Category Archives: Home Love

What does your front door say about you?

Home Love 01 Nov

In my (ever-increasing) daydreams I imagine myself living on a little farm in lush countryside. My house is freshly painted white, there is a impeccably kept herb garden out the back, a cute chicken coop to the side and cherry blossoms line the driveway blooming constantly. I would bake pies perfectly every day, write novels in my spare time and generally be awesome. (Definitely in dream territory now!) There are dogs of course – a whole army of them, including a whole gang of senior pooches who enjoy every day of their fluffy retirement out in the country.

 Sometime in my dreams I throw in a donkey, or an old dairy cow for good measure. But you know what I picture most vividly? The front door. I dream of dutch doors, pink doors, door with wreaths, doors with knockers, doors with perfectly trimmed topiary trees…It’s door porn. Because I think your front door says a lot about you. For visitors it’s the first thing they see about you. Is it welcoming, cluttered, or brightly coloured? Creative, stylish or pedestrian? To me it’s all about the front door. So when I saw this ADORABLE Doxie Door Mat I knew I had found at least one element to my dream home. (Yes, I know, how surprising that my front door says I’m a crazy dog lady!) But enough about me! Let’s throw this open to you guys – what does your front door say about you? Or even better – what would you like it say?

Do you have a daydream home?
What is your idea of the perfect front door?

IMAGES: (From Top) Long Dog French Doormat, Door Wreath by Teach Craft Love, Farmhouse Cow, Home Doormat, Dutch Door, Yellow Door, Turquoise Door.

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Hair of the Dog

Home Love 08 Mar

I had to laugh the other day when I received a call from a good friend asking my secrets to a clean house. You see I knew this friend wasn’t asking for dusting tips, or how to clean a shower, I knew she was facing one problem – dog hair.

Depending on your breed of dog, your dog hair problem may be big or small, but when springtime or fall rolls around that’s when most dog owners start to notice their dogs are a bit more prone to sharing the fluffy love. And if you’re living with an extremely hairy dog like me, without action you’ll end up with some real life sized fluffy tumbleweeds on your hands. So what to do? Here are the latest and greatest solutions on offer:

{Dogs and White Couches Don’t Mix. Main Image Via We Heart It}

1. Dyson Groom. The first port of call when you’re facing a doggie hair overload is regular brushing. I’ve been a big fan of slicker brushes for a long time, and the Dyson Groom takes then into a new realm by not only brushing the fur from the coat but sucking it up at the same time. Sure it’ll take some practice and lots of treats if you have a dog who’s scared of the vaccuum, but this latest gadget could be the answer to all your prayers. It stops the hair before it ends up all over your house.

2. Old Fashioned Rubber Gloves. Now we all know I love a lint roller to remove dog hair from my clothes, couch, cushions…the list goes on. However if you ever find yourself without access to one this little tip will be a lifesaver! Slap on some good old fashioned rubber gloves (cute set from Elizabeth’s Embellishments pictured) and wipe your hands along the surface that has been covered in hair. The fur should clump together and lift out of the material making it easy to remove in one go. Voila! Hair free.

3. Grooming Kit. Although regular brushing is a great starting point, your dog also needs to be groomed regularly to keep their coat healthy and prevent any extra shedding. A wash and clip is a brilliant habit to get into and can be either done by a professional groomer or at home. With a host of grooming kits out on the market one of my favourites for even the most skittish dogs is this silent grooming set aptly named Scaredy Cut.

What are your top tips for a hair free house?

Toxic Stuff in Your Garden

Healthy Living Home Love 10 Dec

{Image via Dress Design Decor}

One of my friends once decided to plant a herb garden. Under the influence of the likes of Jamie Oliver and Curtis Stone, she decided that fresh herbs from her garden would add that special something to her evening meals. I think she pictured herself somewhat of a domestic goddess – imagining herself bathed in golden sunlight, with her pink secateurs glistening in the sun, selecting only the finest herbs from her garden to add to her latest recipes.

Too bad no-one told her dog.

Within weeks of planting the afore mentioned garden, her little Jack Russell decided that the garden must have been indeed planted for him, and proceeded to spend his days rolling around bathing himself in the minty aromas.  Suffice to say no-one ever ended up getting to eat one herb out of that garden. He smelt good though…

One great thing about having a garden is seeing your dog have so much fun running around, sniffing new smells and generally being a constant explorer of its own backyard. But one of the drawbacks is the fact that a few things within your backyard can really hurt your favourite fluffy, so it’s much better to be safe than sorry and make your yard a dog friendly zone. Here are a few tips to consider:

Some of the prettiest flowers such a hydrangeas, daffodils, and azaleas are poisonous to pets, so best keep them out of the way. A cute planter box (see above picture) on a high windowsill out of your dogs reach means you get to see the gorgeous blooms and your puppy stays in good health.

Some herbs and vegetables such as garlic, chives and spring parsley do not mix with dogs. Instead why not have an indoor kitchen herb garden like this one for those few problematic plants?

{Herb Garden by Royal VKB}

A full list of dangerous plants for your dogs can be found here. Of course this doesn’t mean your garden becomes a barren wasteland – in fact it’s just the opposite. Some beautiful plants can provide such colour and fragrance to your backyard that even your dog will appreciate. Many dogs adore lavender – just like us the smell can have a calming effect on them. Peppermint is another favourite – put it in your herb garden and you get the benefit of delicate, refreshing herb…whereas with a quick nibble your dog can relax an upset stomach. And if you’re at a loss? Plant some mint. It seemed to work for my friend.

Do you have any plants you and your dogs love?
What are your tips for a dog friendly garden?

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Luxe to Less: Doggy Decor

Home Love 19 Nov

I love all things decorating and interior design. I also love all things fluffy. So it comes at no surprise that I love to have the odd statement piece around my home as a throwback to my canine obsession. And far from my house being a homage to dogs around the world, I love finding pieces that blend seamlessly into my home’s decor. In essence keeping things pretty – but also fluffy.

Here are some of my latest faves to suit any budget:
1. Puppy Parade Porcelain Figurine by Lladro. RRP $1675.00
2. 36th Exposition Canine de Briard Framed Art Print by All Posters. RRP $201.60
3. Cute Puppy Cartoon Magnet by Lioness Graphics. RRP $2.90

Do you enjoy incorporating dogs into your home decor?
What are your favourite finds?

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