Author: Werhat

Travel Guide: Montreal for Design Lovers

Residents of Montreal did not need UNESCO’s crowning it the City of Design from 2006 to reaffirm their love affair with their city. Referred to as Canada’s cultural capital, Montreal can claim bragging rights to your summer full of festivals together with world-renowned architecture and stylish restaurants and bars.

When you read through this guide, put together by myself and fellow Montreal native Laura Garner, visualize yourself admiring the unique art installations of every subway station, walking through over 32 kilometers (20 miles) of tunnels in the Underground City or riding in an horse-drawn carriage through the cobblestone roads in the exact European area of Old Montreal. No matter how you decide to get someplace in town, Montreal always has a way of surprising you on the way.

More city guides for design junkies

This perspective of the St. Lawrence river shows off the beauty of the Montreal skyline at night and includes the Bell Center (in which the Montreal Canadiens play hockey). This photo was shot from one of the bridges that connects Cité du Havre (a strip of property in which the Habitat 67 community is found; see below) to the Île Sainte-Hélène, which homes La Ronde amusement park and is home to the popular indie music festival Osheaga along with the Formula 1 racetrack.

A few notes on the information that follows: We have included the closest metro stop and have emphasized design destinations by locality.

Must-Sees

Mount Royal Park: A 200-hectare (about 500-acre) park in the heart of the city
Location: From Côte-de-Neiges Road to Park Avenue, between route des Pins and Voie Camillien Houde (subway: Mont-Royal)
Noteworthy: Lookout points throughout the park offer the finest views of the city, day or night.

Produced by Frederick Law Olmsted (the designer of New York’s iconic Central Park), Mount Royal is a yearlong congregating place for tourists and residents alike. Summertime brings long walks round the pond and picnics under the trees, while chilly offers ice skating.

If you are in Montreal on a Sunday in the summertime, head to the Sir George-Étienne Cartier monument to observe the complimentary, unofficial event known as the Tam-Tams, where hundreds of people gather to drum and dance under the sun.

Laura Garner

Habitat 67: A stunning 12-story apartment complex designed by architect Moshe Safdie
Location: 2600 route Pierre-Dupuy (close to the casino)
Noteworthy: The apartments are designed with lots of solitude, terrace gardens along with numerous degrees that confront the St. Lawrence river.

Produced in 1967 by Montreal architect Moshe Safdie for his master thesis, also debuting at the Expo 67 world’s fair, the revolutionary 146-residence housing complex areas single-family dwellings in an urban atmosphere.

More info: Habitat 67

Laura Garner

Palais de Congres: Montreal’s convention center
Location: 159 rue St. Antoine West (subway: Place-D’Armes)
Noteworthy: Located between the downtown center and Old Montreal, the Palais includes 113 rooms and venues. Its multicolored glass facade consists of 332 coloured glass panels and 58 transparent panels.

More info: Palais de Congress

Laura Garner

Grande Bibliothèque: Montreal’s biggest public library
Location: 475 boulevard de Maisonneuve East (subway: Berri-UQAM)
Noteworthy: Constructed in 2005 and located in the bustling Latin Quarter downtown, with direct access to the subway and Underground City, this modern six-story construction has large horizontal plates of glass running along the complete exterior.

The space includes an exhibition hall, a theatre and a complete floor for children in addition to top-of-the line audiovisual equipment.

More info: Grande Bibliothèque

Laura Garner

Notre Dame Basilica: Centuries-old basilica
Location: 110 Notre-Dame Street West, corner of Saint Sulpice Street (subway: Place D’Armes)
Price: $5 Canadian (about U.S.$5) for adults; $4 for ages 7 to 17; free for children 6 and under
Noteworthy: Its opulent and vibrant interior hosts about 100 weddings every year, together with Celine Dion being one of those who have tied the knot.

This really is a beautiful illustration of the Gothic revival style of architecture; it had been the very first of its type to be constructed in Canada. The basilica displays stained glass windows that feature the history of religion in Montreal, which is not typically done.

More info: Notre Dame Basilica

Esther Hershcovich

Must-Eats

Le Confessionnal: Stylish bar
Location: 431 rue McGill in Old Montreal (subway: Square Victoria)
Price: From $9 Canadian (about U.S.$9) per cocktail
Noteworthy: Seductive red decor and dim lighting from chandeliers Result in a darkened setting

After a few beverages, Old Montreal does not neglect for foodies. The area is a design lover’s paradise. Try the three-course lunch menu for $28 Canadian inside the black-painted walls of the favorite Les 400 Coups (400 Notre Dame Est). If you are lucky enough to find a reservation, make sure to eat dinner at Garde Manger (408 rue St. François Xavier), owned by star chef Chuck Hughes.

Apart pub Le Confessionnal, try an after-dinner drink at the Philemon Bar (111 rue St. Paul Ouest)famous for its laidback yet trendy ambience. Don’t forget to respect its decoration, done by Montreal interior designer Zébulon Perron.

More info: Le Confessional, Les 400 Coups, Garde Manger, Philemon Bar

Amielle Clouatre

Bar Pullman: Upscale bar
Location: 3424 route du Parc, corner of Sherbrooke downtown (subway: Place des Arts)
Price: From $4.50 Canadian for a 2-ounce glass of wine to $5 Canadian for tapas
Noteworthy: Upscale yet understated ambience

This wine bar is something of a hidden gem in the downtown core of Montreal, offering wine samplers and tasty tapas to accompany them (try the foie gras).

If you want a casual dinner, have a look at Lola Rosa (545 rue Milton), a cozy vegetarian eatery from the McGill ghetto that’s very popular with college students.

Across the city are several places of the crisp white tea shops called David’s Tea, recently recognized by Oprah. Make sure you smell all of them.

More info: Pullman, Lola Rosa, David’s Tea

Laura Garner

L’Ambroisie: A popularFrench restaurant
Location: 4020 St. Ambroise, in the historic Chateau St.-Ambroise, Little Burgundy and St. Henri (Sud-Ouest) area (subway: Place St. Henri)
Price: From $19 Canadian for a table d’hôte supper
Noteworthy: The hall of this building leading to the entrance displays quirky classic items such as suits of armor along with a carnival caravan.

Housed from the Chateau St.-Ambroise along the Lachine Canal, this enchanting restaurant displays an eclectic mix of industrial architectural elements combined with Greco-Roman features. Offering French cuisine, this restaurant is something that you need to try at least once.

Other noteworthy suggestions for a gourmet meal in the neighboring areas of Montreal include Joe Beef and Tuck Shop — make sure to make a reservation.

