Rugged rugs

This week's Hot Home Products column is all about outdoor rugs, which often serve the same purpose as indoor rugs do: define a space, create a soft surface for feet and pull together room decor. The rules for laying outdoor rugs are roughly the same as they for their indoor cousins. Buy a rug that's big enough so that the feet of your furniture - at the very least the front feet - sit on the rug. Here are a couple of pics of outdoor rugs that did not make it into this week's column, From top to bottom, the Chilewich and Zia Shag from Crate and Barrel and the Lavarao rug from Ikea.

 

 

Lord Wedgwood - my close personal friend

As I was saying to Lord Wedgwood the other day while lunching at the British Consulate...Oh pardon me, what's that, you didn't catch what I said? Nothing really, I merely mentioned that I dropped by the British Consulate the other day for luncheon (slightly surprised that there were no chip butties!) and had a good old chat with the completely charming Lord Wedgwood of the famous china dynasty. Okay, okay, there were about 30 other media types there, too, and it was to mark the 250th anniversary of this illustrious company. But still, I did talk to him, and we did chat about how deeply founder Josiah Wedgwood changed and affected the materials and design of the plateware and vessels we use for food and ornamentation. Josiah was also a fascinating individual - an abolitionist when it wasn't that popular and a great supporter of artisans and craftspeople. More about that in an upcoming feature for the New in Homes section. In the meantime, feast your eyes on the gorgeous teacups and saucers from this hugley historic company (and check out the Wedgwood exhibition at the ROM) And if you run into His Lordship, do tell him I say hello!

Very affordable, very E-Z

Visited Humble, Kim, and Colleen, the terrific morning team at EZ Rock today (so that's what the subway looks like at 7 a.m.!) As usual, it was a blast, especially the part where we gave away a summer prize package to a listener, with outdoor oil lamps from Urban Barn, and an Oster blender in my fave new garden tub from Garant.) We talked about fun ways to add a little elegance to your summer without breaking the bank. One idea was to splurge on some outdoor lighting. I’m loving solar options right now, but also can’t resist the lanterns from Urban Barn(see pic at right) we gave away. Such a cool shape, and I love the silver finish – very old Hollywood. These little beauties are just $16 for the small size and $24 for the larger. Another easy idea — if you have older glassware that you don’t use much (it’s easy to pick it up for a song at garage sales), dust it off, set a tealight inside each one and place them on the table. You’ll get amazing sparkly light that will look great in the garden. Cut crystal brandy snifters are especially effective.

Another great summer indulgence? Fruity drinks with cheap and cheerful (okay, they're also kinda silly, too!) umbrellas. Invest in a blender and mix up a batch of fun summery drinks like Margaritas or whip up healthy fruit smoothies. Serve them with chips and salsa, or fresh fruit and cheese, and invite a crowd over. Try the Oster blender. At about $50, it’s very affordable - it has a perfectly respectable 700 watts, and is darn good at crushing ice, a central star in summer bevvvies. (Check out the recipes below.)

Beach Ball (5 servings)

What you need

• 6 oz. citrus-flavored vodka
• 2 cups cubed seedless watermelon
• 1 medium banana
• 3 cups ice
• 2 tsp. sugar
• Garnish: watermelon triangles

What to do Put all ingredients except ice into blender. Cover and process until smooth. With motor running, remove feeder cap and add ice cubes. Continue to process until smooth. Pour into tall glasses. Garnish with watermelon triangle. Creative Cook’s Note: For variety, substitute cantaloupe or honeydew melon for the watermelon and use the same type of melon for the garnish.

FROZEN SUNSHINE (4 servings)

What you need

• 4 oz. vodka
• 2 oz. clear orange-flavored liqueur
• ¼ cup half-and-half
• ¼ cup frozen orange juice concentrate
• 4 cups ice
• Garnish: orange slices and paper umbrellas

What you do

Put all ingredients except ice into blender container. Cover and process until smooth. With motor running, remove feeder cap and add ice cubes. Continue to process until smooth. Pour into stemmed glasses. Garnish with orange slice and paper umbrella.

