Want to know what else you can do to have even more fun at the family cottage or vacation cottage this year?

This Cottage app is your answer! Download your FREE Cottage App today!

See why so many people are having more fun, what food they’re eating (and what and how to make all this stuff) plus great stories to read aloud (or by yourself if you dare) around the campfire.

Vacations at the family cottage are all about food, fun, fishing, boating and having fun on the water. And families.

Compiled in this app are great ideas to add to this fun including videos, photo galleries, recipes, stories, and great articles to add to every minute of fun times that you will spend with your family this year while spending your vacation at the family cottage.

Each area of food and fun ideas are organized for easy access.

And when you get a lull and come in from the lake take one of the quizzes to challenge yourself or even those around you! Stump them if you can!

Everybody loves their vacations pictures. You can easily share the fun you’re having by taking your own pictures and uploading them to the app – and then share these with all your friends and family – but try to avoid rubbing it in about what a great time you’re having! But you can if you want because you can post to Twitter, Facebook or even email your friends with whatever message you want – and even send them your own cottage pictures. Sign off with a message of “having a great time… wish you were here… ” (or not???) You decide. The app makes it fun to share your time at the family cottage with those you care about.

Also included are sources for books and information about cottages and cottage living and photos that remind you of how special the family cottage really is and why we all love to spend time with our friends and families at the family cottage – or any lake side cottage!

This app will make being on vacation and the time you spend at the cottage more fun for you – and it is also a perfect mobile reference for safety tips, recipes, entertaining tips, and what your next sweet treat should be as you’re sitting on the dock watching and listening to the waves roll in.

Click HERE to Grab your FREE copy of the Cottage App today!

The new outdoor furniture fabrics

Sunbrella fabrics changed both the way outdoor fabrics look as well as the way they feel.

Varied colors and patterns
The demand for higher quality fabrics for cottage garden and patio furniture took years to see results. Traditional colors were limited to solids or stripes with very little imagination. Today, the fabrics made by Sunbrella are varied and come in patterns and colors that are even finding their way indoors as well.

The weave is different
Originally, outdoor fabrics were constructed of all nylon or other synthetics and made with a loose weave so water would dry quickly. Today’s fabrics have eliminated the need to even use Scotch Guard protection. Kevlar or teflon is woven into the fabric allowing for an ultimate product that is much more like fine, indoor fabrics.

Fabric with built-in sunscreen
The benefits of Sunbrella are many. Vibrant colors and patterns are unaffected by sun. Even the old nylon fabrics would eventually fade but there is no longer that worry with these new ones. The fabric has a built-in sunscreen so expect years of no change in the color.

Durability assured
The fabrics also withstand the worst of stains. A little soapy water and a towel will remove almost any soil including wine or chocolate. For the family with children or dogs, there’s never a need to sacrifice beauty for durability either.

Changes to manufactured outdoor fabrics
These new changes in the way outdoor fabrics are manufactured are creating a variety of uses for them. From indoor drapery to standard furniture upholstery, Sunbrella is rapidly becoming a go to source for decorators. Its durability is unsurpassed as are the variations in weaves and colors. It is not unusual to see it used for high-end upholstery either indoors or out.

Refined fabrics
For interior designers or the cottage homeowner, who wants to link their indoor and outdoor areas, it has been made all the easier with such refined fabrics. Because the fabric can be used anywhere, the line of interior and exterior can now easily become a blur. There’s no longer such a distinction in designing specifically for these two types of living. The fabric becomes a great unifier of space and design, and follows today’s trend of extending the living area to the outdoors.

Consistent new fabrics
Sunbrella continues to introduce new fabrics on a consistent basis. They also continue to introduce new facets of durability too. This means that larger and larger ranges can be found in both fabric by the yard and furniture that is non-custom. For the consumer, it means more choices with longer warranties too.

Different levels of protection
There are variations in Sunbrella fabrics. The differences in added repellency is notable but is easily detected through the way the fabrics are numbered. It pays to do some research about the different levels of protection when shopping for the best option for a home project. It is also wise to beware of seconds from mills or cut-rate versions. The fabrics may not contain everything needed to make it a lasting addition to your outdoor area.

About the Author: Gabriel Meriwether writes about patio furniture and patio dining sets and provides valuable information about purchasing garden furniture.
Article Source: Gabriel Meriwether

Create Different Focal Points in Gardens

Special furniture designs
Garden furniture is specially designed for use in the outdoors and can also be used on your patio, deck or in your backyard. This kind of furniture can transform a boring space outdoors into a focal point that is delightful to look at, while at the same time it becomes a comfortable and expressive space. Garden furniture is usually made of materials that are weather resistant and durable. There is a wide range of garden furniture to choose from, but the main pieces to design and build your outdoor comfort area outlined below.

Garden chairs
There are a variety of chairs for gardens. They come in different styles and designs including hanging chairs, rocking chairs, stationary chairs and folding chairs among others. They are also in a variety of materials including wood, teak, wrought iron, resin, wicker and metal among others. The various comfortable designs allow one to enjoy relaxing outdoors.

