Peering Through Windows

Memories of Hammocks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 12:00:00 +0000

There is nothing that looks better than a beautiful hammock in a backyard, cottage or porch. It is so appealing. I remember heading out with my sleeping bag and spending the night sleeping on a hammock at my grandmother's cottage in Vermont. Waking up with the sun heating up your face.
Or sneaking away in the afternoon to relax and read a book in the hammock overlooking the water, until invariably someone comes up and gives a quick one handed flip and boom you are sitting on the ground with a few extra bruises.

Today, I would not even attempt to get in a hammock. When my second son was a baby, I got into a hammock with him and we turtled right over onto the ground. Some mother! There is no grace in getting in and out of a hammock. So i will just look longingly at them and hold onto my memories......

Obsessed- Another Green Pool Post

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The Romance of a Sleeping Porch

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Ahhhhh, I can imagine curling up in this bed with a book. The only problem is that it seems to be right on the street so I might wake up multiple times through the nite certain there is a face at my window. :)

This invokes memories of warm summer breezes.....

Of course the kids would be up at the crack of dawn grrh.....

Combining Architecture, Pools and Green Living

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Contemporary Flower Pots/Privacy Shields

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I would have a really difficult time watering these, but they are quite striking and add alot of visual interest to an outdoor area.

I love how it looks at night. Very romantic!
Made of Aluminum by Bysteel.

Pools in Harmony with Nature and Lifestyle

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I have always wanted a pool in my backyard. But there has always been a reason against it. When the kids were young we lived in High Park with a postage size backyard. I bought a swim spa and we kept it running year round. It was amazing to go out in the winter with the steam rising and the kids could actually swim in it. I could do laps. But it was an eye sore. When we sold the house the new home owners did not want it so we had to find a way to get rid of it.
I have been told time and time again that a pool has a negative impact on selling your property and there is a significant cost to putting one in. As a result, if we were going to get a pool we would buy a house with one. That house has never come along.
Last year I looked at putting a pool in our backyard, with landscaping it was going to cost around $100,000 for nothing extravagent. I couldn't justify it. I am getting older and less thrilled about putting on a bathing suit, that will only get worse with time. The kids are older. Then I came across the concept of a Green Swimming Pool. I loved the idea. It really becomes a water feature in your backyard, vs a swimming pool.
These pictures are more swimming oriented but you could make it to look very much like a pond- so you could swim or just have a beautiful landscape

Apparently these are big in Europe but rarer in Canada. There is a company in BC that does a fair number of these pools withwaterfalls, streams and bridges.

All insects and pond life find a balance so there is no need to fear infestations of mosquitoes or an invasion of frogs - any small creatures that do exist live in the plant zone while you relax in your own swimming zone.

The concept is

Can Furniture Bring a Family Closer Together?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

A few years back I bought a double lounger for our cottage. It was one of the best investments I ever made. In the afternoons I would stretch out with my magazines, some pillow and a cool drink and invariably I would have company on my lounger. One of my boys would join me their book, my husband or the dog. The only problem was generally the dog was wet and smelly and was trying to get warm after a swim in the lake. It is funny how a piece of furniture can bring a family closer together..

House built into the Stone

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:00:00 +0000

This house has the wow factor- cut into the stone. I am a little suprised they were allowed to dynamite out the stone. I know a few people have been able to get away with it in Georgian Bay in the past but I thought those days were long gone. Still it is beautiful and meshes with it's surroundings beautifully.

The house was designed by David Tyrell and is located in Kelowna

Phenonmenal water views as you work in the kitchen. Interesting coffee table below, I can't quite figure it out.

Spruce Up Your Pool Deck- Even Above Ground

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:17:00 +0000

We all want beautiful stone surrounding our pools, making it feel like a northern outdoor landscape. Unfortunately we all can't afford it. This photo gives inspiration for how to make a wood deck a little more upscale and fun. It would even work for an above ground pool. A bit of potted greenery, punch colours and voila....

Infinity Pool Dropping onto a Sand Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 15:59:00 +0000

The architecture on this property is beautiful. It is symetrical but has layers. I love the combination of old and new: concrete, wood and old stone around the pool. I haven't seen an infinity pool on a sand beach front but it works. I really appreciate modern architecture and I am drawn to photographs of it but I would definitely need an interior designer to give it the warm feeling that I crave on the interior.

see more at http://goo.gl/pGlyB

Before and After Edition 2

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:40:00 +0000

White Paint, an L-shaped couch and lots of accessories make all the difference in a previously dull and dark room. The cut out in the bookcase also opens up the room. Suprisingly small things make a big difference

Scary!! I like this transformation because very little money was spent. It looks like only one window was replaced to make it the same size as the others. Other than that loads, and loads of white paint and a palette of white and warm brown with a dash of colour. Very nicely done.

visit us at www.ourhomesmagazine.com/oakville

Seriously, A dog Bed????

