[bc_video video_id="6262426205001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Welcome back to my front porch - I loved our little shotgun house when we bought it, but I always hated the pale yellow colour and the concrete steps and porch. It had zero curb appeal…We had to spend a lot of time redoing the indoors to make it livable and now that is done we could tackle the exterior and front porch. And you know me Tracy, I had to go for it. Make it my own and make it dramatic. So, our little pale yellow house went dramatic all black. Before: Function So before we even start to talk about your front porch aesthetic updates, we need to talk about function. How do you use your front porch? Is it a space where you hang out? Why or why not? Are there issues of wanting more privacy? Would you hang out on your front porch if it was set up better? Or is your front porch simply a pass through – a welcome zone into your home that is simply aesthetic. How you answer those questions will influence how you design update your porch and curb appeal. Make a Plan  Once you figure out the needs of your front porch, it’s time to make a plan and update. Just like a room in your house, the easiest ways to get a big update your porch is with paint. And for my porch I wanted it to be dramatic, so I went black. In fact, we are going with all black on black paint scheme for the entire house. To be specific, I used the colour Onyx from Benjamin Moore in a low lustre finish for the wood siding. And I actually used the exact same colour Onyx in a semi-gloss finish for the trim. Make sure when you are painting your exterior siding that you prepare it well and use the right product. Now I know my paint well but I am not an expert when it comes to New Orleans weather and what paint you should use. So, I went to my local Benjamin Moore – Helm’s Paints for advice. And I think that’s great advice no matter where you are – use your local paint experts.   Tip: Use a house wash and scrub your house before you paint. You want a clean dry surface. Entrance  Next let’s talk about making an entrance. When we bought this house it had a sad little concrete staircase that didn’t give much impact. I would say it said nothing – design wise. So, to make it dramatic, we installed these giant steps that go from end to end of the porch. And then painted them out with Benjamin Moore Porch paint in the same shade of black but in a matte finish….and following up from the steps, we painted out the concrete porch with the same colour to make the space feel more open. And to make it flow. Tip: Use cedar or pressure treated wood for long last outdoor steps Lighting  I often picture these steps as a great spot for a Solange inspired fashion shoot….Next upgrade – lighting. Just like any room in your house, lighting is key. This house came with a traditional porch light, which I upgraded. But I wanted more. And I didn’t want to hire an electrician to add in more lighting. So, I thought about how I could cheat it. First, I added in these two wall lights that are actually solar. They were designed for candles and could be used indoors or outdoors. And I simply picked up some solar candles. Easy. Consider adding in some solar lights to your step to lighting your pathway at night. More is more when it comes to lighting, you want layers for your porch. To make it glow at night. Finishing Touches We have set out scene with our hard fixtures. Now it is time to dress it. Start with your floor, add in an indoor/outdoor carpet. Next layer in your large pieces of furniture. If your porch is covered, you can sneak in some traditional indoor furniture pieces. And since we are outdoors, it is all about layering plants and greenery. I wanted to create a lush outdoor oasis, so I layered in lots of tropical plants. And since I opted to plant them in moveable pots rather than large flower beds, you can easily move them inside when the weather gets cooler. Tip: Opt for cushions and fabrics deigned for outdoor use to prevent unwanted fading from the sun.  

[bc_video video_id="6261560251001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Lots of fun accessories can make your pool time that much more enjoyable, here is a list with a great selection of fun items. Funky Chairs It’s all about being comfortable and spending time relaxing by the pool so take a look at this chair – it’s like those popular egg chairs we’ve been seeing but it’s a hammock from the Real Canadian Superstore. This chair has the perfect combo with its gentle relaxing hammock and an umbrella for shade. Bean Bag Floats If you're all about fun, there are some cute things that can look great and add fun poolside. One of them being bean bag pool floats which is a huge trend this year. These floaties are made from a company located in Montreal, can't beat this novelty! This float is similar but acts as a floating bean bag chair! How retro and cool is that! Blow Ups Blow-ups should never be forgotten, especially this rainbow glitter inflatable sun chair! Or how about a Retro Cassette Tape and a scentsational Lemon ring! How could you go wrong! Pool Supplies Canada has a huge selection of all types of pool toys for great prices. Don't worry about having to blow them up as there are affordable air pumps like the Swimline 110 Volt air pump, to care care of bringing these to life. No pool? No problem?  If you don't have a pool, don't worry we haven't forgot about you! What about this incredible unicorn sprinkler, fun for the whole family! This 4ft tall unicorn is from Party City, how could you ever go wrong with rainbow, glitter and unicorns! This is a must have for anybody. For the pups! Lastly, lets not forget about including our pups in the fun - cool them off with this pet float, made for animals up to 35 lbs. Other sizes are available for bigger pets. Enjoy lazing and lounging out in the pool together. And take care of the critters around your pool with this FrogLog that acts as an emergency escape ramp for any small critter that accidentally falls in!

