Category Archives: Seller Information

5 Decorating Tips for Getting Scale Right

“Have you ever struggled to determine if something was too big, or too little to fit appropriately in a space? Well here are some tips on how to figure it all out.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Having a firm grasp on scale is one of the most important aspects of designing a room that looks and feels right. Scale is the visual representation of size and how objects interact with one another in any given space. For example, the size of a chair relative to the lamp and table beside it can make or break the composition of the pieces. Knowing how to layer in items of varying widths, heights and weights is less about science and design rules, and more about instinct and an understanding of aesthetics. Here are five tips for getting a grip on scale and creating visual harmony in your home.

SoJo design

1. Remember that bigger is better with large or long walls. A common decorating dilemma is the large or long wall. A big blank expanse can fool you into thinking that you need a hundred pieces of art to make it work. Although creating a gallery wall may seem like an obvious solution, it isn’t always the best one. Depending on the style of the furnishings, the proportion of the room and the amount of visual space you want occupied, a single statement piece can solve a multitude of challenges.

2 Lovely Gays

When it comes to large art, consider the following:

Does it work with the space or overpower it? This can depend on the subject matter or colors and how they relate to the furnishings. The gold-and-white art pictured above the console fills the expanse perfectly, doesn’t compete with the room and doesn’t overwhelm the smaller objects in front.

Gentry Raines Interior Design

Does the art fit without seeming crowded? A large piece (or pieces) should hang on the wall while leaving plenty of negative, or empty, space around it. Height is just as important as width when it comes to scale. Higher ceilings call for taller pieces that anchor the space and the objects around it. A lower, longer wall can support a triptych or a single horizontal piece.

Niche Interiors

2. Select seating for the size of your space. Just because your space is small doesn’t mean your furniture has to be, with the exception of the sectional sofa. Determining the right sectional for your room depends on the room size as well as complementary pieces (lamps, side tables) you want to add and whether they’ll all fit comfortably together.

A sectional can be used in a diminutive space, but to scale it properly, you should ensure that it doesn’t take up the whole room, obscure the bottom half of windows, bump up against the fireplace or overflow into other spaces. Accompanying pieces should be more visually spare —think open legs, glass tops, thinner frames — to keep the space feeling more expansive.

Eleven Interiors

When choosing your seating, consider how you use your space. Most guests won’t mind sitting together on a sofa, but it’s always good to have chairs, a bench or a large ottoman as an alternative. When you have a sectional or large sofa, visually and physically pared-down accent chairs work well because the scale of the sofa makes it the most powerful piece in the room.

Found Design

If your sofa is more petite (say, love seat size), you can — and should if you have the room — up the scale of your accent seating by going for pieces with broader arms, taller backs or more width. In this kind of an arrangement, all pieces are on a level playing field and should stand up to one another visually.

Contemporary Living Room Contemporary Living Room

3. Think of your coffee table as a puzzle piece. Imagine how all the pieces are going to fit together in the room. This is especially helpful when choosing a coffee table. Visual scale is a key element in finding the one for your needs. If your seating takes up a great deal of space, look for coffee tables that are visually less weighty, such as ones that are glass, open underneath or in an unexpected shape like round, soft triangular or oval.

West Chin Architects & Interior Designers

Your coffee table should fulfill its function as a place to set a drink, stack books or display beautiful items. Ideally, it shouldn’t be more than an inch lower than the seats of your sofa and chairs to allow for ease of use. It should also cover enough floor space to allow for everyone sitting on the sofa to reach it. You’ll need drink tables for optional seating that’s located farther away.

Contemporary Bedroom Contemporary Bedroom

4. Choose a lamp sized to complement its surroundings.Picking the right-size lamp can be mystifying. There are many types, and each serves a different purpose: task lamps, table lamps, floor lamps, desk lamps. So first and foremost, look for the lamp best suited to your situation.

In an entry, you may want to add a little ambience, so a visually clean lamp with a small base, like the crystal lamp shown here, is the perfect scale. The powerful vignette created by the large art, little but luxurious lamp and wide console is a great example of varying the scale of different pieces for an attractive arrangement.

LAURA MILLER Interior Design

Lamps add height and balance to the overall look of your bed and night tables. They should provide the amount of light you need to either read in bed or gently illuminate the space. Ideally, you shouldn’t be able to see up under the shade when reclined in bed, and the base shouldn’t take up most of the tabletop. Although the corbel used as a nightstand in this photo has a small top, the bedside lamp is long and thin with a simple shade. It’s scaled perfectly for the classic and elegant style of the room.

Sylvia Martin

Also, you don’t need to have two identical lamps on either side of anything. You can have any sort of lamps you like as long as you scale them properly to work with the furnishings surrounding them. A smaller table lamp to add warmth paired with a tall floor lamp to add uplighting and overall brightness works when the shades are kept simple and similar in form. Having two tall floor lamps or two small table lamps isn’t wrong, but neither combo works as well against a rich accent wall like the one pictured.

Design House

5. Let the headboard help frame the bed. Think of a headboard as the finishing touch for your bed. Without one, the blank wall behind your pillows looks sort of, well, unfinished. Whether you go for upholstered, metal, wood or woven, it’s important to consider your ceiling height, your wall space and what look you are going for — dramatic, refined, feminine or modern.

Good to know: Add visual impact to even the most understated headboard by using special fabric and adding luxurious details like nailhead trim, tufting, borders or contrasting piping.

Dana Wolter

An oversize headboard installed in a room with a ceiling higher than the U.S. average (8 feet) adds balance by creating a feeling of grandeur. Putting a king-size bed in a room with tall ceilings would still make the bed seem smaller than it is. Adding an oversize headboard gives a bed presence.

Wick Design

Save Photo

You may not have a lot of wall space, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a headboard. To add the illusion of width to a wall, consider something long, low and upholstered, rather than something traditional. Add a piece of art, keep the bedside tables on the small side and pair them with wall-mounted sconces or unexpected pendant lights. You’ll have a beautifully dressed room you’ll never want to leave.

