House Architecture

Sod Webworms are Back

Dominic Hellyer — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:59:28 +0000

Doesn’t it seem early for sod webworms? Yet they are feeding in my St. Augustine lawn. And just for a bonus there was an armyworm two. Look at my hand and you can see the small sod webworms and the larger armyworm.

You know, I thought I saw lawn caterpillars a week or two ago and I guess I was right. I have started to see even more of them now. Here is the question – how did the sod webworms get started so early? They normally do not arrive until the end of June. You know, they are supposed to die out locally during the winter. Do you think during this mild winter some survived? Tha

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London Gardens Walk eBook: a free gift for Gardenvisit.com readers & the Chelsea Fringe Festival

Harry Longmore — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:44:37 +0000

London Historic Gardens Walk eBook

To celebrate the start of the first Chelsea Fringe Garden Festival, Gardenvisit.com is giving away free copies of the London Gardens Walk eBook during the weekend of 19th to 20th May. It is in Kindle format and can be downloaded from any Amazon website. If you dont have an eReader you can download an app for your Mac or PC from the Amazon site. Comments, or, better, reviews on the Amazon website will be welcome. There is also a version of the gardens walking map on Googlemaps. It

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The changing face of boardrooms

Amber Higgs — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:54:18 +0000

Not that long ago boardroom tables were large and imposing, often made of a dark wood or wood veneer, with equally austere looking black leather armchairs, usually with a dark wood frame. The boardroom was an “executive only “ area, exclusively for the use of the very top level of the corporate management, in much the same way as executive washrooms in the old days.

But nowadays, most business cannot afford to have an expensive room for the sole use of the top level executives and board members, and don’t feel the need to have to impress their clients or contemporaries to this level, as before.

Boardrooms have in many ways been replaced by multifunction meeting rooms, which can offer a wider range of staff a wider range of possibilities. Multifunctional furniture can allow even the smallest person in the office, to reconfigure the meeting room into many things. A staff tr

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DIY Project: Creating a Vegetable Garden

Amber Higgs — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:37:21 +0000

This year I plan on starting a vegetable garden at my home. I love the idea of having fresh vegetables to use when cooking (not to mention the cost savings). Now is the perfect time of the year in New England to begin preparing the garden for the summer and fall harvest. I am planning on planting tomatoes, peppers, zucchini and maybe some green beans and/or broccoli. I plan on getting the plants from a local farm and maybe starting a few from seed in my garden. I will see what they recommend for the New England area and a gardening beginner like me and update you on the specific plants used.

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Home Design Outlet Center, an online retailer of bathroom vanities, is planning on opening a brand new showroom in Philadelphia, PA.

Harry Longmore — Sat, 05 May 2012 10:34:07 +0000

Home Design Outlet Center, an online retailer of bathroom vanities, is planning on opening a brand new showroom in Philadelphia, PA. Residents in Philadelphia can look forward to a pleasant shopping experience in the new showroom.

Service, quality, affordability Home Design Outlet Center is a reputable online retailer of bathroom vanities. The Company has experienced steady growth since its inception. The Company business approach can be summarized into three simple words service, quality and affordability. On service. The Company trains its staff well to ensure that all staff are equipped with adequate knowledge to assist customers.

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What home renovations will most increase the overall value of my house?

Dominic Hellyer — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:14:27 +0000

Hi MB. I’m not sure what type of arrangement is in place for the utility costs of your apartment, but if you are paying for them, upgrading its old appliances might make good sense. Installing a new high-efficiency furnace could lower your heating and cooling costs and there are also many new kitchen appliances available that are designed for efficient operation. Installing a few Energy Star models could contribute to lower electric and gas costs every month. I know living in Brooklyn can be pricey, so any improvements to your apartment that might lower monthly expenses could help your long-term budget and allow for a few more nights out on the town.

I’m assuming that you own the apartment and may want to sell it at some point in time. If that i

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Home Design Trends for 2012

Harry Longmore — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:29:58 +0000

The housing crisis continues to impact us and has profoundly affected home design. Home design trends for 2012 reflect the changing lifestyles of todays homeowners. While homes are shrinking in size, they are also becoming more livable, more energy efficient, and more accessible.

Before looking at the actual home design trends for 2012, lets look at how Americans are living in the post-Great Recession era. Many young adults, with heavy student debt loads and poor job prospects, choose to live with their parents longer. Meanwhile, elderly parents are moving in with their grown children. Multigenerational living requires home designs featuring privacy, functional living spaces, and accessibility features.

