A trip to Elte — my bonafide “happy place”… I couldn’t think of a better way to start my day this gorgeous sunny Thursday morning than to attend a designer event in the showroom to meet the co-founders of Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams and experience their spring collection.  It’s one of my favourite pastimes to stroll through Elte and take in all the beautiful pieces that tend to linger in my mind long after I leave. Always a source of inspiration, unsurprisingly, Mitchell and Bob’s collection did not disappoint this design aficionado! The internationally acclaimed furniture company’s spring collection has the look and feel of modern design at its finest. Incorporating high aesthetic appeal with comfort at the forefront of all their designs,  Mitchell (who did most of the talking), assures that Bob is adamant about creating timeless pieces that people will not tire of even 10 years after they purchase them.

In their own words...a sectional from their spring collection

That longevity extends to their relationship with Elte. They launched Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams 23 years ago and their pieces have been available there for the last 20. In fact, ever since the Toronto retailer decided to expand their carpet business into furniture, enter Mitchell and Bob as permanent contributors to the furniture haven known as the Elte showroom.

Once upon a dining room chair

With memories of uncomfortable dining room chairs where guests would inevitably migrate to the the living room by the time dessert was served, in the spring of 1989, Bob and Mitchell created their first upholstered dining room chair with the goal of ensuring comfort and uninterrupted dinner parties in the future. There has been no looking back ever since. In the late ’80s, Mitchell + Bob broke free from the “five shades of beige” the furniture world was accustomed to and under Bob’s direction explored the world of florals, patterns and velvets introducing a new era in decor. They are modernists who love traditional pieces (specifically from the 18th Century), and it’s their application of modern colour and textures that create the perfect hybrid of then and now.

Penelope chair

HD&R was happy to hear that current influences for spring (extending into the fall collection) are ’60s and early ’70s-inspired. Expect a lot of curves and softness… Don’t expect dark colours to re-emerge this fall! I suspect the boldness of colour in this season’s trends in fashion and decor will carry through to the crisper months. With the beginning of summer breathing life throughout the GTA in the lovely month of May, I appreciate any sign (weather or otherwise) of extending my favourite season. Happy Victoria Day weekend everyone!

Bob, me and Mitchell

I bet you tell your mom you love her all the time. But today, go and say it with something pretty. No need to be cliche or get her the same old same old  for Mother’s Day. Here are a few suggestions of gifts that will be constant little reminders of how much you love her.

Give her something to lean on when you’re not around.

You are my sunshine pillow anthropologie.com $198

If a picture is worth a thousand words then a picture of you and her in a gorgeous and unusual frame is worth a thousand kisses. Maybe more.

Jeweled Peacock Frame pier1.com 14.95

Always with her wherever she goes.

The Mom heart lock charm tiffany.ca $195

You  love giving her flowers, but flowers won’t last, why not try a permanent bouquet.

Flora, original art work by Francisco Gomez artinteriors.ca $340

When you’re not around you can still leave her a note. Or advice. Or a request for your favourite meal. At least she won’t miss you as much that way.

Talk chalk board umbra.com $25

Her morning coffee will never be the same.

Rosie Riveter Best Mom mug cafepress.ca $18

Wishing mothers everywhere a happy Mother’s Day!

Q With a winter that almost didn’t happen this year, it has us thinking even more about the summer months ahead and how best to enjoy them in our outdoor space. What if the state of your deck needs an overhaul or perhaps a complete teardown? What type of condition can you repair your existing deck and what would you need to do to bring it back to life?

A Most decks are built with pressure treated lumber (PT), cedar or composite wood. Wood decks should be power washed and sealed annually to ensure a long life. If the deck has become weathered, try restoring it with an environmentally safe cleaning chemical prior to power washing and resealing. If the wood shows significant signs of cracking, splitting, separating or rotting, remedial measures should be taken beyond the surface treatment of chemicals. Consult with a deck and fence company in your area. Most will offer an assessment of the existing deck. A growing trend in the deck industry is the use of engineered wood composite in place of traditional PT/cedar lumber. The initial cost is offset by a virtually maintenance-free life for your deck and something you may want to look into.

Q If someone wants to add a sunroom to their home so that they can enjoy the outdoors throughout the year from inside their house, what is involved (building permits, inspections, etc.) from start to finish? Would you say that sunrooms add the most value to a home than any other outdoor investment? How much do they range from and is it overall worth the investment?

