Home & Garden

If you have an interest in the landscaping that surrounds your house but you are at somewhat at a loss for not knowing exactly where to begin, then you can quite easily discover many different inspiring examples. It might be simply driving around your neighborhood and stopping the vehicle to take a picture of a landscape design that is appealing to you. You may even knock on one of the doors and see if the homeowner will give you some advice on whether they use a professional or if they did it themselves.

Resources of Inspiration

Another good place to get many different ideas for your landscaping projects would be the numerous magazines and books that are published on the topic of design landscapes. Also, nowadays there are numerous different resources that are available online for designing and embellishing the landscape that’s around your house. Quite a few of these websites even offer sample landscape design plans, numerous pictures of various ideas, as well as tips from experts for do-it-yourselfers, and contact information for professional landscape design that are around your area.

Some of the most common features in landscaping for homes are patios and decks. Patios and decks not only provide beauty and are a type of centerpiece to overall landscape design, but they can also add a functionality to your house and furnished outdoor living space as well.

Decks and patios provide you with an excellent place to host family gatherings as well as other types of entertainment. While at the same time, a small patio can be added to a special garden area to make a place for you to get away to relax and be refreshed by the beauty of your natural surroundings. Adding patios and decks, or making different improvements to existing ones, is also an excellent way to add more value to your home as well as increase your equity.

Fountains and Rock Gardens

Nowadays, more frequently, fountains are steadily becoming features of home and garden landscaping. There are the more traditional types, multi-tiered fountains that are reminiscent of European villas and country estates which can add an old world charm to your surroundings.

There are also more modern types of fountains that use specific types of rocks and stones or large ceramic pots which are steadily becoming very popular in different types of landscape architecture. Naturally, there are numerous other creative and beautiful styles that are available on the market today to meet any style and taste.

Rock gardens are also becoming quite popular. These type of gardens have the benefit of being highly attractive, however they generally integrate very few, if any, types of plants. The end result of this is that they are very low maintenance as they need either no watering, or very little, and virtually no weeding, and generally speaking need almost no attention, except to simply sit back and admire how your rock garden adds to the beauty of your overall landscape design.

English Cottage Gardens and Lawns

Emulating an English cottage landscaping garden is an additional home and garden inspiration. These type of gardens are notable for their overall lack of a formal plan. There is very little rigidity in their design with English cottage gardens since the whole idea behind them is to let the plants themselves “just grow” and to let them develop in a more natural, or organic method. These type of gardens have a specific charm to them and very often make individuals feel more relaxed as well is embraced by nature.

Lush green lawns are, in all probability, the most common and largest component of most of the landscaping design plans. A beautiful lawn is very popular since it provides for homeowners with an area where the family can enjoy numerous different types of activities. Lawns are also one of the simplest of the landscape components to maintain as well as staying beautiful for many years afterwards with basic maintenance routines.

The first thing to do before putting your house on the market is preparing your house for the sale. Research figures show that when it comes to forming an impression, prospective buyers form an opinion within 30 seconds of viewing the property’s exterior. Referred to as ‘Kerb Appeal’, how the buyers initially react to the exterior can have a major impact on eventual interest. Since the exterior is the first thing a buyer will see, first impressions are very important. This relative short but critically important 30 seconds which determines the first impression could be the crucial difference for both the seller and the prospective buyer.

As outdoor living becomes a more important priority for many, it is not surprising therefore that many consider the garden a critically important aspect of the exterior. Ideally effective use of colour and style should provide a seamless transition from the house interior to the ‘outdoor room’ or garden areas. In such situations how the front and rear gardens are presented to prospective buyers is very important if an overall positive image is to be achieved.

In today’s competitive property marketplace, sellers should ensure that when it comes to selling time that the gardens look their very best. At a basic level, areas should be clean and clear of clutter. However much more needs to be done to create attractive gardens that could make all the difference to the prospective buyer.

‘Kerb Appeal’

What first impression a prospective buyer may have, begins with perhaps a view from a passing car or literally at the kerbside. But how do you determine ‘Kerb Appeal’? For starters take a good look around the immediate neighbourhood. Look at nearby houses, how does your house compare?  Are your gardens above/below average standard for area? Is the fencing, paintwork and paved areas in good condition? Are trees and shrubs neat and tidy? Are there signs of wear and tear, fallen leaf, overlooked debris and toys cluttering areas? Are there obvious signs of colour and vibrancy? Are lawn areas groomed, green and refreshing or simply jaded weedy patches?  

