What stone countertop is easiest to maintain? The easiest natural stone to take care of is quartz countertops because it man made from ground stone and resin and doesn’t require regular sealing like granite or marble countertops do. Since the quartz countertops are non-porous, they don’t easily stain or etch. The Architecture Stones shop has it’s production warehouse on site where the cutting and fabrication of quartz countertops, granite countertops, porcelain countertops, quartzite countertops along with marble countertops etc. takes place and if one wants to buy a natural stone shelf, a stone slab, a stone sink, a shower bench, kitchen shelves, a stone table top, order a fire place mantel or a fireplace tile, a kitchen backsplash, stone tile, or a vanity top we are happy to help our customers from the DC Metro Area.

Flat leaf parsley and French marigolds in August. Flat leaf Italian parsley has very strong flavor more sow than the curly variety. Great for drying or using in salads or as a garnish, as bouquet garni in soups . Matures: 40-60 days Bonnie D Loubier

Dwarf Hinoki Cypress at the front door!
Photo of a traditional landscaping in Nashville.

AM70065 DESCRIPTION: “Alabastron” was the name of a village in Old Egypt, located near the city of Thebes, in which a calcareous-type translucent stone was extracted. It seems that the term also referred to objects (e.g. vessels, cups) originating from that place, which, originally, were made with this material. Eventually, the term began to refer only to the white translucent rock used in art and in the manufacturing of muchappreciated vessels. SPECIFICATIONS: Collection: Size: (Custom sizes also available) Shape: Circular Metal Finished: (Different finish available at no additional cost) Materials: Alabaster Weight: 4 LBS. Extension: Adjustable cord customizable up to 12 ft. Bulbs: N/A Assembly: Some assembly required. Dimmer Switch Compatible: Optional Shipping: Free Door-To-Door Shipping Worldwide! Rush Order: 4-6 Weeks; 15% added to the total Regular Lead Time: 6-10 Weeks Warranty: 5 Years Full Coverage (includes replacement parts) Custom Sizes, Finishes, Colors Available Upon Request

An American couple with a large extended family were regular visitors to Bermuda and actively seeking a Bermuda home when they found Castle Point. Well known for its prominent Castle Folly overlooking Castle Harbour, the property featured an abandoned main house, a guest cottage, ancillary buildings, and an excavated lot. It had become overgrown and had seen little maintenance since the mid-1980s. Their dream was to work with architects to design a flexible retreat—one that could be intimate when it was just the two of them, but also functional for hosting the entire family and guests. OBMI was challenged to enhance the property and its poetic yet rugged beauty. Only two of the eight acres were available for residential development, requiring careful analysis of our options. We designed a three-bedroom main house, two guest cottages, and a caretaker’s cottage that remained sympathetic to the surrounding landscape and left habitat for native birds and other species. The aesthetic follows classic Bermudian architecture using local materials and maximizing the legendary views.

AM70010 DESCRIPTION: Alabaster mostly found in somedesert regions. Italy, England, Spain,Mexico, United States of America are the major localities of Alabaster.often used for carving, Alabaster crystals are one of the forms of Selenite gemstone. Generally, Alabaster has been used magically to symbolize transparency and purity. These crystals signifies their excellence through their color, it means the whiter the stone the better.These stones are also used as translucent building material and be protective against rain. SPECIFICATIONS: Collection: Size: (Custom sizes also available) Shape: Tube Metal Finished: (Different finish available at no additional cost) Materials: Alabaster Weight: N/A LBS. Extension: Adjustable cord customizable up to 12 ft. Bulbs: N/A Assembly: Some assembly required. Dimmer Switch Compatible: Optional Shipping: Free Door-To-Door Shipping Worldwide! Rush Order: 4-6 Weeks; 15% added to the total Regular Lead Time: 6-10 Weeks Warranty: 5 Years Full Coverage (includes replacement parts) Custom Sizes, Finishes, Colors Available Upon Request

ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) created this modern home for a progressive family in the desirable community of Lexington. Thoughtful Land Connection. The residence is carefully sited on the infill lot so as to create privacy from the road and neighbors, while cultivating a side yard that captures the southern sun. The terraced grade rises to meet the house, allowing for it to maintain a structured connection with the ground while also sitting above the high water table. The elevated outdoor living space maintains a strong connection with the indoor living space, while the stepped edge ties it back to the true ground plane. Siting and outdoor connections were completed by ZED in collaboration with landscape designer Soren Deniord Design Studio. Exterior Finishes and Solar. The exterior finish materials include a palette of shiplapped wood siding, through-colored fiber cement panels and stucco. A rooftop parapet hides the solar panels above, while a gutter and site drainage system directs rainwater into an irrigation cistern and dry wells that recharge the groundwater. Cooking, Dining, Living. Inside, the kitchen, fabricated by Henrybuilt, is located between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The expansive south-facing sliding door opens to seamlessly connect the spaces, using a retractable awning to provide shade during the summer while still admitting the warming winter sun. The indoor living space continues from the dining areas across to the sunken living area, with a view that returns again to the outside through the corner wall of glass. Accessible Guest Suite. The design of the first level guest suite provides for both aging in place and guests who regularly visit for extended stays. The patio off the north side of the house affords guests their own private outdoor space, and privacy from the neighbor. Similarly, the second level master suite opens to an outdoor private roof deck. Light and Access. The wide open interior stair with a glass panel rail leads from the top level down to the well insulated basement. The design of the basement, used as an away/play space, addresses the need for both natural light and easy access. In addition to the open stairwell, light is admitted to the north side of the area with a high performance, Passive House (PHI) certified skylight, covering a six by sixteen foot area. On the south side, a unique roof hatch set flush with the deck opens to reveal a glass door at the base of the stairwell which provides additional light and access from the deck above down to the play space. Energy. Energy consumption is reduced by the high performance building envelope, high efficiency mechanical systems, and then offset with renewable energy. All windows and doors are made of high performance triple paned glass with thermally broken aluminum frames. The exterior wall assembly employs dense pack cellulose in the stud cavity, a continuous air barrier, and four inches exterior rigid foam insulation. The 10kW rooftop solar electric system provides clean energy production. The final air leakage testing yielded 0.6 ACH 50 - an extremely air tight house, a testament to the well-designed details, progress testing and quality construction. When compared to a new house built to code requirements, this home consumes only 19% of the energy. Architecture & Energy Consulting: ZeroEnergy Design Landscape Design: Soren Deniord Design Paintings: Bernd Haussmann Studio Photos: Eric Roth Photography

Mid-sized transitional beige tile, black tile, brown tile, gray tile and ceramic tile alcove shower photo with beige walls

Indulge your guests in the plush cooling comfort of our premium cool gel memory foam sofa bed mattress with greater cooling properties and comfort benefits than traditional memory foam. Our cool gel sleeper sofa mattress offers a generous 4.5 inches of luxurious, shape-conforming, cool gel memory foam and high density Plushfoam, made of billions of open-ended cells, resulting in a formula almost three times as dense as regular foam, and guarantees that your guests will not feel any metal bars. When our cool gel memory foam is compressed, the gel beads coalesce, resulting in a smooth shift from viscoelastic (memory foam) properties to pressure-relieving gel properties, offering a luxurious Variable Support Factor. Greater compression brings greater support and the result is superior comfort without the traditional memory foam "bottom-out" under heavy loads on a sofa mattress. Gel foam is used in many products where pressure relief and energy absorption is required. Wrapped in our luxurious breathable cover, our cool gel replacement sofa bed mattress is the perfect solution for a comfortable, cooler night's sleep. Plushbeds Slice of Heaven™ Cool Gel Sofa Mattress comes in the following sizes: Twin (35" x 72") - $299 Twin Wide (38" x 72") - $299 Full (52" x 72") - $349 Full Wide (54" x 72") - $349 Queen (58" x 72") - $379 Queen Wide (60" x 72") - $379 Single (24" x 72") - $269

ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) created this modern home for a progressive family in the desirable community of Lexington. Thoughtful Land Connection. The residence is carefully sited on the infill lot so as to create privacy from the road and neighbors, while cultivating a side yard that captures the southern sun. The terraced grade rises to meet the house, allowing for it to maintain a structured connection with the ground while also sitting above the high water table. The elevated outdoor living space maintains a strong connection with the indoor living space, while the stepped edge ties it back to the true ground plane. Siting and outdoor connections were completed by ZED in collaboration with landscape designer Soren Deniord Design Studio. Exterior Finishes and Solar. The exterior finish materials include a palette of shiplapped wood siding, through-colored fiber cement panels and stucco. A rooftop parapet hides the solar panels above, while a gutter and site drainage system directs rainwater into an irrigation cistern and dry wells that recharge the groundwater. Cooking, Dining, Living. Inside, the kitchen, fabricated by Henrybuilt, is located between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The expansive south-facing sliding door opens to seamlessly connect the spaces, using a retractable awning to provide shade during the summer while still admitting the warming winter sun. The indoor living space continues from the dining areas across to the sunken living area, with a view that returns again to the outside through the corner wall of glass. Accessible Guest Suite. The design of the first level guest suite provides for both aging in place and guests who regularly visit for extended stays. The patio off the north side of the house affords guests their own private outdoor space, and privacy from the neighbor. Similarly, the second level master suite opens to an outdoor private roof deck. Light and Access. The wide open interior stair with a glass panel rail leads from the top level down to the well insulated basement. The design of the basement, used as an away/play space, addresses the need for both natural light and easy access. In addition to the open stairwell, light is admitted to the north side of the area with a high performance, Passive House (PHI) certified skylight, covering a six by sixteen foot area. On the south side, a unique roof hatch set flush with the deck opens to reveal a glass door at the base of the stairwell which provides additional light and access from the deck above down to the play space. Energy. Energy consumption is reduced by the high performance building envelope, high efficiency mechanical systems, and then offset with renewable energy. All windows and doors are made of high performance triple paned glass with thermally broken aluminum frames. The exterior wall assembly employs dense pack cellulose in the stud cavity, a continuous air barrier, and four inches exterior rigid foam insulation. The 10kW rooftop solar electric system provides clean energy production. The final air leakage testing yielded 0.6 ACH 50 - an extremely air tight house, a testament to the well-designed details, progress testing and quality construction. When compared to a new house built to code requirements, this home consumes only 19% of the energy. Architecture & Energy Consulting: ZeroEnergy Design Landscape Design: Soren Deniord Design Paintings: Bernd Haussmann Studio Photos: Eric Roth Photography

The Playground sofa is created to satisfy the need for combining sofa and bed. Our idea with the Playground sofa is to offer a multi-purpose piece of furniture that is both flexible and mobile. Playground meets these requirements. Placed as back support you then have the perfect sofa where you sit comfortably in all positions and on all seats. Place it as arm support and you have a comfortable chaise long. Place it on the floor and you can make a 'nest' where you can enjoy watching TV or reading. Solid-wood frame with Nozag-spring seat-base, covered with polyurethane foam in a 600 g pre-compressed, fibre-fill wrap. The free movable backs consists of 100% foam. Back cushion filling is 100% down and small duck feathers sewn into a ribbed, feather-proof cambric casing. To retain the feather cushion’s appearance and shape, regular fluffing-up and airing are recommended. The Playground Sofa is available with fabric or leather upholstery. Dimensions: 83" L x 45" W x 35" H - seat height 15" In Stock Sample Sale in our Showroom at 820 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

The Lux by SPAR is a modern styled italian Bed. European quality and contemporary style are combined in this bed, creating an elegant product that meets all the latest requirements. Lux bed comes with a bit waved headboard that is upholstered in Eco-Leather and decorated with real Swarovski crystals. The bed is available in standard US Queen and King sizes and available for your choice in 3 different versions (regular platform bed design and two storage bed versions). Optional style and color matching "Giglio" casegoods: nightstands and dresser are also offered to complement the design of your bedroom interior. All case-goods feature floral ornament front decoration, designer handles, protruding front designs and are decorated with Swarovski crystals, making this Lux bedroom set by Spar look original and luxury. Large sliding door wardrobe "Giglio" with matching floral decoration is also available to provide even more storage space for all your clothes and bedding and can be order with either regular central door or a rounded one. The starting price is for the Lux Queen Size Bed (platform version #1). Dimensions: Queen Size Bed: W66" x D90" x H39" or H36.2"(storage version) King Size Bed: W83" x D90" x H39" or H36.2"(storage version) Nightstand: W23.2" x D18" x H17" Dresser: W49.6" x D22.8" x H29.5" Mirror: W45.3" x D1" x H25.2" *3-Door Wardrobe: W104.5" x D26.8" x H98.4"

