Learn seed starting basics and get a jump start on growing the flower garden of your dreams with the new book, Cut Flower Garden. In this striking guide you will find everything you need to grow, harvest, and arrange stunning seasonal blooms. With equal parts instruction and inspiration, Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden welcomes you into Erin Benzakein’s abundant, bloom-filled world, and is a feast for every flower lover’s eyes and soul. Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden. Written by Erin Benzakein with Julie Chai. Photos by Michèle M. Waite. Published by Chronicle Books.

Laara Copley-Smith
Design ideas for a farmhouse landscaping in Surrey.

When an expanding family outgrew its beloved A frame vacation home, chaos followed. Outdoor gear multiplied exponentially, while any organized spot to stow it did not. Expected amenities were non-existent for needs of the crowd of outdoor enthusiasts. SV Design addressed the lacking elements and added practicality, with style: the multigenerational family members and friends can now appreciate space for the variety of hobbies and interests they pursue. Having worked with Siemasko + Verbridge in the past, the family turned to SV once again knowing we would design solution to address the growing list of concerns. SV’s design of a three-story addition with a relatively small footprint was just what the home needed. A covered entry now provides the option of entering the main house or stopping off in the mud room to remove boots, drop off skis, and hang up wet clothes. Regardless of the way you enter the main house you will be greeted with a naturally lit, welcoming staircase of reclaimed white oak timber treads and steel stringers and rails. Each newel post is capped off with a polished granite sphere to pay homage to the Granite State in which the house resides. The open stair invites you up to a spacious family space for playing board games, listening to music, gazing at the stars, or just lounging about in the warm comfort of the home. Traveling downstairs from the main level is a new, kid friendly media room for popcorn and movies, or a little video game sibling competition. Perhaps the most striking new feature of the home is the custom designed Adirondack style bar built of varying tones of willow branches and bank. Topped off with a contrasting aged zinc counter, backsplash and shelf the bar is the perfect spot for the resident bar tender to mix up a tasty concoction for sitting by the crackling fire just steps away. This home will provide comfort and ease for the family to relax and enjoy their getaway for years to come.

photo by: Chipper Hatter
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized modern l-shaped porcelain tile and beige floor eat-in kitchen idea in Miami with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Patio kitchen plans these days require the ability to incorporate high-tech, modern appliances into rustic, timeless – even ancient-looking – outdoor design styles. You can see this juxtaposition pulled off perfectly in this outdoor kitchen by Outdoor Homescapes of Houston. “A smart patio kitchen plan requires not only a balance of the new and old,” says Outdoor Homescapes owner Wayne Franks, “but a blending of new elements – like an outdoor kitchen – with the existing home and outdoor living features like a pool, hardscaping or landscaping.” In this case, explains Franks, the existing 25-by-15-foot pool had a craggy edge of moss rock boulders, plus a spa and firepit faced with a rough Scabos splitface travertine. “The overall look was rustic and naturalistic,” says Franks, “so we of course wanted the new outdoor kitchen island to match.” Hence the 14-foot-long outdoor kitchen island with a raised bar, also faced in the Scabos splitface travertine and topped with a Normandy granite countertop. The hardscaping around it is Kool Deck® textured concrete. “People used to shy away from busy textures in outside patio kitchen plans, but now they’re embracing them,” notes Franks. “They’re increasingly attracted to the beautiful imperfections and irregularities of nature – there’s more of an authenticity and character to it.” Now, for the high-tech part: A Traeger wood pellet grill. Traeger grills are becoming increasingly popular for their ability to infuse amazing, rich flavor and for their versatility (they can grill, bake, smoke, slow cook, braise and barbecue). This premier model, the Memphis Pro 304, features 562 square inches of cooking space and a three-in-one cooking system (high-temperature grill, low-and-low smoker and true-convection-oven roasting and baking). It also has an intuitive Intelligent Temperature Control (see the display panel to the left of the grill) that can be set for cooking and internal temperature. A programmable food probe tells you when the internal temperature is reached and drops the grill down to a programmed lower temperature to keep the food warm till serving. The dual-fan convection system, with reliable metal blades, circulates heat evenly for tender, juicy results. Double-walled and sealed construction of 304 stainless steel allows for optimum heat retention and consistent temperatures in all weather conditions. A direct-flame “flavorizer” insert delivers the added flavor of a seared finish. Outdoor Homescapes also added a mount sink with a custom oil-rubbed bronze faucet by Moen and the following RCS stainless steel accessories: a pull-out trash door, a countertop trash chute, dual horizontal grill utensil drawers and a swing-out storage door. “At first, you’d think all this technology and the smooth, modern stainless steel would fight with the rustic look of the rough-faced stone in outdoor patio kitchen plans,” says Franks. “But it actually provides some visual rest from all the rugged textures and busyness.” Serving a similar function is the smooth, polished Scabos travertine tile used for the pool coping and firepit ledge. “It’s a perfect environment for the client to entertain business associates,” says Franks. “He’s very happy with the old-meets-new approach, and so are we.” More patio kitchen plans can be found at Outdoor Homescapes of Houston’s website, at www.outdoorhomescapes.com