Originally appearing on HOUZZ, by Melisa LaBlancz-Bleasdale

How to Create a Cohesive Color Flow Throughout Your Home

“We work with clients all the time on paint colors and these tips are spot on.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Color preferences vary as much as personalities, with some folks loving the bright and the bold, while others feeling most secure surrounded by neutrals. The good news is that when it comes to color, there really is no “correct” palette.

That said, we’ve all been inside homes where an explosion of color created a choppy feel between rooms — and sometimes, the urge to run. We asked five color, paint and design experts to share their best tips for creating a cohesive flow of color throughout your home. The strategies vary, but any of them can help you come up with a holistic decor scheme for your entire residence. So choose the ones that work best for you.

Dowalt Custom Homes Inc

Pick a Flow-Through Paint

One simple way to create a cohesive feel is to use a consistent paint color on the walls of connecting spaces. “Particularly in homes that have more of an open floor plan, it’s best to choose one color that is going to serve as your main color or your neutral,” saysKelly Porter, an interior designer based in Washington, D.C. “That doesn’t mean it has to be beige or white or gray. But the foyer, the hallways and that main connector room should all be the same color because you want that to have dominant color in your space.”

How to Choose the Paint Color You Really Want

Crisp Architects

Marc-Michaels Interior Design

Pay Attention to Sightlines

San Francisco interior designer and color expert Jennifer Ott frequently works with clients who want more variety in their wall colors. When that is the case, she suggests considering sightlines. When you’re standing in the living room, what other rooms will you see? If you have a view into the kitchen, the dining room and the foyer, then the colors for those spaces need to work well together. “It can start to look really wacky if you have a different color scheme in each room,” Ott says.

Andrew Mann Architecture

Contemporary Living Room Californian Bungalow

Choose Color Groups

One way to increase the likelihood that a color scheme flows from room to room is to limit yourself to colors in the same temperature family. “Some people will stick to a warm color palette — reds and oranges and yellows — or a cool scheme — grays and greens and blues,” Ott says.

John K. Anderson Design

Another option, Ott says, is to select one or two colors and then use variations of it. If the main color is blue, you might select a gray-blue, a pure blue and a navy paint as you move from room to room. The same concept can be used for decorative accessories.

For wall paint, you can ask the paint store to create a “tint” of a particular color, perhaps knocking down the main color by 50 percent, which the mixer will do by adding white. “They can create a lighter or darker version of it,” Ott says. “That’s a good way to unite without putting the same color everywhere.”

“I also tell people if they’re going to do their wall in this color, go two or three shades lighter for your ceiling so it doesn’t look like a sore thumb because you painted it white,” says Keith Wardlaw of Plus Modern Design in Kansas City, Missouri.

Paint decks can also be a good inspiration source for finding colors that work well together.

The Right Way to Test Paint Colors

Donna Dotan Photography

Restrict the Edgiest Colors to Enclosed Rooms

Rooms out of the sightline of other rooms are good places for going wild. Master bedrooms, powder rooms, kids rooms and any other room encapsulated by four walls are great places to indulge, says Carl Mattison, an Atlanta-based designer. “If you turn the corner and go into a little powder bathroom, which you don’t go in all the time, who cares? Paint it black!” It works, Mattison says, “because it’s its own little box.”

Diane Bergeron Interiors

Darci Goodman Design

Linda Holt Interiors

For Bold Colors, Use Accessories

Accessories are a less expensive way to introduce dramatic colors than purchasing a couch or rug in the same tone, and they’re also easier to swap out should you tire of a color. Limiting bold colors to accessories also helps you avoid the shocking effect that can happen when a dramatic shade is painted on all four walls. “The key is finding a way to inject the color that makes rooms interesting and exciting without feeling like you need to escape,” Ott says. Bright color is good when you want to highlight a piece worthy of notice.

+ Modern Design

Tie Rooms Together With Accents

Accents colors can change from room to room, but continuing one consistent color throughout the home can help create a sense of continuity. “Let’s say you have green and blue in your living room,” Porter says. “Perhaps for the dining room, you use one of those two colors, maybe just the blue. Or you could do blue and yellow. So the blue is what will tie those rooms together.” The two rooms pictured are from the same home and illustrate this principle.

Strategies to Create Color Flow Throughout a Home — a Case Study

+ Modern Design

Use the 60-30-10 Formula

Another way to create a cohesive flow from room to room is to think of the palette for your home as a math problem. “Use a base color that you really like as 60 to 70 percent of what you’re going to paint for your interior,” Wardlaw says. “Your next color needs to be 25 to 30 percent. Then you can do your accents of 5 to 10 percent.”

In this photo, which shows one of Wardlaw’s designs, gray is the 60 percent color, blue the 25 percent, orange about 10 percent and brown maybe another 5 percent. “I really try to make people only go with about three colors, four at the max — at least on the interior,” Wardlaw says. “Otherwise it just feels chaotic.”

To pull the colors throughout the home, you might use a variation on the scheme in an adjacent dining room. The walls might be painted blue, and perhaps gray could be used as an accent, with a few small orange accessories providing the 10 percent dose of color. “As long as you keep it cohesive throughout your entire home, it’s going to make more sense,” Wardlaw says.

Paul Anater

Consider Using Color-Planning Tools

Those who love delving deeper into design principles may want to read up a bit on color theory — or at least ask your interior designer about it. “One of the main things I explain to my client is the color wheel,” Wardlaw says. “To keep that cohesive feel throughout your home, one of the main things you can do is consult that.”

You can read up on the color wheel to understand how colors work with and against one another. But a basic rule of thumb is that using analogous (or adjacent) colors on the wheel will create less contrast and a more calm feel, while choosing complementary colors (across from one another on the wheel) will create greater contrast and a higher-energy room. Understanding the relationships between colors will help you see why certain combinations have certain effects on you.

You might also consider making a mood board for each of the rooms to get a sense of how they’ll flow together. You can print out photos of your furniture along with the paint and accessories you are considering, then lay them out on paper, room by room. You can sketch out a rough drawing with colored pencils. And you can preview furniture in your own spaces electronically with Houzz’s Sketch app.

