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Creative Xeriscaping: Save Water With Style

Westlake Project: Build a Moat!

Mark Biechler of Pearson Landscape in Austin, Texas created a solution for a homeowner in Westlake, Texas whose home tended to flood during heavy rainfall. To solve the problem, a moat was built around the house (designed by Gregory Thomas of CG&S Design Build). Let it rain, let it pour. This house can now easily handle water as deep as 8 inches or more in its gravel covered moat that redistributes the excess. To appreciate the work involved in this installation, refer to these steps to make your own!

Westlake Project: Envy of the Neighborhood

The full effect of the renovated yard and entrance is visible in this view from the far end of the front yard. You can see how the natural landscaping adds color and texture to the yard while protecting it from street flooding.

Westlake Project: More Out Back

Just as aesthetically pleasing as the front yard makeover is the newly reconstructed back yard which presents an organic, natural landscape designed for water conservation.

Arroyo Project: The Dry Creek Design

The second project by Mark Biechler of Pearson Landscape in Austin, Texas involved creating an arroyo (dry creek bed) between two properties that would effectively handle storm water runoff and also serve as photogenic xeriscaping.

Arroyo Project: Ready for Action

This street view of the completed dry creek shows how on the far left, any excess water will be channeled over the gravel and large rock slabs into the gutter.

Arroyo Project: Double Duty Beauty

Many native plantings along the arroyo help conserve water while adding color and decoration such as Yucca rostrata (in the foreground), Mexican feathergrass to the far right, and in the background, ‘Mystic Spires Blue’ sage, Knockout roses and salvia. To appreciate the work involved in this installation, refer to these steps to make your own!

Polishing up a worn washroom needn’t require pricey new fixtures or wall-busting construction. See how you can make the most of what you have with creative wall and window treatments, garage/yard sale finds, and stylish storage ideas!

Every homeowner wants to make sure they get the best price when selling their home. But how do you guarantee that you receive maximum value for your house? Here are two keys to ensuring you get the highest price possible.

1. Price it a LITTLE LOW 

This may seem counterintuitive. However, let’s look at this concept for a moment. Many homeowners think that pricing their home a little OVER market value will leave them room for negotiation. In reality, this just dramatically lessens the demand for their house (see chart below).

Instead of the seller trying to ‘win’ the negotiation with one buyer, they should price it so that demand for the home is maximized. By doing this, the seller will not be fighting with a buyer over the price, but will instead have multiple buyers fighting with each other over the house.

Realtor.com gives this advice:

“Aim to price your property at or just slightly below the going rate. Today’s buyers are highly informed, so if they sense they’re getting a deal, they’re likely to bid up a property that’s slightly underpriced, especially in areas with low inventory.”

2. Use a Real Estate Professional

This, too, may seem counterintuitive, as the seller likely believes that he or she will net more money if they don’t have to pay a real estate commission. With that being said, studies have shown that homes typically sell for more money when handled by a real estate professional.

Research posted by the National Association of Realtors revealed that:

“The median selling price for all FSBO homes was $185,000 last year. When the buyer knew the seller in FSBO sales, the number sinks to the median selling price of $163,800. However, homes that were sold with the assistance of an agent had a median selling price of $245,000 – nearly $60,000 more for the typical home sale.”

Bottom Line

Price your house at or slightly below the current market value and hire a professional. This will guarantee that you maximize the price you get for your house.

Homeowners who haven’t prepared their homes to list now, should implement some of the following these go-to styling tips if they want to get their listing noticed and sold quickly.

Remove clutter to maximize space.

Play up key features such as windows, hardwood flooring, walk-in closets, spacious cabinets and counters by removing clutter and personal items that are distracting to buyers. Enhance the size of a room or storage area by doing the following: Remove heavy window treatments, replace or cover carpeting with bright, modern area rugs, paint walls and dark trim in lighter neutral tones, and rearrange or remove furniture.

Give each room a purpose.
Savvy buyers are looking for a house that will match their lifestyle and accommodate their needs. Therefore, it’s important to put yourself in their shoes and determine how a room should function instead of how it already functions for that homeowner. If along the way the owner had converted a living room into a game room (as shown in the photo above), you’ll need to take the space back to its original purpose. That may mean bringing back the sofa and coffee table that’s hiding in the basement so that the home doesn’t look deficient in any way.

Freshen walls with neutral colors and artwork.
The perfect starting point for an instant boost is a fresh coat of neutral wall color, such as a warm grey or beige. It not only brings a fresh, modern feel to a space, but it also creates a backdrop that showcases the other elements in the room, such as the bright white trim, wall art, and furniture. It’s also a great fix after taking down dated wallpaper as well as for covering up imperfections.

Use bright, modern accents for inviting style.
When possible, we like to add furniture with clean lines for universal appeal and complement beautiful bold accents that really bring a neutral room to life. And if the homeowner decides to keep their tired, worn or more traditional furniture, camouflaging with modern pillows, throws, rugs, lighting and colorful accents in geometric patterns, fabrics and finishes will create the warm, inviting vibe that today’s buyers are attracted to.

