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Nyla's
B A C K YA R D OASIS
r e Summ T IME Volume two I S S U E . 0 3
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NOT E EDITOR F R O M
T H E
Summer is here! However, if you’re like me, it feels like summer started months ago. With the shift of kids at home, a new work at home lifestyle, and adjusted schedules that often reflect the days of summer, I can hardly believe it’s only the start of the season. So far 2020 has been a year of taking things day by day. The first half of the year has no doubt been full of challenges on many fronts, but also many learnings. Pivot, adjust, stay home, listen, learn, have hope, are just a few of the new focuses in the world today. Change is hard. We get complacent in our day to day life, so it’s not easy when we need to work differently, live differently and even love differently. But this is the essence of seasons in life, giving us pause to rethink, revisit what’s important, reconnect with people, and relearn things we may have taken for granted. 2020 could (and likely will) be viewed as a monumental movement of love, hope, family, home and health. Life at home looks and feels different these days, but it’s a lifestyle we’re excited to embrace. Would l love to be able to get on a plane and jet across the world right now? Absolutely. The time will come for us to travel again, but until then, we’re virtually taking you around the world in this issue. “If Team NFDI Were a City” is our theme for Staff Picks. We’ve had so much fun putting these pages together and imaging ourselves as these cities. We hope this offers a mini escape as you travel through the pages moving from city to city, and getting to know us a little better. With non-essential air travel restrictions in place and summer plans shifted, outdoor living is flourishing. I’m inviting you into my personal backyard for this issue’s Home Tour. I’m excited to share our little outdoor oasis with you. It’s not a large yard, but one where we’ve created outdoor rooms, so to speak, and areas to hang out in whether together as a family or with our guests. See the full tour on pages 13-26. Human connection comes in various ways and we’re hoping one in particular starts to make a comeback. The personal touch of writing a letter is a communication method we’d love to see used more often. Learn more in our Lost Art of Letterwriting feature on pages 28-30. You likely have everything you need in order to reach out to a loved one the old-fashioned way. Connection is what this Lookbook is all about. Much like our interior design projects, our heart and soul goes into each issue and we can’t thank you enough for being a port of this journey with us. Have a wonderful summer!
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www.nylafreedesigns.com | @nylafreedesigns
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IF NFDI W E R E A C I T Y Ready to take a trip around the world? Discover the city that reflects each team member of NFDI. Not a city we love, although that bears truth too, but one we feel represents our personalities. Pack your virtual bags and get ready to travel!
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NYLA L o n d o n , E n g l an d
I see myself as London, England, a city that celebrates multiculturalism, the arts, and history like no other. From the forward thinking, Modern aesthetic of the Tate museum, to a more “proper� and formal vibe through palaces and royalty, the juxtaposition within this city is what gives it personality and life. The layers of old and new resonate with me as the combination of nostalgia and modern is me through and through. The fashion, interior design and architecture are all aspects of this multifaceted city I connect with, whether modern-day, the quirky vibe of the 60’s or historical turn of the century.
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JACKIE Sa n Fransi sco, U .S.A.
An eclectic combination of vibrant city life, embedded with greenspaces and nature, San Francisco, USA is the ham to my sandwich. Loud and colourful, natural and cool, unexpected and classic; it’s a little bit of everything, just like me. The epicenter of California’s north coast, it is surrounded by other spectacular cities and coastal towns that are integral to its energy and uniqueness. From micro breweries and vineyards, to impressive architecture and infamous neighborhoods, there is no shortage of things to do.
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BRI
S a n t a Bar bar a, U. S. A.
There is just something about Santa Barbara, USA that I find so enticing. The laid back coastal lifestyle, paired with a neutral & chic aesthetic is 100% my vibe. I’m all about trendy finds, and this little beach town is jam packed with so many little boutiques! SB is hands down my kind of town. Plus they have wine and cupcake tours. SCORE!
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ALEX B er li n, G erman y
The artsy, edgy, cool, creative vibe has me resonating with Berlin, Germany. My heritage is part German so I naturally feel a connection to their culture and food. Known for its nightlife and music scene, the city is lively and doesn’t stand still for long. Similar to my own style, the design and architecture is a juxtaposition of historic and modern.
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KERST IN V i ct o r i a, Can ada
If I were a city I would be Victoria, Canada - an old lady of British heritage! The gentle beauty of the landscape inspires the timehonoured, quiet, genteel “Victorian� pursuits I love: afternoon tea, gardening, excursions into nature to hike, sketch and picnic. The city is also home to my favourite artist, Emily Carr.
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ANA Lisb on, Por tug a l
Lisbon, Portugal speaks to me in so many ways. It is indicative of my childhood with its traditions and culture, and represents who I am now with its vibrancy and infusion of Modernism from fashion, lifestyle, colourful architecture and details. Its warm and sunny disposition is welcoming to all; you can’t help but fall in love with this coastal capital!
