(ARA) – Front-porch entertaining is making a comeback in America’s neighborhoods, thanks to homeowners’ renewed interest in beautifying the front entries of their homes. The days of uninspired concrete front stoops have passed, giving way to elegant combinations of freestanding walls, columns and matching pavers to create welcoming entrances that also serve as gathering places. [...]

(ARA) – You work hard on your lawn and landscaping during the spring and summer. Now it’s fall, and time to get ready for winter. You know the drill – move houseplants indoors, make sure your plants are well-watered before the ground freezes, clean up the beds and remove annuals, cut back perennials, put down [...]

What project can instantly update your home’s appeal and make it the shining star on the block? Landscaping can add value and curb appeal. Good landscaping doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive. With the right plan and some creativity, you can easily be the envy of all your neighbors. Lawn: Should you sod [...]

(ARA) – For many homeowners, the return of warm weather signals that time of year to launch the long-awaited home remodeling or backyard patio project. With the typical major kitchen remodel topping $58,000 and the cost of a new roof topping $21,000, according to the National Association of Realtors 2009 Cost vs. Value Report, taking [...]

Building your own outdoor paradise can be a daunting, yet rewarding project. Before you invest your time and money, it’s a good idea to consider the components of a successful landscape or patio project. A great place to start is to look for professional landscaping design ideas on the Web. Websites like www.landscapingnetwork.com offer design [...]

Nearly every lawn or garden has one – a bare, ugly spot where nothing seems to grow well. Maybe the spot gets too much sun, or too much shade. Perhaps the soil is too sandy, rocky or full of clay for most plants to survive in it. Maybe it’s on a hill or slope where [...]

Who doesn’t love spring? Flowers bloom, trees bud and bright songbirds return to the area. The renewed resurgence of radiant life may make you want to get in on the action. But if gardening’s not your thing and you just don’t see yourself as the type to go on a long outdoor hike, you can [...]

For leisurely entertaining this summer, take full advantage of the great outdoors and extend your living space by creating an outdoor room. Why not have an outdoor living room with comfortable seating for all or your friends, or a space where you could fire up the grill and dine out under the stars? Adding a [...]

Turn your patio into a summer oasis without breaking the bank with these five simple steps from Hilary Farr, designer and host of W Network’s Love It or List It. Lighting You can transform your garden into a romantic or festive summer oasis inexpensively and easily. String up outdoor lights: use your soft white LED [...]

The decision to add an outdoor light fixture to the yard can be the decision that transforms the yard into a magical place that comes to life after dark. This is possible through the many different types of lights that are available for use in the garden and landscape. Arriving home after a long day [...]