The earliest gardens in Japan, prior to the 9th century, were influenced by Chinese models inspired by traveling diplomats. When the capital of Kyoto was established in 794, gardens began to take on more local influences and native Japanese garden aesthetics began to form. The main types of gardens one saw during this period were palace gardens, villa gardens, and temple gardens. Many of the design elements arose from the traditional Japanese religion of Shinto, which teaches that gods and spirits are present in the natural landscape....

Origins The hybrid interior decorating style originates from two different regions: Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the American countryside. Due to their visual similarities and overall guiding ethos, the combination of the American and Nordic styles result in a charming and livable space that is both cozy and practical. Scandinavian farmhouse style is largely inspired by both minimalism and nature, which results in a sort of warmth and coziness without being overly busy or impractical to execute....

The History of Southwestern Style In historical terms, Southwestern style has three major influences: Elements of Southwestern Style When it comes to decorating your home, you should always use your own personal touch and incorporate furniture, accents, and decor that suit your family’s lifestyle. There are, however, some key elements to Southwestern style, if you really want to nail the rustic, earthy look: Simple, white walls. Like a traditional Spanish Colonial home, stick to white walls....

Ultimately, both a mattress pad and a mattress topper are designed to improve your sleep quality, but there are some major differences when it comes to the function, purpose, and design of each. Read on for a breakdown of the pros and cons of each, as well as information about their main features and distinguishing qualities so that you can decide which of the two is best suited for your current needs....

Over time, blockages and clogs, frozen sections, loose valves, or misaligned parts can develop leaks in the refrigerator. You can usually fix or clear these leaks by yourself, using simple tools—saving a call to the appliance repair company. Defrost Drain Is Blocked The evaporator coils will drip water onto the bottom of the freezer compartment if the defrost drain is clogged with debris or is frozen. These drips can continue onto the refrigerator shelves and even onto the kitchen floor, especially if the door gasket is dirty or faulty....

Of all the hardwood varieties out there, white oak remains a fan favorite alongside its close relative red oak, but white oak, and oak in general, has a few key features that make it a good choice for flooring. What Is White Oak Flooring? White oak is a domestic hardwood, meaning it is grown in North America. The trees are found mostly on the eastern side of the country, from northern parts of Florida to southern regions of Canada....

Types of Eaves Roof eaves are designed in length and style to enhance a home’s design and to fit the roof’s aesthetics. For example, a Craftsman-style bungalow might have a low-pitched roof with a wide eave overhang that’s open to expose the roof rafters. Dutch colonial homes have gambrel roofs with distinctly flared eaves. Victorian-style homes are known for their wide overhanging eaves. Many house styles have eaves that are finished with decorative brackets or corbels to make homes appear more stately or to add an architectural element of interest....

The caveat here is that these cultivars benefits from some time in the sun, but it is not recommended that any hosta remains in full sun all the time, as the leaves may burn and turn brown. Too much sun exposure may also cause colorful foliage to fade. But many hostas are more vigorous and display their most vibrant colors if given at least some sun exposure. Hostas for Full Sun Hostas with yellow/gold leaves or fragrant flowers often tolerate more sun than hostas with green, blue, or white leaves....

If No Birds Migrated Without a reason to migrate, birds would have even more challenging lives than making these excruciating journeys. If no birds migrated, food supplies in their ranges would be rapidly depleted during the nesting season, and many chicks and adults would starve. Competition for nesting sites would be fierce, and predators would be attracted to the high concentrations of breeding birds and easy meals of vulnerable nestlings. It is for those two reasons, food and breeding, that many birds migrate, but those reasons are far more complicated than they seem....

Learn about the materials most widely used to construct a residential deck, from railings to floorboards, including the pros and cons of each type. Hardwood floors have a natural warmth and feel, and some types of woods (mainly softwoods) can be an inexpensive decking material. Some types, include ipe, can be expensive, though, and wood must be maintained and well cared for to prevent splitting, cracking, and discoloration. Composite decking is an environmentally friendly lumber alternative that combines plastic and wood fiber....

