A Tribute to My Father: For the Love of Wood

Bolier's Rosenau Stateside Chair

Dear readers, it is my sincere hope you are enjoying time with family and friends during these holidays!

It is with great sadness I must tell you - a very special part of my life, my beloved father, has passed away during this holiday. He was a truly wonderful man who had keen interest and skill in fine woodworking, and his attention to detail and dedication to his hobby made him a master. Therefore, I am compelled to discuss one of his favourite materials: wood. No space should be without the beauty and warmth of wood!

Zebrano wood has been one of the popular exotic woods used in the past decade for modern applications, as shown in this kitchen by Beeleigh Interiors from the UK.

Here are some of the exotic and domestic varieties of wood used for furniture and inlays. Chart courtesy of Evoke Woodcraft.

Dark Maple wideplank flooring by Carlisle.

The hottest wood flooring is hand-scraped, reclaimed, recycled, or distressed and is available in a variety of widths and finishes, making it wonderful for hiding wear and tear. Some companies even burn the wood slightly to give it an ashy, grayed appearance.

Country Floors' teak flooring

The natural beauty of wood adds warmth and richness to a space. The rustic beams, oversized clock, gleaming floor and turned legs on the island of this kitchen make this stark white scheme very cozy and inviting. Interior by Amy D Morris.

Going green is important these days.Global Views' Washboard Media Console is made of recycled wood.

Siematic's new Beaux Arts Collection mixes styles and wood finishes in cabinetry to create dramatic, outstanding kitchens.

Often, clients are concerned about ' mixing woods'. Mixing it up a bit is good! A room with all one colour or type of wood can be boring, especially with all of the basic 'espresso' furniture that is available anywhere, even at the grocery store! Some consideration should be made with the wood's colour and the style of furniture. A rustic yellow pine cabinet may not work well when paired with a refined mahogany dining room table.

I have a fondness for dark furniture, especially when it has an interesting shape. Barbara Barry's Facets pedestal table for Henredon is timeless beauty.Photo from Detroit Home Magazine.

Housewears works with any wood, but custom built applications other than kitchens are often maple, walnut or quarter sawn oak.This wall unit we designed is dark espresso maple, and is actually 11 feet tall, but in a room with 18' ceilings, the scale was absolutely perfect.

Another project from Housewears, using quarter sawn oak in a natural finish. The look was clean, interesting, yet simple in this small media room.

A clever black walnut pocket bar from Interior Design Magazine. Photo by Eric Laignel.

Oly's hot Isa wooden chandelier is a modern take on an old-world style.

Photo via The Contemporist. Dutch designer Frans Schrofer's Mobius Chair

Oly Studio's Ivan Tall Chest is ornate yet restrained.

The sun-bleached, relaxed traditional look is cropping up everywhere...this is the St. James Collection in weathered oak from Restoration Hardware.

Global Views is also introducing its Light Limed Wood collection, with this French Key Console.

Rustic modern - Interior Design Magazine's Best of the Year 2009 winner in residential tables is the Duette table by Altura Furniture.

Another Interior Design Magazine award winner for 2009 in residential seating is the Pasadena Rocker by Thos. Moser.

Yes, I know you've seen this photo before, but I must post it again because it is my father's handiwork.

We worked together on this project: I designed, and he built the cabinetry, carefully matching the grain of the gorgeous black walnut. The workmanship is superb, and we both loved it!

My Father, John

                                                                         1939-2009

Today, I honour my dad, an outstanding father and grandfather. He taught me so many wonderful values, and he was a friend to all who knew him. We will miss him tremendously! A retired engineer and devoted family man, he also loved to golf and to work in his woodshop. He enjoyed assisting us at Housewears, setting up and delivering furniture in a pinch, or completing small projects we specified for our clients...there was nothing he couldn't fix. The outpouring of support has been very comforting to our family during this holiday, and he would want us all to toast to his life rather than shed tears for his passing. This New Year's Eve, please hug your loved ones a bit tighter and enjoy your time with them, and raise a glass to those special people who are no longer with you! Wishing you joy, peace, love and good health for 2010! 

Outdoor Rooms- The best seat in the house may not be IN the house!

