Our summer collection is now in stores, and we are carrying some fun garden accessories that will add life and character to your outdoor living space. We currently have a few garden gnomes and even a Gnome Glow Lamp in our stores. The strong presence of the gnome this year got my wheels turning. Why it is that people are drawn to these little statues, and how did the gnome end up in the garden in the first place?

Gnomes emerged in the renaissance era, and continue to be mythical characters in modern day fantasy literature. The garden gnome was first introduced officially into the home around 1841 and evolved from the production of house dwarf ornaments, which were very popular in the late 18^th century. The gnome, which is a small humanlike creature, is typically portrayed with a beard and pointy hat; it is believed to protect a home against evil and sorcery.  For that reason, the gnome was placed outside the home, to ward off evil and therefore found its home in our gardens. After the second world war, gnomes made a re-emergence onto the garden scene and began to be manufactured in plastic for the first time. They also received a slight makeover. Their depiction changed somewhat, to mirror the dwarfs in Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Modern gnomes are adorable and quirky. This is what makes them so irresistible. While garden gnomes might not be everyone’s cup of tea, knowing a little bit about them and their meaning might help the sceptics understand the appeal. For those who are already onside with these funny little creatures, something that makes you smile has to bring good energy to your home.

When you get your new teak furniture, it will be a nice golden or caramel colour. This is due to the presence of surface oils that are left on the surface after its cut. The oils also prevent insects from eating it and the wood from rotting; another reason teak is a prized wood. As the oils start to dry out, the teak will take on a beautiful silver/grey patina, but not to worry because they still protect the wood. Little imperfections in the wood may start to appear and your furniture will start to take on its own unique character. Now if you really liked that new caramel colour you can re-oil the wood with teak oil, available at most home improvement stores, but I don’t really recommend it. It may not colour as evenly as you hope, but it also means extra work a couple times a year for you, time that might better be spent lazing around on your teak chairs with a refreshing mojito!

Here are some basic care tips for your teak:

• Give it a quick wash in the spring with warm water, a little detergent and a gentle brush, allow it to dry. This will just clean off any dirt and dust so if it already looks good, you may just want to leave it alone completely.
• Feel free to leave it outside over the winter, even in the snow, as long as there isn’t too much piled on top.
• If you want to store it inside, don’t wrap it up with anything that won’t let it breath, and it is actually best to keep it in a shed or garage. The warm dry heat of your home may cause the wood to crack.

Aside from these quick steps, no maintenance should be required.

This year we have a great teak dining set available. The Sumatra comes in a 3 piece and a larger 5 piece set. Get yours now so when it warms up enough to sit outside, all you’ll need to do is mix the mojitos!

Late last year I made a commitment to live a smarter, healthier lifestyle. I’m not saying that I ate cheeseburgers every day – in fact, I was relatively health conscious to begin with but it was time to take it to the next level. I began to research on this topic and quickly came to realize that it’s not only what you put inside your belly that can wreak havoc on your health, it’s nearly everything you come into contact with. “Oh great!” I thought to myself. “So basically, everything in my house is trying to kill me?!?….. I’m gonna have to give up mascara and live off the grid somewhere?!” Yes friends, this is actually how I overdramatize things. Once I managed to get a grip, I did a bit more research and realized that even small changes can greatly improve your wellbeing. I decided to start with my cleaning products and wouldn’t you know it, there are natural solutions for cleaning nearly everything in your home with ingredients you probably already have in your cupboards!

Here are some things that I came across.

