Enjoy the Timpano Pendant in your home today! Seemingly forged by authentic blacksmithing techniques, the pendant features a rustic Black Charcoal finish on its aluminum dome body. Understated details give this simple piece a bold industrial aesthetic.
Not your traditional antler chandelier. The combination of a neutral colour palette along with clear and tea stained crystals give this rustic chandelier a laid-back luxe vibe.
Bubbles of light balance and balloon on these trumpets of cast metal. Opal-etched glass diffusers poise in balanced rows along a wheel of light, concealing warm, dimmable LED bulbs.
This elegant polished nickel wall sconce features a crystal spheroid beneath the candle stick. Silk shades are great options for those looking to softly diffuse light in their spaces. On display at their Burlington location.
Add a pop of colour with this striking Crew pendant. Chicly designed, the pressed glass globes are covered in a wire cage inspired by vintage maritime lighting.
The first L.L.Bean retail store in Canada is now open at Oakville Place. The 13,000 square foot store opened August 23rd. Canadian fans of the iconic retailer will now have an additional way to experience this amazing heritage brand.
The name is pretty self-explanatory – this is the home of all things beer. A massive bar with an incredible selection of local craft beers, rotating taps, exposed ductwork, a great patio and a delicious food menu to go with it.
Purveyors of high quality CBD products, Bodega have just opened their Downtown Burlington location. Offering a variety of CBD products in their gorgeous new store, their goal is to promote beauty and wellness through education and natural plant-based solutions.
Designed in Edmonton and inspired by European and Israeli style, this new women’s clothing store is home to beautiful natural clothing that is both flattering and functional.
When you move into a new house or apartment, and before you even think about painting walls or the placement of furniture, you search for the light switch and you illuminate your space. Without adequate lighting, it’s pretty much impossible to get a good look at what you’re working with. But as you plan the interior design of your home, don’t forget to tackle your light fixtures and tie them into the overall design.
Lighting gives you the ability to transform the atmosphere of your home. It is functional, of course, but the warmth of a bulb or the style of a fixture can create intimacy and reflect your personal style – which can change as quickly as trends do. Sometimes updating your lighting is as simple as a choosing a new lightshade or a different bulb type.
“Trends for 2019 include open and glassless style lanterns and chandeliers,” says Susan Oliver of Concept Lighting in Burlington. “The market is demanding low maintenance fixtures that are easy to clean, and that have a more modern streamlined appearance. These fixtures also allow for fun vintage style bulbs that are trendy right now. Both brass and black metals are very popular and many manufacturers are combining multiple metals in pieces, making the transition to other metal finishes much easier for the consumer.”
When it comes to saving energy — an issue at the top of many homeowners’ minds — Susan has some suggestions as well.
“Customers are looking to save energy and LED bulbs have been super-hot for the past few years,” she says. “Our vendors are coming out with the popular vintage style bulbs in LED, which are flying off the shelves.”
She also suggests adding dimmers to regular incandescent light bulbs as a great way to save energy. LED dimmers are required for LED bulbs and they also allow you to control the light and save energy. A 4-watt LED bulb is equivalent to a 40-watt incandescent bulb, so if you have multiple chandelier bulbs, it can be great for energy saving as well as cutting down on heat output.
Judy Beckett at Gerrie Lighting in Oakville says open or exposed lighting is popular with her clients, and round ball shapes are also something many people search for.
“The trend in colouring is mixed,” she says, “with two-toned metal, brass, polished nickel, black, and chrome. We see a lot of these.”
Soft gold lighting fixtures come in a variety of styles and designs and can bring attention to specific corners or areas of a room. Modern retro lighting can create a unique look, particularly in the kitchen, above the dining table, or as wall lighting. Industrial styles are hot right now, and they are no longer viewed as brutal and “unfinished”. Another popular design is the vintage Edison-style bulbs, with their rounded cone shape, that fit in living and kitchen areas and enhance a retro/industrial style.
