Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/136981
Q TOP TIPS FOR A LUXURIOUS MASTER SUITE RENOVATION In an older home, the master bedroom is generally not much larger than the others, but is defined by an ensuite bathroom and (hopefully) a larger closet. Today, people are looking to get the most out of this room – it is viewed as a sanctuary from the stresses of daily life, a place to lounge and relax as well as get a good night's rest. In a smaller home, this room does double duty (despite what sleep experts may recommend!). Interior designer TRISH KNIGHT shares her top tips for creating a spacious place to lay your head. • Create a large bathroom with a separate tub and shower, multiple sinks, natural light and storage. • Establish a workspace. • Designate a lounging space with some separation from the bed/sleep zone. • Build ample closet space, preferably in a separate dressing area. • Link to the outdoor space. In the plan above, this was achieved by moving the master bedroom to the basement to allow garden access. I am looking for a showy plant that will make a statement in my garden, but not be too hard to maintain. Any recommendations? JOHN MINTY answers: Hydrangea paniculata cultivars are elegant plant picks for long-lasting summer-into-fall blooming – great choices for a variety of design solutions and easy to maintain. Arching branches produce conical clusters of open, lacecap-like flowers in shades of white, fading to dusty rose or pink by the fall. Generally, these are deciduous shrubs that are very cold hardy (to zone 4) and bloom on new growth, allowing for heavy or light pruning. This means that you can keep a specimen three to four feet to give structure to a bed, or allow it to reach six to eight feet for a hedge effect or to soften surrounding architecture. Hydrangea paniculata cultivars are sometimes trained into "standards" (tree form), excellent for creating a formal effect. Give these shrubs full sun to encourage profuse flowering and provide moist, well-drained soil for best results. Cultivar 'Limelight' has fresh green flowers fading to ivory; ' Kyushu' is ivory with handsome, waxy green leaves; and 'Tardiva' offers the largest white flowers fading to dusty rose. It has the bonus of deep-red stems, a characteristic shared by 'Quick Fire', 'Pink Diamond', and 'Pinky Winky'. If flowers are cut in summer – enjoy them in fresh or dried arrangements – plants may re-bloom in fall. Fall leaf colour and winter interest is neglible, but the summer show is worth it. ■ PHOTO 'Pinky Winky' from Bailey Nurseries See SOURCES on page 42 'Pinky Winky' 32 | BC HOME & garden July/August 2013 p30-33_AskTheExperts.indd 32 13-06-07 11:42 AM