BC Home & Garden

home + garden » expert advice ask the experts... PRO PICK This Moe's Home Collection occasional table brings the garden indoors with an elegant indent for your succulents or cacti. Q tranquil space for relaxing in the bathtub, give your seedlings their best shot at survival, set the scene for an everyday dinner table, demystify your rhododendron's peculiar hair growth and give your condo kitchen some special touches. In this issue our experts help you divide your hosta, create a { } Q In magazines, I always see tables set for a full dinner. It looks great, but how can I decorate my table in an everyday look when it's not in use? MARGOT JAGGER answers: It's not practical (or normal) to have your table set for a formal dinner every day. I believe wood tables were made to be seen, so first remove your tablecloth and protective cover if you use one. Place a rattan mat or coloured, woven runner along the middle of the table and then place fresh flowers or a live plant at the centre. Get creative with your vase or vessel. Invest in a special Martha Sturdy resin vase or use a beautiful bowl as a container for a multi-stemmed orchid surrounded by reindeer moss. Save the candlesticks for the formal affairs, but flank your centrepiece with a couple votives and light them for a little flicker at night. PHOTO (Table arrangement) Tracey Ayton Q How can I transform my cookie-cutter condo kitchen into a more distinctive space? REBECCA LAPRES and NANCY RIESCO answer: Pendant lights are often found suspended over the kitchen peninsula – you see similar styles at your local Starbucks. Replace them with a larger, more current alternative. We love the Caravaggio pendant or the more organic Drop One or Drop Two pendants from Original BTC. Transform your beige, drywall backsplash with bright, patterned wallpaper like Cole and Son's Cow Parsley. Each time you enter your kitchen, you'll be transported to a colourful urban meadow. If the backsplash is sporting its original, dull tile, we love using a subway tile instead – it's timeless and looks great in both modern and traditional spaces. The classic is white ceramic, but you could consider other materials such as glass or marble. If you're replacing countertops, we recommend engineered stone in bright white or soft smoke. The backsplash can be done in the same material for a seamless and elegant look that unifies the two surfaces. Cabinets look well dressed in a gorgeous, warm grey. We like Benjamin Moore's Kendall Charcoal – it's elegant, modern and suits any style. Jewelry in the form of shiny new cabinet hardware provides the perfect final touch. The Spritz Pull from Restoration Hardware is plain and pretty enough to suit any interior. PHOTO (Portrait) Tracey Ayton; (light fixtures) High Tower Caravaggio from Inform Interiors 74 | BC HOME & GARDEN February 2013 p74-77_AskTheExperts.indd 74 13-01-23 11:36 AM WIM or a split mor Gen is m gon S grou so g simp the ful t pen Nex it ou N you usin – ba

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