A You will need a permit to construct a sunroom. As the addition proposes to increase the footprint of the home on the property, you will first require clearance from the zoning department. You will also require the clearance of the conservation authority having jurisdiction over the property. Once obtained, you can apply for a building permit from the city. After the permits are issued, you may construct and order inspections at the required stages until completion. A sunroom can be either heated or not heated, if heated, you may want to factor in whether that will have an effect on the property assessment on the home. I hold the opinion that the investment you make in a renovation, be it a sunroom, deck or landscaping, should be viewed in relation to the existing home and seen on an individual basis, should return on investment be a significant factor in your decision. Your real estate professional should be able to offer insight and direction in this regard. The cost of a sunroom varies, as with all additions, however there are companies that specialize in modular sunrooms that will offer a complete estimate and some have showrooms you can visit as well.

PETER KHATAMI
Peter is co-owner of Nostco Construction, a design/build, project management and contracting firm serving residential and commercial clients throughout the GTA. With more than 10 years of industry experience, Peter prides himself in working tirelessly on behalf of his clients to transform vision to successful reality on every project. nostco.com

We often don’t think of our lawns as a collection of plants, but that’s what a typical lawn is. In fact, a 4,000-sq.-ft. (approx. 370 sq. metres) lawn can contain as many as four million grass plants. Unless you have a perfect lawn, following these tips will be well worth the effort!

01 Lawns need nutrients. The majority of lawns need regular fertilizing to stay thick and healthy. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, your local Landscape Ontario member garden centre will have a number of high quality options for slow release fertilizer. Do yourself a favour and measure the square footage of your lawn before you go shopping, so you know how much to buy. Follow the directions to the letter to avoid disappointment and clean up fertilizer that hits your driveway, sidewalk or road. Never ever spread it by hand.

02 Seed, seed and more seed. The most effective way to combat weeds is to have a thick lawn. Applying a good quality seed, once in the spring and once in the early fall will pay big dividends. Over the course of a season or two, you will see a marked difference in your lawn. Be sure to keep the seed out of your flower and shrub beds, and off patios or walkways (otherwise you will be picking grass shoots out of your garden all summer). You can put the seed on with a spreader, or even by hand if you wish.
03 Mowing. An essential part of keeping a lawn healthy is regular mowing. Generally speaking, mowing your lawn once a week will be sufficient. If you are feeling energetic, mowing twice a week during the month of May will produce a markedly thicker lawn, which is without a doubt, the best way to fight weeds. Regardless of what kind of mower you have, keep the blades sharp, and cut at a height of six to eight cm (two to three inches). Unless you want to give your lawn the slow kiss of death, mowing once every two weeks or less is really not recommended. A steady diet of infrequent mowing will cause your lawn to thin out—a lot! When it is extremely hot, do not mow during the middle part of the day.

04 Water. This topic is a constant source of controversy. Lawns need an inch of water per week. Rainfall is always better than the tap, so if your lawn is hanging in there with Mother Nature’s elixir, there is no need to pull out 
the sprinkler. If though, your lawn has not seen any 
appreciable moisture for three weeks or more, it’s time to take notice. It is customary to let your lawn go dormant in the summer, and that’s ok — to a point! If your lawn has gone three weeks or more without any appreciable moisture, it’s time to give it a drink. You don’t need to soak it, but leaving the sprinkler on for 15-20 minutes per spot, will give it enough water to stay alive, and once cooler temperatures and fall rains return, it will bounce back. Thousands of homeowners across the province lost turf due to drought last summer, and could have avoided the problem by giving their lawns a sip once a week during the dry spell.

05 Aeration. If your lawn is rock hard, it needs a breather—literally. Aeration allows much-needed oxygen to get to the roots. Spring or fall is great time to do it, by either renting one or having a lawn service do it for you. If you rent one, go over your lawn at least twice.

