It's Coffee Day Today!

Today is National Coffee Day today in the US, so we thought we'd tag along for the ride and share the coffee love!

Did you know that coffee is the second most traded commodity on earth? That said,  it shouldn't come as a surprise that coffee lovers go to great extents to get their perfect cup o' Joe.

For a daily quick fix as easy the push of a button, many opt for a Nespresso machine. Plus with the help of the Aeroccino, the fresh burst of espresso can quickly turn into a delicious foamy cappuccino or smoth and creamy latte.

For a less techie option (read: affordable), Bodum's Chambord Espresso Maker offers a great alternative. The stylish stainless steel unit brews delicious and quality espresso right at the stovetop.

Another option is a Bodum French press, a brewing device that captures more of the coffee's intesne flavour and essential oils, which would otherwise be trapped in traditional drip brew machine's paper filter. Be sure to use a coarser grind in a French press, as finer grounds can seep through the press filter and into your coffee. 

The Pebo (Santos) from Bodum is another favourite among passionate coffee drinkers. This coffee maker extracts all precious oils from the coffee with its effective vacuum brewing process, entirely sealed off so no aroma can escape. You even get to watch the process through the two attached glass bowls like a science experiment!

The most time consuming brewing process is the cold-brew. Extraction relies on time rather than heat. Coffee grounds are steeped in water for about 12 hours at room temperature, then strained, resulting in a rich coffee concentrate that lasts for weeks in the refrigerator. If you have the patience for this technique , you will be rewarded with  a perfectly smooth iced-coffee, which eliminates any acidity or burnt flavours that are found if the coffee was brewed hot and then cooled.

Enjoy!

Homewerx x Olla | Plant Care and More

If you’re a Homewerx regular, you have most likely brushed up against our plant table. Peppered with an array of living containers custom designed for your home, this table gives you a taste of the work we do at Olla Urban Flower Project. In the weeks to come, I will be writing short posts that offer you more information about plant maintenance, upcoming designs, and our ethical purchasing practices; more info than I could ever fit on our tag!

Please feel free to suggest plant topics or to pose plant-related questions on the Homewerx Facebook page.

Quick tip for succulent lovers: Continue to water your succulents during the next 6-8 weeks as they will be going through a growth spurt. However, once the colder weather sets in (sorry, this is inevitable), cut your watering to once every second month. Succulents will become dormant and will not require the moisture. Overwatering over the winter is the single greatest cause of premature succulent death!

A Roll Through Stockholm by Paul Ismirnioglou

Currently displayed in our Black & White Gallery Wall is the series A Roll Through Stockholm by Paul Ismirnioglou. Vibrant, colorful and full of depth, the stunning photographs look great together in the gallery or as one hanging on its own. If you were thinking of adding more artwork in your home, these prints are definitely worth a look.

About the artist: Paul Ismirnioglou’s creative inspiration all began in the early 80’s as a child living in San Diego where he was surrounded by skate boarding, music and southern California beach culture.

Eager to be encompassed by the subtle magnitude and urban dwelling of Vancouver, Paul made his way here to explore a new style of west coast living. Inspired to utilize photography as an outlet Paul began to visually document the evolution of street culture using film as his medium of choice. As street culture evolved Paul’s work has expanded through travel and exposure to a global culture.

Paul’s “Roll through Stockholm” show captures mood, culture and a way of life. Working with Mamyia 7, Contax T2, Olympus XA cameras and ten rolls of film this work represents Paul’s perspective of Stockholm and his outlook on Scandinavian lifestyle.

Take a look through more of Paul's work here, or stop by the store to see the series first hand. Prices upon request.

Homewerx Staff Picks: Allana

We love our coffee and cocktails. Click here to shop our staff favorites...

Cocktails from Charles Schumann and SCHOTT ZWIESEL

This weekends cocktails are inspired by the Basic Bar Collection, our latest arrival at the store. We'll be trying our hand at some of the recipes by none other than Charles Schumann, shown below served in some of the designs from his bar collection developed with SCHOTT ZWIESEL.

SPRING FEVER served in TUMBLER SOFTDRINK N˚2

2 cl (0.7 oz) lemon juice
2 cl (0.7 oz) mango syrup
4 cl (1.4 oz) pineapple juice
6 cl (2 oz) orange juice

Put crushed ice in shaker. Add all ingredients. Shake.
Strain into tumbler softdrink N˚2 filled with crushed ice.

NEGRONI served in TUMBLER SOFTDRINK N˚3

2 cl (0.7 oz) Vermouth rosso
2 cl (0.3–0.7 oz) Campari
1–2 cl (1.7 oz) gin
Lemon peel

Put ice cubes in tumbler softdrink N˚3.
Add spirits. Stir. Twist the lemon peel over the drink, then add the twist.

CLARITO MARIA served in MARTINI CONTEMPORARY

2 cl (0.7 oz) gin
2 cl (0.7 oz) Campari
2 cl (0.7 oz) Carpano Antica
   Formula
Lemon peel

Put ice cubes in shaker. Add ingredients. Shake well.
Strain into chilled martini glass. Twist the lemon peel over
the drink, then add the twist to the drink.

WHITE RUSSIAN served in COCKTAIL GLASS

3 cl (1 oz) vodka
2 cl (0.7 oz) Kahlúa
Cream

Put ice cubes into cocktail glass. Add spirits and stir.
Strain into tall cocktail glass. Gently pour lightly whipped cream over the back of a
spoon into the drink.

Photos and recipes via schott-zwiesel.com

Homewerx Staff Picks: Takumi

CLICK HERE to shop Takumi's choices plus more favorite picks from the Homewerx staff.

What's your favorite pick?

Diana World Tour lands in Toronto by way of Vancouver!

At Homewerx we are blessed with the opportunity of working with a very talented bunch of local artists. 

Among those, Carlo Brito and Silvana Iriondo Nervi who were recently invited by Lomography to customize a Diana F+ camera for a very special exhibition in Toronto.

We thought we would share these with you because, quite frankly, we are super impressed and we think you will be too!

First up is Silvana's camera. She created hers with "modeling clay, paint, and acrylic pieces of cheap jewellery".

Next is Carlo's, who meticulously painted his camera with metallic spray paint, repackaged the booklets and built a very fine looking box with his signature hip, clean and modern aesthetic.



In addition, here are a few of our other favorites:
Amy Ball's Honey drenched Diana which looks good enough to eat, maybe with a side of Jason Nip's grassy creation.  We also like Melissa Auf der Maur's Postsecret-esque camera and letter.