When Portuguese laurel’s (Prunus lusitanica) evergreen leaves turn yellow, something may be seriously amiss. Hardy at U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9, this resilient tree should offer year-round luster and beauty. Several underlying issues could be behind yellow Portuguese laurel leaves. Identifying the issues and creating prompt corrections may restore your […]
“Woodworm” is something of a misnomer, because the creatures that make the tiny wormholes which mar timber furniture are really beetles. The most common is referred to as the furniture beetle, and once you see its holes on your furniture, the infestation is over two years old. Woodworm is common in Europe — especially the […]
Stair runners are excellent at maintaining steps quiet and comfortable underfoot, but sometimes they feel somewhat formal. Stair runners that are painted are a terrific choice. They create the illusion of a runner but certainly are far more casual — and the layout options are as boundless as your imagination. Painted stair runners aren’t right […]
Filtering your water at home is an easy way to acquire great-tasting purified water, without the waste or price of buying bottled. But that purification process is best? Do water filtration pitchers work as well as undersink or whole-house models? How can you know what the system is filtering out … and what exactly should […]
Once we’ve laid out a landscape — installed the pavers and mulch and pruning, placed the crops — we can sit back in deck seating and admire the grandeur of a gorgeous vista. But there’s another element just below the surface — a fourth measurement that thrills our senses and brings us fully into the […]
Also known as a grille, a muntin is a thin strip of wood, metal or plastic used to divide window panes to coordinated areas. In many contemporary plastic or metal double-paned windows, vinyl or metal muntins are positioned between two big solid sheets of glass or panes. Older windows comprise wood muntins which possess an […]
Designing for a couple who stand 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-3 takes additional consideration, especially when the project is a cellar. “One of the main objectives with this lower level was height,” says architect Mark Udvari-Solner of the new home that he designed for all these tall empty nesters. In the cellar he designed 8-foot doors and […]
Moldings will make any project look habit. When applied to kitchen cabinetry particularly, these architectural details can help enhance the most elementary cabinet style. With all the multitude of unique designs and configurations available, crown molding, edge molding and more might help customize your next kitchen undertaking. Julie Williams Design 1. Traditional crown molding. Traditional […]