Situate your pond where it’ll get at least 6 hours of sun daily. Pond plants flower better in full sun. The first step in installing most any water feature is setting up an impermeable basin to hold the water. For a small space, bury a preformed liner. Get your water from a natural pond. Pond plants grow better without the chlorine found in tap water. If you can’t get pond water, rainwater is fine....
We spoke with designers to get the lowdown on what industry pros really think about all of the fall decor we see on social media. The consensus is that while going overboard is a no-no, there are still plenty of fun ways to embrace autumn in your space. Read on for some pointers from designers across the country. It’s Best to Go Subtle Steer clear of the pumpkin overload and instead opt for introducing some festive, yet less dramatic seasonal touches in your home....
Many people get frustrated when the fruit trees they plant in their gardens seem to take forever to bear fruit. Unlike vegetables, it can take years for a fruit tree to become established enough to produce flowers, let alone set fruit, and it can take even longer for the tree to support the heavy crop we dream of. Before you give up on your home orchard, run through these checkpoints....
If you need less space (or cannot afford a full addition), try a room addition—one room tacked onto the side of the house, typically one bedroom or one bathroom. If you do not need that much space and/or money is tight, a bump out might just be the right improvement, especially if you need only a little more space in a specific room, like a bathroom or kitchen. What Is a Bump Out?...
Read on to find out how to start a compost bin, DIY compost bin ideas, and more tips for beginners. The decomposition process will eventually take place over time in a compost “pile” or “heap,” even without any housing to contain the matter. However, a compost bin is worth it because it helps speed up decomposition and keeps the area neat. Some bins are continuous, meaning you can keep adding waste to them, while others create batches of compost with a set mix of ingredients you add all at once....
When going this route, the secret to success is just keeping some key design tips in mind to ensure that your sofa truly shines in this space and isn’t overly affected by sunlight. Below, designers share the main factors that you’ll want to keep top of mind during the living room layout process. Go Low-Profile Designer Brittany Farinas of House of One is based in South Florida, where many of the homes that she works on feature floor to ceiling windows....
How Quickly Feeders Empty Many factors affect how quickly a bird feeder will be emptied, including: Feeder size and capacityType of food offeredNumber of birds feedingFeeder styleBackyard safety that affects feeding birdsWeather patterns and feeding timesSpills or accidents that waste seedVisits from other wildlife, including squirrels or raccoons A bird feeder may go empty in a day, or it may even take just a few hours for a feeder to be emptied if it is smaller, filled with popular food like hulled sunflower seed, accessible to many birds, and is filled right when birds really need the meal, such as before a storm or during a busy breeding season....
A successful decorator does much more than pick out pretty fabrics and rearrange furniture. In a typical day, they may deal with cabinet spacing, steer a homeowner away from a budget-blowing item, track down a missing tile installer, work on a seasonal installation for a business storefront, make a presentation in front of an architectural review board…and the list goes on. But how does a decorator or a person get to this point?...
Let Light in with Airy Curtains If windows are present at all, be sure to take advantage of as much light as you can get from them. The amount of light a window provides is greatly impacted by the type of window treatments or curtains that are used. Heavy treatments or dark-colored curtains block out light and make a space feel smaller. Ideally, opt for curtains that are as light and airy as possible....
General Calculation Tips As a rule of thumb, always plan to have enough for two coats of paint. Take the square footage of your ceiling into your personal calculation if you’d like to include it in your paint project. As applicable, you should make sure that windows, entry doors, and non-paintable areas such bathtubs, surrounds, cabinets, and tiled areas are not included (because who wants to paint their tub?). Painting projects for entire rooms are based on a wall coverage factor of 350 square feet per gallon of paint....
To avoid the trap of basic, boring curtains, we turned to a few experts to find out which window treatment options work best, and how to push the envelope of window decor without creating a design disaster. Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Quality Made-to-measure curtains can be pricey, but as the interior design experts at Couture Living told us, choosing well-made fabric is the best way to a sustainable design....
Regular Care for Nylon Usually, nylon should be washed separately on a cold water setting for best results. However, always check your clothing tags for specific directions. You can use regular laundry detergents on nylon but never use chlorine bleach. Typically, you should drip dry your nylon items. Put wet clothing on a non-staining hanger; smooth the cuffs and seams with your fingers while it is still wet. Layout knit garments such as sweaters on a flat surface to dry....
