Style Sheet

Camping and Cottaging Wrap-Up: Our Efforts to Commune with Nature

Elana Safronsky — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:40:00 GMT

Well, communing with nature is a bit of a stretch. There was much talk of 'glamping' if I remember correctly, but what do you want? We're design folk.

If you happened to miss any of our Camping and Cottaging posts from the the late month of August, then have yourself a trip down recently memory lane with the blow links. There are some good ones in there, including Michelle Carangi's (of Holley & Gill fame) Top 5 Friday on modern cottages.

Scandi-Style Cottage: Can You Have Too Much of a Good Thing?

Question of the Week: Is It Really Camping if You Stay in an RV?

Twitter and Facebook: Thoughts on Camping, Glamping and Cottaging

Top 5 Glamping Accessories

Kim Vallee: Modern Style at the Cottage

Question of the Week: Would You Go Glamping?

Bargain Saturday: Cottage Furniture, the Wicker Edition

Question of the Week: What's Your Cottage/Camping/Cabin Must-Have?

Top 5 Friday: Cottage Envy

Question of the Week: Lakefront Cottage or Farmhouse?

Next, look to special Trends posts all through the month of September!

Related:

July Wrap-Up: Outdoor Entertaining

Watch: Installing Balcony Floor Tiles -- There's Still Time

Elana Safronsky — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:40:00 GMT

Dave Spiers, our installer, of Designer Deck Inc.

Earlier this summer I did a post on outdoor flooring. In it, I derided a colleague for having a most repelling AstroTurf disaster cladding her ample condo balcony, which essentially precluded her from ever using it.

I set out to transform this balcony, and we're well on our way. Unfortunately, her shame lit a fire under her butt to get rid of that awful carpet, so I wasn't able to capture it on camera. I did however make the following record of the first step in the transformation: my colleague's very smart choice of floating balcony tiles made of recycled plastic, made to look like wood.

Though summer is drawing to a close, I feel it's not a waste to post this video of what a balcony floor could look like. End of season means sales, as well as lots of openings for installation -- why follow the herd in high season when you can calmly outfit your balcony now, so that it's ready for the dawn of next summer?

Also, it's good to know what to expect from this stuff come Canadian winter, and looks like these recycle plastic tiles are the best choice for longevity. I did a fair amount of research when I took up this balcony cause, and though initially I was dead set on wood, was swayed by a local and well-established company, Designer Deck Inc., toward plastic (at $9.65/sq ft including installation, they are more expensive than pressure-treated wood -- $5.95/sq ft -- but less than Western Red Cedar, at $11.00/sq ft.)

NOTE: Installer Dave Spiers is not hard on the eyes...

My colleague, Christine, and I, visited the Designer Deck's showroom in Vaughan, Ontario, and there, in front of the wood samples, owner Barry Spiers convinced us that for a downtown balcony installation such as Christine's, the plastic tiles were they way to go.

Bottom line is, they looked pretty darn good. Normally, anything that masquerades as something it is not I am categorically against, but I take my hat off to this stuff. The colours are many and appealing (see here) and the faux-wood grain is quite convincing. The plastic is what they call "no-memory" plastic, which conforms to whatever surface it's placed on, and doesn't resume its original shape. PLUS -- a majour plus -- they're made of recycled material and are virtually indestructible.

In Ontario, you'll be happy to know that this product complies with condo codes as it is not affixed to the surface in any way. Unlike much of what is available on the market, these tiles do not leech chemicals and/or colour onto the concrete beneath, often the cause of regulatory disputes with condo boards. And FYI, Designer Deck Inc. is offering a 10% discount until Sept. 30th.

Anyone else try these?

Related:

HGTV.ca Original Home Tour: Karen and Andy Lynch, Halifax, NS

Elana Safronsky — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:20:00 GMT

The Lynchs' great room.

Who: Karen and Andy Lynch, self-described empty nesters. Karen is enjoying early retirement wile Andy Lynch still practices as an architect, and is one half of the well-established (c.1979), Halifax-based firm, Lydon Lynch. As Design Architect, Senior Project Architect and Partner-In-Charge, Andy's been a part of many of Atlantic Canada’s most significant and complex building projects including Dalhousie University Arts Centre, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, PIER 21 National Exhibition Centre and Bishop’s Landing.

