Skip to main content

Posts

Outdoor Art - Put A Final Touch On Your Outdoor Oasis

Ideas for purveyors of fine things or eclectic objects
Spring is officially here and your outdoor spaces may be yearning for a pick-me-up. Soon your perennials will be blooming, outdoor furniture will be back in place, and planting or shopping for annuals will be on your to-do list.  So, what can possibly make the outside more lively? How about art! When hearing the word ‘art,' the first thought that probably comes to minds is paintings. While it is true that there is such a thing as outdoor paintings, there are limitless options that may be overlooked as artistic elements fit for the outdoors. Find out how you can transform boring into breathtaking.
Curate a Garden Gallery Aiming to mimic the walls at The Louvre? There will definitely be departure from the grandeur of those galleries, but there are ways that paintings can be incorporated into your spaces without fear of damage by the elements. Search for paintings that are digitally printed on aluminum composite or other materials, …
Read more
Recent posts

Prepping Your Sunroom for Spring and Summer

Let fresh air in and invigorate your space
Temperatures are on the upswing, birds are outside chirping, it’s finally time to start getting your sunroom ready for the upcoming seasons! Chances are that you have been cozy in your sunroom under the stars and snow throughout the winter, but the change in seasons should be the catalyst for a deep clean. The abundant sunshine and vibrant natural hues on their way may also incite a change in décor to complement the scenery.
Clean and Clear A sunroom is relatively low maintenance, but with each major season change, comes the need to spruce up. If the space transforms to an all-purpose room during the winter, you may want to remove anything that doesn’t jive with your vision for spring and summer. Go ahead and open some windows to let fresh air in. A blank slate is easiest to work with, so any relocation of furniture should come first.  If the room stays the same throughout the year, temporary repositioning of large items may be necessary to cond…
Read more

Incorporating a Vegetable Garden into Your Yard

Initial insights into getting started with olericulture
Farm to table is all the rage, but how about yard to table? Depending on where you live, it is possible to produce a small selection or a full assortment of your favored vegetables on your property that supports the yard to table philosophy. Yes, we’ve had our fair share of unseasonable warmth, but let’s face it, colder days are still are still inevitable at this point in the year. Although you may be eager to start the garden that you have been dreaming of, it’s best to use this time to start planning, rather than getting outside and planting.
For most crops, you can start seeds indoors around 6–8 weeks before the last spring frost date. This should give the plants ample time to grow and become healthy enough to withstand the transplant into your outdoor garden. If you have sun-kissed space inside or a good spot in your sunroom, you can soon initiate indoors and transport outside once we see warmer weather.
Location, Location, Lo…
Read more

Great Games for Your Outdoor Spaces

Grass is becoming greener, tulips are starting to sprout, and it is the perfect time to start making plans for your yard. You are most likely accustomed to utilizing your outdoor spaces for relaxation or dining and currently equipped with the full gamut of lounge chairs, tables, barbecues, and other essentials that make your living areas even more great. Though you may be in possession of these backyard items, what you may be lacking are some fun and fantastic games that can provide hours of enjoyment while spending time with family or hosting others.

While you may already have access to permanent pastime additions like a basketball or tennis court, smaller, moveable, games can add even more amusement to the times that you cherish. There’s an endless list of games that you can play under the sun, but we will focus on some tried-and-true favorites that are built for tons of laughter and longevity.

Best for Indoor/Outdoor Rooms
Take your family game days or nights outside, set up tourn…
Read more

Summer Planning: Is It Time for A New Deck?

Yes, it may be cold outside, and you may not be spending much time in your yard, but you may have noticed that your deck is not in the best of shape. Perhaps, at the end of the summer, it was obvious that repairs or replacement would likely be imminent in order to continue usage and enjoyment for the years to come? Since spring and summer are now on the horizon, this could be considered a great time to perform an initial inspection. Then you can sit down to determine what measures should be undertaken to ensure that you can take full advantage of your outdoor space when the sunshine is plentiful and pleasant.
To Replace or Not to Replace? The average maintained wood deck has a life expectancy of 10-15 years. The type of wood can impact the lifespan. Exposure to the elements causes depreciation, so no matter the age or material, decks should be inspected thoroughly for wear and tear prior to each season that the deck is in use. If you are gazing at rotted or chipping wood, it could be p…
Read more

Celebrating Valentine's Day in Your Sunroom

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and you may be considering something a bit different to celebrate than a routine restaurant dinner. Sure, there are a multitude of alternative options available, however, sometimes it may be extra special to celebrate at home. While a formal dinner in your dining room may be the first thought that comes to mind, if you have a sunroom or other multi-season room, you can elevate your time together by enjoying dinner and other activities while surrounding yourselves with mother nature. 
Your room may look out to a body of water, a wooded forest, a beautifully manicured yard. What could be a better backdrop for love and togetherness than this?
Initial Staging  Exposure to the outdoors is the key to creating the ambiance. If you have any form of window treatment, be sure to raise or position them in a way that delivers full exposure to nature’s beauty. You may already have the ideal intimate setting if you designate the space as a secondary living ro…
Read more

Weeding Your Lawn in Winter

Basics for getting your backyard weed free and spring ready With a chill in the air and frost on the ground, it may seem that tending to your lawn is counterproductive.  However, if you have been looking out your windows or taken a close look at your yard lately, you may have noticed that clovers are thriving and other sprouts have started popping up. Before these nuisances gain the optimal conditions to proliferate, go ahead and get a head start on prepping your grass to minimize your to-do list and to maximize your time enjoying your outdoor spaces when it becomes nice outside.
Locate and Plan If you remember back to the warmer months when it seemed that the landscape was plagued with unsightly and infinitely multiplying weeds, you will likely get a good sense of where many of these patches are located.Right now, it may also be easy to pinpoint the spots because of the new buds or the yellowish, dried leaves. Besides finding them within the grass, they will also be present in mulch an…
Read more