Author: Rose Ott
23 Sep First Day of Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
Fall is a good time to take care of big home repair projects before shorter days (and in many areas, ice and snow) make outdoor work too difficult. And if you do live in an area with cold winters, take some time this fall to boost energy efficiency throughout your home, and prevent damage from winter storms with proper tree care (we spoke with an expert to find out what you need to do). Tick these 15 items off your list this season, and you can rest easy knowing that your home and yard are buttoned up and ready for winter.
1. Care for trees and shrubs. If you have trees on your property, consider hiring an arborist to care for them — these pros can spot signs of poor health early on to prevent tree loss, and know how to prune properly to avoid falling limbs in winter storms.
“The most important maintenance for a homeowner to do in the fall would be trimming [the] dead out of trees,” says Bryan Gilles, owner and arborist at Arbor Doctor in Calabasas, California. “Trees are going dormant at this time, and are less likely to get a disease.” Because trees are slowing growth in the fall, it’s not an ideal time to plant a new tree, as the roots may have trouble getting established. For treatments, Gilles recommends fungicide injections in the fall to prevent diseases such as diplodia, which can affect pine trees.
It’s also a good idea to observe your trees throughout the fall, keeping an eye out for signs that signal a need for intervention. “Early change in leaf color, pines looking thin and/or needles turning brown, and dead branches are all signs of diseases,” Gilles says. “Ash trees spotting yellow sporadically around this time of the year is a bad sign of a disease called ash yellows, since ash trees are one of the latest to turn."
12 Apr My First Showhouse
What an honor to be asked to design a bedroom for Home Is Where The Heart Is Designer Showhouse! My inspiration for the room began with the donation of gorgeous hand painted fine French furniture from Grange. The beautiful soft hues of blue, green and...
25 Mar Home Is Where The Heart Is
These days are busy, busy, busy preparing for Home Is Where The Heart Is Designer Showhouse in Mill Neck to benefit The American Heart Association where I will be doing a little girl's bedroom and bath. My room will feature beautiful, hand painted furniture from Grange and Duralee's fabric from Bailey & Griffin and Tilton Fenwick. Here is a sneak peak at my concept board:
The gala preview cocktail party is being held April 16th with Kim Radovich as Design Chair and Honorary Showhouse Chair Tyler Wisler of HGTV's Design Star. The show will run from April 17 through May 31, 2015.
23 Feb “For Life”
Empty nester Laura was ready for a change. Her children were grown and she wanted a design for her home that was more transitional and warm - something she would keep and enjoy for as long as they lived in the house or as she told me "for life."
We softened the look of her home by removing the outdated mirror lining the walls of her dining room and updating the recessed lighting. Crown molding and wainscot were added, and we refinished the floors and purchased more traditional furnishings. By using different patterns and textures, we created visual interest and warmth. Her existing lucite cocktail table, although more on the modern side, added an interesting twist and the antique nesting tables had sentimental value and look lovely in the new setting. The overall look is softer and more inviting.