Scott Buley, HTT&T, High Tech Turf & Trees, Rain Garden Nursery. We planted this landscape this past winter, when it was impractical to install an irrigation system. We are returning now to finally install sprinklers. In the meantime these unique traveling sprinklers we also sell, do a great job. In many instances these systems are all an owner needs in the Pacific Northwest. With our short dry-season, and nearly year-round rain, these travelers do a fantastic job. As a matter of fact, this is all they use at the Frank Lloyd Wright Gordon House in Silverton. We replanted their turf, and installed the new Turf Patio Frank Lloyd Wright envisioned. This sprinkler does it all. Amazing for such a small investment. It does require someone available to set it up in a few minutes, a few times week, June thru mid -September.

In this beautiful Houston remodel, we took on the exterior AND interior - with a new outdoor kitchen, patio cover and balcony outside and a Mid-Century Modern redesign on the inside: "This project was really unique, not only in the extensive scope of it, but in the number of different elements needing to be coordinated with each other," says Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks. "Our entire team really rose to the challenge." OUTSIDE The new outdoor living space includes a 14 x 20-foot patio addition with an outdoor kitchen and balcony. We also extended the roof over the patio between the house and the breezeway (the new section is 26 x 14 feet). On the patio and balcony, we laid about 1,100-square foot of new hardscaping in the place of pea gravel. The new material is a gorgeous, honed-and-filled Nysa travertine tile in a Versailles pattern. We used the same tile for the new pool coping, too. We also added French doors leading to the patio and balcony from a lower bedroom and upper game room, respectively: The outdoor kitchen above features Southern Cream cobblestone facing and a Titanium granite countertop and raised bar. The 8 x 12-foot, L-shaped kitchen island houses an RCS 27-inch grill, plus an RCS ice maker, lowered power burner, fridge and sink. The outdoor ceiling is tongue-and-groove pine boards, done in the Minwax stain "Jacobean." INSIDE Inside, we repainted the entire house from top to bottom, including baseboards, doors, crown molding and cabinets. We also updated the lighting throughout. "Their style before was really non-existent," says Lisha Maxey, senior designer with Outdoor Homescapes and owner of LGH Design Services in Houston. "They did what most families do - got items when they needed them, worrying less about creating a unified style for the home." Other than a new travertine tile floor the client had put in 6 months earlier, the space had never been updated. The drapery had been there for 15 years. And the living room had an enormous leather sectional couch that virtually filled the entire room. In its place, we put all new, Mid-Century Modern furniture from World Market. The drapery fabric and chandelier came from High Fashion Home. All the other new sconces and chandeliers throughout the house came from Pottery Barn and all décor accents from World Market. The couple and their two teenaged sons got bedroom makeovers as well. One of the sons, for instance, started with childish bunk beds and piles of books everywhere. "We gave him a grown-up space he could enjoy well into his high school years," says Lisha. The new bed is also from World Market. We also updated the kitchen by removing all the old wallpaper and window blinds and adding new paint and knobs and pulls for the cabinets. (The family plans to update the backsplash later.) The top handrail on the stairs got a coat of black paint, and we added a console table (from Kirkland's) in the downstairs hallway. In the dining room, we painted the cabinet and mirror frames black and added new drapes, but kept the existing furniture and flooring. "I'm just so pleased with how it turned out - especially Lisha's coordination of all the materials and finishes," says Wayne. "But as a full-service outdoor design team, this is what we do, and our all our great reviews are telling us we're doing it well."

Renovation is stressful. Wouldn’t it be nice to let someone else oversee product selections, manage day-to-day issues, and bring your project to a successful completion? The owners of a two-family in Arlington recently did just that, flying off to Florida just as we began renovating their first floor unit. Of course, before they left we thoroughly discussed all aspects of the work order, which included renovating the kitchen and bathroom, painting the bedroom, and adding a laundry closet. We reviewed color and material selections, and set up a schedule for regular briefings. A handful of issues did come up. But because we had planned ahead, we were able to resolve them with very little stress for our clients. For instance, the client had chosen a bright yellow paint color for the kitchen walls, but once the new cabinets, countertop, and flooring had been installed, it was clear that yellow would clash. We suggested a more complementary Benjamin Moore Lancaster Whitewash shade instead. In the bathroom, the clients had selected a deep inset mirrored medicine cabinet. But when the wall behind the vanity was opened, it revealed a pipe running up the wall, too close for the inset model. In this small space, a bump-out medicine cabinet would be awkward, so instead we placed a mirror over the sink and two smaller inset cabinets on either side – a solution that pleased the homeowners, who now have his-and-hers storage spaces. Finally, the homeowners had resigned themselves to the fact that the laundry closet would be too small for storing detergent and other needs. However once the units were in place, we realized that a small custom shelf could be built and had it installed to the delight of the homeowners. Photo by Shelly Harrison