[bc_video video_id="6261555648001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Bathing suit season is here and whether you’ve been working on your beach body all winter or not, there's a bathing suit for every body! Look One: Gayle and Leslie  I love this sister combo. They’re great bodies to showcase what how the same suit fits in different sizes. Everything these sisters are wearing from head to toe is from Old Navy. Pictured below both sisters are wearing an Old Navy cover up in complimentary patterns. This cover up has a draw string at the waist which adds some shape and life! Old Navy is a great place to find low-priced size inclusive pieces with sizes ranging from XS to 4X. Summer essentials for everybody and every body!  The bathing suits picture below come in a variety of fun animal prints and patterns. The top gives a lot of coverage on top and on the bottom, and is fully secure with an underwire! The tankini is cut in a way to flatter any body's curves. Functionality is everything, so the bottom piece of this set is high waisted. To complete the look, both sisters are wearing white strappy sandals. Look Two: Mary Ann and Bukky  This next pair are both wearing bathing suits from a German brand called Anita, a bra company that transitioned into swimwear. Anita has sizing from 0-24, cup sizes up to I and makes bathing suits specific to maternity and mastectomies. Both women are wearing the Gesa swimsuit with the matching Sarong cover up. Mary Ann is apple shaped, so this swimsuit works perfect as the pattern on-top draws attention to her face. The sarong gives balance to this body-type. This suit is amazing for someone who wants to play up their top-half, and minimize their lower half.  The bathing suits are also cut to size so if you know your measurements you will get the perfect fit! Bukky is in the same suit and pairs it once again with that gorgeous yellow sarong. Look Three: Darlynn and Lisa  This pair are both wearing a navy blue one piece bathing suit from snag tights, which has sizing from size 1 to size 34.  Round of applause for size inclusivity! This specific bathing suit is great as every size provides amazing stomach coverage. The whole line was designed on a size 22 model, then fitted on every single size to get the perfect range of sizes. Curvy women don't have to wear just black, time wear bright colours and live out loud! Lisa wears a hot pink crocheted coverup from Pennington's, and pink heart sunglasses and a pink patterned purse to add a pop of colour. Lisa's look is complete with classic Havaianas flip flops.  Darlynn is wearing a super cute black tunic style cover up from Joe Fresh and all of her accessories are from Poppy & Peonies. The regal purple colour of the suit looks amazing on Darlynn's skin-tone. The suit provides the right amount of coverage around the chest area and has an amazing high look at the back. Think 1950's pin-up girl!   Look Four: Kari and Sarah  This team features Sarah (left) from the Bird's Papaya and a Cityline favourite, Kari Kemp (right). Both of these ladies are wearing a two-piece bathing suit from a Canadian company called Londre. Londre has swimwear from XS to 5X. Londre has created a new line in collaboration with Bird's Papaya. This specific bathing suit from the collection does not have any wiring or padding which gives you a more natural look. Kari pairs the Bird's Papaya bikini with a sexy black sheer coverup  from Fashion Nova, another inexpensive size inclusive brand (sizes range from XS-3x). To finish the look Kari wears black round sunglasses and a straw tote bag from Poppies & Peonies.

[bc_video video_id="6261418565001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] I have been seeing cement show up in all kinds of interior applications from floor and wall finishes and tiles to planters, and bathroom accessories-cement seems to be the material of the moment. Designers love its raw organic appeal -it often has air bubbles and bumps bringing a unique quality to every piece. It has a purity and loads of texture that lends it a tactile quality. It’s simple and modern - but weighty, grounded and organic at the same time. And inspired by of the moment designs in Mexico and other exotic locals Here is a round up of items made from cement from big to small to showcase some great moments using this material and how to use them. Wall Tiles   These tiles are from eir Home, who create an array gorgeous pieces made from lightweight cement in exotic cut out patterns and textures.  These ones are called the Vida tiles, which are made using state of the art CNC 3D printing technology - that creates these deep cuts for a highly texture effect. Even thought they are cement, they are actually lighter than porcelain tiles. They are Installed with a tile adhesive - no grout necessary. So, you get a nice clean joint between the tiles. They come in a variety of different textures and colours and they can be colour matched to any of your favorite Benjamin Moore paint colors so you can seamlessly work them into your decorating scheme. These tiles really bring an exotic hit to a home that turns boring drywall into a feature wall Console Table  This console table from Home Societé. The table top - like on this tv console - which can also work as a console or front hall table is durable, hard wearing, and sealed for protection. It lends a sense of groundedness to furniture - whether its on a console like this or a coffee table. Lighting  There are two different types of lamps The one on the right is from Cocoon furnishing and is totally elemental and weighty. The lamp on the left is from Urban barn and is more elegant - aired with some brass accents. You know that a cement lamp is not going to topple off a table. Nice and solid And its cool to see how this material can go in different directions Accents  These desk accessories from cb2 (tray, catch all, and cup) are weighty and stay on your desk and they double as a paperweight! Lovely honed finish that makes them great to touch and they’re even stackable. Hardware accents  This trend is even showing up in hardware- a nice alternative to the usual metals like chrome and brass. These cabinet knobs and hooks are from Casson hardware and come in a variety of colours from ivory to black and different shades of grey. The hooks come in 3 sizes. Indoor/Outdoor items  These small side tables are great for outdoor as well as indoor use. You can sit on them just as comfortably beside a sofa for a laid back luxe look or outside next to the outdoor sofa or chair. Weighty and durable, but they can also be left outside all year.  