Don’t forget about curb appeal!
Especially after the cold winter months, it’s just as important to style the outside of your home to welcome buyers inside. Spruce up the yard, make necessary repairs, and update the front porch with cheerful accessories such as a fresh welcome mat, potted flowers, colorful throw pillows on a bench, and a floral wreath for the door.

Ever feel as though something’s not quite right about your entryway? Maybe it’s hard to see your front door, or your foyer feels bland and uninviting. Whether you’ve recently moved in or have been settled for many years, here are seven ways to make the entrance to your home more enjoyable for you and your guests.

1. Demand more from your door. Make sure your door is visible and welcoming. Just as the eyes are the windows to the soul, your front door is the face of your home and where first impressions happen. Make sure the entrance to your home is visible and well-lit.

While it may sound silly, some houses have a side entrance or two doors on the front facade, and folks get confused about where to go. A clearly delineated pathway will direct guests to the right place. Seasonal accessories like a wreath, rocking chair or pumpkins will make your home’s hospitality shine even more.

Nothing will make your home feel more energetic and comfortable on a beautiful day than a natural breeze. Screen doors are good, but a Dutch door like the one shown here is a great way to invite fresh air into the home while keeping pets or even small kids at bay.

Festively colored doors have long been an exterior staple, but they usually pale on the interior to match neutral woodwork in the rest of the home. Painting the door’s interior side a splashy color brings pizazz and is an easy way to add hue in double-height foyers, whose walls are challenging to paint without the aid of a cherry picker.

Or try introducing something unexpected and carefree on your front door. This humorous knocker hangs on a door playfully patterned with a stencil.

Another option is to integrate a decorative cutout in a wooden screen door, such as this lobster.

2. Let there be light. Don’t skimp on your foyer lighting. One of those flush-mounted types that look like a dinner plate isn’t going to win over anyone. Select a fixture that makes a statement and defines the area, as does this handsome lantern.

A semiflush fixture, like the drum-shaped one shown here, is a good alternative if you don’t have enough ceiling clearance for a more substantial pendant.

If you’re in the market for a new front door, consider integrating glazing as an opportunity to filter natural daylight into your home. If you want the light but more privacy, choose a textured glass to distort the view.

If you have an old home, you might find sidelights and a transom window around your door hidden behind wall sheathing. The hunt will likely entail some professional carpentry work, but they’re considered a treasure when uncovered.  Stained glass is a popular Victorian window detail that offers joyous colored rays of patterned light while providing privacy.

Incorporating a mirror in a small space is an old trick to make the room feel larger, but it also brings in more light. This entryway would look dark and cramped without the mirror.

3. Opt for curvy pieces. Rounded shapes are psychologically more relaxing and comforting than rectilinear ones. In feng shui philosophy, for example, curves are preferred because they facilitate the movement of energy throughout a space. Rounded pieces are also a little safer, so little ones and we clumsy folks aren’t as likely to bang into sharp corners.

4. Add texture for natural warmth. Furniture or accessory pieces with texture lend visual interest and make your space feel more hospitable. Natural materials like wood, baskets and fabric are good choices. The bamboo settee and woven pieces here give a homey vibe.

This industrial table base and wood plank top look warm and mellow bathed in natural light.

If your home is more contemporary, and rustic materials like aged wood won’t work with your sleek finishes, you can still add texture through other means, such as lighting. The Moooi light fixtures here are made of a resin-coated fiberglass that creates a lacy filigree pattern when lit.

5. Show off your personality.
Your foyer is the perfect place to showcase your interests. A favorite collection, like this homeowner’s assemblage of hand planes, is more memorable for guests than a conventional table and lamp. Above all, your foyer should be welcoming and personable.

If space (or your collection) is limited, sprinkle in a few pieces where you can. The antique globes make this foyer seating area more intriguing.

6. Keep it neat. If your foyer lacks a closet — or if closet space is limited — bags, umbrellas and the like will likely pile up and make a muck of your foyer. A free-standing storage bench, like the one shown here, will do double duty by not only organizing your small stuff, but also providing a seat to pull on boots. While this one has pullout drawers for items like gloves and hats, many others have storage under a hinged seat.

Install some beefy wall hooks for hanging scarves, hats, umbrellas and bags.

7. Appeal to your senses. Interior design can sometimes rely too heavily on visuals and not fully consider our other senses.

Scent is a powerful memory maker, so a simple bouquet of flowers, a plant or even pretty leaves in a vase of water is always fresh and inviting.

Even if you have a tight entry space, don’t think that you have to give up the greenery. This simple arrangement sits atop a heat register cover.

Don’t forget sound! Chimes tinkling in the wind on a front porch or the gong of a grandfather clock in a foyer adds depth and a sense of wholeness to your home.

Make sure you try out the piece first to ensure that you find the sound pleasing. For example, some wind chimes sound earthy and comforting, while others can be loud, metallic and irritating.

Always wanted a brick pathway?…Never sure how to get it quite right?… Well, now you do! Here’s a step by step guide showing you just how to lay your own beautiful brick pathway.

Dining Room Redux

Why stick to the norm when you can put your bathroom sink on just about anything? Above were two of my favorites. Here are more inspiring alternatives for a traditional vanity.