Many readers know me as a contributing writer to WestSound Magazine magazine. I am also a residential designer, remodeling contractor and an avid tennis player. Ten years ago, I had a mishap on the courts and seriously injured my left ankle. At that … read more

There is nothing more refreshing then slowly paddling through the beautiful estuary we call home. Puget Sound is the second largest estuary in the United States. Fresh water enters Puget Sound through more than 10,000 rivers and streams all across Washington, and salt … read more

Winter brings shorter days, longer nights and lower temperatures. There are few things more comforting than coming in from the cold to a house filled with the intoxicating smells of homemade bread and a pot of soup. The beauty of most soups and … read more

Buildings with a “living roof” are all the rage with the current focus on ecologically minded construction techniques. Originally European and historically planted with turf grasses, green roofs are popular worldwide for reducing pollution and runoff and improving insulation, among other environmental benefits. … read more

Use Mylar for a Creative Splash This photo shows Tom Piehl, an extraordinarily talented artist, paperhanger and painter, installing large-size panels of Henri Matisse art on the wall from the top of the counter all the way up to the edge where the … read more

Often people are looking to update the public spaces or entertaining areas of their home. This can include living rooms, dining rooms, family rooms, home theatres, powder rooms and outdoor spaces like decks or outdoor kitchens. Living, family and dining rooms are pretty … read more

Gravel patios or “terraces” are an outdoor element used in home landscapes in Europe for many centuries. Elegant and natural, they are typically made of crushed indigenous stone, widely used for many years because it was a readily available and inexpensive material. The … read more

As your winter schedule is sure to be packed with gatherings that bring family and friends closer, have plenty of treats that are gentle on the waist and wallet. Sweet, spicy, salty or with an Asian twist — any way you pop it … read more

Like shopping and seeing a great pair of shoes that knocks your socks off, but in my case it was a gallon of mismatched paint on a back-corner sale shelf. It was an odd color — not vermilion, not burgundy, not orange and … read more