House & Home June 2021

CELEBRITY STYLE Contemporary style reigns at Rihanna’s 7,600-squarefoot mansion in Beverly Hills, Calif. NEW VIDEOS See how HGTV Canada’s Sarah Keenleyside transformed her backyard into the ultimate family hangout. THE GREAT OUTDOORS Take your yard from drab to dreamy with 85 of our best outdoor style ideas! MUST-TRY RECIPES This delicious Creamy Polenta with Roasted Corn from Top Chef Canada judge Chris Nuttall-Smith is a must-make! SMALL SPACES Be inspired by Dorrington Reid’s cool plant-filled condo. Apple, the Apple logo, and iMac are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. House & Home is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Photography by Alexis Adam (Rihanna’s home)/@badgalriri via Instagram (Rihanna’s portrait)/Maya Visnyei (polenta)/Jason Stickley (Sarah Keenleyside)/ Donna Griffith (patio)/courtesy of Dorrington Reid (living room)…

WHEN WE BOUGHT our Tudor Revival home in Toronto’s west end decades ago, it was dominated by a giant magnolia that was so magnificent, the previous owners had bought the house based on its beauty alone. But once the flowers tumbled off the tree and the petals laid slick on the burnt-out lawn, I looked around and saw… a project. I knew nothing about plants, but I gamely dug a hole for ‘Sterling Silver’ roses (they lasted a summer) and tossed aster and nasturtium seeds in the garden beds alongside the garage, which produced a truly stomach-churning colour combo. I realized that, although I knew what I liked, I didn’t know the actual names of the plants, so I couldn’t understand whether they loved having cool feet or needed six hours…

Kudos to Designer Gillian Atkins for taking on a fixer-upper in the April issue (“Quick-change Artist,” and on our cover). Living in a home with family, especially during a pandemic and with ongoing renovations, must have been challenging! I loved her classic but friendly space. The clean lines, soft touches of gold and warm wood floors all helped complete an awesome kitchen. Thanks for sharing! — OLGA COOPER, London, Ont. I love when House & Home includes an Artist File! When I saw Keiran Brennan Hinton featured in April’s issue, I was ecstatic. Fine art plays such a big role in the world of architecture and interiors. My one recommendation would be to make more space for it in the magazine. Loved the issue overall; the Nyla Free article (“Home Stretch”) convinced…

GOTTA HAVE IT Summer’s casual style calls for the laid-back look of linen — our favourite way to give patio dining a breezy sense of occasion. SHOP MORGAN JANE HOME Morgan Jane Miller lives and shops by five words: beauty, simplicity, order, grace and whimsy. These qualities are also at the core of her namesake boutique in the heart of downtown Wolfville, N.S. The 1,000-square-foot space feels like a breath of fresh seaside air — crisp white walls, open shelving and spacious tables are the perfect backdrop for her curated treasures. You’ll find timeless tabletop pottery from Farmhouse Pottery, locally made woven baskets from Warm, Wooly and Woven, sustainable vinyl mats from Beija Flor and more. She even displays her own fine art photography in the store, which adds an extra personal touch. “Beauty…

Roam, Sonos’ smallest portable smart speaker, lets you BYO music to the backyard, park or even the beach. The compact unit is waterproof and packed with features: it moves easily between Wi-Fiand Bluetooth connections, lets you switch the music to the nearest Sonos speaker at the touch of a button, and offers up to 10 hours of playback on one charge. The triangular shell comes in Lunar White or Shadow Black, and can sit horizontally or vertically — even fitting snugly into corners. $229 each. Through Sonos. SEE SHOPPING LIST…

1 ALL-WEATHER COUNTERS No Special treatments or maintenance is required to keep Caesarstone’s new outdoor quartz surfaces looking pristine through winter’s ice and summer’s sun. The collection launched with three versatile colours, all neutrals that won’t fade. 406 Clearskies (above) is a grey with a concrete finish. In various sizes and thicknesses. Approx. $80/sq.ft. Through Caesarstone. 2 OPEN-AIR FAUCET Engineered in high-grade 316 stainless steel for indoor and outdoor kitchens, the sleek gooseneck Cube Pull-down FF3352 faucet by Franke lets you rinse and wash up alfresco. The spout swivels 360 degrees, while full and needle spray settings let you tailor functionality to the task at hand. $639. At Robinson. 3 SLIDE-TOP DRINKS STATION Give your bar area a pro look with True Residential’s classic Slide-top beverage fridge. The compact 24-inch width holds 100-plus perfectly chilled…