02 Aug

Posted at 13:46h in General Interest by
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Picture-Perfect Ideas for a Patio Garden

From Better Homes and Gardens

Outdoor living and Landscape Design can take many shapes and forms.  From the expansive, sprawling country estate to the compact city lot, proper design and planning can make all the difference in the level of enjoyment the homeowner realizes with family and friends.  This post from Better Homes and Gardens illustrates this point perfectly with this post on Patio Gardens.  The post explains that outdoor living can be enjoyable even if you have no yard at all!

Here is an excerpt from the post:

07 Oct

Posted at 13:52h in General Interest by
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Pool Shade Ideas: 7 Ways to Cover Your Swimming Pool

From Shade FX

The thought that creating shade around a swimming pool is one that usually escapes most people.  Shade isn't the first thing that comes to one's mind when they envision their own inground swimming pool space.  Luckily, skilled designers are attuned to the crucial fact that creating shaded areas in the proper spots are every bit as important as the areas that receive sun.  This post from Shade FX presents 7 unique ways to provide a respite from UV rays and hot midday sun exposure.

Here is an excerpt from the post:

06 Oct

Posted at 14:19h in General Interest by
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Outdoor Dining Rooms

From Landscaping Network

8 ideas for creating the ultimate outdoor dining area

Outdoor living enthusiasts understand one principle above all when it comes to their outdoor living space:  It is meant to enjoy and to draw people together.  Nothing accomplishes this task like an outdoor dining area.  Think about how a dining room brings family together inside the home, and you will understand the power of creating an outdoor dining area.  This post from the Landscaping Network gives 8 stunning examples of outdoor dining areas that will inspire you to bring your family and friends together for outdoor meals.

Here is an excerpt from the post:

24 Sep

Posted at 13:35h in General Interest by
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8 Outdoor Holiday Lighting Ideas That Dazzle

from HGTV.com

This week saw the last official day of Summer and the first day of Fall come and go, and for some this is a depressing realization.  Thoughts of many turn back to the long, sunny, Summer days by the swimming pool and lounging in the hammock in the backyard to a cooling breeze.  For others, the thoughts of leaves falling, Halloween trick-or-treaters, and pulling out the Christmas tree gives them an understated joy of the holiday season.  For those people that are inclined to decorate their houses for the holiday season with lights, garland, and scary witches, this post is very timely.  HGTV gives a great design guide for outdoor holiday lighting that will set your home apart from the rest of the neighborhood, and make the long, cold winter seem shorter than it actually is.  It's only a few short months until we enter swim season again, so why not make the most of the holiday season by embracing it?

Here is an excerpt from the post:

08 Jul

Posted at 14:12h in General Interest by
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POOL LANDSCAPING: MORE THAN JUST PLANTS

From Swimmingpool.com

Skilled outdoor living and swimming pool designers know what many people don't immediately realize:  There is way more to designing an outdoor living space that includes an inground swimming pool than just planting a few bushes and plants around the pool.  Thoughtfully planned space allocation, colors, features, traffic patterns, entertaining spaces, etc. all are considerations that make one's outdoor living space with a pool ideal.  This post from Swimmingpool.com gives some great advice on how to plan the ideal environment around a swimming pool, considering all of the aforementioned considerations.

Here is an excerpt from the post:

20 May

Posted at 14:03h in General Interest by
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Artistic Fire Pits For Long Summer Nights

From Landscape Architects Network

Outdoor living enthusiasts understand that long summer days can easily turn into cool summer nights.  Harkening back to days of yore, sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows, nighttime can be the most relaxing and congenial time of the day.  Unfortunately, without a source of heat and focus, these summer nights can turn into indoor gatherings, defeating the purpose of having a fabulous outdoor living space.  Firepits are a great way to extend the day, and keep the memories building.  This post from The Landscape Architects Network presents a different spin on the firepit;  one that turns the source of heat and focus into high art.

Here is an excerpt from the post:

07 May

Posted at 18:05h in General Interest by
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15 Absolutely Romantic Outdoor Decorations

From Top Dreamer

As any skilled designer knows, the devil is in the details.  This includes the decorations and settings for outdoor living spaces as well.  How often have you been to a fabulous luxury home only to notice something that seemed out of place, or wasnt adorned properly.  When it comes to the outdoors, placement of furniture, lighting, and other adornments can be the difference from a plain jane backyard and something truly sublime.  This post from Top Dreamer gives you 15 examples of how to decorate your outdoor living space with an eye towards that special romantic interest in your life.  Even if your aim isn't to lure cupid into raising his bow and arrow, the ideas in this post can inspire you to adorn your outdoor living space with just that special finishing touch.

Here is an excerpt from the post: