Girl About O-Town

This girlaboutOtown never ceases to be amazed at the breadth and depth of blogging talent here in Ottawa.  It’s been awhile since I posted a blurb about a new blog, but I just couldn’t help myself with CapitalOh, a fabulous, fun and refreshing addition to Ottawa’s burgeoning blogging scene.

CapitalOh is the brainchild of  Carleton University students Julia Brucculieri and Sarah Van den Berg, who turned their tepid first impressions of Ottawa into a personal project.  Their mission? To uncover the ‘cool’ in Canada’s capital city and to pinpoint the positive about the place they’ve chosen as home for the next few years.

What’s great about CapitalOh?  Well for starters, Julia and Sarah have a solid concept.  They’ve also got a way with the camera, which they carry everywhere they go.  CapitalOh posts short, but punchy, and heavy on the visuals.  And, the CapitalOh girls make no promises.  They post only when they’ve got something to say.  Phew!  No filler.  No fluff.  Just a sassy little snippet whenever they can find the time, which makes for easy and enjoyable reading. For a couple of self-professed ‘beginners’ these two seem to have a lot figured out.  Smart!

Anyway, I recently received a lovely little note in my inbox from, this dynamic creative duo.  Just to say hello!  The next thing I knew, we were set to meet in person and swap stories about what life is really like behind the blogging scenes.  A couple of coffees and a BLT later, I knew for sure a ‘blogging Ottawa’ blurb was overdue!

So, without further adieu, here are Julia and Sarah’s answers to a few of my Q’s!

Julia – Where are you from, and why did you choose to come to Ottawa?

I’m from Stoney Creek (Hamilton) which is about five hours away by car. I came to Ottawa for school (Carleton), and I really needed to finally move out on my own!

Sarah – What about you? Why did you choose Ottawa?

Julia and I have similar stories. I’m from just outside Peterborough and I needed to switch it up. Ottawa wasn’t my first choice, but I’ve grown to love it.

 How did the two of you meet and what inspired you to start Capital Oh?

J - We met living on residence at school, and then discovered that we were in the same program.  The rest is history. I guess we just started talking about how we wish Ottawa was a little more exciting and had more stuff for us to do, and then we decided, “why not find the exciting things ourselves?”.   We figured even if no one read our blog, we would still have fun finding the “cool” in our capital city.

S - Exactly. We were in very similar situations, not really sure if Ottawa was right for us, and not really sure if our program was right for us.  So, we both agreed we needed to make the best of it somehow and Capital Oh saved us, really. It’s definitely changed our situation and blessed us with so many incredible opportunities. Who knew?!

How has writing Capital Oh influenced your perspective on life in Canada’s capital city?

J - Writing the blog has definitely helped me realize that Ottawa is actually pretty cool. There are tons and tons of great places and people that we’ve come across, and so many more that we haven’t seen. Writing the blog has also introduced us to a whole new crowd here in Ottawa, and it’s great to meet others who are interested in what we do, and who share similar interests. Ottawa is not as bad as I put it out to be when I first moved here, that’s for sure.

S -Ottawa is so interesting. It’s definitely aesthetically beautiful with the Hill and the parks and the market is so adorable, but initially I was like, “Is that all there is here?”.  You really have to look in Ottawa.  Like Dalhousie, for example, the shops further down Dalhousie are so unique, and yet so hidden! Which I guess is a part of what makes them special.  I think it’s kind of a work-in-progress as a city, the newer shopping districts like Wellington West and Dalhousie still seem to need a little bit more shops…restaurants…festivals—and no one knows about them—but I love where Ottawa is going.

Julia – How do you decide which Ottawa destination you’re going to explore next?

Sometimes we hear of events that we think would be great for our blog so we do our best to make ourselves present whenever we can. We also just browse the internet and read other blogs about the city. We currently have a list of places that we need to visit, and we’re slowly working on checking them all off.   Who knew there was so much to see here?

Sarah – Of all the stops you’ve made along the way, which place has left the biggest impression on you?

There have been quite a few! I think the really unexpected ones are my favourite. Usually Julia and I know where exactly we’re headed before we go there but when we find somewhere along the way that we hadn’t even planned on going to.  That’s my favourite.  June’s in Hintonburg, or Falldown Gallery were two places that I didn’t even know existed (well, Falldown had literally just opened at the time) and they were both so special. You’ll have to read the blog for more on those places!

Julia – You work at one of my very favourite places in Ottawa, Mags & Fags on Elgin Street. What is the best thing about working there?

Oh my goodness, it’s one of my favourite places too! (I may be slightly biased…but that’s besides the point!). I’m glad to hear you love it as much as me. I’d have to say working there is just so much fun. The staff rule, the owners (my bosses) are great, and we also have the best customers in the world. I suppose working on Elgin means dealing with quite a few characters, but I think that just adds to the whole atmosphere. Plus, I am probably one of the biggest collectors of magazines EVER, and working there is like my heaven. I have to use all of my will power to not spend every dime of my pay check on new glossies. I don’t think I could only love one part of it – I am so happy being able to work there. And, we have joined the Twitterverse, so that is always fun!