Martha O’Hara Interiors

Studio SHK

Save Photo

When Unsure, Hire an Expert

Designers have studied color and get paid to advise people on their choices. When you need guidance, they can help.

Porter, who does a lot of color consultations, says her clients tend to know what color they want to use in terms of color, but need validation that the shade they are considering will produce the desired effect. Recently, the designer did a long-distance consultation with a client who passionately loves orange. “The colors she was telling me about were very bright and childlike,” Porter says. The designer suggested a more adult rusty orange instead. “She tried it and loved it,” Porter says.

Originally Published on HOUZZ, by Erin Carlyle

Myth-Buster: The Right Way to Test Paint Colors

“It’s amazing how you can see the difference when paint is actually on multiple walls in a room to test out how light hits it and the impact of shadows.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

It’s a common image: Someone selecting a wall color paints several sheets of paper or sample boards and hangs them on the wall to compare colors. It looks artistic and even a bit hip, but it may not be the most accurate way to vet wall paint. We talked to five pros, including painters and designers. Here’s what they suggest instead.

INVIEW Interior Design

Paint Directly on the Wall

This is true for interiors as well as exteriors: You’ll get the best sense of how the color will really look if you paint it directly on the wall. Each of the five pros we spoke with agreed. “If they use a board, I feel like it just doesn’t saturate the same way,” says interior designer Keith Wardlawof Plus Modern Designs in Kansas City, Missouri.

Kelly Porter, an interior designer in the Washington, D.C., area, explains the problem with using boards: “The texture is really not representative. It’s not the same as what’s on your wall, and that can really affect the look,” she says.

In this image, the colors are not samples, but intentional horizontal stripes in a finished room. The paint colors are Benjamin Moore’s Arctic Blue, Palladian Blue and Blue Bonnet.

Alex Amend Photography

Tip: If you’re hiring a paint company, see if it will provide free sample cans of the colors you’re considering. Many companies do. Remember, once you’ve had the paint tinted (mixed), you can’t get your money back. Even if you have to pay for them yourself, sample cans (typically $3 to $8) are well worth the expense.

Jeanette Lunde

Paint Two Coats

That’s the amount of coverage you’ll typically need on any wall. The second coat usually makes a big difference in the way the paint reads. Also, paint large swaths — at least 1 foot by 1 foot, and even larger is better. The 2-inch swatches won’t give you a good sense.

Here, in a white room with white floorboards, the designer used a plain white base.

Color Guide: Myth-Buster: How to Test Paint Colors the Right Way

For Certain Rich Colors, Use a Primer

A small selection of deep paint colors can be created only in conjunction with specific primers. The paint deck will show which colors are in this category. (Pictured here are four by Sherwin-Williams, clockwise from top left: Lemon Twist, Hyper Blue, Daredevil, African Violet.)

For these specific colors, you probably won’t be able to get a sample size in the paint, though you may be able to in the primer, says J.T. Trainor, owner of Freshcoat Painting, a paint company in the Phoenix metro area.

Terracotta Design Build

Save Photo

Paint Multiple Walls

The colors you’re testing will read differently depending on the amount of light that hits them. “We recommend you paint on a wall that doesn’t get direct sunlight and one that does,” Trainor says.

Екатерина Владимирова

In the above photo, notice how much darker the gray on the right side of the room is than on the left. In the photo of the orange room, the color appears much deeper at the back wall, where it is in shadow, and less intense on the left and right walls, where more light hits.

Also, landscaping outside a window can color the light streaming through it and change how a paint looks on the wall as well. In the above photo, where the green trees can be seen through the window, they’ve tinted the gray on the right side of the room a greener hue. See it, in the corner?

As you view the colors, make sure you consider what time of day you’ll most often be in the room. You want to like how the color looks at that time.

Leslie Saul & Associates

Place Lighting Before You Test

It’s simple, but true: It’s better to use the lighting that fits your needs than try to select your lighting to complement your paint colors. “You wouldn’t want to pick a lightbulb that looks good with your paint color, but you can’t read in the room,” saysJennifer Ott, a San Francisco-based color consultant and interior designer.

Here, the overhead lighting is casting a yellow glow throughout the room, warming the color of the off-white paint toward a pale shade of honey.

Make sure your lighting is in place as you’re considering colors. They may look quite different in bright bulbs that you prefer for nighttime use — or softer yellow-hued ones, if that’s what you’re going for — than they do during daylight hours. Having the right fixtures and bulbs in place can help you decide which shades will work for you.

If you’re not yet sure what lighting you prefer, you can use the time examining your samples to experiment. “Even changing out lightbulbs is a good thing to do,” says Carl Mattison, an interior designer in Atlanta. “Like any color in the world — just like your eyes or your hair or your skin tone — things will change in different light.”

Polhemus Savery DaSilva

Here, the yellow light from the chandelier and sconces warms up the cooler white of the walls.

Originally Published on HOUZZ by Erin Carlyle

10 Succulents That Make Pretty, Easy-Care Ground Covers

“Every year we try to do a least one new planting in the front yard for something a little different. Some of these might be worth a try and look interesting.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – Dc Metro Realty Team

Succulents, with their interesting shapes and colors, have become increasingly popular in the landscape. While larger succulents are often used singly as accent or container plants, smaller succulents are getting a second look for use as ground covers. As with other succulents, they are attractive, drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. Here are 10 low-growing succulents for you to try in your garden.

The Garden Route Company

It’s important to note that all plants profiled below require well-drained soil and, in many cases, some supplemental watering. The amount and frequency of watering depend on several variables, including exposure, temperature and soil. A good rule of thumb is to water 8 inches deep and then allow the soil to dry out before watering again. Succulents need more water in spring, when they are actively growing, and very little in winter.

1. Rock Purslane
(Calandrinia spectabilis)

Gray-green leaves form a dense mound that is transformed by the appearance of magenta flowers spring through fall. The flowers are about 2 inches wide and last one day, with new ones ready to take their place the following day.

