The more time you spend in a space the dirtier it gets! This is especially true for the most loved room in the house – the living room! Think of how much time is spent in your family room or living room and all the surfaces that are touched several times a day by multiple people. Not only does this room need a deep spring clean but it needs to be cleaned on the regular! If you want a quick and easy 3 step routine to tackle that living room mess, then keep on reading! 

WIPE ALL SURFACES

First and foremost, grab an all-purpose cleaner and cloth then spray and wipe all surfaces! Focus on the things you may usually over look such as the door handles and the areas around them too. When you come across a light switch spray your rag and give it a good scrub. Make note of any area that may need a deeper clean for the following steps. The initial clean can be quick so don’t be surprised if you’re moving through the space quickly! 

DEEP CLEAN

Some of your surfaces or areas in your living room may need a bit more attention. For tough stains or built on grime use something a little more tough such as a magic eraser or a scrubbing sponge, anything abrasive. Go back through the space and to the spots you noted in the first step and scrub away any stubborn dirt that wouldn’t wipe away. This step will take a bit more time and muscle power! 

DISINFECT

There is a difference between cleaning and disinfecting! If you used an anti-bacterial cleaner in your first step you still want to go through your space with a disinfectant. Take your wipes or disinfecting spray and give all the surfaces you wiped down in the first step another wipe. Make sure to read the instructions on your particular disinfectant to see on which surfaces and material it is best suited for. Feel free to expand this assignment to the other areas of your home that get touched often! 

It's very easy to get stuck in our comfort zones and not want to venture out when it comes to decorating our home. But we all can use a bit of colour in our lives! Colour sets the mood in your home and will alter the energy depending on the shade and hues you choose. Whether you just want a pop of colour here or there or really want to make a statement we have the tips on how to add more colour to your home and life! 

CONSIDER THE SPACE

When adding colour to your home, first think about how you want to use the space. For example, if you are looking to repaint your home office you may want to use pale colours and nothing that is too bright that could potentially be distracting. Also, if you’re someone that gets bored easy you won’t want to paint your space a loud and unconventional colour. Also consider the light levels when adding colour to your space. In a home office you want light to pour into the room therefore you won’t want to choose a dark colour that will soak up the natural light. 

LAYER MUTED COLOURS

If you are scared to make the leap into adding bright and bold colours to your home then opt for muted colours. Whites, greys and beiges can be boring when they take up an entire space, but when layered, muted colours create a comforting and interesting environment. Don’t feel as if you need to slap on vibrant paint to your walls in order to introduce colour to your home. Try mixing different coloured and textured fabrics when decorating to quickly and easily add life. Rusty reds and dark blue tones can be added to any neutral space to liven it up! 

START OFF SMALL

If you are ready to make the leap into bright and vibrant paint colours but don’t know where to start its always best to start off small. Paint a common area like the hallway or bathroom then go from there. Another easy way to add colour to your home in a conservative way is to paint a feature wall. Make a statement in the dining room or living room and paint one of the focus walls a vivacious colour. Even opt for colourful wallpaper to transform your room easily and quickly. We suggest to add a statement colour that matches your existing furniture and accessories! 

Spend the entire spring and summer months outdoors by adding kitchen functions to your garden space. Outdoor kitchens have become ultra-desirable back yard features. With everyone spending more time at home we need to get creative with the space we have! If you are looking to construct an outdoor kitchen and take your cooking and dinning outdside keep on reading for our design tips! 

FEATURES

An outdoor kitchen can replicate the indoor cooking space you currently have.  The number of features you will want to add to this space will really depend on the budget. A basic design will include a BBQ, a dining table and maybe some counterspace with extra storage. If you are looking to elevate this design try adding a pizza over, a sink, a side burner and even a fridge for the ultimate outdoor kitchen space! 

LAYOUT

Get inspired by the layout of your indoor kitchen or switch up the floor plan of your outdoor kitchen depending on your space. Do you prefer a linear shape? Or an “L” shape? You can even add an island if you’d like! Think about the sizing of your outdoor kitchen in terms of seating and counter space. Your outdoor kitchen will most likely be smaller than it’s indoor equivalent so make sure you are maximizing this space! 

STRUCTURE AND DESIGN

For an outdoor kitchen to be successful you must include waterproof features. You want to design your kitchen countertops and cabinetry with the weather in mind. You also want to make sure you are constructing your outdoor kitchen on a sturdy surface that is non porous and avoids staining. Decided whether or not you want walls in your kitchen design or a roof to protect the cooking area. Lastly, add plants and herbs to complete your outdoor kitchen design! 