Pics that didn't make the paper - pity!

Simply did not have enough room in this week's Hot Home Products column to show readers images  of all the great outdoor stuff I found, so here are some bonus pics. In order, you'll see:

A fun outdoor mat from Urban Barn

The City bistro set, also from Urban Barn

The gorgeous Greenwich dining set from Andrew Richard Designs

Pretty, affordable glass lanterns from BouClair

A wooden bistro set, also from BouClair

Colourful glass markers from Vacuvin (available in June from the Bay and Home Outfitters)

A Brie baker for the BBQ from Gourmet du Village

   

 

 

 

Green keeps growing

New green products are coming onto the market all the time. I’m lucky enough to sample many of them. I’ve just discovered, for example, J.R.Watkins’ line of plant-based homecare products. I tried — and liked — the dish soap (about $8 for 710 ml), which comes in a lovely zesty lemon scent, as well as Aloe and Green Tea. Be aware that plant-based dishwashing liquids tend not to get as "sudsy" as conventional ones. I also tried the all-purpose wipes (about $9 for 35 wipes). Technically, I’m opposed to disposable wipes, but these ones are sorely tempting — they have a wonderfully nostalgic aroma and are biodegradable — and I made one last for several days by rinsing it out and using it over. I thought it might make sense to throw a pack in an emergency kit (of course you have an emergency kit!) at the cottage, where they’d be useful if the electricity is knocked out and we don’t have water. The line also includes a window cleaner, furniture polish and laundry soap.

 

I also recently sampled new stuff from Attitude, a Quebec-based company that makes green cleaning products that are both EcoLogo-certified and carbon neutral. They’ve just added an antibacterial disinfectant (about $4 for 800 ml), pre-measured dishwasher pouches (about $10 for 40 loads) and a natural air freshener (about $6). Now, I used to be pretty old-school when it come to freshening the air (ie. I open a window if the air smells). But that was before I became acquainted with the hideous array of aromas associated with the hockey bag of a 14-year-old boy. I quite like the subtle citrusy fragrance the Attitude air freshener has lent to my powder room. Come September, I’ll give it a real challenge, and stick it in the closet where the hockey gear gets stowed. I’ll report back!

Also been really happy with NatureClean’s eco-refill laundry box, a bag of high-concentrate liquid laundry detergent in a recyclable box. If you try it, just be aware that the product can get a bit sticky in the spout - that's  because the palm kernel oil and corn starch that's used to break down grease molecules is extremely concentrated and can form a film. Just pop it with a damp finger or keep a toothpick handy.) A three-litre eco-refill bag, which does approximately 129 loads, sells for about $25.

Just had to show you

It’s a long, tangled story, but I recently discovered the work of a young Toronto-based artist/illustrator named Lindsey Shields (you’ll be hearing more about her from me soon) and I fell in love with her  whimsical, witty prints. Her materials of choice include sheet music, wallpaper, and needle and thread. She’s also started working with a Spirograph (I got one of those for Christmas 1972, if memory serves) that she picked up at Value Village. I’ve included two pieces below —  Bionic Woman and Hero (Hhhm - is there a theme going on here?)  I just love Lindsey’s work. Don’t you?

 

Watering cans and ill-behaved birds - there is a theme here!

