January 27, 2021

Mystical Mariana

January 27, 2021/ Meryl

I thought long and hard about the title of this piece and truly Mariana Silveira is the very definition of the word mystical: inspiring a sense of spiritual mystery, awe, and fascination. Mariana is a Toronto based Interior Designer, Home Stager and Sculptor, in addition to being a wise soul she is incredibly thought provoking and extraordinarily kind. I have had some of my deepest conversations with this lady.

Mariana’s Instagram handle is the same as her business The Decor Studio.

Mariana please tell us a bit about yourself: I was born and raised in Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico but I moved to Canada when I was 25, right after getting married. My then husband Pedro was an accountant and went to Montreal to study at McGill University. We just never got back because we fell in love with Canada. After a two year stint in Montreal - where we opened a brick and mortar store selling gift baskets we moved to Toronto.

We share an 11 year old daughter Antonella we happily co parent. As the only woman and the eldest out of 4 kids (I am 10 years older than the youngest of my brothers), I pretty much helped my parents raise my siblings. I have a very strong maternal instinct that I am sure, springs from that.

You touched on your family - can you share a happy memory from your childhood? Meryl I will say my happiest childhood memories are all memories of my mother working her magic in my childhood home. My mom is the most stylish person I know. She has more natural flair and more personal style than anyone I have ever met. She was an incredible amateur decorator and stylist when she was younger. Watching her rearrange her living room and transform furniture using paint was mind blowing (one time she painted a huge credenza emerald green on her own). She was on a first name basis with the guys at the paint store and changed the color not only of pieces of furniture but also of leather goods like shoes, belts etc. I will never forget her electric blue pumps. Although I may not say it often, she is and has always been my biggest style influence.

“Originality and uniqueness inspire me.”

— Mariana Silveira

So how did you get into Design: I first got my start in the design world working for Gerardo Rios. He is an amazing furniture designer and artist based in Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico who is the recipient of several A Design Awards (the most prestigious and influential international design award, given in Milan, Italy) and the person from whom I learned about every detail that went into creating master pieces that stand the test of time. His artistic vision and the way he made the ideas in his head come to life in his factory, were my real design education. Later in life I got a certification as an interior decorator and home stager. Gerardo is my mentor, my friend, my daughter's godfather and my ex-husbands brother in law.

This image shows the front entrance of the Gerardo Rio home and it features a studio above an Interior garden. Natural materials of marble, wood and stone were employed in the construction and details of the structure. I used Antonella as a prop for scale. The studio is what you can be seen behind.

This is a shot of the interior of the Rios home. I was completely blown away. I am NEVER, blown away. He designed and produced every piece of furniture in the house in his factory. This house is an example of the true ideology and artistry behind modern Mexican architecture. A total triumph inside and out.

I have always believed that interior design at a personal, highly stylish level is art in itself. Aside from my mentor and my mom, my biggest design influences today are people who know themselves, trust their style, and are willing to go all the way to showcase their talent and their choices. People who's lives are reflected in their very spaces. The style they choose to do that in, is of no importance to me, what I admire is their craft. Originality and uniqueness inspire me.

I started The Decor Studio about 5 years ago but, I had been sought by friends and clients prior to officially setting up the firm. I’ve been helping with design and giving consultations for much longer than the last 5 years. One part of the challenge of the last 10 months has been opening up my business for virtual design work. I have enjoyed getting this new aspect figured out and continuing to help clients during this time.

When did you realize you wanted a career in Design? I was about 16 years old

I know Interiors is not the only focus of your firm: I love the opportunity to work with other creatives by promoting their artwork and creations. I use my experience as a Content Creator and Instagram Influencer to shine a light on their work.

You were featured on Design Sponge this was so huge - tell us how has this effected you? Being interviewed for Design Sponge (by invitation from the writer of my story, Sofia Tuovinen) was a dream come true. I had been a huge fan of their groundbreaking and inclusive blog for many years. I miss it today but, I am very glad their work (my home tour included) is now in the library of congress for anyone to access.

Mariana loves the female form. These are some of her sculptures.

Mariana shared this photograph which shows Four generations of her father’s family. This is her great grandmother, Luisa, on a winter afternoon. She lived to see us much older than that. We were very close growing up since the school we attended for many years was around the corner of her house. She was amazing to us. I still remember her Jell O. Her son, (my grandpa) was one of the greatest loves of my life and my first (and best) mentor.

