Rose Cottage Ltd

While doing some Spring cleaning I found a stack of Architectural Digest and The English Home magazines from last year. I’d planned on going through them for design ideas and had procrastinated long enough. Tackling the job last night actually gave me some new energy regarding home and garden renovation and design. Both magazines are highly recommended reading (and viewing!)

Here are a few (more recent) books available that may prompt new ideas for your “cottage” for 2011.

This magnificent guide to cottage style salutes both traditional takes and fresh twists on this enduring look, and highlights those elements that truly make a room cottage style.

The sheer number of variations on this laid-back approach is simply amazing, ranging from a California bungalow furnished in flea market finds to a New York apartment that seems straight out of the English countryside.

Here’s a great book for situations where “beach” and “cottage” styles meet.

This treasure trove of decorating inspiration showcases coastal homes from the shores of New England down to Key West and the Caribbean. It explores the unique design of seaside homes along the rugged coastline of the Pacific Northwest down to the sunny beaches of Southern California, letting readers experience how the architectural vernacular of a region influences the design of its homes.

And one of my favorite design styles…the English cottage!

“Perfect English Cottage” explores 18 inspirational homes that celebrate the best of cottage style in the English countryside.

The book looks at the decorating and design solutions that make the cottages as attractive inside as out, as well as practical and comfortable to live in.

Each section ends with a “Get The Look” page with ideas for recreating the style in your own home.

These are all very inexpensive ways to help you get out of a decorating rut – something that happens to everyone from time to time. I found new paint color combo ideas I really wanted all along – just needed a visual boost to identify what they were. We can’t all be professional designers, be we sure can look like one!

BBC Programs offer great shows – and also some great design ideas. Look for favorites or find something new!

More on finding new garden design ideas soon…

If you’ve never grown Freesia in your garden, you are missing out on a tiny flower with bold colors and a heavenly scent.

I first found out about this particular bulb after following the scent to my neighbor’s yard in New Zealand. I’ve tried to have them in every garden I’ve planted ever since. There is still time to get them planted soon and enjoy them this coming Summer. Buy bulbs in a variety of colors for the best garden display.

Despite the great scent, Freesia do not seem to attract many bees…always good to note.

As everyone knows, Summer weather is not just about sitting on the veranda drinking mint juleps. Nice as this sounds, there is a lot of work that goes into a garden to be proud of and quite a few mischievous little bugs and rodents that are waiting for THEIR Summer enjoyment as well!

Advance planning is the secret to winning the invisible war on you and your garden and now is the time to start gathering your arsenal.

This mole, vole, and gopher Repellent is a safe and natural way to keep destructive animals away from your lawn and plants. The granular spread (7 lbs), releases repellent every time it gets wet.

Moles and their cousins, voles, will tear up not only bulbs, but can literally unearth small shrubs and trees by eating the roots and destroying the plant’s system. Not solving this problem can be costly.

Mosquitos won’t be far behind them either…

You’ll enjoy hours of insect-free outdoor fun with the Dynatrap Mosquito Trap on the job. There are no cartridges, lures, scents or batteries to replace or refill – it produces small amounts of CO2, which lures insects into an escape-proof compartment where they perish naturally. For indoor and outdoor use in a covered area.

Provides up to a (pretty incredible) half an acre of coverage.

But it can’t be ALL work and worry or no one would ever garden!

So here’s a little “toy” for gardeners and plant-lovers. I have one of these on my current “wish-list” for 2011.

Fast forward your plant’s growth and life cycle with this weatherproof, timelapse digital PlantCam.

Individual images are converted into a seamless video so you can view a long period of growth condensed into a very short time. Watch a month’s worth of amazing activity in just 30 short seconds. A great gift for avid gardeners or weatherbugs! 4.0 megapixel, high-resolution camera timelapse feature lets you capture previously unseen details and motion. Create timelapse movies of your plants in fast forward.

Great for gardens, weather, parties, construction, seasonal events and more…I’ll leave you to your own imagination with this one!

Here’s a handy yet compact Gardening Buffet/Table perfect for serving up Summer barbecue or use it as a gardening bench.

Long-lasting good looks and low maintenance make cedar the natural choice for your home and garden decor. With the added benefits of beauty and comfort, cedar is an ideal choice for any setting. Cedar has an exceptionally high strength-to-weight ratio, which means that it is both durable and easy to move about. It does not shrink or warp as many other woods commonly do.

$10 off orders of $100 or more at Garden.com (just click for details)

Or in this case, what will you be cooking ON this Summer?

Grill season has already started in my area of North Carolina. I have plans for barbecue chicken this coming weekend. From small Hibachi to huge gas grills, there are many options for your outdoor kitchen and dining this season. Here are a few worth note. It might be time to upgrade my Weber…

Designed for top performance, the 36″ American Natural Gas Outdoor Grill will sear meat or slow rotisserie cook for that unbeatable flavor. Using natural or propane gas, the American Outdoor Grill is constructed of the finest quality 304 stainless steel for long lasting barbecuing satisfaction. This grill will last with a large cooking surface with stainless steel cooking grids, Built-In stainless steel rotisserie backburner, and flush mounted sideburner offering maximum cooking flexibility… prepare your entire meal on the American Outdoor Grill. Fully assembled and are proudly manufactured in the USA.

The Brinkmann Smoke’N Grill Charcoal Smoker and Grill has a heat indicator and front hinged chrome door. Two chrome-plated steel grills for 50 lbs. cooking capacity.

Wooden handles with porcelain-coated steel water and charcoal pans. Color: Black

Brinkmann Smoke’N Grill Electric Smoker and Grill – Electric model also available.

