In the fall of 2021, Jeannie Kay O’Reilly was seeking a place of renewal. She found the perfect location in Indianola, but the lot was mostly lawn. While there was a terrific view of Miller Bay, the longed-for flowers and planted garden beds were lacking. She was “mostly retired” and was looking for a space […]
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Posted inHome
Trends From the 2025 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show
In February, the Las Vegas Convention Center was the site of Design and Construction Week, a combined trade show of the National Association of Home Builders International Builders Show and the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. The combined shows covered 1.2 million total square feet of indoor and outdoor display […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Top 10 Annual Seeds to Sow This Spring to Make Your Garden and Containers Flowery
Do you want to make your garden or container plantings really flowery this year? If so, try adding some easy-to-grow annual seeds to your spring shopping list. Annuals are plants that complete their whole lifecycle in one growing season. You can either plant the seeds directly outside or start them inside in little pots. Over […]
Posted inGarden
A Garden of Pure Joy
The American poet Theodore Roethke stated, “Great Nature has another thing to do / To you and me; so take the lively air / And, Lovely, learn by going where to go.” When you wander into Donna and Tom Torrens’ Gig Harbor garden — with its breathtaking view of the harbor and Mount Rainier, even […]
Posted inAt Home
Choosing the Right Surface for Your Deck
The right decking material can affect the upkeep and lifespan of your deck, which will make a huge impact in the long-term cost of maintenance. For example, Trex, a composite deck board manufacturer, estimates that a pressure-treated deck can cost more than double the amount of its higher-end products over the course of 25 years […]
Posted inBest of West Sound Results
Best of West Sound Results 2025
West Sound Magazine presents the annual Best of West Sound results for 2025! Entries have been submitted from Bainbridge Island all the way to Gig Harbor. On this page we’ve listed the businesses and places you love the most. Enjoy! Best Restaurant Two-way tie Crabtree Kitchen + Bar 19225 8th Avenue NE, Suite 200, Poulsbo […]
Posted inGarden
Enjoying Vista Gardens All Year Round
West Sound has three world-class gardens open to the public all year round. The smallest, Vista Gardens, at 4.5 acres, is tucked in against a hillside on 31st Street in East Bremerton. Perhaps 4.5 acres sounds small but this garden is home to myriad amounts of plants, literally thousands. For example, there are over 450 […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Recipes for Your Easter Feast
Easter is a time of celebration for many people around the region. This collection of delicious, homemade recipes is perfect to serve to your friends, family and loved ones as you come together in thankfulness and faith for the most revered holy day in Christianity. Several of these recipes use a smoker or pellet grill, […]
Posted inPeople & Places
The Magic of Youth Making Music
For the three initial founders of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra, Karen Luke Fildes (then Karen Pew), Mary Manning and Stuart Hake, the idea was a giant dream, a “who knows if this will work” dream. Yet, that dream is nearly 27 years old and flourishing. As Hake says, “There was magic when it started in […]