As climate concerns and water conservation remain a priority, homeowners are increasingly turning to drought-tolerant…
Easter is soon to arrive, and spring will be in full swing along with it! You probably want to enjoy a little outdoor time with your family on this day, even if larger gatherings are cancelled at this time. The following ideas can get your yard looking its best in time for Easter weekend. Refresh…
If you’ve ever visited botanical gardens, or even Disneyland, you might have marveled at the beauty of topiaries. They do add a whimsical, striking effect to your landscape, and learning to make them yourself can be fun (plus help you save money). Basically, there are two ways to make topiaries: You can construct them from…
We often hear that the French live healthier lifestyles overall, so you might be interested in how exactly their diets and habits are different from our own. We know that the French incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into their diets, and in fact, 23 percent of the produce consumed by the average French person…
What if we told you a single project can add beauty to your landscape plus increase safety around your home? Low voltage lighting, when designed and installed thoughtfully, can accomplish both of these goals much more easily than you might believe. First, let’s review some of the basic types of lighting available. In most cases…
We call them houseplants, but of course you can use interior plants in an office, too! In fact, there are many solid reasons that you should liven up your office with some plant life, including… Aesthetic appeal Cleaner air Reduced noise levels Stress reduction Increased productivity Boosted creativity Fewer employee sick days Yes, these claims…
Bullet journals are all the rage right now, for both the organized and the organizationally challenged. And it just so happens that bullet journals and gardening go together like peanut butter and jelly! If the idea appeals to you, read on to discover how a bullet journal can help you organize your gardening tasks. What…
Common in many other countries, multigenerational living is just starting to catch on in the United States. Due to the cost of real estate, student loan debt, and considerations such as nursing care for the elderly, we see more and more parents moving in with their children, adult children returning home after college, and so…
No matter how much we love our houseplants, we love our kids and pets even more. To keep tiny humans, cats, dogs, and other creatures safe, it is important to learn about plant toxicity. Many common houseplants seem perfectly innocuous, but can actually pose a danger to your little two-legged or four-legged explorers. Avoid toxic…
For some of us, the backyard is a place to showcase our skills honed over many years of gardening. For others, it’s a place of recreation and relaxation. We say: Why not both? For those who recall the magic and wonder of their childhoods, we know that a backyard can provide hours of enjoyment and…
Get the Look, Part Four: Napa & NorCal With spring just around the corner, you will appreciate this fourth blog in our “Get the Look” series. The Napa Valley/Northern California style is all about outdoor living. Grab a few of these ideas for your own yard, and extend your living space to the great outdoors….
Get the Look, Part Three: Modern Farmhouse The Modern Farmhouse aesthetic is all the rage these days, so we’ve selected it for the third post in our “Get the Look” blog series. We can provide some jumping-off points for your landscape design, but keep in mind that the farmhouse style is heavy on repurposed items….
Get the Look Part Two: Tropical Paradise This week in our “Get the Look” blog series, we’re focusing on landscaping to create your own tropical paradise. With warmer weather just a few months away, start making a plan now if you want to enjoy your own backyard paradise this summer. Leafy greens. Bold, green leafy…
Get the Look, Part One: Pacific Northwest This month, we’ll be focusing on different landscaping styles each week, via our “Get the Look” blog series. First up is the Pacific Northwest style; how can you bring these elements into your landscaping, and what will work in our climate? Use native northwest plants. If you’ve visited…
With New Year’s Day rapidly approaching, you might be thinking about the resolutions you plan to make. Getting into shape is a common theme at this time of year, and many people also plan to become more disciplined with regard to chores at home. We have some great news for you: You can “kill two…
Each year, we bring you an exciting update on the “colors of the year,” usually chosen by Pantone along with paint companies like Behr and Sherwin Williams. While we normally think of color trends as they apply to fashion and home decor, there are plenty of unique and innovative ways to work them into your…