The open section of patio at the centre serves as a children’s play area as does the pool’s adjoining 6’ x 10’ tanning shelf with its depth of one foot. The patio is acid etched concrete interspersed with inserts of artificial turf. This concrete finish mimics the look of limestone without having natural stone’s tendency for staining.

The Bertazzoni Heritage Series stands as a focal point with it's classic look and stunning ivory color. @LaurieMarch's focus was to honor the outdoors while prioritizing the personalized yet functional space. Exploring the concept of "biophilia" — our innate tendency to seek out and feel joy in nature, her design centers around scenic green vistas that put you in a relaxed mental state, with a touch of vintage charm to celebrate the history of the home.

Utilizing the right plants can really spruce up the look of your property. But before you go and buy the first plant you see, it’s important to think about how dedicated you are to maintaining them and how much time you are willing to invest in them. All plants are alive and need love and attention. The amount of love and attention can vary depending on the plant. If you are a busy person who doesn’t have a lot of time to dedicate to the care of your plants, this doesn’t mean you can’t have plants and have them thrive. There are many low-maintenance plants that you can choose from. These will allow you to add to the aesthetic of your property, without consuming your time to care for them. We here at Five Star Tree Services have come up with a list of the best low-maintenance shrubs for you to consider. Flowering Shrubs Looking to add colour and beauty to your landscape? You might be thinking regular flowers can do this, but have you considered flowering shrubs? These are something simple and beautiful that you can add to your yard. Hibiscus These plants come in many colours. It is also known as Chinese Hibiscus, China Rose, and Tropical Hibiscus. This evergreen perennial is native to warm temperature, subtropical and tropical places around the world. The flowers it produces can be 3-8 inches in diameter. Some resemble trumpets. Every flower has 5 or more petals and can range in colours from red, orange, yellow, purple, pink, and white. Flowers are constantly produced by this plant but each blossom only lasts a day. Its growth can be 24 inches a year and has the potential to reach 15 feet fully grown. Forsythia This shrub is part of the olive family. It is mostly native to eastern Asia but one is native to southeastern Europe. This plant is also known as golden bells. This is a deciduous shrub that can grow to 3-9 feet but ones with rough grey-brown bark have been known to grow to 20 feet. With opposite positioned leaves, that can grow between 2 and 10 cm in length. They produce bright yellow flowers and will bloom in early spring before the leaves come out. Evergreen Shrubs It is beneficial to have more green plants around you. There was a study done that showed women can have improved mental health and a longer life expectancy if you live in or near green areas. If you have a busy life and don’t have space in your home, you are able to still benefit from and experience evergreen shrubs. They are perfect for small yards and large ones alike. Euonymus This plant is native to places like East Asia, North America, Madagascar, the Himalayas, and Europe. Depending on what country you are in will determine the species you encounter. These have many names and you might have heard them referred to as a spindle tree, burning-bush, euonymus, strawberry-bush, spindle, or wintercreeper. There are 130 species of deciduous small trees, evergreen shrubs, and lianas. The wintercreeper is a herbaceous perennial vine and it can grow to 70 feet. But it usually is left at 2-4 feet as a mounded shrub. It has egg-shaped leaves that measure to 1-2.5 inches long and 1-1.75 inches wide. They can vary in colour, such as dark green, green-gold, or green-white. Blue Star Juniper This is a needled shrub and is a member of the cypress family. It is native to the Himalayas, Afghanistan, and western China. You might also know it as flaky juniper, Himalayan juniper, or singleseed juniper. This is a dwarf shrub and when it gets to a mature size, it is a compact mound measuring from 1-3 feet high and 1.5-3 feet wide. It grows slow and has a tendency to grow out and not up. It has silvery-blue foliage and is densely packed with needles that are awl-shaped. Privacy Shrubs Everyone wants privacy while you are in your home or yard. Some people decide to install a fence in order to give themselves privacy. But there is a more creative way to acquire your privacy; with privacy shrubs! If you are looking for something that is different from a fence and low-maintenance, privacy shrubs are exactly what you are looking for. Not only do these plants provide you with the much-needed privacy you desire, they also add beauty to your landscaping. Some suggestions are as follows: Thuja Green Giant This is a genus of coniferous trees that belong to the cypress or Cupressaceae family. 3 out of 5 of these plants are native to Eastern Asia and the other 2 are from North America. This evergreen can also be known as Thuja green rocket or green giant arborvitae. They are fast growing and can grow to 3-5 feet in one season. Growing in a uniform shape, when mature, they can be 50-60 feet tall and 12-20 feet wide. They have tiny, glossy leaves that resemble scales. These overlap tightly together and create a fan of foliage. Boxwood hedges These evergreen shrubs and small trees are slow growing. You might also have heard them called boxes. They are native to numerous places that include Mexico, southern and eastern Asia, Africa, and southern and western Europe. These plants have been specifically grown for their foliage but they also produce a flower. They can grow from 1-20 feet tall and spread 2-8 feet wide. They have leathery feeling leaves that are lace-shaped or almost round. The colours can range from pale green to dark blue-green. They produce small yellow-green flowers in the spring. WARNIIG: this plant produces a toxic alkaloid that can hurt humans and animals. If a person or animal were to eat the leaves, it can trigger convulsions, dizziness, intestinal distress, and respiratory failure. If you come in contact with the sap, it could cause skin irritation. It is best to avoid this plant if you have small children or pets. Wax Myrtle Tree This large shrub or small tree is native to the Caribbean and North and Central America. There are many names for this plant that include bayberry tree, southern wax myrtle, southern bayberry, tallow shrub, and candleberry. It is very adaptable to various habitats but it naturally will grow near rivers and streams, wetlands, dunes, fields, pine barrens, hillsides, and in mixed-broadleaf and coniferous forests. This shrub can grow 20-25 feet tall with light olive-green leaves that have serrated edges. It also has smooth thin gray-brown bark. It can also produce bluish-white fruit which grows on short stalks in clusters. How Five Star Tree Service Can Help When looking for privacy for your home, utilizing low-maintenance plants is a great way to do this. It is also a great way to add something unique to your yard. Some of these shrubs will require some maintenance, which is where our team at Five Star Tree Services can help! We offer shrub trimming services in Toronto and if you require our assistance, make sure to give us a call at (416) 990-3355.