Use colour, scent and features in areas that are practical and comfortable, pleasing and refined, and create calm and spacious surroundings that one would love to enjoy. The buyer experience begins in the garden with a sense of excitement and inspiration, mixed with an anticipation of comfort and wellbeing that only the beauty and harmony of a cared for natural garden can provide.  

Where to Start

Before you start showing the house, invest some time, money and effort to create looks that sell and pass the ‘kerb appeal’ test that will attract interest and not repel prospective buyers. Speculate to accumulate is probably another way to look at it. Focus on optimising the buyer experience, attention to detail defines the whole experience, and this should be apparent from the entrance gate. Now should be a good time to start work.

Lawns

Lawns should be in good condition, evenly cut with crisp well defined neat edges and cleared of all grass cuttings, fallen leaf and weeded etc. If colour is not vivid consider feeding with lawn fertiliser. If the problems are more serious and lawn is infested with weeds, it might be better to replace old lawn with new turf. A well maintained groomed lawn whatever the size makes a striking impression.

Shrubs, Trees and Flowers.

Dead head old flowers, trim and prune trees and shrubs where necessary, especially low hanging or overgrown branches especially around windows, over footpaths. Remove all dead shoots and branches. If there are obvious yawning gaps in planted areas, better to fill voids with new plant stock. Do bear in mind, the importance of colour and flower and ensure all plants are watered and look healthy. For a striking and fresh looking finish mulch planted areas with bark mulch. If the garden appears neglected, it might well require more professional assistance to complete the remedial works including installation of new lawn areas, and revisions to planting scheme. For more modest undertakings, best to keep it simple by planting groups (block planting) the same type and to bring out the best in colour and achieve impact use seasonal flowers. Do not overlook scent which can be an exciting experience in the garden. There are plenty of plant types to choose from including Shrubs, herbaceous and Herbs, e.g., Lavenders, Santolinas, Helichrysums, Lillies, Roses, Dill, Thyme, Rosemary etc. Try planting scented shrubs near windows or better still near seating areas and along footpath edges.

Patios and Paving

Patios and paved areas should be weed free, tidy and if necessary power washed to remove accumulated surface grime, lichen, moss etc.  Check Driveway areas for any signs of engine oil, and remove any oil stains with proprietary cleaners. A few strategically positioned colourful planters can have a dramatic effect at or near Patio areas or in overlooked recessed areas.

Garden Features

Ideally water features and especially pond areas should be cleaned and pumps in good working order. Also check garden lights and replace any faulty light bulbs. A particularly intrusive interference are Halogen security lights with poor settings, adjust angles and settings correctly so as not to blind house viewers.

Miscellaneous Areas

Toys should be stored away neatly, all garden rubbish should be removed and all doors, windows, drains and down pipes cleared of webs, washed and cleared of any debris. Worth checking are any Garden Outbuildings and Sheds which might benefit from a coat of paint.

So before selling your house pay some careful but critical attention to the garden areas. Some simple adjustments to particular aspects of the landscaping, not only enhances the overall effect, but could make it easier and faster to sell the house. More importantly the seller will be wise to remember the importance of the exterior and its role in shaping the prospective buyer’s first impression and making it count.

So.  You’ve done your homework and chose the moving company that will move your belongings.  Unfortunately, after this homework there’s more work-as in the paper kind.
The first bit of business is to start a “move file” which should contain all financial aspects of the move.  This includes the mover’s fee, their receipts and every item you’ve donated to charity.  These donations not only lessens your moving load, but also can be claimed as a tax deduction.  In fact, the IRS will allow the move to be tax deductible if it falls under these conditions:

1.     You are moving because of a job change.
2.    Your new home is at least 50 miles or more farther from your former home and job.  For example, if your old job’s location was just two miles from your former home, your new job location must be at least 52 miles from your former home.
3.     If you’re self-employed, you must work full-time for at least 39 weeks during the first year and a total of 78 weeks during the first two years at your new home.  If you’re a company’s employee, you must work full-time for at least 39 weeks during the first year upon arriving at your new job and home.

