Weekend roundup

Last week, I confessed to being a little bit creeped out by garden gnomes and it turns out that many Yourhomers are also disturbed, or at least not fans of, the little guys.

The majority, 62 per cent, say they wouldn't put one in their outdoor space, while the remaining 38 per cent are happy to provide homes for some of the 26,000 garden gnomes sold in Canada on eBay last year. Read the full story.

Continuing on in our garden theme, this week we're tackling another kind of weird garden trend: using human urine as fertilizer. Would you give this a try (or do you already)? Let me know in the front page poll.

And, for some more weekend reading, check out:

- Colin and Justin let the sun shine in

- Cool cork applications for the home

- Kimberly Seldon's tips for California style

- 5 tips for rookie designers

- Growing pineapples in Toronto

- Water feature essentials

Five fab fall finds from West Elm

As one of those poor souls lacking a cottage to mooch this weekend, I'm consoling myself with a Liberty Village brunch and shopping jaunt, and in preparation I've been scouting the West Elm website. Here are my top five favourite finds for fall: 

These studded wool pillows covers, $34 - $39, hit all the right notes for me: the wool adds weight and warmth for the cooler weather, while the studs offer just a bit of rock star style.

I also adore the silhouettes pillow cover, $30. It would be a great graphic punch for my sofa, and I find the silhouettes a bit of an unexpected touch compared to the more abstract patterns I've been drawn to lately.

 

Still on the silhouettes theme - I'm spotting a trend here for my own fall decor - I find this set of dog rectangle dessert plates ($24) pretty adorable. Plus, I love the styling in this shot - I've really got to start saving those wine corks before the temperatures dip!

It wouldn't be autumn without a great throw, and this chunky knit purl-stitch throw, $59, looks to be the right weight to handle being casually draped over the sofa to cozy up my space while also having enough heft to keep me warm on those chilly evenings!

So, nothing about books really says fall - after all, I certainly get some serious reading done poolside - but I still was happy to browse across this neat Herringbone Spine Bookcase, $199. It's a unique way to display some cherished titles - and definitely piqued my interest after my recent quest for creative book storage solutions!

Hanging on to summer with these outdoor living trends ...

While I've been happily eying all of the velvets, studs and chunky knits that are making their way to store shelves in time for fall, I'm also stubbornly holding on to visions of patio season. And it's not too late to spruce up and enjoy your outdoor space!

So in the spirit of hanging on to that summer feeling, here are the top outdoor living trends for 2010 from Andrew Bockner of Andrew Richard Designs:

Boutique chic: “If it’s not possible to come home and instantly create that environment, choose your favorite aspect of the luxurious boutique hotel and use it as an inspiration or starting point to build from season to season," says Bockner in a release. "Though these days we like to be instantly gratified, there is still something to be said for adding to your perfect outdoor oasis to personalize it and make it right!”

Casual dining: Skip the traditional table and chairs and opt instead for relaxed groups of sofas, love seats, soft cushions and comfortable chairs gathered around a coffee table.

Fabrics that last: “Chenille, silk- and velvet-like fabrics are all big for 2010,” says Bockner, citing new advances in outdoor fabrics that allow these interior finishes to stand up to the elements. 

Understated colours: Subtler tones, like whites, slates, greys and blacks, are taking over from bolder hues, though Bockner recommends adding in a few bright accessories for a little summery pop.

Accessorize: Try outdoor rugs, stainless steel lanterns or pool torches, Moroccan lanterns and battery operated candles to give the outside the same polish as your interiors. “A little goes a long way,” explains Bockner. “A few well-placed accessories make any outdoor living space homier.”

Create separate spaces: Create areas for sitting, eating and entertaining to help break up your space into functional chunks.  “I often use small pavilions, outdoor rugs and strategically placed furniture to define the spaces from one another. It gives each area its own feel and purpose” says Bockner.

Read more about getting a glam outdoor space.

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday: Perfect purples

Perhaps spurred on by my lavender summer frock, my lilac cell phone or my general passion for all things plum, today's all about sharing lovely decor hits in my favourite hue from my seriously overflowing inspiration file:

(Image from Canadian House & Home)

(Image from Canadian House & Home)

(Image found via Anthropologie)

(Image found via Coco Male blog)

(Image found via Coco Male blog)

(Domino Magazine image via the City Sage)

Weekend roundup

Turns out Yourhomers are a cleaner than average lot, at least when it comes to their laundry habits!

Nearly half, 44 per cent, wash their linens weekly, while 22 per cent opt for a bi-weekly routine. Just under a quarter, 22 per cent, wash their sheets once a month. The remaining 11 per cent answered "other."

This compares to results from a Sunlight survey that found more than a third - 36 per cent - of Canadian women admit to going a month without changing their sheets. (And be sure to check out the other, rather disturbing, laundry facts from the survey).

This week, I'm thinking about - well, really more haunted by - garden gnomes. Despite loving Amelie, I still kind of get the heebie jeebies from the little guys. And, I must confess I'm a little shocked that 26,000 (yep, that's THOUSAND) of them were sold on eBay in Canada last year! So, I want to know, where do you stand on gnomes? Would you put them in your space? Read the story, then let me know in the front page poll.