For an eye-catching combination, pair rock purslane with pig’s ear (Cotyledon orbiculata),a succulent that produces orange flowers. Rock purslane does best in Mediterranean climates but is suitable as a container plant and can be treated as an annual in colder climates.

Origin: Chile
Where it will grow: Hardy to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 6.7 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 9; find your zone)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun or filtered shade
Mature size: 1 foot tall and 3 feet wide; about 3 feet tall when in flower

Phillips Garden

2. Caucasian Stonecrop
(Sedum spurium)

Succulents aren’t just for warm climates. This creeping ground cover can grow in zones 3 to 8. The beauty of this species of stonecrop lies in its tightly whorled leaves, which are often tinged in red. In late spring and summer, star-shaped pink flowers blanket the leaves and attract butterflies.

S. spurium ‘Red Carpet’ grows in the foreground of this photo, with blue-gray S. reflexum ‘Blue Spruce’ in the background.

Origin: Caucasus region of Eastern Europe
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 8)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 3 to 6 inches tall and 1 foot to 2 feet wide

ecocentrix landscape architecture

3. Blue Chalksticks
(Senecio serpens)

The lovely blue-gray and upright 1-inch leaves gradually spread to create an attractive ground cover in frost-free areas. The flowers range from white to chartreuse and appear in summer. Blue chalksticks is ideal for creating color contrast when used next to plants with bright green foliage, such as kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos spp.). It’s a good choice for areas with mild Mediterranean climates. In addition to making a great ground cover, this beauty is often used for erosion control, in containers and as a fire-wise plant.

Here, blue chalksticks grow between Furcraea macdougalii in the background and ‘Elijah Blue’ blue fescue (Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’) in the foreground.

Origin: South Africa
Where it will grow: Hardy to 20 Fahrenheit, or minus 6.7 degrees Celsius (Zone 9)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun or filtered shade
Mature size: 1 foot tall and 2 to 3 feet wide

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

4. Parry’s Agave
(Agave parryi)

Small- to medium-size agave species are unconventional ground cover choices that are becoming more popular. For example, Parry’s agave, with its very attractive rosette pattern, makes a wonderful water-wise ground cover. Use it next to boulders for great texture contrast. This plant and other smaller agave species work well in arid climates, including low-desert climates, since they can handle the full sun and intense summer heat that may cause succulents better suited for mild Mediterranean climates to struggle.

In this photo, A. parryi var. truncata grows among larger species of agave.

Origin: American Southwest and Mexico
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 23.3 to 6.7 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 9, depending on variety)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun or filtered shade
Mature size: 1 foot to 3 feet tall and wide

See how to grow Parry’s agave

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

5. Upright Myrtle Spurge
(Euphorbia rigida)

Chartreuse flowers, which gradually turn green and then tan, provide welcome color to drought-tolerant landscapes from late winter into spring. The pointed blue-gray leaves are arranged in spirals, which offer decorative texture throughout the year. Upright myrtle spurge can handle temperatures from over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) all the way down to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 28.9 degrees Celsius). Plant in groups of three or five alongside boulders and flowering perennials like beardtongue (Penstemon spp.)

Origin: Mediterranean region
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 28.9 degrees Celsius (Zone 5)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun or filtered shade
Mature size: 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

6. Resin Spurge
(Euphorbia resinifera)

Square light-green stems arranged in clumps give this African native the appearance of a cactus. The sides of the stems are covered in brown spines. Older specimens can grow quite large and look at home next to columnar cactuses. Smaller ones look great next to boulders and drought-tolerant perennials such as desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata) and blackfoot daisy (Melampodium leucanthum).

Here, resin spurge surrounds a Peruvian apple cactus (Cereus repandus), along with soap aloe (Aloe maculata) and its colorful flowers.

Caution: The milky sap is toxic.

Origin: Morocco
Where it will grow: Hardy to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 6.7 degrees Celsius (Zone 9)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun; can take afternoon shade in low desert
Mature size: 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Save Photo

7. Royal Dewflower
(Drosanthemum speciosum)

Vibrant flowers in shades of pink, purple and red, depending on the variety, create a colorful carpet in late spring into summer, almost completely covering the foliage. When not in flower, the narrow gray-green leaves add a visually cooling element to the garden. Royal dewflower roots when it comes into contact with bare soil, helping it to spread up to 3 feet wide. Although its low growth habit may lure you to walk on it, avoid the temptation since it doesn’t tolerate foot traffic.

Here, D. speciosum ‘Rosea’ covers a gentle slope.

Origin: South Africa
Where it will grow: Hardy to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 6.7 degrees Celsius (Zone 9)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun; part shade in the desert
Mature size: 6 to 12 inches tall and 3 feet wide

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

8. Candelilla
(Euphorbia antisyphilitica)

Narrow, waxy stems, with an upright growth habit, add another dimension to the landscape. Rather than spreading outward close to the ground, new stems are produced along the outer part of the plant, gradually increasing its width while still growing upright. Tiny pale pink flowers bloom along the upper half of the stems in spring. Small leaves may appear and are soon shed. Create a visually appealing design by planting candelillain staggered rows.

Origin: New Mexico, southwestern Texas and Mexico
Where it will grow: Hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 12.2 degrees Celsius (Zone 8)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full, reflected sun
Mature size: 1 foot to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide

See how to grow candelilla

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

9. ‘Blue Elf’ Aloe
(Aloe ‘Blue Elf’)

This small aloe species does what most aloes don’t: It thrives in full, reflected sun. Hummingbirds are attracted to the dark orange flowers that appear in late winter and last into early spring, providing needed color in the cool season. ‘Blue Elf’ aloe starts out small but gradually increases in width as it produces new growth. Plant it alongsidegolden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) for texture and color contrast.

