oooh...toasty!

I hate to think about this already...but it's time.

Fall (gulp) is really just around the corner. It was a shock to me to be out and about this weekend and realize that all the summer "seasonal" stuff is being rearranged, marked down and moved aside for Fall merchandise.

Back-to-school merchandise is offically taken over. That means if you are looking for the very best deals in outdoor furniture and accessories, now is the time. Actually, you may be a bit too late already.

To that end, let's talk about extending your time on your patio and outdoor spaces.

A patio heater (also called a mushroom or umbrella heater) is an appliance for generating radiant heat for outdoor use. You knew that, right?
Well, here's how it works: a burner on top of a post, burns LPG or propane, and directs the flames against a perforated metal screen. Heat is radiated from the surface of the screen in a circular pattern around the appliance. A reflector atop the burner reflects heat that would be otherwise lost upwards.

A newer type of patio heaters are the InfraRed Patio Heaters, which although claim to be environmentally friendly, use grid electricity. Grid electricity is 2.9 times more carbon intensive than gas.

Patio heaters became more popular with bars and restaurants first, since they extended the day and the season for their customers to sit outdoors. Now, they are becoming popular with the average homeowner and are much more readily available.
So, if you are in the market for one...there are lots of choices: table top, stand alone, hanging, ones that look like lamps, ones that look like art, and ones that even connect under your umberella. You can get propane ones, ethanal ones, and electric ones. Remember to consider where you want to put it, the radius of the heat it will throw, and of course, how it fits into your decor style!

Since I've just begun to enjoy my new, awesome deck, I'm not even close to being ready to give it up for the season. So this baby (Canadian Tire, $299.99) will be warming up my deck for weeks to come and late into the Fall. And then again in early Spring.
Until next week, enjoy the warm of the summer, but plan ahead to stay toasty even longer.




For more, visit www.littlered.ca, or read past blogs at www.justalittlerouge.blogspot.ca.

cool "must have" accessory!

I was at a party last weekend and the host had one of these…a cool bar cocktail table.

It’s a side table and cooler all in one. And it’s perfect for outdoor entertaining!

The Cool Bar is a tasteful accessory to any summer party. This petite piece of furniture serves as a side table but also doubles as a cooler to keep your drinks cool on those hot summer days.

When the night rolls in and you want to add a touch of class to the evening, just raise the top and you have a cute cocktail table to gather around and chat the night away.

Easy to assemble and easy to clean, the Cool Bar is a must have for any party.

Features:

• Doubles as a side table or cocktail table
• Easy to assemble
• Ice compartment to keep drinks cool
• Easy to clean with hose or damp cloth
• Beige and brown to match patio sets and wicker
• Treated for outdoor use

Oh yeah…and it came from Costco. The online price is listed as $79.99, but I have it on good authority that it’s more like $50 in the store. Five star review.

Go immediately to pick one up. They sold out last year…fast!



For more about rouge, visit www.littlered.ca or check out past blogs at www.justalittlerouge/blogspot.com

do you patio?

Oh, yeeeah...it’s that time of year!

The time of year, when we all flock outside when there is a sunny day. Time when our eyes can barely adjust to the brightness, but it feels so good to squint. Time where we actually start to remember what it feels like to be in flipflops. Time to think about enjoying a bbq and perhaps a favorite drink or two while relaxing in our outdoor space.

Time to clean off your deck or patio to get rid of winter’s remains. Time to pull out all your hastily-stored patio furniture. And time to…uh-oh…time to realize that things are looking a bit boring, plain and tired…?

Not to worry! This is the very best time of year to do something about it! As with all the new and wonderful outdoor furniture (see last year’s blog), there are new and wonderful outdoor accessories to give your space an instant boost.

Check out beautiful cushions and throw pillows made from weather-proof fabrics, a huge selection of acrylic pitchers, glasses, plates, bowls and serving trays. Some of these are so lovely, you may consider picking up a few to use inside all year round! Try a fun and colorful vinyl tablecloth to spruce up your table.

And don’t forget some solar lights or lanterns to add ambience to your outdoor evening adventures. Add some life with a few strategically placed plants in chic new planters.

A little something unexpected adds a nice touch of whimsy too (although I was kidding about the garden gnome...they are creepy). You may also want to think about grabbing a propane heater to extend your patio time this season...all last year models are on sale now!

The best part is that none of this will cost you very much. All of the beauties pictured here are available at either Canadian Tire or Tag.

For more about rouge, visit www.littlered.ca or check out past blogs at www.justalittlerouge/blogspot.com