Top 5 Eco-Friendly Home Designs Making Waves in 2024

Homeowners are increasingly drawn to eco-friendly homes that prioritize efficiency, reducing environmental impact while ensuring comfort remains uncompromised…

Most homeowners typically consider simple eco-friendly changes like LED lighting or energy-efficient appliances for sustainable home design. However, the realm of sustainable design goes beyond these practices. Many are now embracing green homes that prioritize efficiency, comfort, and environmental consciousness. With advancements like 3D printing and alternative building materials, sustainable homes are becoming more accessible and affordable. This article from U.S. News explores various innovative ideas, from using renewable materials to water catchment and recycling, especially crucial in regions like the Pacific Northwest.

Prepping Your Garden for Fall

As the leaves change color, signaling the winding down of the growing season, it's time to ensure your garden finishes strong and gets ready for winter. Take the necessary steps to prepare all areas of your landscape for the colder months. This comprehensive checklist covers essential fall outdoor chores that will leave your plants, lawns, and gardens well-prepared.

Start by giving some tender loving care to your permanent plantings, including trees, shrubs, and perennials. Clean up your vegetable garden, and make sure everything is set for the winter ahead. Take the time to winterize your lawn to protect it during the colder months.

By completing these fall gardening tasks, you'll free up more time in the spring for planting vibrant vegetables and colorful blooms. Instead of being overwhelmed with cleanup tasks and searching for garden tools, you can leisurely browse seed catalogs while you plan next year's garden. Follow this fall gardening tips and checklist, tackling a couple of tasks each day, and you'll have your yard ready for winter in no time.

Garden Ideas That Will Boost the Value of Your Home

We always talk about interior design upgrades that can instantly boost the value of your home. From single-day projects—like switching up the color of your front door—to more in-depth home renovations like updating the kitchen, and giving your bathroom a makeover. Let’s take this idea and move it outdoors. Curb appeal!

From Martha Stewart’s article: "Just as important as choosing the right paint colors, a cohesive plant palette brings a level of sophistication and balance, and a well-designed landscape increases a home's value," notes Amy Hovis, the principal of Eden Garden Design, an Austin-based landscape design company. "It elevates a property as a whole and creates a magical element that is hard to achieve in any other way." 

Home and Garden

Looking for some inspiration for your home or garden? The Seattle Home Show is just around the corner! For details and tickets, visit the link below.

Creating Mosquito-free Outdoor Spaces

Imagine curling up in your new backyard with a glass of wine or a cup of cocoa to enjoy the summer evening. You put your feet up, watching the sprinklers going and the solar-powered sparkly lights turning on. Then they come: mosquitos. Mosquitos everywhere.

There are a myriad of plants that you can add to your backyard that mosquitos completely avoid, and thus avoiding you as well. And the plus? They can beautify your yard and even produce fruit! Catnip, citronella and lavender - to name a few - will keep the mosquito population down, beautify your yard and create a space that smells amazing!