Bigger fixtures designed to be a focal point are also popular when placed in the centre of a room, over the kitchen island, over the dining table, or in the foyer. Balancing these with smaller fixtures keeps everything in harmony.
Both traditional and modern styles are popular choices at Living Lighting in Oakville, says owner Sam Hong. “Gold and black colours are coming back, and are very popular,” he says,” along with brushed nickel.” For saving energy at home, he stresses that LED is definitely the way to go, and it is available in a variety of different shades. Warm white or yellow work better in a home setting, and you want to avoid anything that resembles bright, glaring commercial lighting.
“You will pay more for LED, but they’ll last much longer and are better for the environment in the long run,” he says.
Whether you’re looking to make your home beautiful through light style and placement, or simply save on your electrical bill, there are many options that will not only make your living space stunning but save you some money as well.
The sun salutation is a classic yoga pose that begins by standing hip-width apart with your hands in prayer position. After reaching upwards, you follow a series of movements that involve stretching upward and downward. The sun salutation prepares the body for the movement of other poses. Like all yoga poses, it can be done as slowly or rigorously as you like.
Yoga has become incredibly popular, and there are now yoga studios everywhere, from inside large fitness centres to small private home studios. Part of its popularity is because the poses can be done at various levels, which makes yoga accessible to people of all ages, regardless of their shape, size, or physical prowess. In addition, the health benefits are enormous. It’s good for improving flexibility and core strength, as well as increasing energy and rejuvenating all systems of the body. In short, it feels good, and it’s good for you.
Summer is a great time to discover the joys of outdoor yoga and some instructors even schedule classes in parks where you can enjoy the powers of yoga surrounded by nature.
On July 2nd at 6 p.m., yoga instructor Stacey Cabrera will offer classes at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. Participants must pay entry into the park, but there is no fee for the class.
If the idea of doing yoga in the great outdoors appeals to you, there’s no better place to try it than the beautiful surroundings of the Niagara Escarpment. Yoga classes are held every Wednesday night from now until August 30th, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area. Yoga in the Park is for both the experienced yogi as well as beginners. Bring a mat, water and insect repellant.
Another type of yoga that has become popular during the summer is done on stand-up paddle boards, and is appropriately called SUP yoga. The benefits to practising yoga in the water are that it can help with balance and stability and a person can meditate with the sound of water. SUP is being offered at Christie Lake Conservation Area by Yogashala in Waterdown, and at Burlington beach by Burlington Beach Rentals.
For those who prefer to do their yoga on dry land, there are numerous options. Emma’s Back Porch on Lakeshore Road in Burlington is offering morning yoga classes on their porch from 8.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. Participants can enjoy a light breakfast afterward. The dates are available on the website. There is limited availability.
Yoga classes are also offered outside the Burlington Performing Arts Centre this summer as part of Downtown Burlington’s Fit in the Core program.Downtown Oakville is also offering Yoga in the Square every Saturday from June 15th through to August 31st. The classes, hosted by Titika Active Couture are free! Mats are also provided.
Fit in the Core
Then there are the standard indoor yoga classes – Oakville and Burlington certainly have no shortage of studios. iGita Yoga on Speers Road in Oakville offers everything from hot yoga to meditation in addition to free drop-in classes during the week and even teacher training. Once Upon a Mat, a unique and special gem in Oakville, offers kids and family yoga incorporating storytelling, movement, and relaxation, with the goal of teaching mindfulness from newborns through to school programs.
In Burlington, Chrysalis Yoga has the popular hot yoga in special climate-controlled rooms, as well as pre and post-natal yoga, yoga for kids and classes with a live musician.7th Wave Yoga in downtown Burlington has a wide-range of yoga classes for beginners through to expert.
If you’re still searching for the right method of yoga for you – or looking to try something new –any of these classes are a step, or should we say a pose in the right direction.Namaste.
