If you’re looking to add some color or texture to your living room or bedroom, pillows are a great way to do that without spending a fortune.  If you want luxurious cushions for great prices then you’ll want to stop by The Cross in Yaletown tomorrow.  Friday is the start of their Annual Pillow Promo.  The staff have been stuffing and sewing for weeks getting prepared.  The Cross saves all the extra fabric from their customer orders during the year and then makes pillows out of the leftover fabrics.  The result is gorgeous, fabulous designer pillows marked anywhere from 10-80% off!  This is the third year The Cross has thrown this super successful event and it’s definitely something to be checked out.

Now there are some restrictions, the sale is on the covers only, feather inserts are regular prices.  Custom orders are also excluded from the promotion.

Oh my lord these are adorable!!!  I have an obsession with stuffed animals, remember in the movie Dodgeball when the blonde chick was obsessed with unicorns and they were all in her house?  Well that’s like me with stuffed animals – except their not all over my home.  (They’re hidden in my closets and storage room!)  So when I saw these Tinywarblers at Provide I had to blog about them!  These are perfect for adults, like me, who are obsessed with stuffed animals.  You could even buy them for kids –  if you felt like it.  You can find the Tinywarblers at Provide on Beatty Street, they range in price from $48-$55.  But you better get there quick, they’re selling out fast!

John Derian has a knack for making the most beautiful, unique and quirky accents for your home.  The thought and detail that go into each piece is obvious upon first glance.  My latest obsession is his collection of paperweights, yes that’s right I’m obsessed with paperweights.  They are the perfect way to add a little character to an empty table or mantelpiece in your home. They are not just for desks, I have mine clustered on my coffee table and on my windowsill.  All of Derian’s designs are handmade in his studio in New York, you can find these and others at The Cross Home Decor & Design in Yaletown; they retail anywhere from $49-$95 each.

My favourite place in my condo is my bedroom, more specifically my bed.  I know what you’re thinking, and stop it!  What I mean to say is I like to sleep, as in nap!  I’m one of those people that can sleep anytime, anywhere – through absolutely anything.  (Once while on vacation in Cannon Beach I slept through a helicopter landing outside my patio!)  There is nothing more divine than coming home from a long day and seeing a plush, luxurious bed awaiting your slumber.  For me, dressing my bed is just as important as dressing myself.  So you can imagine my reaction when I got these pictures from Robert Quinnell of Provide home store on Beatty Street.

This heavenly bedding is called the Whirlpool and is made by the uber talented Catherine Regehr.  Over 85 yards of silk was used to create this luxurious, nature-infused bedding. You can order it in a king or queen size and it’s available in over 200 colours.  If silk doesn’t tickle your fancy you can have it made in linen, suede, velvet and caribou.  The duvet retails for $2,999 which includes the feather insert.  If you need some time to save up first, you can start your collection off small by picking up some of the decadent cushions – which are also made by Regehr.

If you’re looking for pieces to create the ‘wow’ factor in your home then Provide is the store for you.  Walking through this store is like walking through an art gallery.  Everything is unique, beautiful and makes a statement.   Provide is owned and operated by two men with exquisite taste: Robert Quinnell and David Keeler.  Although they feature an amazing array of international pieces, they do have quite the display of outstanding homegrown talent.  This store carries bedding, dishes, furniture, accent pieces, art, candles and even jewellery.  Some labels you can find at Provide include: Loyal Loot, Catherine Regehr, Shereen DeRousseau, Klein Reid and Rina Menardi.  If you’re scouting out that perfect housewarming gift or looking to add some artistic flare to your home; I thoroughly recommend heading down to Provide at 529 Beatty Street.  Click here to visit their website for more information.  I also suggest you read their blog, it’s a great way to keep track of what’s new in-store.

When decorating your living room, almost more important than the furniture are the accent pieces. How you accessorize your home speaks volumes.  One of the greatest inventions in home decor is the coffee table book.  OK maybe not THE greatest, but it is a great way to show off how stylish and intelligent you are, without you even having to be in the room! Coffee table books are usually bought as a decoration; they’re not often read, but rather admired.  I have a few in my collection and rotate through them; putting out different ones depending on the company I’m having over.  It’s always nice to match the personality with the book.

Normally I would say buy books from a bookstore, that’s a no-brainer.  But when it comes to coffee table books there is only one place to go in Vancouver and that is The Cross.  They have an amazing collection of fashion, art, architecture and design books that are truly spectacular.  So the next time you’re looking for a rather large book to complete your home, or someone else’s (great housewarming gift idea), stop by The Cross Decor & Design located at 1198 Homer Street.

The only thing saving me from going bankrupt is that my favourite stores close at normal hours.  Well now I’m doomed, The Cross Decor and Design will be open until midnight during the Olympics! That’s right from now until February 28th The Cross will be open from 10am until midnight. They’ll have TVs in store, so you can catch up on the games, while you buy oodles of Olympic memorabilia.   Check out their hats, scarves, stuffed mascots, bags, postcards, and of course home decor items.

A lot of people hate moving but I love it.  Moving means decorating a new home, which in turn means shopping!  There are some extraordinary stores in Vancouver for decorating and furnishing one’s home.  But your first stop should always be The Cross.  Located in the terribly trendy Yaletown district, The Cross is 5,000 sq ft of decorating delight.  Owned by Stephanie Vogler and Darci Ilich, The Cross opened its doors seven years ago and has earned itself a loyal following.  Products fly off the shelves in this store, and it’s easy to see why.

There is something for every taste and budget at The Cross, with prices starting at $5 and going up to $5,000.  They carry bedding, furniture, candles, wrapping, sculptures, lamps, paintings, dishes, clothes – the list goes on and on.  Some of the fabulous lines you’ll find at The Cross are: Designers Guild, John Derian, Voluspa and Cross’s own custom furniture line.  They even have their own in-house design team that provides a multitude of services.  So stop by The Cross at 1198 Homer Street in Vancouver as soon as you can, you’re guarantee d to fall in love with this store as soon as you walk in.

Briers Home Decor is a store I have been going to for years and cannot get enough of.  It’s one of those boutiques you can’t walk out of without buying something.  Located at 2070 West 4th Ave in Vancouver Briers is the store that carries it all: purses, furniture, jewellery, dishes, aprons, key chains, picture frames, stationary, gardening tools, clocks, clothes, bottle openers –  you name it they have it.  Whether you’re looking for a housewarming present or birthday gift for the person who has everything; Briers is the store for you.  It’s the best place for finding those unique gifts for friends and you’ll undoubtedly leave with a bunch of items for yourself.  They are constantly receiving new inventory so everytime you go back you find more things you ‘have’ to have.  So the next time you find yourself racking your brain for the perfect gift, head down to Briers and take a browse through this amazing store.  Just remember to bring the charge card with you!