If you are in the mood for a picnic, then be sure to stop by the Atwater Market farmer’s market to pick up fresh fruits, meats and cheeses.

More info: L’Ambroisie, Joe Beef, Tuck Shop, Atwater Market

Esther Hershcovich

Baldwin Barmacie: A design-minded bar
Location: 115 avenue Laurier Ouest in Plateau and Mile End (subway: Laurier)
Price: Drinks start at $7 Canadian
Noteworthy: The design evokes a modern pharmacy motif.

If you would like to feel transported back to the Mad Men era, the decor and drink list at Baldwin Barmacie are sure to please. Midcentury modern decor has an upgrade with neutral colours and clean lines.

If you are a fan of cocktails, then a must-try is your trendy pub Distillerie (with three locations in central Montreal). The biggest hit? Delicious and creative cocktails presented in mason jars.

If you are on the hunt for a breakfast spot from the Plateau, look no further than Resto Fabergé, a breakfast place with a lounge setting. The interior design, performed by the architects at laroche et gagné, is bright and entertaining and take a peek. Try the breakfast poutine.

Additional info: Baldwin Barmacie, La Distillerie, Resto Fabergé

Les Enfants Terribles Brasserie

Les Enfants Terribles: Restaurant and bar
Location: 1257 Bernard Ouest in Mile End/Outremont
Price: Cocktails start at $10 Canadian, tartare plates start at $14 Canadian
Noteworthy: Rustic wood, chalkboards and murals all add charm for this brasseries and its own terrace, designed by architect Louis-Joseph Papineau.

If you are up for rich French pastries, a walk up the block will take you to Boulangerie Cheskie. On the must-try listing is your chocolate babka. St.-Viateur Bagel is just another timeless stop in the area. Open 24/7, this legendary shop has been mentioned in a variety of books and movies.

More info: Les Enfants Terribles, St.-Viateur Bagel

Must-Dos

Position des Arts: A performing arts center
Location: 175 rue St. Catherine Ouest (subway: Place des Arts)
Noteworthy: The center holds festivals throughout the year, including the Jazz Festival, Just for Laughs and Montreal’s Nuit Blanche.

Want to watch Marie-Antoinette performed by les Grands Ballets Canadiennes? Head to one of Place des Arts’ 10 halls. The Symphony Hall, with an interior made almost completely of light beech, is the most recent addition to the complicated.

A subway ride away, on St. Laurent, is your Society for Arts and Technology (SAT), a nonprofit center featuring cutting-edge audiovisual experiences for everybody.

More info: Place des Arts, SAT

Laura Garner

Canadian Center for Architecture
Location: 1920 rue Baile, downtown (Rene-Levesque Boulevard and rue Saint Marc), (subway: Georges Vanier)
Price: $10 Canadian for adults; $7 Canadian for seniors; free for children and students; free for everybody on Thursday evenings
Noteworthy: The Canadian Center for Architecture (CCA) has been constructed in 1979 with the objective of raising awareness of the function of architecture in society.

Across the road you can find the CCA Garden, a public sculpture installation by Montreal architect Melvin Charney.

Additional info: Canadian Center for Architecture

Esther Hershcovich

Architectural Bike Tour: A guided four-hour adventure through the streets of Old Montreal
Location: 27 rue de la Commune Est (subway: Champ de Mars)
Price: Rental starting at $6.50 Canadian
Noteworthy: You can also see it on your own by downloading the Architecture Walking Tour app.

Relax after a long day of exploring at Spa Bota Bota, a serene five-deck boat anchored on the St. Lawrence river.

Additional info: Architectural Bike Tour, Spa Bota Bota

Esther Hershcovich

Must-Stays

Hotel Gault
Location: 449 rue St. Helene (subway: Square Victoria)
Price: From $178 Canadian
Noteworthy: Minimalistic design contrasted by big French windows onto a corner located steps away in the downtown area.

This luxurious 1871 hotel has 30 suites and a restaurant. Spend some quiet time in its library, complete with a hot fireplace for the chilly nights.

More info: Hotel Gault

Laura Garner

LHotel
Location: 262 St. Jacques West in Old Montreal (subway: Square Victoria)
Price: From 135 Canadian
Noteworthy: The collection of artwork on display is fit for a museum.

This boutique hotel is in the heart of Old Montreal. Owned by Georges Marciano of clothes brand Guess, the LHotel has become the permanent home for Marciano’s extensive personal pop art collection, including works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Damien Hirst.

More info: LHotel

Hotel St. Paul

Hôtel St. Paul
Location: 355 McGill Street in Old Montreal (subway: Square Victoria)
Price: From $195 Canadian
Noteworthy: This was Old Montreal’s first boutique hotel.

Employing the four elements of fire, ice, earth and sea as inspiration, this Old Montreal boutique hotel has a monochromatic color palette and organic textures that provide the decor a soft, relaxing feeling.

More info: Hôtel St. Paul

Laura Garner

Loft Hotel
Location: 334-336 Terasse St. Denis in the Plateau (subway: Sherbrooke)
Price: From $125 Canadian
Noteworthy: The building was once used as storage space for Canadian Armed Forces tanks.

Completed in 1920 by notable Montreal architect Ernest Cormier, the building that houses the Loft Hotel is one of Montreal’s enduring art deco landmarks. The building was recently converted to loft-style hotel rooms, which can be as spacious as they are trendy.

More info: Loft Hotel

Esther Hershcovich

Must-Visit Shops

Les Touilleurs: Cooking provide shop
Location: 152 avenue Laurier Ouest in the Mile End (subway: Laurier)
Noteworthy: Get a free recipe-of-the-week card.

The big, spacious chalet-style kitchen is where you’ll discover the very best cooking supplies for your culinary needs. It was created by architect Luce Lafontaine with big, open cabinetry to make you feel at home. Courses are offered onsite 3 nights weekly by local chefs.

A walk round the corner will take you to Jamais Assez, where you’ll find a huge assortment of locally made furniture and creative accessories. Le Boutique Artisanal Une Monde is a warehouse on a side road that carries a choice of Asian-inspired and revived furniture at affordable prices. If you would like to scout for some more boho home accents, Buk&Nola will have everything you’re searching for. This shop is well known for its casual elegant decoration. The owners offer a decorating service as well.

More info: Les Touilleurs, Jamais Assez, Buk&Nola

Esther Hershcovich

L’Affichiste: Classic poster gallery
Location: 471 rue Saint François Xavier in Old Montreal (subway: Place D’armes)
Noteworthy: The largest collection of original vintage posters in Montreal is housed in this gallery, attached with underground tunnels to the Notre Dame Basilica. A storage room is housed in a walk-in vault.

