9 Holly and Ivy Plants for Good Tidings in the Garden

9 Holly and Ivy Plants for Good Tidings in the Garden

Of all of the traditional Christmas carols, “The Holly and the Ivy” is maybe one of the most obscure. While the tune dates back to 17th-century England, holly and ivy are important because olden days, when the two plants had spiritual meanings. Rather than ban their use, the ancient Christian church adopted them for Christmas decorations by changing the symbolism to match the Nativity story. The tradition of working with these two evergreens has continued up to present times, likely…

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Matelasse

Matelasse

Matelasse is an embossed pattern on a single layer of cloth. The raised design can be created by hand stitching, by weaving on a loom or by a system, leading to a heavyweight, monotone cloth. Developed in the 18th century, matelasse fabrics represented purity and refinement in the home. The Shabby Nest Heavyweight matelasse cloths are typically used for bedcovers, frequently called counterpanes. The dense cloth lies flat, doesn’t wrinkle easily and has a nice, sharp finish. Lighter versions of…

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Clues to Finding the Right Color for Your Residence

Clues to Finding the Right Color for Your Residence

Picking out the exterior colors for your home can be daunting. Unlike in the interior, where repainting walls is relatively easy if you don’t like the color or just tire of it, a new exterior painting job can be very costly. Doing some homework up front will save you a lot of heartache when it comes to selecting the colours to your home’s exterior. Selecting a number of potential color options and creating sample panels are critical to getting the…

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In the Pros: How to Paint Interior Walls

In the Pros: How to Paint Interior Walls

Painting an interior wall may look to be an easy layout fix, but like most home projects, it is more than a quick job. “Many men and women think that painting above a wall using a light color only needs one jacket,” says Philip Storey of Redhill Painting. “But that is seldom the case.” Wall preparation, painting techniques, and the kind of paint and finish all affect the outcome. Here is the scoop from four professionals on which you want…

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Contractor Tips: How to Shop for Your Remodel

Contractor Tips: How to Shop for Your Remodel

Roughly half the costs of a remodel are for materials, so it pays to be aware of potential pitfalls. If you’re a DIYer, averting some small and major mistakes can help you take advantage of the substantial investment. You most likely already know it’s ideal to purchase well-tested superior materials from trusted local sellers and also to set up classic, long-lasting materials that may be around for generations. Here are more hints I have learned over the years that can…

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Kitchen of the Week: Ecofriendly and Artful at New Mexico

Kitchen of the Week: Ecofriendly and Artful at New Mexico

Although function and attractiveness were important within the kitchen, the owners needed to emphasize ecofriendly layout. The clients — a pottery artist and also a corporate executive from New Mexico — had only the right cooking area for their new home in the Galisteo Basin Preserve in Santa Fe County. The couple relied on Mark Giorgetti along with his staff in Palo Santo Designs to make a distinctive and gorgeous area to match their stunning environment at the Galisteo Basin…

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A Sleek Studio Emerges In a Cinderblock Warehouse

A Sleek Studio Emerges In a Cinderblock Warehouse

Pink isn’t exactly Blake Tovin’s preferred colour, but something about this building caught his eye. The pink cinderblock warehouse was certainly eccentric, but he had a feeling it had been just the right spot for his company’s new studio. Tovin, the founder and creative director of Symbol Audio, needed an economical but spacious spot for his new lineup workshop, office and showroom. Tovin worked with architect Sebastian Quinn to turn this Nyack, New York, warehouse to the open, industrial and…

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Converted Pennsylvania Pretzel Factory

Converted Pennsylvania Pretzel Factory

The majority of the time, the exterior of a home matches the interior — everything you see is exactly what you get. But every once in a while, you glance in a window along with your jaw drops. That will be the reaction when visitors see Jo Vaughn’s pretzel factory turned contemporary living space. It required more than three years of labour, but New Zealand native Jo and her husband, Terry, converted what was once a pretzel factory into a…

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8 New Programs for Your Side Yard

8 New Programs for Your Side Yard

I have written previously about turning a side yard into a magnificent backyard area. We all would like at least one (or possibly two) of those, right? Life’s dreamy moments, intimate snuggles or silent conversations require a spot where they could occur. Though I really do recommend that you imagine the mood that you would like to experience before handling a side yard makeover, then there are also more prosaic applications for that slender region. You may require it to…

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Decomposed Granite

Decomposed Granite

Decomposed granite (DG) is the normal result of granite stone’s breaking down into little, loose, powdered gravel. Frequent applications for DG are pathways, gardens, sports courts and nature trails. DG has excellent drainage and doesn’t absorb heat such as asphalt or concrete does. Decomposed granite is usually mixed with a stabilizer, saturated with water and compacted to maintain the majority of the loose dirt dense. Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture The attractiveness of decomposed granite is that it may drain…

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