View of original stone wall dating back to the Tupper estate.

What: A 15-year-old custom-built (by Andy) home, on a sloping, south-facing lot, built with a general nod toward traditional Nova Scotian residential architecture of the 19th century. The home is 2500 sq ft, and came in on-budget at $100/sq ft.

Where: Quinpool area on the Northwest Arm, Halifax, NS. The home's site is part of one of the old estates of the sixth Prime Minister of Canada, Charles Tupper (May 1st, 1896 - July 8th, 1896 - the shortest ministerial term to date!)

Why: When Andy and Karen set out to build, they sought to create a modest, timeless home that complemented the neighborhood. At $100/sq ft, the result is a perfect lesson in how making smart decisions when investing in space, saves you having to chase trends and clog your home with overpriced decor. The house, while ample, feels warm, gracious, and just right thanks to a focus on natural local materials such as Nova Scotia slate and pine, and New Brunswick cedar.

HGTV: How did you find the lot?
Andy: Our real estate agent, Stephen Townsend, had this lot and agreed to sell it after we provided him with a design concept for this house. It has been a perfect lot – south facing, minimum legal size, affordable, excellent location and views, and a challenge. This lot is surrounded by a stone wall built as part of Sir Charles Tupper’s estate, one of a half dozen estates on the Northwest Arm in Halifax during the 1800’s.

HGTV: Would you say the home is built in a particular style?
Andy: This house has roots in traditional Nova Scotia residential architecture that is founded on fairly simple shapes with steeply pitched roofs, punched windows with robust trim, dormer windows and low eaves. This style has evolved over several hundred years in communities such as Chester, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg where it has been well preserved.

HGTV: I see that natural materials are highlighted throughout the home, could you speak to that?
Andy: Natural materials tend to be timeless – they ignore trends, are local and frequently complement the neighborhood palate. Nova Scotia slate is used on the fireplace; the offcuts make the landscape work; New Brunswick eastern cedar shingles are finished with Cabot bleaching oil; the timber is 99% Nova Scotia pine.

HGTV: How has the home changed since you first built? What would you change about it?
Andy: When building a new house, lesson no.1: get a fixed price; lesson no.2: don’t change anything; live in the house for a decade and then change what you want. We have lived in the house fourteen years and have no desire to make any changes, however appliances always have to be updated and we are due for a new Liebherr fridge.

The dining room hutch in the background, past the fireplace, bought at auction and hails from PEI.

HGTV: What is your favourite space in the house?
Andy: The living room is our great room: south and west orientation, wood burning fireplace, in-floor radiant heating, French doors to the deck, 6 meters square and high, sun and views.

HGTV: The home is not overwhelming large and yet it feels very spacious/just right. Is it the proportions? How did you address the division of space?
Andy: This house is modest in size but the main floor is mostly open and gives the illusion of being larger.

HGTV: You have a loft master that opens onto the living room. Many are afraid to do this due to privacy/noise concerns. How do you find it?
Andy: Our children have started new families and we have become empty nesters so the loft master doesn’t present any problems for us but could be an issue for other families.

HGTV: Who in the family had the most say in decorating? Would you say you have a particular style? Where did you get most of you furniture/décor items? Do you have a favourite store in Halifax?
Andy: When we started the house Andy was the architect but Karen was the client and the design evolved as a collaboration that continues through furnishing and decorating. Our furniture has come from various sources, but is eclectic overall. Living room sofas are Snyder Furniture from Toronto; dining table was built custom by Geddes in Halifax; several pieces came from auctions like the dining room hutch, which came from PEI. Our favourite store in Halifax is Attica which sells contemporary Canadian furniture.

HGTV: Tell me about the fun collection of china/pottery in the kitchen?
Andy: Our (Karen’s) pottery collection is also local: Allison Cude, Kathy Thompson, Lucky Rabbit Pottery, Cape Breton Clay, Birdsall Worthington. They all have roots here and many are graduates of that wonderful school, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. The lack of shelf space has been the only limitation to Karen’s collection.

Andy: We have a custom liquor cabinet in the living room created by Steve Sekerak, a local custom cabinet maker. The mahogany is recycled from a table in a vegetarian restaurant which didn’t match the other tables – Steve made them a pine table to match the others and we received the benefit.