Vibrant and versatile. Bright and beautiful. Functional and fabulous. These aren’t exactly the words that come to mind when I think of my basement – how about you?
An unfinished basement is a place that tends to collect clutter. You know, those baby items you just can’t get rid of, those furniture pieces you plan on refinishing, or my personal favourite, those sealed boxes you – read: spouse – moved from your condo to your townhouse to your forever home. Ah, the basement. Whether it’s the land of forgotten toys or a time capsule of the 80’s, this space tends to hurt for an overhaul.
When it comes to a basement renovation, the goal is to take the dark and dreary and remodel it into a functional, cozy, multi-purpose space. Determining what you need? It all starts with a wish list. What do you have and what elements do you hope to include? For some families, this means an extra bathroom or maybe a guest bedroom. For others, it could be remodeling a basement laundry space into a dream laundry room, adding a wet bar for entertaining, or maybe even a media room, bringing the theatre experience home for movie fanatics.
Cynthia Boyer, the in-house designer at The Basement Store in Oakville, says she finds wish-lists vary throughout the year. On the lead-up to Christmas, there is a focus on increasing space for entertaining: this means warming basements with a cozy fireplace, adding a bar, media room, or games room with a pool table. In the spring, demands tend to focus on adding more functional space such as bedrooms and bathrooms. The goal is to make-up for what is missing in the remainder of the house, making it an extension of your home.
When asked about current basement design trends, Angela Hansen, Designer at Opal Bath & Design in Burlington, says many people are including the luxury of heated flooring for comfort in basement bathrooms and creating the illusion of more space with the use of floating vanities and reflective surfaces. It’s also not uncommon for saunas and steam rooms to be included within a basement bathroom renovation.
Twenty nineteen trends are bringing open-concept to the basement, in order to maximize square-footage while adding the perception of additional light and space. Family-friendly multi-tasking spaces are also at the top of many wish lists, allowing separate “grown-up” space and “kid” space.These spaces tend to include a playroom, library, and TV area. If you want to add a walk-out, pre-reno is the time to do it – and yes, it can be done!
While a wish list all seems well and good on paper, it’s not always easy to make your vision come to life – that’s why it’s important to hire a qualified contractor.
First, begin by moving your possessions offsite to get a clear idea of the space you’re working with. Be aware that drywall, mudding, and sanding can get fairly messy – so you’ll want to keep your hunny’s unopened (and well-travelled) boxes safe…. This is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of flexible storage options. Places such as Ultrastor in Burlington can help!
Next, you’ll want to confirm your basement is free of dampness and water. Any evidence of mould or seeping water can mean there are problems with your waterproofing. It’s important to be sealed and dry before any drywall or flooring goes down. By hiring a professional such as Bosco Home Services, you can address any concerns and potentially save a costly repair in the future.
A basement reno is also the perfect time to think about other upgrades to your home such as the furnace and HVAC system. Do you want to include home audio systems and automation? It’s best to install those before walls go up. Also, if you have future plans for main floor renovations such as kitchen and bathrooms, you may want to tackle those first. Before you close in the basement, all of these elements can be installed or roughed in.
The Basement Store
Other practical considerations to make your basement comfortable, warm, and dry are the addition of spray foam insulation and subfloors with a raised moisture barrier. Luxury vinyl plank flooring, with a wide range of colours and wood grains, is now a very popular choice; it’s a highly durable and cost-effective solution for a busy family. Inspired Flooring in Burlington has a fantastic selection to choose from.
Whatever your wish list entails, if it is a full-scale finishing of a basement or an update to the shag carpeting, there are many ways to expand your home below ground. It all starts with a vision.
