SUMMER ENTERTAINING…just DO IT!

Summer is here and there is nothing better than a little outdoor entertaining.  Whether it is a cocktail for you and your spouse or a gathering for a crowd, a little bit of creativity and planning can make a common meal a spectacular occasion.

If you do not have an outdoor table, move your breakfast table to the lawn or patio.  Grab some nice hand towels, napkins or a tablecloth and dress up your table.  A bouquet of fresh flowers or even better, flowers and greenery from the yard in your favorite pitcher will make a big splash.

  Choose foods with different colors and textures to add interest and don’t forget that everyone is there for the company.  We all hesitate to entertain because the yard isn’t ready or the house isn’t ready.  Don’t wait...Get creative and enjoy the beautiful weather with those you love!

Rebecca

Have you ever found yourself with too many garden accessories? And exactly how many are too many? 

 I love to visit garden nurseries when I travel or have free time on the weekends and often bring something home I can’t live without. From planters, statues, bird baths to bird houses, so many great treasures. Add in a few garden gifts from friends and family and all of the sudden my garden can feel very full…of accessories! 

 Here are some tips to get organized:

1. Clean out anything that has cracks, rust, or faded color.  Maybe look for a community garden to donate older pieces to.
2. Pick your favorite garden feature and work around that first
3. Group finishes together.  For example, place concrete pieces with iron or copper, and glazed pottery with mosaics and painted wood.
4. Create a different look in different areas.  For example, you may keep calmer tones and colors in the front and brighten up in the back yard. Or reverse it, whatever fits your personality!
5. Consider adding night lighting to accent your garden accessories at night.

Now you are ready for any sweet Mother’s Day gifts you may receive or any perfect finds you may treat yourself to!

Happy Gardening,

Pole Barns work for a wide range of building needs. Historically they were used for more agricultural needs, but because of their affordability they are being used for churches, party barns, houses and even pool houses and guest houses.

Pole Barns offer more flexibility than you might think, which is what helps bring the overall project project costs down which everyone loves. 

• Prefabricated before being brought to the building site (labor cost reduction)
• Greater wind and snow load capacity over stick-built buildings
• Extra large wall openings for doors and windows
• No load bearing interior walls so you can have larger rooms
• Higher walls & ceilings over stick built-buildings
• Less site preparation and do not require a continuous footing like most stick-built buildings (reduction of foundation costs)
   

Pole barns can be very utilitarian in their looks, but with the right imagination and design team you can create beautiful architecture and spaces. Hopefully with the image we gathered from the internet, we can convince you that pole barns are an option to consider when you start your next project.

Photo - Ponderosa Country Barn Home designed by Sand Creek Post & Beam. 

Are you seeing signs of Spring and just not sure where to start? Start with the Basics! Boring, I know, but it’s the best way to start the season off right.

Clean leaves out of beds, prune dead wood out of hydrangeas, put down new mulch, repaint or repair garden furniture, etc.  Next, step back and really think about the upcoming year. Ask yourself some of the following questions:

-Do you have any invasive plants that have outgrown their spot and need to be removed?
- Look up! Are there any trees that need to be thinned, dead limbs removed, or taken down?
- What’s missing? Are there areas to concentrate on this year to improve color or texture?

Starting with a plan is the best way! Let me know how I can help you get ready for Spring!

The arranging of the furniture in your dining room will make the difference between a spacious open feeling in the room which contributes to conversation as well as ease of movement while seating, serving, eating and relaxing. 

The first rule is to give 30-36” of walkway between large furniture pieces.  The minimum space between furniture pieces ought to be no less than 24”.  Anything less than that is a crowded space in which both people and furniture has no breathing room.

Super important is the spatial relationship of the chairs to each other. I like to allow for 24” of width for each chair so people do not feel that they are eating in their  neighbor’s lap and there is space for their place setting and elbows.  A  48” round table usually seats 4 and a 60”can accommodate  6-8—obviously  depending on how tight you want to be. You can also have the table “set” for 6 on a daily basis and if there are 8 people, add the last two chairs for that occasion so that your dining room looks and feels spacious when not in use.

 If you are considering, and have the space for, a buffet or credenza, you would want it to be at  least the height of your dining table or  taller.