If you are still searching for that perfect piece of art, have a walk down to La Rue des Artistes. It might be where you are going to discover that coup de coeur, French for “favorite uncover.” Keep walking and you’ll arrive at the big indoor Marché Bonsecours marketplace, where local artisans sell everything from furniture to clothes and unique umbrellas.

More info: L’Affichiste, Marché Bonsecours

Esther Hershcovich

Style Labo: Shop selling vintage and new things
Location: 5765 St. Laurent Blvd in Plateau/Mile End (subway: Rosemont)
Noteworthy: The classic lights collection

If you’re searching for a big collection of industrial-style vintage and new items, this is the place to visit. The shop’s decor transports you to another moment.

If you’re trying to find a design experience, Les Commissaires doubles as a boutique and gallery, selling daring designer pieces from around the world. It’s continually restocked with a mix of innovative, occasionally provocative things attesting to the city’s flair to the mix offered in its own design. Monastiraki is just another vintage shop; it also serves as a community art center. Search via its cabinets for vintage and locally made prints.

More info: Style Labo, Les Commissaires, Monastiraki

Surface Jalouse

Surface Jalouse: Printing store
Location: 2672 rue Notre-Dame West in Little Burgundy (subway: Lionel Groulx)
Noteworthy: Surface Jalouse can print pictures (the store’s or your own) on virtually any surface — such as furniture.

Component furniture shop and part studio, this boutique offers funky and thoroughly unique home decor items.

As you’re on Notre Dame street, head west to explore the strip of antiques shops and curiosity shops.

More info: Surface Jalouse

Esther Gibbons

Hidden Gems

Gibeau Orange Julep: Landmark and fast-food restaurant
Location: 7700 Decarie Boulevard (subway: Namur)
Noteworthy: On Wednesday nights during the summer, the lot fills with classic vintage cars and bicycle lovers.

Since the 1960s the Julep has been one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, with its distinct fiberglass orange form and coloured party flags dangling off the side. Roller skating waitresses initially brought food to the automobiles, but they’ve been replaced with a top fast-food service. The Gibeau Orange Julep (an orange drink), offered when the shop opened in 1932, remains what attracts most customers.

More info: Gibeau Orange Julep

Réne Lévesque Park: Sculpture park
Location: 1 chemin de Musee, (subway: Angrignon)
Noteworthy: Admire 22 enormous sculptures at this park, located off the Lachine Canal bike path and offering panoramic views of the Saint Lawrence and Saint Louis rivers.

Enjoy a picnic with your loved ones, rent a kayak or enjoy the green and open 4 kilometers of walking paths.

More info: Parc René-Lévesque

Esther Hershcovich

Spazio: Antiques shop
Location: 8405 boulevard St. Laurent (subway: Jarry)
Noteworthy: Architectural detailing from several time periods are readily found in this two-story shop that was formerly a renowned tavern.

It is divided into neat sections, so it’s possible to find a room filled with antique doors or sections for stained glass windows, vintage knobs or handles. The owner is constantly expanding as the collection grows.

More info: Spazio

Inform us Which are your favorite areas for soaking up design in Montreal?

Pack your luggage: More city guides for design junkies

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Fantastic Design Plant: Globe Mallow

Globe mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) is a gorgeous perennial that is equally at home within an English-style backyard or along a desert roadside. Like desert perennials that are native, it has this is one plant. Globe mallow is a gorgeous addition to the desert scene.

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Botanical name: Sphaeralcea ambigua
Common title: Globe mallow
Resource: Native to arid regions of the American Southwest
USDA zones: 6 to 9 (find your zone)
Water necessity: Low
Light requirement: Entire sun
Mature dimensions: 3 feet tall and broad
Tolerances: Drought tolerant but does best with supplemental watering; manages reflected warmth
Seasonal attention: Orange, red, rose, white or pink flowers appear in spring and intermittently through the year.
When to plant: Plant seeds or bark plants in fall or spring.

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Distinguishing traits. At first glance, world mallow is a rather unassuming plant with gray-green lobed leaves. But when it blooms, it is transformed. Flowers that resemble hollyhocks appear in spring, turning this desert continuing.

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

The surprise that world mallow hides is that you can not tell what color the flowers are going to be on a plant until it flowers. Nearly all world mallow plants possess orange blossoms, but in addition, there are plants that make red, rose, white or pink blossoms.

If you don’t enjoy surprises in regard to flower color, there are a few ways to know what color flower a particular world mallow plant will produce.
Buy plants from the nursery when they’re flowering.Take a cutting from a world mallow with the flower color you want.If you enjoy red flowers, there’s a reliable reddish variety of world mallow referred to as ‘Louis Hamilton’.

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

If you are more of a daring type, roll the dice and then plant a world mallow without knowing what color it will be. Let it surprise you with its color once it blooms.

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

The best way to use it. The delicate-looking blossoms of world mallow make it a fantastic plant to improve a perennial bed, developing a cottage garden look. Other landscape uses for world mallow comprise as a base plant, around a swimming pool and even at a container.

Pair it with additional indigenous desert perennials, including blackfoot daisy (Melampodium leucanthum),desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata),goodding’s verbena (Glandularia gooddingii) and parry’s penstemon (Penstemon parryi).

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Globe mallow can be excellent paired with dark green succulents, such as cow’s horn agave (Agave bovicornuta),for excellent color and texture contrast.

Because world mallow grows easily from seed, it is fantastic for revegetating bare areas.

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Planting notes. The demands of the alluring perennial are a few. It needs to be planted in well-drained soil in full sun and watered every other week at summer and once a month in winter (in the lack of rain) to your best look.

Globe mallow packs a colorful punch in the landscape and requires hardly any maintenance. Simply shear it back to 1 foot once it has finished blooming, to excite another flush of flowering.

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7 Evergreen Wonders of the Plant World

The importance of green space in our urban environments, as far as in our personal lives, is at the forefront of our heads today more than ever. Street curbs are being turned into rain gardens; community plots are blanketing former parking lots; parks are popping up in the very incongruous postindustrial sites. On each square inch of those victories, it’s imperative to guarantee an inspired and durable plant selection.

I believe that such a vital goal in planting design starts by securing solid bones: evergreen plants that provide construction and year-round interest — because off-season soil, yet fertile, rather looks like mucky dirt. Past overplanted rhododendrons and pieris, vinca and nandina, let’s discover seven top-notch evergreen plants for discerning gardeners.

