Category — Trends

Tips and Advice on Exterior Prep, Painting and Picking the Perfect Paint Color

Front Porch ‘Before’ Picture

Hooray, Front Porch Painting Is Complete! (Sort Of)

A fresh coat of paint on the front porch can do so much for the overall curb appeal of your home. That’s what I kept repeating to myself as I worked away at the prep work before the actual painting began. Did you know that the most labor-intensive part of any paint job, whether it’s interior painting or exterior painting, is the prep? Yep, all the effort you put into brushing or rolling on that new coat of paint is wasted if you haven’t taken the time to properly prepare a surface to receive that paint. [Read more →]

STEPS 1 TO 6

Front Porch Ideas for a Great First Impression

(A complete list of sources is included below.)

1. Grunge Is Passé - Replace those grungy, old or dated chair covers with new outdoor pillows and seat cushions made from durable, UV resistant outdoor fabric.
2. Set the Table - Pick a summer bouquet of flowers, pop them in a vase or antique pitcher, and place them in the center of your outdoor table.
3. Make Your Presence Known - Large, easy-to-read house numbers, placed in an easy-to-see location makes finding you, well…easy. Choose house numbers that complement or are in keeping with the style of your house and outdoor decor.
4. Romancing the Porch - Hang gauzy outdoor curtains to inject a little romance. Outdoor curtains mounted on opposite sides will elegantly frame your porch.
5. Roll Out the Red Carpet - Arrange your porch furniture on a new outdoor carpet or place a new welcome mat at the front door. (The color is up to you.)
6. Front Porch First Aid - Revive your front porch and your entrance door with a fresh coat of paint.

[Read more →]

Why An Outdoor Kitchen?

In my humble opinion, an outdoor kitchen is all about enjoying ‘the conveniences’ associated with indoor meal preparation, dining and entertaining, in an outdoor setting. Cooking inside then transferring the food outdoors is simply not efficient. It also means that at least one person is stuck inside on cooking duty while everyone else is outside having fun. With an outdoor kitchen no one misses out on any of the action.

Outdoor Kitchen Trend

Designers talk about making your outdoor rooms an extension of the home. Just how much of an extension is really up to the individual’s wants, needs, desires and budget.

As the popularity of outdoor kitchens has grown, so too has the number of companies who specialize in outfitting this space. From elaborate outdoor food prep areas to luxurious outdoor seating and dining areas, their design ideas and high-end products are guaranteed to impress. Unfortunately, they can also leave you with a less than impressive balance in your bank account.

This post is for the average Joe (or Joanne) who doesn’t have loads of cash to throw around, but would still like to enjoy the benefits of an outdoor kitchen and backyard time spent with family and friends. The following is my list of tips and ideas on how to build an outdoor kitchen without breaking the bank.
[Read more →]

Continuing with the outdoor room theme…..Get a little closer to nature this summer with an outdoor shower!

I’ve always wanted an outdoor shower, alas, the perfect location has eluded me. Maybe you’ll have better luck.

(For the products, sources and pricing of items featured in this design inspiration board, see below.)

[Read more →]

Thursday, while visiting Canada Blooms - The Toronto Flower & Garden Festival, it became clear to me that outdoor rooms and outdoor kitchens would continue to be a hot home design trend for the summer of 2008. For Canada, parts of the United States and in many other places around the world, the spring and summer seasons seem to come and go in the blink of an eye. With such a small window of opportunity it’s not at all surprising that we want to maximize our enjoyment of outdoor living by enhancing our outdoor spaces.

To get you thinking ahead to sunshine-filled days and warm, sultry evenings, I thought I’d give you a peak at some of the outdoor room displays from Canada Blooms. [Read more →]

The other day I was at a Sears store purchasing a new dishwasher. With my mission completed, I was walking to the exit. All of a sudden a very flashy washer and dryer reached out and grabbed my attention. The units on display were in blue, but there was a large ad poster behind them showing the pair in other available colors. The orange was so bold and even more eye-catching. I turned to my mom and said, “I love that orange – it’s so fun.” A mental double-take mere seconds later and I said, “You know what, about 35 years ago when people were shopping for appliances, the same thing happened to them.” The only difference between now and then - they said, “I love that avocado green – it’s so fun!”.

What goes around comes around!

If money is not an issue, feel free to max out on the latest home remodeling trends. On the other hand, if your budget is more limited (like many of us), you’ll want to pick and choose the trends you incorporate in your renovations, remodeling or interior decorating a little more wisely. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the designer looks you can create with less. [Read more →]