Andy: The settee in the master bedroom was a wedding gift from parents – came from auction and was recently reupholstered with fabric from Bellissimo.

HGTV: I like look of your eclectic first-floor powder room -- seems ahead of its time for being 14 years old.
Andy: We found a marble bowl sink in a shop, Renovators’ Resource, which came from a Victorian Hotel in Yarmouth – it cost maybe $25. Steve Sekerak then built the bowl into a custom vanity which just fits nicely into the powder room. The wallpaper came from the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia which commissioned and sold custom wallpaper designed by local artists, mostly from NSCAD.

HGTV: Tell me about the decision to put in concrete floors -- pros and cons?
Andy: The decision was the most venturesome, but the best decision we made. Fourteen years ago, none existed so we had to be innovative without being expensive. We mixed bags of charcoal mortar color into the concrete while still in the truck so when it was poured, it looked a lot like fresh asphalt, which was a bit disconcerting. Once the concrete set up, it was steel trowel finished and then scored to give it that slate appearance that is so attractive. We have the hot water radiant piping cast into the floors and it is the best heating system you can buy. We put a coat of acrylic sealer on the floors once a year and that’s it for maintenance.

HGTV: Can you offer some advice on how to create a look and feel for longevity?
Andy: Architecture emerges from various influences; the neighborhood, the palette of materials, the desire for sun, view and interior space, the program and the client. Good architecture is timeless and cannot be labeled easily. This house has been the recipient of the Nova Scotia Home Award, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award from the Nova Scotia Association of Architects and was featured on Homes by Design.

LOVE. You?

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Question of the Week: Would You Still Buy THIS Chair?

Elana Safronsky — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:24:00 GMT

It's the Mid Mod icon: the Barcelona Chair. I don't know if I really need to say much... IS IT OVER??? What if you got one for free? Would you sell it and buy something you liked better? I think I would... (Mies van der Rohe just shot me the evil eye from the beyond.)

Take a Poll!

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Flickr Round Up: Back to School Room and Board

Camille Hemming — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:20:00 GMT

Driving with the family on one of our last road trips of the summer, and I can’t help but think about all the work waiting for me upon my return. Not just the work -- which, of course, doesn't really seem like work! -- I do here at HGTV.ca, but the “Back to School” preparation that will be upon me in full force come end of this month. A new and uncharted era of "tween" has dawned at my house, and as a firm believer in the influence a space has on its occupants, I feel the décor in my kids' rooms should better reflect their age and upcoming aspirations. As usual, for inspiration I turn to our industrious Flickr group, who seem to be on the same page...

Primary Colours Motivate

The custom-painted shelving by Gr8matt has a real air of "get to work kid" about it -- all those cubby holes are just waiting to fill themselves with overdue library books, half-eaten lunches and paper planes. Posh Living, LLC's custom desk (right) with a wave-shaped backboard is the centerpiece for a kid-friendly beach house guest room. Roman shades were added in a snappy red stripe and a vintage-look painted lamp.

Nostalgic vs High-Tech

Vintage Pleasure sees no reason to sacrifice the innocence of kids' room décor from times gone by. Her daughter Maisie’s new workspace was finished just in time for her first piece of homework which in this room will surely feel more like play than work.

You can count on me’s space reminds us that no matter what colour you paint the walls, you can't avoid considering all of the high-tech gadgets that will be a big part of the “new” room budget.

If You Build It, They Will Work

Not all of us are budgeting for a full renovation at this time of year, but we can appreciate the suggestions that designers make. Shinlandscape (left) shares a kid’s workspace from Guga Architecture. For fans of modern decor, this is a clean spacious, and no doubt efficient room that instills order, focus and still leaves room for personality.

Steve Kahn (right) renovated the basement for a complete kid-friendly environment, including a puppet theater and a full school room complete complete with chalkboard walls.

Take the last weekend of the summer to help the children in your life personalize their space and own the school year ahead. Show us your decor idea and Join our Flickr Group.

Related Links:

How to Garden Wrap-Up and Gallery: England's Beautiful Gardens

Elana Safronsky — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:20:00 GMT

Why is summer like chocolate? So lovely and indulgent while it lasts, but always seems to melt away too soon? (I shouldn't get started on chocolate actually...) I'm going on like this because whether I like it on, the calendar says summer is packing its things and leaving us for Australia.

