Henri Matisse. If one has ever visited the Matisse Chapel in Vence, France, the first, perhaps most important element that overcomes a visitor is the light. Prisms embrace morning yellows and blues and become rainbows across the altar and flooring, resulting in a magical, mystical, spiritual experience. Exactly what the artist wanted. Artists are obsessed […]
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Posted inPeople & Places
WillaBella Farm
Roots run so deep at WillaBella Farm in Gig Harbor that they go all the way back to 1912. The unassuming farmhouse, with its fir lumber flooring and arched doorways, still stands. As does the guest house, which was first a woodworking shop. From the grape vines to the heirloom orchard of apple, pear, cherry […]
Posted inHome
What Homebuyers Really Want
Are you thinking of remodeling your home or buying a home? Are you a builder or remodeler wanting to stay abreast of current home design trends? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you may be interested in the results of a new survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
20 Ways to Make Your Backyard an Outdoor Oasis
Who says the outdoors can’t be stylish? We tend to treat these spaces as just useful backyards. But with a few easy upgrades, outdoor living spaces can become an attractive outdoor living area that fits right in with the rest of your home. We’ll walk you through innovative design ideas for your outdoor living spaces. […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Chef Tad Mitsui
Set on a bucolic 6-acre piece of farmland on Bainbridge Island with a striking farmhouse as its centerpiece, Heyday Farm House literally defines “farm to table” as the distance ingredients travel measured in feet rather than miles. The farm’s Thursday and Friday night “community dinners” are just that, as the seating is communal, encouraging diners […]
Posted inGarden
The Fairy Tale Garden of Wyn and Steve Abbott
Wyn and Steve Abbott live on a piece of land in Hansville that was described as “The Fairy Tale Garden” on the 2024 Hansville Helping Hands tour. Its name is perhaps appropriate in more than one way. Both Abbotts create magic, not only with their gardening efforts, but with their own artistic and creative talents. […]
Posted inPeople & Places
The Freedom to Create
Creativity is in each of us, but sometimes we must find our way to it. It may seem unlikely that a bank examiner who is required to use her skills of exactness, ensuring that banks are complying with laws, attention to detail in studying documents, and reviewing policies and procedures would be able to tap […]
Posted inGarden
Gardens — An Invitation to Happiness
Perhaps one of the best joys of gardening is when a gardener finds that new struggling little sprout that’s choking under too many weeds and she frees it — and within a day, it’s growing straight, reaching into new summer sun. Little joys like this one are abundant stories coming forth from the gardeners of […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Exploring Kitsap’s Sunny Side, One Port at a Time
Before we dive into how we can enjoy everything that Kitsap’s ports have to offer, let’s take a quick step back and ask — what are ports? At a high level, ports are traditionally places where vessels dock and passengers and cargo are loaded and unloaded. Once upon a time, Kitsap was a maritime community […]