By Carson Arthur, TV Show Host and Outdoor Expert

When the warm weather arrives, every homeowner has an inventory of outside chores:  cutting the lawn, weeding the garden, washing windows and cleaning the eaves are at the top of every list, including mine.   This year however, I’m adding some new ‘must-do’ items to make the outdoors more enjoyable.

1. Top dress the lawn.  I’m taking top-dressing a step further and reseeding my entire lawn this spring!  Every July when the hot weather hits, I have yellow patches in my grass.  I’ve been told slugs or hot dry weather are the culprits.  The truth is…most of our lawns are Kentucky Blue Grass which naturally goes dormant in the heat.   To combat this, I will add a second variety of seed, a rye fescue, because it stays green all season long.  Do this by adding a 2-kilogram bag of seed to a 20-pound bag of top soil, mix them in a wheelbarrow, and spread across your existing grass.  The ‘seed-to-soil’ contact is what makes this work!
2. Remove the Mold.  As an allergy sufferer, getting rid of the mold that forms in damp, warm weather is extremely important.  Washing the outdoor cushions is only one part of the equation.  Mold can form on decks, furniture, siding and eaves troughs.  I use a two-step process to effectively remove the mold. First I wash away all the surface dirt, grime and mildew with a product called Concrobium House & Deck wash. Not only is it safe around the plants, so I don’t have to cover all my shrubs, it doesn’t contain bleach so it won’t damage the deck. I also have old stains that are deep in the wood so the second step I take is to use Concrobium’s Mold Stain Eraser product that removes just the staining without damaging the wood. I also love that it doesn’t require any scrubbing. Now my siding is spotless, everything made of plastic looks new again and I can finally get rid of those mold spots on my wooden deck.
3. Wash the Salt.  I never use salt outside my home but it still gets tracked onto the path and driveway from city streets and sidewalks.  Salt damage to plants and grass happens as the snow melts or as rain carries the deposits into the yard.  This build up in the soil can be very damaging and can increase after every winter.  One of the best ways to remove the salt from damaged areas is with a mild vinegar-water solution.  A half teaspoon of white vinegar to one litre of water makes a great rinse for removing salt from concrete or asphalt.  I use a stiff bristle boat mop to make the job quick and easy.
4. Mulch Late!  Mulching in the spring is very important but most people do it too early.   I’ve always tried to mulch when the snow melts to conserve water by keeping the ground moist.   Unfortunately, this slows growth in my gardens.  Mulch acts as an insulator, protecting the plants from the elements.  However, if you spread it before the soil is completely thawed the mulch keeps the ground colder for longer!  The best time to mulch is when the ground is 5-7 degrees C.  You can measure ground temperatures by completely burying a thermometer in a re-sealable bag.

Our time outside is short in Canada so everyone wants to be outside as much as possible.   My tips will help keep your spaces looking their best all summer long!

http://mygardenpatio.com/

With the holiday season fast approaching, we are happy to offer 20% off on Anderson Teak and Anderson Chapman collections. Teak patio furniture is beautiful and long lasting. It is the choice wood for the finest yachts because of its natural warmth, fine grain, and durability against the harshest conditions.

The Anderson Teak and Chapman collections are crafted from plantation grown teak to create the highest quality pieces. Teak does not need to be protected. Because of its naturally tight grain and oil composition, it possesses unique resistance to pests and the elements. If left in its natural state, teak is virtually maintenance-free, and can be left outside year round. Therefore, teak is the gold standard for outdoor furniture.

Our year end sale is the perfect opportunity to own such finely crafted outdoor furniture. Start your holiday shopping early, and take advantage of our lowest prices ever, before they’re gone. Just say Y.E.S. to our Year End Sale!

Look for the Anderson Furniture category at MyGardenPatio.com

Del-Amo Teak Glider

Year End Sale conditions:
- This order cannot be combined with any other special offers or any special discounts.
- This offer expires 01-15-2013.
- This offer is for teak products only; rattan and any other hardwood are not included.
- While supply last or we can do back order that will arrive in spring 2013.

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MyGardenPatio.com

My Garden Patio features outdoor furniture from reputable manufacturers. We provide you quality products, adding richness to your outdoor spaces and three season rooms. Our manufacturers have a reputation for providing premium garden furniture at competitive prices. You will find unique teak, cedar, and rattan outdoor pieces at bargain prices. Our producers’ craftsmen use environmentally friendly plantation teak to fashion top notch woodwork, seldom found at a local supplier.

by MeCC Interiors

The Box table offers three (3) heights and, when at full height, expands to seat up to ten (10) for dinner.

