Bainbridge Island’s picturesque Port Madison Bay has drawn people to its peaceful shores since Native Americans first paddled into the deep-water harbor. Generations later, in the mid-1800s, the area became home to a bustling lumber mill with an economic impact so great that Port Madison soon became Kitsap County’s first government seat. Fifty years later, […]
décor
Posted inAt Home, Blog
Wood Varieties — Advantages, Care and Use
Last month I sat down with John Steiner to get his thoughts on woodworking — the cabinets and furniture pieces that he builds out of solid wood. Recently, I went back to his shop to discuss those woods. This is not an all-encompassing review of every wood out there, but rather a list of woods […]
Posted inFeatured, Home
Return of the Corner Hutch
Corner hutch popularity is like a rollercoaster. A few years back, I professed the easy availability and need for these space-efficient cupboard/shelf units with one purpose — to hold “things.” Repeating over and over that they are easy to find, easy to repair and easy to paint, and the corner format fits in a zillion […]
Posted inFeatured, Home
Ceiling Fans — Not Just for Summer Anymore
Unlike a chandelier or a stunning kitchen tile backsplash, ceiling fans go mostly overlooked by visitors and occupants of a home. Although fans can be decorative, their primary purpose is utilitarian, hence they are rarely noticed until they are needed or wanted. Ceiling fans can be useful in bedrooms, living rooms, family rooms, home offices, […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Carpeting the Garden in Living Green
A favorite look in many gardens is flagstone surrounded by a carpet of ground covers. Providing interesting textures and colors, the shortest of the short such as creeping thyme, Corsican mint, Irish and Scotch moss, and others cover the soil as they crawl over and furnish a cohesive element in the garden. These plants provide […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
Artist Marti Green Creates Memories with… Art from the Heart
Contemplate one of Marti Green’s destination or landscape paintings long enough, and you’ll start making plans to visit the place. The Port Orchard artist’s work — whether in watercolor, oil or acrylic — uses vivid colors that make the paintings come to life. Even winter scenes include colors like bold blues and purples. “I like […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Repurposing — A Recipe for Charming Containers Full of Plants
All it takes to repurpose something into a plant container is a little imagination, good drainage, a bit of soil and wonderful plants. Season with a dash of charm, a pinch of humor or an element of surprise — it’s a recipe for a charming display in the garden. A bit of humor is seen […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
Mural at the Port Orchard Library
The mural on the Port Orchard Library wall is strategically placed at the town’s transit hub. In 1990, Port Orchard’s centennial, Seattle muralist Eric Grohe was commissioned to paint a scene depicting the town’s history. At one end, a seafaring man stands at the helm of a ship; at the other, his wife and child […]
Posted inFeatured, Food & Entertainment
Burrata Bistro and Paella Bar
Drive too fast through downtown Poulsbo, and you’ll likely miss the double restaurant in a solid-cement building on the edge of Front Street. But once you’re there, depending on which of two sides you choose, you’ll either discover an upbeat setting (at Paella Bar, on the left side of the building) or a romantic-mood atmosphere […]