Tropical Style

Southwest Gardener's November Checklist

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Comparing the American Southwest to colder, wetter regions in November is an intriguing study. While much of the nation is bundling around endure months of winter, the Southwest is embracing this welcome heating to enjoy outdoor living. No matter if you are still wearing shorts or now putting on a sweater, it is time to enjoy and refine our gardens! The dry Southwest has been divided into three zones of overall and extreme temperatures:Low zone: The hottest areas with no winter; includes Phoenix, Arizona; Palm Springs, California; Laughlin, Nevada; and Yuma, Arizona (USDA zones 9 to 10) Middle zone: Hot with Minimal winter; includes Tucson, Arizona; warm Regions of Las Vegas, Nevada; Barstow, California; and Lajitas, Texas (USDA zones 8 to 9a)High zone: Moderately hot using brief, definite winters; includes El Paso, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Payson, Arizona; Bishop, California; and Saint George, Utah (USDA zones 6b to 8a) Waterwise…

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Eclectic Homes

Boutique Hotel Style Reigns in Raleigh

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Heather Garrett’s clients had help with a home that had turned into a mixed metaphor. Following an unfortunate inclusion over a decade ago brought traditional architectural details to a “pure midcentury gem” of a house, as Garrett calls her customers were eager to get a change. But they were reluctant to some complete teardown. “They asked me to make it function by stripping down what I could in the existing layout and fooling the eye into overlooking details such as a faux rock fireplace surround in the lounge area,” says Garrett. Her customers, enthusiastic travelers, requested for mix of modern design and the finer elements of a boutique hotel’s sleek, warm layout. They were floored when they watched the change. “We did the bulk of the work at once, over a winter holiday while they were on holiday, so that they came home to a shocking transformation,” says Garrett. at…

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Dining Rooms

Jazz Up Your Dining Room for Less Than $500

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My husband and I have dubbed 2012 The Year of Thinking Small. Rather than tackling big renovations in areas of our house that sorely want it, we are opting to get instant satisfaction — minor changes that make a major difference. First up: making over our dining room, a dull space with a formal dining room, an outdated chandelier and not much else. I have tons of ideas for giving this room a little more zing, but I don’t want to spend a lot of money. So I’m searching for methods to add panache on a $500 budget, and that means scrimping in some areas and splashing out in others. My biggest splurges would be fabrics — a pricey custom table runner in a design that I couldn’t resist, as well as a complementary print to pay for the seat chairs. But I will need to control myself when it…

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Flowers and Plants

6 Unsung Bulbs for Fall Planting

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Next year’s garden may seem far away, however you can get it off to a great start by planting magnificent bulbs this fall. Some add much-anticipated color to the bare winter landscape, others jazz up summer boundaries, and others blossom into fall. A number of these options will gradually naturalize if left to drift softly through borders and beds. In moist, well-drained soil, colonization often comes quickly. Overall, bulbs make few requirements aside from well-drained soil. Simply dig a pit in an appropriate location, plant in accordance with package directions, add a light dab of 10-10-10 fertilizer, water, and then forget about it. The bulbs will take it out there and delight you with their vivid surprise. Clinton & Associates, PC Landscape Architects Ornamental OnionsAllium Simultaneously architectural and lively, those oblong, spherical, or globular flower shapes are a versatile addition to any garden. Plus, they’re deer resistant and drought tolerant,…

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Tropical Style

Great Design Plant: Lavender Cotton

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Intense summer sunshine can render plants scorched and depleted by late night, making for a tired-looking garden when the mercury settles down and we can get out to appreciate the outdoors. For lavender cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus), it’s the opposite. Bring on sunlight, because this plant can take the heat. WBLA_Corky Botanical name: Santolina chamaecyparissusCommon name: ‘Lavender cotton’USDA zones: 6 to 9(find your zone)Water necessity: routine water to establish root system; intermittent once recognized Light requirement: Entire sunMature size: 2 feet tall, 3 feet wideBenefits and tolerances: Tolerant of deer, drought, heat, wind and coastal states; firewise plantingSeasonal curiosity: Flowers in mid to late summer; evergreenWhen to plant: Plant seedlings in early summer; split in spring or autumn WBLA_Corky Distinguishing attributes. Santolina is a sun lover, also its look conjures everything bright — by the bleached gray foliage to its sunny yellow button flowers. It is a densely clumping and mounding…

