8 Screened-In Porches For Watching The Seasons Change

As we head into summer’s final act, porches become a front seat to nature’s spectacular costume changes. The following eight porches offer plenty of ideas for creating unobstructed views while using screens to keep out pesky insects and railings to maintain safety. See how pros connected the porches to nature yet made them protected and…

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9 Ways To Refresh Your Summer Container Gardens For Fall

There’s no need to completely rework your summer containers to give them fall flair. Instead, check out these nine ideas for updating existing container gardens (or, if you’re inspired, potting up new ones), including one plant to add for instant drama, and a zero-effort, lazy-gardener’s trick for covering a bare spot. Glenna Partridge Garden Design…

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How To Clean Your Outdoor Furniture and Soft Furnishings

Many people give their outdoor furniture, pillows, pads and rugs a good cleaning in spring, but late summer and early fall also are opportune times for sprucing things up. They’ll have a sparkle that you can enjoy the rest of the season. And if the end of spending time outdoors is coming up, you’ll get…

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Fire-Wise Landscapes Can Help Keep Your Home and Property Safe

Firescaping incorporates the design of the landscape and property surrounding a home to lessen its susceptibility to fire. This can be achieved through a well-thought-out landscape design plan that specifies less combustible plants, incorporates fire-resistant materials and follows the advice and guidelines determined by fire-safe organizations. In this article there are several landscape design strategies…

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10 Garden Nooks That Are Perfect For One or Two People

Are you looking for a place to get away from it all? That place might be right in your backyard. See how landscape pros used nooks, crannies and even open areas to create cozy, inviting spots for relaxing and enjoying the outdoors. Whether you’re looking for a personal retreat or somewhere to sit with a…

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Simple Pleasures: Savor A Starry Evening

When you are on vacation, it seems natural to end up outdoors in the evening and even into the night, simply enjoying being outdoors. On camping trips it’s all about stargazing and marshmallow roasting; at a beach house, you might sneak down to see the waves crashing on a moonlit shore. Why not embrace a…

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6 Ideas For Creating a Mood-Boosting Outdoor Sanctuary

Is your yard a restful spot where you can chill out and relax, or is it lacking that oh-so-important tranquil vibe? If you’re looking to feel completely at peace in your outdoor space, take a look at these ideas to help you turn your outdoor space into an uplifting sanctuary. 1. Make It Feel Like…

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10 Outdoor Kitchen Design Features Suggested By Pros

A well-designed outdoor kitchen can elevate your cooking and entertaining experience. Read on to learn more about the grills, layouts, materials and other features they think nearly all well-appointed outdoor kitchens could use. With summer drawing to a close, now’s the perfect time to plan for next year’s projects. 1. Next-Level Grill The pros we…

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15 How To Cool Down A Room In Hot Weather Tips

When the mercury rises, houses without air conditioning can get stuffy and uncomfortable, making it difficult to relax, eat or sleep. Even if you have air conditioning, you may want to save energy and use it sparingly. Try these tricks to cool down your rooms during summer. 1. Blow Cold Air With a Fan If…

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Simple Pleasures: A Relaxed Weekend at Home

To recharge your batteries, think about what you want to do, not what you have to do, during your precious respite. So often we look forward to the weekend, but once it arrives, it gets swallowed up by errands and chores — and before we know it, it’s over. That hardly seems fair! If you’re…

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