Do you dig gardening? Would you like access to certain seeds for your flowerbed or garden? Local seed libraries might be just what you’re looking for this year. With planting season quickly approaching, the tools for starting or enhancing your garden could be as close as…the library. Yes, the local library doesn’t just lend books these days: you can also borrow seeds.

Both the Burlington and Oakville Public Libraries offer the unique opportunity to borrow from the Seed Library, completely free of charge. Once your plants have matured, harvest your plant’s seeds and return them back to the library, allowing more customers to experience the delights of gardening. The Seed Library carries seeds for a variety of plants, including eggplant, squash, lettuce, tomatoes, and lavender. Through returns and donations, the collection continues to grow and evolve. “The first wave of seeds will be available from our Seed Library on March 14, and will include vegetables that need to be started indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost before planting outside,” says library assistant Susan Thompson who runs the Seed Library in Burlington. “The full collection of seeds will be available on April 21, the day before Earth Day. This year we hope to add a few flower seeds into our collection, which has up until now been limited to veggies and herbs.”

Each person can borrow up to 10 seeds. Customers are not obligated to return seeds of the plants they grow as a condition for borrowing seeds. Instead, they’re encouraged to collect and return seeds as they’re able, but primarily they’re encouraged to have the experience of growing and enjoying some of their own food in their backyard, or balcony or community garden.

The OPL Seed Library in Oakville is currently housed at the Clearview Branch, and offers a wide selection of organic seeds that customers can borrow to plant and grow in their own backyards. This year OPL will be launching the seed libraries at all six Oakville locations on April 15. You don’t even need a library card to “check out seeds.” The library will be hosting Master Gardeners David Marshall and Lorne Sparrow on April 15 for the kickoff of the Seed Library at the Central Branch. “This new library initiative acts as a community project that promotes healthy and sustainable living, as well as encourages a culture of sharing,” says Lisa Williams, who heads the Seed Library in Oakville. “It’s a great way to bring our community closer together.”

How to Borrow Seeds

Select your seeds and fill out a check-out form. Drop off the check-out form at the circulation desk.

Why Harvest Seeds ?

By harvesting your seeds and returning them to the library, you allow more individuals to participate and experience the pleasures of growing their own plants. Harvesting your own seeds allows you to develop a deeper understanding of botany and the plant kingdom. You can save money by planting your own seeds and growing your own food. The seed library is organized by plant families (common names – beans, radish, etc). Seed packets are stored in boxes designated for the seed library. Seeds are sorted alphabetically by common name, and separated by dividers. Each packet is labeled with common name and variety noted.

Regardless of whether you’re just starting out or have years of gardening experience behind you, take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to grow some plants, nurture them, and, of course, reap what you sow.

by Allison Dempsey

Local Links

Burlington Public Library
bpl.on.ca

Oakville Public Library
opl.on.ca

The heart of the home, the hardest working room in the house, party central: yes, we’re talking about the kitchen. It doesn’t seem to matter what size your living quarters are, or how cozy and inviting you make your family room, the kitchen is where family, friends and guests naturally tend to gravitate, no matter the occasion. We talked to two local kitchen design and renovation companies to find out what the current trends in kitchen design are.

“This year it’s all about white,” says Barbara Abraham of Chestco for Kitchens in Burlington. “Right now 80 per cent of kitchen designs are light, bright, cloud, or simply white, but with some grey thrown in too. Shadow is very popular, and a greyish taupe as well.” But aside from a certain colour scheme, what homeowners most desire is simplicity in style, which means no clutter to be seen, and surfaces and cabinetry that are easy to keep clean. “Everyone wants a clean look,” says Abraham. “That means cupboards with no raised panels, so they’re easy to wipe clean with a warm, damp cloth, water only — no furniture polish.”

And when it comes to countertops, it’s all about quartz now — which is low maintenance and easy to clean, unlike granite, which requires care, sealing and yearly upkeep. “Customers who come in have done a lot of research, know what they want, and are armed with photos and lots of knowledge,” says Abraham. “We strive to help them get what they want, but there are certainly trends that we help to accommodate.”

And who doesn’t want that clean and clutter-free look in their home? Moving appliances off the counters, or at least having them hidden, not only creates a more attractive space, but makes it easier to work in as well. “Clients want things hidden, but still functional: a place for everything and everything in its place. At Chestco, even a six-inch spot can be modified to utmost functionality,” says Abraham. “Useable space is more important than an actual trend.”

And that’s something John McInnis of Coxon-McInnis Kitchens in Burlington can agree with. He takes a more philosophical approach to kitchen design by embracing the space and flow of the room over any current or upcoming trends. “There’s a lot happening in the kitchen,” he says. “But I encourage customers to not just chase the latest thing to come along. It’s more to do with the room space itself and how you want to utilize it now and for years to come.”

Calling it “the hardest working room in the house,” McInnis approaches kitchen design from a lifestyle point of view, rather than what the upcoming year predicts in popularity. He likes to visit with families to find out how exactly they use the space, and create designs from there. “These days we need to look at the entire space, and work around that,” he says. “Trends come and go, and it’s vital not to just be trendy. No more short-term thinking, go bigger than that, and go with what you like.”