• To clean your cookware, simply sprinkle it with salt and use the cut side of a lemon as a scrub brush. This method works great on copper!
• Corn starch is a great product with loads of uses around the house. Use it to remove grease or oil stains from fabrics and carpets. Simply pour it on the trouble spot, let it sit for a few hours and vacuum or wash it off.
• Remove soap scum from tiles and shower doors by using a mixture of 1 part water and 2 parts vinegar in a spray bottle.
• Did you know that you can use a piece of white bread to clean an oil painting? True story.
• Clean the inside of a narrow vase or bottle by filling it with warm water and adding a tablespoon of uncooked rice. Shake vigorously and voila!
• Baking soda is a miracle product and can be used throughout the home for various tasks. Combine it with water to make a paste and use it to polish stainless steel and chrome.
• More baking soda fun! Run your coffee maker with a baking soda solution to clean out its inner parts.
• Did you know that vinegar can be used as a fabric softener? Simply add it to your rinse cycle for a non toxic alternative. Your clothes will NOT smell of vinegar. Promise.
• You should probably stock up on baking soda. To clean your tub and toilet, combine a cup of baking soda with a teaspoon of liquid soap and a few drops of antibacterial essential oil and mix this with a bit of water to form a paste.
• Once diluted, vinegar can be used to clean everything from hardwood floors to windows and toilets.
• Use hydrogen peroxide to remove tough stains from fabrics before putting them into the washing machine.
• For a non toxic wood polish, combine 1 part lemon juice to 2 parts olive oil in a spray bottle and use with a clean cloth.

What natural home cleaning techniques have you discovered?

Here are my top picks for Mother’s Day 2013:

Framed Childhood Artwork

Image courtesy of http://onelittleimp.blogspot.ca/

Visit one of our stores this week for a wide selection of frames in stores to help you create your own works of art. Dig through your parent’s closets, drawers and boxes in the basement and pull out your art projects from your childhood and school years that are packed away. Purchase a few new frames for the artwork you find. Your Mom will display this artwork as proudly on her walls as she did on her fridge years ago.

Tip: Frames with matting might cost a few extra dollars but the end result looks more professionally finished. Buying different sized frames will allow Mom to create a gallery look on one of her walls.

An Outdoor Arrangement 

Consider creating a “plant arrangement” in our Wyatt Planter. Embrace the season and give Mom the classic Mother’s Day gift of foliage. Take the extra time to do the planting; she’ll appreciate it! See last month’s post on creating an outdoor planter for other ideas!

Give Her A Drink

The Boho wine glass is far from boring. These glasses are available in 2 bold colour-ways for only $9 each. With every passing Mother’s Day, choosing the right gift can become harder and harder. If you have a hard time buying for Mom, consider buying a gift that she can drink! A nice bottle of wine paired with a couple unique wine glasses is sure to be a hit.

12 Issues Of Love

Visit www.rogersmagazineservice.com to easily subscribe and save on many of Canada’s favourite magazines. Remind Mom that you love her… all 12 months of the year! A subscription to any magazine (home décor, gardening, beauty or food) will provide her with hours of reading enjoyment. The best part – the gift will arrive in her mailbox 12 times!

Gone are the days where the only purpose of lighting was function.  No more fluorescent glare or barely there glow…lighting options have come a long way.  Lighting is now an integral part of our home décor.

Sure, the primary use is to provide light – but why not think of this as an opportunity to add a unique design element to your room at the same time?

Items shown: Bardot Table Lamp $119, Helix Table Lamp $89, Lanterna Table Lamp $119 – all from Urban Barn

Take a table lamp for example; the designs are endless and some almost emulate a piece of art.  When making a selection, be sure to consider the colour and scale of the lamp well as its function.

Items shown: Directeur Floor Lamp $189, Lantern 3 Floor Lamp $279

Lacking overhead lighting in a dim room?  In need of extra light but short on space?  No problem, floor lamps today are now available in a myriad of options.  Combination arc and multi head lamps, such as our Lantern 3 Floor lamp, provide ample lighting while taking surprisingly little space on your floor.   Maybe you’re looking to light up a specific area – if so, our Directeur Floor lamp is spot on!

Items shown: Cranium Glow Lamp $39, Eiffel Glow Lamp $39, Owl Glow Lamp $39 – all from Urban Barn

Want to create a little ambience or add a touch of whimsy to your space?  Our glow lamp collection will fit the bill!  The natural porcelain finish emits a soft warm glow while at the same time adding character to the room.

At the end of the day, in the right lighting, we all look good!

“Just about every room in my house has something from Urban Barn.  I’ve bought lots of furniture and accessories there because of the good value, quality and nice styling.  My living room has a Lure sofa, 4 chairs, 2 ottomans, vases, a sideboard, coffee table, 3 side tables, a clock, a console, a lamp, a blanket and a stool from there! Wow, I deserve an award for all that!  I’ve bought pieces over the last 10 years so you may not find them in store anymore.”