Origin: Aloes are native to South Africa, but the parentage of this hybrid is unknown.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 9.4 degrees Celsius (Zone 8)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full, reflected sun to light shade
Mature size: 1½ feet tall and 2 feet wide

See how to grow ‘Blue Elf’ aloe

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

10. Elephant Bush
(Portulacaria afra)

The ease of growing this succulent ground cover makes it a popular addition to many gardens, as it thrives in full, reflected sun as well as shade. Bright green circular leaves and maroon stems, which resemble a small jade plant, root where they touch the ground and bring a visually cooling element to the garden. Elephant bush, also called elephant’s food, not only makes a wonderful ground cover, but it is also a good choice as a trailing plant for containers.

In this photo, elephant bush grows beneath an ironwood tree(Olneya tesota) and alongsideParry’s agave (Agave parryi).

Origin: South Africa
Where it will grow: Hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 3.9 degrees Celsius (Zone 9)
Origin: South Africa
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full, reflected sun to full shade
Mature size: 1 foot to 3 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide

Originally published on HOUZZ by Noelle Johnson

How to Make Your Kitchen a Sociable Space

“When you entertain, you almost always end up in the Kitchen. Why not decorate and design with that in mind?”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Do you want your kitchen to be the heart of your home and more than just a place to cook and eat? Here are the key ingredients for creating a welcoming space where family, friends and guests will love to spend time.

Contemporary Dining Room Putney, Loft Conversion

Save Photo

Keep it cozy. On the whole, people aren’t keen on hanging out in stark rooms. If your kitchen feels comfortable, it will draw people to it and make everyone in it feel at ease.

Here, generous seating, an array of comfy cushions and a rustic wooden table with a big bowl of fruit help to give the room an inviting, lived-in feel.

Flik Design Ltd

Include a casual seating area. Once people flop down on a comfy sofa in your kitchen, they won’t be in a hurry to leave. Whether it’s in your main living space or part of an extra seating area, a sofa creates a welcoming atmosphere, and you don’t need a huge kitchen to fit one in.

Here, putting the sofa perpendicular to the peninsula subtly divides the cooking, eating and chill-out zones.

Compass and Rose

Combine kitchen and dining areas. If the kitchen includes your dining area, it’s more likely to feel like the hub of your home, especially when you’re entertaining. You may be surprised at how many people you can accommodate even in a relatively small space.

Here, the kitchen cabinets run along one wall, freeing up the opposite wall for a large table that’s ideal for entertaining. Bear in mind, though, that you’ll have to be a confident cook and not get distracted by your guests’ banter for this arrangement to work!

Morph Interior Ltd

Build in a breakfast bar. If you don’t have space for a dining table in your kitchen, you can still create a spot where family and guests can perch and chat to you while you prepare a meal.

A breakfast bar at the end of an island or a peninsula is the ideal solution. The overhanging lip of this counter provides a comfortable place for people to tuck in their knees as they sit, and the bar stools can be neatly pushed under and out of the way when not in use.

Fancy having a kitchen island? Find out if you have room

Fine House Studio

Make it a room with a view. When you’re planning your kitchen, think carefully about the view you’ll have when working and eating in it. An attractive one will make it much more inviting.

Try to avoid having to do the dishes while facing a brick wall, and don’t position the dining table so that it looks directly at your washing machine. If your kitchen has windows or glazed doors that look out on your garden, terrace or balcony, try to ensure that this is, for the most part, what everyone will see.

Kitchen Stori

Go for an island combo. If you have young children who are out of highchairs but not yet tall enough to climb and sit safely on a bar stool, consider lowering one end of your island to create an informal seating area that little ones and their friends can sit around comfortably.

Different levels identify the different functions of this island, and the standard-height table area is perfect for children to eat supper and do their homework.

Cayford Architecture Ltd

Open onto the garden. If your kitchen opens directly to your outdoor living space, it will feel like the center of your home. Here, bifold doors open the entire room to the terrace, blurring the distinction between the outdoors and inside.

Higham Furniture

Brighten it up. No one wants to spend time in a dark and dingy room, so make your kitchen feel as light and bright as possible — you want people to feel uplifted as soon as they enter.

Painting the space white or in a pale shade is one way to do this, but think about your window treatments too. Here, shutters cover only the lower part of the windows, allowing natural light to flood in at the top.

Also consider whether you can open the space by removing walls, and include a mirror or two, as these can be useful in reflecting light around a room.

Empire Builders (London) Limited

Focus on the TV. You may not want to admit it, but the TV is probably a big draw when it comes to your home’s social spaces. In this kitchen, it’s unashamedly out on display, but if you don’t want the TV to be a distraction all the time, conceal it behind the doors of a purpose-built unit.

Originally Published on Houzz, by Anna Tobin

8 Budget-Friendly Ways to ‘Fun Up’ Your Patio

“Outdoor Living Spaces is something that we all love. If you’re struggling for ideas on how to make yours more fun, take a look at these.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Is your outdoor space more drab than fab but you don’t have the inclination (or budget) for a big makeover? Whether your space is big or small, here are eight easy-on-the-wallet ways to make it more alluring and comfortable.

M.U.D. Landscaping

1. Opt for circular tables over rectilinear shapes. If you’re in the market for an outdoor table and chair set, consider a circular or oval-shaped table over square or rectilinear. Rounded tables are easier to navigate around and can better accommodate another guest in a pinch. No one likes to sit at the corner during dinner.

Sarah Natsumi Moore

2. Maximize your garden walls. Most gardens concentrate on the ground surface, but fences and walls also offer design opportunity. This homeowner repurposed what appears to be vintage mailboxes into planters. It’s a great use of space on a small patio.

JHLA | Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture

Don’t forget about the top of your garden wall, either. This one sports a layer of wood planters. Consider this route if you have a less-than-desirable view you’d like to screen, want more privacy from neighbors or just want more planting space. Keep in mind that you’ll probably need some carpentry work to support the planters.

Pedersen Associates

Here, architectural corbels create a lovely finish to the top of a wall. They’re secured to a wood cap on the wall and support a small trellis running along it.

Margie Grace – Grace Design Associates

3. Bring some noise. Hopefully your backyard has the sound of chirping birds and buzzing bees; if it doesn’t, incorporating some nature sounds will be good for your mind and soul. The sound of water is not only relaxing but can help mask traffic and other unwanted noise.