He does, however, agree that white is very popular, never gets old, and ultimately never dates itself. He stresses using complementary colours throughout the house, or at least the main floor, to keep the flow. Galley kitchens, he says, make the most sense in terms of functionality and social aspects, with large islands to accommodate both the kitchen and an adjoining family room.

“In the end, it’s about making the most of what you have, and spending time with family and friends,” he says. “I’ve designed thousands of kitchens over the years, but what matters in design is what the family wants, and how they’re going to use
the space.”

by Allison Dempsey

Local Links

Chestco For Kitchens, Burlington
chestco.com

Coxon-McInnis Kitchens, Burlington
candm.ca

At one time, the dining room was a place that nobody dared tread through unless you were attending the most formal of family events or hosting an elite night of entertainment. Today’s dining room is more relaxed.

Furniture store retailers, like Jim Hobbs and Joe Levine, owners of Joshua Creek Furniture in Oakville, will tell you that casual dining is what’s trending. “We’re seeing tables that suit a casual environment for every day, then you can dress them up and make them look elegant,” says Levine. Tabletop bling can easily be added to the transitional look with special dinnerware, silverware and gorgeous centrepieces.  Pam Chisholm, owner of InHouse Etc in Burlington, agrees, stating that the look is “casual chic, functional surfaces, not fine furniture.”

Most tabletops continue to be round or rectangular, although varying in size, but there are several new finishes and styles.  “We’re seeing a lot of different finishes, like hand-planed solid maple, and we’re getting into some brushed finishes like wire brushed or hand brushed,” explains Levine. “It gives a real unique look to a table. It’s a little bit more durable and a bit more contemporary looking.”

In addition to the cool neutral gray that concrete tabletops offer, Levine says clients are going mostly for neutral grays and some lighter mid-tone browns. Dark brown espresso is still selling, but Hobbs interjects that the lighter stains are most popular. Chisholm notes that her tabletops are mostly wood and very little glass. “Concrete is also popular,” she adds.

Levine says that the table legs most requested are wood, although they do sell some with metal legs. In terms of leg style, pedestal and trestle tables are more in demand.  There are various leg styles available at InHouse, including wood, metal, stainless steel, gold or bronze. “Gold is very trendy right now,” says Chisholm.

There are a myriad of casual chair styles that pair well with these designs, including Parson chairs, leather, wood, metal, and a mix of both. Bench seating is also a great way to seat a crowd and you can tuck them away when not in use.

On its way out, perhaps, is the live edge look. Levine says that although they have sold many live edge tables, he thinks the trend is dissipating. “You’re starting to see that style at lower price points, and that typically signifies the end of a trend,” he says.

Before you buy a table style that catches your eye, think about the role it will play and the room it will be placed in. Hobbs suggests you determine how many people you will want to seat at the table, and whether or not you’ll want extensions or leaves or just a solid top. In order to get a balanced layout, he says to start at a centre point in the room, whether it’s a pot light or a ceiling fixture. “We want to make sure the table fits the space,” says Levine. “Once they find a table they like, we can go to their house and make sure they’re buying the right piece.”

Other factors to consider, says Chisholm, are whether there are kids who will also be using the space and how much entertaining you do. “A round table works well in small rooms,” she explains. “Remember to leave about two and a half feet on all sides so you can pull out the chairs and access them comfortably.” As for a gold standard in size: if you can accommodate it in the room, she suggests a 42” x 84” table, with or without leaves or extensions.

Once you’ve designed the space that reflects your needs, dinner can focus more on the company than the fuss of formality. Enjoying the food and the mood created around the table is what’s most important.

Local Links

Anderson’s Carpet & Home
andersoncarpetandhome.com

Joshua Creek Furniture, Oakville
joshuacreekfurniture.com

In House, Burlington
inhouseetc.com

House Warmings, Oakville
housewarmings.ca

Up Country, Burlington
upcountry.com

Swiss Interiors, Oakville
swissinteriors.com

We’ve been witnessing the re-incarnation of wallpaper for a few years now. Simply put, these are not the wallpapers of decades ago, but instead are wall coverings that breathe life into our spaces. From bold geometrics to vintage floral, with opulent metallic finishes or the natural uncomplicated look of grass cloth, we just can’t get enough of the design power of wallpaper.

Adding wallpaper to a space has the capability of delivering a large impact which simply goes beyond that of paint. A few rolls can transform and define your space in such dramatic and luxurious ways. Whether your room is large or small, wallpaper can instantly set a style, make a bold statement or add character and personality to an otherwise basic design. Don’t underestimate the power of wall coverings. Including it in your décor scheme can change a vastly spacious room by making it feel more intimate and cozy, just the same way a bold and busy pattern can transform a small room in your home to a charming and dynamic space. Crisp vertical stripes can be a clever solution to a room with low ceilings, and if you install your stripes horizontally, you can trick the eye and make the room appear broader and more spacious. Large patterns such as damasks and florals can be the perfect answer to camouflaging irregularities in your wall. 

