Since September (2011), I’ve been working part-time at Canadian Home Workshop magazine as the “acting” associate editor. It’s great working with the old gang as I worked on the CHW website when it was still owned by Transcontinental Media. I look after Shoptalk, the front-of-book section, which has been really interesting, as one day I’ll be interviewing construction workers in Nunavut and researching eco-friendly building materials and the next I’m proofing cool woodworking projects and editing tool reviews. Read more »

Last summer (2011), I was honoured to consult on Toronto Botanical Garden’s website redesign. I worked with a fabulous team and I’m so proud of the end result!

I am so thrilled to join the Travel+Escape family as a travel blogger. My first blog post is called “Reconnect with your inner kid” and is about my first time at the Quebec Winter Carnival last winter. [read full article] Read more »

On a trip last June to Whistler, our guide asked if we’d mind if she showed us an up-and-coming area in Whistler called Function Junction. It wasn’t listed on our original itinerary, but luckily no one minded because we discovered the cutest little shops and businesses. Along with some other notable visits, they inspired me to pitch to the Style at Home shopping page. Whistler appears as a style destination in the January 2012 issue! Read more »

From an ode to Mother Nature with earth tones and blues, to bright, candy colours that are meant to express optimism in our ever-changing world, 2012 paint trends provide a delightful rainbow of choice to those of us who want to refresh a room. Somber sophistication squares off with rich, vibrant pastels. And what’s clear is that there is no right answer when it comes to the palette you choose for your home. You can select your paint palette based on your current mood or your enduring design aesthetic. Either way, 2012 might just be the year to shake things up. Check out the following paint companies’ picks to see what they’ve identified as key looks for the coming year. [read full article] Read more »

The holidays can be a magical time of year, full of family, revelry and good will. They can also be filled with temptation, overindulgence and stress—three factors that can leave you feeling sluggish and overweight come January. Read more »

My 2010 trip to the Keukenhof in Holland continues to inspire. This fall, as I was trying to think of where to plant my bulbs in my new gardens, I looked to the photos I had taken at the Keukenhof for ideas. This led to a slideshow of tips that I published on the Canadian Gardening website. Read more »

When was the last time you had a good night’s sleep? If you can’t remember, then you may be sleep-deprived, like the 58 per cent of Canadians who say they often feel tired. In a recent study by Leger Marketing for CBC News, it was revealed that six out of 10 Canadians get about one hour less shut-eye than the six to eight hours we are told we need. Read more »

In the summer of 2010, I toured Maritime Quebec. As a garden writer, the highlight for me was a trip to Reford Gardens. What I loved about this property was the contrast between the traditional gardens, conceived by the feisty Elsie Reford, and the innovative concepts presented in the International Garden Festival space. Read more »

Watching container connoisseur Paul Zammit put together an arrangement is like observing an artist at work—plants in a range of green hues are his medium. A walk around the property that he shares with his partner and fellow gardener Uli Havermann in Toronto reveals a keen eye for combining texture, shape and a bold aesthetic. Pops of colour in the form of purple, bronze and chartreuse are interspersed among a lush, green canvas of perennials, along with terracotta pots that Paul enthusiastically collects. [read full article] Read more »