Chiminea History Traditionally, a chiminea is made of clay and designed in a wide-bottom vase form, with a narrow, vertical chimney through which to direct smoke and a wide mouth on its side for the fire pit. The chiminea’s design allows it to be used in the rain without the water extinguishing its flame. Basically, a chiminea is the same concept as an old-fashioned potbelly stove, which is a cast-iron wood-burning stove....

Examples of Finish Floors or Floor Coverings Hardwood Floor Solid hardwood flooring of the past in lengths able to span joists is becoming more of a rare thing. Commodity flooring in a variety of lengths, some as short as 6 or 8 inches, is more the norm. Laminate Flooring Laminate flooring can cover other, existing floor coverings, as long as the total height of the flooring does not interfere with other functions....

Origins of the Italian Garden The Italian garden has its roots in ancient Rome. Wealthy Romans complemented their majestic villas with equally impressive outdoor rooms. These rooms were divided from each other by boxwood hedges and masonry walls, and the eye was further delighted by the use of topiaries. Pliny the Younger describes his Tuscan estate in such terms, speaking of trimmed boxwood hedges and other boxwoods sculpted into topiaries depicting animals....

Although Mediterranean architecture initially drew its inspiration from Italy, Portugal, Spain, and other countries around the Mediterranean Sea, over time, influences from France, Greece, and Morocco, as well as other countries, joined into the mix. Because Mediterranean architecture has had so many cultural influences, it can also be referred to as Spanish Colonial, Morrocan, Mission Revival, and Neo-Mediterranean, among other names. Despite differences in influences and styles, all Mediterranean-style homes are meant to be a relaxing retreat that connects the homeowner with nature....

For maximum flavor and best texture, most vegetables are harvested just before full maturity. The following are vegetable harvesting criteria for judging whether your vegetables are ready for picking. When to Harvest Your Vegetables Asparagus: Begin harvesting when spears are 6–8 inches tall and about as thick as your pinky finger. Snap them off at ground level and new spears will continue to grow. Stop harvesting about 4–6 weeks after the initial harvest, to allow the plants to produce foliage and food for themselves....

What to Expect During Furniture Store Sales You might have noticed that many furniture sales events are centered on major holidays and long weekends. This is to make it convenient for buyers to shop. Buying furniture can be a time-consuming process, as there are many variables and choices available. There are two main reasons that retailers hold furniture sales events: Timely demand: There’s typically consumer demand for certain types of furniture at certain times of the year....

Home improvement stores and nurseries are eager to clear out all remaining summer plants (trees, shrubs, bulbs, and perennials) to make room for incoming fall plants and holiday merchandise. However, it is possible to find bargains on plants earlier in the year. Let’s look at some other times that you can save big on perennials and annuals. Perennial Plants Spring and fall are the best times to plant many trees, shrubs, and perennials....

Your laundry room’s location must strike a perfect balance in ways that may seem contradictory at first. The laundry room should be conveniently located—but not be so close to living areas that noise becomes an issue. Of course, you also want the laundry room to be large enough to accommodate big appliances—yet not so large as to steal room from the house’s living areas. Flexibility, convenience, and space all coordinate with the ultimate need to tap into a range of utilities and access points that can be difficult to move or extend....

When you’re short on storage ideas for a small bathroom, these tips for where to position your toilet paper holder will save your muscles from mayhem. The National Kitchen and Bathroom Association recommends locating the holder 8 to 12 inches in front of the edge of the toilet bowl and around 26 inches above the floor. Cramped bathrooms often have limited wall space, so why not fit your toilet roll holder onto the front of the vanity?...

Winged ants are swarming ants seeking to breed and reproduce. Flying ants may be male (the drone) or female (the queen). Both are reproductive ants that are seeking to mate and breed the next generation of ants for the survival of their colony. Swarms of Flying Ants During early to mid-spring, “swarms” of flying ants numbering into the thousands can be seen leaving their colonies and going on mating or “nuptial” flights....

Causes for Needle Drop on Dwarf Alberta Spruces One reason why this problem is so challenging is that there are a number of possible reasons why your dwarf Alberta spruce may be dropping its needles, including: Excessive heatWinter burnToo much water or not enough waterPollutionPests Environmental Factors That Impact Dwarf Alberta Spruce The first four of these reasons fall under the general heading of environmental factors (which include issues of location and care)....

What Wide Plank Flooring Is The term wide plank flooring refers to solid wood flooring sold in planks that are notably wider than the 2 1/2- to 4-inch wide boards that make up the vast majority of the wood flooring market. While the tendency for all hardwood flooring is now toward wider planks up to 4 inches wide, true wide-plank flooring is a relatively small subset of the hardwood flooring market, with boards that range from 6 to 20 inches in width....

January While the beginning of the year may not seem like a great time to get in the garden for most of the country, there is no shortage of to-dos. First off, if you got a Christmas tree for the holidays, it’s time to recycle it. Take a look at garden catalogs and get your orders in so that you’ll be prepared when spring rolls around. Northerners and anyone living in places that see freezing temperatures overnight should check for frost heaves around outdoor plants and apply mulch as needed....

Follow these tips to make your bathroom remodel more attractive while keeping the process smooth, efficient, and cost-effective. Build Niches and Recesses For Extra Room When space is extremely tight, don’t build out: build in. Built-ins such as recessed soap dishes, medicine cabinets, and even toilet roll holders pry out as much available room as possible from tiny bathrooms. You can even flatten the ceiling light by converting your ceiling light into a recessed light....

Smaller specimens carry the day over their taller cousins almost every time when it comes to bringing sweet scents to the yard. You can also train some shrubs and vines to grow as small trees by removing their lower branches—such creations are called “standards.” Here are 10 good choices if you are looking for a tree to add fragrance to your landscape. The variety is selected so that you can base your choice on whatever characteristics are most important to you: foliage, fruit, maintenance, flower color, or size....

Color Family: VariousComplementary Colors: VariousPairs Well With: Light neutralsMood: Bright, airy, inviting, cheerful, comfortableWhere to Use: Small spaces Here are some of the top Behr paint colors for small rooms.

It is important to keep in mind that there is no one plant that will thrive in absolutely every kitchen - since every space has its own unique light, humidity, and temperature conditions. However, these 10 houseplants are a great place to start.

Keeping your bathroom mold-free is relatively easy if you are consistent in your cleaning. Follow these easy tips and tricks to minimize moisture and learn how to prevent mold in the bathroom. There are many types of exhaust fans for a bathroom so it helps to know what size you need. The CFM (cubic feet per minute) count on your fan will tell you if it’s good enough for the space....

Night blooming cereus plants are tropical. They’re typically grown indoors in containers in colder regions since night blooming cereus temperature tolerance is 40 degrees Fahrenheit and warmer. Night blooming cereus indoor care is simple: they need light, water, cacti fertilizer, and little else. They don’t thrive in the shade. However, if growing them indoors, be prepared for a tall plant; some can grow up to 10 feet tall. Many people erroneously think queen of the night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) is the only type of night-blooming cereus....