If the drive to your new home is a great deal of distance from your old home, you can also deduct the cost of your lodging; as well as gas charges.  However, a long term temporary living expense (i.e., subletting a house before you move into your new home) is not deductible.

If you’re not going to drive your car to your new home, then research auto shipping companies.  See what type of vehicles they specialize in moving – especially if you’ve got an expensive car.  If you need to have your car dropped off at your home, you’ll want to see if they offer door to door transport.  

Of course, there are hundreds of auto shipping companies.  A good website that reviews and weeds out the bad apples from the good ones is:  http://www.transportreviews.com/

After all financial arrangements have been sufficiently arranged and recorded, start researching your new community by using the internet.  There, you can find and study online community guides, blogs and newspapers.  These sites will make you feel less of a stranger in your new town.  You should also contact the Chamber of Commerce to request their new resident packet.  

Once you’ve gathered this necessary information, you can then extensively work on your floor plan.  Before you move into your new home, you should already know how your home will look.  Which room(s) will be utilized as a study?  A home gym?  A “playroom” for your child (children)?  A bedroom?  The washing machine/dryer room?

If you have a backyard, before the move is the time to plan what will fill it.  Do you want the backyard to hold a picnic table?  A patio?  A garden?  A swimming pool?  A barbecue pit or birdbath or any lawn ornament?  Or, if any of the aforementioned is in the backyard already, do you wish to have any or all of it removed?  A clutter free backyard can not only clear your mind, but clear up space-especially if you have a young child or children and they have (or will have) a swing set or jungle gym.  

In short, make plans for your new home while you’re living in your old home.

Thinking of hiring a NJ powerwashing contractor to clean up the exterior of your house?

Your project will run much smoother if you keep the following guidelines in mind and take the recommended steps below:

1. Remember that the date that your NJ powerwashing project will be scheduled for is tentative, and will depend on the weather.

2. It’s important that you secure all openings so that water does not get into your home.  Make sure all windows and doors are tightly closed before the work begins.

3. Move all portable items such as patio furniture, garden tools, children’s toys, wall hangings, potted plants and similar items to a safe place away from the work area.  The powerwashing crew will be on the move as they work their way around your house.  They need clearance to use the equipment. Power washers use strong streams of water mixed with chemicals containing bleach to clean and prep the surface, and may damage your belongings.

4. Powerwashing quipment will be hooked to your outside faucets, so please make sure that workers can access them and that they are in working order.

5. Please remove all electrical items, extension cords or other electrical sources while your house is being washed.

6. Power washing can produce an overspray of water, chemicals, old paint and other debris.  For safety purposes, make arrangements to park your vehicles away from the worksite for the duration of the project.

7. There are many pieces of equipment that are required to get the job done and they may be left unattended for short periods of time.  Please make sure you keep children and pets away from the work area at all times.

8. Power washing can be very noisy, like using a lawn tractor for extended periods of time.  The noise will probably interfere with normal conversations or children’s naps, so you might want to make other arrangements for the time the powerwashing crew is working on your house.

Given the importance of landscaping to the beauty and value of the home, it’s a pity that most homeowners have no clue about how to design an attractive and functional landscape. More often than not, the paltry shrubs, narrow driveway and front walk remain the same as it was when the builder installed it. Skilled professional landscape architects and designers understand how to select and position plants and paved areas to create a beautiful and functional landscape that enhances a home.

Builders often skimp on landscaping, putting in a straight, narrow walk way to the front door and lining the front of the house with an unexciting variety of shrubs and trees. A professional is more creative, enhancing the appearance of the home with the layout of the landscape and choosing plants that are beautiful on their own. A good landscape design makes access to various parts of the house and the outdoor living spaces easy. The design considers where people will walk and locates walkways for routes most commonly traveled. Walks lead to all entrances, but the design makes it obvious which is the main entrance. The landscape plan will provide adequate parking for your family and guests, and allow for easy maneuvering of cars. It will also increase your outdoor living space by creating private places for relaxing and entertaining, providing your family and guests a place to enjoy the outdoors. It can also improve both the indoor and outdoor climates by moderating sun and wind. A screen of Evergreens such as pines can be located to block street noise, trap dirt, and provide privacy. Deciduous trees such as oak or maples can be positioned to shade and cool the house in the summertime, but let warm sun in wintertime. Evergreen hedges positioned on the north and west sides of the house will slow winter winds and lower heating costs.

