After a wet Washington winter, there are plenty of tasks to do to keep things in order around your home. A little routine maintenance will protect your investment and prevent more serious issues down the line. Here’s a checklist for things you should do this spring around the home. Once you have tackled these mostly […]
diy tips
Posted inAt Home, Blog
Make a Seat… So You May Take a Seat
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 time, the shower in our master bathroom was a 32-by-32-inch, stall type. […]
Posted inBlog, Featured, The Outdoors
Enjoy Puget Sound by Kayak
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 water is brought in from the powerful tides of the Pacific Ocean. […]
Posted inFeatured, Food & Entertainment
Winter Warmers
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 stews is that you put them together, cover and forget until you […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
How to Build a Green Roof Birdhouse
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. They are commonly seen in commercial construction but now you, too, can […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog, Featured
Ways to Add More Color and Interest to Your Home
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 wall meets the ceiling. The panels also need to fill the wall […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog, Featured
Remodeling Trends: Public Spaces
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 straightforward. Many homes had “sunken” formal rooms and we do a lot […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
The Beauty and Effect of Gravel in the Garden
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 look is an easy surface tamped to flatten and harden the terrace […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog
Make Your Winter Party POP
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 — popcorn is a satisfying snack suitable for every chilly weather occasion. […]