CYAN Horticulture

Bear’s Breech
(Acanthus mollis)

No need to build Corinthian columns and plinths to rightfully enjoy acanthus (Acanthus mollis) in the garden. The model where the Greek decorative element originated, the acanthus foliage provides a bold, clean and durable appearance. It may die down through the spells but will sprout back. Together with cast-iron plant, described next, I utilize acanthus in large planters deprived of sunlight.

USDA zones: 6 or 7 to 11 (find your zone)
Water demand: Wet to moist dirt
Light demand: Partial sun to dappled shade
Mature size: 4 feet tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Year-round
When to plant: Spring or summer

CYAN Horticulture

Cast-Iron Plant
(Aspidistria elatior)

A staple in the American South, cast-iron plant (Aspidistria elatior) is often sold as an indoor plant elsewhere. For me personally it is now essential for its darkest porches, in which it thrones year-round without flinching. It’s indestructible, so the common name was really well chosen.

The majority of the time it’s green all the way through, but some of the many collector’s selections occasionally trickle down to the trade, like this mesmerizing variegated one dubbed ‘Asahi’. Using its clearly upright growth habit and its compact, lush foliage, cast-iron is a standout.

USDA zones: 7 to 11
Water demand: Well-drained dirt
Light demand: Dappled to complete shade
Mature size: 2 1/4 feet tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Year-round
When to plant: Anytime

CYAN Horticulture

Bessia
(Beesia deltophylla)

Dear buddy and plant explorer extraordinaire Daniel J. Hinkley is to thank you for the wide introduction and promotion of Bessia(Beesia deltophylla). This more compact grower deserves a prime place in unethical planters (as shown in this Vancouver garden) as far as in formal bedding and thoughtful woodlands.

Heart-shaped, its thick glossy leaves stay healthy appearing year-round. For extra cleanliness, I remove the gangly scapes produced through summer.

A few peeps will be left with such a green plant, but I rejoice in knowing that in spite of the weather ups and downs, my Bessia will tough it via. Loyalty, my buddy; that is what it’s all about.

USDA zones: 6 or 7 to 9
Water demand: Moist but well-drained soil
Light demand: Partial to full shade
Mature size: 1 foot tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Year-round
When to plant: Anytime

CYAN Horticulture

Upright Yew
(Taxus x press)

In comparison with broadleaf evergreens, coniferous evergreens are, generally speaking, that far hardier. From the warmer reaches of North America in addition to on the majority of its West Coast nicely into Canada, broadleaf evergreens abound.

In colder reaches, however, the selection is much thinner — boxwood, euonymus, hollies and leucothoes are a few of the more demanding contenders. Yet there is more to conifers than blue spruces and hedging cedars.

An all-time favorite is yew, upright (Taxus x press, shown here) or creeping. Its nice, dark green foliage has nothing to envy of almost any exotics.

USDA zones: 4 to 8
Water demand: Moist but well-drained soil
Light demand: Full to partial sun
Mature size: Variable
Seasonal interest: Year-round
When to plant: Spring to fall

CYAN Horticulture

Mexican Orange
(Choisya ternata)

Mexican strawberry (Choisya ternata) must be the one evergreen plant I use the most. While I strive to refrain from falling back into the same plants over and over, this enchanting and flexible shrub is hard to resist.

Obviously rounded and complete, easily maintained to a more compact size, generously covered in superbly fragrant clusters of white blossoms, Choisya is as near perfection as it gets. There is even a golden-leafed version named ‘Sundance’ and a filigree-leaved hybrid called ‘Aztec Pearl’.

USDA zones: 7 to 9
Water demand: Well-drained dirt
Light demand: Full to partial sun
Mature size: 5 feet tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Year-round
When to plant: Spring or summer

CYAN Horticulture

Pachysandra
(Pachysandra axillaris ‘Windcliff’s Fragrant’)

It’s far from my intention to recommend infinite blankets of covers. A default design stroke of too many designers and architects, ground covers could be counterproductive and, yes, a pain to keep. There are, however, areas — at the foundations of shrubs, along paths — where ground covers are all welcome.

Of the more recent candidates is this gorgeous pachysandra (Pachysandra axillaris ‘Windcliff’s Fragrant’). Eons from the oh-so-common Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis), this one is slightly taller, thankfully a bit looser and clad with diminutive yet exceptionally fragrant flowers in the fall and again in late winter. A must-have plant.

USDA zones: 6 to 9
Water demand: Moist to well-drained soil
Light demand: Partial sun to full shade
Mature size: Up to 1 foot tall; spreads
Seasonal interest: Year-round
When to plant: Anytime

CYAN Horticulture

Helleborusternii

In the past few years, there’s been an avalanche of newer winter-blooming hellebores. While some really represent a fantastic improvement, there is one older selection I profoundly cherish: Helleborus x sternii. For its compact habit, it has such outstanding foliar attributes and parsimonious purple-tinted blossoms I haven’t consigned this one to oblivion yet. Call me conservative if you will, but this hellebore is a keeper.

USDA zones: 6 to 9
Water necessity: Well-drained dirt
Light demand: Full sun to dappled shade
Mature size: 1 1/4 feet tall and 1 1/2 feet wide
Seasonal interest: Year-round
When to plant: Anytime

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Easy Green: Country vs. City for Ecofriendly Lifestyles

It’s easy to idealize the country as the ideal place for living a green lifestyle, with fresh, clean air and plenty of space to live off the property. And while these features are surely there (and quite appealing for some), the surprising part is there are good ecofriendly lifestyle options that go alongside urban and suburban or rural living. Learn here how to make the most of all your own area has to offer, wherever you reside.

B. Jane Gardens

Country living sounds green … but can it be? While there are many advantages to living in the country, one big negative from a green perspective is the fact that you probably need to get in the car to get just about anyplace. If you live in a rural or suburban area, try these measures to minimize auto use:

• Carpool to work with neighbors
• Send little ones to school on the bus
• Work from home or telecommute part-time
• Cluster errands to reduce time in the car

Amy Renea

Use your property to the maximum. With ample property and distant neighbors, in the country you can grow much of your own fruit and veggies, or perhaps (based on zoning laws) keep livestock. Having the ability to select beans and lettuces for supper and gather fresh eggs is eating neighborhood at its best.

John Hill

The green key of town living: walkability. Living in a dense urban area provides one distinct advantage over rural neighbors — especially, the ability to walk nearly everywhere. And where you can not reach by foot, it is likely you can utilize public transportation, virtually eliminating the need for a vehicle.

