This post was sponsored by garage doors from garaga. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Now that the weather is starting to improve (notwithstanding yesterday's brief hail storm), I've started thinking about outdoor projects. Aside from the usual raking and spring clean-up, we I had a handful of small projects planned for this year (edging flower beds, expanding the veggie garden, adding a new plant or two, DIY-ing a couple of window boxes, a little painting and possibly replacing our exterior light fixtures). That's until I spotted this picture in the latest issue of Style at Home:

source: Style At Home, May 2013

Don't worry, I'm not going to try growing a palm tree in Nova Scotia.

We always planned to DIY a small patio in our narrow backyard, but we were waiting until we were ready to take on some much bigger plans for the side yard next to our garage (briefly: tearing down a fence, removing the remnants of an old foundation, levelling the yard, planting grass and building a new fence). Those plans are relatively low on our priority list considering the work we still need to do inside, and we didn't want to move ahead with the patio until the new fence was in place (the plan was to extend the fence along the back of our property, giving us some privacy from our neighbour's backyard).

Both my mother and mother-in-law have suggested using plants to gain some privacy for the other, larger side yard (and both have much greener thumbs than I), but for some reason it didn't occur to me that this could also work along the back of our property. Yes, this is a long, likely confusing way of telling you that we're going to DIY a patio and plant a privacy hedge.

Here's my patio inspiration - just picture some lovely green hedges in place of those fences!

source: the brick house

source: BHG

source: jennifer's mentionables

What about you? Any big plans for your yard this year?

It's very seldom that I post a whole article from somewhere else but I just could not decide which of these images not to include.  It's pink (it seems I am still having a pink moment) and glamorous and perfectly styled, it's quirky and unique and slightly over the top.  It's the home of mother of 4 Christine Dovey who blogs at Bijou and Boheme.  Read the entire article with more pics on Style at Home.   

Those light fittings are seriously off the charts fabulous and crazy!  Makes me even more mad that I missed out on a crazy mid century chandelier at auction last year.
Love the layers of pinks and textures, the warm rug and floor prevents it being too candy, and I have always had a thing for chinoiserie style paintings or wallpaper.

I was looking for styling tips and this home has so many great vignettes.  Great collections of decorative objet and art, perfectly put together.

Antique silver, white porcelain and old fashioned roses.  I am struggling to imagine this house full of children, tell me your secret Christine!

Clever clever, the marble splash back has been finished with a small piece to create a shelf.  May have to copy that to finish the tile edge in my bathroom!  Would create the perfect space for candles and pretty bath products.  Careful editing on the shelves again.

Books, art, flowers, old mirror - so good!

All photos by Donna Griffith via Style at Home.
Have been toying with having a bench behind my dining table like this too.  It makes the narrow space seem generous and comfy instead of slightly awkward.  

Is it too much for you or do you love it like I do?

We don't have cable, so whenever I travel for work I always take advantage of the opportunity to watch a little decorating tv in my hotel room. Since my work trip last weekend, I've been going through decorating tv withdrawal, so I was extra happy to see the latest issue of Style at Home in my mailbox.

I try to limit my magazine subscriptions and I've found that Style at Home is one those decor magazines I know I'll find inspiration in every month (this seems like a good time to mention that I'm not being paid or perked to write this - I just like sharing stuff I like).

One of my favourite monthly features is the very blog-inspired 'stylenews'. How cute is this month's DIY project, which uses paint to mimic the look of grosgrain ribbon on a vintage picnic basket?

I've been crushing on mint for awhile - in fact I'm thinking about painting our kitchen cupboards mint. If you don't want to go that far, minty accessories are a great low-cost, low-commitment way to enjoy the trend.




















If you've seen our master bedroom, you know our bed sits in front of a window. I was super excited to come across this photo and I'd love to find a similar headboard for our bed. I wonder if I can convince my husband to start stopping at yard sales...

There are so many beautiful cottages in this issue (all of which are about a million times nicer than my actual house). This summer home is probably my favourite - just look at that view!

This issue also gives a shoutout to my city - Halifax! The article mentions one of Halifax's tastiest cafes - Two If By Sea - along with the incredibly awesome Hydrostone Market (home to Halifax's arguably best pizza). Anyone planning a trip to Halifax soon?

So which decorating magazines do you subscribe to? Any recommendations? I've been thinking about adding Better Homes & Gardens to my list, so I'd love to hear from any subscribers out there.