We love the way you’ve built an eclectic and engaging space by gradually adding interesting pieces to your room! Thank you so much for sharing.

Remember to send in your pics for a chance to be featured on our blog!

Steps:

1. Start with the bedding (scroll down to see some suggestions) – it is like art for your bed and will give you the greatest impact.
2. Pair the bedding with hotel style sheets – who says the vacation has to end when you get home.
3. Finally, add some flowers or toss cushions to complete the look.

If you need an option that is gender neutral, the Vines Duvet Set is liked by all.  With spring outside, why not bring it inside.

Vines Bedding - $139.00 - $159.00 - available at Urban Barn

Create a bouquet of color with the Fiesta Duvet Set.  The beautiful appliqué and embroidery will brighten your day.

Fiesta Bedding - $139.00 - $159.00 - available at Urban Barn

If soft and subtle is more your style try the Leila Duvet Set.  The splashes of green and aqua are relaxing and inviting.

Leila Bedding - $139.00 - $159.00 - available at Urban barn

“Completely redone this winter by Urban Barn!! Still not quite done but we’re thrilled. SO glad we found you.”

We LOVE the serene colour palette and clean lines Elma used in this space. We even selected her as a winner in our Bring The Spring Contest so she could add some more colour for spring! Check out what our creative director Sebastien recommended for her space HERE.

Thank you for sharing Elma, and for the rest of you – keep the pics coming!

Items featured: Tribeca Custom Sectional, Cinderella Custom Chairs, Thilde Coffee Table, Thilde End Table, Lantern 5 Floor Lamp, Ashworth Frame, Crown Chess Decor - all from Urban Barn

I knew I had to find a way to soak up as much plant knowledge as possible in a short period of time or accept the fact that I would still be searching for the perfect outdoor plants in September.

Consider creating a “plant arrangement” in a wider planter such as the Wyatt Planter. Choose different types of plants with different heights, colours and textures to create a visually appealing look.

By no means do I consider myself to be a plant expert but here are a few tips I can pass on from one beginner to another when taking on the task of choosing the right filler for your planters.

• Choose a few great planters or pots that fit your space. This is most important if you are working with a small space. The plants you select should fit these planters and pots.
• Resist the urge to jump in your car and head straight to your greenhouse. Having a vision and an idea of the types of plants you are looking for will save you time and stress.
• A greenhouse employee may be very knowledgeable about plants but may not know a lot about design or how a plant will look visually in your outdoor space.
• Searching the web can be as overwhelming as stepping into a greenhouse with endless isles of plants. With 7 distinct climate zones in Canada, ensure that any content you read online is relevant to your city and climate. My advice is to choose very specific search terms when using a search engine.
• Try not to fall in love with a plant that simply won’t survive in your climate. This can also be avoided by refining your search terms.
• Consider going on a photo exploration in your neighbourhood or city as a first step. Find inspiration in what others are planting.
• If a designer look is what you’re going for, take a stroll past the higher end hotels or restaurants in your area for inspiration. Trust that the experts who design high end outdoor planters for hotels and restaurants know what can and can’t survive the climate in your area.  Don’t forget your camera!
• Like creating the perfect flower arrangement, the plants you choose for an outdoor space should also work well together. It’s easy to want to buy every plant you fall in love with but take a moment to consider how all plants that you’re considering will look in relation to one another.
• Finally, know what to expect when winter comes along. Some plants will survive the colder temperatures while others won’t.

Choose a rectangular planter such as the Colton Planter to place down the centre of an outdoor patio table to use as a summer centrepiece. Consider planting edible flowers and herbs inside this planter.

A pin shaped planter such as the Tucker Planter would look great flanking a front door or staircase filled with flowing grasses or a you may choose a plant more architectural such as a pruned boxwood.

Happy Planting!

“Just finished decorating my living room and wanted to share the results with my favourite store Urban Barn. I still have almost whole house to decorate so hope to see you guys soon!”

We’re loving the serene colour palette with pops of bright colour and bold pattern. Thank you Lina for sharing your beautiful space!

Don’t forget to send in your pics for a chance to be featured on our blog!

Items featured: Tribeca Sofa, Cross Round Lamp Table, Liza Pendant Lamp