If your aesthetic is Hollace Cluny but your budget is Ikea, why not spruce up the Ektorp with some colourful hand-crafted cushions from Australian designer Megan Park?

The pillows (from $47) are made from silks, linen and cashmere and are embellished with embroidery, beading and fringing. Mix in as many prints as possible for a look that is playful, bold and entirely your own.

At Hollace Cluny, 1070 Yonge St., Toronto, 416-968-7894, www.hollacecluny.ca

Who doesn’t love snooping around other people’s homes – especially ones filled with bold lighting, artwork and unusual curiosities.

At Alex Jowett’s place you can snoop all you like, and if you fancy something, hey, why not buy it? Most of the contents is for sale at Atelier 668, and unlike a typical design store, buyers get to experience the pieces within a real home environment.

Several pieces at this studio-gallery-store are up-cycled, such as the vintage kayak chandelier and birdcage lanterns. There’s a 12-foot maple dining table by Brad Denton (the designer behind The Harbord Room, Le Petit Castor and Czehoski), a Brothers Dressler bench, spiral nest chandeliers by Zak Ridgely and work by OCAD photographer Darren Rigo.

There are a few things Jowett (a photographer, writer, surfer) won’t part with, like his vintage cameras, and a Michael Greenwood Walnut table. “I think I’d like to buy that for myself,” he says.

Atelier 688, 688 Richmond St. W, #201, Toronto, 416-671-2537, http://atelier688.tumblr.com

Hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m. or by appointment.

A is for Abacus, B is for Bingo, C is for Caterpillar and D is for Dingo.

Typography fans – or anyone who appreciates the graphic power of letters – will love this alphabet wall hanging ($50) from Toronto’s Bookhou.

With letters, numbers, and punctuation appearing on every surface of fashion and home décor (think embroidered cushions, hand carved bookends and silk-screened skirts), it’s never been hipper to be a type nerd.

Just as appealing to both grownups and kids, this eye-catcher is proof that ABC’s need not be child's play.

At Bookhou, 798 Dundas St. W., Toronto, 416-203-2549, www.bookhou.com

You dream of owning a Degas but your budget won’t get you further than tickets to the ballet.

Put your small budget to big use at EYE BUY ART, a new online gallery showcasing emerging photographers from Canada, the UK and the US. You can search for art by size, artist, keyword or price and as little as $25 will get you started.

Toronto photographer Mark Kasumovic is featured, as is Robyn McCallum. Take a peek at the stunning aerial shots from Eamon Mac Mahon as well.

We’ve got our heart set on the confections of Amy Stevens – proof that we can have our cake, and eat it too.

www.eyebuyart.com

This year we resolve to make our children’s rooms and wardrobes bastions of creativity, colour, and coolness, starting with new Canadian e-store, www.babybot.com.

Filter stock by colour to match the nursery (who knew black could look so modern?) or by child’s age (205 perfect gifts for a first birthday!) on this smart site. Just think of the beautiful Eames elephants and contemporary toy boxes you can buy now that you’ve rid the house of triplicate Dr. Seuss books, Santa bibs and Dora dolls.

Well, at least you tried.

www.babybot.com

People collect all sort things: seashells, shot glasses, bottle tops, matches, comics, coins and cards.

Melissa Levin collects a bit of everything.

Culled from years of riffling through markets, bric-a-brac shops and estate sales, her collection of vintage fabrics, board games, teapots, toys and biscuit tins is currently on sale at her temporary pop-up shop near Parkdale.

Brocade and jacquard curtains sourced from hotels in Germany would make wonderful fabric for cushions or clothes à la Maria von Trapp.

If this is the year of up-cycling Christmas presents, we suggest you peddle there, pronto.

Open until December 30, 1080 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-399-5557.

We’d like to think of our kitchen as pretty international, serving up dishes from around the world.

To complement a global cuisine are Not Neutral’s city plates ($60), featuring maps of cities from New Orleans to Tokyo to Berlin to Shanghai. The downtown core is printed on a black background, key buildings are represented with orange icons, and rivers and public spaces are shown in blue and green.

Our eyes and tummy say Mexico City would make a good empanada plate, while Montreal would be for poutine. Paris is obviously for fromage and foie gras (though not together, perhaps) and Rome is for hoof jelly salad. Just kidding. We’re not that adventurous.

Available online at Modern Karibou, www.modernkaribou.ca

If we paid attention in home economics we’d know how to repurpose old sweaters into cable knit chair covers.

Hopeless crafters, we turn to the experts instead. New to the home décor front, Preloved is now fashioning a collection of quirky, original cushions ($49), place mats ($32), and quilts ($149).

An amalgam of vintage jumpers, trousers, curtains and shirts (all items are thoroughly cleaned!) sourced from rag houses in and around Toronto, these one-of-a-kind pieces bring colour, character and retro flare into the home. 

We’re harking after a quilt – perfect for cuddling up with the boy we skipped home ec for.

Preloved, 881 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-504-8704, www.preloved.ca

Banish boring beige and bring in a backsplash that’s full of cheer and whimsy.

Xenia Taler's tiles are pretty in a kitchen, a bathroom or even a small hallway.

The Toronto-based ceramicist and her partner Steven Koblinsky have made a big splash in the design world with their whimsical patterns and bright glazes.

The installation tiles are thin with unglazed sides for grouting and feature folksy birds, trees, fish and insects.

Any handy Andys around to tile our guest loo?

www.xeniataler.com

If your fantasy travels have taken you souk shopping in Morocco or strawberry picking in Denmark, you may be inspired by Jennifer Hill’s whimsical prints.

In her “Places I Have Never Been” series the artists draws on her research and imagination, and creates designs that capture the essence and mood of a given destination. Each print includes tidbits of information about the place such as its language, how far away it is and a line about the inspiration for the pattern.

• FLY 4,225 miles • EAT sugar dipped zeppole • DRINK sweet limoncello • mmm… EAT your fill of powdery goodness at the zeppole festival.

Now guess the destination.

www.jhilldesign.com