One outdoor sitting area has a country club price tag, the other offers staycation savings. Can you tell which is which?

Producer: Peter Paquette | Photography: Mark Burstyn

High: $11,920

Producer: Peter Paquette | Photography: Mark Burstyn

• GlucksteinHome Ivory Market UMBRELLA, $239, Hudson’s Bay, thebay.com.
• Copenhagen teak CHAIRS, ($2,298 each); SOFA, ($4,998); Jardins de Ville, jardindeville.com.
• Elaine Smith’s Murmur OUTDOOR PILLOWS in Midnight, $220 each, Fresh Home and Garden, fresh.ca.
• Black metal LED LANTERNS, $60 (large), $50 (small), Indigo, indigo.ca.
• Elaine Smith’s Thumbprint outdoor PILLOW, $280, Fresh Home and Garden, fresh.ca.
• Off-white outdoor PILLOW, $89, Jardin de Ville, jardindeville.com.
• Teak folding DIRECTOR’S CHAIR, $519, Fresh Home and Garden, fresh.ca.
• Cane-Line’s On-The-Move SIDE TABLE, $650, Fresh Home and Garden, fresh.ca.

Low: $1,054

Producer: Peter Paquette | Photography: Mark Burstyn

• Canvas beige Market UMBRELLA ($79) and BASE ($40), Canadian Tire, canadiantire.ca.
• Hometrends’ Willow Springs PATIO SET, (including coffee table, not shown), $598, Walmart, walmart.com.
• Distinctly Home, Cabana patio CUSHIONS, $30 each, Hudson’s Bay, thebay.com.
• Canvas black LED LANTERNS, $60 (large), $40 (small), Canadian Tire, canadiantire.ca.
• Listar outdoor PILLOW, $55, Renwil, renwil.com.
• Off-white Sunbrella PILLOW, $38, overstock.ca.
• Bamboo DIRECTOR’S CHAIR, $59, HomeSense, homesense.ca.
• Gladom tray SIDE TABLE, $25, IKEA, ikea.ca.

Featured in both: MURAL PAINT, Lucerne AF-530, Fiji AF-525, Exhale AF-515, Constellation AF-540, Benjamin Moore. Oui broken stripe PILLOWS in Multi and Washed Indigo, round lacquer TRAYS in Bisque and Sunflower, Indigo. Runnen DECKING in dark grey, Solleron STOOL (ottoman) in brown, IKEA. Outdoor artificial PLANTS AND POTS, Jardin de Ville.

And...Action!

The iconic director’s chair has a long history. While the modern version was introduced at the 1892 World’s Fair in Chicago, this practical perch likely originated long before, with similar styles found in ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece, re-emerging in Napoleonic-era military campaigns. While its look and materials may have evolved, the design remains true to the original. And why not? On the battlefield and off, it’s a winner, with its portability making it ideal for pop-up outdoor seating.

Leanne Ford’s Mast Leather, $799, Crate and Barrel, crateandbarrel.ca.

Casual Home, $142, Wayfair, wayfair.ca.

Condos Brothers teak, $825, RH, rh.com.

Perfectly Patterned

Do you have a gloomy concrete wall looming over your balcony or a wood fence darkening your patio? Why not spiff it up with a stencilled mural? Masking tape, a stencil, brush, roller and exterior paint suitable for the surface you want to disguise are all you need. Go for nautical stripes, graphic geometrics or a looser more boho pattern to create a vibrant and economical feature for your garden.

Image Courtesy of Annie Sloan.

This weekend DIY painting project will turn an unattractive wall or fence into a bright, colourful and eye-catching focal point in your garden. 

Image Courtesy of Etsy.

Tray Chic

A pretty tray to carry out drinks and canapés from the kitchen is essential for stylish summertime sipping and snacking.

Small wood tray, $13, H&M Home, hm.com.

Sommardrom tray, $20, IKEA, ikea.com.

Plastic tray with handles, $25, Bouclair, bouclair.ca.

Tra Wright Knox’s Tropical Leaf, $45, Society6, society6.com.