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:45:00 +0000

Wow!! A dog bed fit for a king. All I can imagine is my golden doodle bolting in the house his fur caked with snowballs, or even worse drenched from an afternoon swim in the lake and then rolling around in this lovely piece of art to dry himself off......

www.ourhomesmagazine.com/oakville

Bedrooms with a View

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I stayed at a hotel last year on the beach in Florida and the bedroom had views like this. I was in heaven. I love the tranquil colour scheme

Great idea on TV placement

No View on this one but it is stunning in it self.

Hmmm A pool in my bedroom?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:35:00 +0000

www.ourhomesmagazine.com/oakville

The Barn On Lake Michigan

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:40:00 +0000

A beautiful structure, the light must be incredible. I love how the building is built into the hill for a walk out

Connected to the Outdoors. This could be Georgian Bay

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:32:00 +0000

This beautiful cottage is in Sweden but it could just as easily be in Southern Georgian Bay. I love that every room has a connection with the outdoors. I can picture myself relaxing in the outdoor room.....

see more at http://goo.gl/36gzD

Blending Old and Contemporary Architecture

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:40:00 +0000

I never would have imagined that you could combine an old rather featureless 1920's home with a very contemporary addition. The reality is it really makes the house. It is also unique in that the exterior is a piece of folded steel.

Credit goes to designed by Austrian studio X Architekten with offices in Vienna and Linz.

www.ourhomesmagazine.com/oakville

Outdoor fireplaces

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:30:00 +0000

I have always wanted an outdoor fireplace. I am a little on the lazy side so gas is appealing. :)
One of the struggles has been how to easily incorporate it into the patio area. To construct it into the outside wall which intuitively made sense it would require significant renovation. I saw this picture and realized it would be far easier to build another wall which would frame the outdoor room. This isn't exactly the feel I would go for but it opens up a world of possibilities.

Beautiful Bathrooms

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Are you Afraid of Dark Grey?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:30:00 +0000

What a stunning bedroom, the gorgeous gray walls bring a tremendous amount of warmth to the room. This grey is Pratt and Lambert Wolf- apparently with a hint of chocolate. yummm!

I also love the height of the curtain rods.

Black and White Accessories maximize the impact. I am not overly keen on the fuschia wood trim, I think it would have been enough with just the tassle on the lamp

Take me Away

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:58:00 +0000

I can't even begin to imagine how wonderful it would be to visit a place like this. You would feel completely at one with nature. I love the ocean so I questioned the need for private pools or even the one that links all of the individual villas. Then of course I thought of wanting a dip in cool water at night- never a good idea to be in the ocean at night, so the pool is a great compromise for that.

Apparently this is a fairly new resort Ayada Maldives and located on the island of Maguhdhuvaa, in the lovely Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll district.

Imagine sitting and watching fish swim by beneath you!

A pool - shaped like a boat- joining all of the individual villas together

Watching the sunrise and set, it looks heavenly.....

A Living Room to Die For...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:40:00 +0000

Imagine sitting on in a living room on the waters edge. This is a Floating Home in Seattle. I love the use of a garage door to bring the outside in and suprisingly it isn't an eyesore on the interior

For more visit http://www.archidwell.com/architecture/floating-house-lake-union-washington

A contemporary bright living room but it lacks that direct connection to nature. It feels more like a condo.

www.ourhomesmagazine.com/oakville

Ski Getaway designed to Mimic Mountains

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:45:00 +0000

Mountain Lodge in Al Norway designed to look like the mountains and the functionality of being able to ski out of it and on top of it.. Huge windows, almost skylights allow natural light into the cabin.
To see more visit: http://j.mp/rAV0wd

An Office to Die For...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:39:00 +0000

I love the clean lines of this desk and hutch. The gleaming metal add a touch of pizzazz to the room, maybe some sparks of inspiration to your work??
The combination of the straight lines of metal and the circular sculpture on the hutch is a great combination.

This is SPECTACULAR!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:40:00 +0000

As soon as I saw this photo I fell in love. The connection with the outdoors is so strong. I never imagined living in anything but an old historic home, but my tastes have changed. Packing my bags and moving....