Napoleon Gourmet Grills, including this Freestyle Go Grill TravelQ Portable Grill, manufacture an extensive variety of grills offering the most recent technology, patented features, and innovative designs.

Their gas grill lines stand out with such features as ceramic infrared burners, Life Ease roll top lids, matching lid and contour door, electronic ignition, Wave cooking grids and compact design with folding legs for easy storage. Ergonomic handle for one hand portability.

Now here’s a flash model for your new outdoor kitchen!

Lynx Professional Grill carts have been developed to provide you with a mobile Outdoor Kitchen. Standard features include fold-down shelves that are removable and reversible so they can be used as serving trays, two heavy duty swing-out cart doors with magnetic latches. Doors include condiment shelves that are removable for easy cleaning. 4 Commercial casters make these units easy to move. Not only are the freestanding grill carts outfitted with many useful features they are also a rigid welded construction to insure strength and longevity. Lynx has advanced infrared cooking with the introduction of ProSear.

I like to know what other people think about their purchases. Grills are no exception. Fortunately you can chose to shop the Most Rated Products @ HomeClick.com! Over 25,000 Reviews!

Not long ago I suggested adding some updates to your kitchen by simply adding a new kitchen faucet. The same can be said for adding new bathroom fixtures. After giving the walls in my bathroom two fresh coats of paint, I decided to see what there is to update the hardware – there are a LOT of choices!

This Rohl Satin Nickel Country Bath Bridge Faucet with Swarovski crystal levers will add some class to any bath or powder room.

ROHL’s Country Bath Collection combines comfortable dimensions with rich detailing elegant designs, quality finishes and expertly engineered turn valves for an ideal selection in the master bath, powder room and shower. Choose from the collection’s wide variety of designs and finishes including Austrian crystal levers and cross handles to achieve the ideal ambience in your home’s master bath, powder rooms and showers.

Newport Brass, with over 20 years experience designing decorative plumbing and bath products, will satisfy your most intimate desire to transform an everyday kitchen or bath into a room of classic beauty and distinction.

The Newport Brass Antique Nickel Lavatory Faucet with Country Base and Lever Handles might be the right option for your bathroom’s upgrade.

Here is a snazzy Vestige Oil Rubbed Bronze faucet from Moen.

The richly detailed Vestige line features nostalgic designs topped with a finial accent that compliment traditional decor. Oil-rubbed bronze finish delivers a rich, dark brown, old world finish with striking light and dark accents High-arc spout provides more clearance 2-Handle lever design for ease of use.

The
Kohler Polished Chrome Neuville Bathroom Faucet offers a more modern approach to faucet upgrades.

Brass construction and a lifetime limited warranty.

Free Shipping & No Sales Tax @ HomeClick.com!

Need I say more?

Pollen season means allergies. Native Remedies has an answer to the sniffling and sneezing.

Save 15% on any order until March 31st, 2011. Just enter code spring15 at checkout. Hundreds of products for both you and your pets. Go natural with Native Remedies!

Did you know that pH of your body affects every aspect of your health? pH levels regulate and control practically everything in nature, including your body.

pHion is the category leader when it pertains to pH balancing of the body. Products range from pH Testing Devices, Alkaline Water Supplements and Green Drinks to Pre-Packaged Programs designed to create and maintain optimal health and wellness.

pHion products are backed by a “no questions asked” 30 day guarantee and supported by second to none educational content on how to best maximize results.

If you want to take some control over your health, monitoring pH is a great place to start.

First get some pHion pH Test Strips to get an idea where your alkaline/acid levels are now.

Then, think about trying a pHion Cleanse and Body Detoxification Solution to clean out nasty toxins from your body.

Then make the necessary changes to improve your pH AND your health!

pHion Booster, Boost Your Water, Energy and Health!

Organic Minerals from pHion, Neutralizes Strong Acids, A Perfect Blend of Ionic Minerals.

pHion Concentrated Juice Formula of 40 Alkaline Grasses, Fruits and Veggies, Go Green with Your Body!

You might find out that changing the water you drink is all you need to get started.

Read more about pH balance and view the pH scale chart of some foods and ingredients. Love almonds? Find out how almonds have a positive impact on your pH. You might be surprised…

Nothing worse than buying a nice outdoor table and chair set because you really need them, and then having them take up so much space when you don’t need them. Here’s one solution:

The 36″ Somerset Folding Table unfolds quickly when needed and easily folds back up for storage – great for small spaces.

The strong curved legs and slatted tabletop give this table a contemporary look. Handcrafted of weather-resistant shorea hard wood using mortise and tenon joinery, this table will last for years. Concealed hinges for clean design and NO pinch points. Umbrella hole is 2″ in diameter; table is 36” round x 28.5” in height.

First bulbs, first bees, first tree buds and pollen, etc., etc. Signs of Spring are here and all those annoying little warm-weather creatures will soon be out in full-force.

The best advice I can give for anyone planning ANY outdoor activities this Summer – whether it be a long walk, days spent hiking or backpacking, or even a stroll through your own back yard – get some Neem – NOW!

I’ve been using Neem products from Neem Tree Farms for over 5 years. I have a 7-acre property, largely wooded, that contains no end of chiggers and ticks. Moving around this space in warm temperatures is much less worrisome when I am slathered with Neem.

Whether it is the Botanical Outdoor Spray or the Botanical Outdoor Gel, infestations have been all but eliminated, and the stuff is even good for your skin.

All I ask for from a product is that it works for its intended purpose, and that I can trust the company producing the product, especially if I am to smear it all over my skin.

Give Neem and Neem Tree Farms a chance this Spring and Summer. You won’t be disappointed. And you won’t be poisoned either!