Oh July, parting is such sweet sorrow, already we're saying goodbye! Dear readers, my apologies you've not heard from me in a while, it's been a crazy month! Although the summer is swiftly sailing away, I hope it's been enjoyable for you! I'm assisting some of my clients with outdoor spaces this summer, and so I thought I'd share some outdoor rooms with you! For me, little bits of downtime are enjoyed here, in my backyard, sipping coffee on a sunny Sunday morning, or unwinding with a glass of wine after dinner.

Truth be told, I had never been a fan of 'hanging in the backyard'. This changed when my husband and I decided to create an outdoor living room to be comfortable while watching our kids in the pool.
While many of us enjoy a getaway to the cottage, the decision to create a resort in the backyard is a daily pleasure that is a worthwhile investment. Whether your space is large or small, creating a lounging area beyond an umbrella table and chairs is the way to go. Here are some wonderful outdoor rooms to enjoy!

Outdoor room via Decorpad

Photo courtesy of pointclickhome.

Kriess Furniture via Design New Jersey

Outdoor room via Decorpad

Photo from Houseandhome

photo by rowhousecreative

photo from Coastal Living via Apartment Therapy

Photo from Mimi and Meg

Photo by William Waldron for Southern Accents

Photo courtesy of Southern Accents

Six Inch polyurethane outdoor furniture.

photo via RoomEnvy

photo via Country Living

photo via rowhousecreative

photo via stylebeats

photo via livingboneul.ca

Photo via Decorpad

Outdoor room from Calgary Herald

Beyond the beauty, there are definitely many practical considerations. Some essentials:

Adequate seating - there should be areas to sit and eat, and somewhere to lounge, so guests need not sit in folding lawnchairs....and for lounging, a sofa or chaise is best.

Always beautiful, the furniture of Dedon.

Outdoor furniture from Six Inch.

Outdoor Furniture from Brocade Home via Apartment Therapy

Coverage - Shelter from the elements and hot sun is imperative. Umbrellas, pergolas, vines, awnings, or an actual roof are possibilities.

Softness - cushions on hard chairs and an outdoor rug...these elements, in my opinion, make the difference: guests sit, kick off their shoes and want to stay all night! Mildew resistant fabrics are needed, such as Sunbrella. Think chair pads on the chairs around your table, as well as some larger arm chairs, ottomans, chaises, and sofas. Rugs add softness underfoot and floor cushions on the rug are another option.

Outdoor pillows from William Sonoma Home

Dining - Lots of space for putting down drinks and appetizers, as well as for dinners.

a table setting by Housewears for a local Kitchen and Garden Show

Lighting - Adequate lighting for night, and lights in the yard to add drama to landscaping, pool, or feature areas.

Water feature - a pool with a waterfall, a bubbling pond, a small water fountain, or waves of the lake add to the resort feel of a backyard.

Domino Outdoor Garden from Sara Gleeab

Fire feature - an outdoor fireplace, patio heaters, or an outdoor fire pit are wonderful for chilly nights.

Gandia Blasco Brasero Modern Outdoor Firepit by Jose A Gandia

Firepit from Cooke Furniture.

AV equipment - A flat screen tv, and a sound system with speakers around the property is ideal for entertaining.

Privacy - a fence, a private screen, a tented wall, trees and shrubs, draperies, all of these make us feel enclosed and removed from the neighbours. This is essential, as many clients of mine with new homes don't have established landscaping, and they feel uncomfortable and 'exposed'.

Room Separator by Dedon

Some other luxurious ammenities:

An Outdoor kitchen


Cheope Outdoor Kitchen via Elite Choice

A Bar

Kitchenaid's 6 cubic ft outdoor refrigerator.

A cabana keeps wet guests out of the house, and is equipped with towels and hooks for clothing.

Cabana by Ruthie Somers.

Hideaway for storage- area to house garbage, pool toys, equipment, etc.

So what do you wear to lounge in your backyard room? I love a comfortable cotton beach coverup - I add a pair of cropped yoga pants to hit the store to buy supplies for a weekend barbecue.

Echo South Beach coverup
The shoes I live in these days - some comfortable Cole Haan patent leather thongs.

Cole Haan air capri buckle thongs

Cheers to beautiful outdoor rooms! If you haven't created one already, think about it! Outdoor furniture is now on sale and there's still time to enjoy the summer in your own backyard!

Photo by Craig Lee

This week, we're hooked on outdoor rooms! Check out http://www.hookedonhouses.net/ this Friday to find out what others are hooked on.