Load up everything you need for a day at the beach in this beautifully embroidered beach bag. Razzmatazz Art Lounge 312 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville Razzmatazzonline.com
Change your look, not your sole. Adorable snaps and straps can be changed out on these summer sandals – creating unique and endless options! Forever Summer 389 Brant St, Burlington Foreversummerswimsuits.ca
It looks like glass…until you drop it. Tritan gives you the look and style of glass, with superior durability and shatter resistance. BPA-free. Oakville Home Leisure 1318 Speers Rd, Oakville Oakvillehomeleisure.ca
Rustic Daisy’s has everything you need for your trip to the beach this summer. Trendy totes, water bottles, colourful beach shawls, and more! Rustic Daisy’s 25 Main St S, Waterdown
Perfect for picnics, beach, and travel! The Picnic Time Piccadilly Picnic Basket Set is both stylish and functional. It features a spacious area to put your food and drinks. Comes with picnic necessities like a corkscrew, knives, spoons, wine glasses and more. Nicetys 146 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville Nicetys.com
Find yourself a lazy river and float the day away in these classic Canadian floaties. Fairhome Interiors 2289 Fairview Street, Burlington Fairhome.ca
The hot, hot summer sun has finally arrived, and there’s no better way to beat the heat than to plunge into one of our community pools. While indoor pools serve us all year long, outdoor pools are a special treat we can only enjoy for a few months out of the year – and there’s one in particular creating some hype this summer.
First open in 1963, Nelson Pool, located on New Street between Appleby Line and Walkers Line has been a family favourite for decades. However in 2015, after endless dives and cannonballs, the pool was deemed unsafe by a structural engineer and closed for public use.
With tremendous support from the community, City Council approved a plan to complete an extensive two-year renovation on the pool and surrounding area. The finished product reopened for the 2017 summer season, impressing crowds and welcoming all skill levels and abilities.
The new pool – which cost $4.9 million – is a 50-metre heated outdoor pool with eight lanes and a beach-entry leisure pool. But that’s not all.
If you think you have what it takes, you can brave the climbing wall feature in the deep-end, or jump in off one of the two 1-metre diving boards. For those who prefer a leisurely swim, there’s a large shallow end to enjoy playtime with family and friends. The pool itself is perfect for all ages from infant to adult and unlike many pools, is completely accessible with a ramp, beach entry, or ladders to enter the pool.
Then there’s the new splash pad. Take a run through the small animal spray features or get soaked while standing under the giant tipping bucket. The park was designed to engage children of all ages and is the perfect summer day getaway if you’re in need of a little staycation.
This treasured community gathering place provides a great opportunity for residents to get outdoors, play, and stay cool all summer long. With a dry children’s park, community change room, deck chairs, and picnic tables, you can pack a lunch and expect to spend a full day splashing around and having fun.
Drop-in recreation swim costs $4.40 for youth to 60+, but if you plan on swimming all summer long, it might be worth purchasing a summer swim pass for $32.40 – granting you access to all of the City’s pools.
Barbeque, it’s about as summer as summer gets. As soon as the weather starts warming up, we head to the grill. It becomes a weekend pastime – throwing on a thick patty or a juicy sausage, calling over a few friends, and sitting around the backyard patio. But there’s more to the grill than meats the eye – we can’t forget our sides. No summer picnic or barbeque is complete without those side staples: a Mediterranean pasta salad, maybe some grilled veg, and we certainly can’t forget the always crunchy and delicious sweet summer corn.
Driving down the highway on a warm summer day, the cornfields can’t be missed. Rows upon rows of silky green stocks. From pick-your-own to roadside stands, corn husks are ready to be picked and enjoyed from August through to October.
At Andrew’s Scenic Acres in Milton, visitors can take a wagon ride out to the cornfield where you’re welcome to pick your own corn. Wanting only the best of the bunch, you’ll want to look for bright green and moist husks – this means they’re fully ripe and sweet! The silk should be stiff, dark, and moist. If you’re not confident in picking your own, you can stop by Andrew’s farm market and find fresh, ready-picked produce depending on season and availability. While you’re there, you must stop by their flower gardens lined with sunflowers, dahlias, and gladioli – they make the perfect Instagram backdrop.