Sarah – Do you have any favourite magazines? What about them interests or attracts you?

Julia is the magazine expert. I feel like I don’t know half as much as she does about magazines. I think for me, I like magazines that use a more human approach to fashion. I follow trends, I see shows, but I think I’m most fascinated with how people relate to what they wear. I’m always interested in the way people feel in something, or any stories they have to share about a piece. I’m really into Worn lately, because that’s sort of what they do. It’s more of Journal, it’s articles verses photography spreads (not that I don’t love that, I’m saying all this while I have a stack of Vogue and Elle magazines in my room), but it’s a totally different approach to fashion. They seem to be more interested in a grassroots (I can’t believe I’m using that term, I’m such a university student) approach to fashion that I really respect.  *Cough, cough*–I also read Us Weekly religiously–*cough, cough*

Julia – How would you describe your personal style?

Right now, I am trying to go for a very cool yet classic look. I usually opt for a pair of skinnies with a button down – I don’t think you can ever go wrong with a button down. I also love trying out trends, and having fun with my clothes. For the most part, they are pretty simple and plain. I am really taking inspiration from brands like Chloe, Celine and Alexander Wang right now.

Sarah- Tell us a little bit about where you live. To what extent does it reflect your tastes & preferences?

I’ve always said that Ottawa is a city with a small-town feel, and as someone who essentially grew up in both Toronto and the country, the articulation of urban and rural has always been a huge part of my identity (all I ever listen to is classic country music and Kanye West). I kind of like that Ottawa has a market downtown, is greener than most cities and yet also welcomes a diverse population, embraces cultural differences and houses Canada’s big decision-makers at Parliament Hill. It’s definitely humbler than Toronto although, let’s be honest, some may call it dull at times.

 Julia – What about you? What has been the most surprising thing about living Ottawa so far?

I guess the most surprising thing about living in Ottawa for me has been…This is a tough one…Maybe the fact that Ottawa doesn’t have an H&M. What is up with that?!  Haha, I’m not really sure about this one though. I did think it would be a little more lively. It’s pretty surprising how early things seem to close.

 Sarah – How do you think the experience of writing Capital Oh will help you in the future?

It’s already helped me! I’ve received incredible job opportunities, I’ve networked like crazy, creating connections with people that I know I will benefit from once I start working, and I’ve been just overall so inspired. I’ve learned how to conduct interviews, how to use social media, plan events-I’m set! I’ve learned how accessible it is to create something wonderful that everyone can benefit from and that in itself, has me hopeful for the future.

Photos by Ming Wu.  Left-Julia Brucculieri (l) and Sarah Van den Berg (r) at Ottawa Fashion Week.  Right – Sarah Van den Berg (l) and Julia Brucculieri (r).  

It has been awhile since installment three, but today’s entry is fourth in a series of posts that outline the reasons why this girlaboutOtown believes design is coming on strong on Ottawa.

This girlaboutOtown has been watching Ottawa’s design scene for a long while.  Even before I went back to school or launched my new business Housters & Co., I was intensely interested in the state of the local industry.  Early on I confess, I lamented the lack of a Pottery Barn (as an indicator of local interest), but later I watched more carefully because I was considering a career change.  Since the dawn of the decade though, I have been curious about the supply & demand for design, and I’ve wondered how anyone was supposed to make a living!

After years of relying on word of mouth referrals, many Ottawa-area design businesses have only recently begun to market, and rates have traditionally been near impossible to narrow down.  Design-types have been reluctant to reveal their pricing structures, and by all accounts, many were working for way less than their time was worth.

Enter Canadian design guru Kimberly Seldon, who came to town last spring with her Business of Design seminar series.  Wowza.  Did this woman ever make waves!

Image via style North

Drawing on her many years as a highly successful professional interior designer, tastemaker and savvy entrepreneur she decided it was high time she shared her experience with others.   Her three-part seminar targeted at practicing designers and decorators digs deep into the details of running a professional full-service design business.

The Business of Design series seems to have taken the Canadian design community by storm, with seminars being offered in cities across the country, and a growing group of graduates eager to offer glowing reviews!  The course has proven so popular that Kimberly actually published Part 1 in print form, which is available here to the public.  Anyway, I am sorry I missed Kimberly Seldon’s Ottawa appearance, but let me assure you  – I have witnessed its impressive impact!

Almost overnight, those who attended the three day session last spring were proudly pronouncing themselves professionals worthy of fair compensation.  They were empowered to stand up straight and to publish their rates.  Well guess what?  This is great!

Not only does this help practitioners in the city compare and clarify their offerings, it exposes the economic value of design.  It also means consumers have an easier time deciding if they want design help and if they do, what kind!  Let’s face it: this makes the possibility of engaging a professional much more accessible to an average person, which is in turn, is better for designers and clients alike.

To me, it will be interesting to see what transpires over time.  This increased transparency puts the onus on design and decorating professionals to position their particular niche clearly and to articulate their process and pricing structures fully.   This also means that consumers may choose to rely less on accreditation papers and more on professional credibility when determining who to hire.  In any case, my hope is that Ottawa’s design community rises to these challenges together, and makes the most of the opportunity ahead.