Kitchen pantry - mid-sized contemporary u-shaped terra-cotta tile and brown floor kitchen pantry idea in San Francisco with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

This outdoor kitchen project started with a welded-aluminum frame wrapped in HardieBacker cement board. HardieBacker is a board, sort of like drywall, that allows us to adhere many different finishes to the exterior of the frame. In this instance the customers chose stacked stone as their preferred finish. For a countertop, they opted for Fusion quartzite. Appliances include an Alfresco grill, True beverage center, and Scotsman nugget ice maker.

A traditional 1926 cottage was transformed into a stunning, contemporary home. The focal point from both inside and out is a 3-story floating wood and stainless staircase, showcased by oversized windows and dramatic lighting. Walnut cabinetry with a distinct stain and natural slab surfaces offset the metals used throughout – Including at the interior and exterior of the fireplace. Reclaimed wood floors pay homage to the industrial area the home is situated in. In designing this home restrictions set forth by the building department were key. For instance, in order for the project to be considered a remodel the existing 8’ tall perimeter walls had to remain in place. The homeowners desperately wanted 9’ tall ceilings, so with crafty engineering and framing we were able to embellish the existing wall framing to achieve the added height. Clearstory windows allow much needed light into the spaces and creates the illusion of spaciousness, while maintaining wall areas for key furnishings and artwork. Every inch of space maximizes storage throughout the 2,600 square foot home. A cabinet for shoe storage immediately inside the front door also serves as a key component at the staircase and provides a platform to highlight sculptural artwork. Unique products and details, such as a metal link shower curtain and custom built-in guest beds with strategically placed outlets and horizontal surfaces to allow for electronics to be close at hand, elevate this home to the next level.

Brick and stone veneer are nothing new to the world of architecture and construction. They are attractive, durable, and don’t come with the same hefty price tag as a traditional, full sized stone or brick. And, in the instance of this beautiful new home in Evanston, Illinois, their use marks achieving a standard of sustainability measured by the popular certification program, LEED. These are no ordinary stone veneers. They are entirely man-made, which gives them several important qualities that do well to promote environmentally friendly design. This article aims to examine this stunning work of residential construction, and answer a few fundamental questions about LEED. What is it? Why is it Important? And how do things like sourcing local, sustainable materials make an impact on the environment? Learn more: http://bit.ly/leed-stone-veneer

This home was stuck in the 1980's, with an overhead walkway running right through the middle of the living room. The lines throughout the home were rounded with a heavy Greek influence - for instance, the dining space on the left was formerly a raised, rounded dais complete with Greek columns. After re-designing the space to make it transition from a traditional to modern style, we completely gutted the home and remodeled it from top to bottom. Part of the project included the construction of a set of modern stairs to replace the walkway that led from the upstairs master bedroom (left) to the guest bedroom (right). The result is a much more open space, with cleaner, more unified flow lines. We also installed new Origin Doors to lead to the pool overlooking the Intracoastal. Photo Cred Russell Missonis Photography

For the deck, the owners chose a third color, a charcoal grey. The addition of a carefully selected accent color to the palette is often a good option where you want to highlight a section or feature of the exterior. In this instance, painting the decking in the same color as the siding would have diluted the area. The decking would have blended too much into the background and become difficult to see. Grey is a great choice because it is bold and solid.

A bathroom remodel is a crucial step to appreciate the overall value of a property. However, the plumbing, flooring, lighting, and fixture installation can shoot the cost way upward. Therefore, you should carefully assess the aspects of small bathroom remodel costs. For instance, you should know where to cut the corner if possible and how to keep the process and material procurement cost-effective and well within the limit.

Open shelves, cornices, top boards and the gently rounded edges discreetly emphasise the country cottage character of our rondo kitchen. Small playful details such as solid wood cookery book holders and niche elements complete the charming appearance of the rondo kitchen. The emphasis here is placed on manageability and functionality. For instance, there is a top cabinet with generous storage space for kitchen tools and other utensils concealed behind a practical roll door.

A great example of how to combine AZEK Deck, Rail and Trim on stairs. In this instance, the builder used AZEK Trim as fascia for a distinct, custom look. Shown is AZEK Deck in Slate Grey from the Harvest Collection® as well as AZEK's Premiere Railing in White.