Big-budget landscape projects often incorporate water features, but you can enjoy the same benefits with a smaller, free-standng fountain. Margie Gracefashioned this glazed pot into one. Many nurseries sell the components or full kits to create fountains and ponds.

Dick Clark + Associates

If you don’t have space for a fountain or the sound of bubbling water sends you running to the bathroom, a wind chime could be a good alternative. This one, tied to a tree, has an added sculptural effect.

The Cousins

4. Add drapery for privacy, sun protection, softness and drama. Drapery panels are effective at softening the harsh rays of the sun as well as making your patio a bit more private and cozy. They’re also more flexible than shades, allowing you to shift them left to right as needed.

Use an indoor-outdoor fabric, such as Sunbrella, particularly for areas that are exposed to the elements. Also look for panels with weighted bottoms so they don’t blow into your barbecue if it’s a breezy day. You’ll need to anchor them to an overhead structure, like the underside of this patio overhang.

Sheers are semi-private and soften the hard lines of pergolas and overhangs. While they don’t protect from sun and rain, they can help keep bugs out and add a sense of drama and romance to a backyard space.

Craig Reynolds Landscape Architecture

5. String up lights for an inexpensive transformation. String lights can make the saddest of spaces look upbeat. Cost varies from about $10 to $175 per string, depending on the quantity of lights, material, bulb type and whether they’re heavy-duty-rated for commercial outdoor use. Most are in the $20 to $40 range. Design options abound, from small to large globes and with or without decorative shades.

MTLA- Mark Tessier Landscape Architecture

My favorite is strung paper lanterns. While paper isn’t an ideal choice for outdoors, you can find these in nylon and in a rainbow of colors and patterns. For maximum longevity, install them in a covered area.

Chris Snook

Save Photo

A string of flags is always a festive addition to a patio, whether it’s someone’s birthday or not.

Archiverde Landscape Architecture

6. Personalize your outdoor space. With some creative thinking, you’ll find ways to express yourself beyond your choice of flowers, plants and shrubs. Here, vintage glass marbles have been epoxied to the top of a wrought iron railing.

LESLIE SCOTT DESIGN

A Southern friend of mine introduced me to bottle trees, a favorite Southern garden ornament. Bottles are inserted on the branches of a dead tree or larger limbs tied together. According to folklore, the bottles capture bad spirits roaming in the night. Cobalt blue is the most sought-after bottle color, but green and other colors are popular too.

Author Felder Rushing wrote a book about bottle trees (Bottle Trees and the Whimsical Art of Garden Glass) and shares interesting historical backgroundabout the tradition.

Etica Studio

In this backyard space, homeowner Carla Karsakis painted a mural to show off her affinity for Art Deco illustration.

Lévy Kohlhaas Architecture

If you plan on staying in your house for a while, take that jar of collected rocks, shells and mementos and make it part of your patio wall or floor.

Sarah Greenman

7. Nix neutrals — weave in pattern and color. Decking material, pavers, fencing and home exteriors tend to be neutral, so without some pattern and a punch of vivid color, your space can look lackluster. These days, indoor-outdoor carpet and area rugs come in a bevy of patterns and colors, like the one shown here.

Amy A. Alper, Architect

Throw pillows are another easy way to introduce pattern, color and texture without a lot of commitment. Here, the pillows are actually what you notice first. Pillows also make sometimes stiff outdoor lounge seating more comfy. Make sure the fabric and insert are appropriate for outdoor use if they’re not going to be covered.

Donna Lynn – Landscape Designer

8. Reuse what you already have. Check your attic, basement and garage for underused pieces that might find new life outdoors. This tiered plant stand spent a previous incarnation as a candle holder.

Hanging baskets often come with too few holes, but that’s not the case here. These colorful kitchen colanders have been cleverly repurposed.

Singing Gardens

This vintage Pepsi crate, meanwhile, became a charming planter for a checkerboard of succulents.

Originally Published by Karen Egly-Thompson on HOUZZ

10 Tips for Creating a Welcoming Entryway

“Been wondering how you could dress up your foyer or entryway? Lighting, colors and light decor may just do the trick.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

You have only one chance to make a first impression. So it’s important that the entry to your house is welcoming to guests, reflects your personal style and makes you feel happy and comfortable as soon as you walk through the door. This space sets the tone for the rest of your home.

KuDa Photography

1. Layer in light. In this relatively small space, a beautiful lantern, table lamp and sconce create different lighting options for different moods. The Moroccan lantern, chinoiserie lamp and iron sconce each add a unique style to the space in addition to the glow.

Mendelson Group

2. Provide an artful story. In most apartments, the entry space is small, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a big statement. This home is bold and chic right from the entryway. A Jackson Pollack-like wallcovering, plush stools, a statement mirror and a geometric rug welcome guests and let them know they are entering a stylish home.

Hudson Interior Design

3. Get the scale right. A grand foyer with one tiny table is a sad state of affairs. In this beautiful entryway, a large console table, a bench, a mirror and sconces stand up to the large space and architectural elements such as the columns. In addition, accents like the antique crock, bin of flowers, umbrella stand and throw pillows add personality.

Jeannie Balsam Interiors

4. Foreshadow your home’s style. Interior designer Jeannie Balsom used wood, iron and other rustic textures throughout this relaxed retreat. Using this mix at the entry sets the tone and lets visitors know exactly what they are walking into from the front door.

Echelon Interiors

5. Add a rug. Sometimes the dimensions of an entry seem tricky for a rug. But the floor is a great place to add pattern, color and softness. Because an entry is a high-traffic area, pick a rug that’s durable enough to stand up to heavy use.

Fox Design Studio

6. Go bold. Primary colors provide an exciting entrance in this Vancouver beach house. While a basket of oars nods to nautical style, the geometric rug and bright colors are unexpected and playful.