Small space living is certainly not a new discussion point on Design Bites, but Milano Smart Living (MSL) is a company that is new to me.  MSL “offers a prestigious and diverse array of specialized furniture for small apartments, impressive and beautiful in each of their functions,” all of which are 100% crafted in Italy.

Minuetto.

Minuetto is a sleek console table.  It, too, can expand to seat eight to ten (8-10) for a meal.  It also works a square dining table.

Opera offers not one, not two, but seven (7!) setting options.

If you prefer curves, take a look at the Opera, which extends to nearly 157-1/2″ in length!  The third support leg is cleverly hidden within the base when the table is in its most compact form.

MSL has many more table designs from which to choose and also offers various bed and seating options and has a showroom at the NY Design Centre.

by MeCC Interiors

Customized two-piece sofa from Van Gogh Designs. Sofa and space by MeCC Interiors Inc.

Regardless of style, most people automatically think of rectilinear pieces when designing seating areas.  It’s a shame since the curved sofas now on the market are absolutely stunning.

Trend Alert: Tufted furniture pieces were seen all over the place at High Point Market this spring.  Buttons graced the backs, sides, and even tops of items and numbered from two to two hundred.  Think of it as jewellery for your furniture!

Curved seating arrangements help soften even the most clean lined spaces while offering more inclusive sight lines and conversation circles (pun intended).

This Mauro Lipparini sofa is made of many modules, so you decide its exact specifications and size. Pair this sofa with the matching ottomans for extra seating and cocktail surfaces.

The ability to sit on one piece while still having your own space and being able to see each other creates a more intimate setting.

Jane Worthington de Sede round sofa, ds-152. What a great place to lounge! And notice the built-in attachment that holds a TV!

Want to see more from these suppliers / manufacturers?

• Jane Worthington
• Mauro Lipparini
• Van Gogh

by MeCC Interiors

Ludovico Transforming Furniture neatly forms one (1) unit when not in use. Expansion is simple and requires no complicated steps or procedures.

Space challenges are not new for most of us.  Claudio Sibelle, a recently graduated industrial designer,wants to help: his focus is on designing furniture that “offers viable and innovative solutions to reduced spaces.”

In fact, Sibelle built an entire collection, Ludovico Transforming Furniture, to support his mandate.  His efforts were awarded two (2) A’ Design Awards in the 2011-2012 Homeware Design category.

Part of the beauty of the design is the simplicity.  The chairs, when stored, blend into the master units.  To use one, all the user needs to do is pull the handle and slide it out.  The drawers are not impacted in any way and remain functional and accessible at all times.

The office system stacks into a columnar piece, only slightly larger than a standard file cabinet. When fully expanded, there are two (2) regular drawers, a file drawer, desk surface, and chair.

His material of choice is Eucalyptus, not only for its appearance and sustainable properties, but its strength, structural stability, and durability.  The wood is also readily available in his native Uruguay.

I think we will see many more great pieces from Sibelle in the coming years!

by MeCC Interiors

TOAD is made from solid ash with a lacquered tabletop.

Small spaces are everywhere these days.  Making them functional, as well as unique and personal, can be a challenge.  The TOAD Side Table is a take on the common nesting table.

What is the difference?  It doesn’t technically “nest.”

Each segment is only a leg and a round disc, somewhat like a toadstool. But without the others, there is no balance or stability.

Though there are three (3) separate surfaces, Philipp Beisheim’s TOAD is one (1) solid piece; each piece relies on the others to be able to stand.

The table surfaces can be aligned or placed in a more random pattern, depending on the available floor space and the amount of tabletop required.

However, TOAD does seem to offer multiple configuration options.  I think it would also be a great piece to customize!

by MeCC Interiors

The Orbit Stool pivots around an imaginary axis, forcing the sitter to either engage his/her muscles – especially the core! – to remain in a more stationary position, or to enjoy a gentle rocking / rotating motion.

Given that it is the first day of the new school year for many (at least for those in North America), I thought the playful Orbit Stool ideal.  And an educational implement, if you want to teach about rotation, balance, or other such things.

Inspired by a spinning top, the team at Snapp Design combined the needs for sitting and movement.

Orbit comes in a number of bright, bold hues and features a storage slot that is ideal for books or magazines.

