LoveMyPlace.com - Renovation, Design, Real Estate

Is it art? Or is it a laundry line? It’s both – and it’s very, very cool. Debra Jones’ creation, called Nature’s Dryer, offers a beautiful alternative to the rotary clothesline. Both whimsical and practical, the Nature’s Dryer has a PVC “trunk”, from which two levels of branches wrapped with sturdy galvanized wire, extend. And yes, it does hold a full line of laundry and can be set up indoors.

For more information, go to http://www.naturesdryer.com. Or come and see it at the Spring Preening seminar being done by LMP columnist Vicky Sanderson at the International Home and Garden Show. Vicky will share tips of the joys of line drying (longer-lasting clothes, reduced energy use) along with other ideas on how to welcome the season into your home.

Spring is just a round the corner. It’s the perfect time to refresh, refurbish and redecorate your home. The International Home and Garden Show, which runs March 6 – 9 at the International Centre in Toronto, is a great place to get ideas and inspiration to kick-start your seasonal home décor, renovation and maintenance projects. Best of all, you can meet several of LMP’s columnists, who will be at the show offering advice their take on trends and lots of home-related tips.Design Editor William MacDonald will help solve your décor dilemmas, and is inviting visitors to bring swatches, paint chips and photos for one-on-one decorating advice. Colour experts from Beauti-Tone Paint will show you what’s new in wall treatments, including how to use graphic elements like wall tattoos and how to work with wall textures and new paint technologies from Beauti-Tone. Vicky Sanderson will have a ton of tricks and tips for doing your Spring House Preening, which is a new twist on Spring Cleaning—and WAY more fun. Keep checking back here for more news!  And don’t forget to click on the e-coupon above to get $3 off your show ticket. 

Here’s something fun! The website for kitchen cabinet maker Merillat has four promotional vignettes that feature kitchens designed with family life, organization, entertaining and resale value in mind. Sure, it’s advertising. But it’s also cute and clever — and a good way to get ideas and inspiration about colours, materials and layouts. Go to http://www.merillat.com/video/

Wallpapering is über-easy with Graham & Brown’s new paste-the-wall papers.

And when it’s time for a change, forget the steaming and soaking. These gorgeous papers simply peel off from a corner. For more information, go to www.grahambrown.com

February  is often the month in which the gastronomic excesses of the previous weeks really begin to show, a sad fact that motivates the over-indulged to focus on healthier eating. So in many homes right now, vitamin-packed fruit smoothies, hearty soups and low-fat veggie dips are making frequent appearances on the menu.  Fortunately, wholesome foods are a breeze to make with a good countertop blender, and there are several new ones on the market, just in time for your mid-winter health kick.  (more…)

It’s tempting to see your home as a sanctuary, safe from threats that lurk beyond the doorstep. And for the most part, it is. But if you think that you and your family are protected from the risk of air pollutants when you’re inside, you may have to think again. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, indoor air can sometimes be more hazardous to health than outdoor air. (more…)

Juicing is becoming more and more popluar with Canadians. And rightly so - freshly-made juices have tons of health benefits and taste delish. The new Ikon Five-Speed Juice Fountain from Breville makes short work of juicing. With five speeds, it can handle everything from hard carrot to soft berries. A three-inch feed-tube saves time by allowing the user to add whole fruits and vegetables and dishwasher-safe parts means that clean up is a breeze. 

How is a home like a haircut? Both require regular maintenance to ensure they remain looking great. But when it comes to your house, how do you know what to do – and when to do it? The Homeowner’s Inspection Checklist, from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, is a great resource for homeowners. It’s got tons of tips and advice on home maintenance and a handy monthly checklist of chores. The tasks listed for February include cleaning or replacing dirty filters in forced air furnaces and range hoods, repairing damaged floor coverings or steps, checking stair guards and rails, and checking the dishwasher drain to make sure it’s clear.  While none of that is a fun as a great trim and some honey-blonde streaks, attending to these few chores could prevent some hair-raising home repairs further down the road.

Dirt Devil’s two new cordless hand vacuums offer fingertip on and off control, a bagless dirt cup and a soft tip that’s easy on delicate surfaces. Here’s the exciting part – they were designed by style guru Karim Rashid, which means they do double duty as room décor. The Kone and Kurv vacs come in a range of colours, including oh-so-hot charcoal and chocolate. Prices start at an affordable $59.99. 

For more info, http://www.dirtdevil.com/.

Matthew Lee isn’t surprised that Torontonians recently lined up to pay $220 for a pound of Esmerelda coffee beans, a coveted bean variety from Panama that’s often described as having “notes’ of jasmine and bergamot. It’s reflective, he says, of coffee’s elevated status as “the new wine.” (more…)