Home & Garden

Become a Partner in the Green Initiative in the Santa Clarita Valley!

With the mandatory removal of automatic water softeners throughout the Santa Clarita Valley there are many issues for homeowners to address.

The arrival of autumn signals the beginning of flower bulb planting season.  Tulips, daffodils, narcissus, freesias, hyacinths, and many other spring blooming bulbs should be planted now.  A little time spent in the garden this month will ensure a wealth of color in the spring.

The Brittany Foundation, a nonprofit humane organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of homeless dogs, has several dogs for adoption.
Loren is a four-year old female bully who just returned from a seven-week trip across America with her aunt Michelle, a Brittany Foundation volunteer, to promote homeless pet adoption.  You can check out their adventures at http://blog.dogdaysbook.com .

Don’t let owning a pet keep you from installing the gorgeous hardwood floor you always wanted. Your pet can live harmoniously with your hardwood floors if you follow some simple steps and take some precautions to keep your hardwood floors looking great.

Use Window Coverings and Accessories to Cut Energy Costs

As homeowners across the country prepare to make improvements to their homes this summer, many are thinking in two particular shades of green –environmentally friendly and fiscally sound.

In recent years, energy efficient products have become more elegantly designed, as homeowners increasingly want to improve efficiency without sacrificing the look they want. Today a plethora of options exist for improving the efficiency of a bathroom, from installing low flow faucets to making those seemingly minor repairs that are often buried low on the priority list.

The days of the 50s, 60s and 70s white coping and blue tile are a thing of the past!  With all of the wonderful flagstones available today and incredible tiles to choose from, it still surprises me when a homeowner asks to see blue tile when picking out the waterline tile for their new pool.  That’s an arm wrestle I usually win after showing the new tiles and stone that can be used.

Outdoors are the not the only domain of the hammock. They can be equally well enjoyed inside. Whether its a hammock chair in the lounge for watching TV, or a king size cotton hammock in the bedroom.

Love seats are versatile and warm pieces of furniture, ideal for small spaces because they can fit everywhere and are both attractive and practical. Today, as increasingly more people live in limited space, love seats for small spaces are becoming quite popular and common; they come in different designs that can work with almost every décor. They are usually smaller than typical sofas, but can accommodate two people comfortably.

Since 1991, The Brittany Foundation has helped to place over 1300 dogs into loving homes.  We currently have 90 dogs at our no-kill sanctuary in Agua Dulce, California.  While many of our dogs find homes, we provide a forever sanctuary for those who don’t.
If you are a dog lover that wants to help, there are so many ways to contribute to our lifesaving efforts:

Discovering mounds of freshly turned soil in the middle of a beautiful lawn is never a pleasant experience.  Eradicating an industrious gopher is an even less pleasant experience.  There are numerous products and gimmicks available for the eradication of gophers, including poison baits, gassers, garlic, flooding, and a multitude of other home remedies. 

Many tools are essential for gardening properly and achieving great results with plants, trees, fruit trees and vegetables.
Some of the tools that can be use is an efficient rake to pulverize the soil to make a seed bed and to make drills for seed sowing will be a necessity.

When new furniture, such as a sofa, is purchased, it is almost always necessary to change the window treatments. Many people dread this activity, however, there are some simple steps that can be taken to choose the ultimate window treatment for your home that will be both easy to install and beautiful to look at.

The Santa Clarita Artists’ Association (SCAA) announced a new exhibit at the Tournament Players Club (TPC), which will run until September 1, 2009.  “We would like the public to visit the art exhibit in the Newhall Room across from the Oaks Grill Restaurant,” says Jaylene Armstrong, coordinator of this exhibit.

Natural light is one of our most valuable resources, however is frequently under utilized in the home, especially in the sun drenched Southern states. The sun’s natural rays are an important tool for bringing a home interior to life, and just as importantly, it doesn’t cost a dime. 

When planning your home office it is a good idea to measure the room and make a plan on paper so that you can see what space you have and what furniture you can put where. Some office rooms are an odd shape or are quite small, so getting the right elements in your office can be difficult. There will be items such as a computer desk or station, storage cupboards and shelves that will be “must haves” and it is important that your computer desk is of sufficient size to actually work from.

By adding one of the floor fountains to a room creates an ambience and a calming effect while improving the overall look of the room. Floor fountains have been around for a long time and there are many different versions that are suitable for either the home or the garden. If you have never come across them before then they have a number of effects of which bring a new dimension to your home or garden.

Deciding to renovate the home you live in shouldn’t be a “what if” or “one day” kind of conversation with your partner. Home is where you escape to when days wear on you, home is where your family gathers and lives are nourished. When thinking about a renovation, think about your biggest investments, your home and your family; and change that “maybe” attitude into a “Yes I can.”