The form is simple: a drum-like seat sits atop a cushioned cork base.  The base, however, features the addition of a dome on the bottom which encourages the stool to rotate on an axis.

When not in use, Orbit can be somewhat deceiving, appearing like nothing more than a “regular” stool with a clever storage compartment.

If you’re looking for a great item for a playroom or waiting area, or want to “play” at your desk so that you can work your abdominals while you improve your posture and complete your daily work, the Orbit Stool might be for you.

by Ann Nguyen

If you’re looking to create a stunning new look for your interior – how about incorporating a great deal of wood into the overall design?

Wood is our oldest friend when it comes to furniture, building and fuel. And of all the different types of wood around, the most traditional, the strongest – and the most hard-wearing and versatile has to be oak. It also has the huge added bonus of being one of the most beautifully grained types of timber in existence. If you buy good oak furniture – it should last more or less in perpetuity – so it can also be a great investment.

But above all, it’s warm, beautiful and yet cool in the summer months. It’s also a very safe material from an interior design point of view in that you can’t really go too far wrong.

If you can afford to start from scratch with a complete interior set of oak furnishings for each room in the house – the overall effect is simply stunning, particularly when set against a neutral backdrop which is complementary in colour – and suitable flooring (which may even be a real oak finish itself). The overall effect really is wonderful. And buying new furnishings throughout to a style which you love – and which is in keeping with the type and setting of your home may be a lot more reasonable than you think. The solid oak designs available online are amazing in their diversity and depth. From modern chic clean-cut oak furniture, to rustic, traditional, or ornate – there really is something to suit all tastes. And with larger value orders, the price per item drops remarkably.

The market is so competitive that there are some real bargains around. Just be sure to try and follow one design and style that you love throughout the house from kitchen items to dining suites, oak sideboards, a coffee table perhaps, an oak chest of drawers, beds, wardrobes, desks, bedside tables – you name it; you won’t be disappointed.

by MeCC Interiors

Porro's Chameleon Cupboard, designed by Front

New from Italy’s Porro is the Chameleon Cupboard, a collaboration with the Sweden’s Front.  Like any chameleon, this cupboard is ever-changing.

As Front describes it:

“The new Chameleon unit is a magic volume, constantly opening on itself as the game of the Chinese boxes, changing appearance and revealing new finishes…  it consists of a central wood crate, covered by leather layers, which used as hinges, allows it to turn and be revolved, changing its colour and look according to the specific mood.”

Exterior views of the Chameleon.

The unit’s drawers and shelves are crafted from pear wood, perfect for stashing any of number of things around the house.

The Chameleon Cupboard is on display at Salone del Mobile 2012 in Milan.

The ever-changing interiors of the Chameleon.

by MeCC Interiors

After an unseasonably warm and snow-free winter, and with record-setting temperatures in the mid-20s and beyond already occurring in March, many cannot wait to get their outdoor spaces prepared for the coming season.  In the Toronto area, people have been taking full advantage of the warm, sunny weather to clean up their backyards and gardens.  But once the garden and other debris is removed, what do you do with the space?

Space is a key determinant.  If it happens to be at a premium, I still love the variety of stackable furniture options that are on the market.  For even smaller spaces, bistro sets never fail!

But if you’re looking for something new, here are the top 5 outdoor options designers were looking at in March.

Exteta

Made from Canadian and northern US red cedar and dressed in Sunbrella fabrics, Exteta’s Zen line includes everything from furnishings, lighting, kitchen and bath elements, as well as structural components to create truly unique and customizable spaces.

Stone Forest

Stone Forest offers outdoor furniture, fountains, basins, lanterns, accessories, and one-of-a-kind pieces in a variety of styles.  Naturally, stone is the primary material used, with granite, basalt, and serpentine being the most popular.  Custom design is always an option.

Deesawat Industries

Using teak, Deesawat handcrafts the Bottle lounges (shown below).  Also take a look at their Summer Cabanas and Wave line.

Intérieurs

The intricately patterned, powder-coated white aluminum privacy panels of the Caprice provide structure, visual interest, and peace of mind from curious neighbours.  The cushions and hardware can all be mixed and matched to create your ideal space.  The Wave Pergola, built from bent wood over a galvanized iron frame, is also worth a peak!

Forms+Surfaces

This stunning bench — The Duo — can be used indoors or out without looking out of place.  Made from FSC-certified Pure Jatobá and stainless steel, it also gets marks for its nod towards the environment.