How to Spruce Up Your Outdoor Living Space
June 14, 2010 by jestroff
Filed under Outdoor Design Ideas
We are heading into prime outdoor living time. Pools are now officially open and everyone is spending more time outdoors. We recently came across Good Things for Outdoor Living on marthastewart.com and we decided to share a few of our favorite ideas with you.
One of my favorite tips on marthastewart.com is to collect a few apothecary bottles and fill them with lamp oil and wicks, then arrange the bottles under a large hurricane for protection.
In typical Martha Stewart fashion, a gardening center is created using a carpenter’s nail belt. I love the bucket in the center, perfect for storing larger items or even debris.
Marthastewart.com recommends using tiki torches to bring a little of the islands to your home. For a path that is a little less paved you can anchor the torches in a bucket filled with gravel.
For more ideas on sprucing up your outdoors click here.
Go Outdoors This Saturday for National Get Outdoors Day
June 9, 2010 by jestroff
Filed under Events and Happenings
Participate this year in the 2nd annual National Get Outdoors Day on Saturday, June 12th by heading outdoors. National Get Outdoors Day hopes to promote healthy living by having America take part in outdoor activities. Whether you go fishing or biking, make sure you encourage the family to turn off the television set and enjoy nature.
There is a slight chance of a thunderstorms on Saturday so make sure you check the weather before you venture outdoors.
Privacy Please
It seems that over the years homes have gotten a lot bigger, but the backyards have decreased dramatically. It can be very difficult to create a private oasis when your neighbor’s home is visible from your deck or patio. This Old House has a couple of ideas on how to keep your neighbor’s prying eyes off your outdoor living space.
Take for example this well placed Italian cypress hedge that according to This Old House can “provide year-round screening and are typically not restricted by municipal ordinances limiting their height.”
This Old House also advises on “planting deciduous shade trees—which generally grow from 25 to 60 feet high” for shielding your neighbor’s view.
A pergola covered with climbing vines can add the perfect amount of shelter.
If you have a pool in your backyard, This Old House says a “6-foot solid board fence is the quickest way to add year-round screening—just be sure to check local building codes regarding fence heights (and any other restrictions). It may also be the best solution in a side yard, where space is tight, since fences have a smaller footprint than plantings.”
Click here for more ideas on adding a little privacy to your outdoor yard.