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Kitchen Guides

Kitchen of the Week: Streamlined and Smart in Montreal

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The charm of this 1880s home in Montreal can’t be beat, but the family of four who live here had a hard time getting used to the first old-fashioned kitchen. The couple and their two teenage boys desired space where they could consume and prepare meals with ease, with hassle-free modern appliances. Hubert Taschereau of Gepetto and designer Laure Guillelmi exercised a renovation within the layout of this 19th-century brick townhouse — among the earliest on the street — to think of a streamlined design that integrated easy-to clean materials and a lot of storage. Gepetto Guillelmi and Taschereau needed to design the kitchen about four doorways, a large window and one pass-through to the dining area. This limited wall space for cabinets, so they have creative with storage and spacing. The appliances were bought and brought in beforehand to plan outside spacing, smoothing the procedure. Range: Electrolux; oven: FCI;…

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Tropical Style

Pick the Ideal Front Walkway Material

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If it comes to placing a home aside, few things are as crucial as curb appeal. That all-important walkway to your front door is likely the very first thing that guests see, so making a great first impression is crucial. Brick, slate, gravel and bluestone are only a few of the superb go-to alternatives for creating a walkway with pizzazz. Here are a few things to think about when choosing a material that matches your home’s exterior. Environmental Landscape Associates A long, straight path instantly leaves your house the focal point, adding a feeling of grandeur. Brick and slate are both great options for complementing a white exterior, and also the 2 materials pair nicely together. Verdance Landscape Design Slate is a exceptional walkway substance because it doesn’t absorb water, isn’t influenced by direct sunlight and will stand up to extreme weather conditions. The subtle color palette coordinates nicely with…

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Eclectic Homes

10 Best Ways to Get Organized for a Big Move

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Whether you’re going across town or across the nation, moving an entire household can bring on meltdowns, even among the best of us. But by starting the planning process as soon as you realize you’ll be moving, you can minimize stress and boost the probability that everything will go smoothly on moving day and later. Read on for 10 ways to get ready for the big move. Witt Construction Picture how you need your new house to feel. The best thing you can do to get ready for any movement is to give up excess possessions. Get motivated to clear clutter by viewing this as an chance to streamline your possessions and forego stuff you are wishing you could get rid of. Now’s your chance! Whenever you’re thinking about whether to maintain an item, envision packaging it, physically transporting it from your old house to the new one and unpacking…

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Patios

Dovetail

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A dovetail is a mortise and tenon joint employed in carpentry to join two pieces of wood. The alternating projections and recesses are fanned and fit together, and the outcome looks similar to a dove’s tail. Dovetail joinery has been utilized since early times and is the most powerful of all joints. MAK Design + Build Inc.. Dovetail joints are typically found in drawer structure. They are a sign of pieces nicely constructed with solid wood versus chipboard. MN Builders The advantages of this counter are linked with dovetails that were appealing. Whitten Architects Quite similar to a dovetail joint is a box combined, differing only in that the projections and recesses are square and not fanned. John Senhauser Architects The corners of this contemporary home have enormous tails and pins, which are the alternating projections of a dovetail joint. LLC, Clark & Zook Architects This log house is built…

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Eclectic Homes

10 Modern Marble Appears

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Granite was used in kitchens and bathrooms for years. But this traditional substance is now making a big splash in new ways. At the 2012 International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) along with the High Point Market, visitors got a peek at just how this timeless stone is on trend with new programs, bold colors and interesting installations. If you like the beauty of marble however are craving a brand new look, have a cue from these spaces. Studio William Hefner Rather than applying it to your floor or walls, present marble to a space in a sudden manner. Inside this bathroom, the tub features a marble backsplash made like a headboard, whereas the doorway frame stands tall and sophisticated with a marble trim. The best aspect of the trend? When marble is used in smaller doses, it is much more easy on the budget. There are ways to get innovative…

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