Screen Play brings the landscape inside. Blue herons take center stage as the featured design element for the Blue Heron Bliss Screen Play; a wood-burning stone fire place that is the focal point to the great room. Pricing: "Screenplays" start at $6,000. Each piece is custom crafted and designed to order. We are able to ship anywhere within the US.

When the weather begins to get colder, this can be a dangerous time for trees. There are many reasons how the cold and other elements during winter can harm your trees and surrounding landscape. This also means that there are many ways in which you can help prevent any unfortunate accidents due to the weather. Some of the most common reasons trees can get damaged from the cold weather are as follows: -Root damage -Extensive bark -Core chewing from pests We here at Five Star Tree Services want to provide you with the right information on how to help prevent winter tree damage. Root Damage Prevention Unlike the rest of the tree, which includes the stems, branches, and buds, the roots are the last part of the tree to go dormant for the winter. This means that they are more vulnerable when the weather takes a sharp cold turn. The reason this tends to happen is that the soil temperatures stay warmer than the air, hence why the branches go dormant first and the roots take longer. There are also a number of different things that dictate soil temperatures. For instance, dry soil gets colder quicker than sodden soil. Making it so that there is more ice present in sandy or dry soils, which is how it gets colder in temperature. If you want your soil temperatures to be higher, mulch and snow can help insulate the ground and keep it sheltered from the harsher elements. If you have recently planted a tree, the disturbed soil will now allow cold air to get at the roots, which will hinder any root development or even kill newly grown roots. How To Prevent For newly planted trees, you should cover the roots with 3-4 inches of wood mulch. The best thing to do is make a 6-inch circle surrounding the base of your tree but make sure to keep it away from the trunk. Doing this is going to help support the tree during the winter and help stop unusual roots from growing. Before you lay your mulch down, you should also be checking for holes or breaks in the soil and fill them in before laying your mulch down. In the fall and spring, the soil is continuously being defrosted and refreezing again. This makes the soil contract and expand and can hurt newly planted roots. It can also be enough to push them out of the ground completely! Making mulch even more important since it can provide more consistent temperatures in the soil. If you are experiencing a dry fall with little to no rain happening, you need to give your tree a really good watering before the ground starts to freeze. Doing this is going to lower the risk of your tree getting infiltrated by ice or frost. Pest Damage Prevention There are plenty of things that can harm your trees when the weather turns cold. Some of these other things include: -Sunscald -Dieback -Brown evergreen foliage -Salt damage But aside from weather related ailments, you also need to worry about the damage done by certain pests as well. This can include: -Mice -Hares -Voles -Deer These seemingly harmless animals are known to do major damage to plants during the winter when they are foraging on things like twigs, bark, stems, and leaves. They have even been known to completely eat bushes, right to the ground, and kill trees when they destroy their bark. One of the only ways to prevent animals from chewing on the bark is by building barriers around your trees in order to keep the pests from getting at them. Luckily, making these barriers isn’t as hard as you might be thinking. There are numerous potions for you to choose from that are easy to assemble and disassemble that you can find at your local garden center or landscaping stores. How Five Star Tree Services Can Help Colder weather insights many potential negative things for your trees that can severely harm them, damage them, or even kill them if they are not properly protected. It is always important to make sure that your trees are properly prepared for the winter months ahead. This means utilizing preventative measures to alleviate the risks of things like root and animal damage. If you require help to prepare your trees for winter, our team at Five Star Tree Services is here to help you with our tree care services in Richmond Hill, don’t wait until it’s too late, give us a call today at (416) 990-3355!

Example of a transitional living room design in Brisbane

Designer: Joe Inscoe Location: Cabinet Discounters – Annapolis Specie: Maple Finish: Oatmeal and Zinc Overlay: FOLC Doors: Hillsbrad Drawer: 5-pc Flat Start your New Year with a New Kitchen! With the New Year finally here, it might be time to freshen up that outdated kitchen. Brighton Cabinetry offers custom cabinets across the Midwest and the East coast. Finding a dealer near you is easy! Just check out our Find a Dealer Page by clicking HERE. Not sure if you want light or dark colors on your cabinetry? Why not try using both? By accenting your kitchen with darker colors it will help certain pieces’ pop in color. For instance, in our shown kitchen you will see that the perimeter cabinets are painted in our Oatmeal finish, and the island and coffee bar are done in the contrasting dark color of Zinc. Brighton offers many ways to dress up your cabinetry to give it that extra flair. In the pictures you might have noticed the bun feet on the island. Bun feet give that chic look that will most likely never go out of style. With a bun foot you can give your kitchen a bit more of a comfortable feel, and a look that is like furniture style which is a design that people are looking for. Don’t forget about your accessories and storage! There are many different options that allow you to conveniently place away your items. From your pots and pans down to your spices, Brighton offers different choices to fit your needs, and if we don’t have it as a standard, your designer can custom quote an item to specifically fit your cabinetry needs. Some examples in the pictures are: Drawer Plate Organizer Double Knife Blocks Pullout Spice Racks Deluxe Rollouts Cutlery Dividers