photo by: Chipper Hatter
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized modern l-shaped porcelain tile and beige floor eat-in kitchen idea in Miami with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Example of a large classic l-shaped ceramic tile eat-in kitchen design in Boston with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This outdoor space needed a kitchen for each pavilion - one to cook with and another for drinks and entertainment. The powder painted stainless steel outdoor cabinets feature a bar tender, sink, beverage refrigerator, pull out garbage and pull-out trays. A Dekton countertop was used for its hardiness and low maintenance. Learn more about our Outdoor Cabinets: http://www.gkandb.com/services/outdoor-kitchens/ DESIGNER: MICHELLE O'CONNOR PHOTOGRAPHY: TREVE JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY CABINETRY: DANVER

Miele Ranges at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center 26767 Agoura Road, Calabasas, CA 91302 Phone 818.880.0011 Fax 818.880.0411 12050 Ventura Blvd.,Studio City, CA 91604 Phone 818.755.1111 Fax 818.755.9111 www.uakc.com Miele focuses on delivering precise, reliable, gourmet cooking results – compromise is simply not an option when it comes to performance. Miele ranges offering different size configurations (30", 36" and 48") and power configurations (dual fuel, gas, electric and induction). All aligning perfectly with Miele Generation 6000 built-in appliances in terms of design, function and user interface. Key Features of Miele ranges: M Touch Miele's new M Touch controls are both easy-to-operate and navigate. An intuitive swipe of the screen will quickly lead you to your desired selection. Whether choosing an automatic Chicken program or calling up one of your Favorites, the screen with provide a pleasing visual with easy to read touch controls. M Pro Dual Stacked Burner System The M Pro Dual Stacked Burner System enables each of the burners on a Miele Range or Rangetop to both simmer and sear. Regular burners reaching up to 19,000 BTUs and the True Simmer burner reaching a maximum of 12,000 BTU, offers a wide range of precision temperatures for any recipe. Moisture Plus Increasing the humidity in the oven optimizes the cooking of a variety of foods: soft bread with a shiny, appetizing crust; dinner rolls and croissants as if from the local baker; succulent, tender meat with a nicely browned crust, perfect casseroles, delicious pastries and so much more. MasterChef and MasterChef Plus Both found in the Gourmet Center, MasterChef allows you to choose from over 100 easy-to-use programs for items such as baked goods, pizza, turkey and much more making preparation a breeze. Miele will deliver menu options that guide you step by step to the desired oven mode and temperature to create the perfect dish. MasterChef Plus Programs feature 15 Automatic bread programs bake as if from a bakery, guiding you to the correct mode, temperature, time and integration of Moisture Plus to create the perfect bread. Wireless Roast Probe Enjoy individualized and accurate roasting of meat, fish and poultry with the wireless roast probe, which measures the core temperature and displays the time remaining. No need to monitor the cooking process. Easy to use - and great for poultry, fish and roasts.

This homeowner was ready to downsize. They sold the big house and bought an older condo on the golf course that needed some tender loving care. First mission - tear out the kitchen countertops and flooring. Paint the honey oak cabinets gray, added Cambria Bellingham countertops. Second mission - remodel the master bath with new vanity and Cambria Minera countertops. It's beautiful and there are no boundaries. Let's see...what will be their third mission?

This charming family home in Belmont was in dire need of some tender loving care. The original builder-grade cabinetry and countertops were outdated and in need of an upgrade. The kitchen was once isolated from the dining room and living room, making entertaining guests a real chore. Cooking in the kitchen meant being cut off from the rest of the household, leading to a disconnect during family time. So, we decided to make some sweeping changes. The most transformative change was the removal of the load bearing wall separating the kitchen and living room. This created a spacious open-concept kitchen with a massive island, perfect for hosting and socializing. We upgraded the cabinets to reflect a contemporary aesthetic and added a stunning hood vent. The built-in hutch was replaced by a refrigerator and beverage center, providing ample storage space and more practical usage. The kitchen was also equipped with modern features such as roll-out trays, a trash can pull-out, spice racks, and utensil organizers. We replaced the older-style double door base cabinets with modern drawer bases for easy access, and increased the height of the cabinets from 30 inches to 36 inches, giving the kitchen a fresh, airy look and additional storage space. The laundry room also received a makeover, with new cabinets above the washer and dryer and a tall linen/storage closet, making it more functional and storage-friendly. The small pantry closet was transformed into a sprawling 12 foot deep walk-in pantry with new shelves, cabinetry and lighting, providing ample space for all your pantry essentials. We also upgraded the flooring on the first floor with durable LVP flooring, elevating the overall aesthetic and feel of the home. All of these changes were completed in a mere 21 days, from start to finish.

Home Builder Ridgestone Homes
Example of a mid-sized trendy master gray tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile and multicolored floor bathroom design in Edmonton with recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, a drop-in sink, granite countertops and a hinged shower door

Farmhouse gray two-story wood exterior home idea in Chicago with a mixed material roof

A single-burner ethanol fireplace with a vertical appearance, the Hollywood Ethanol Wall Fireplace by Eco-Feu tenders an understated beauty and offers a contemporary and sophisticated look to any home or office. Offered in your choice of a gloss black or stainless steel, this wall mounted fireplace is certain to accent any space.

PULAI Desaru Beach Resort & Spa lies in the heart of Desaru, Johor, one of the most beautiful unspoiled beaches in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.With a 22km stretch of uninterrupted beach, Desaru combines the captivating panoramic views of the South China Sea with the lush tropical rainforests, where visitors can have their choice of fun and adventure or simple rest and relaxation. On this project, we worked with one of the top architects in Malaysia through a contractor awarded the tender for refurbishment of the Pulai Desaru Resort and SPA. Using Top of the range materials, such as Stainless Steel grade 304, Premium grade Teak wood, Viro Synthetic Fibre, we were able to build on the architect's concept and customer's values into stunning furniture, products with both internal and external integrity, giving birth to our Accura Collection.

This kitchen remodel was designed by Gail from our Manchester showroom. This kitchen features Cabico Unique cabinets with maple wood, 200 (recessed panel) door style and Chantilly (white) paint finish. This remodel also features LG Viatera quartz countertop, with Aura color and pencil edge. The kitchen flooring is Armstrong 6”x48” vinyl plank click lock with Cinder Frost and Gray allusion. The backsplash is Anatolia 4”x10” Elegant Ideas with Tender Gray color and stone Radiance by Daltile accent tile with Glacier gray color. Other features American Standard Stainless steel sink, American Standard stainless pull down spray and matching soap dispenser. The cabinet hardware is Amerock satin nickel knobs, pulls and large pulls for drawers.

This homeowner was ready to downsize. They sold the big house and bought an older condo on the golf course that needed some tender loving care. First mission - tear out the kitchen countertops and flooring. Paint the honey oak cabinets gray, added Cambria Bellingham countertops. Second mission - remodel the master bath with new vanity and Cambria Minera countertops. It's beautiful and there are no boundaries. Let's see...what will be their third mission?

This kitchen remodel was designed by Gail from our Manchester showroom. This kitchen features Cabico Unique cabinets with maple wood, 200 (recessed panel) door style and Chantilly (white) paint finish. This remodel also features LG Viatera quartz countertop, with Aura color and pencil edge. The kitchen flooring is Armstrong 6”x48” vinyl plank click lock with Cinder Frost and Gray allusion. The backsplash is Anatolia 4”x10” Elegant Ideas with Tender Gray color and stone Radiance by Daltile accent tile with Glacier gray color. Other features American Standard Stainless steel sink, American Standard stainless pull down spray and matching soap dispenser. The cabinet hardware is Amerock satin nickel knobs, pulls and large pulls for drawers.

Photo of a traditional landscaping in Perth.