You can even get the Walk Score for your own neighborhood, that takes into account things like proximity to markets, parks, shops and restaurants. Fort Greene, Brooklyn, in which this house shown is, scores a 98: “Walker’s Paradise.”

Read more about neighborhood walkability

Rossington Architecture

Embrace a lack of space. Living in a very small city apartment makes it a lot easier to buy less material. So the next time you find yourself bemoaning the absence of a nice kitchen or full-size closet, you can at least be reassured that you do your part to conserve resources. After all, little spaces not just take less material to fill, but they also require less energy to heat and cool, and also use less water compared to larger homes.

Tobin + Parnes Design Enterprises

Get creative with urban gardens. City neighborhoods are seeing edible gardens springing up anywhere from rooftops and fire flows to postage stamp backyards and community spaces. Greening up town is a superb way to consume neighborhood, to be sure, but less obviously, it’s also a boost to air quality. Even in the event that you have space for just a few pots on the balcony or windowsill, opting to add some potted edibles are able to really make a difference, including fresh air to your house and fresh greens into your dining table.

Potted

Grow vertically in town. Thanks to innovations like wall sockets (displayed here), you can even develop a garden right in your wall, inside or outside.

The buzz on bees. Gardens need pollinators, which is exactly why some town dwellers are even choosing to add beehives for their gardens. Bees take up very little space and can offer fresh, local honey to boot.

Gardens from Gabriel, Inc..

Go green in the suburbs. Owning your own single-family house does hold a few advantages over residing in apartment buildings and condos: You are able to make more lasting structural modifications without asking permission from a co-op or homeowners association. For a quick addition, try using a rainwater collecting system to store water for use on your garden; or to get a larger investment, you could even have solar panels installed in your house.

Aloe Designs

Give up some yard space for a garden. The edible garden motion is increasing by leaps and bounds, and in many suburban areas it is no longer uncommon to see tomatoes and peppers growing in the front yard and expanses of grass given in favour of raised vegetable beds. A family of four does not require a massive garden to provide fresh, local food to supplement regular market trips, so why not give it a try?

Tour this efficient backyard edible garden in Vancouver

Amy Renea

Chickens in suburbia. Just because you do not have acreage does not mean that you can not do a bit of suburban farming right on your backyard. Local ordinances vary, so make sure you check with your town prior to bringing home a backyard flock — and educate yourself on the proper maintenance required to keep healthy hens.

Schwartz and Architecture

Expand your vision of the “homestead.” Even in the event that you reside in a town or do not want to garden, anyone can freeze and can clean, seasonal food by the farmer’s market. Widen your perspective and the range of changes that can be made right where you’re.

Tell us What do you love about where you live? What do you find is harder or easier about going green in your area?

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Central Plains Gardener's December Checklist

I bet you’re starting to overlook the garden just a little bit. You would give anything to feel dirt under your nails. Even a new scratch from a maple branch would be pleasant. As in love, it is all about the anticipation, and winter is the time to organize your spring and summer moves.

Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Have you been looking out your window in the “barren” landscape and needing for longer? The expression “winter interest” means something to people like us, who have four strong seasons. Winter interest we need. Start looking for structural variety so that following winter the snow produces a magical place for wildlife and you.

Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Perhaps you require a conifer to jazz up winter view with a few green — even one adaptable Thuja (Arborvitae) may get the job done.

Do not forget about leaving your dead-stemmed perennials status; their capacity to add winter interest is unmatched, and they provide cover for wildlife while grabbing snow to insulate their crowns and roots. Occasionally — in just the right sun — sparks of orange, rust, magenta and tan come living at a garden left up for winter.

Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Last year I had a sharp-shinned hawk visit my garden in winter, searching for songbirds which take shelter (and therefore escape) in my garden of winter interest. Things are very much living if you give a place for them.

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If you have a fantastic coat, a mild day gives you a chance to work outside. Hardscape and infrastructure chores get the blood flowing.

For instance, why not include a raised bed in December? You may create one out of almost any material (just do not use treated timber, which has chemicals that leach into the soil and poison plants). Raised beds may be used for optimal vegetable gardening, for dryness-loving plants or simply to create architectural interest — even sun interest.

Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

A simple rain string is something fantastic to have outside in winter, and it catches the crisp sunlight like an engagement ring’s diamond. You understand, it is that time of year. Perhaps a rain string would be a better option for your sweetheart?

Produce something amazing with the runoff from your roof

Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Regardless of what you are doing, get outside. Simply because it’s cold does not mean there aren’t discoveries to be made. Get to know your garden in a season. The spent seed heads look more visceral, and the grasses more orchestral. Locate the world via the smallest and simplest pleasures. Let yourself be surprised.

Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Walk the garden and program out additions and subtractions throughout the bones, in which you want to add some depth, what is not functioning or is feeble. Make a few sketches. Take photographs to look at interior more than a cup of hot cocoa.

Upload the pictures to a photo editor and start drawing circles erase an entire bed and add an enviable inspiration photograph. It’s the best time of year to become interested in gardening — you can fall in love all over again as you get to understand the landscape afresh.

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10 Ways to Create a Warm and Welcoming Living Room

One of those concerns I hear most frequently is the way to make the dining area feel much more welcoming — rather than just when business coming but every day. It’s natural to focus our attention on the more heavily utilized living and family rooms, but this means formal dining rooms sometimes wind up neglected.

Maybe you picked a fitting dining area place you adore but never took the time to finish the room. Or maybe you filled the space with pieces that would make a look you respect, but in fact found that the seats weren’t comfortable or the style was too stuffy for your family. By reassessing the colours, furniture shapes, accessories as well as room layout, you can give your dining room a fresh lease on life, creating a space that seems warm and inviting and feels just perfect.

Adrienne DeRosa

1. Soften a modern dining place with a cozy rug. Sleek, modern spaces look the at home when balanced using handmade elements, like the stunning Moroccan rug shown here. An oversize terrarium and colorful art bring character whilst still fitting with all the modern aesthetic.

Alan Mascord Design Associates Inc

2. Use rich wall colour to warm a large space. A huge dining area might seem good (there are more room for that large table you have your eye on) but can feel chilly. Bark-brown walls bring out the warmth in this rustic ranch-style dining space, but any color with thickness will produce a cozier feeling in a cavernous space. Be sure to use a soft rug and thick, layered window coverings to help with the acoustics.

