If heading up north to the cottage isn’t part of your routine, the bliss of having a restful retreat can be as close as your backyard. Did you ever think that your little, lonely outdoor shed could be transformed into a soothing sanctuary? It can with a few of these key touches.
illustration by Lindsay Agnew
A soft white paint colour suits a tranquil environment and helps create a serene space.
Modern chairs should be simple, stylish and without anything unnecessary, whichever chairs you take – dining chairs, for patio or for any other space. These adjectives characterize the collection of chairs by Michael Stolworthy very well. The Serous Bar Stool (meaning fluid like) is a modern piece of furniture defined by infinite geometrical lines, modern aesthetics, and fluid design. The unique shape adds structural integrity and a curious interest to the piece. The Prowler Bar Stool was inspired by organic forms resembling a cobra snake. These two pieces are ideal for new style cafes, bars, night clubs and lounges. The Gnuphorm Chair is a modern dining piece, it’s a perfect fit for a modern style dining room or kitchen. It’s stable and very comfortable and would impress any guest.
Attaching a flag pole bracket to vinyl siding is an easy home improvement project that will allow you to show your patriotism on your home. However, if you dont do it correctly its likely youll damage your siding. This project can be done in just a few minutes for under $20.
The easiest way to install a flag pole bracket (or hanging flower pot bracket or similar) is to screw the bracket to a vinyl siding surface mount block. The surface mount block has a profile routed out of the back so that it will fit the siding profile (see the photo).
The trick to successfully installing the bracket and surface mount block is to pre-drill holes in the siding.
This lamp will remind you of Russia as a birch is the favorite Russian tree. Blue Nature, a craft company, located in Northern France has introduced a new range in lighting called the Volskar Lamp Collection, which is a perfect fusion of natural materials and metals. The lampshade is coated with white lacquer while the mid section of the lamp is crafted with natural birch. The sturdy steel base keeps the lamp balanced and protects the birch wood. This environmentally friendly design is inspiring and ecological; the lamp brings some feeling of calmness and relaxation to the interior. You may choose from 3 different sizes and the white lacquered steel base is designed differently for both the Volskar lamp and Volskar floor lamps. Buy several lamps and make a real birch wood in your room. Such a lamp will be an exquisite and absolutely amazing addition to any room!
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On summer weekends, happy orange umbrellas flutter in the warm Lake Simcoe breeze and inviting bright blue lounge chairs beckon to anyone playing in the pool. Squeals of delight from children ripple across the patio. Through the wall-to-wall sliding glass doors that line the back of the cottage, friends and neighbours can be seen leaning on counters with cool drinks in hand or laughing against a backdrop of the sun-sparkled lake.
Once covered in taupe siding, the cottage was hardly a picture perfect purchase. Plus, there were a couple of ramshackle outbuildings on the property. “But for years we’d experienced lake life at our friends’ place, so we knew what we had here,” says the homeowner. “It was just a matter of taking a deep breath and imagining what it could be.”
Sit back and relax 1970s furniture that once belonged to the homeowner’s in-laws is now upholstered in durable Sunbrella fabric. “I can live w Read more…
This table from Chul An Kwak was inspired by images of running horses to break with static and rectilinear forms in these creative works that are somewhere between industrial design and artistic sculpture. The legs of the table seem to lead a life of their own. The top is simple and elegant but the legs below are dynamic and appear to be moving. It reminds a calamari in some way, too. Though it gives the look of having fragile legs, this table can amazingly take a heavy load without crumbling. The table is available only in one color but it’s neutral and matches many interiors. 
Earlier this summer the folks at Black & Decker asked me to review their latest cordless string trimmer (Model LST220). Last year I reviewed their 24V NST1024 cordless trimmer so this was a fun comparison. Before digging into my thoughts on this new trimmer I wanted to quickly share some basic product information.
The Black & Decker LST220 takes about 5 minutes to assemble out of the box. It comes with two batteries and a charger. The fir