In the same way a persons clothing can flatter a figure, landscaping can be used to trick the eye, and flatter a house. A well designed property can make your house or property seem smaller or larger. For instance a diminutive house can be turned into a quaint cottage with the addition of a picket fence, flower beds, and a large shade tree. To make a house look more substantial, anchor the house with medium-height trees, a formal hedge, and a symmetrical planting of foundation shrubs.

Whether you do it yourself, or hire a contractor, a landscape makeover doesn’t need to be completed all at once. Don’t fret over it taking years to complete. You can begin landscaping the front yard by first planting the large shade trees and installing the walks, driveway and lawn. Next put in the foundation planting and follow with the shrub borders along the edge of the property. In the back, begin by planting trees and privacy screens then follow it up with patio and garden beds. Installed and planted over several years, larger, more elaborate landscapes are more easily handled by a do-it-yourselfer. Alternately, spreading the work over several years may also make hiring a landscape contractor more affordable to homeowners.

Finally, after decades of being fed misinformation, most people now appreciate that they should take a more active and even a proactive part in making our planet a better place to live. If cold weather is getting you down why not start thinking about how you can renovate your patio or garden once springtime comes and keep it ecologically sound as well?

One way to do that is by decorating your surroundings with plastic outdoor furniture that is made of a unique material called polywood.

Polywood is a nonporous material. It’s made from recycled plastic that transforms milk jugs into plastic lumber that looks like the real thing. It’s not the lightweight junk from years ago. Rather, it’s a high quality material designed to withstand the effects of rain, snow, sun, chlorine, saltwater, mildew, and insect attacks.

The furniture made from such lumber is attractively designed to work well in virtually any environment. Poly Wood will not absorb moisture, so it’s terrific if you live in a humid area. Neither will it splinter, warp, rot, or crack, no matter where you live.

One of the great things about owning poly wood furniture is that it is maintenance free. You will never again have to spend a summer’s day stripping and resurfacing your lawn furniture. You won’t even have to ever give a thought to painting, staining, or waterproofing it either. The color is impregnated and it is naturally waterproof as well.

The only occasional maintenance your polywood lawn furniture will ever need is to be washed down with a bit of soap and water. Do this every so often and you will keep your furniture looking sparkly clean and like new.

Most PolyWood furniture comes pre-assembled. Although it’s shipped knocked down, all you need are some very basic household tools to assemble it. It will come with all the hardware, which is stainless steel protectively coated with Xylan.

Although the lumber that polywood furniture is made from is as new as the twenty first century, one of the most popular design themes dates back to the early part of the nineteen hundreds.

You can find a wide selection of Adirondack chairs and lounges as well as Long Island dining chairs from various sources on the Internet. Unlike the wooden furniture that preceded them, this furniture is available in colors such as sunset red, Pacific blue, hunter green, as well as lemon, lime, black, white, sand, mahogany, and dark teak.

Invest a little time in the cold winter months doing some research and placing some orders and you can enjoy a new beautiful, bright, new, ecologically sound garden setting when spring rolls around. And you will have done your part to recycle all those empty milk jugs.

Home renovation is a process of restructuring or making improvements in your old house. It involves either complete makeover or adding a few things for a better looking house. Most often than not, the homeowners design and implement the changes on their own (Do It Yourself); and sometimes defined by the complexity of the job involved and the budget, c ontractors are also contacted to accomplish the task. There are many warehouses that not only supply the necessary material for but also help the homeowners with DIY ideas and educate them in handling the complexities of the work. DIY may appear to be palatable idea which also radically cuts down the cost of renovation however it is advisable to go for a professional help when the task requires technical expertise and task-specific artistry. The general contractor oversees and manages the entire gamut of renovation work ranging from designing to the work of laying down the electric cables, roofing and removing the debris once the task is complete.