Now, let’s not forget about the incredible farmers’ markets we have right here in our own backyard. Aldershot Farmers’ Market, Burlington Mall Farmers’ Market, OTMH Farmer’s Market, and Oakville Civitan Farmers’ Market, and Oakville Place Farmers’ Market welcome vendors that carry a wide variety of locally grown and fresh produce. If you’re not able to make it directly to the farm to pick your own, this is an opportunity for the farm to come to you. Here you will find the freshest food available, and you will be supporting your local farmers! Be sure to keep your corn moist, and pack a cooler for the trip home from the farm or market.
The best part about getting this delicious treat home? Eating it. There are endless ways to prepare sweet summer corn. Barbeque or boil the corn and serve it with butter and a touch of salt, make it into corn relish, use it in salads, or bake your own corn bread. These tender, succulent, little nibs burst in your mouth the moment you bite in.
Familia Fine Foods
Familia Fine Foods in Burlington knows a thing or two when it comes to incorporating corn into unique and vibrant dishes. Corn is a staple inLatin Cuisine, and Familia uses Ontario sweet corn in a variety of ways. Their arepas are a popular foundation for Latin American dishes. A typical Colombian type of cornmeal tortilla, they can be used for every occasion…add meat, tuna, shredded chicken, stuff with vegetables or use as a pizza crust. You can even pick up their corn meal flour and make your own arepas at home (recipe at looklocalmagazine.com)! While their arepas are scrumptious, Familia’s corn cakes are the essence of summer. Between salty and sweet, this family recipe delivers and goes well with everything – enjoy them for breakfast, as a snack, or a side.
Wherever you’re dining this summer, be it a backyard barbeque or one of our fabulous local restaurants, be sure to bite into to this sweet summer treat. Ontario sweet corn will inspire you to peel away the husk and discover sweet gold.
by Melinda Paletta Melinda Paletta is a food writer, gourmet epicure, host of her food show DA EATS TV, and she is always ready for a culinary adventure. www.dabutchersdaughter.ca
Rosé used to be considered a slightly unsophisticated patio pleaser, a wine somewhere in between red and white. Historically, it was often sweet and mostly fairly unexciting.
However, times have changed and rosé is rapidly on the rise, both in quality and flavour and certainly, cool factor. One of the many great things about modern-day rosé is its versatility. It’s adaptable to seasons as well as to food, becoming a serious wine and food player. Plus, that colour is bound to make you feel happy.
Lucky for us, in Ontario, there are loads of rosé choices to be had. Almost all wine producing regions in the world produce a rosé, often with its own style and character.
Here we have highlighted some delicious rosés from all over the world. One of the even greater things about rosé is that good quality examples are available at every price point. It is often not necessary to spend a lot to get a really pleasurable bottle. All products below are available at the LCBO.
by Jennifer Ratcliffe-Wright
Picnic Wine Co. Rosé Lemonade
Ontario •$3.50 per 473ml
This summery tipple is made in Ontario (we love local) and is a half and half (rosé and lemonade blend). At 5% alc, it’s the perfect drink to sip all afternoon with its light flavours of lemon and strawberry. Dry and refreshing and so so easy; top it up with ice.
LAB
Portugal •$9.75
Portugal is high on the cool factor barometer right now with exotic local grapes and easy to drink wines. This wine is made close to Lisbon from Cabernet Sauvignon along with local red varieties. It works beautifully with a fresh Portuguese meal straight from the ocean or anything from your barbecue. Offering bursts of red fruit leaping from the glass, LAB is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
La Vieille Ferme Rosé
France •$12.45
A beautifully styled dry rosé from the Ventoux area in the Southern Rhône in France made by the Perrin family, who are the rock star winemakers of the area. Its delicate ballet slipper pink colour just smacks of summer. With scents of fresh strawberries and delicate florals, its aromatics will have you reaching for another glass.
