Outdoor Living

WIth the current isolation in place all across the country, Americans are finding new, innovative ways to make the most of the situation. Sometimes, though, the old tried-and-true solutions are the best. You won’t miss the long plane ride and hours driving to a campground when you have the ideal vacation spot right behind your house. After all, you’ve spent time and money on cultivating your backyard into a serene, naturally beautiful space with all the amenities you might need. So bust out the tents, sleeping bags, and s’mores supplies; it’s time to turn backyard campouts into the ultimate cabin fever reducer. 

Fresh Air, Fresh Food

If you have a patio or picnic table you can still sit down for a nice family meal wh

If the idea of going down the path of home repair scares you, you’re not alone. Finding out the problems and undertaking those projects can be pretty daunting. From chipped paint to aging plumbing to a leak in the roof, you still love your old house, even if you don’t always know how to care for it. But here is a helpful list of checks and balances you can tackle that will make your old house new again.

Where To Start

It can be tricky to know where to start when diagnosing your older home for maintenance issues. Calling in an expert that’s certified to determine what needs fixing or overhauling in your house can help you better understand the needs your home is communicating. Home

Porches, patios, and decks have become a commonplace feature of American homes. Like the wide array of architectural styles of the homes they are attached to, porches, patios, and decks come in many variations and designs, each with their own unique traits. Trying to decide on which type is right for you has a lot of interesting details to consider, which is why we’ve gathered five of the most popular and appealing styles for your home.

Wrap-around porches

A staple of many Southern and Victorian style houses, a wraparound porch is the home addition many people dream of. These traditional porches are perfect for entertaining l

You might not immediately think of gas lamps as an outdoor lighting option for outside your home. However, there are a number of reasons why this older style of illumination could be a timeless way to bring light and warmth to your outdoor decor.

An Old Lighting System Making a Comeback in Modern Decor

Gas lighting, once the way for cities to illuminate the night streets in the days before electricity, is making a comeback in home decorating because of its ease of use and visual attractiveness. This style of lighting can be a surefire way to increase curb appeal, while also adding charm and a distinctive look to the deck, patio, driveway or front or rear entrance of your house.

With no lightbulbs to change and no harsh glare, gas lights can give off illumination equivalent to a 60 watt bulb. The light emitted is amber in color, which does not attract insects despite its relative brightness.

Gas lighting is also an incredibly safe option

Outdoor daybeds are growing in popularity, and it seems the more people try them, the more people like them. And who can blame them? From loveseats and sofas to loungers, swings, and standard daybeds, these cozy hangout spots make napping irresistible. They are the perfect vessels for sitting back, relaxing and enjoying being outside in the breeze. 

Beds For Whichever Way You Swing (Or Not) 

If you have plenty of space and like the idea of being able to gently swing, a porch swing bed can meet your needs.  Kids of all ages love to curl up with a book or a toy, and the back and forth rocking can help to bring on some of the best naps ever.  

Not into all the movement? Depending upon the space and your taste, a more traditional style daybed might be more up your alley. For those who want a stationary outdoor bed, the choices are limitless. Lightweight plastic and resin bases should be paired with sturdier cushions and pillows to make certain that a good gust

Most kids dread back to school time. They’ve had a summer of playing outside, sleeping in, or just lazing around for weeks, and it’s all coming crashing to a halt. School’s back in session. And what’s worse than having to wake up early and go to class? Homework, of course. Even parents don’t like homework, and it seems like schools are handing out more and more of it with each passing school year. But it doesn’t have to be all bad. Creating a space just for doing homework is a healthy and fun way to get your kids to focus on the task at hand without distractions like TV. When they have a space dedicated to homework, it means when they are in that space, homework is the only thing they should be doing. And it doesn’t have to be indoors! 

Here are a few creative ideas for taking the unpleasant chore of homework outside where kids can while enjoy the final days of summer sun. These ideas work great in the fall, too. 

Before we g

If you have a small patio space or balcony, it can be challenging to fit your outdoor furniture and make it a comfortable place to relax. This is especially true if you live in an apartment building that only offers the tiniest balcony. New York City dwellers, we feel your pain. But what your patio lacks in space you can make up for in ambience. How you place furniture, what colors you use and the way you use the space all play a part in making your patio area cozy, not cramped. Here are five creative ways you can cozy up your small patio space and make it a place you’ll want to live in every day.

1) Start From the Ground Up

Start with your floor space. Choose lighter colors and interesting patterns to pull the space together. Outdoor rugs come in all shapes, sizes and colors, so you will have a lot of options to work with. A fun rug can change the whole look of any room, and that includes your patio. Think of it as a mini living room, and pick a rug y

The idea of having a backyard swimming pool is amazing. It can be the perfect space to host weekend parties, adopting a new fitness regime or spending lazy afternoons lounging poolside while cultivating the perfect tan. However, we shouldn't forget about one important responsibility -  pool maintenance. 

Pool cleaning is a necessity, especially during the summer months when it’s in heavy use. Without proper pool maintenance, your luxurious pool can yield to a variety of "non-luxury" conditions like algae build up, broken filters and green water - just to name a few. These conditions can hamper your - or more importantly - your kids’ health. Whether you’ve just opened your pool for the very first time or you’ve been a proud owner for years, check out these tried & tested swimming pool maintenance tips.

Tip 1 - Test It Out...Regularly!

Test your pool water once a week, and even daily during summer wh

If you’ve always dreamed of growing tomatoes, vegetables, herbs or flowers in a greenhouse but you feel daunted bythe idea of building your own, we’ve got some great news for you. You - yes, you can build a functional, stylish greenhouse with minimal skills and few or even no tools. No, you don’t need a wood saw. All you need is a plan and a tinybutof space. Ok, and maybe a hammer and a few nails.

Many DIY greenhouses can be doneon a tight budget in less than a day, so if time and money are what’s been stopping you, now you have no excuses! The trick to keeping your greenhouse low cost is using outdoor curtains made from clear vinyl. You can buy industrial curtains or any weatherproof clear vinyl curtain intended for outdoor use. They are every bit as effective as glass-walled greenhouses, unless you live in a part of the country that gets intense snowstorms. Otherwise, clear vinyl curtains are your best bet, and so easy to assemble!

Here are six simple steps to build

So you finally bought that fire pit you’ve had your eye on for months. Nice! Summer is prime time for long, lingering evenings outside. Gathering around a fire pit with friends and family - maybe with a glass of wine or lemonade in hand - is one of life’s simple pleasures. We hope you enjoy evenings like these for many years to come, so let’s protect your fire pit investment so that your next fun purchase can be those Adirondack chairs you’ve got pinned to your board.

Why You Need To Cover Your Fire Pit?

First, let’s talk about why you need to cover your fire pit in the first place. The short answer is, if you don’t, it won’t last long, and it won’t look too snazzy, either. Water damage is no joke, so unless you live in a place that literally NEVER rains or snows, you need a cover. Another reason to cover it is for safety. If you have kids, you know they get into many things. Need we say more? Covers can prevent a lo