Granite is lustrous, rich, and crystalline, can be honed to a gloss, is smooth to the touch, very hard and 100% natural. Quartz is lustrous, deep and dimensional and can be honed to desired gloss. It’s smooth to the touch and hard, but can scorch. Quartz is 93% natural and 7% manmade. Marble is deep, rich and illuminating, and polishes to a very high gloss. While beautiful and very hard, marble does have a higher tendency to scratch and scorch. Marble is 100% natural. Solid Surface is uniform and has a matte-like structure. It’s never glossy and can scratch, but it’s sandable. Solid Surface provides texture, and seams are mostly invisible. Solid Surface is 66% natural and 33% polymers.

Granite is lustrous, rich, and crystalline, can be honed to a gloss, is smooth to the touch, very hard and 100% natural. Quartz is lustrous, deep and dimensional and can be honed to desired gloss. It’s smooth to the touch and hard, but can scorch. Quartz is 93% natural and 7% manmade. Marble is deep, rich and illuminating, and polishes to a very high gloss. While beautiful and very hard, marble does have a higher tendency to scratch and scorch. Marble is 100% natural. Solid Surface is uniform and has a matte-like structure. It’s never glossy and can scratch, but it’s sandable. Solid Surface provides texture, and seams are mostly invisible. Solid Surface is 66% natural and 33% polymers.

