In case you missed part one of our porch makeover, check out that post first to see what we started with.
That old, nasty porch is now a distant memory, because this makeover is now officially complete!
Here’s what we get to come home to now…
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{ Archive for the ‘Garden’ Category }
My guy and I moved into our house about 18 months ago. Since the moment we took possession, we knew that the front porch was in dire need of attention. Well, we’ve finally found some time to give it a much-needed makeover.
We’re currently at the mid-way point of the project, with the demo and re-build done, and I’m working on the fun part (the decorating) right now.
Let me begin by showing you what we started with. Here’s the before…
Sometimes a summer ‘staycation’ is the perfect way to rest, relax and rejuvenate. So what better place soak up some sizzling sun and glorious fresh air than in your own backyard retreat?
Break out the summer wine and cocktails, your favourite fresh fashions, a few good books and escape to your own personal outdoor oasis. This week Style at Home wants to embrace the backyard boards — those pins and pretty things that celebrate making your outdoor living space the best it can possibly be. Here’s what we found!
Keep reading to learn more about these beautiful boards…
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One of my all time favourite things to do during the warm months is to spend time on patios with friends and family. An afternoon sipping refreshing summer cocktails, nibbling on tasty treats and soaking up the sun along with riveting conversation is perfection to me.
So this week the Style at Home team and I are focusing on pretty patio related boards to help us all to pull together those wonderful elements that make patios a personal outdoor oasis.
Keep reading to discover who these boards belong to and how you too can make the most of patio season!
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Are you excited for Earth Day? While this special occasion doesn’t come with parades, presents, extravagant dinners or exceptional hoopla, it remains one of my personal favourite days of the year. Why? Because it is a lovely reminder that our natural world is a wondrous place, brimming with unrivaled beauty, stunning colour palates and incredible sights that cannot be replicated. Outdoor living is an amazing way to appreciate this beauty, so this week we’ve scoped out some of the prettiest Pinterest boards we could find that celebrate and embrace the greener aspects of the design world.
Keep reading to learn who these pretty Pinterest boards belong to, as well as gather some inspiration for making your life a little greener this Earth Day.
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A few days ago, I attended the preview for Andrew Richard Designs 2012 outdoor furnishing collection. The colours were vivid and bright, and the furniture cosy and inviting. I left the event wanting the warmer months to quickly settle in.
In the meantime, I thought I would share designer Andrew Bockner‘s tips to creating a relaxing outdoor retreat – as well as some of my favourite outdoor accessories for 2012.
- Andrew Richard Designs, Vista Teak Collection
I’ve been sharing the highlights from IDS12 in a series of four posts, organized by category, over the last couple of weeks. If you missed the other three posts in this series, rounding up the best woodwork, textiles and furniture, you can check them out right here.
For today, let’s wrap things up with some random curiosities!
With so many quirky items to catch your eye, it was impossible not to stop and pay attention to Metropolis Living’s booth. I’m a sucker for their vintage industrial vibe. If you are too, then pop on over their website and marvel at the creativity behind their pieces.
As fun as soaking up the sun can be in the summer, it’s less than ideal for an entertainer, their guests, or their food to roast in the heat. Whether you’re entertaining or unwinding with a book in the backyard, it’s always a good idea to have a place where you can escape the elements – rain or shine!
A sheltered nook creates the perfect retreat to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family. There are numerous ways to create a chilled outdoor oasis. So don’t sweat it… we’ve got three tips to keep you cool:
1 Umbrellas
Both classic and timeless, umbrellas are a great option to create shade during the summer. Instead of being confined to putting your umbrella in the middle of your table or lounge area, explore the use of cantilever umbrellas. Using two square 10’ x 10’ umbrellas, side by side, looks very chic and maximizes your shade area, while making a strong presence.
2 Pavilion
Pavilions are a great option for creating shade if you have the space. Ideal for defining an outdoor area, pavilions create an intimate environment for outdoor entertaining or provide protection from the sun for your family to play under. Combined with a comfortable sectional and low table, a pavilion creates a perfect backyard retreat.
3 Awning
An awning is a great space saving alternative to traditional shade products. When you don’t have a lot of room, an awning gives you the freedom to have shade and shelter when you please, at the twist of a handle.
Designer and entertaining expert Andrew Bockner is the owner of Andrew Richard Designs, a Canadian luxury furniture brand celebrated for its materials and designs. Andrew Bockner creates custom, unique experiences to enhance both the space and lifestyle of his customers.
Two years ago, my husband and I had a wonderfully small and intimate wedding in the backyard of my parent’s house. Due to the fact that the day we chose was the busiest wedding date of the year, and that we planned the whole thing in only a few months, there were no florists available. My mum, who has always had a keen design eye and a crafty nature, decided she could take on the task herself. She went to her favourite florist, Sweet Violets, ordered all the flowers and asked a few questions. From there she got to work, designing and executing all of the floral arrangements for the big day.
I asked her to disclose her method for anyone who might be interested in creating their own floral arrangements – whatever the occasion!
For the small arrangements that would be used at the dinner, she cut out a circle of sheer, green organza and pulled it around a small glass vase, using a piece of cream-coloured organza ribbon around the neck to secure it. She trimmed ten ‘super green roses’ and arranged them in the vase tightly, like a bouquet:
For the larger arrangements used in the ceremony, she ordered green spider mums, green al chamilla, white dahlia, white hydrangea, decorative cabbages and a collection of filler greens. She took 1 ft tall vases and made a grid on the opening using floral tape. First, she filled the grid with the greens, packing them tightly. She arranged the large hydrangea and cabbage and then filled in the rest of the vase using the spider mums, freesia, dahlia and al chamilla:
What do you guys think? Anyone have any great tips for creating your own floral arrangements?
There are about a handful of stores that can completely draw me in just with their window displays, and Midge {a floral and gift shop here in Toronto} is one of them.
Walking by the store last week, I smiled when I saw their window. A collection of bath sponges in the shape of carrots were grouped together in a tall glass vase. What an easy centerpiece to re-create! One item grouped together in a simple way like this makes the ordinary seem pretty fantastic.
Photos from my visit
1 Carrot shaped bath sponges, $4.95 each
2 & 3 A collection of potted orchids fill the store. I simply adore orchids and think that they look stunning in a house, instantly bringing to life a room. I sadly can’t keep mine alive, but when I do decide to try it again, I think I’ll be visiting Midge as the prices were quite reasonable.
4 If I’m going to a party or a dinner at a friends house, I usually skip the wine and bring an arrangement of flowers for the hostess. At Midge, their specialty is flowers, so take a peek at their fridge of ready-to-buy arrangements.
Midge
651 Mount Pleasant Rd, Toronto
(416) 488-0875
Lindsay Stephenson is our guest blogger who has her eye on all things fabulous in Toronto. When not scouting out the coolest stores and the fabbest finds in the city, Lindsay runs a graphic design business (Penny People Designs) and blogs about her life and home decorating projects on Aubrey & Lindsay’s Little House Blog.