‘Home renovation’ can include anything from mechanical work like wall makeover, that is wall papering, painting walls or installing wooden panels, floor improvement involving new flooring like wood flooring, carpeting etc., roof replacement, upgrading heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC), water proofing basements, reducing utility costs with methods like energy-efficient insulation, wood burning stoves, solar panels etc, installing emergency preparedness safety measures etc to decorate the house which includes landscape construction like improvement of lawns, pools, attic etc.

Home improvement can be considered for the economy purpose, making provisions for water storage or installing gadgets that are power efficient or just work efficient like electronic chimney etc. Home remodeling can be simply for comfort reasons too like making arrangements for keeping the house warm in the winters, redesigning in a manner that allows for more sun shine, or making a swimming pool, or gym, or library, or laying gravel in the lawn, recontouring the patio or garden and so on. The extent to which improvement is carried out defines the type of remodeling, which can be partial improvement when instead of the entire home only a certain sections like just the bedroom(s), living room, kitchen, patio, garden and bathroom are being remodeled or damaged or worn out items are replaced with a new or just repaired. Home renovation infuses new life giving a completely different and better look to the house. This kind of man’s desire to combat the ravages of time and taste on the basic lifestyle of man with or without professional guidance come under home renovation.

With old man winter in full effect people have started to more fully utilize their outdoor patio heaters, fire pits and fire places. Nights are crisp and cold. Everyone is turning up the heat or adding a few extra logs to their outdoor fire bowl. While any outdoor heating device adds both comfort and charm to any patio or garden it is always important to keep safety in mind.

Here are a few suggestions from Patio and Play for keeping your patio and garden area safe this winter.

• Number one on the list… Any heating device that uses fuel, including wood in the fireplace, is a potential source of carbon monoxide. This is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. Make sure there is adequate ventilation and realize even if you are outdoors CO2 gasses rise and can stay trapped in confined areas. You may consider having a outdoor ceiling fan on low to move the heat (and gas buildup) around.

• If children are present make sure that any heating device be out of the way of any foot traffic. Children at play have a high potential for knocking over free standing patio heaters or falling into or onto a fire bowl or fire pit. If your kids are going to be playing outside while you enjoy the heat explain to them before hand the potential for harm.

• If using a patio heater check the hoses that lead from your fuel source (often a propane tank) to the heaters itself.

• Also if using a patio heater check the heating area for any blockage. Make sure all screens are kept free of debris. You never know if a wasp decided to nest over the summer and anything blocking full flow could create issues.

• If using a chimnea, outdoor fireplace, fire bowl or fire pit don’t overload it. These were not meant to provide excessive amounts of heat. Keep it filled to the manufacturer’s recommended fuel source levels. These were not meant to be outdoor bonfire containers!

• When using heating devices outside you still must be mindful of anything combustible within a three foot clearance. If the heating element comes in contact with paper or clothing, it will easily ignite them.

• Do not ever discard ash or embers in trashcans. The heat created will ignite anything that it come into contact with. The best way to take care of this problem is to use a metal bucket for ashes and leave the bucket on the lawn for the night. Discard the next day.

• Never leave a heater on when you go inside. (much less to bed) When the night is done make sure your fire is out and your patio heater is off. Turn the propane off at the canister as well as shutting it off at the thermostat. If you have been using an outdoor fireplace you can throw a little dirt on the embers to assist in smothering what is left of your fire. Be especially considerate if this device is used on a deck or porch.

While it’s fun to sit around the heat outside in the backyard on a cold night and swap stories, you should keep in mind that it can be dangerous if not done carefully. These tips can keep your outdoor area cozy, comfortable and safe for the entire family.

For a list of safetey-tested outdoor fire pits and fireplaces, visit Patio and Play / Fireplaces and Pits . For a selection of outdoor patio heaters with built-in safety tilt switches go to Patio and Play / Heaters.

The intention of backyard landscaping is to create an outdoor living experience that can rival the stimulation and comforts of interior space. In order to accomplish this end, we have to do much more than work with the organic aspects of the yard itself. As important as trees, shrubs, and garden designs are, structural elements are equally important. Constructing swimming pools, patios, arbors, shade structures, and outdoor rooms in the backyard completes the depth and dimension of the landscaping design.