Taste Design Inc

7. Dazzle with wallpaper. This entryway to a circa-1900 house in Providence, Rhode Island, needed to respect the architecture but also to suit the homeowners’ chic personal styles. The designers at Taste Design chose a bold grass cloth wallcovering with vertical lines of acanthus leaves, giving the classical ornament a modern twist. The wallcovering also suits the client’s art collection and easily transitions from the foyer up the staircase.

Susan Nelson Interiors

8. Provide a place for stuff to land. A dresser, chest or console table with drawers will help you keep the entry from becoming cluttered whether you need to ditch mail, keys or gloves.

Dan Ruhland Designs LLC

9. Provide a transition. In this entry, plants, a stone floor, outdoor furniture and rich wood provide an easy transitional zone between indoors and out.

Herlong & Associates Architects + Interiors

10. Add local flavor. In this Kiawah Island, South Carolina, home, the spectacular staircase railing depicts local flora and fauna. While I usually try to avoid writing the overused phrase “bring the outdoors in,” this is the epitome of accomplishing that in a beautiful and unique way.

Originally published on HOUZZ, by Becky Harris

Make Sure You Read This Before Buying New Plants

“Knowing what to buy can make all the difference in how your yard looks, and how hard you have to work on it.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Spring and fall are the best planting times, but it can be all too easy to end up with an empty wallet and a garden filled with struggling, diseased or even dead plants. Thankfully, visits to the nursery can be enjoyable, and successful, as long as you arm yourself with the knowledge to ensure you will come home with beautiful, healthy plants that will increase the curb appeal of your home and garden.

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

1. Plan before buying. Before you head out to the nursery, it’s important to study the area in your garden where you plan to add your new plant or plants. Here is what you will need to know about the proposed planting location:

Exposure: Does it get full sun, filtered sun or shade? What direction does the plant location point toward? For example, areas that face west often get hot full sun in the late afternoon, while northern exposures tend to be shady. Planting sites that face east get morning sun and afternoon shade, and southern exposures get an even amount of sun all day.
Space: How much room is there for a plant to grow? If it is a large area, you may need several smaller plants or a single plant that will grow large.
Soil: What type of soil do you have? There are three main types of soil — clay, loam and sandy — and often plants have a preference for a specific type.

Get the Dirt on Your Garden’s Soil

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

2. Avoid impulse buys. It can be easy to fall in love with the vibrant blooming plant prominently displayed at the nursery and then buy it without knowing where it will go in the garden or even if it will do well in your climate. This can result in a plant that has a decreased chance of survival.

Sadly, it isn’t uncommon for some large chain stores to sell plants that are ill-suited to the particular climate they are located in. Your best bet is to walk on by that pretty plant, unless you have time to do a little research. First, contact your local cooperative extension office and ask to speak with a Master Gardener who can provide you with helpful information.

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

3. Read the label. Most plants come with their own instruction manual in the form of a plant tag. Types of information that you can find on the tag include the name of the plant, how big it will grow, when it will bloom, what exposure it needs and its water requirements. All of the plant’s information isn’t always listed on its tag, but with the name, you can do a little online research on your own.

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Save Photo

4. Know the signs of unhealthy plants. Unfortunately, there can be some unhealthy plants present at the nursery. Here are some warning signs to look out for so you can make sure you won’t take home an ailing plant.

Yellowing leaves: This can be an indicator of nutrient deficiency, overwatering or both.
Root-bound plants: When plants have been growing in their nursery container too long, their roots begin to grow in circles, making it hard for them to absorb water or nutrients. A sign of a root-bound plant includes its roots growing through its container’s drainage holes, or you can ask the nursery professional to carefully pull the plant from the pot so that you can see the root system. Root-bound plants will have a thick mat of roots at the bottom and around the sides of the plant, as shown in this photo.
Pests or disease: Plants at the nursery can be harboring harmful insect pests or diseases, which can infect nearby plants in your garden. Check the leaves for spots or speckling, which can be a sign of damage. Insects tend to hide underneath leaves or on stems.
Weeds: Look closely at the top of a plant’s rootball to be sure there aren’t any weeds lurking, trying to hitchhike their way to your home. You can simply pull the weeds out before planting.
Wilting leaves: It’s obvious that a plant hasn’t been watered enough at the nursery when its leaves begin to wilt. Sometimes all plants need is a good deep watering to recover.

Learn how to identify common plant ailments through leaves

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

5. Choose buds over blooms. Let’s face it, the flowering plants are what draw our attention as we stroll down the nursery aisles. As tempting as shrubs in full bloom are, it’s wiser to buy a plant that hasn’t flowered yet.

Imagine if you came home with a hydrangea plant that was covered with colorful flowers, and you planted it. You would expect to enjoy its flowers for a long time. A good portion of its flowering occurred while it sat at the nursery, however, so the amount of time that the flowers will remain open at your home is limited. In addition, transplanting new plants is stressful and can cause flowers to drop. If you had bought the hydrangea that had unopened blooms, its flowers would have opened shortly after planting and you would have enjoyed a longer bloom season.

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

6. Don’t be afraid of small plants. We may be tempted to buy a larger, more mature plant, as opposed to a smaller one, but you may be wasting your money. For example, a 1-gallon perennial or shrub is younger and better able to handle the stresses of planting than a 5-gallon plant. In addition, smaller plants initially grow more quickly than larger ones do. They also cost less money and save you time when planting.

There are times, however, when a larger plant is a better choice. If you are looking for an instant impact or have chosen a slow-growing plant, then the bigger size may be the best choice.

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

7. Buy local plants whenever possible. Plants have a much higher chance of survival if they’re planted close to where they were grown, where the climates are similar. Plants that have been brought in from a different climate may not have had the chance to acclimate to new weather conditions. For example, plants grown in California enjoy the mild, Mediterranean climate. A shipment of plants from California to the hot, dry desert or cold, mountainous regions can suffer and even die if the plants haven’t had a chance to “harden off” — that is, to gradually get used to a change in temperatures.

Whenever possible, ask your nursery professional for plants that come from local growers.

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

8. Check for a warranty. Does the nursery where you shop offer a warranty? There are some nurseries, usually larger ones, who offer warranties in case plants die within a few months after planting.

