Eatdrink #71 May/June 2018

34 | May/June 2018
the luxury of a little extra heat to extend the
season ... and keep you on your comfy outdoor
furniture longer.
“In Canada, we definitely have two to three
months where it can be nice to be outside
cooking, but we can also take advantage of the
shoulder seasons,” adds Giesen. “You can enjoy
the outdoors for longer by heating your area
with radiant heat. Natural gas tends to be both
the most popular and most effective form of
heat. Schwank is one brand that’s known for
creating commercial grade systems that are
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very effective, but they also create products for
the residential market too. Bromic is another
brand that’s known for its designer look.”
“There are also umbrella heaters, which run
on propane tanks and electric heating systems,
which are reliable and inexpensive, but generally
less effective than natural gas,” he specifies.
Another exciting feature that’s been
creeping into backyards? Vegetable gardens
that are as important to the landscaping as
they are to the dinner table. A 2018 garden is
beautiful, bountiful, delicious, and sometimes,
just like many other outdoor entertaining
essentials, it’s moveable.
“Kitchen gardens today don’t have to take
up a lot of space,” says Foulon, adding, “Plant
selection can be based on aesthetics and/or
how good it tastes. Rainbow chard looks great,
but you can also mix in Boston lettuce and
arugula. Whether vegetables or herbs, they
can be grown in the ground or in pot planters,
which are an attractive feature themselves
and are reasonably affordable to change up.
My own yard is small, but it has enough
vegetables to keep us going. It looks like a riot
of stuff, that looks almost tropical.”
“When it comes to making the most of your
space, it also pays to think of how one ‘thing’
can be used in multiple ways,” Foulon adds.
“Instead of a plain railing on your deck, why
not modify a portion to be a bartop?”
While there is no shortage of ways to bring
your own aesthetic to your sanctuary, textiles
and dinnerware offer an affordable way to
change up the look, and bring your unique
personality to the backyard.
“Accessories like acrylic glassware, and
outdoor rugs (polypropylene) are often a
finishing touch,” says Yandreski. Hauser’s
showroom is also brimming with plush
throw pillows of every colour and pattern
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2017-04-19 2:28 PM
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