Our expert, Veronica Sliva

That means the end of many a good time, not the least of which is gardening... Our How to Garden expert, Veronica Sliva, has kept us green company the whole season through, and while surely she can find things for us to do in the garden until the bitter end, better to leave things on a high note. (If you would like to follow Veronica to the bitter end of the warm weather, you can check out her blog GardenersWorld.ca)

If you've been following Veronica's expert posts you'll know that the horticulturalist has taken a recent trip to England, where gardening is close to Godliness. So until next season, I leave you with an annotated gallery of Veronica's most inspiring English garden pics, which we can pretend to try and emulate in our own gardens next year (there's no way.)

Scroll past the gallery for a recap of Veronica's How to Garden series.

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How to Garden, by Veronica Sliva

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Bargain Saturday: 3 Ways to Display Your Jewelry

Jessica McLaughlin — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:02:00 GMT

Being organized doesn't mean boxes, labels and partitioned drawer spaces, necessarily. You can make it crafty and cute... and practical. These three ideas for displaying and organizing your jewelry are practical, yes, but you can also make them your own to fit in with your decor. The best part about these ideas and what truly makes them a bargain is that you've probably got some of the pieces lying around your house already to tackle a little DIY this weekend.

String some wire across an ornate frame to display earrings
Use old plates and bowls
Wrap a wooden frame in extra fabric from linens or cushions

Above, from left to right: Vanity tray earring display from The Flirty Girl Guide,Jewelry stand from whomadeit's Etsy shop,Fabric frames from East Coast Bungalow

How do you display your jewelry?

Related:

Top 5 Friday: ITALY: The Most Breathtaking Locations, Part I

Elana Safronsky — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 04:13:00 GMT

A view of Florence from Villa/Hotel Torre di Bellosguardo

I've been away. In Italy. Two weeks later I am back, with a few pounds of pasta weight in each saddle bag; a pining heart; and a head full of intoxicating memories.

I've been mixing up phone numbers, not paying attention in meetings, crying a little at the sight of my Outlook Express calendar... My trip to Italy -- which mostly consisted of day trips taken from the home base of a Tuscan villa in the Brunello wine town of Montalcino -- was so amazing, that I don't even want to talk about it.

So I choose to share photos instead. As I thaw into reality, more and more of the magic I experienced will no doubt trickle out, but for now, I'll keep the words brief and let the photos speak for themselves.

I've split the post into two parts. Today I bring you Part I -- 3 of the Top 5 Most Breathtaking Locations -- featuring: Il Giardino Dei Tarrochi -- "The Tarot Garden" -- in Capalbio; a private, 14 C. Tuscan castle near Seggiano; and the villa/hotel Torre di Bellosguardo, in the hills of Florence.

Oh my God, what gorgeousness...

The Tarot Garden and Residence, by Artists Nikki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely

"The High Priestess"; the bathroom in the residence

Lead by her vision, French visionary, accomplished painter, sculptor, and film maker, Nikki de Saint Phalle (1930 - 2002), along with husband/artist Jean Tinguely, erected a luridly dazzling and wondrous sculpture garden originally inspired by Gaudi. The garden expresses 21 tarot cards as towering, earthly-shaped sculptures made of plaster and glass mosaic. Amidst the garden is an honest-to-goodness home, albeit briefly but none the less once inhabited by Nikki and Jean. Crazy, completely amazing, and bizarrely not at all out of place straddling the Italian provinces of Lazio and Tuscany, the easily walkable garden sears more than impresses itself onto your memory.

View of Tuscany through balcony of residence

Detail

Detail

14th C. Castle, Seggian, Tuscany

The castle

Basically begged a connected friend to get us invited to this privately-owned real-life castle, belonging to a well-to-do British family. They bought it sans furnishings, as a shell of what is pictured below, and restored it to a bare minimum. Bug-eyed, I dragged my jaw along the 500-year-old stone floor of the umpteen rooms and halls in this grand lair of history, wondering how many babies were born, how many bodies breathed their last breath in this place, and how in the world the current owners managed to outfit it as if it's looked just so for the past ever.

