This renovated farmhouse kitchen features beautiful hardwood floors that contrast perfectly with the white cabinetry and light gray counter tops. The tile wall and back splash as well as the colorful accents really bring this kitchen to life. This kitchen also includes several unique built-in storage features to optimize counter space and functionality.

Taking care of plants, trees or shrubs may seem easy, but for many homeowners, the task is riddled with complications. For those who have no previous experience with plant or tree care, mistakes can cause damage or even death to the trees. A lack of proper training or a lack of proper information about tree care can do much more harm than good. We care about your trees and shrubs as much as you care about your property. To help you avoid common mistakes, our team at Five Star Tree Services has created an easy to follow quick start guide for shrubs and tree maintenance. Following this guide will help you take care of your trees and shrubs in-between visits from our trained arborist. Hire Help Professional arborists are qualified and the best to trim, plant, maintain trees and to preform shrub trimming in just about any environment. Not only does a professional arborist have the experience, but they also are specially trained in the care and diagnosis of various plant species and diseases. In addition to taking care of your plant life, they will also offer you instructions on how to care for your plants when they are unavailable. Make sure to take care in who you decide to hire. Instead of choosing the first company you find or the lowest priced plant care service, first you should research their qualifications by asking about how they usually care for trees, what their pruning style is, and how often they plan to visit for seasonal care. If they are not willing to answer your questions or educate you on the proper tree and plant care, keep searching. Proper Tree Care Starts With You Tree care starts with the property owner. The moment you chose a tree and how you care for it once it has been planted, will shape its health for the rest of its life. Proper care in the early years will ensure that it grows into a healthy shape and has a long life ahead of it. Working with a certified arborist will ensure that you choose the right trees for your area and that they are planted and care for properly during the early years. There are many different species and types of plants, shrubs, and trees. Understanding how to care for each one will give you the knowledge needed to help them thrive. Speaking with a skilled professional will allow you to take care of your property effectively and efficiently. Listen Carefully As tedious or as boring as tree care instructions may be, it is important to pay close attention and take notes. Understanding the responsibilities you have as a property owner towards the shrubs and trees on your property is the best way to ensure they are well cared for. In the event that you are unsure about what to do or how to care for your plant life, you can always reach out to one of our certified arborists here at Five Star Tree Services. How We Can Help Whenever you have any Toronto tree care questions, Five Star Tree Services is here to help. We care about your plant life and are dedicated to offering each of our client’s comprehensive care so that your trees and shrubs will thrive. For more information or to get some tips on taking care of the trees on your property, give us a call at (416) 990-3355 to find out more.

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

Inspiration for a small transitional back porch remodel in Los Angeles with a roof extension

Nestled into the hillside of the Mt. Baker neighborhood of Seattle, the private backyard blends corten steel and natural stone to create a hideaway for the homeowner's enjoyment. Bamboo decking with a complimenting pergola and gate surrounds a custom, rustic outdoor kitchen. A rusted, gas fire feature centers the patio space surrounded by a basalt and brick seat wall and uplight decorative steel screens. The brick feature wall was repurposed to compliment the architecture. A flagstone path steps through a lush shade garden and walkable groundcover "lawn". This compact space is brimming with intricate details that bring it to life.

I was recently hired to stage an older (yet very charming) duplex in Carlisle, PA. The home is vacant and had been a rental for the past few years. It has adorable wood moulding throughout, as well as hardwood flooring on the main level. Considering what the homeowner has invested in appliances and other repairs, as well as realtor fees, the budget for staging was right around $1000. This allowed us to bring in furniture, accessories, area rugs and wall art to really bring the home to life. Take a look at the before and after and see what a difference $1000 can make on a home! Before staging, the house felt drab and boring. The view of the neighbor’s peeling house paint outside the windows was a huge distraction from the potential of this home to be a warm and cheery place for a potential buyer. Ideally, I would have placed curtain rods and soft, white sheers over the windows to allow the light to stream in, yet help detract from the need for a paint job on the exterior of the neighbor’s home. However the seller’s budget didn’t allow for window treatments so my job was to use the furniture and accessories keep the eye and focus on the beauty of this home and help buyers to feel like this house could be their home. Seeking a real estate home stager in the Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle area of central PA? Contact Sherri today. No home staging job is too big or too small.