Every once in a while, I pick up an ordinary object and am amazed by the difference good design can make to functional items. My most recent discovery – the wonderfully ergonomic Botanica watering can from Garant. Use the side handle to tip the  dainty little spout at one end to, say, gently water delicate herbs in a window box. Use the central handle on top to pour from a large hole that can be used for bigger jobs, such as pouring water into the bird bath (a daily occurrence here at the Hodge Podge Lodge, after the Starlings get in there and behave disgracefully! Such ill-bred creatures.) It comes in green and blue – I’d love to see it in metal, but I guess you can’t expect that for $10. Speaking of things functional, can someone explain to me why I can’t find any decent string at any of my local big box stores? It’s all garbage, splitting and tearing like tissue paper when I so much as look at it. Thank goodness for Lee Valley Tools  where folks apparently understand the value of string that's got some backbone. I’ve got some on order as I type. And I’ll be needing a lot since about half of my backyard is covered in limbs that were removed from the way way WAY overgrown Maple tree. Tell me again what reason I had for deciding to cut and bundle the branches myself rather than pay to have it hauled away? Oh yeah, now I remember, there were about 250 reasons, all of them worth about a Loonie. Oh well, at least I’ve got good string…..thank you, Mr. Lee, I know you understand.

You go, grill

Believe it or not, I've never owned a new barbeque. We've always made do with others' cast-offs. Which may account for the questionable cooking results I've had in the backyard. So it was great to look into what's new in the marketplace for my Hot Home Products column this week, and to learn about some of the new trends.

Duff Dixon of Ontario Gas BBQ  predicts that summer 2009 will see an increase in the use of fruit woods and planks to smoke food, pellet smokers, and new lines of BBQ sauces, seasonings and rubs. He also predicts a revival of interest in the popularity of charcoal BBQ’s, and thinks that increasingly sophisticated outdoor chefs will turn to thermo pen technology to cook perfect meat.

Naz Cavallaro “BBQ Naz”, the resident chef for Weber, agrees that a meat thermometer is an essential ingredient for a perfect outdoor meal. “We’ve gone from having two types just a few years ago to having at least ten.” My personal favourite is the audible meat thermometer (about $45) that reads out the temperature in five different languages. (Although what it really ought to say is something like ‘you’re turning the sirloin into shoe leather, buddy!!!’, which IMHO, is the only thing that might work on the serial meat burners I happen to know.) If you do want to make the perfect steak, Naz suggests about two minutes per side on a one-inch cut to seal the juices. Turn it four times  for a total of eight minutes and make a quarter turn each time you flip. Then let it sit for a few minutes. For more recipe ideas from Weber, click here. Pssst, I’m totally coveting a Big Green Egg, shown above.

Design directions

Just came back from the launch of  the 2009 Rona by Design collection of renovation and decor products. Trend expert Josette Buisson, who consults for Rona, explained that a growing desire for simplicity, authenticity and decor that reflects personal values, underpins the three design concepts - Oasis, Spirit, and Global Village. I love the design scheme for a home office that reflects the Oasis style, pictured below. Hhhm, why doesn't my home office look like that? Clearly, I'm not spending enough time chez Rona....

Another big trend is a movement toward decor and accessories that are hand-made (or look as though they are!) I'll be blogging more about this later, but just to whet your appetite, I've also posted an image of  an interior door with stained-glass window that's part of a line by Jean-Claude Poitras that are exclusive to Rona. I love that they're so classic and yet so modern - definitely not a mass market look.

Keep it clean!

If it’s May, it must be Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. The Asthma Society of Canada suggests that reducing home allergens such as dust mites, pollen, pet dander and chemical fumes by cleaning will alleviate allergies and asthma symptoms. But the ASC also cautions again using harsh cleaning chemicals, which may in fact trigger attacks. So they’ve gotten together with Dyson, whose product line includes hand-held and upright vacuums specifically designed to deal with animal fur, to offer some natural home cleaning tips. One of my favourites — placing a charcoal briquette in each corner of the front hall closet to absorb moisture from coats and shoes that can cause mildew. For more useful tips, click here.BTW – If I did not owe Mr. Revenue Canada a healthy chunk of change right now, I’d treat myself to a new Dyson DC25 Animal upright (see pic at left). That’s partly because I’ve got a Siberian Husky, (she’d get the Nobel Prize for shedding, if there were one!) and a long haired white cat (who, by the way, likes to sit on my head while I write – go figure!) So OY! do I know animal fur!!!!! Also, I quite approve of the clever Sir James Dyson, who does good stuff, such as donating more than 100 vacuums to Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada.