The real experience of nature teaches us some strong lessons when developing our home gardens. From the wild, meadows of tawny orange broom sedge at the autumn, boulder-laden streams which meander around gnarly sycamore trees and round tapestries of bluebells, ferns and geraniums have no demand for irrigation systems, fertilizers or tractor-trailer loads of mulch. …
The word “mulch” has fallen to common and nearly exclusive use as the descriptive name for shredded bark or wood merchandise; the reality is that mulch is an umbrella term for any merchandise — inorganic or organic — that functions as a topdressing for soil. A 2- to 4-inch layer of compost during your planting …
Within our technology-saturated world, we often turn to the TV, the computer or even the video game console the moment boredom strikes. Although those screens have their conveniences, being your own supply of amusement might help spark creativity and up that all-too-rare household time. If you are a fan of household jam sessions, karaoke parties …
The beauty of California’s Ojai Valley has attracted countless artists who’ve turned the area into a hub of imagination with laid-back appeal. When architect Jeffrey Weinstein and his wife, Wendy, were looking to get from Los Angeles and find a place where they could increase their own boys, Ojai came calling. However, the city’s allure …
When couples join their possessions and lives under one roof, their personalities don’t necessarily match up. Compromises occur; sometimes arguments ensue and somebody is forced to sell their beloved items or infect them in storage. This was not true for Randy and Heather Zieber, nevertheless, who met while traveling through London in 2005 and later …
We’ve talked endlessly about “the publication problem”; yet another contributor even referred to Overreaders Anonymous. Sure, using her hints to declutter is 1 way to proceed. You might even buy a typical bookcase. But we have got four creative methods and plenty of bizarre examples of odd “bookcases” that include some dazzle to those tomes. …
March from the Mid-Atlantic is about the Search! Every morning I step out my front door and am amazed at what has changed at ground level. Look carefully this month, peeking below those dried leaves and crusty mulch, and you’ll be surprised at the amount of green hiding there. Crocuses, daffodils, irises and tulips — …
It’s not often one comes across a square of frozen water in the Australian bush, or anywhere for that matter. Thus, this geometric, seemingly gravity-defying spa slowed down my customary lightning-fast browsing mouse finger and made me stop and stare. As it happens, it’s four raised glass sides, which makes it a dazzling focal point …
It’s no surprise that Isobel Schofield, the creative mind behind Bryr clogs, lives in an apartment as magical as her handmade shoes. Located in the quiet area of Cobble Hill, Brookyln, Schofield’s 750-square-foot joint apartment and workplace shows off her commitment to handmade details. An eclectic mix of budget-friendly furnishings, DIY projects and a miniature …
If your doors that are dull have got you down, do not worry. is full of fabulous ideas for great statement doorways. Some of these ideas may call for a long-term savings account, while some require only a quick trip to the home improvement store and a few hours of a semicrafty homeowner’s time. Listed …