Style At Home

June always feels like transformation to me. Gardens are blooming and the leaves on the trees filter the light so beautifully. Colours are brighter, scents are stronger, textures are softer. The whole month is like the “after” pictures in a before and after reno (March is the before pics!). Appropriately, this issue of Style at Home delivers on that theme. We have fabulous before and after stories throughout. In “It Takes Two” (page 80), two of our contributors – Karl Lohnes and Peter Paquette – team up to redo a family home in Toronto. Their design fixes inject it with the energy of the people who live there. And who doesn’t love a before and after kitchen reno? In “Recipe for Success” (page 48), a crowded, dated kitchen gets a total…

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PAINT PALETTE of the month MANOR BLUE 1627, Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.ca. Behr TAHOE BLUE PPU13-09, Home Depot, homedepot.ca. Behr CHARISMATIC SKY M520-3, Home Depot, homedepot.ca. IPANEMA AF-245, Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.ca. WE’RE INSPIRED BY… all the iterations of soft blue in the summer sky on a hazy day. When used indoors on walls and even on ceilings, these airy blues induce relaxation and calm. Pale woods and warm beige tones work beautifully with these blues, just like how the sand and the sea combine to create a serene feel. Blue & White À LA CARTE One of the great things about summer is being able to switch out formal tableware for settings that express the free and breezy feeling of summer dining alfresco. We love Misette’s new summer collections that not only are less formal but also can be mixed…

The Sissinghurst Seat is a direct descendant of the Lutyens Bench. There is something about an English garden, all lush and green, borders filled to bursting with a heady mix of blooms. And, it has to be said, there’s also something about an English garden bench. Designed in 1902 by renowned British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens for the garden of an Arts and Crafts-style manor house, this particular bench (occasionally called the Thakeham Seat, after the house it was designed for) has become something of a style icon. The generously proportioned piece – the original was eight feet long – boasts romantically lyrical scrollwork that plays across the curved camelback, and the kind of rolled arms you’d more likely spot on a trad chesterfield. All in all, it’s a recipe for the…

HIGH $10,898 PAINT, Behr’s Night Blooming Jasmine YL-W10, Home Depot. White vinyl LATTICE PANELS, Home Hardware. Boxwood HEDGES, Jardin de Ville. VASE, FLOWERS, Quince. Runnen DECK TILES, IKEA. LOW $1,557 On the Side It’s no fun having to reach for the patio to put down your drink. Accent tables are often overlooked when decorating a deck, balcony or patio. Not only are they essential for entertaining, but the right accent table also strengthens the style of your outdoor space. Lounge Around Summer’s for sitting back and putting your feet up. Whether in the form of a chaise, daybed or combo ottoman and lounge chair, be sure your outdoor space includes a spot that encourages downtime while the sun shines. Add toss cushions, an area rug and – for your beverage of choice – an accent table. PLEASING…

INGREDIENTS SERVES 6 12 oz (340 g) sliced hulled fresh strawberries3 tbsp granulated sugar2 tbsp lemon juice1 cup mascarpone cheese½ cup whipping (35%) cream¼ cup icing sugar2 tsp vanilla6 thick slices Pound Cake (see recipe below) or store-bought pound cake1 tbsp melted butter Pound Cake 1¾ cups all-purpose flour, sifted2 tsp baking powder¼ tsp salt¾ cup unsalted butter, softened¾ cup granulated sugar2 eggs, lightly beaten2/3 cup 2% milk, divided1 tsp vanilla DIRECTIONS In bowl, gently mix strawberries, granulated sugar and lemon juice. Let sit at room temperature about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in large bowl, using electric mixer on medium speed, beat mascarpone, cream, icing sugar and vanilla until creamy and light; set aside in refrigerator. Preheat barbecue to medium-high heat (about 375°F); grease grill. Lightly brush each side of cake slices (recipe below) with melted butter. Place on…