We used: Custom cherry cabinetry in Arts & Crafts Shaker style by Kabinart in Boulder and Espresso stains. Liberty Hardware Venetian bronze 1-1/2" cabinet knobs. KitchenAid Architect II Series 22 CF counter-depth French door refrigerator. KitchenAid Architect Series II 27" convection single wall oven. KitchenAid 36" 6-burner dual fuel freestanding commercial-style range. KitchenAid Architect II Series 24" dishwasher. Sharp Insight Pro Series 24" built-in microwave drawer (Model #KB6524PS). Crystorama Solaris 12" wide pendant lights in English bronze. Granite countertops in Brown Fantasy. 3"x6" polished marble backsplash. Paint colors: Walls: Glidden Silver Cloud 30YY 63/024 Ceilings/Trims/Doors: Glidden Swan White GLC23 Robert B. Narod Photography

I was recently hired to stage an older (yet very charming) duplex in Carlisle, PA. The home is vacant and had been a rental for the past few years. It has adorable wood moulding throughout, as well as hardwood flooring on the main level. Considering what the homeowner has invested in appliances and other repairs, as well as realtor fees, the budget for staging was right around $1000. This allowed us to bring in furniture, accessories, area rugs and wall art to really bring the home to life. Take a look at the before and after and see what a difference $1000 can make on a home! Before staging, the house felt drab and boring. The view of the neighbor’s peeling house paint outside the windows was a huge distraction from the potential of this home to be a warm and cheery place for a potential buyer. Ideally, I would have placed curtain rods and soft, white sheers over the windows to allow the light to stream in, yet help detract from the need for a paint job on the exterior of the neighbor’s home. However the seller’s budget didn’t allow for window treatments so my job was to use the furniture and accessories keep the eye and focus on the beauty of this home and help buyers to feel like this house could be their home. Seeking a real estate home stager in the Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle area of central PA? Contact Sherri today. No home staging job is too big or too small.

I was recently hired to stage an older (yet very charming) duplex in Carlisle, PA. The home is vacant and had been a rental for the past few years. It has adorable wood moulding throughout, as well as hardwood flooring on the main level. Considering what the homeowner has invested in appliances and other repairs, as well as realtor fees, the budget for staging was right around $1000. This allowed us to bring in furniture, accessories, area rugs and wall art to really bring the home to life. Take a look at the before and after and see what a difference $1000 can make on a home! Before staging, the house felt drab and boring. The view of the neighbor’s peeling house paint outside the windows was a huge distraction from the potential of this home to be a warm and cheery place for a potential buyer. Ideally, I would have placed curtain rods and soft, white sheers over the windows to allow the light to stream in, yet help detract from the need for a paint job on the exterior of the neighbor’s home. However the seller’s budget didn’t allow for window treatments so my job was to use the furniture and accessories keep the eye and focus on the beauty of this home and help buyers to feel like this house could be their home. Seeking a real estate home stager in the Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle area of central PA? Contact Sherri today. No home staging job is too big or too small.

I was recently hired to stage an older (yet very charming) duplex in Carlisle, PA. The home is vacant and had been a rental for the past few years. It has adorable wood moulding throughout, as well as hardwood flooring on the main level. Considering what the homeowner has invested in appliances and other repairs, as well as realtor fees, the budget for staging was right around $1000. This allowed us to bring in furniture, accessories, area rugs and wall art to really bring the home to life. Take a look at the before and after and see what a difference $1000 can make on a home! Before staging, the house felt drab and boring. The view of the neighbor’s peeling house paint outside the windows was a huge distraction from the potential of this home to be a warm and cheery place for a potential buyer. Ideally, I would have placed curtain rods and soft, white sheers over the windows to allow the light to stream in, yet help detract from the need for a paint job on the exterior of the neighbor’s home. However the seller’s budget didn’t allow for window treatments so my job was to use the furniture and accessories keep the eye and focus on the beauty of this home and help buyers to feel like this house could be their home. Seeking a real estate home stager in the Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle area of central PA? Contact Sherri today. No home staging job is too big or too small.

