We love roses of every shade and hue
If you're a fan of Flower Carpet roses, you'll be happy to learn there are two new colors in this new generation.
They are Pink Supreme and Amber, joining last year's Scarlet.
While Amber - shown here - won't be available generally in the United States till next season, it's the one that caused the biggest stir when samples arrived in our office.
These roses from Anthony Tesselaar Plants of Australia are ground cover or prostrate style roses.
They will grow less than 3 feet tall and more than 3 feet wide.
They are supposed to be disease resistant while producing lots of flowers for up to four or five months.
The roses will even bloom some in partial shade. One warning is to protect your bushes during their first winter in our area.
We like yellow, but it's not for everyone
Yellow is one of those colors you either love or hate.
Chris Madden thinks buttery and ivory tones are just the softening our bedrooms need to celebrate summer in a relaxed but elegant fashion.
CM Hotel Parksley is $500 for an 11-piece bedding set in queen size at JCPenney stores and online at www.jcp.com.
What fun! A second home to decorate
If you're lucky enough to have a summer home to decorate, you will want to pick up a copy of June's Country Home.
The magazine always offers cozy, comfortable decorating ideas that fit so well in vacation homes.
Here's an interesting idea - if you have a strong color you love (the editors picked yellow again) - paint only the bottom half of your walls that shade.
"Color is more enjoyable when you're not surrounded by it," they say.
They chose a yellow with a little green for an up-to-the-minute look. Don't forget to use white and a touch of black in the room.
How about this "no-fail recipe" for the fabric in a cottage look: Two florals, two ginghams and two solids.
And they found a new old-fashioned screen door. The Beach model is $470 from woodenscreendoor.com.
We do love the 1850s Connecticut barn renovated into a home.
Here's a tip from homeowner Rita Knudsen: Mix country style like her bathroom with the claw-foot tub and beadboard wainscoting with something sleek and Asian. She chose a wooden bench to create her surprise.
And here are ideas if your cabin, cottage or apartment is small.
Investigate going up by opening the ceiling.
Bring in the outdoors with features like French doors and Dutch doors.
Remember to find storage wherever you can, such as under a bed.
- Deborah Donovan
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