Rustenberg Rosé
South Africa •$13.95
Made by South African wine royalty, the Barlow family have been making wine in the Simonsberg area of Stellenbosch on the Rustenberg estate since 1941, with the estate producing wines since 1682. This easy dry rosé is made from the Bordeaux variety Petit Verdot. It achieved a gold medal at the Michelangelo awards, one of South Africa’s top competitions. Perfect for an alfresco picnic.
Malivoire Ladybug Rosé
Ontario •$16.95
From the Niagara Peninsula and a local leader in sustainable winemaking (we like them already), comes this zesty, spicy wine that is bright and perky on the palate. Ninty-two points from Natalie Maclean, it’s a foodie kind of wine that will adore any dish you choose to pair it with.
Izadi Larrosa Rioja
Spain • $16.95
This Rioja rosé made from an old vine Garnacha (Grenache) is made in a Provençal style. Delicate pink with a whisper of cherry scented flowers, it will work as an early afternoon aperitif, with a charcuterie lunch, or while standing around the barbecue snacking tidbits.
Sassy Rosé Cocktail Recipe
If you prefer your Rosé in other forms, try this Sassy Rosé Cocktail that will have your guests complimenting you from the first sip.
The garage is often the last unorganized frontier in the family home… the place where boxes, sports gear, discarded hamster cages, gardening and lawn equipment, bicycles, and various other odds and ends are tossed. Let’s be honest, if you’re actually able to store a vehicle in the garage – you’re way ahead of the game. For those who use this space for storage, there are endless ways to keep your goodies in the garage while keeping enough room for the car – and we’re here to help!
For most busy homes, space is at a premium. “The garage is often a dumping ground, so the first thing you want to do is get everything out and off the floor,” says Linda Fiore Ceolin of Garage Living. “Ideally, you want nothing on the floor, to make it easier to get around and to keep clean and walk without tripping.”
She suggests that the flooring be looked after first. If the flooring is cracked or worn, it should be fixed or replaced to match the garage interior, ensuring a cohesive look.
Garage Living provides a wide range of storage options to help with organization and keep items either out of sight or displayed neatly on the walls. “We offer everything needed to get organized, including storage bins to purge what needs to go first,” she says.
When it comes to storage equipment, slatwalls seem to be the go-to. The grooved panels make it easy to hang sports equipment, ladders, and gardening tools.Custom cabinetry is great for storing items in designated bins, like tools, nuts and bolts, or even paint. “Cupboards can be treated as a pantry, where you can hide items from view if you choose,” explains Linda.
The ceiling is another popular option for storage opportunities. “The ultimate goal is to keep things neat, clean and dry so you can actually park your car and sweep or shovel out water, slush, and leaves.” she says. Building custom shelving can create loft-storage, giving you extra square footage to store items such as seasonal furniture and decorations.
The slat wall system is definitely the most popular and efficient way to get the garage space neat and organized, says Austin Macaulay of Burlington Closet and Garage.
“We provide an all PVC, Canadian-designed and made-in-Canada slat system that comes in four colours,” he says. “It’s appealing to the eye with heavy-duty hooks that lock in and hold 75 pounds per square foot of space.”
Austin also suggests wire baskets and shelving for gardening tools, and hooks on the walls and ceilingto accommodate bikes, kayaks, and paddle boards.
He says, “If you utilize the back wall and the ceiling, that can help free up a lot of space you may not have realized you had.” There are even motorized lifts available to make reaching items stored on the ceiling easier to access. And the slat system can be installed by professionals, or by yourself: “It goes up like siding, with a very clean look and you can’t see the screws.”
Although getting organized is a great feeling when you’re all done, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the entire process, Linda suggests tackling it a section at a time.
“The garage is usually the last place in the home to get organized, but you can always do it in steps if you choose, bits at a time,” she says. And if you’re worried that your space is unable to be organized at all, she also has advice for that: “No space is too small!”
With the right organization tools, some planning and maybe a bit of purging, your garage can hold everything it needs to, including your vehicle.