Dennis and Joe have a large, light-filled house. New construction meant lofted space and open floor plans with traditional styling. Running a busy dental practice by day and engaged in a rich social life by night, this couple needed a professional to take the lead on making their house a home. That’s my cue! They wanted to take risks, and stay away from “matchy-matchy”. We gussied up a plain ol’ TV room and gave it a healthy dose of luxury. Our plan was initially inspired by an abstract painting hanging over their stone fireplace. We brought in their love of the outdoors to make things cozy and used family furniture whenever possible for nostalgia and comfort. I took their love for one-of-a-kind objects and started making a design plan, aiming to solve their biggest frustration: the family room. They had a tortured relationship with a “forgotten family room,” a great space that was spacious and bright, but not at all cozy or joyful, and certainly not “them.” I wanted to create a cozy space functional for everyday curling up with puppies and watching TV after dinner, yet chic enough for hosting the pre-dinner kitchen overflow and cocktails during parties. I went looking for contrasting textures and materials. I wanted to balance patterns and scale, and use non-traditional colors as neutrals to create an overall sense of “BAM!” Dennis and Joe loved the nod to the classics juxtaposed with new and different globally-inspired pieces. For this project our design aesthetic can be described as Middle Eastern/tribal meets mid-century modern. We played to their sensible side with proportion and balance, and stayed as far away from boring/bleh as we could. You could say this room was pretty successful...It was featured in DC Modern Luxury. (#nobigdeal, right?) From there we moved on to other spaces.. We added colorful pillows and sheer drapery to finish off their formal living room. We kept an inherited bedroom set from Dennis’ Mom and added color, draperies, and pillows to overhaul the guest bedroom. Their project was not a rip-and-replace, we weren’t starting from scratch with a blank piece of paper. Rather, our goal was to take what was already there and make it better, more like them. Using functionality first, we focused on giving the house a soothing, joyful aesthetic. We upped the chic factor by a gajillion and helped them find their ‘happy’ at home. See more Safferstone stuff at www.safferstone.com. Connect with us on Facebook, get inspired on Pinterest, and share modern musings on life & design on Instagram. Or, send us a love note at hello@safferstone.com. Photo: Angie Seckinger

Patio - patio idea in DC Metro

This entry off the garage proves that even the most hardworking spaces in a home can feel intentional and beautiful. Designed as a true command center, it handles the daily drop zone chaos with ease — but you’d never call it boring. A full wall of custom, floor-to-ceiling cabinetry in a creamy off-white keeps everything tucked away and streamlined. Integrated shoe drawers make organization effortless, while brushed gold pulls add just the right amount of polish. It’s practical, yes — but it’s also refined. Then there’s the wallpaper. Instead of playing it safe, the backdrop leans all the way into bold. A dark-ground pattern layered with oversized florals and whimsical birds delivers instant personality the moment you walk in. What’s typically a pass-through space becomes an experience. It feels collected, confident, and completely intentional — like a little design surprise waiting behind the garage door. A classic globe pendant with warm brass detailing casts a soft glow over the space, highlighting the richness of the pattern and finishes. And the warm wood flooring grounds everything, creating a seamless connection to the main living areas beyond. This isn’t just a mudroom. It’s a stylish reset point — the place where real life meets really good design.

I was recently hired to stage an older (yet very charming) duplex in Carlisle, PA. The home is vacant and had been a rental for the past few years. It has adorable wood moulding throughout, as well as hardwood flooring on the main level. Considering what the homeowner has invested in appliances and other repairs, as well as realtor fees, the budget for staging was right around $1000. This allowed us to bring in furniture, accessories, area rugs and wall art to really bring the home to life. Take a look at the before and after and see what a difference $1000 can make on a home! Before staging, the house felt drab and boring. The view of the neighbor’s peeling house paint outside the windows was a huge distraction from the potential of this home to be a warm and cheery place for a potential buyer. Ideally, I would have placed curtain rods and soft, white sheers over the windows to allow the light to stream in, yet help detract from the need for a paint job on the exterior of the neighbor’s home. However the seller’s budget didn’t allow for window treatments so my job was to use the furniture and accessories keep the eye and focus on the beauty of this home and help buyers to feel like this house could be their home. Seeking a real estate home stager in the Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle area of central PA? Contact Sherri today. No home staging job is too big or too small.

I was recently hired to stage an older (yet very charming) duplex in Carlisle, PA. The home is vacant and had been a rental for the past few years. It has adorable wood moulding throughout, as well as hardwood flooring on the main level. Considering what the homeowner has invested in appliances and other repairs, as well as realtor fees, the budget for staging was right around $1000. This allowed us to bring in furniture, accessories, area rugs and wall art to really bring the home to life. Take a look at the before and after and see what a difference $1000 can make on a home! Before staging, the house felt drab and boring. The view of the neighbor’s peeling house paint outside the windows was a huge distraction from the potential of this home to be a warm and cheery place for a potential buyer. Ideally, I would have placed curtain rods and soft, white sheers over the windows to allow the light to stream in, yet help detract from the need for a paint job on the exterior of the neighbor’s home. However the seller’s budget didn’t allow for window treatments so my job was to use the furniture and accessories keep the eye and focus on the beauty of this home and help buyers to feel like this house could be their home. Seeking a real estate home stager in the Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle area of central PA? Contact Sherri today. No home staging job is too big or too small.