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I FEEL THAT THERE IS NOTHING MORE TRULY ARTISTIC THAN TO LOVE PEOPLE - van gogh
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OUT DOOR S PA C E S The landscaping was one of the first investments we made in our “new to us” home when we moved in 14 years ago. While the result was nice, years later we felt it didn’t encapsulate the feeling we were hoping for, so we decided to renovate. We added a wood-burning fireplace, a pergola structure, lighting and many more trees to the yard. The fireplace is not only a feature, it offers privacy from our neighbours. Because our home is situated off a Provincial Park, chain link fences are mandatory between houses. This is beneficial to allow a visual through to the park, however it caused us to really consider privacy when redesigning our backyard. With a plan in place, much like the process of interior design, and with the help of professional landscapers, our backyard has been transformed into an area we enjoy on the daily. From starting our day out on the sectional with coffee, to enjoying dinner around the table, all the way to bringing the day to an end in front of the fire with a glass of wine, we love spending time here. It’s a little oasis, an extension of our interior, and an area we’ll be spending a lot of time in this summer. Welcome to our backyard!
L A N D S C A P E R :
VisionScapes
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INTERIOR DESIGN:
Nyla Free Designs
Cosmopolitan Collection | Naked ENGINEERED HARDWOOD CHEVRON & PLANKS Exclusive to
VISIT ONE OF OUR LOCATIONS
Ca lga ry | Va n c o u v e r | Ed mo n t o n | Ch ic ago d i v i n e f l o o r. c o m
THE LOST ART
of
LETT ER WRIT ING
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BASIC NOTE CARDS TO HAVE ON HAND:
In my recent time spent organizing, I’ve come across a number of handwritten letters from days gone by. There is a nostalgia in words seen on paper. There is a personality in handwriting we simply don’t get from computers. An email is nice, so is a text message, but the delight of receiving a letter or card in the mail is heartwarming, special and always a delightful surprise. It would be wonderful to see this method of communication resurface, wouldn’t it? Sure it takes a little more time, but that’s the point.
ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES TO ADD SPECIAL DETAILS
The thoughtfulness in preparing a letter is special from start to finish. And the best part? There are very few items you need in order to send a written note. Want to jazz them up a little? We’ve got you covered. Get ready to put pen to paper and start sending letters via snail mail!
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PICNICparty With travel at a minimum, we’ll likely be staying closer to home this summer. Make the most of a sunny day by packing a picnic lunch and heading to a picturesque spot to get cozy and comfortable. Throw down a blanket, and enjoy a quiet afternoon with some picnic fare. We’ve got a shopping list of ideas to bring along in order to hit the road and head to the hills.
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PICN
E S S E N
BASKET BLANKET
GLASSES
SERVEWARE
SMALL CUTTING BOARD
KNIFE
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NIC
T I A L S
SWEET & SAVOURY SNACKS
SANDWICHES
FRUITS
NAPKINS
CHARCUTERIE
CANDLES - 34 -
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S U M M E R
POPSICLE recipe
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Inspired by a visit to the Ivy in Los Angeles, and enjoying their famous sangria, we took to making our own version in the form of a popsicle. Cool down this summer with a boozy adult treat that’s as delicious as it is beautiful.
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INGREDIENTS • Fruit: roughly a heaping tbsp in each popsicle mould - we used nectarine, strawberry and orange • Rosé: 1 bottle • Simple sugar: 1/4 cup • Popsicle mold • Popsicle sticks
Make the simple sugar (equal parts sugar and water) 1/4 cup of each will yield approximately 1/3 cup so you’ll have a small amount of excess liquid. You can add the entire amount if you like your popsicles on the sweeter side. Let cool to room temperature before adding to the Rosé Pour the Rosé into a large bowl and add the simple sugar. Mix to combine.
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Place the fruit into each popsicle mold. Pour the RosĂŠ mixture into the molds and over the fruit. Note: the fruit will most likely rise to the top (which in turn will be the base of the popsicle when frozen) Cover the mold and place popsicle sticks into the mixture.
Place in the freezer for 4-6 hours or until frozen. Rinse under warm water to release the frozen popsicles from the mold. Yields 8 popsicles. E N J OY !
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NEW LOCATION OPENING SEPTEMBER 2020 U N I T 10 0 , 4 916 13 0 T H A V E S E , C A L G A R Y
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T HANK YOU
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403.255.4980 www.nylafreedesigns.com #601, 5920 1A Street SW Calgary AB T2H 0G3
NFDI Style MagazineŠ2020 Nyla Free Designs Inc. All content created by Nyla Free Designs Inc.