As we start to get a glimpse of spring, I am sure we are all eager to get outdoors and get a taste of the sunshine! Try gardening to get your daily dose of vitamin C and to spruce up the outside of your home! We have all the latest gardening trends that 2021 has to offer. If you’re looking forward to the possibility of having a backyard gathering in the near future then keep on reading for our gardening tips! 

DREAMING OF THE COUNTRYSIDE?

Maybe due to the pandemic but there has been a trend to move out of the city and into the country currently. If this move isn’t for you but you want to bring the countryside to your urban city home then this tip will help you do that! Fill your garden and balconies with rustic potted plants and antique accessories as a reminder of that country lifestyle. Create a Zen garden that makes you feel you have escaped from the city and into the countryside! 

THE GARDEN AS AN EXTRA ROOM

Extend your living quarters into the outdoors! When opening your doors and blending the space between your outdoor and indoor living areas the garden becomes an extra room with many purposes. It can be an extension of your living room as an extra seating area. Or an additional play room for the kids. The garden is also often an extension of the kitchen with a BBQ and an outdoor table. However you choose to extend onto your garden terrace take advantage of this extra square footage! 

LIVE OFF THE LAND

A very popular trend that will continue into 2021 is to grow your own produce and herbs! As more people are looking to introduce more vegetables into their diet or committing to veganism fully, growing your own garden has never been more popular! Start off small with easy to grow vegetables, salads and herbs that are suitable for growing in the space you have to offer. The popularity of wall planters and patio containers has risen to cultivate fresh home grown produce! 

Although the spring and summer months are just around the corner, we still want to be able to enjoy a meal or a drink in the great outdoors! Patio season may not be upon us quite yet but we can still enjoy heated seating areas! We have gathered the top places with heated patios so if you are looking for the best outdoor seating in the neighbourhood then keep on reading! 

BRIX & MORTAR
Address: 1138 Homer Street, Vancouver 
Phone: 604-915-9463 

Brix & Mortar offers two heated outdoor seating areas! There is a cozy courtyard space and a trendy outdoor patio illuminated by seven-tier glass chandeliers. 

PROVENANCE MARINASIDE
Address: 1177 Marinaside Crescent, Vancouver 
Phone: 604-681-4144 

Provenance is located in the heart of Yaletown right on Marinaside directly across from the Yaletown Marina. Enjoy a glass of wine all year around in their enclosed and heated patio.  

PER SE SOCIAL CORNER

Address: 891 Homer Street, Vancouver 
Phone: 604-428-6111 

Choose from their wine list, coffee, or their meals all in the comfort of an enclosed heated patio. This classy corner bar has tons of seating both inside and out! 

THE KEG STEAKHOUSE + BAR
Address: 1011 Mainland Street, Vancouver 
Phone: 604-633-2534 

In a prime Yaletown location, the Keg has one of the most iconic open space eating areas in the city. Enjoy their coveted menu on their cozy heated rooftop patio!  

It is almost that time again! Time to start spring cleaning! What better place to start then in the heart of the home, the kitchen. Whether it be the pantry, the fridge or a cluttered countertop we have the tips on how to spruce up your space for the upcoming spring months! If a kitchen clean up sounds daunting and overwhelming keep on reading to make your cleanup simple and productive! 

PANTRY

To tidy up that crowded pantry start by categorizing your items. Some things may be flying off our shelves quicker than others and by keeping everything in its rightful category you can easily decide what to donate/throw away. For the items that are there to stay keep them in clear containers so you can see the contents inside and organize these items accordingly. Once everything is in a container, use labels to keep everything in its assigned spot! 

FRIDGE & FREEZER

When it comes to the fridge or freezer you want to organize your food by zones, and keep these zones labelled! For example, keep all your condiments on one side of the fridge door and all your salad dressings on another. Everyone is working with limited space in these areas and by assigning a certain amount of room for a category of food you will only keep the necessities! For the freezer, make sure that the items you tend to grab the most are right in the front.  

COUNTERTOPS

All flat surfaces become a magnet for clutter! When it comes to your kitchen countertops you want to be very picky about what you leave there. A great suggestion is to organize your counter space by stations. For example, have a station for coffee where you keep your coffee machine and pods or have a station for baking where you leave your mixer. To avoid clutter and chaos, the appliances you are not consistently using on a daily or weekly basis do not need to be left on the countertops.