By definition, rustic is “not urban,” so rustic styles include a country farmhouse, mountain ski lodge, Tuscan villa, and French countryside. Rustic colors are deep and natural. The color palette swings heavily towards neutral, and rich earthy tones like greens, browns, and grays are common color choices. Combined with the right room elements, the room’s vibe is warm, relaxed, and welcoming. Color Family: Earth tonesComplementary Colors: They work with virtually all colors because they tend to be neutralPairs Well With: Wood tones, stone hues, rust reds, metallic colors, and forest tonesMood: Comfortable and welcomingWhere to Use: Works well in every room in the house...

With some solids, however, such as mud, removal may be easier after the stain has dried. Brush off the excess before the garment is washed. If you don’t have any detergent on hand, flush the stain from the back side of the fabric by holding the garment under a sink faucet with the water on full-blast. This helps push the stain out of the fabric fibers. Quite often, though, you can remove stains just by working a bit of heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent like Tide or Persil into the stain with a soft-bristled brush or your fingers, letting it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, and then tossing the garment into the washer as usual....

Here are 10 unusual succulent plants to liven up your space. USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 12Light: Full, partialSoil Needs: Sandy, well-drained, acidic to alkaline Mature Size: 6 to 12 inches tall and wideDeer Resistant: Yes USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11Light: FullSoil Needs: Sandy, well-drained, acidic to alkalineMature Size: 4 inches tall, 2 inches wideDeer Resistant: Yes USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 10Light: Full, partialSoil Needs: Sandy, well-drained, acidic to neutralMature Size: 6 inches tall, 3 inches wideDeer Resistant: Yes...

But, if you take the time to do it right from the start, you’ll avoid unnecessary issues and actually enjoy the experience. From interior designers to construction experts, here are the ten mistakes people make when renovating their kitchens (and how to avoid them). Choosing Non-Quality Materials Heard of the phrase ‘go big or go home’? Well, in kitchen renovating that really rings true. If you’re not going to go all out (within reason, of course) then, arguably, you shouldn’t be renovating....

For especially small or shallow containers, succulents and drought-tolerant sedums are appropriate plant choices.

Here are 12 types of roofing materials to consider when it comes time to replace your roof. How Much Does Replacing a Roof Cost? The cost of a roof replacement can vary widely. The three main factors it depends on are the type of roofing material you choose, the price of labor, and the size and shape of your roof. The average cost of a roof replacement nationwide is $8,314....

In this patriotic border, the red color is achieved with geraniums, the white with annual alyssum, and the blue with blue ageratum, but one could just as easily use: Red salvia (red) Shasta daisy (white) Victoria Blue salvia (blue) In this garden, the Autumn Joy sedum is complemented by ‘Silver Dust’ dusty miller, among other plants. Dusty miller is a common choice when silver foliage is desired. The brightness of its frosty, white fronds softens the design that is otherwise dominated by the dusky-pink tones of the Autumn Joy sedum....

In some cases, it will have bicolored flowers; in others, the blooms will be unusually large or oddly shaped. Growing these plants is a wonderful way to set yourself apart from your neighbors and bring visual interest to your garden that you likely won’t see in many other places. Here are 13 of the most unique flowers to grow in the garden. 13 Unique Flowers USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12Flower Color Varieties: Orange, whiteLight: Full, partialSoil Needs: Loamy, moist but well-drained, acidicMature Size: 3....

There’s a great mix of activities here; some require the kids to run around and get active, while others are great for sitting around and relaxing. And there are games that will have everyone out of breath from laughing so hard. The children, of course, will love these Thanksgiving activities but you’ll also find that they’re a bit hit with the whole family. After all, there’s a kid inside of all of us and the holidays are the perfect time to embrace that....