Style & Decor Blog

Sometimes a picture just speaks for itself.

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

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?

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

For more information: Tiles of Spain 

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

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.

*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.*