If you're talking about the Canadian aesthetic that's been in the grind of deco media starting several years ago up to just a minute ago, it all looks the same to me.

If someone were to say to me they prefer the Canadian design aesthetic, one *kind* of design imagery would immediately pop in my head. Candice Olsen, Sarah Richardson, Linda Reeves -- they all do basically the same thing and have the same look IMO. So much so that they might as well all be one entity as far as I'm concerned. You can throw Debbie Travis in there too -- fundamentally, not a lot of diff from the others, she just paints all the stuff she can get her hands on really bright colors. It's a cookie-cutter aesthetic.

If someone were to say to me they preferred American design over Canadian, a zillion very different images pop into my head: Jamie Drake's "New American Glamour", Kelly Wearstler's "Maximalism", Mario Buatta "The Prince of Chintz" opposite Steven Gambrel's use of solid colors, or Miles Redd's "Enduring Style", or Bunny Williams' she-needs-to-have-a-garage-sale-it's-too-darned-cluttered-for-my-taste-look. All those images flood my head at once with the words American design aesthetics.

All the important Canadian designers I can think of matter in a lame 'HGTV important' way. It's not inspired design like my very short list of important American designers. It's likely the issues I'm bringing up are due to my own ignorance and maybe Canadian design aesthetic really isn't as one-note as I perceive it.

I'm canadian but I wouldn't be able to debate this point ; specially not if hgtv is the showcase to draw from, tv shows try to appeal to the north american masses. Linda Reeve's magazine Canadian House and Home is excellent and features canadian designers from coast to coast, the decors are as varied as they can be in the U.S. from one state to another.

so paint chips, I have no clue as to what this woman was basing her affirmation on. I can't think of any canadian designer that is internationally acclamied such as the ones listed above but we do see influences of those decors here.

Never really thought of it before, but I do prefer Canadian and European versions of magazines to American. Maybe she was comparing the sort of mainstream looks that you find in these mags rather than the work of top level designers. Same with comparing the base level hgtv shows. The average American makeover shows are things like Carter can and Take this house and sell it, while the Canadian ones are Sarah Richardson, Candace Olson, etc. In which case, there is no comparison (and really, you're comparing apples and oranges in the case of those shows anyways).

From what I see on TV, and from what I have seen in architectural sample books, (limited experience, really),the architecture seems slightly different, probably related both to climate and perhaps a more direct English, French influence in Canada.

Other than that, I don't think there is much of an American aesthetic nor a Canadian aesthetic--I think there is a lot of regional, cultural, and class variations in each. We tend to be informed only of a narrow cross section of whats out there based on the main shelter magazines, and television shows: and since what I see in the magazines and what I see on HGTV are not really the same thing, I think we are looking at bits and pieces.

I'm Canadian and a little stumped by the 'Cdn aesthic'.
We don't have the big International Designers (that I know of anyways). I do agree there is variation in design by Region. As said above, climate, cultural differences can dictate this.

I'm a magazine decor-aholic (is that a word,lol)and can say though that my preference (but that's just my preference) are 2 Canadian magazine: Cdn House and Home and Style at Home over some of the US publications.

Canadian House and Home is wonderful, but the 'inspiration' pics could still be out of reach for many homeowners, unless you're fortunate to have lots of $.
Style at Home features some lovely homes...but not over the top deigns that would be out of reach for many.

Designers such as Kelly Wearstler have a beautiful style, but I personally can't buy into it.
On the other hand, someone like Sarah Richardson does some beautiful work that could be more easily replicated/more affordably (and that's up for debate sometimes)
than the 'big' designers. Yes, maybe more cookie-cutter, but I still think style/ideas more 'realistic' for more homeowners. As budge said, then we're really not comparing apples/oranges.

Just as there isn't one American design aesthetic, there isn't one Canadian one either.

Canada has so much more to offer than just what you see on HGTV. I think Canadian House & Home magazine showcases Canadian designers once a year.

Lots of names I recognize from TV and magazines:

http://www.houseandhome.com/designers

And Funcolors .....Debbie Travis is not even in their league. ;)

Just as I thought! She was crazy. :O)

I understand regionalized decor, but I had never heard of a Canadian look. Besides Candice, I really wasn't familiar with any Canadian designers. She didn't scream "Canadian" to me either. LOL

I can't see a difference between American/Canadian decor, but there is a difference between decorating here and Europe. If you're not wealthy, there really is *no* decorating per se. Europeans use what they have until it's worn out or breaks, and that includes everything from bedspreads to appliances. Americans are thought of as frivolous, in their homes, as well as in their every-day spending. Most homes only have one bathroom, and closets are very rare in bedrooms, unless it's a newly built home. Most of us would find the *typical* European home to be cramped. ;o)