When John Jewell retired from a career of more than 30 years in education, he knew he “wanted to do art.” He’d been gradually taking art classes — starting out as something to do with his daughter. He knew he had found a new passion. What he didn’t know is where that passion would take […]
design
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Green — A Color that Works Well in Small Doses
Many would claim green to be a favorite color, but usually that is an offshoot from true green or primary green. Aqua greens, teals and that luscious totem green are popular for interior settings. Very pale green is considered soothing and often used to paint hospital walls. Even true, bright, primary green and that seen-everywhere […]
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Cozy Up — Selecting the Right Fireplace for Your Home
Be it physical or psychological, sitting around a fire has the innate ability to warm your body and your soul. Whether you are toasting marshmallows outside, taking shelter from a winter storm inside or just looking for a bit of cozy ambiance, choosing just the “right” fireplace depends on “installability,” cost, available fuel sources, maintenance […]
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The Romance of an Outdoor Room
There’s nothing more magnetic than an “outdoor room.” It’s more inviting than just a porch. It’s more romantic than a deck or a patio. It can be either snuggled against the house or set out at the edge of the property. Either way, it’s like a secret garden. People are drawn to outdoor rooms like […]
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A Warm and Inviting Outdoor Space
Smoke rising from the chimney of the outdoor fireplace is often an unspoken invitation. “The big signal is when we light a fire in the afternoon and smoke curls out of the chimney — the neighbors usually know,” Donna McKamey says. “And pretty soon, one household or another rounds the corner with a bottle of […]
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Mice are Nice… and Kitties, Too
These playful fountain sculptures by Georgia Gerber can be seen at Pleasant Beach Village on Bainbridge Island. “The Boys Night Out” fountain is one of a limited series created on spec by Gerber, a renowned Seattle artist. The other two fountains are unnamed. Metal art by Jim Honold, an artist who won Best in Show […]
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Perspective on Port Madison
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, […]
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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 […]
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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 […]