And, for some more weekend reading, check out:

- Colin and Justin go green, and brown, this week

- Steal a small-screen worthy look for your space

- Bold hues are hot, hot, hot

- Creating biodiversity in your backyard

- Homeowners see red over taxes

- Robin's Nest: A grande dame gets an overhaul

Do you care about the appearance of your electronics?

I spent much of this week searching for a new television. My wish list, I thought, was relatively simple: I wanted it to be small, light and energy efficient. Oh, and white!

This last requirement turned out to be the tricky part. I didn't think it was an unusual request - I wanted my new TV to match my decor, as well as my beloved MacBook - but after wandering the aisles of several big box electronic stores, I realized that maybe I was going to need to do a little more digging!

As I asked around, I got a lot of "you want a white TV, really?" responses from friends (is it really that unusual?), but eventually managed to to find a small white TV in stock at another big box store. And, I'm happy to say, it's now mine!

But, this whole experience has made me wonder - how much thought do people put into the appearance of their electronic purchases? Do most people just settle for standard black, or is it worth putting the legwork into more design-friendly finishes? Obviously you know where I stand!

Creative book storage solutions

When I first moved from Nova Scotia to Toronto three years ago, my luggage included six very heavy boxes of books. Since, that collection has only expanded, which brings up the question of how best to display all of those cherished, and space hogging, pages.

My current set up involves two bookshelves, eating up a full corner of my partially finished basement. Plus an extra shelf upstairs. At least I colour-blocked them?

While this storage method obviously works - I can see the titles, and grab them at a moment's notice, it's just not cutting it for me aesthetically.

For starters, I have too many books to alternate them with shelves stacked sideways and pretty accessories! Plus, I can't help but wonder, what do people with less space do? Sacrifice their libraries?

I don't really want to downsize my personal library, so I started to explore other storage options. Here are some of my creative favourites:

The Umbra Conceal bookshelf ($14 for the large), which actually turns your books into their own stacked wall art.

 
The Bibliochaise chair-shelf fusion from Italy's Nobody & Co.:



 A book-lined staircase, spotted on Apartment Therapy:

Using dead wall space, like above the door or up in the rafters, as seen on HGTV's StyleSheet blog:

Or how about converting an unused fireplace into your new library - as spotted in this shot from Domino?

Or, you could always just resort to piles on the floor - or a staircase, another Domino idea, picked up by the Two Tall Girls blog:

What creative ways have you seen to max out your book storage - while still keeping all your titles accessible?

Wordless Wednesday: This certainly makes the condo life seem appealing

 

Weekend roundup

Things that go bump in the night would be enough for most Yourhomers to reconsider their living situation!

More than half, 53 per cent, of those who answered last week's poll said they wouldn't live in a haunted house.

One-fifth of Yourhomers said they could handle a home with a few lingering spirits, while 13 per cent said they don't believe in the paranormal.

The remaining 13 per cent said they don't know whether they'd be able to live with unusual happenings - I know that when I posed the question on Twitter, some followers said they'd be able to deal with benevolent spirits, but none of that horror-movie style spooky stuff. (Read the full story).

Personally, I think weird noises, things moving around behind my back or the odd apparition would be just too much for me, and my overactive imagination, to handle! Read more about living in haunted houses here.

For this week's poll, we're changing gears and thinking about laundry habits. I had a chat with the folks from Sunlight earlier this week and found out, via a survey they conducted, that more than a third - 36 per cent - of Canadian women admit to going a month without changing their sheets!

I always thought that once a week was fairly standard, so I'm curious to hear just how often you wash your sheets. Check out the other (rather disturbing) laundry facts from the survey, then let me know in the front page poll.

For some more weekend reading, be sure to check out: 

- Colin and Justin go black, white and red all over

- Bring the indoors out for glam summer entertaining

- Keep cool with windowcoverings

- 7 rules to a dream-worthy garden

- Which GTA neighbourhood offers the best bang for your buck?

(SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO ILLUSTRATION)

The downsizing desire

Like clockwork, each month when I first crack open the pages of a fresh stack home decor mags, I'm struck with the desire to clear surfaces, keep only what I can stow away in hidden storage and, quite simply, de-clutter my life.

This SoHo loft, featured in the New York Times, is one of those envy-inducing pads.

I can't help but drool over the clear surfaces, the countertops with only a carefully placed swish-looking appliance or stylized fruit bowl, and the general feeling of airy lightness and simplicity that comes with a minimalist approach to decorating.

I also enjoy thinking about how simple it must be to maintain - a quick dusting of your clear surfaces with a microfibre cloth, a quick dance around the room with a broom, and voila, your space is spotless. Imagine the time you'd save if you just had less stuff!

Of course, the risk with a bare-bones pad, in addition to not having a melon baller in case of emergency, is that they can feel a bit cold. White walls, acrylic, glass and stainless steel are sleek and modern, but they don't exactly scream 'Welcome home.' These kinds of spaces really require a mix of textures and wood tones, along with some quirky personal accents, to warm them up. (Get more tips for a swish condo here).

But, I do believe that, regardless of your space, you can find a balance where you get the light, easy-maintenance vibe of a minimalist space while still keeping it homey and personal.

So, this weekend, I'm challenging myself to think about how I can live with less. What items are superfluous? What's useful, and what's just clutter? Should lead to some interesting sorting!

And, I'd love to hear your thoughts! What do you really need in your home? Not just to scrape by, but to feel really comfortable? And how much of the stuff you own is just a by-product of having the space to store it?