{ Posts Tagged ‘outdoors’ }

cityline – backyard benches… on a budget!

Doesn’t it look like I’m getting in trouble here?

cityline cityline backyard benches... on a budget!

I had a BLAST pulling together three style-for-less vignettes for yesterday’s episode of CityLine… Watch the video clip of my outdoor rooms crafted from the best budget finds at IKEA, Canadian Tire and HomeSense by clicking here!

Which budget bench from the vignettes best suits your backyard?

Malaro acacia wood folding bench, $80, IKEA

ikea cityline backyard benches... on a budget!

Hudson resin-wicker weave loveseat, $230, Canadian Tire

canadiantire cityline backyard benches... on a budget!

Lutyens-style green lacquer, $250, HomeSense

homesense cityline backyard benches... on a budget!

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rockin’ porch rockers

All that’s missing is a warm summer breeze, a pitcher of iced tea and a great book… Oh, and a porch wouldn’t be amiss.

Favourite Porch Rocker, acacia/mahogany, $240, Pier 1

picture 1 rockin porch rockers

Resin wicker outdoor rocker, $130, HomeSense

picture 2 rockin porch rockers

Loll Adirondack Rocker, recycled polyethylene in British Green, $598 US, Design Within Reach

picture 3 rockin porch rockers

Applaro rocking chair, acacia, $79, IKEA

picture 4 rockin porch rockers

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funky bunky playhouses for kids

Maybe it’s the craze for everything Alice in Wonderland right now – think bizarre angles and trippy, kid-pleasing colour schemes – but I thought these were rather cute.
picture 21 funky bunky playhouses for kids

picture 41 funky bunky playhouses for kids

picture 31 funky bunky playhouses for kids

Do you not totally wish you were five years old all over again?

These playhouses are from Canadian-based company Funky Bunky, and it’s impossible not to smile at the crazy, cartoonish construction: angled walls, tilted windows and a sloping twisted roof, with customizable colours and themes.

Coolest of all, you can design your very own custom Funky Bunky online (it actually comes together before your eyes, based on your specifications – seriously, SO much fun!).

Here’s my custom-designed Funky Bunky… (Or it would be, if I was indeed five years old again. Ahem.)

picture 5 funky bunky playhouses for kidsIt’s all about the porch!

Kits begin at around a $1,000, and come shipped in eight pre-built pieces that take about an hour to assemble with basic home tools. For more info and to order, go to the Funky Bunky website, or call 1-877-311-1967.

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brett’s adventures in ikealand – part three

Sometimes a picture just speaks for itself.

rhododendron bretts adventures in ikealand part three

A brilliant azure sky, soft pink rhododendrons (they grow like weeds throughout Copenhagen!), and the vivid cyan of a tarnished bronze statue conspire to form a lasting impression in the King’s Gardens at the heart of Copenhagen.

The King’s Gardens, Copenhagen

faux bois tile for outdoors

 

picture 18 faux bois tile for outdoors

Coming soon to a pool near you… It may look like wood, but the decking around this pool (no, that’s not my own backyard… Unfortunately…) is actually ceramic tile. In addition to its durability, this particular series has anti-slip properties. I wonder if that means horseplay IS allowed on this deck? icon wink faux bois tile for outdoors

Gomez Y Gomez Teka Tecnic series ceramic tiles (3.1 x 17.3″ each)

For more information: Tiles of Spain 

art shoppe balcony sofa

artshoppe2 art shoppe balcony sofa

I love outdoor furniture that could work just as well indoors, and this super-luxe number fits the bill perfectly. Let’s play “spot the on-trend elements” with Art Shoppe’s stunning Balcony Sofa:

* Glossy finish (Love the lacquer look!)

* Fretwork frame (So fresh and summery!)

* Versatility (Imagine this in a front entryway as a place to perch when you’re taking off your shoes; OR pulled up to an extended dining table as an alternative seating arrangement; OR on the balcony…)

* Full weather resistance (It’s going to take a licking and keep on ticking!) 

Doesn’t it make you want to host a garden party? I can definitely see myself curled up on this beauty with a pile of cucumber sandwiches…

Balcony sofa in Orchid White (90 x 31 x 40″)

Available at: Art Shoppe, Toronto, 416-487-3211

canada blooms contest

canadablooms canada blooms contest

Nothing says “Happy Valentine’s Day” like a bouquet of fresh flowers, and thanks to the folks at Canada Blooms and Pick Ontario, you have a chance at winning a spring-fresh arrangement just like the one depicted above through this very blog!

The perfect pairing, this give-away includes a lovely hand-tied bouquet of Ontario-grown flowers as well as four tickets to Canada Blooms, Canada’s largest flower and garden festival, with an approximate value of $125! Canada Blooms, hosted at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from March 18 to 22, celebrates the best of Canadian gardens, exploring the tradition of gardening and horticultural excellence from across the country. 

How to win?

Simply answer me this: “What’s your favourite cut flower?”

What florals work best in your interior spaces? How do you arrange them for maximum impact? What vessels work best with that particular type of flower?

Post your response as a comment on this blog, and I’ll choose a winning response on Tuesday, February 10, 2009. Canada Blooms will ship the tickets and arrangement to the lucky winner just in time for Cupid’s arrow to strike. icon wink canada blooms contest

 

*Contest closes February 9, 2009. Open to all residents of Canada, except those in Quebec. Not open to any Transcontinental Media employees, their families, or any other persons with whom they reside.*