As with all aspects of landscape architecture, this must be treated as both a science and an art. We must first make a very careful analysis of the property by surveying its dimensions and physical points of differentiation. This will enable us to determine the general theme of design and how its many elements will flow together. No matter what style we choose to create, we must always work with the existing topography and architecture of the property so that we may establish a feeling of harmonious movement throughout the backyard.

This requires developing landscaping plans that include areas of egress (going out) and ingress (coming in) without compromises the open spaces needed for a robust lawn. Every house is always going to have at least one point of egress into the backyard. Some larger custom homes have multiple points of both egress and ingress located on the sides of the house as well as the traditional back door. These areas cannot be treated as mere transit areas alone if we are going to properly develop the space. Every one of these egress/ingress points must be considered as the beginning of an experience that creates an altered state of mind. This experience must then transfer at least in part to a feeling of openness and freedom as they move beyond the house into the expanse of the backyard itself.

Open lawn areas, no matter how large or small, will maintain this sensibility so long as outdoor rooms, patios, and gardens are positioned at appropriate vantage points and proportionally balanced as parts to the whole. Regardless of the property’s actual acreage, the lawn and surrounding elements will appear magnified, if not expansive, if the geometry of landscaping is properly established from the beginning.

Regardless of specific elements or type of design, there are always some practical considerations that we must keep in mind as well. Drainage is of paramount importance in gardening because every structure blocks water from being sheet drained to street. Any wall, fence, or garage is going to create a dam effect and will require us to devise some method of rapid water runoff. This has to be done effectively, but also very subtly, so as to avoid ruining the aesthetic at hand. Drains can be as simple as concealed pipes, or they can be actual aesthetic elements that serve a hidden purpose, such as the popular French drain.

Another very practical element that should always be integrated into outdoor landscaping is professional lighting design. Most of our clients are people who use their backyards as outdoor gathering places for events that begin in the early evening and continue into the night. Professionally installed landscape lighting keeps everything clearly visible at night, and it also helps magnify the sense of egress into a new dimension, by expanding the vista from the rear home living space and exposing the magnitude of the garden and the interrelatedness of the landscaping design.

Comfort, style, and class, these are all qualities that you want in fine outdoor seating and teak chairs are one of the best options around.

What makes teak chairs such a great choice for putting in your outdoor space is many things, beginning with their fantastic appearance. You see, these chairs are made out of beautiful teak wood that features a golden natural tone when new. Over time, this tone will fade to a distinguished silver gray color that is equally appealing to the eye. If you don’t want your selection to fade, all you have to do is apply a teak protectant to it the beginning of each season. Either way you go though, you have a stunning furnishing that will add to the overall appearance of any outdoor setting that you put it in.

In addition to having a fabulous appearance, teak chairs are very sturdy and durable, which is also the result of the teak wood that they are crafted from. Teak is a hard, dense wood that is extremely difficult to damage and thanks to its natural oils, it is highly resistant to rotting or cracking even when left outdoors under the harshest of elements outdoor including rain, sleet, snow, even hail and overexposure to the sun will not break it down. Basically, you get one fine furnishing that you don’t have to worry about leaving out during the winter months if you don’t have any storage space.

The thing that is great about teak chairs, is that you get a lot of options since there are a wide variety of selections to choose from. For example, maybe you just need some nice seating to complement the dining table that you have in your outdoor space. Well, what would be nice for you then would be teak chairs of the dining variety that feature a simple, yet comfortable design.

In addition to those of the dining variety, there are a slew of other teak chairs to choose from. Those include deep seated options that have cushions like loveseats and sofas, folding chairs, outdoor rocking chairs, porch swings, garden benches, chaise lounges, and you can even get tete-A-tete’s and settees.

To check out all the options for your space, the best thing to do is hit the Internet and do some online shopping. You can browse the choices just by the click of the mouse and when you do come across something that you like, it will generally be at the best prices possible. What’s even better is that your selection will be shipped right to you, so, you don’t have to worry about how you are going to get it from here to there. Basically, shopping hasn’t been more convenient.

When it comes down to it, if you want some quality seating for your deck, porch, patio, even garden or lawn area, teak chairs are the perfect option. So, what are you waiting for, get yours today so you can enjoy them for many, many years to come.