Inside design: Roots

S@H: But not everyone can afford vacation properties…

MB: Which brings me to another trend: creating an escape or sanctuary in our urban environment. You can do that in your backyard without having to hit the highway to Muskoka, Ont. I live in the city, and every time I walk into my home, I look out the windows and see nature. I need that -- we all do -- and we need to find ways to bring it home.


Easy does it
Casual living is low-maintenance living. Here are three ways to simplify your home -- and your life.

1 Go green with organic fabrics, like hemp, which are easy to care for but embrace a new spirit of environmentalism that's central to the idea of outdoor living.

2 Introduce nature into your home with easy-care furnishings that are made of beautiful renewable materials like bamboo or rattan.

3 Consider upholstering occasional chairs in a treated fabric that's rain and UV resistant but looks equally at home in your living room. Also, consider versatile pieces like small bistro-style tables, which work well as side tables indoors, and can be moved outdoors to serve as dining tables.

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