Halloween is just around the corner, so I thought it might be a good time to talk about the BONES of your landscape.  HAHA!  Seriously, It is easy to add a new pot of annual color or colorful shrub border, but there are many other things you can do to trick out your garden and turn it into a treat. 

1. Take a look at your trees.  Could they do with a “haircut” or maybe even removed entirely to provide a better view of your home or let more sunlight in.  As trees mature (and decline) they can shade shrubs underneath and make them appear scraggly or thin.  If you decide to go this route, be sure to look for a reputable, insured tree removal contractor, and get an estimate before starting work.
2. Get a Mailbox that Delivers.  Create an interesting mailbox bed full of Iris, Boxwoods, and maybe a clematis vine to add instant curb appeal! Or simply consider dressing up your mailbox to one of the more interesting options out there like Copper, Traditional, or mid century modern.   Choose something that will enhance and complement the style of your home.
3. OPEN the Front Door.   Everyone wants a front door that pops!   Matching planters are a great way to accent your front entry, but a new front door is a game changer. Going from a solid 6 panel door to a door with glass, or painting it a bold new color can change the whole feel of your home.  
4. SEE the difference! Low-Voltage or Solar Landscape Lighting is an easy way to change the look and feel of your home at night!  It can make dark, spooky  areas  safer and more inviting. You can also shine a spotlight on your home with new accent lighting. Choose a  color that illuminates, and highlights your home’s beauty.  We always opt for warm shades of light over cooler blues.

As always we can help you LIVen up your outdoor space!! Call me with any and all your ideas and together we’ll put them to work!

Oh, and Happy Halloween!

I never thought a clear block could bring me so much joy but boy was I wrong.

1. Brown Furniture

Gone are the days that everything is painted and washed.  Traditional brown furniture is making a comeback.  Lighter brown tones are popular this year, but also the traditional “brown wood” is a warm touch.

2. Colorful Kitchens

Painted cabinets in bold colors and two-toned with stained and painted cabinets are both what’s cooking this year.  Even colorful stoves are add ing fun to the kitchen.

3. Bold Lighting

Make a statement with lighting.  A colorful metal piece or an interesting shape in a light fixture can totally change the feel of a room.

4. Patterns

From wallpaper to floral fabric, patterns are shaking up what has been a neutral palette.  A bold wallpaper in the dining room and grandmother’s chaise lounge in a large floral are two things I love this year!

5. Warmer Neutrals

Even though color is king in 2020, we all still need and will have neutrals.  In place of very cool greys, warm up the neutral zone with taupes and browns.  Earth tones are a big part of this year’s color palette.

6. TEXTURE, TEXTURE, TEXTURE

Velvets, cut velvets, chenille, slubby linen…these textures are luscious and inviting.  Textural fabric and tiles are adding interest to furniture and walls.

7. Nod to Nature

Plants have always been great accessories to the home, but now are becoming entire backdrops with growing walls, skylights and large windows letting more of the outside in.  If plants are not your thing, add some green with leaf-patterned bedding, wallpaper, paintings or even solid green decor like a pillow or chair.

8. Black and White

The total contrast of one end of the color spectrum to the other creates an interesting dichotomy in fabric and cabinetry.  Black wall finish creates a bold backdrop for art and color to pop.  Black furniture pieces are also a great way to update.

9. Maximalism

Minimalism has been a trend for the past few years and now add it back on!  The MORE the better.  Gallery picture walls are an example of the more filled space look as well as more furniture in each room.  This trend is designing to look avant guard.  It can easily look cluttered, so make sure to stay in the bold and lively, instead of busy.

10. Mixed Metals

Metals are everywhere in 2020.  Gold, silver, tin and copper.  Mixing metals is totally ok!  The rule of thumb is no more than three metal finishes in one space to not become overwhelming.