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Designer Spotlight: ilio

Amber Higgs — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:22:35 +0000

Today Styleture turns our attention to Istanbul-based ilio, the home product brand of the well-established design firm, Demirden Design. These guys have a novel approach to both the design and the manufacturing process, taking inspiration from the natural world to create a fresh new look for everyday functional objects.

ilio’s focus is on tableware, furniture and accessories that celebrate the art of fine living. Each item in their tableware and furniture collections is imbued with a unique artistic identity and contemporary sensibility. ilio’s design sensibilities are at once beautiful, functional, daring and playful. Eac

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Spring Garden Project: Create a Container Garden

Dominic Hellyer — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:16:48 +0000

Creating a container garden is a quick weekend project that provides lots of visual pay-off. Choosing the plant combinations is a fun, creative trip to The Home Depot and the project was easy for us to pull off in an afternoon (really!). Follow these step-by-step instructions to create these gorgeous containers that truly transform a patio.

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Impatiens in for a Tough Spring

Dominic Hellyer — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:28:40 +0000

It may be a tough year for impatiens in home landscapes at least during the spring months. A new disease called downy mildew is affecting plants at the

White spores on underside of impatiens leaves

growers and those in home landscapes. The plants develop curled and yellow leaves. Eventually entire stems of foliage collapse. As the disease matures a white, downy-like growth forms fungal spores on the underside of the leaves.

Plant specialists point out this is a cool weather disease that is also aided by moist growing conditions. Regretfully the disease may be with the plants you purchase and further develop in the landscape.

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不喜春华旖旎，独爱秋凌萧瑟

Harry Longmore — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:45:54 +0000

A memory of autumn in a sunny weather

Spring is coming and hundreds of flowers almost blossom in one night time. I am not sure whether everybody love the landscape full of gorgeous new beauties, but usually, landscape architects show their works in a spring scene, so that the drawing works could be visually fantastic. But is spring always with us in the whole year? The answer should be NO. This is like an individual could not always be young and should has different charm and beauty to be appreciated in various age groups.

Falling leaves are always my favorite, which probably shows my special love on autumn. Spring

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Good for you and the planet

Amber Higgs — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:18:48 +0000

Good for you and the planet The trend toward creating an eco-friendly home wont be fading anytime soon, as evidenced at last weeks Green Products Expo in Manhattans Grand Hyatt Hotel, where companies touted everything from low-flow showerheads and energy-saving cookware to high-tech thermostats and machines that turn air into water. As we observe Earth Day, heres a look at some of the products being introduced into the marketplace that can be good for your familys health and that of the planet. The bathroom is one area where eco-friendly products continue to pick up steam. Read full post…

Going ‘Green’ via the Easy Route

admin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:53:02 +0000

You don’t have to be the lazy type to enjoy the benefits of someone else doing a job for you. Sharing the workload is normal and creates equity. However, things can and does mount up and gain momentum, creating a snowball effect, that dreaded term that identifies you as being under pressure. You don’t have to be a martyr, or carry the full burden of weight that running a successful business sometimes implies. Throwing mournful eyes heaven bound, or uttering loud sighs in the presence of others in order to guilt them into action, will only have the effect of driving a wedge between you and them. Read full post…

Bathroom Vanities For Virginia Homes: Size Matters

Harry Longmore — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:00:19 +0000

Even in the present day Real Estate marketplace the return on asset for a Bathroom renovation varies between 80 and 90 percent. The key, obviously, is in planning, and choosing wisely ahead of buying the bathroom constituents. Bathroom vanities can be got in all widths, heights, as well as shapes. Because the vanity is usually the lone furniture piece which you will buy for the bathroom, to get it correct is crucial. 3 things to be considered when buying bathroom vanity are; width, height, and style.

To measure your Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC restroom is the foremost stride in the planning procedure for any renovation.

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How do I get rid of the paint smell in my kitchen cupboards?

Dominic Hellyer — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:00:33 +0000

Hi Kim, I know fresh paint fumes can be overpowering and oil based paint are often the worst. I have actually had the odor cause me to become light-headed and have to leave an enclosed room that didn’t have adequate ventilation. However, the odor normally dissipates within several days of painting as the paint cures. You don’t mention how long you’ve been in the apartment or how recent the kitchen cabinets were painted. If it has only been a week or so, my suggestion would be to leave the cabinets open and if it’s not too cold in Warren, a few windows as well. I would think that the smell should be gone in a few days.

However, if that’s not the case, you may have to take matters into your own hands and try a few unconventional solutions. I have not pers

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