A white flowering camellia and Little Heath andromeda in spring Le jardinet

Durston Saylor
Deck - transitional deck idea in Denver

When it comes to selecting fixtures for your kitchen or bathroom, few options offer the blend of elegance, durability, and functionality like brass bridge faucets. These faucets, with their vintage charm and modern efficiency, bring a unique aesthetic and practical benefits to any space. This article explores the appeal of brass bridge faucets, their key features, benefits, and tips on how to choose and maintain them. The Charm of Brass Bridge Faucets Classic Aesthetic Brass bridge faucets are known for their classic, timeless look. The warm, golden hue of brass adds a touch of luxury and sophistication, making these faucets a focal point in any kitchen or bathroom. Their vintage design can seamlessly blend with various décor styles, from rustic to contemporary. Durability One of the standout qualities of brass is its durability. Brass is resistant to corrosion and can withstand daily wear and tear, ensuring that your faucet remains in excellent condition for years. This makes brass bridge faucets a long-term investment for your home. Versatility Available in various finishes such as polished, brushed, or antique brass, these faucets can complement a wide range of design themes. Whether you want a shiny, reflective finish or a more subdued, matte look, there’s a brass bridge faucet to suit your taste. Key Features of Brass Bridge Faucets Elevated Bridge Design The distinctive feature of bridge faucets is the elevated connecting pipe that links the hot and cold water lines. This bridge not only enhances the faucet's aesthetic appeal but also provides additional clearance, making it easier to clean large pots and pans or to accommodate larger sinks. Dual Handles Brass bridge faucets typically feature dual handles, allowing for precise control over water temperature. This functionality ensures a balanced mix of hot and cold water, providing you with the perfect temperature for your needs. Classic Spout Designs These faucets often come with high-arc or gooseneck spouts, which are both practical and stylish. The high spout design provides ample space for washing and filling containers, adding to the faucet’s functionality. Benefits of Brass Bridge Faucets Visual Appeal Brass bridge faucets serve as a statement piece in any room. Their elegant design and warm finish add a touch of luxury and can elevate the overall aesthetic of your kitchen or bathroom. Functionality Beyond their beauty, brass bridge faucets are highly functional. The dual-handle design allows for precise temperature control, while the elevated bridge offers extra clearance for various tasks. This combination of form and function makes them a practical choice for busy households. Hygienic Properties Brass has natural antimicrobial properties, making it a hygienic choice for kitchen and bathroom fixtures. This can be particularly beneficial in spaces where cleanliness is paramount. Choosing the Right Brass Bridge Faucet Finish Options When selecting a brass bridge faucet, consider the finish that best matches your existing décor. Polished brass offers a shiny, reflective surface, while antique brass provides a more vintage, weathered look. Brushed brass has a matte finish that hides fingerprints and water spots. Coordination with Other Fixtures Ensure that your brass bridge faucet complements other fixtures in your kitchen or bathroom. Coordinating the faucet with cabinet handles, lighting fixtures, and other hardware can create a cohesive and harmonious look. Installation Requirements Check the installation requirements before purchasing a brass bridge faucet. These faucets typically require a three-hole installation, so make sure your sink or countertop is compatible. Maintenance Tips Regular Cleaning To maintain the luster of your brass bridge faucet, clean it regularly with a soft cloth and mild soap. Avoid using abrasive cleaners or scrubbers that can scratch the surface. Preventing Water Spots After cleaning, dry the faucet thoroughly to prevent water spots. This is particularly important for polished brass finishes, which are more prone to showing spots and fingerprints. Addressing Tarnish Brass can tarnish over time. To address this, use a brass cleaner or a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda to gently polish the surface. Regular polishing can keep your faucet looking its best. Conclusion Brass bridge faucets are a beautiful and functional addition to any home. Their timeless design, durability, and practicality make them a worthwhile investment for your kitchen or bathroom. By choosing the right finish and maintaining it properly, you can enjoy the elegance and charm of a brass bridge faucet for years to come. Embrace the classic appeal of brass and elevate the look of your home with this stunning fixture.

