Cutting edge knives

Headed down to the CNE this weekend? If you find yourself in need of a break from cotton candy and dizzy-making rides, check out the display trailer set up by Victorinox, the venerable Swiss company that makes high-quality knives. Although I knew they were the creators of  the iconic Swiss Army knife, I had no idea the company had been making kitchen knives for over a century.

They also now make clothes, and GORGEOUS watches that are, unfortunately, a bit beyond my budget. Inside the seek Airstream, which was commissioned for the company’s 125 anniversary celebrations last year, you can check out their gear, including the new ceramic cutlery collection, which I test-ran yesterday.

LOVE these knives – they’re beautifully balanced, light-weight (about half the weight of steel) and super sharp. I also love the white blade. The company also says the material ensures great edge retention and resistance to corrosion and acids. The pic above shows the six-inch chef’s knife, which retails for about $125 and should be in stores within the next month or so. (I’ll confirm availability as soon as I know).

I do like making the bed (but I refuse to iron it!)

Some people get up every day and do important stuff, like run a hospital emergency department, teach unruly children or rescue kitty cats from trees. Me, I spent the morning “dressing a bed” to get ready to shoot a segment for Real Life.

I had pulled a selection of bedding from Ikea, and it was so much fun. Decided I simply adore the new Renate Slinga bedlinen. So much so that I had to take a quick couple of shots to show you. Frankly, if I was really hard-core about this, I would have ironed the bed (yes!), but I figured the show was called Real Life and, let’s face it, there are no ironed beds in real life, just like there’s no trigonometry.

Emma Jones, who designed the line, said she wanted the collection to “be happy and inviting, with fields and garlands of beautiful flowers”. Mission accomplished, Ms. Jones. And I was delighted to learn that a queen size duvet cover and two pillow cases is $90. I can do that!

Creating my own bedscape was so much fun that I plan to do another one next week. It will be a bit darker, though, and more subdued — using my fave DKNY crimson quilted cover, and house-brand linens in slate grey from Bed Bath and Beyond. Yes, I'll take pics. I know it’s not a cure for cancer, or even brain surgery, but hey, it’s what I do.

Back in the city (sigh)

Just back from a wonderful week at the cottage, struggling mightily to get back into work mode. So tragic. But I’ve decided to lessen the trauma of re-entry into the 416 by incorporating a little bit of cottage life into my urban environment. Here are three things I will do at home to create a more laid-back vibe.

Create a reading nook. One of the great pleasures of being at the cottage is that it’s okay to curl up in a cozy corner with good book or magazine at any time of day. I realized that was missing from my home, so we’ve carved out a little space in the living room where my husband and I can sit kitty corner to each other of an evening, sharing an ottoman, a bottle of wine and the daily newspaper.

Pay attention to the garbage. Cottage living means taking refuse to the dump, which is chock full of household detritus and food waste, gleefully picked over by seagulls the size of wild boars and the occasional bear. Really, we waste way, way too much. I’ve committed to reducing my garbage footprint in the city.

Use candles more often. I love to sit by candle, stove, or camp-fire light. Not only is it extremely flattering to the middle-aged visage, but a softer, gentler light contributes to a calmer, more relaxed atmosphere. That can be a true tonic in the middle of a hectic week.

Testing trimmers

In principal, I like to use manual garden tools wherever possible because a) they’re more environmentally friendly and b) I so need the exercise. But when it comes to trimming our 30-odd feet of hedge — which grows like a weed, requiring several summer/fall trims — we gave in last year and bought a cordless trimmer. Our first purchase was a house brand from a major retailer that turned out to be, well, pretty crappy. There was a problem with the switch, in that it would sometimes jam, making the tool suddenly stop in the middle of a cut. Cute. The replacement we got did the same thing, convincing us once and for all that cheap garden tools are no bargain. This summer, the gardening team at my house (my husband, 15-year-old son and myself) tried two trimmers, both of which we liked.

One was the Black & Decker 18-volt cordless hedge trimmer (on sale at Home Depot now for about $110, I notice.) It’s supposed to run for about 30 minutes, but we found it ran longer than that, getting us all the way through the hedge job on one charge. It gives a nice clean cut on larger branches (up to about ¾ of an inch thick) and did not shred smaller, finer branches.  (For bigger branches, I still like my older, corded Black & Decker Alligator lopper.) At 22 inches, the blade is longer than that of the Ryobi we tested.  Using both made me realize that blade length can be a somewhat personal choice, depending on the depth of what you are cutting, and what feels best in your hand. I may actually like a slightly longer blade, the result, perhaps, of having short arms? The recharge time on the battery for this model is long; between nine and 11 hours, according to the manual. Because I do deplore the way power tools add to outdoor noise level, I have to say that I think I like the sound this one makes slightly more than the Ryobi (although husband and son says that’s silly.)