06 Grubs. If chunks of your lawn come up, and you see a white grub sitting on the soil surface, you have a problem. The only alternative available this year is the use of nematodes. These are tiny worm-like creatures that when correctly applied, will do serious damage to a grub. You can purchase them from your local Landscape Ontario member garden to apply on your own, or a
 lawn service can do it for you. Nematodes must be kept refrigerated until you apply them. If you buy from a store, be sure they have been kept refrigerated. A word of caution: you must follow directions to the letter, because if you don’t, you will have wasted time, money, 
and your lawn. If you have animals digging for grubs this spring, you can try applying nematodes, but control can be spotty. Applying nematodes in the early fall gives you a much better chance of controlling them. If you are applying nematodes yourself, be sure to speak with the experts at your local garden centre to make sure you are buying the correct species for Canadian lawns. Make sure you buy enough to apply 50 million nematodes for every 1,000 sq. ft. of lawn, and follow the directions.

07 Weeds. As mentioned before, a thick lawn is the best defence against weeds. There is a do-it-yourself product for lawns available at your local store. If you buy, make sure the label says it is for “use on lawns.” Lawn care companies are licensed to apply a similar product, and can effectively control most common weed problems.

08 Crabgrass. 2011 was an outstanding year for crabgrass. It was everywhere—so what can be done? There is evidence that corn gluten meal applied at very high rates will have some measure of effectiveness. You cannot seed those areas, though, for several weeks after treatment. An alternative is to overseed with a light top dressing of compost, early in the spring in the hope of thickening your lawn so it can out-compete the germinating crabgrass seeds.

09 Lawn insects. Aside from grubs, there are other insects that can plague your lawn. If you have brown spots, and there has been sufficient moisture to prevent drought, you could likely have an insect problem. If you are unable to find the culprits, consult a lawn service for a detailed analysis.

10 Top dressing. Adding compost that is free of weeds can be very beneficial. You don’t need to bury the lawn…a light coating of a ¼ inch will be sufficient. Be wary of manures that are not composted—they could contain a lot of weed seeds.

To find a professional member of Landscape Ontario near you, visit www.landscapeontario.com.

Lemon adds a great zing of flavour to food. Pops of this bright hue add that zing to decor too!

Say goodbye to those green apples and fill a decorative bowl with these faux mini lemons. Set of 12, $15. Visit urbanbarn.com

SERVED

Sommarlov Serving Bowls (set of three) $4.99. Visit

MILK 'N' SUGARED

SLICED

Victorinox Swiss Army Steak Knife 48. Visit swissarmy.com

Lemon shaped Sugar Bowl & Creamer Set $59. Visit williams-sonoma.ca

It’s May. There are quite a few celebrations in May, and why not? The weather’s great and we can make the transition to outdoor living, so bring it on! The more festivities, the merrier.

This year why not celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style, have a fiesta with some Mexican-influenced outdoor décor:

Laid back lounging:

anthropologie.com Tayrona Hammock $98

Beautiful barware:

pier1.ca Cobalt Rim Glassware $5-$22

Stylish seating:

cb2.com Mariposa Butterfly Chair $69.95

Mood lighting:

potterybarn.com Elise Punched Lanterns $193.20

Sensational serving pieces:

sears.ca Libbey Selene Chip'n'Dip

And Cinco de Mayo wouldn’t be complete without an authentic dish to serve:

Guacamole Auténtico

A delectable recipe by Scrumpdillyicious food blogger Leslie Styles

scrumpdillyicious.blogspot.com

Ingredients:

Did you hear that? That was the sound of a penny being struck.

While money is made, spent and lost all the time, today at 11 o’clock the last penny ever to be produced was struck at the Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg.

It’s a sign of the times, of inflation and of value. Not that it will affect your shopping. Shop till you drop – because now you don’t have to worry about pinching pennies!!!!!

It’s your favourite time of year. It’s time for spring cleaning, which means it’s time to clear the clutter and get organized!
Bedroom organizing is often last on the list because it’s a room that not many people see, but it should really be a priority because having this room under control will make your life a whole lot easier. And I’ll admit it – usually I’m the one who procrastinates until I have no choice but to do it! There are so many hiding spots and creative storage ideas for those items that don’t have a “home.”

Under the bed
What’s under your bed? If your bed doesn’t have fixed drawers already, make your own “closet on wheels” by attaching casters to wooden boxes. Paint them or stain them to match the colour of your bed to make them disappear into the furniture.