One of the living rooms

An en suite in one of the bedrooms; the sitting area in the master bedroom

One of the guest bedrooms

Guest bedroom; hallway

Villa/Hotel Torre di Bellosguardo, Florence

Villa and pool

One night. Splurge for just one night -- 300 Euro/night -- and you'll not ever regret it. Began in the 13th C., the Torre -- tower -- of the hill of Bellosquardo, rising above Florence, Italy, was built by Guido Cavalcante, who happened to be a dear friend of Dante. (Dante stayed here.) It was later bought and expanded by the prolifically wealthy Medici family, and now belongs to noble Amerigo Franchetti. A Franchetti family inheritance, the old villa sits at a truly breathtaking vantage point overlooking all of Florence, languidly offering room and board in a most authentic 15th C. domestic setting. Duke Franchetti is an obsessive gardener so the spectacular grounds run with streams, burst with vegetables and house donkeys, goats, chickens, parrots, and cats.

The orangery; writing desk in our room

Gardens; the bar

Common room; another common room, the ceiling of which is covered in frescoes

Another common room

Breakfast table on the second floor terrace

Just posting this has set me back another couple of months of recuperation...

Related:

Modern Country: Crafting a Centrepeice of Happiness

Guest Blogger — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:53:00 GMT

I'm not sure when my obsession with birds and butterflies began. Probably the same age as my daughter---now coming up on three. She loves them too and simply states it because we are girls. It makes me smile, and this craft day project did, too.

Out to the woods, garden or park (because a branch may have fallen) to find the perfect branch; to the craft store or dollar store for birds and butterflies.

Then simply attach them. Butterflies can be hot glued and birds almost always come with wire on their feet, which is easily wrapped around the branch. Do not adjust your screen, he is meant to be upside down!

My method of holding the branch is rather archaic, but it works. Yes, it's a giant rock in a glass vase.

And there you have a very happy branch, guaranteed to make you smile.

We put our project on the side table in the dining room.

Written by our country blogger Heather Cameron, Stylist

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Design Dilemma with Glen Peloso: A Floor Plan for Multifunction

Elana Safronsky — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:02:00 GMT

It’s been a while since last we helped out with a Design Dilemma here on Style Sheet, but we’re back none too soon. Today, our designer-in-virtual-residence, Glen Peloso, advises a mom-to-be on how to maximize her great room to suit her growing family. As it stands, Emma is enjoying the luxury of having a dramatic, formal dining room. But, as baby due date approaches, space premium is at a high and formal dining room needs to also make room for a living area. How to make two spaces where once there was one? Glen always knows…

From Emma:
"I have a Design Dilemma: my Dining/Family room. This room is approx. 20' X 13'. There is only one full wall, the rest are windows or open areas. Though it was defined as dining and family room, we can only use it as a dining room as you may see from the attached pictures.

"With a new baby born, we really need to split this room up to add a family room, could you please help?

"Also, I chose dark grey as the wall color but looks like it did not make my chocolate brown furniture pop -- is there any way to make the furniture look more elegant?

"Thank you for the help"

Glen suggests: Congratulations on the addition to the family! I’m sure that must make the house seem alive and happy! You are right, it is a good sized room for sure and I believe it can be successfully divided up to give you two functional rooms:

The dining space should obviously be closest to the kitchen space and the family room furthest away from the kitchen. I am a little concerned that you asked about the table and chairs popping with the wall colour, because you may have to lose it – it will not be possible to keep a dining table for 8 as well as having a family room. If your table collapses enough to a table for 4 or 6, then it is possible for the room to do double duty.

The living/family area can be created with a couple of chairs and a sofa on the long wall to create a conversation area. A padded ottoman can double as a coffee table with the addition of a tray. With a child in the family you want to be sure that you leave a reasonable amount of ‘play’ space, and avoid any sharp table corners.

Seeing as the space is not big enough to separate into two rooms, open concept is the way to go. You may sacrifice some of the formality of the dining room but it will achieve the multifunction that you require. I have attached a simple floor plan to give you an idea.

Two carpets, one under the dining table and one in the living room, help to define the two areas. Placing the sofa and side tables with table lamps against the wall, takes this grown-up furniture out of the way of little ones running around. Placing two soft-upholstered chairs between the dining room and living area helps to further divide the space.