When you’re overhauling a room, regardless of the scale, designers are ideal sources of inspiration since they have easy access to the latest look books and they know what’s trending. Tori Brock, owner and accredited interior designer of Fairhome Interiors in Burlington, says the geometric trend has also caught her eye, as have the “beautiful and colourful botanicals and the softer visuals that look like a watercolour painting.”

There are so many options to consider when looking to “paper” your walls. Murals are finding new life, and we’ve been hearing a lot of hype about “peel and stick” papers as opposed to traditional wallpaper. This is a great option for those of us that are a bit “commitment phobic”. NuWallpaper has a pretty impressive line of removable designs and they claim that it “goes up in minutes and comes down in seconds”. Brewster, Graham & Brown, and York Designs also have some fabulous options, and Ruth Baker Design manufactures their product right here in Ontario. All of these companies create high-end custom printed paper murals and wallpapers that are simple to install, and not only can peel off your walls with relative ease, but are also re-usable.

Moving the indoors out, they can also print on materials that can be used outside for privacy screening or backdrops for special events – what a great way to add personality to your outdoors!

Become inspired with your walls and give them a burst of colour and texture. Remember, today’s wallpaper trends are about adding a “wow” factor to your space, so be selective about the walls or rooms you wish to highlight and make a statement with what you select. With the abundance of options available to us today, the only limitation is your creativity – and the amount of wall space you have available.   

by Linda Mazur

Linda Mazur is a nationally recognized designer and Principal of Linda Mazur Design Group, known for creating relaxed stylish spaces and full-scale design builds in the Greater Toronto Area. lindamazurdesign.com

Local Links

Andersons, Burlington
andersoncarpetandhome.com

Burlington Paint & Wallpaper
burlingtonpaint.com

Painters Place, Oakville
paintersplaceblog.wordpress.com

Fairhome Interiors, Burlington
fairhome.ca

When you think about minimalism in interior design, maybe you think about big empty spaces that are cold and sterile and uninviting. Maybe you think hospital rooms or hotel lobbies, void of personality, warmth or style. But maybe it’s time to take another look at what minimalist design really means, and the wide range of options available when taking a space and making it your own, adding beauty plus elegance, minus the clutter.

The saying “less is more” is thrown around a lot, but it doesn’t have to mean bare and unappealing. The majority of us can admit that we simply own too many things that tend to clutter up our spaces on a daily basis. For some people, de-cluttering is the best and most desired definition of minimalism, while for others, it can go even deeper. “I think everyone can appreciate a fresh, clean minimalist living space, and the trend is still going strong,” says Anita Puls of House of Hues in Burlington. “I stick with this acronym ‘KIS’ (Keep it Simple) when working on a minimalist interior.”

A great way to Keep it Simple includes organizing and finding creative, stylish ways to store items that tend to collect on surfaces like dining tables and kitchen counters. “I love using decorative canisters or rustic bowls to house items that typically occupy countertop surfaces,” she explains. “Something as simple as replacing a bar of soap with liquid soap in a sleek container can be the beginning of a cleaner look.” 

If you want to do more than just kick clutter to the road, you may want to consider overhauling a floor in your home — or your entire house — to a modern, sleek environment with an emphasis on larger elements that take centre stage and catch the eye. “Minimalism also means using the application of feature walls and textures, by bringing the organic inside and creating tension with a modern look,” says Tania Parkyn of Oakville’s Parkyn Design. “The trend means different things to different people, but I find it appeals to clients of all ages across the board, whether they simply want more space and less clutter, or if they want to redesign their entire home.”

Less is More and simplicity in design doesn’t mean compromising quality, though. “It’s the quantity that makes it simple,” explains Puls. “I prefer to incorporate custom pieces that will easily transition and have longevity. A custom ottoman is a stylish storage option for any occasional items like blankets or seasonal decor that need to be stored away, and for decorative accents using a wood and metal combination adds a natural warmth to the lighter colour palettes typically used in a minimalist design.” 

Minimalism also doesn’t mean sacrificing colour for bland monotones throughout, as it can be achieved with any colour palette, says Parkyn. The idea is to streamline, and use high-quality material and let it stand on its own. “The notion of paring back has been a popular one for many years,” says Parkyn, and it’s easy to see why. “Who doesn’t want more room at home? Furnishings that are simple and beautifully designed are soothing and pleasing to the eye and can go a long way to creating a sense of peace around you, and who couldn’t use more peace in their lives?”

“Minimalism means a very pared down look but each piece showcased is stronger in itself,” says Parkyn. “But while trends are fine, at the end of the day for me it’s about what the client desires, and what is right for the client.” In this case, less really can mean more.

by Allison Dempsey

Local Links

Parkyn Design, Oakville
parkyndesign.com

House of Hues, Burlington
houseofhues.ca

Joshua Creek Furniture, Oakville
joshuacreekfurniture.com

Fairhome Interiors, Burlington
fairhome.ca

Anderson’s Carpet and Home, Burlington
andersoncarpetandhome.com