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3. Pull up a couch for a cushy English cabin texture. In case a genuinely comfortable look is what you crave, upholstered pieces are the way to go. Use armchairs in the ends of a long table, pull an upholstered banquette into the side or perhaps perch on a cushy couch — just be sure that the chair height will work with your table prior to making a purchase. Crates secured to the wall eventually become pastoral shelves for displaying china, even though a fringed floral colour adds a whimsical touch.

Niche Interiors

4. Take advantage of a sunny spot with a window seat. If your dining area receives a lot of natural light, you might be missing out if you use the room only during dinner time. Put into a comfy cushioned window seat and it might become your new favorite dining room. Bonus: A window seat is a great spot for kids to slink off to after they’re done eating, while being in sight.

Heather Scott Home & Design

5. Or fake sunlight with bright yellow cloth. Sunny yellow curtains or chair cushions and a green topiary bring the outside in, no matter what the weather outdoors. If you want to bring into a living plant, then be sure to speak with your local garden center to discover varieties that will thrive in low-light ailments.

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6. Add character using a cabinet of curiosities. Accessories can set the tone for the space, so consider the mood that you wish to make prior to filling that china cabinet. Pick to stack your collections somewhat haphazardly rather than in perfect order to loosen up the space. A garland draped in the top and much more decorations hanging from the knob contribute to the fun atmosphere. For an organic, nature-inspired look, use pretty rocks, moss and leaves to accent piles of dishes.

Siemasko + Verbridge

7. Alter the layout and have dinner by the fire. When you have an open living-dining space, then try turning your furniture into the other side of the space for a change of speed. You can always go back if the installation does not do the job, but you might get used to having fireside dinners!

Lucy Interior Design

8. Or suggest warmth with a blazing-hot hue. Paint a coat of vibrant red in your china hutch, buffet or seats — attempt wine or tomato red for a classic look, salmon if you’re courageous.

Emily A. Clark

9. Liven up a plain, boxy space with painted-on stripes. Paint wide wall stripes in two different colors to make a bit of architectural interest at a bland room. Insert a symmetrical arrangement of art on the walls to match the strong horizontal stripes without appearing too busy.

Caitlin Wilson Design

10. Utilize a pinboard in an unexpected location. Fight the unspoken principle that dining rooms should be impersonal by bringing into a corkboard to hold current snapshots. Guests will love having something to talk about at dinner!

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'The Collected Home' Offers a Wealth of Layout Tips

Lawyer–turneddecoratoring celebrity Darryl Carter defined “new traditionalist” style in his first book, and now he’s created a second volume full of practical advice about how to achieve the appearance. More important, he describes how to create a home that functions the way you need it to, in a manner that applies not only to his own unique aesthetic but to every design style.

Including everything from highlighting architectural details to the way to hang your baseball hat collection. He balances and combines a love of antiques, patinas, textures, crisp white paint, Asian rugs, minimalist style and a love of collecting by adhering with a cohesive color palette and cautious curation. Here’s a sneak peek in his new book, The Collected Home (Clarkson Potter, 2012).

Clarkson Potter

Carter is a big fan of light neutral colors, which place an emphasis on textures and special objects. “When carefully executed, white helps develop a logic and continuity that will relate rooms to one another,” he states. “The serene palette reinforces the experience plus a cohesive flow throughout the house, and against this backdrop, life and people take centre stage.”

Carter’s Nuts and Bolts of Good Design

Among the most useful parts of the book is a cheat sheet in the conclusion of every chapter — lists of topics to think about when planning each space and hints.

Clarkson Potter

Flooring. How can you mix items like this classical bust, ornately carved antique dining table, well-worn Oriental rug and modern Zig Zag chair? Through careful colour cohesion and fabric choices, like this dark hardwood flooring, which contrasts, ties and succeeds in with numerous pieces.

A couple of Carter’s floors nuts and bolts:

• Consider installing a special padding or a cork subfloor for noise absorption. Hard surfaces in an upper level can be noisy below.
• Consider the durability of flooring materials in high-traffic places.
• Specifying the direction of this flooring, if discretionary, can visually enhance the sense of distance.

Clarkson Potter

Rugs. Carter is an expert in picking out the right carpets and layering them. Some of his advice for picking and putting rugs:

• Consider: Is there a hearth, a pattern on the ground, floor vents that can not be obstructed, doors that will not be able to swing open within a thick rug?
• Try flipping classic rugs, as the beautiful patterns are still there but are more subdued and faded.
• Layering a classic rug atop a natural-fiber rug is comparable to framing a beautiful piece of artwork.

Clarkson Potter

Clothing storage. For cupboard and dressing room storage, Carter states:

• Decide if you want to see all your clothing at once or conceal them behind doors.
• Figure out if you will be moving your clothes seasonally.
• if you are going to need easy access to suitcases, plan to leave room for them.
• Consider adding an accessible iron and ironing board, a full-length mirror or semi-gloss mirror.
• Mount rod heights based on your true pant/dress lengths rather than in the standard heights.

Clarkson Potter

Kitchens.

• Consider whether you need a place where children can hang out and watch food prep.
• Decide whether you want to be able to shut off the kitchen after food prep whilst eating supper.
• View the full slab when selecting the stone for your countertop or backsplash, as many stone have veining that may not appear on a small sample.
• Consider a foot pedal for sink operation.
• Review all of appliance specifications to determine whether there are any specific plumbing or power requirements.
• Consider adding a wine fridge or a fridge drawer for kids’ snacks.

Clarkson Potter

Lighting. In a girl’s room, Carter combined table lamps and wall sconces for bedtime reading. Here are a few more things to consider when placing lighting:

• Consider adding sockets in the ground so that floor lamps will “float” in a room. Complete your furniture plan so that you know where to set the outlets.
• Prevent placing lighting switches, alarm controls and thermostats in the middle of a wall that may otherwise be used for art.
• Make sure antique sconces are around code and pay particular attention to the dimensions of their backplates.
• Consider adding darker switches to create ambience.
• Figure out placement for ceiling lighting, then find out if a fixtures will need extra interventions overhead, including as heavy duty junction boxes or wood supports for heavy fixtures.

Clarkson Potter

Carter has been a really busy man; in addition to writing this book, he has a line of lighting for its Urban Electric Co., has recently added more colors to his Benjamin Moore paint collection and has been preparing for the introduction of his original home boutique in Washington, D.C.