[bc_video video_id="6261402327001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] We’ve spent more time in our own backyards than ever before this year, so here is how we can give our urban backyard a much needed refresh. When we started with this space, it was a bit overgrown with a huge tree that was dying and falling over into the neighbor’s yard - it was kind of a safety hazard Once the tree was down, there was really nothing of interest in the yard. We had a blank slate. Where to start?  We start by overhauling the perimeter. If you can, put in a new fence Or at least re-stain an existing fence it’s like a fresh coat of paint in a room. Paint the back of your house in the same or coordinating colour for a unified perimeter. The board and batten on the back of the house here used to be a pale blue. By painting over any inconsistencies or discolorations, it feels new. I also like the cooling effects of a darker colour in a space that gets a lot of sun. We used simple horizontal boards on this fence to create the illusion of a longer yard and pressure treated wood, which is more affordable than cedar. I stained it in Benjamin Moore’s opaque deck and fence stain in Wrought Iron - it is a classic deep grey that works with most exteriors Tip: let the boards sit unfinished for a year before you paint so they can expand and contract first - before staining it. To avoid cracking. What about plants?  Plant in tiers along the edges in layers of texture. No fail boxwood trim around the edge of the patio - fail safe - clean edge paired with puffy hydrangea - classic space filling puffy white hydrangea - mine haven’t bloomed yet, but when they do, they provide a nice hit of fresh white that contrasts beautifully against the foliage and furniture. We added some trees for height in the corners of the perimeter to frame the edges and create a cocooning effect. I like that they help block the electrical box in the alley. It's always nice to fill in the corners of your patio or deck with large planters in different sizes for a sense of coziness (I chose lavender for the scent too). I also have lots of herbs in smaller pots for cooking. So all in all a super simple plan - all easy to care for. Mix of patterns and materials You should always consider using at least two patio materials for visual interest- just because the yard is small, doesn’t mean you can’t mix it up. There was already a perfectly good deck here by the door ( it was already there so we just power washed it) and laid a Herringbone patterned brick for the patio in the back. There is a single step down to the brick patio and this alone helps to create distinct zones - dining on one side and lounging on the other and I like the layered effect. Is decorating outside different from inside? Absolutely not! In both settings we’re using ‘zones’ First I have a dining zone: Put the dining table close to the back doors for easy access to the kitchen. Add a retractable awning for shade. I love how an awning can help with designating functions in an outdoor space and create the sense of a room. This one uses Sunbrella fabric in shades of green stripes also adds a fresh hit of colour and pattern that it’s in sync with the plant life. I chose a metal dining set because it’s super low maintenance and timeless in black - it goes with everything, but I added colour with striped cushions on faux wicker chairs at the end - love the eclectic feel of different end chairs in a dining room. It’s always fun to break up the set — Indoors and out. The Living Room  Then I have a living zone: In the open area, where the brick patio is, we set up a lounge in a modern campfire style with a cement fire pit as the centerpiece. It seems that the fire pit has become the must-have in garden design to extend our time spent outside well into fall and even winter. What I like about this fire pit from eir Home is that it’s light weight compared to other fire pits, it’s made from sustainable concrete created with 40% recycled products and it has a beautiful organic texture. I love how fresh and chic it looks in all white. It’s also round, which leaves no corners to bump into! This one can be kitted out with a sleek powder coated top that allows it to do double duty as a coffee table for days when you don’t want to light the fire. I always love spacing-saving double duty features like this for small spaces - indoors and out. This firepit can either be hooked up to your house’s gas line or, if you don’t have an outside gas line, you can also just connect it to a propane tank that can be cleverly hidden in one of their concrete side And just like in your living room, you always want to provide enough surfaces for every one - so this is another great double duty piece for a small yard. We have basically done the classic set up of a sofa facing two chairs that you often see indoors - but in the backyard. You could do two sofas too but again I like to mix things up a bit. And chairs are good for people who prefer a bit more personal space. All in long-lasting outdoor specific pieces and fabrics. And of course I love pillows outside just as much as inside for a bit of a pattern hit, these ones are from CB2. Outdoor Lighting  It’s very important not to forget lighting and you should light at high, medium, and low levels. I have a few affordable and easy to introduce ways of lighting up a yard. High: While we were building the fence we installed some simple black lights at the same time - these are on an automatic timer attached to the back of the house and they turn on and off at pre- set times of the day - you can adjust them as the amount of daylight shifts. We’ve also put some sconces near the back door to illuminate the entry Low: Lanterns on the ground are a great way to highlight your planters so you don’t bump into them Medium: Think about candles on table tops for for low level ambience. I love a bit of wicker in a backyard for a hit fo tropical flavor -like these wicker covered glass votive holders by Aerin Lauder.