A Patch of PARADISE

One of my favourite things about summer is how easy it is to move from inside to outside. There are no boots. No hats. No bulky parkas. We just walk outside, maybe after a quick check in the hall mirror, maybe a change of shoes. Or maybe not.

Probably the best thing about working from home is taking a coffee break on your own balcony or patio. The warmth of the sun, the scents – is there anything better? No wonder we’re spending more time than ever in the garden. I’m no green thumb, but I love Emily Yewchuk’s greenhouse (page 48) in Comox, B.C. And I might not live in Los Angeles, but I think we can learn a thing or two about designing outdoor spaces from our friends to the south. That’s why I’ve included “A Place for Peace” (page 28) in this issue. Wait till you see the backyard that

Shanty Wijaya designed, complete with a prefab studio, spa and dining area. That set-up would work just as well in our northern climate. I also admire how Laura Fremont (page 50) turned the decks at her rental property into a “tree-top paradise.” Stylish accessories and furniture personalized her outdoor space and that’s easy to do, with so many choices from retailers of outdoor furnishings.

But, personally, I don’t worry if my patio chairs don’t match. When the sun goes down and the patio lights go up (on a dimmer, of course), nothing can keep me from savouring every moment of this sweetest, shortest season. I hope you do, too.