Expensive overhaul
There are times as a designer when you look at a space and you just know that there are some fundamental issues that are going to be very expensive to fix. Unfortunately, the home belonging to the Cusaks is a great building, but is in desperate need of an outdoor overhaul. This is a very […]
Thanks Martha, I think
Thank you Martha. The truth is I’m not really sure I feel thankful about Martha’s foray into baring some of her octogenarian bits for Sports Illustrated. However, from what I’ve read, as a woman I’m supposed to be pleased for another woman’s accomplishments. If I viewed the cover photograph of a “sports” magazine as an […]
Casting shade
According to recent online studies (Wikipedia), over 70 per cent of all outdoor useable space surfaces being installed in our backyards are either stamped concrete, manmade pavers or natural flagstone. This is creating a phenomenon called ‘urban heat islands’ in cities and towns. This study goes on to show that we are able to increase […]
May is Mental Health Month
May is Mental Health Month. I believe everyone has had to cope with a mental health issue. Everyone. When I was a brand new Mom, more than fifty years ago, I got home from a five-day hospital stay (which was kind of standard in the olden days) and everything about being a parent came rushing […]
Time for a new hedge
It’s that time of the year when the box stores (and even some grocers) all ship in large quantities of cedar trees. Big quantities usually mean cheap prices, which is part of the reason we buy lots! Another big reason is that in the early spring, we can usually see more of our neighbours then […]
Happy un-Earth Day
Earth Day! It’s been. It’s gone. Did you celebrate? How did you celebrate? LOML and I were prepared for a day of picking up litter on our road along with the safe disposal of hazardous waste and, maybe, a bit of yard-tidying. We loaded the hatch of the Rolls-Can-Hardly with our modest collection of hazardous […]
Whimsy in the garden
Has the joy of gardening really returned? Is it possible after such a long drought that homeowners really want to garden just because they enjoy it? Thankfully, all signs point to ‘yes’. I’ve been back and forth across the country over the last two months, speaking at home shows and gardening events. In every city, […]
All Y’all
Where did all the pronouns go? I know you might be thinking, “Don’t go there, Theresa”. But I’m not talking about the pronouns we use to describe ourselves, I’ll get to that. I’m talking about the pronouns that have disappeared from our commentary/conversation. Sometimes it sounds as if we just don’t have the time to […]
Luxury backyard kitchens
Outdoor kitchens continue to be a backyard luxury that more homeowners are making a reality in their spaces. With more appliances being built to withstand our Canadian environments, any options that you have inside are now available outdoors too—plus a few extras. Smokers and barbecues have become a focal point for the outdoor kitchen, but […]
WTF, WTH and Geez
Let’s start this column, again. I’m having a moment. Perhaps it’s a senior’s moment. Well, let the seasons change. March Break 2023 is in the books. March Break is something LOML and I don’t miss. March Break, it meant I had to book my time-off moments after the previous March Break ended to ensure that […]