Sarah Raven's Cutting Garden Journal, by Sarah Raven, Frances Lincoln Limited, 192 pages, $25.99
Nearly 20 years since the publication of her first book, The Cutting Garden, Sarah Raven has revisited that information and presented it in the format of a monthly journal. With the aim of guiding readers towards enjoying year-long bounty for their homes, Raven provides a wealth of information on what to do, when to do it and how to present the fruits of your labour.
January is the starting point and she uses that first chapter to discuss the creation of the cutting garden. She includes in that first entry the plants, which will be able to offer interesting clippings at that time of year. Every month has suggestions for plants you can cut from, and collectively those monthly recommendations make up a great list of garden plants.
The individual months have specific tasks associated with them, but there is plenty of information spread throughout the book for improving gardening, such as tips on pruning, watering, soil care, arrangements and more. There is also a monthly list of jobs to be done that will keep your garden in great shape all year long.
Kitchenalia, by Vinny Lee, Jaqui Small Publishing, 224 pages, $44.00
The kitchen is the centre of most homes and deserves the extra touches that reflect the personality of the residents.
Choice of decorations, paint colour, and appliances can have a huge impact on this important room.
The trend towards adding a retro feel to the kitchen is embraced by author Vinny Lee and she presents a wide range of insight into this style. Starting with a look at four different approaches to designing the same kitchen, she provides a great opportunity to see the full extent of these styles.
Lee goes into great detail about specific treatments, such as retro, reclaimed, country, and utilitarian, explaining their history and significant features. Nearly half of the book is devoted to the individual Kitchenalia elements with many examples of each to give inspiration for your own design.
From vintage utensils to choices of flooring materials, Lee gives plenty of suggestions for incorporating these special items into your own kitchen.