It’s important to make sure that all trees on your property are healthy and in good condition. This means hiring professional tree trimming services to maintain your trees yearly in order to keep them looking beautiful and healthy. In late winter or early spring is the best time to trim your trees. Doing so will help to improve the new growth that happens later in the spring. But fruit bearing trees and damaged trees can benefit from careful pruning in the summer. It takes an expert to skillfully trim trees during the summer without damaging them or causing harm and our team at Five Star Tree Services is just a call away to help you with your tree trimming needs! Why Trim Your Trees? By trimming your trees annually, this will not only open up your landscaping, which allows more sunlight to get to your property, but there are many other benefits. These can include: -Keep Trees Healthy and Promote Growth When you trim your trees in the spring, before they start producing buds, this helps to stimulate more new growth, which helps to keep trees in excellent condition. This can be especially important for saplings as it encourages them to fill out nicely and in a controlled and structurally sound way. If you are not maintaining your trees properly, they can become too dense, which causes a bunch of problems. One being that it restricts the amount of sunlight getting to all the leaves and it reduces the amount of nutrient circulation needed to support the tree. Professional tree pruning properly aids in tree growth and its overall aesthetic. Cutting off unneeded or unwanted branches allows other parts of the tree to grow easier. Ridding the tree of these extra branches also stimulates more leaf and fruit production. -Increased Safety Your landscape is affected when you neglect to take care of your trees, along with everything else on your property. If you have any dead trees remaining on your property, not only are you putting yourself at risk of injury, but you are putting your family, neighbours, pedestrians, and guests at risk as well. Dead or damaged branches can also be a hazard as they could fall at any time and impact with anyone standing too close to it, or it can fall on your house, which is another issue altogether, if it causes damage. Luckily, you are able to avoid all of this by simply having regular trimmings that will keep your trees healthy. You also need to make sure that all branches close to power lines are cut. This especially, should only be done by a trained professional in order to avoid potential electrocution. -Increase Production of Fruit If you are lucky enough to have a fruit bearing tree, it is especially important to have it professionally trimmed before and after it fruits. Doing so helps to improve its overall health and ability to bear fruit by getting rid of unhealthy branches. New fruit also develops and spurs for bearing fruit for the following year. -Manage Spreading Diseases Tree branches that are damaged tend to be prone to diseases which are able to spread to other plants and trees in your yard. Branches that are dead also have the potential to easily fall with any wind and especially during a storm. Severely damaged branches can even fall without reason. When you get your trees trimmed and pruned regularly, this prevents these things from happening. It also prevents spreading disease to other trees. Any disease branches should especially be trimmed if they are close to where kids play, people walk, or by doors. -Increase the Value of Your Property and Overall Appearance Continuous maintenance and trilling will improve the aesthetic of your property. It controls clutter and opens up the space of the landscaping. Meaning that the curbside appeal to your property increases. This is especially important if you are planning to sell your house, which will actually raise the value of your property. The first step in enhancing the appearance of your property is properly taking care of your trees. The first thing people see when they pull up to or go past your house is the trees. By simply pruning your trees you can make a good impression on potential buyers and your neighbours as well. -Safeguarding Your Property Owning a house is the biggest investment you will probably ever make. Making the effort to maintain and increase its value by keeping it in good condition should be your first priority. By trimming your trees regularly, you will be protecting your investment. Not to mention this also allows you to enjoy a nicely manicured property. Why Professionals Are Essential Professionals help to improve the health and overall condition of your trees. Trying to trim or prune your trees when you don’t know how can be detrimental. This is why hiring a professional, who has the right knowledge and tools, is better than trying to do it yourself. -Cost-Effective Think of it as a short-term expense for a long-term return on your investment. Allowing professional arborists to do your tree maintenance can potentially help to negate the costs of injuries attained from DIY home improvements related to trees, replacements and repairs. -Skilled and Experienced Real tools required for trimming a tree need to be handled properly and by the appropriate people. If a regular person were to try and use these tools, the end result could be injury and property damage. This is especially true for any trimming required around power lines. All professionals will have the right experience and skills required to wield these tools in a safe way. This minimizes the likelihood of hazards, injuries, and life-threatening incidents. -Proper Tools Heavy-duty chainsaws, ladders, and protective gear are all needed to safely and properly trim a tree. When you hire a professional, they have all the required tools and more. Meaning that you won’t have to go out and buy these tools yourself. As a professional, they also make sure that their tools are reliable and well-maintained in order to efficiently get the job done well. -Insured Professionals are also always insured with liability insurance when doing jobs to cover any damages or injuries attained while working. They are able to also provide a guarantee for the safety of your property and belongings while they are doing a job for you. How Five Star Tree Services Can Help Although trimming your tree might seem like an easy job, it’s always best to trust the professionals. Proper execution of the task requires the right skills, experience, and knowledge. Our team at Five Star Tree Services have all of this and more! Give us a call at (416) 990-3355 to enlist us for all your Toronto Tree Trimming needs!