Electronics drawer
Dedicate one drawer in one of your night stands to charge your cell phone, MP3 player, headset and the like. Cut a small hole in the back
of the bedside table to feed wires of the chargers through, and be sure there is an outlet close by. Close the drawer and the mess is gone!

Jewelry & accessory storage
There are many beautiful jewelry boxes and holders that look great on a dresser, if you’ve got the room. If you consider yourself crafty, try making your own!

DIY Project
All you need is an old cabinet door and some kitchen cabinetry hardware: knobs, pulls and hooks. Mount the assorted hardware to the cabinet door as you please and voilà! It’s a beautiful display piece for necklaces, which can hang on the knobs, earrings can rest on the pulls, and bracelets can dangle from the hooks. Mount it to your wall and it can double as artwork.

Umbra’s Little Black Dress (pictured above) is another smart and savvy way to store your bling. Shaped just like your little black dress, it’s got clear pockets all over it for storage, and it can all be hung in your closet – out of sight, our of mind, until you need it!

The power of pegboard
Vertical space is often wasted space, and in the closet there is a ton of it! Installing pegboard to the walls in your closet will give you so much added storage you never even knew you had. Add hooks or nails to the pegboard, which will serve as spots to hang your belts, purses and scarves. Paint the pegboard the same colour as your walls for a seamless look.

Seasonal clothing
Soon the summer clothes will be coming out, which means the winter clothes will need to be stored away. Have you ever thought of using your travel luggage as a storage place for these bulky items? When the seasons change, do the switch!

It’s all an illusion
Taking five minutes out of every day to complete simple tasks in the bedroom like making the beds, keeping drawers and doors shut, and neatly folding linens and clothes. This will make your bedroom appear to be a lot more organized and a lot less cluttered.

Yanic Simard
Yanic is the design editor of New Condo Guide and principal designer of Toronto Interior Design Group. Specializing in residential and commercial projects, Yanic often applies his signature high/low and old/new combination techniques in developing his unique designs. He has created designs for clients in Toronto, Montreal and Miami, and appears as a regular guest expert on Citytv’s CityLine. tidg.ca • facebook.com/yanic.simard • twitter.com/yanicsimard

How fantastic that spring has arrived and we are on the precipice of summer and all of its delights. It is without a doubt that we all are longing to get outside and enjoy the weather. I can remember when every backyard had a picnic table and perhaps an umbrella if the household was a little more well off. We just put the picnic table under a tree and were shaded that way.

Now it seems that the backyard isn’t complete unless it has a full complement of furniture that essentially mirrors the rooms and furnishings of our homes. I have said in the past that it makes good sense to have the eating area closest to the house to facilitate the movement of food to the table, to have a family room halfway down the garden which may have a couple of outdoor love seats, or a sectional sofa and a coffee table and perhaps in the back of the garden, a single chair or perhaps two so that one can sit on their own with a book or paper and a glass of wine. That is likely the best way to make use of the outdoor space unless you have a pool in which case you will also have some space for loungers to soak in the sun. Back in the era of picnic tables, there was no discussion of sun screen which seems to permeate the outdoor experience now, and there was little to change except for perhaps :give the old’ picnic table a coat of paint or stain.

Now that we are enjoying the yard in a whole new way, we also have the need to be able to change up the look and feel year by year. It doesn’t mean that you need to rush out and buy a whole new set of furnishings, which could cost you from several hundreds of dollars to many thousands. You have the option of being able to augment what you already have. On a practical level, you may want to consider adding heating. There are many firepits available that may look as though they are a small campfire even though they are gas driven, but there are also many outdoor fireplaces that can be hung on the fence or much more modern glass cylinders that may have an architectural twisted flame. If you don’t want to have an open flame, there are many people who purchase overhead heat sources so that they are able to extend the season in the great outdoors. There are propane-fuelled units as well as infrared heaters and both can work well in terms of keeping the space warm enough to enjoy for a month on both ends of the summer. In our climate, those additional months can really make a difference.

“This year’s interesting trend colours are found in pinks, yellow golds, navy to azure blues and most certainly orange.”