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The Collected Home: Bathrooms With Style, Grace, and History, by Darryl Carter – $28.35

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Fantastic Design Plant: Sasanqua Camellia

I’m not certain if plant breeding, birth order or some thing else explains this, but at the camellia clan the Sasanqua camellia is your striving, adapting, hardworking sibling — compared to the hoity-toity Camellia japonica,using its perfect, almost waxen flowers and precious cultivar names such as’Debutante’ and’Swan Lake’.

There are scores of Sasanquas, plus they bloom earlier, with smaller flowers, than Japonicas. They can also perform far more landscape tasks in a garden, in sun or partial shade: floor cover, hedge, espalier, container plant, freestanding specimen. Plus they take considerably more sun (full sun except in hottest climates) and bloom before — in autumn and winter, when flowers are especially welcome. All in all, Sasanquas are one of the top tier of helpful evergreen landscape plants in California, the Southeast and similar light environments.

Monrovia

Botanical name: Camellia sasanqua. Many colours and varieties can be found;’Setsugekka’ is shown here.
USDA zones: 7 to 10 (find your zone)
Water necessity: Moderate; do not overwater.
Moderate requirement: Partial color, especially in hot climates. Will take more sun than Camellia japonica.
Mature size: As much as 10 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide, depending greatly on number
Tolerances: Generally trouble free if circumstances are appropriate; not as prone to petal blight (infection ) as Japonicas.

Monrovia

Distinguishing attributes. Evergreen leaves are deep green and fine annually. Flowers in shades of red, white and pink, double or single, are small (2 to 3 inches or so) but abundant. Shown here’s rose-red, double-blossom’Shishi-Gashira’ (also considered a Hiemalis camellia).

Monrovia

Bright red with a yellow center, ‘Yuletide’ Sasanqua camellia blossoms in late autumn, just in time for the holidays. The plant is distintively upright, perfect for a container near the front door or other narrow place.

Monrovia

‘Pink a Boo’ is a offshoot of’Yuletide’ — note the similar bright yellow centre. The blossom is larger but this plant can also be a vacation bloomer. It shares the same upright habit, so it’s also great in a pot.

How to use it. Choose a Sasanqua selection based on colours you like plus growth habit. Some varieties have a tendency to disperse; others stand upright. It is possible to see tendencies in young nursery plants, for example as’Shishi-Gashira’ (revealed ), which is compact and fairly low growing by character. To get a floor cover, start looking for spreaders like’Mine-Yo-Yuki’ or’Bonanza’. To get a hedge, try out a more upright type, for example as’Jean May’ or’Setsugekka’.

Growing hints. Plant in partial shade or full sun except in hot climates. Be sure that the soil drains well. At planting time refill the hole or bed with at least 25 percent organic matter. Cover the soil with mulch, keep it moist and feed regularly with special camellia food. To prevent diseases from spreading, try to pick up dropped blossoms — although Sasanquas are not as susceptible to petal blight as Japonicas.

To grow a Sasanqua at a container, start with commercial camellia combination or create your own with as much as 50 percent organic matter. Pot size can also be important: choose a diameter of 12 to 14 inches for gallon-can-size crops, and 16 to 18 inches for 5-gallon size.

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7 Bulbs That Flourish at Mild Climates

Many conventional spring-flowering bulbs work beautifully in California and other gentle climates, as shown here in the glorious yearly display on Daffodil Hill in California’s Gold Country. But lack of enough winter chill sets a damper on certain different bulbs — and creates opportunities to develop some very special bulbs. Here are some tips for picking and growing bulbs if you reside in a mild climate.

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7 Rules for Planting Bulbs in Mild Climates

Here are a few things to remember if you garden in a climate with relatively mild winters. Order early, plant late. For the best choice, look for bulbs whenever they arrrive in fall. But don’t feel you need to rush them into floor that is still warm. Mid to late October and November are fine for planting, and even early December is not too late. Chill out. Mild winters don’t provide certain bulb species with enough cold weather. To compensate, cool tulip and hyacinth bulbs for six months prior to planting; store them in a paper bag in the refrigerator. Think deep. Stick to the recommended planting depths for all sorts of bulbs. Better to plant too heavy than overly shallow. Multiply. Most bulbs appear better when planted in groups of three or even more — drifts of 50 to 100 in case your budget and space allow. Or plant a dozen or 2 in a pot. Impact liberally. Enhance bulb functionality by fertilizing at planting time. It is easiest to sprinkle bulb fertilizer in the planting holes or blend it into the planting bed. Water thoughtfully. Keep the soil moist through winter if rains don’t perform the job. Do not expect longevity. Many bulbs don’t offer more than just one outstanding blossom show in mild climates. Specifically, tulips and hyacinths are one-and-dones; after blossom time dig up the bulbs and discard or give them away.

The New York Botanical Garden

Daffodils (narcissus).The classic symbols of early spring are easy to grow in most mild climates, and they can return year after year when left in the floor. Plant in flowing drifts, seen under trees, in boundaries between shrubs and perennials, or in pots. Vintage yellow kinds that perform well in mild climates comprise ‘Dutch Master’ and ‘February Gold’. ‘Gigantic Star’ is shown here.

USDA zones: 3 to 9 (find your zone)
moderate requirement: Full sun or light color
Mature size: 6 to 24 inches high
Bloom period: Ordinarily late winter through early spring; as early as midwinter in California and other mild climates
Planting strategies for mild climates: Plant daffodils in well-cultivated soil in mid to late fall (early December is still OK). Bury bulbs at a depth that is 2 or three times their height, 6 to 8 inches apart. Water the bulbs after planting, and keep the soil moist through winter if rains don’t perform the job. After blossom time cut off faded blossoms. Let the leaves to dry (or wait at least six months) before eliminating them. It’s possible to leave the bulbs in the floor (avoid heavy summertime watering) or dig up and store them for next season.

Glenna Partridge Garden Design

Tulips (tulipa). The most ordinary tulips are hybrids, and they are great in formal gardens, containers and beds. Or try a few of the smaller species especially suited to mild climates, such as Tulipa clusiana chrysantha (star-shaped, yellow and rose).

USDA Islands: 4 to 10; best in 4 to 6
moderate requirement: Full sun, or partial shade in hot climates
Mature size: Varies greatly among many species and cultivars
Bloom period: Early to late spring, based on climate and number
Planting strategies for mild climates: Supply additional chill by storing the bulbs on your refrigerator’s vegetable crisper for six weeks prior to planting. Wait until November or early December to plant them. Plant bulbs at a depth that is three times their width, 4 to 6 inches apart. After blossom time dig up the blossoms and (sorry to say) shed them.

