was on Breakfast Television sharing some products of ours for the perfect way to dress up your guest room and get it ready for spring!

Check out the video HERE and see below for a listing of some of the products!

Get the look

For more details on any of the items seen here please email us at

sales@thecrossdesign.com or call 604-689-2900

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Bed Inspiration

10 Feb 2012 | News

Don't you want to just crawl into these lovely beds! We sure do… Our 'Bedding and down Event' continues here at The Cross. For the month of February get 20% off all bedding and Down. Let us help you make every sleep the best it can be!

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The low-down on buying quality bedding

08 Feb 2012 | News

We know how intimidating it can be to buy bedding! It's really hard to know what you're purchasing and reading the labels can be confusing and misleading. Make sure you trust the store you're buying from and ask lots of questions! An established bedding supplier will know their product and will have informed staff. The truth with bedding (for the most part) is: you get what you pay for.

We've made a list of some of the most important things to look for to help you when your making that big purchase:

1. Thread counts are misleading – Low quality cotton that is produced in China can still have a high thread count BUT it will not last as long and will never feel as good as the day you bought it. Spend a little more and protect your investment!

2. If you want to make sure what you're buying the right thing. Check the label. The best cotton comes from Turkey and is woven in Italy.

3. You want to look for Giza Egyptian cotton. It is the finest quality cotton around with the longest and strongest strands.

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What you need to know about down duvets..

06 Feb 2012 | News

If you don't already sleep with a down duvet you are seriously missing out. There really is nothing that compares to down in insulation, resiliency, breathability or longevity. A good down duvet is going to be an investment. You really do get what you pay for. Often companies will try to sell feather duvets and it really is just not the same thing. A duvet is made from the feathers from the under plumage of a goose. These down clusters don't even look like feathers but little dandelion puffs. A quality down duvet will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer much like a goose is in the winter.!

Here are some things to look for when buying your next down duvet

Make sure it is white goose down from Canada or Europe. You can check out which Canadian brands are certified by Downmark (The Down Association of Canada)
The quality of down is measured by the loft. 500-550 is considered good, 550-750 very good and anything 750+ is top of the line!
The ticking is the fabric cover of the duvet and is very important in the performance of your down duvet. You want something that is approx 300 thread count. This will allow for the down to move around beautifully but is downproof so that the down doesnt escape.
Your duvet should be made with a baffle box construction. This will keep the down in place and keep it from clumping up unevenly.

If you have any more questions about down please don't hesitate to come into the store to ask our knowledgeable staff some questions! We're in the middle of our Bedding and Down Event and you will receive 20% off any down for the month of February.

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The Cross Bedding and Down Event starts today!

03 Feb 2012 | News

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How do we sleep?

03 Feb 2012 | News

Post by Megan

When our customers are purchasing bedding from us, they always ask : "What do you sleep on?" So here you go! A sneak peek into what we're sleeping on at our own homes!

7 Comments

Lovely White Home

27 Jan 2012 | News

Post by Megan

Ahh what a refreshing and peaceful home! I love this living room so much. It's owned by blogger Sophia of So Binique. I fell in love with the first photo immediately and it just keeps getting better….

Images courtesy of Decor8 Blog

Make sure you also check out Sophias blog – There's some serious eye candy on there.. Enjoy!

-mc

4 Comments

John Robshaw Bedding and Textiles

20 Jan 2012 | News

We are very proud to carry this wonderful line of bedding and textiles here at The Cross. So much thought goes into each lovely print. Out of his traditional block prints he makes : textiles, bedding, decorative pillows, robes, tablecloths, shower curtains and more… Please come into the store to see the pieces we carry!

Here's what they say about John Robshaw on their site:

After he earned a fine arts degree at Pratt and studied traditional block printing in China, John "I-Caught-the-Asia-Bug" Robshaw journeyed to India to find natural indigo dye for his paintings. Instead, he fell in love with the local artisans fabric-making traditions. The hands-on immediacy and vitality of textiles dyed, printed, woven, stitched, and worn piqued what was to become a lifelong fascination.

"It's so simple and natural. You touch a woodblock to wet clay and then to the fabric. After the clay dries, you dip the cloth into the indigo vat and the clay stays on. One dip gives the fabric a sky-blue color, two dips and it deepens to cobalt, three dips and its a saturated midnight blue. Then the fabric is laid out to dry in the sun and later the clay is washed off. The dyer says the indigo vats are like a mistress because they need constant attention. I was completely fascinated by the dyeing and printing processes, as well as how the finished product is used. Textiles become intimate companions in daily life, whether as a pillow, bedcover or sarong."

John's forays in Asia have taken him to the villages of Gujarat and Rajasthan to work alongside artisans and study their traditional printing methods; he has made court batiks in Yogakarta, Indonesia; block printed sarongs alongside a family who has been printing for four generations; he has vegetable-dyed ikats in Thailand. In India, John found that he could apply a painterly aesthetic to the traditional method of block-printing by mixing up patterns and overlapping them in a more formally artistic way. There, his signature dynamic look was crafted: an updated spin on the exotic, handmade object; a vibrant mix of sophistication and romantic allure. "I want all the colors, processes and designs from each culture to blend. I redesign them and mix up the processes in ways no one has ever done before. I try to edit them, learn from them, make them my own but retain their essence. In piggybacking these designs and techniques with each other or with my own ideas, what emerges is new and fresh, and yet retains that sense of tradition, of the handmade. When I need to hire someone to help, I pick the old printers. Their hands are shaky and their eyesight is poor, so the pattern comes out slightly off. I want to feel that human touch," says John.

Now John works with various workshops in India, where he travels several months out of the year to oversee production, experiment with new dyeing and printing techniques, and to work alongside the artisans creating the fabrics. He takes care to cultivate and preserve their traditional techniques, but not only in India. As a consultant for Aid to Artisans, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating economic opportunities for craftspeople in developing nations, John has traveled to Vietnam, Cambodia, Zimbabwe, and most recently, Bolivia, in support of the textile artisans there.

"By producing my textiles abroad, I get to become a minor character in the lives of the people I work with, and I can take inspiration from what I see and do there. I go to their weddings, celebrate their festivals, I get sick with them, I develop relationships with the people who are teaching me. When you look at my textiles, its like you've been on the world tour along with me."

2 Comments

Farmhouse Fairytale

13 Jan 2012 | News

Post by Megan

What a dream! I've always loved the idea of completely renovating a home with so much character. This farmhouse, originally built in 1850 needed a little lovin'. It had been abandoned for several years before the current owners moved in. Here's what they did with it.

This lovely home was originally featured in Rue Magazine but I spotted it on Decor8 – What do you think? Would you want to put that much work into a home?

3 Comments

New Valentines have arrived!

12 Jan 2012 | News

These adorable cards from Banquet Atelier & Workshop have just arrived. We have more new Valentines arriving soon so be sure to check in a see them – We always sell out early!

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The Cross is announced as Retailer of The Year!

10 Jan 2012 | News

We're so thrilled to announce this! We were voted overall 2011 Retailer of the Year by the CGTA. What does that mean you ask? Well, we were chosen by our suppliers based on outstanding achievement in Canadian retailing. The criteria includes visual merchandising and store design, business achievement, advertising and promotion, and community involvement.

Here's the article that was published in Retail News!