Garden tables and unique table tops
Garden tables vary in size from small to large depending on their use. They are also in different shapes including round, square and rectangle. Based on what you need, and how you plan to use tables in your garden, the types of tables to choose from include picnic tables, patio set tables, side tables for lamps and other types of outdoor lighting, coffee tables and bistro tables among others. There are also stationary tables and folding tables. Outdoor garden tables are made of durable materials like wood, aluminum or plastic among other materials. Some are complete with tops, while others are pedestal stands where you can add a glass top or another type of table top unique to you. These are fun to experiment with if you are the type of person who shops antique stores, estate sales or tag sales where you can use many different types of items to create a stunning garden table top. Full article

Cottage Wood Floor

The family cottage by the lake is the perfect place to spend the day playing in the water and building sandcastles on the beach. Along with all that playing on the beach comes sandy feet and towels and bathing suits loaded with beach sand too! Often you’ll find a water-filled dishpan next to the screen door just for rinsing off sandy feet. Sand management becomes the order of the day!

Sand that didn’t get rinsed off found its way onto the cottage floor. Every morning began with sweeping out the sand from the previous day.

That’s why the flooring in cottages is usually wood. Sometimes plain wooden floors become their own forms of family art over the years from patterns of wear and sand grinding activity. Often the owners have painted the floors to give the cottage a fresh look from season to season. Full Story

What is a cottage home?

How cottages have changed.
Many are now living full-time in what was the family cottage or vacation home. Some are on lakes, rivers or are a cabin on the banks of a favorite trout fishing stream! Others enjoy ocean beach front cottages! An entire industry has emerged devoted to the atmosphere, sense and feeling of the cottage living lifestyle and cottage home decor.

The new cottage lifestyle
Retiring baby boomers are beginning to enjoy the adjustment to a downsized lifestyle. Visit any major bookstore to discover books and magazines which are devoted to an entire culture of the cottage living lifestyle and cottage style decorating!

A simple but elegant personal look
Decorating cottage style makes it easy to create rooms of relaxed simplicity brimming with comfortable charm. Add your own special flair every time you change pillows, create new slipcovers, add a stack of books on a new floral tablecloth. Paint the room and add new curtains and fluff up the pillows and plop down on the couch and curl up for a relaxing evening your way, in cottage style.

Stepping Stone Path

It’s easy to control where garden visitors go in your garden with fieldstone paths.

Decide where you want paths
Gather your garden hoses and use them to lay out the size and the shape of your walkways. Try to allow enough room to create curved paths as they appear more inviting than angular or straight paths. After you have your paths laid out using your garden hose, remove any soil, sod or grass to a depth of 5 inches.

Adding crushed rock
Unless you own a compactor, you’ll need to rent one from your local equipment rental company. Their staff will instruct you on how to operate the compactor. You’ll need 1/4″ minus crushed rock. Minus crushed rock is finely crushed rock no larger than 1/4″ that also includes much finer material. You will want to use 1/4″ minus crushed rock because it compacts well and makes the solid base you want for your walkway. If you are not sure where to purchase 1/4′ minus crushed rock, you can check with your local landscaping company. If you local landscaping company does not carry minus crushed rock they will direct you to where you can buy it.

Full story

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Wood Garden Glider

Take a closer look.
Choosing outdoor garden furniture could entail many different things. Before you decide on the right table, chairs, and equipment, take a closer look at the details. Here are five areas you might want consider before you buy your outdoor garden furniture.

Price of garden furniture
The best looking and most comfortable seats and chairs will not be any good to you, if you cannot afford to buy them. When you shop, always consider the price. If you are shopping online, most sites will let you browse the selections by price. This is a good way to make sure that you stay within your budget.

Will the garden furniture be comfortable?
Comfort is extremely important when selecting and buying outdoor furniture for your cottage garden. Seats should be comfortable and provide support, but you also need to consider the size of your family and friends. Check the dimensions of the chairs, benches, couches and loveseats you are considering to buy. Your family and guests’ legs need to have adequate space under the table while sitting at the table. Take time to consider the arm rests on the chairs too. Do they appear to be comfortable?

Full Story

Suttons Bay Cottages for Rent

Centrally located on the Leelanau Peninsula between Traverse City and Leland.

Suttons Bay Cottages
Your Place to Stay in Suttons Bay on the Water
Your Hosts: Kurt & Kara Petroskey

A Waterfront Resort in the Middle of all the Leelanau Peninsula Activities
There is always something to do in the villages surrounding Suttons Bay Cottages:
-Shop many unique stores
-Choose from one of many fine dining restaurants located in the village
-Hike the trails of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore Park
-Fish Suttons Bay or one of the many nearby lakes
-Visit any of fourteen Leelanau County wineries and vineyards
-Swim, Ski, Boat, Splash, Laugh, Have Fun!
-Or, try your luck at Leelanau Sands Casino (only 4 miles north!)

Other Leelanau County Attractions to See
Also nearby :
-Leland (Visit Historic Fishtown)
-The Mantiou Islands
-Northport Lighthouse
-Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes and National Lakeshore Park
-Interlochan Center for the Arts

Always Something to Do! (or Simply Relax!)
Suttons Bay is a vibrant year round village, come enjoy the fall with a full palette of the changing colors – also indulge in the great fishing (or hunting) in the fall or spring. Tour one of the many wineries in the area anytime of year. Hike, bike or cross country ski the Leelanau Trail that is just across the street. Or cool off in the crystal clear waters of Suttons Bay in the summer. There is always something to do or just simply relax and enjoy the scenery surrounding Suttons Bay Cottages.

More information

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