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5 Simple Ways to Style Your Patio 

We may be nearing the end of summer, but there’s still time to take advantage of your patio or garden. If your outdoor space is in need of an upgrade, there are plenty of ways to transform it into a summer oasis. Don’t know where to begin? We’ve got you covered. Here are some of our top tips on how to style your outdoor space.

Shade is a Must
In case the sun gets too much, having a shady spot somewhere in your outdoor space will help keep you comfortable. If your patio or garden doesn’t include a shaded area like a courtyard or conservatory, opt for an alternative like a pergola or fabric shading panels. For a small space, go back to basics with a large patio umbrella in the colour of your choice (the brighter, the better!).

Incorporate Lighting
Lighting is a great way to add mood and character to a patio space, especially in the evenings. There are many options when it comes to outdoor lighting, from subtle string lights and lanterns to contemporary-style torches. No matter your choice, a little goes a long way in giving your patio a warm, welcoming vibe.

Add Colour with Bright Throw Pillows
Colours are a must when redecorating a space for the summer. The easiest way to add a pop of colour to your patio is to accessorize your outdoor furniture with bright throw pillows. If you have neutral, solid-coloured furniture, go for bright patterned cushions to pull the space together.

Include a Hammock or Sofa Swing
Nothing says summer oasis like relaxing in a cozy hammock or swing. Regardless of the size of your outdoor space, it’s possible to incorporate fun, cozy seating in your patio without taking up excess room. If your garden or patio is too small for a full swing set, a hammock is another excellent alternative and will transform your space in a relaxing getaway.

Utilize Wicker Accessories
Wicker and rattan decor are stylish and versatile enough to work with a variety of design styles. You can find both vintage and modern pieces, either of which would easily fit into your home.
What makes this trend appealing is its timelessness. No matter the theme of your patio or garden, wicker and rattan furniture is a quick way to give your space character and charm. What’s more, wicker accessories are very affordable and can be purchased from almost anywhere, including IKEA.

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Designing A Small Condo 

There is a lot to consider when designing a small studio or condo, from selecting furniture that won’t overwhelm your space to striking the perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality. However, decorating a small space doesn’t have to be a difficult task. Interior designer Gillian Segal of Gillian Segal Design has the scoop on how to design a small condo or studio apartment without sacrificing style.

Use an Accent Colour For Your Walls
Using an accent colour helps define a space. While dark colours have a slightly negative reputation for making a room feel smaller, Segal finds the opposite to be true. Incorporating a darker colour can help provide depth, particularly in an open concept layout that is generally all white.

Mirrors are Your Friend!
Not only are they functional, but mirrors are a stylish way to fill wall space without breaking the bank. The biggest benefit of all? The reflection provided by a mirror helps increase the amount of light in a space, creating the illusion that the space is larger than it is.

Consider the Scale of Your Furniture
Nothing makes a small space feel smaller faster than oversized furniture, particularly upholstery. Instead of selecting one giant sectional, opt for a more petite sofa and a side chair or two. It’s more functional for conversations with guests and will help the space feel larger.

Lighting is Key
Regardless of the size of your space, lighting is one of the most important elements to consider. Good lighting can instantly create a warm and comfortable environment and of course, the opposite is also true.

A good rule of thumb is to select lighting at a variety of levels (think a ceiling fixture, a floor or table lamp and a wall sconce). If you don’t have sconces wired in, look for some of the plug in options; They look great and are usually very affordable.

Storage, Storage, Storage!
Clutter and mess make a small space feel chaotic, so incorporating additional storage whenever possible is essential to making sure every item has a home. Look for furniture that can serve double-duty functions, for example a coffee table that has storage or a side table with drawers.

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my solar experience

5:00pm  (August 20, 2017)
We prepare my Honda Element for the trek to Madras to see the solar eclipse and to celebrate my birthday which happens to fall on the same day! This feels like an adventure… it is going to be fun!

6:30pm                           
We are packed up and finally head out. Traffic at the border is reasonable. Maybe traffic won’t be  as bad as originally predicted.
                                     
1:30 am                           
We arrive just outside of Madras . Rest areas are full of campers and the police are not letting in any more visitors but are kind enough to let people pass through and use the facilities.

