Create a Park in Your Backyard

Create a Park in Your Backyard
Shutterstock – Stuart Monk

 Guest Blogger:  Jessica Kyriakos

Most parents love taking their kids to the park, but sometimes it’s just not practical to do so when other demands pull on your time. If you wish you had the benefits of the park without the time commitment it requires to take your kids all the way there, why not create a park in your backyard? On a smaller scale, you can have all of the benefits of the park without ever leaving home. Read More

10 Patio Upgrades for a Spectacular Property This Summer

Patio Upgrades

If you’re embarrassed to be seen on your dingy patio, you’re not alone.

Unlike the carpet in your living room or the paint on your walls, patios are often a neglected extension of the home. A common misconception is that it costs a pretty penny to update it. But that’s simply not true. The key is making smart, low-cost improvements to create a space you’re proud to entertain in.

Have you fallen out of love with your patio? It’s OK. It happens to the best of us.

Even though the patio is an extension of the home, it’s usually not treated to the same upgrades and improvements as the interior. The result is a drab, neglected outdoor space that’s rarely used. But by making a few low-cost improvements, you can create an inviting outdoor area that’s perfect for entertaining. Here are 10 easy improvements you can make that will turn your vanilla veranda into an outdoor oasis of comfort and style:

  1. Surfaces: Updating the surface of your patio is a trendy way to redesign your outdoor space. Using multiple surfaces like pavers, stones, and decomposed granite allows you to define different areas for different activities: somewhere to cook, somewhere to play, and somewhere to sit. And it doesn’t have to be expensive! Try layering outdoor rugs for an instant spruce that adds an inviting splash of color and texture.
  2. Lighting: Treat your patio to some special outdoor lighting like a spotlight for a theatrical effect or colored lanterns for a warm Bohemian feel. This upgrade has the added value of increasing visibility and making your patio safer.

In this article, 10 patio upgrades are revealed that will enhance your property and provide you with a new outdoor retreat.

Five Simple Ways to Shade Your Backyard

Shade Your Backyard

The ability to shade your backyard can be a fun project if you open your mind to some new ideas. Building shaded areas can be a simple as planting trees to as extensive as hiring contractors to build structures. We are going to share with you some of the most simple ideas to tackling the sun.  Read More

What You Need to Know when Owning a Pool

pool

Pool season is upon us and there are some facts that need to be understood, as well as, safety tips that anyone either owning or participating in the use of a pool should understand. It is estimated that 300 children younger than five years old drown in swimming pools and spas and more than 3,200 go to the hospital due to pool injuries annually, US Consumer Product Safety Commission.  In pools and spas, hair, jewelry and bathing suits can get caught in drain covers or limbs can get lodged in suction openings. Thus, this causes problems as people and small children get stuck in these situations and some body parts can be held underwater by suction from the filtration systems causing death. Read More