The next thing you may want to adjust year by year is the colours that are used to accent the area. This year’s interesting trend colours are found in pinks, yellow golds, navy to azure blues and most certainly orange. If you are going to add some throw pillows to the space and may want to change them again next year, then consider getting some outdoor pillow inserts and covering them with an outdoor fabric. Check with your fabric store to select the right kinds of fabrics, resistant to moisture and mildew and mould. You can choose to change the fabrics on the sofa and chair cushions, however that can be slightly more complex and expensive. If you do choose to make a change in that area, then I would consider staying with a neutral palette like grey or cream and look for fabrics that also have a strong pattern. If you are looking to be more fashion-forward then you may want to consider complex fabrics that have an international appeal. Often with this look, one is perfectly certain that the fabrics were purchased on a vacation to destinations like Europe, or a variety of African countries. The “folk” feel makes the fabrics on trend. The safest choice may be a tone-on-tone patterned grey or a black and white combination that would allow those fabrics to work for presumably a number of years to come.

One of the elements that I have always loved in terms of the feeling and elegance it offers the yard, is white or off-white soft drapers. These can work to reduce the amount of bugs that may be present for an outdoor meal; they can soften the amount of light and perhaps reduce your exposure to the sun. I really love the idea of draperies that surround decks or covered areas, even if the draperies are hung around the posts and tied back. The feeling of being in an exotic island, looking over the sea as the breeze billows the drapes is appealing even if you are in the backyard on a warm evening.
If you are hoping to leave things essentially as they are but still want to inject some colour and detail, then I would consider colourful elements like candles, placemats and napkins or even colourful acrylic stemware to add a pop of excitement to the table. We certainly are no longer thinking about faux finishes and dad’s old chair–and it’s always nice to get outside in style.

Glen Peloso

Glen Peloso, design editor at Home Décor and Renovations and principal designer of Glen Peloso Interiors, has been designing spaces for commercial, corporate and residential clients for more than 15 years. You’ll recognize Glen as the host of such television design shows as Restaurant Makeover, Take This House & Sell It and Renovate My Wardrobe, to name a few, as well as from speaking engagements at home shows across Canada. glenpelosointeriors.com

Art provides the opportunity to express your style in a very personal way. While art can often get put on the backburner after the dust of a renovation has settled, the personalized story that art tells about a homeowner shouldn’t be forgotten. Today there are many avenues in which art can be purchased, so making your personal mark on your home might be easier – and less expensive – than you think.

The first place I go when selecting art for a client is a traditional gallery. In Toronto, Canvas and Art Interiors are my local favourites. The staff is trained to assist you in picking just the right piece for you and your space. And best of all, a gallery will often allow you to borrow the pieces for a time period to “test drive” in your home. As the art on your walls can really change the colour scheme and mood of a room, being able to see it in the context of the rest of your space makes for a stress-free investment. A visit to a gallery is also a great way to find new emerging artists, and support their work at more introductory prices.

PICTURED ABOVE Add a personal touch to your walls by using your own photographs in a custom painting like this one by Toronto encaustic artist, Becky Simpson of RLS Studios

Additionally, I love to invest in artists by commissioning custom pieces. When you commission a piece, you can work with an artist to get exactly what you want, and this has yielded gorgeous outcomes for many of my clients’ spaces. Artist Becky Simpson of RLS Studios will take a client’s photograph, enlarge it to their desired size, and through a wax transfer technique called encaustic painting, create beautiful, textured, large-scale works. The texture created through the dripping wax is truly unique. I also love working with New Brunswick-based abstract artist Matt LeBlanc, who will take my client’s paint and furniture colours and create an abstract piece customized to their existing décor. He ships them to me in Toronto and it is always a fun surprise to see what he has come up with. Commissioning a custom piece of art is a great way to support the local art community and to ensure you have a truly one-of-a-kind piece on your walls.

Lastly, I love using personal photographs to create art. This can often be an inexpensive approach when conscious of budget. If a digital image is large enough, I will take it to a local print shop, enlarge the photo to poster size, and place it in a modern frame. With digital software it is also easy to manipulate an image to change the colours, increase the contrast, or crop for dramatic emphasis. Also, Internet sources such as canvasstock.com will take your digital file and transfer it onto a stretched canvas, giving you a gallery look without the gallery price tag.

Art doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be “you.” With the multitude of ways that art can be purchased, whether on foot or online, the perfect piece for your space is waiting to be discovered.

Lisa Canning is a designer and owner of Lisa Canning Interiors.
lisacanning.ca, 416.587.9780