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patio furnishings

Let’s Do Spring… With Style

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I’m one of those annoyingly optimistic people who truly believe that if you say something often enough, it will actually come true. Let’s practice, shall we?

The weather is warm outside. Spring is on the way. The weather is warm outside. Spring is on the way.

I know, I know. At this very moment, I’m pulling my robe around myself more tightly as I hear the wind rustling through the trees. But have faith, friends! May is only two days away, and May has a very good track record of bringing the beautiful weather. *Crosses fingers and toes*

So, to put myself in a sunny frame of mind, I’ve selected my favourite seasonal pieces from The Home Depot Canada. After all, spring is the time to prep the garden, clear the backyard and start planning your outdoor oasis – and The Home Depot has everything you need to get started. From outdoor décor and power to live goods, a local associate is always ready with some tips and tricks to help you prepare for the warmer weather.

(Shout out to the staff at The Home Depot – some of my favourite peeps on the planet! They’ve offered expert advice, mediation, crisis management and babysitting services.. and that was all in the same visit.)

letdospringTop: Hampton Bay Decorative Pillow, $16.48 – $18.98; Stomping Stone Terra Cotta, $8.99; Foliage, Asst Prices
Middle: Napoleon Charcoal Kettle, $274; Pleasant Hearth Fire Pit, $108; EGO Cordless Lawn Mower, $549
Bottom: RYOBI 18V Lithium Drill/Impact Driver Kit, $149; Toro Recycler, $449; Grand Caymen Urn, $34.99

Feeling inspired? Join @HomeDepotCanada on May 14th from 12pm – 1pm ET for the #chatwithstyleHD Twitter Party. The experts from Style at Home and The Home Depot will dish about the latest trends in outdoor living, their tried and true BBQ tips and the best in DIY. Of course, a Twitter Party wouldn’t be complete without prizing – they’ve got seven gift cards up for grabs, valued between $100 and $250. See you there!

A Backyard Oasis

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When I think of summer, I think of only ONE thing: Drinks on a Patio.

Of course, before having children, that patio was usually located on College Street, the Danforth, or anywhere that wasn’t my own backyard. The good old days.

However, there’s a certain pleasure in having drinks in your own backyard: there’s no travel involved, you generally enjoy the company, and you don’t have to tip your server.

But here’s the kicker: I don’t actually have a patio! Since moving into our new home six years ago, we’ve had a lot of priorities for the inside of our house (a finished basement, a painted home, an upscale living room) but we were never ready to invest in our backyard. Truth is, for a long time we’ve wondered if we should stay or move, and that factored in our decision to delay the landscaping. And so we set up an old patio set on our lawn and let the kids run around in the summer. For the most part, it worked out well.

However, now that we’ve decided to stay put for a little while, it’s time to do things right. First on our agenda: a backyard makeover.

You knew it was coming… 2013 is the year of #ProjectPatio!

I’ll be sure to share lots of pictures over the upcoming months of how we transform our little backyard into a backyard oasis. In addition to a stamped concrete patio, we’ll be making an investment in a new barbecue, patio furniture and maybe even a paper lantern or two :)

I also admit to lusting over these outdoor fireplaces from Anywhere Fireplaces, available at SHOP.CA.

All the fireplaces are ventless, requiring no construction, chimney, or gas lines.  The sophisticated, contemporary style fireplaces are also eco-friendly, at a price within reach for almost anyone. More features and benefits:

– Burns liquid or gel bio-ethanol fuel
– Renewable resource
– Smokeless, odorless
– No soot or ash, no messy clean-up
– Non-polluting
– Only gives off water vapor and CO2

I love the idea of staying warm in style, because sometimes, even summer nights can feel chilly. Here’s a roundup of the more popular models –

Forget about candles and other table top accents to add ambiance. The Lexington Anywhere Fireplace brings you all the tabletop elegance you are looking for with its distinctive shape, high gloss white finish and its real flames. Enjoy the ambiance of a real fire but without the hassle of smoke, melting wax, soot, ash, smell etc. Use it on the dinner table, a low patio table, or a coffee table. This unit is slightly too small for a patio set, but I love the versatility from outdoor to indoor. SHOP.CA Price: $149.99…

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