Quality over quantity!

I am also enjoying the latest Highland Court fabrics and their introduction of a very colorful and gorgeous line of embroidered linens of the highest quality and design. One of my favorite in this collection, Jaipur, balances strikingly crisp and delicate motifs without becoming excessive. It is great to see that in a year of economic turmoil, designers kept to their objectives and, in achieving their goals, were able to produce and deliver some of the best works this industry has seen in a long time. Similarly Designers Guild has released a line of truly spectacular silks, so beautiful that I was inspired to redo my office's bathroom and have made-to-measure shower curtains in that silk.

I chose a pattern called Carrington Clover, graceful and elegant flowered bouquets artfully arranged in classical form printed in black and white on a vibrant antique-pink ground. For the walls I wanted a smooth texture, keeping in mind the levels of humidity and my need to make sure the bathroom remains as beautiful and as practical as possible, so I selected Benjamin Moore's kitchen and bathroom paint for its look, durability and added antifungal agent.

Arlin, the Italian wallpaper manufacturer introduced Lava, a wallcovering collection that is handcrafted with natural materials only; genuine cellulose paper, natural powder colors and wax, create an ecological product, washable, mould free and respecting the environment. Part of this collection looks like concrete, just perfect for those now living in industrial lofts.

My Yorkshire terrier, Garrapata, is getting old and his vision is deteriorating; he needs help to find his way around, especially at night. I found the perfect solution in a very discreet model of LED lights I found at Home Depot. I purchased one for all my electric outlets and now, as the sun goes down, they automatically go on giving the place a nice, discreet glow. The light produced is enough to enable Garrapata to move about with relative ease, and the plug-in units look stylish and are easy on the energy and the pocketbook.

For every successfully selected item, there are a few that, due to one reason or another, don't make it into my list of favorites. Such is the case of the “Velcro” I purchased at Canadian Tire. The adhesive backing used in the manufacture of this product separates from the "Velcro" tape. I used it to hang small and incredibly light frames in my studio and they ended up on the floor. I tested using a variety of different paint surfaces, temperatures, light exposures and weights, always with the same result. Surprisingly enough, its counterpart sold at Dollarama is one quarter the price and much more efficient; so far with no mishaps.

I also tested tea-lights for an event. The best are Pierre Belvedere's but they are also the most expensive and are scented. As an asthmatic, I avoid the use of artificially scented home accessories when possible. For their price and performance Dollarama's are also excellent. I tried those from IKEA, Debbie Travis, Pharmaprix, Dollarama and Pierre Belvedere, with the two last two offering the best results, one for quality and the other for value.

Remember, the measure of a designer relies on his or her entourage and the quality of the materials we use. Surrounding oneself with the best is what allows our vision to get realized. So, for those designers out there who read my column, let me remind you, in closing, to say thanks properly and appropriately. Remember to appreciate the value in the help we receive and recognize that we could never do it alone. I once worked for a person who considered themselves to be better than everybody else and who taught me great lessons; what not to do, how never to behave, the need to say thanks and remain humble. Eros Greatti is Canada’s Top Interior Designer® 2006 and 2007. For more information or to suggest topics, he can be reached at The New Maison Eros Greatti & M Interior Design Studio & Atelier at 514-839-2565