It is best to leave outdoor teak tables, chairs and benches unfinished and sanded to weather to a beautiful silvery-grey color (as shown in this photo). But if your indoor teak furniture, especially a table top, has been exposed to sunlight for several … read more

My husband turned to me a couple of weeks ago and said, “You know that vintage area rug you’ve got downstairs in our basement studio, trying to cover up the plywood floor? I’ve always hated that. What I’d like to see down there … read more

An old-fashioned, fragrant herb, lavender colors the garden with a purple haze in midsummer. This herb is so popular, it has its own festivals. Lavender’s reputation is attributed to its beauty in the garden and diversity of use, from aromatherapy to crafting. The … read more

Summer has officially arrived and for me that brings forth childhood memories of hearing the ice cream truck music off in the distance. I would scramble to the house and scrounge around to get enough change together before the truck passed me by. … read more

A client who has a 1960s Danish oiled-teak dining table was recently inquiring how to safely restore the original color of the furniture. The table has dark spots in several places, and the client wanted to know what to do to get back … read more

Installing a mirror is easy but it does require a little bit of planning. Here’s how to install a full-length mirror on the back of a bedroom door without a fuss. If the door is solid wood, then metal or plastic clips will … read more

A client asked me recently whether modern and traditional pieces can mix together in the same room. She had inherited some traditional sofas and chairs from her grandmother, but her husband prefers more modern and simpler look. The two styles are not mutually … read more

After years of dreaming and planning, you’re ready to remodel your house into the home of your dreams. Before you take the plunge, keep these four important mistakes far away from your project. 1. Not fully researching your remodeler By skipping this step, … read more

Hoop houses are a simple tool to improve success with year-round vegetable gardening in the Pacific Northwest. Constructed of basic, inexpensive materials and with the potential for easy relocation, hoop houses are essentially mini-greenhouses that anyone can build and utilize. And like a … read more