2:00am                               
We locate a remote side road that we think will be a great place to camp out for the night and view the eclipse the next morning. Not many people have found this spot, it is awesome!

5:40 am                           
Someone is pounding on our window! He is a rancher and wants us to leave. It is not private property. However, he is very prickly and we didn’t travel so far to let him ruin our experience.  We move a couple of km to another spot.

7:30 am                           
We are wakened by the sound of cattle and people setting up for the eclipse. Several cars are now parked around us and excitement fills the quiet pasture. It feels like the setting of a movie about the arrival of aliens. Weird.

9:05 am                           
People are set up. There are about 20 people gathered in our area. Everyone is super friendly. People have traveled from all over. One family made the trek from Los Angeles! We are the only Canadians in our group.

9:15am
The raging rancher returns. He is ordering everyone to leave to no avail. We are not on private property and it seems he has just made it his mission to be miserable instead of enjoying this awesome event. We find out that we weren’t the only ones he had been bothering. He had been patrolling the roads in the area all morning. He leaves when someone takes a picture of him and his vehicle. Within minutes conversations turn to the eclipse again and no one seems phased by him.

9:20 am
The eclipse has begun. Conversations on camera angles, Bailey’s Beads, diamond rings and general excitement for this awesome event escalate.

9:45am
The moon has eclipsed ¼ of the sun. To the naked eye you would never know anything was going on yet.
They say that animals are supposed to act differently during an eclipse. However, the cows grazing in the pasture seem calm. It seems like business as usual for them.

9:50 am
We have 1/3 coverage of the sun. Conversation has reached a whole new level of “geekdom”. However, under the circumstances, it’s hard to not get caught up in the excitement of the event.

9:57 am
A crescent sun is made. This is awesome.

10:12am
We now have about ¾ of an eclipse. It looks like it is near sunset except that the light is much cooler than the warm tones we are accustomed to.

10:16am
A cool breeze has just washed over the land and the temperature has definitely dropped. It is much cooler than a few seconds ago.

10:17am
It is quite dark now. The sun only has a sliver peeking out behind the moon.

10:18am
It is getting darker by the second. We almost have a full eclipse.

10:20am
We have a full eclipse. Everyone is viewing it with their naked eyes. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in our sky. Words and photos cannot capture what we are witnessing. The sky is black and for two whole minutes the silhouette of the moon sits in front of the sun producing an irregular shaped, bright platinum white halo around it. People are, for the most part speechless except for the occasional outburst of amazement for the spectacular cosmic event before us. Trying to get a photo is very difficult. I don’t want to take my eyes off of the eclipse. The difference between a 90% eclipse and being able to see 100% is literally night and day. I am so glad we made the journey to Madras.

10:22am
The full eclipse is over. The sun begins to emerge from behind the moon and it is now too bright to look at without eclipse glasses.

10:26am
The sun is casting a morning glow across the land and the strangest thing happens…the cows start calling out as if they were just waking up again. I guess this is what they refer to as odd behaviour in animals.

10:35am
The sun is at 1/5 of it’s original state and people are more interested in talking amongst each other; exchanging phone numbers and email addresses. They want to stay connected with the new friends they experienced this amazing phenomenon with.

11:06am
The sun is mostly in full view. Everyone has packed up and left.

11:20am
We are making our way to Madras for lunch. The town is very busy but they are prepared for this event. They have food trucks and schools are set up to host visitors. Everyone is super friendly.

12:00pm
We begin trying to make our way out of town which is very difficult as most roads are now closed and they are only allowing people to leave via a couple of routes. Looks like the National Guard is in town to help out with the traffic.
4pm Traffic is a nightmare. We have only traveled 20 km outside of Madras. We are heading to Portland where we are staying for the night and have dinner reservations at 7pm to finish celebrating my birthday. Not looking good.

8:45am
We finally arrive in Portland! It took us 8.75 hours to travel what should have taken us only 2.5 hours! We quickly check in and are able to get into the restaurant just before the kitchen closes. What a day! However, we are still basking in the afterglow of the eclipse and marveling at the experience. Although the traffic was the worst I have ever experienced in my life, it seemed a small price to pay for a birthday I will never forget.