Gardens of Rest

Contemporary garden design can be a tricky business if you don't know what you're doing, so here are some ideas to help you decide whether to proceed with your planning.The fundamental ideas behind a contemporary garden are that it should be low maintenance, neat and tidy and usable all year round, even when the summer months are long gone.To ensure a low maintenance garden that doesn't require hours of back-breaking labour every year, consider minimising the amount of plants, flowers and lawn space you include in your design. All of these things add to your workload and make your garden feel like a job rather than something to be enjoyed. Contemporary gardens usually have large decking or patio areas that do just this and look just as good.The other problem with more traditional gardens is that your enjoyment of the space is heavily affected by the elements. For example, if .. more»

Under the best circumstances, any bathroom remodeling endeavor can add up to be quite expensive! This fact is compounded by the reality of the sluggish housing market, leaving many homeowners questioning their potential return on their remodeling investment dollars. However, it is a catch-22 situation: while homeowners are worried about recouping their remodeling budget when their house sells, buyers are seeking out properties that are in top-notch condition. Of course the top two rooms on the buyer's list of high expectations are bathrooms and kitchens. It goes without saying, that a modern, dressed-up bathroom will put you ahead of your competition!If you are trying to sell your home, you most likely would like to sell it quickly and for the maximum selling price point that is possible given the market conditions in your town. In many urban areas, sellers' competition is fierce because so many properties are for sale. Savvy .. more»

If you haven't got green fingers, don't really have a clue about DIY and need some help planning your new garden, here are some garden design ideas to consider.The most important part of any garden design is the initial planning. Get this right and everything else becomes far easier. Get it wrong and you're left facing an uphill struggle, having to solve all kinds of problems along the way.Start by wandering around your garden and jotting down the things you like about it and the things you're not so sure about. What do you want to change? Are your changes realistic? Are they easy to do? Do you have the time and money to invest? All of these questions need to be considered and answered before you do anything else.Once you've got passed the initial review, list all of the essential items you want or need in your garden design. .. more»

Adding lighting to the garden can take on any design that the homeowner wants. There are many different ideas for garden lights, some designed to create an extended living space beyond the interior of the home and others designed more for safety and security. Still other ideas combine the two to create a safe, warm, outdoor living space for entertaining or simply enjoying in the early evening hours during wind down time.Solar garden lights are one idea for garden lights that bring the added benefit of saving electricity, which fits in well with the big push to go green and save the environment. Solar lights also allow the homeowner to do the installation without the aid of an electrical contractor while at the same time providing ample lighting and beauty.Solar lighting is available in many of the same designs as traditional electrical lighting including solar landscape rocks for pathway lighting .. more»

What another wonderful week we have had, being able to have an evening drink in the garden with the sun still giving out its warm rays of sunlight. We even had the barbecue out twice in the garden making the most of this year's late warm sunshine, the mosquitoes have been enjoying it as well and it looks like they had our youngest daughter on their menu- she has been bitten all over even though we were burning the good old citronella candles.The met office was certainly right about the Indian summer and may it carry on as long as possible, even though it is cooler in the mornings now and we need to clean the windows on our vehicles before setting off to work, having summery days is a blessing.Rusty our dog is still running up and down the garden chasing after his beloved ball. For every one that's .. more»

It is a known fact that the quickest way to increase equity in your home is through remodeling. When it comes to getting a great return on investment it is also a great idea if you put your money into renovating your kitchen. It does not matter whether the kitchen is a large kitchen or a smaller kitchen, there are certain remodeling ideas that can truly enhance the look and value of your home.The kitchen is one of the best selling points when it comes to putting your home on the market. The presence of practical designs that caters to what buyers are looking for is what will add equity to your investment. Remodeling a small kitchen is a good idea because many buyers make their decision based on the kitchen. If you are looking for ideas to renovate a small kitchen, then the following tips can help guide you .. more»