I was recently hired to stage an older (yet very charming) duplex in Carlisle, PA. The home is vacant and had been a rental for the past few years. It has adorable wood moulding throughout, as well as hardwood flooring on the main level. Considering what the homeowner has invested in appliances and other repairs, as well as realtor fees, the budget for staging was right around $1000. This allowed us to bring in furniture, accessories, area rugs and wall art to really bring the home to life. Take a look at the before and after and see what a difference $1000 can make on a home! Before staging, the house felt drab and boring. The view of the neighbor’s peeling house paint outside the windows was a huge distraction from the potential of this home to be a warm and cheery place for a potential buyer. Ideally, I would have placed curtain rods and soft, white sheers over the windows to allow the light to stream in, yet help detract from the need for a paint job on the exterior of the neighbor’s home. However the seller’s budget didn’t allow for window treatments so my job was to use the furniture and accessories keep the eye and focus on the beauty of this home and help buyers to feel like this house could be their home. Seeking a real estate home stager in the Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle area of central PA? Contact Sherri today. No home staging job is too big or too small.

I was recently hired to stage an older (yet very charming) duplex in Carlisle, PA. The home is vacant and had been a rental for the past few years. It has adorable wood moulding throughout, as well as hardwood flooring on the main level. Considering what the homeowner has invested in appliances and other repairs, as well as realtor fees, the budget for staging was right around $1000. This allowed us to bring in furniture, accessories, area rugs and wall art to really bring the home to life. Take a look at the before and after and see what a difference $1000 can make on a home! Before staging, the house felt drab and boring. The view of the neighbor’s peeling house paint outside the windows was a huge distraction from the potential of this home to be a warm and cheery place for a potential buyer. Ideally, I would have placed curtain rods and soft, white sheers over the windows to allow the light to stream in, yet help detract from the need for a paint job on the exterior of the neighbor’s home. However the seller’s budget didn’t allow for window treatments so my job was to use the furniture and accessories keep the eye and focus on the beauty of this home and help buyers to feel like this house could be their home. Seeking a real estate home stager in the Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle area of central PA? Contact Sherri today. No home staging job is too big or too small.

I was recently hired to stage an older (yet very charming) duplex in Carlisle, PA. The home is vacant and had been a rental for the past few years. It has adorable wood moulding throughout, as well as hardwood flooring on the main level. Considering what the homeowner has invested in appliances and other repairs, as well as realtor fees, the budget for staging was right around $1000. This allowed us to bring in furniture, accessories, area rugs and wall art to really bring the home to life. Take a look at the before and after and see what a difference $1000 can make on a home! Before staging, the house felt drab and boring. The view of the neighbor’s peeling house paint outside the windows was a huge distraction from the potential of this home to be a warm and cheery place for a potential buyer. Ideally, I would have placed curtain rods and soft, white sheers over the windows to allow the light to stream in, yet help detract from the need for a paint job on the exterior of the neighbor’s home. However the seller’s budget didn’t allow for window treatments so my job was to use the furniture and accessories keep the eye and focus on the beauty of this home and help buyers to feel like this house could be their home. Seeking a real estate home stager in the Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle area of central PA? Contact Sherri today. No home staging job is too big or too small.

I was recently hired to stage an older (yet very charming) duplex in Carlisle, PA. The home is vacant and had been a rental for the past few years. It has adorable wood moulding throughout, as well as hardwood flooring on the main level. Considering what the homeowner has invested in appliances and other repairs, as well as realtor fees, the budget for staging was right around $1000. This allowed us to bring in furniture, accessories, area rugs and wall art to really bring the home to life. Take a look at the before and after and see what a difference $1000 can make on a home! Before staging, the house felt drab and boring. The view of the neighbor’s peeling house paint outside the windows was a huge distraction from the potential of this home to be a warm and cheery place for a potential buyer. Ideally, I would have placed curtain rods and soft, white sheers over the windows to allow the light to stream in, yet help detract from the need for a paint job on the exterior of the neighbor’s home. However the seller’s budget didn’t allow for window treatments so my job was to use the furniture and accessories keep the eye and focus on the beauty of this home and help buyers to feel like this house could be their home. Seeking a real estate home stager in the Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle area of central PA? Contact Sherri today. No home staging job is too big or too small.