For instance, that intricate panel, which you see when you click on the first photo, is a Paneled Sliding Wall hiding a secondary wall to the exterior. The lighted tray ceiling is a centerpiece. Our Master Carpenters installed the cabinetry and beer and wine fridge and appliances to perfection. Kitchen Remodeler: ED Enterprises, Inc. Photographer: Michael Alan Kaskel Pkotography

A renovation project doesn’t come cheap. Even if you have a lot of money, it is still considered practical that you set a budget when giving your landed house a makeover. The question is, what should you keep and what should you restore when doing a renovation project? If you are keen on giving your landed house interior design an upgrade, planning early is considered crucial. That means you need to figure out the right budget, employ the right team, and identify a timeline for completion ahead of time. During the planning stage, it is also vital that you identify which areas in your house to keep as is and which ones to repair and restore. If you need some beneficial guidance, here’s what some experts have to say: Retain the existing flooring when it doesn’t have major cracks or damage In landed house interior design, floors are not only considered the foundation of every landed home, they are also expected to be the most resilient. While it can be tempting to add floor embellishments like tiles to enhance your home’s aesthetic value, it shouldn’t be a priority if it does not have any massive damage or cracks. This is especially true if you’re trying to keep your spending to a minimum. If anything, there are other options you can look into to keep your flooring attractive. For instance, ensure they are cleaned and polished regularly. You will not only make them look well-maintained, you will also help boost their longevity. Replace plumbing fixtures when needed Plumbing fixtures belong to a list of items in the house that are most exposed to wear and tear. Even when not in use, water passes through the pipes, faucets, and other bathroom and kitchen plumbing accessories. Hard water also passes through plumbing fixtures. When the water has high mineral content, dried up water might create mineral deposits such as limestone, mildew, and rust. These minerals are not only difficult to remove, they can also eventually eat into the metal and steel pipes. That being said, plumbing fixtures need to be replaced on a routine basis. Also, a broken faucet or a leaking pipe will not only cause a possible disruption in the household, they can also cause some damage if not attended to right away. Save yourself from the headache by having them checked regularly and replaced right away when needed. Always check the doors Among the most underrated parts of the house are the doors. We open and close them several times a day. We sometimes bang them shut, leave them ajar, or let the breeze close them with a loud thud. While they are often made to last for years, doors and their fixtures are also prone to warping. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise if one day you’ll discover you cannot close the door anymore because the door itself no longer fits and locks. To avoid a similar scenario, check your doors every now and then. If the door itself doesn’t fit anymore, then ensure you include it in your renovation list. In addition, knobs and handles, including hinges, that are already deformed or no longer functional should be immediately replaced as well. Also, if your doorknob is prone to jamming or if your key no longer fits and turns, consider it your cue to have them replaced.

These homeowners who were downsizing to a patio home in Floyds Fork area came to us after they had made all of their selections in paint colors, fixtures and finishes and asked us to put together a comprehensive plan for their new home including space planning, furniture selections, and finishing touches in window treatments, rugs, accent lighting and accessories. Although this is a well laid out floor plan, we asked a lot of questions to make sure each area functioned for the homeowners as well as looked good. For instance, the floor plan included a Dining Area and small Breakfast Nook. The homeowners knew they would spend most of their time at the island, so we invested in quality custom bar stools, we selected fully upholstered chairs for the dining area which will be used, and turned the Breakfast Nook into a seating area for morning coffee or afternoon reading. That took care of the functional, now for the fun. Our color palette comprised of creams, grays, tans and mustard yellow is so pleasing. We kept our furnishings neutral while popping our color with window treatments and accessories. Please note we used 3 different fabrics on the 3 different windows in the Living Area. As long as the fabrics coordinate and support your color palette, you can use multiple fabrics in the same space. Since our palette was neutral, we made sure our finishing touches had a lot of texture and interest. There is so much to look at and love in the large open space, and this is definitely one of my favorite color palettes. And as striking as this home looks, it is laid out so well. Every piece of furniture fits and functions perfectly. This is visual proof of the importance of a comprehensive plan. Enjoy!