Overall, I was really impressed with the Ryobi cordless 18-volt trimmer.  It sells exclusively at Home Depot (regularly for $139, now on sale for $99) The company claims its 18-volt lithium battery will hold  charge about four times longer than its Ni-cad counterpart, but I can’t actually vouch for that.  I can say that the recharge time is fast – about an hour. It also gives a very clean cut on branches up to 3/8 of an inch and like, the Black and Decker, did not make a mess of thin new growth. We all found the Ryobi to be very nicely balanced and easy to manoeuvre. There’s also one stand-out feature to note.  It’s got a wrap-around handle, so that you can turn the blade simply by tilting your steering hand. So simple, so clever - it makes shaping bushes and hedges quicker and easier. That was true for both myself and my strong-as-oxes guys.

In the end, I think  my son said a mouthful when he suggested that picking the right trimmer is probably a bit like choosing the perfect hockey stick – it’s got to “fit”. So make sure you handle several before you buy.

Looking good for 60

The Ikea Catalogue is coming up to an important birthday. 2011 will mark the 60th year that consumers have been pouring over the annual book published by the iconic Swedish retailer, which has had an unmistakable influence on mass market home décor design.

It's come a long way, baby. Check out the inaugural catalogue shown above. The 2011 version, which should be hitting doorsteps soon, is stuffed with goodies. Like many consumers, I love to sit down with it, a glass of wine in hand, and get ideas and inspiration for making my home more beautiful. I’ve included  below images of the first few items I saw that struck me as pretty and practical. (Thinking about the chair for my daughter's dorm room.)

Now, tech-savvy Ikea-holics can get their fix anywhere, anytime. IKEA Canada is set to make the 2011 catalogue available via an iPhone application. This will allow users to simply flip through the pages of the catalogue on an iPhone and discover what's new at the big yellow and blue box.

By the way, have I mentioned lately how much I like browsing the textiles and bed linens in Ikea these days. Some very cool fabrics. Might have to skoot over tonight and get an up-close look at the new Birgit throw, a grey wool planet with a folkey pattern in red, yellow, white and blue.

  

Outdoor elegance - at any price

This week’s Hot Home Products column included some affordable options for outdoor decor. But it’s always nice to dream, so I’m sharing this gorgeous multi-level, Mediterranean-style outdoor space, part of a 7,000-square-foot home in Oakton, Va. designed by Michael Nash Custom Homes. The homeowners are avid entertainers (no kidding!) who host small, impromptu gatherings and large parties of 100 or more guests.

Coming back down to earth now! There are lots of little ways to add a touch of luxe to an outdoor space. I suggested that a pile of comfy cushions will help any outdoor furniture. I like the pattern and textures of this grouping made with Sunbrella fabrics — and they can handle outdoor elements and remain looking fresh.

Lanterns can enhance evenings outdoors and there are tons to choose from this season, including the ones shown below, all of which come from Urban Barn.

For a quick and easy outdoor meal, melt a brie that you’ve sprinkled with Herbes de Provence (which I notice is now for sale at HomeSense!) Add a fresh tomato and basil salad, artisnal bread, and serve with my favourite (affordable) rose, La Vielle Ferme Cotes du Ventoux. It’s about $11 a pop, but it’s not that easy to find, so if you see it, snap up a few bottles. Trust me, you'll like it.

Lovely to look at, delightful to use

 
Speaking of things that are both useful and beautiful (Oh, weren’t we? Well, we should be - it's always such a lovely topic!), I just adore this re-issued fruit and veggie rack from Chilewich. First introduced in 1997, its frame is covered in a stretch netting fabric, typically used in lingerie, and is breathable, removable, and machine-washable. The three-tiered stainless steel RayTray comes in green, off-white, and black. It goes on sale for US$125 at Chilewich  on September 8, but you can pre-order as of August 16. If you like the look, stay tuned, as rumour has it that other pieces from the famed RayBowl collection will also begin reappearing. Can’t wait.

Are you a snob?

Bargain Alert! Snob, a décor boutique that showcases hand-made décor, art and artefacts from South Africa, all made by local artisans and entrepreneurs, is having a sale. A while ago, I featured in my column what I thought was a fabulous piece from the store — an ostrich skin table in a hot red ( see pic above). Snob’s sale is on until September 4th, with some items up to 70 per cent off. It’s well worth the trip over to 388 Carlaw Ave 416-778-8778  to have a look at this curated collection of furniture, accessories and rugs. Gorgeous!  While you’re there, drop by the nearby GreenTea Design, which sells  contemporary Japenese and Asian furniture and antique Oriental pieces. They have lovely stuff, as well.

This sucks

A quick note to let my faithful readers know that I've had several letters from readers who are having problems with delivery on purchases from a company that I wrote about in March called Airider that sells vacuum cleaners from a facility in Barrie, Ont. I'm hoping that the issues these folks are having will be resolved soon, but in the meantime, I'll just say caveat emptor (buyer beware). Despite numerous complaints from readers, the last time I checked the company was continuing to accept online orders, with no mention of delayed delivery.You can also check out what consumer reporter Ellen Roseman, who is following the story, has to say about it.