In terms of pop – I would consider changing the fabric on the seats of the chair. Perhaps something in a red and grey stripe, in a cotton velvet. Really, any colour that appeals to you will work with the wall colour – I would match the same colour to create a centre piece for the table as well, and perhaps add a table runner in a coordinating fabric. The pop is in the details, not the wood of the table, or the wall colour.

Remember, homes are about the people that live in them – the joy children can bring will far outweigh that picture perfect beauty we strive for!

Hope this helps,
Glen

Do you think there’s space enough for both functions in this room? Take a Poll!

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Scandi-Style Cottage: Can You Have Too Much of a Good Thing?

Mia Rodak — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:24:00 GMT

I'm a big proponant of mixing and matching different design styles in my home in order to achieve a balance that feels comfortable and original, rather than overdone and forced. My personal tastes run towards a modern look, but I like to include some eclectic pieces, even the odd chabby-chic or modern country item (quilts? love'em!) and I am especially fond of Scandinavian, mid-century modern furniture, patterns and design in general. I come by my love of this Scandi-style honestly, as my maternal side of the family, the side that raised me, were all born and raised in Denmark.

My mother immigrated to Canada when she was 9 years old and after many years in a small Northern Ontario town, she laid down roots in Toronto while her parents eventually settled down in a tiny beachside home on the stunning shores of Lake Huron. Their home would become the go-to destination for summer vacationing for my entire childhood. My grandmother, now 81 years old, still lives in the house, which now consists of two separate halves (one half was an amazing beachy diner run by my grandparents for years). My Nana lives on one side of the house and the other half is now used exclusively by the rest of my family as our cottage.

Most of the major pieces of furniture used on both sides of the cottage are authentic, vintage mid-century modern pieces that have travelled for years with my family and come directly from Denmark. This is real deal. Beautifully designed teak furniture sits in every nook and cranny and most has not been refinished, reupholstered, retouched in any way since the day it was purchased.

The curtains were all handmade by my grandmother and speak to a past era with patterns and colours that would probably never work in such quantities in any other space. Orange carpet, brown curtains and olive green upholsery is everywhere and bright blue and turquiose is used heavily as an accent colour (totally en vogue again today, as we know).

I absolutely adore the way the cottage looks, but I have an obvious emotional attachment. Probably, if I were taking it all in through someone else's eyes, I'd find the over-abundance of mid-mod furniture, patterns, accessories and colour-schemes - all together in one place - a little overwhelming. Particularly today, when many of these beautifully designed pieces are being spruced up, sold at high prices and used sparingly in modern homes to achieve a bit of kitch, a touch of vintage charm, or even as a dash of high-brow design.

It's easy to see why Scandinavian design is exploding in popularity today, the classic lines and functional construction of the sleekly designed furniture look beautiful in a well-taylored city home. But to me this style will always define comfort, warmth and coziness. And I think that for a place of retreat, a space you go to kick off your shoes and be surrounded by comfort and love, you can never have too much of a good thing.

Related:

Question of the Week: Is It Really Camping If You Stay in an RV?

Mia Rodak — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:45:00 GMT

Photo courtesy of Airsteam.com

Thanks in no small part to the hit Canadian cult show The Trailer Park Boys, RVs and trailers certainly have a developed a reputation as being not-so-classy, but the truth is when camping, what could be classier than not having to hike it through a dark forest when nature calls? Further, there are a great many trailers and RVs out there that are not only convenient and comfortable, but downright stylish and in some cases even better equiped than my condo! Which is exactly what leads me to our question this week, like glamping, some would argue that staying in an RV isn't really camping at all. If you bring your home on wheels to the great outdoors are you really roughing it?

What do you think? Is it really camping if you do it from the comfort (and style) of an RV?

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From Twitter and Facebook: Thoughts on Camping, Glamping & Cottaging

Alicia Cox — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 13:13:00 GMT

Sarah's Cottage, such a beauty

This month's theme had us asking you a few questions, which or course we love to do: Lakefront cottage or farmhouse? What's your must-have? Would you go glamping? And our fans and followers on Facebook and Twitter did not disappoint.

Peggy would go anywhere with Income Property host Scott McGillivray, while Patti had the best idea: a farmhouse on a lakefront!

I absolutely agree with Holly that wine is a cottage or camping must-have:

Joseph tried to get a free trip from us...

Er, clamping does sound uncomfortable!

