// 10:33 pm

// Location: Planta

Hi. Just took off my makeup and crawled into bed. For some reason I can't find my reading glasses, the words I'm typing at the moment look a little blurry - so bare with me. It was Planta's opening party tonight. I told my sister and brother in law to leave baby O at home and come with me. Thank you Baba. Planta's print was finalized while sitting on an airplane flying from Paris to Florence. I remember the coffee I was drinking [which I dropped all over my white shirt], the water I asked for after, and the movie I put on for background noise, Pan. Naturally. Standing in that beautiful restaurant surrounded by CKD wallpaper was a pretty incredible feeling. Watching other people enjoy the print was a whole other incredible. One of those moments when life felt like a dream. A dream that didn't require me to be sleeping to be apart of - I mean, that's whole other level of incredible I've never experienced before. K, now to go to sleep to dream bigger. Night. x -C

// CKD FOR PLANTA

// Location: Bay & Bloor, Toronto 

Planta, the newest restaurant opening at Bay & Bloor.  Concept - plant based menu, decor -stunning. Planta asked me to be apart of the team just before I left for Europe. My office looked like this and thankfully my location looked like this. The inspiration behind the print was banana-leaf-Beverly Hills-Hotel-except-cooler. This is what I came up with. Excited to see the space when it's all finished. I'll have more photos from the opening this week! x -C

// CKD FOR PANTRY

// Location: Pantry, Rosedale

It's quite the experience walking into the new Pantry location on Rosedale. I can tell you first hand the guys who created this masterpiece haven't slept in a couple months. It's one thing to work with talented architects and designers, and it's another thing to work with the Pantry team. I had dreams of one day sitting in a room full of creative people, screaming out ideas - then coming up with new ideas, and then creating something bigger than we could have imagined on our own. This is what this job was like for me. Reminded me of why I got into this profession in the first place. Pantry is a whole new concept with not only the decor, but the food. Well done Pantry. It looks incredible. Thank you for bringing me on board. x 

// SUMMER SIXTEEN

// Location: CKD studio

This very day last year took place in New York City. I most likely just stopped into Blue and Gold for coffee, said good morning to my friends behind the counter, and began my walk to my office. I worked at Holland & Sherry in the custom rug department. CKD was a company that existed once I got home from an eight hour day. I woke up this morning threw on a sweater, put three cups of coffee into my french press, and walked right into the CKD studio. Crazy how much life can change in just a year. It was the beginning of May when I put together this studio. I was exhausted, very emotional, and exhausted. My days ended at 9:30 pm, and started at 7:30 am. Antony Rush and I revamped the website, I finished Collection N Fifteen, threw myself into projects and somewhere between all of that found my two feet again. So then I booked myself a plane ticket to London with no plans on coming home for 30 days [insert painted nails emoji]. But really, the thought of letting go of whatever it was I had last year felt as if it would kill me, literally. Once I saw this life change has a beginning rather than an ending, that's when I started to see possibilities in every corner of my life. Moving past my fears was well worth it, and surprisingly [or not so] I feel stronger. Summer sixteen, you've treated me well. x-C

// OFFICE/HOTEL/PARIS/BATHROOM

// Location: Paris, France.

I only owned that robe for four days until we left Paris for Florence. Then in Florence I crawled into my new hotel robe and it felt equally as delicious. The hotel-bed-robe-wearing office I started to get used to. Americano delivery to my room at 8 am only existed in Florence or else I would have never boarded my plane back home. I was in Morocco when I decided regular travel will become part of my future - for the hotel robes of course. Ok, I'm going to go and make myself another coffee. x 

// I WORK FOR COFFEE

// Location: Baddies 

I'm sorry, I had to. Can I predict this is Toronto's newest selfie station? Anyway... Baddies is officially open, and it looks and it feels, and just is, amazing. Alex and I worked really hard to make sure the wallpaper was perfect. From the life size waves to the Bondi beach inspired print covering the walls - it looks pretty perfect to me. Wanna know a little secret, one of the little Baddies guys sailing on the print is his father. How cool. Yes - naturally I cried a little when he gave me the idea. I seriously have the coolest job ever. Full scope of project has been updated! Click to here, or you can literally go to 679 Lansdowne Ave to see it for yourself! Order the Avo toast - you won't be disappointed. x

// BADDIES

// Location: 679 Lansdowne Ave. Toronto.

Straight from the airport to the installation at Toronto's newest [coolest] cafe, Baddies. Alex is an Australian who realized Toronto is in some desperate need of good coffee and food [insert avo and toast here]. CKD is lucky to be part of his team. Check out the Bondi details, and the wavy stairway on your stroll downstairs. Congratulations Alex, dreams do come true :) 

// ROMA

// 

In the studio, three coffees deep thanks to the jet lag, music blasting in my ears, and I've managed to answer two emails... I do my best work early in the morning - my body thinks it's 6:30 pm. My brain checked out before the day even started. So I figured I would edit the photos from Rome, and write to you. Rome was a short and glamorous stay- perfect way to end this thirty day adventure . Our beautiful hotel made me pull out my red dress I bought in Mykonos years ago and never wear. Rome felt larger than life. The history made everything feel grand and almost secret. My favourite was the Trevi Fountain. The tradition says you get three wishes by throwing three coins into the fountain right hand over over left shoulder. The first coin will bring you back to Rome, the second will give you true love, and the third is for a husband. I'll let you know how they go. 

I'm really happy to be home. Baddies Cafe was installed Monday - I went to the installation straight from the airport. It looks dope. Obviously ;) I'll have photos from the installations up here tomorrow. Ok, back to work for me. x -C

// FLORENCE

// 

Our first dinner in Florence was just a couple minutes from our hotel. It was 10 pm, we just arrived from Paris hungry and tired. We walked into a tiny restaurant, walls painted in the same mustard color that Florence covers their buildings in, white tablecloths, and hundreds of framed black and white photographs autographed by the famous people who have sat at our very table covered the walls. My mom and I came to the conclusion that our waitress was the daughter of the owner, whom we assumed was the older gentleman running the front [I come from a large Macedonian family who raised us in the restaurant industry. I was hostess by 14, serving by 18, and so were my sisters and cousins. My grandfather still works in his kitchen]. I can't drink wine [I know, it's terrible] so I ordered myself a Campari soda [I figured an old fashion was a bit of a stretch]. I was served a Campari and sprite [close enough], and my first plate of Italiano pasta. Tasted like heaven. Heaven can pretty much sum up the rest of my experience in Florence. The style, the people, the culture, the buildings, the beauty. My mom and I spent our days roaming around, researching all the non-tourist areas, popping in and out of shops. Since it's August most of the little boutique shops were closed when we got there. But as the days went on Florence looked different. More cafes opened their doors, little shops appeared out of nowhere, the Italians started to take over the streets. According to the locals the best time to visit Florence is in October/November. In August everyone leaves for holiday. I can just picture myself traveling here every October to my Villa just outside Florence. Shop for the fall, eat, relax, take in the scenery #TheLife.

I'm currently sitting in Rome as I write this. We fly home tomorrow. Damn, this month as been an incredible one. This unexpected time away from the grind has allowed me to put things into prospective that I couldn't see clearly before. I'm returning home ready to get back into the studio. Collection N 22 is coming, and the ideas flowing through my head are getting me really excited. See you in the studio. x -C