Unique Design & Construction Co. www.uniquedesignco.com Counter: PentalQuartz Super White 2cm
Kitchen - modern kitchen idea in Seattle

Transitional kitchen photo in Oklahoma City

Contrast in the Kitchen – Texture to Taste in a Grand Junction, CO custom home We normally associate texture with food, clothes, and even sound. In reality, it is a part of every aspect of our lives. In our Grand Junction, Appleton, Fruita, Palisade, and Redlands, Colorado homes, texture lives on everything from our walls to washcloths. It isn’t something we normally consider holistically or view with intent. While designing interiors, texture becomes our way to bring visual interest and emotion into the space. Adding textures to a space invites touch and evokes an understanding of the design intent. Materials like linen and wood can be combined to make a space feel streamlined yet cozy. Leather and velvet can be paired to create a luxurious retreat. In one of our recent projects, our clients had a distinct vision for their new kitchen and outdoor custom home living spaces. They were in need of a design that combined their kitchen, living, and outdoor spaces into a seamless oasis for their everyday routines. Their home has a unique architectural voice and they wanted to emphasize the character that was already there. Blending textures and colors throughout this project was how everything remained cohesive and spirited. The purpose of contrasting materials We used contrasting materials in the cabinetry to distinguish between the perimeter – high gloss – and the natural gathering space – maple. By contrasting the soft nature of maple in the cabinets and in the flooring with the harder textures of concrete and steel, we were able to offset the space’s tendency to feel like an alpine cabin. However, using contrasting textures does not always provide a dynamic interior. The high-gloss cabinets function as a vessel for various textures. They take on whatever happens to be reflected in them, bringing in elements from unexpected sources. The function of texture Along with rich black hardware, the unique backsplash adds an element of handcrafted care that naturally draws your eye throughout the space. The unevenness of each tile provides the space with intentional imperfections, giving it life and visual delight. Textures like these are great conversation starters or simply eye candy. To extend their living and dining spaces to the exterior, our clients also updated the numerous decks around the home, as well as the cladding. This gave us the opportunity to develop a texture and color story for their exteriors. Considering finishes in a location as distinctive as the Western Slope can either be viewed as a challenge or an opportunity. We have the desert, evergreen groves, riversides, and snowstorms to glean inspiration from while designing. For us, utilizing palettes that compliment the home’s natural surroundings is crucial. This home happens to live on a densely wooded plot of land with mature trees providing plenty of shade. This backdrop informed our color selections, while the existing architecture drove the material selections. The wood decking adds warmth, the horizontal cream siding brightens, the gray cedar leaves a part of the original architectural intent, and the green entry wall adds drama. The existing beams were left original because it is difficult to find materials that match the grandeur of the home. Recognizing good design Next time you walk into a well-designed custom home and immediately feel at ease, take some time to notice why you may be feeling that way. The subtlety of blending textures and colors can have a profound impact on how a space is perceived. You can see some of our other design projects here.

The adults are not the only ones having fun in this beautiful basement combination because two little girls also share this space. In fact, like most children and their toys, they have a tendency to take over the whole space! However, this tiny corner is the perfect spot for tea time!

Elegance often starts with simplicity, regardless of the style of the space. This Midcentury Modern kitchen has a 24x48 porcelain floor tile installed. Bigger is better, even in the smallest of areas. When stepping to a 12x24 tile, the reality of that choice, often creates the space to date quicker due to the increased grout. Also, a product on the floor must appear to have the strength and depth to support the visual size of a room. That is created by size or by using tiles to work as a team. Stepping to a 12x24 tile will often cause a home owner to feel as if they must remodel once 3-4 years have passed. Simply, a larger format tile will often increase the longevity of a home, space or project, it's due to the simplicity and decrease in grout. This home has porcelain countertops installed. Porcelain countertops are a choice many don't know they can make. Porcelain handles heat incredibly well, It looks incredible and handles abuse, with no real maintenance required, where stone requires a lot of up-keep. We have been walking on porcelain for decades. It's strange it has taken so long to create porcelain countertops. To be successful with the install of a porcelain countertop, you must hire the right company that specializes in installing that type of product. Not always, but often, a stone countertop installer is not interested or trained in the install of a porcelain countertop. Laminam is probably one of the most successful porcelain countertops to install. They don't have a tendency to hairline facture at install like the other bands.