Related:

Top 5: Ultimate Glamping Accessories

Vanessa — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:27:00 GMT

Earlier this week, I asked if y ou would ever go glamping and 79 per cent of you said you would, so whether you're actually planning your next trip or just dreaming about it, I thought I'd indulge you with a little what you might call "rustic luxury."

Seating

From left: Urban Outfitters Leather Butterfly Chair; Pottery Barn Palmetto All-Weather Wicker Folding Chair; PC Home folding Muskoka chair

You can't take just any folding chairs glamping. For a little portable luxury look for high-end materials and comfy, substantial seats. The key is the chair's ability to fold so it fits easily in the caravan you're obviously travelling in.

S'mores

From left: Homemade S'mores kit; Gourmet S'mores Kit

It's not a camping trip without s'mores but since you're glamping, you won't just be pulling marshmallows from a bag and slapping them on a graham cracker. Be sure to make or pick up a gourmet kit. The one above even comes with a little hibachi so you don't have to deal with that yucky smoke smell that comes with a bonfire.

Sleeping Bags

From left: Cocoon Silk Mummy Liner; L.L. Bean Silk Sleeping Bag Liner; Sexy Hotness sleeping bag

Okay, realistically you'll be sleeping in a bed of some kind but if you've chosen a sleeping bag on top of a mattress, you'll need to up the ante with a silk sleeping bag liner. And if you're glamping with that special someone, invest in a couple of Sexy Hotness sleeping bags (yes, that's actually what it's called). They easily zip together to create a cozy sleeping bag for two.

Tents

Safari tent outside and in from Tents Manufacturer

Because a pop-up tent just isn't big enough, hire a tent company to assemble and erect a heavy-duty safari tent with separate rooms and lots of head space.

For All the Luxuries of Home... Literally

Clockwise from top left: Zoomer editor-in-chief and style icon Suzanne Boyd's apartment in New York as featured in O Magazine; sweet low-profile dining in a living room tent; DeBoer's Outdoor Pyramid

Great minds think alike, I guess. In her post yesterday, guest blogger Kim Vallee featured some great outdoor teepees but I suggest you buy a luxe tent or make one and use it indoors. The photos above of former Flare editor Suzanne Boyd's at-home teepee came out a few years ago and struck such a chord with me that an indoor tent has a permanent place on my dream house wish list. And really, what better way to glamp than in your own home? There are no bugs to deal with, no worries about the weather and the commute is non-existent.

Whether you string up a bed sheet in your bedroom or venture out into the great outdoors, have a fabulous weekend and happy glamping!

Related:

How To Garden: Inspiration from The Beth Chatto Garden, Essex, England

Guest Blogger — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:50:00 GMT

By Veronica Sliva

For me, my garden is one of my greatest pleasures. And though I love tending it, I love visiting the gardens of others even more. I am always inspired and take away tidbits and images worth remembering. I am very lucky to be able to travel a lot and I make it a point to visit gardens wherever I go. On a recent trip to England I wandered through many different kinds of gardens…all of them unique in their own way. But, with the hot weather and lack of rain we’ve been having this summer; one of the gardens that sticks out in my mind is the Beth Chatto’s garden in Essex.

A smoke bush in full bloom

Now, this is not your average homeowner’s garden. It is quite famous and one of the great gardens of the world. Besides the actual gardens, the property has a cafe where you can enjoy light refreshment, a gift shop and an outstanding nursery. Mrs. Chatto is now 87 years old and intimately involved in the running of the place, but she does have “staff” and a head gardener. I have a staff of me and maybe a reluctant husband once in a while. Even so, there are lessons to be learned no matter what the size of your garden or the depth of your pocketbook might be.

Mrs. Chatto started her garden in 1960 as an experiment to see what would grow without any additional moisture in a place that has only an average of 20 inches of precipitation per year...the driest place in England. She began the gardens from five acres of overgrown wasteland with very poor gravelly soil and boggy hollows. Her Dry Gardens as they are known never get watered. They have to go it alone with what Mother Nature provides and yet they are lush and beautiful. It’s all about putting the right plant in the right place.

Besides the Dry Garden, this gardener extraordinaire has created water gardens, shade and woodland gardens and scree beds but it is the gravel garden always gets the most attention from visiting North Americans.

Here is a photo gallery of some of my favourite images:

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