Rocks and Mineral collection of her Daughter

Can you share some thoughts about Toronto: Living in Toronto can be compared to living in NYC I guess. It is a vibrant, multicultural, and unapologetic experience where art is important and people are cultivated. Is a very take it or leave it kind of place. I could never live anywhere else.

This has bumped Toronto up to the top of my must see cities!

Look at the below image… If it’s one thing you know I love to chat about friends it’s books. Mariana what is your favorite title? Great Expectations by Charles Dickens it’s my favorite book, it reminds me of my late grandfather. He was a very big fan of Dickens and he passed away when I was 18. He was a very cultured man. He was a fan of literature and a voracious reader. He also was a big fan of the cinema. I spent a lot of time with him and my grandma growing up.

The books! The Gallery Wall! The Curated Beauty!

Plans for the rest of 2021: I want to keep focusing on my virtual design consultations, my sculpture business and also, I would like to collaborate more with artists and small businesses that are aligned with my values.

You can find Mariana on her Website and Instagram.

Til next time friends stay well.

Images: Mariana Silveira

January 20, 2021

Lovely Loo

January 20, 2021/ Meryl

During the past 10 months while at home many of us have made changes, we’ve painted, we’ve bought new pieces and redecorated our spaces - because either we were finally able to settle on what we wanted or out of boredom.

Looking back at this image from May - this update was motivated by boredom. I was tired of the old shower curtain and introducing pink to this space with a new curtain and towels was fun and fresh.

Fast forward to October and I wanted a bigger change. I wanted a less busy space and down came all the art. I missed my navy towels so I knew the color palette would be blue and white again.

“Loo is deriving from the French “guardez l’eau”, which means “watch out for the water” When the British adopted it they shortened it to the more pronounceable “gardy-loo”, which eventually became “loo” and was applied to the toilet itself.”

— Google

I used Rub n Buff to add just the right bit of glitter to this Parisian street print.

While we all know how much I love a big mix of pieces - this time I decided to focus on the single theme France and let that be my guide. I went around the Chalet gathering pieces.

I did order one new piece Ballerinas in Blue by Erisha of A Thing Created.

The curtain feels sophisticated, eventually I hope to purchase fabric - something in a modern pattern like the kitchen curtains or possibly something in a chinoiserie pattern but, at the moment I’m happy.

Til next time friends stay safe.

January 13, 2021

Showstopping Chinoiserie

January 13, 2021/ Meryl

My love of Chinoiserie started when Great Aunt Alice’s Cabinet came into our home when I was a child. It was the first thing you laid eyes when entering.

Great Aunt Alice’s Cabinet in the corner of the Livingroom in the Chalet

I enjoy sharing the history of color and design movements - The term Chinoiserie means an imitation of Chinese and East Asian arts - including architecture, decorative arts, garden design, literature, music and theater.

18th-century Chinese export porcelain, Guimet Museum, Paris

But, first came tea. Europeans were introduced to the China drink tee in 1610 by the Dutch East India Company. Tea drinking became popular, along with the porcelain cups the Chinese used. The Chinese porcelains were beautifully decorated with blue and thin in contrast to the thick, heavy earthenware of most Europeans. In 1709 one typical order required forty tons of China ware. These pieces are now known as Export China. These porcelains were expensive and the English potters wanted to manufacture and sell their own.

By 1790 a name we still know today - Josiah Spode developed a recipe that was easy to fire, decorate and known for it’s whiteness and durability.

1790 Spode Pattern

Boy on a Buffalo

Chinoiserie is the interpretation of the Chinese Culture and it gained popularity in the 18th century due to the rise in trade with China and France was the first embraced China and all her beauty. The dominant style at that time was highly decorative rococo – Asian motifs, ornaments and colors fit perfectly into this style. François Boucher’s artwork is a good example of Chinoiserie painting.

the Chinese Garden, Francois Boucher 1742

Lacquerware like my cabinet can be many different types of items: including containers, furniture and tableware. The surface is sometimes painted with pictures or has inlaid shells or carving before it is lacqured. True lacquer is not made outside Asia, but some imitations, such as Japanning in Europe or parallel techniques, are often loosely referred to a "lacquer."