Geneva Cabinet Company, Lake Geneva, WI Rustic patinas balance graceful lines to celebrate the historic tendencies of this new home
Bathroom - transitional bathroom idea in Milwaukee

Elegance often starts with simplicity, regardless of the style of the space. This Midcentury Modern kitchen has a 24x48 porcelain floor tile installed. Bigger is better, even in the smallest of areas. When stepping to a 12x24 tile, the reality of that choice, often creates the space to date quicker due to the increased grout. Also, a product on the floor must appear to have the strength and depth to support the visual size of a room. That is created by size or by using tiles to work as a team. Stepping to a 12x24 tile will often cause a home owner to feel as if they must remodel once 3-4 years have passed. Simply, a larger format tile will often increase the longevity of a home, space or project, it's due to the simplicity and decrease in grout. This home has porcelain countertops installed. Porcelain countertops are a choice many don't know they can make. Porcelain handles heat incredibly well, It looks incredible and handles abuse, with no real maintenance required, where stone requires a lot of up-keep. We have been walking on porcelain for decades. It's strange it has taken so long to create porcelain countertops. To be successful with the install of a porcelain countertop, you must hire the right company that specializes in installing that type of product. Not always, but often, a stone countertop installer is not interested or trained in the install of a porcelain countertop. Laminam is probably one of the most successful porcelain countertops to install. They don't have a tendency to hairline facture at install like the other bands.

Mid-sized arts and crafts l-shaped ceramic tile eat-in kitchen photo in Other with a double-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Granite is lustrous, rich, and crystalline, can be honed to a gloss, is smooth to the touch, very hard and 100% natural. Quartz is lustrous, deep and dimensional and can be honed to desired gloss. It’s smooth to the touch and hard, but can scorch. Quartz is 93% natural and 7% manmade. Marble is deep, rich and illuminating, and polishes to a very high gloss. While beautiful and very hard, marble does have a higher tendency to scratch and scorch. Marble is 100% natural. Solid Surface is uniform and has a matte-like structure. It’s never glossy and can scratch, but it’s sandable. Solid Surface provides texture, and seams are mostly invisible. Solid Surface is 66% natural and 33% polymers.

Example of a trendy home design design in Denver

This style of home is not common to the area, and it’s becoming a lost art.Several elevations were drawn, but the client kept gravitating toward the all-brick English revival elements. They wanted the best of both worlds: a vintage 1800s look with modern amenities incorporating communal spaces, but also private areas. Full bed brick and full thickness manmade limestone, intricate gables, plus the builder’s perfectionist tendencies resulted in a stunning showcase for the entire team. Bill Lindhout Photography

Granite is lustrous, rich, and crystalline, can be honed to a gloss, is smooth to the touch, very hard and 100% natural. Quartz is lustrous, deep and dimensional and can be honed to desired gloss. It’s smooth to the touch and hard, but can scorch. Quartz is 93% natural and 7% manmade. Marble is deep, rich and illuminating, and polishes to a very high gloss. While beautiful and very hard, marble does have a higher tendency to scratch and scorch. Marble is 100% natural. Solid Surface is uniform and has a matte-like structure. It’s never glossy and can scratch, but it’s sandable. Solid Surface provides texture, and seams are mostly invisible. Solid Surface is 66% natural and 33% polymers.

As expected, no roofing system is perfect. They have their fair share of downsides that you have to be privy of. As for the 3-tab shingle, they have the tendency to sustain damages from exposure to extremely harsh weather. It can also retain moisture causing rot and mold proliferation. Three-tab shingles require proper attic ventilation. In terms of a property’s resale value, it comes behind the more expensive options.

Granite is lustrous, rich, and crystalline, can be honed to a gloss, is smooth to the touch, very hard and 100% natural. Quartz is lustrous, deep and dimensional and can be honed to desired gloss. It’s smooth to the touch and hard, but can scorch. Quartz is 93% natural and 7% manmade. Marble is deep, rich and illuminating, and polishes to a very high gloss. While beautiful and very hard, marble does have a higher tendency to scratch and scorch. Marble is 100% natural. Solid Surface is uniform and has a matte-like structure. It’s never glossy and can scratch, but it’s sandable. Solid Surface provides texture, and seams are mostly invisible. Solid Surface is 66% natural and 33% polymers.