The New York Botanical Garden

Hyacinths (hyacinthus).Dutch hybrids such as ‘Peter Stuyvesant’, shown, are lavish and aromatic but last only one season in mild climates. Plant them in which you can smell them along a walk in beds or in baskets on a porch.

USDA zones: 5 to 9
moderate requirement: Full sun or partial shade
Mature size: 6 to 14 inches large
Bloom period: Early to mid spring
Planting strategies for mild climates: Purchase huge bulbs for large blossoms. Before planting, keep them in the refrigerator, as for tulips. Plant in mid to late fall. Bulbs 5 inches deep. After blossom time, treat them like tulips.

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Ranunculus (ranuniculaceae). The growing areas of vivid ranunculus in blossom make a tourist magnet close to San Diego. Tecolote hybrids — white, orange, yellow, crimson, pink — are longtime favorites, exceptional in borders or pots. In mild climates, plant them in fall for spring blossom; in cold-winter climates, plant them in spring.

USDA zones: 8 to 10 when planted in fall
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: as many as 2 feet high
Bloom period: Late winter or early spring
Planting strategies for mild climates: Plant bulbs (actually tuberous roots) in fall in pots or well-cultivated floor. (Bigger bulbs produce more blossoms.) Place the roots pointed down, 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart. Water and wait until leaves emerge before watering again unless the soil dries. Protect seedlings from birds. You may have to lightly stake floppy plants. After blossom time cut off faded flowers, let plants warm, and dig and store roots — they can do well a second year.

California Flowerbulb Company, Inc..

Freesia (iridaceae).Known due to their sweet fragrance as cut flowers, freesias bloom longer than most spring bulbs. White is the most common color; there is also orange, yellow, red, pink and blue. In mild climates to their liking, they could spread and naturalize.

USDA zones: 9 into 10
moderate requirement: Full sun or partial shade
Mature size: 12 to 18 inches
Bloom period: Spring
Planting strategies for mild climates: Plant corms in fall, two inches deep and 2 inches apart. After blossom time, when leaves have yellowed, dig and keep the corms in a dry place. Or abandon the corms in the floor for blossoms in following years.

The New York Botanical Garden

Crocus (crocus). Pint-sized harbingers of spring, they are most meaningful if they wake up through snow but they are still fun to grow in sunny winter climates. Squeeze the bulbs in between rocks, stepping stones or pavers. There are many species and cultivars. The most popular is Crocus chrysanthus, in white, yellow, blue, purple and other colors. The plant shown here is Crocus tommasinianus var. pictus.

USDA Islands: 3 to 9, based on species
moderate requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 2 inches high and up, based on species
Bloom period: Ancient spring (some species bloom in fall)
Planting strategies for mild climates: Plant the tiny bulbs (actually corms) in fall, 3 inches deep and 3 inches apart. After bloom time try leaving the bulbs set up — they may return or may not.

The New York Botanical Garden

Allium (liliaceae). This big group of plants includes garlic, onions and chives as well as many types of spring-blooming bulbs, a few with blossoms softball size or larger, such as Allium giganteum, shown here. Just a couple bulbs could put on quite a show.

USDA zones: 4 to 10, based on species
moderate requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 6 inches to two feet high and up, based on species
Bloom period: Spring and summertime
Planting strategies for mild climates: Plant bulbs in fall, 3 inches deep and 6 to 8 inches apart. Place the bulbs with the pointy end facing upward.

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How to Use a Childproofer

As anybody who’s spent time with tots can tell you, kids have a way of courting tragedy, particularly around their own homes. They are curious, they are on the move, and when there is a danger — from insufficient stair railings to exposed electrical outlets and prescription medication within reach — they will discover it.

Input professional childproofing, an industry that’s seen massive jumps in the past several years. If you are worried that your home isn’t as safe as it could be for small ones, selecting a specialist may pay off in peace of mind. Keep Reading to Discover More.

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What a childproofer does: even though it’s hard to earn any house 100 percent childproof, these pros come as near as possible. Childproofers survey your house inside and outside for problem spots where kids can get hurt, devise customized solutions and select and install security gear. They are up to speed on the newest security codes and recalls and in the loop on new, innovative goods.

When to employ one: in the event that you have young kids or grandkids, or when little children regularly visit your house, professional guidance can be priceless. A child-safety expert can reveal hidden dangers that you did not know about and poisonous areas you might overlook.

Even teens are subject to certain dangers, so many people choose to call in a childproofer before baby arrives. Child security becomes crucial once kids are portable, beginning to roll, crawl and pull up.

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What it will cost: Costs vary based on the size of your residence and also the safety equipment required, but expect to pay roughly $500 to $1,500 or more to childproof an ordinary single-family house. Some childproofers will agree to a consultation fee, usually around $100 to $200 — they create recommendations; you purchase and install the security equipment. Others offer the consultation at no cost and earn their gain from equipment sales.

Should you do your shopping, make certain the expert has vetted the brands and products you choose; occasionally the cheapest gear is also the least reliable. And if you are not handy with a drill or screwdriver, it may be worth the extra price to make sure that the items are installed correctly.

Where to find one: Contact the International Association for Child Safety, which offers a directory by state. Hospital maternity centers, baby and toddler shops, and that old standby, the local parent grapevine, can also offer suggestions.

Any expert you consider should have passed the HHT (Home Risks Test), the industry standard. Some have earned the CPC (Certified Professional Childproofer) designation, so they have at least 600 hours of childproofing expertise and have passed a background check, a certification examination, and reference and continuing education requirements.

Got a childproofer in mind? Here’s what to do.
Request references. No matter how personable and capable a childproofing expert sounds, ask the names of a few references to get a true handle on her or his work. Request past customers about the security gear that the childproofer recommended, the quality of the setup, unexpected difficulties during or after the process and more.

Detail special considerations. If your child has restricted mobility or is unusually prone to activities like climbing and leaping, make certain the childproofer knows that at the beginning. It is going to also help share any information regarding your lifestyle that may affect products and alternatives (if you use a cosleeper in lieu of a crib, by way of instance).

Do not assume that childproofing must ruin your decor. Some parents aren’t pleased with the utilitarian appearance of gates, latches, grab bars and other equipment. While security always trumps design, work with the childproofer to produce alternatives that fulfill both goals — just be prepared for them to price more in several scenarios.

For example, if you can not abide the thought of padding onto the corners of your coffee table, think about replacing it with a round design or some cushioned ottoman that removes sharp angles. Cordless cellular shades or cornice boards may look just as smart as traditional draperies. Many childproofing products also come in sleek designs which will blend in well with the appearance of your space.

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