Many smaller, local nurseries don’t. The reason for this is that they cannot control how the customer waters or cares for the plant, which may result in its death.

If you are choosing a plant that isn’t easy to grow, you may want to find a nursery that will offer a warranty for that plant. Or you can always buy a plant that is easy to grow in your area, so that a warranty will most likely not be needed.

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

9. Ask a certified nursery professional. If you have questions about a particular plant or need help selecting the right type of plant for your landscape, ask the certified nursery professional or horticulturist at the nursery where you are shopping. They have completed lengthy training and can be an invaluable resource.

It’s important to note that not everyone who works at a nursery knows a lot about plants, so don’t be afraid to ask to speak with the certified nursery professional on staff about your questions.

Shown: Parry’s penstemon (Penstemon parryi)

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

10. Choose the nursery that suits your needs. There are several types of places where you can go to buy plants.

Local nursery: These nurseries are usually locally owned, with one to several locations scattered throughout a city or metro region. They tend to be the best resource for a wide variety of plants that are locally grown and are adapted to your region. The staff is also generally very knowledgeable about the gardening challenges that are unique to your area and how to deal with them.
Big-box store and large-chain nursery: Because of their size and buying power, they offer the cheapest prices, and new plants are delivered frequently. Warranties are also more likely to be offered at these types of nurseries.
Botanical garden plant sale: This is a great resource for both common and hard-to-find plants that are well-adapted to your climate. These sales are typically offered in spring and sometimes also in fall. Some gardens have a year-round nursery where visitors can buy plants.

Originally published on HOUZZ, by Noelle Johnson

To-Dos: Your April Home Checklist

‘Springtime is here and with it an opportunity for a fresh start around your home. Time to take stock of what Winter has done to your home, and see what needs some attention.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

With lengthening days and milder temperatures in many parts of the country, April is a wonderful time to freshen up the home inside and out. From windows that sparkle to a clutter-free garage, here are 13 tasks to make the most of the first full month of spring.

Strand Design

Clean gutters and downspouts. Having your home’s gutters and downspouts cleaned (and repaired if necessary) is one of the first important tasks to schedule this season. Clogged gutters during a rainy spring can cause water to pool, potentially damaging the roof and siding.

Wash siding. Using a regular garden hose, attach a siding cleaning kit (available at most home improvement stores) to clear away winter grime from your home’s siding.

One Girl Interiors

Spruce up the front porch. Clean the porch floor, exterior windows, windowsills and front door. Wipe cobwebs from the ceiling and high corners. Lay down a fresh doormat and plant a pot of flowers. If you have porch furniture, clean it off and wash the cushions.

Inspect paths and driveway.Repeated freezing and thawing can take a toll on asphalt and concrete. Check your driveway and paths for cracks and schedule repairs as needed.

Tara Bussema – Neat Organization and Design

Boost curb appeal. Spring is a wonderful time to make upgrades to your home’s exterior, and even small changes— like putting up bold house numbers and a shiny new mailbox — can make a big impact. If you’re planning to put your house on the market this spring, boosting curb appeal can help lure in potential buyers, making it especially important.

Jamie Keskin Design

Wash windows. Welcome the spring sunshine by clearing dirt and grime from windows inside and out. After cleaning the glass, take an extra moment to wipe the sill.

Check screen doors and windows for tears. Before putting up window screens and screen doors, inspect each one for holes and rips — even small tears can let in mosquitoes! If you find any holes, pick up a screen patch kit (available at most hardware stores) and repair them.

Studio McGee

Clear clutter. Create more space in your home by clearing out unloved items. If you have a lot to get rid of, set a date to hold a yard sale. Or contact a local charity to schedule a pickup — some will send a truck free of charge if you’re donating large items like furniture. If you have a lot of one type of item (for example, books or baby clothes), look for a consignment shop in your town where you may be able to sell them.

Schedule cooling-system maintenance. If you have central air conditioning, be sure to schedule professional maintenance before the start of summer. A properly maintained system cools better, uses less energy and lasts longer.

Organized Living

Clean the garage. Can you park your car in your garage? If not (or if it’s a tight fit), it may be time to make some more space. Clear out the junk, and schedule time to take unused paint, motor oil and other hazardous items to a recycling center that accepts them. (If you’re not sure where to go, search Earth911 to find a center near you.) Once your garage is cleaned out, consider adding wall-mounted storage to keep things neat and off the floor.

B. Jane Gardens

Test sprinklers and irrigation system. Don’t let the first sign you have a malfunctioning irrigation system be a drooping garden! Take the time this month to test each part and adjust or repair as needed.

Keep mosquitoes at bay. Having warmer weather and longer days means we’re entering mosquito season. Take preventative measures by regularly checking your property for standing water and emptying it. Any open containers (empty flowerpots and saucers, a wheelbarrow) can become mosquito-breeding grounds when filled with rainwater, so store items like these upside down or in a shed.

Westover Landscape Design, Inc.

Save Photo

Maintain wood decks and fences. Keep outdoor woodwork in top shape by staining or resealing each spring. Check gates, fencing, decks, railings, pergolas and other outdoor structures, and make repairs as needed.

Originally published on HOUZZ by Laura Gaskill

What to Know About Adding a Deck

“Been thinking about adding a Deck. Have you really thought about all the things that go into a project like this. Do you homework and plan everything out properly first.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Good weather should be enjoyed to its fullest extent. To do that you have to actually go outside. But if your home lacks an enticing outdoor living space, there’s little incentive to venture out.

Outdoor living is seeing a bit of an explosion lately: Adding a deck is one of the most requested home projects today, and demand is steadily rising.

New durable outdoor materials, furniture and accessories plus unique shade options and smart tech that lets us watch movies and have full kitchens have no doubt fueled the interest. So if you’re hoping to make the most of good weather in your area, a new deck has likely crossed your mind. Here’s what you’ll need to know about finally getting one.

Fine Decks Inc

Project: Adding a deck.

Why: To extend living space and enjoy the outdoors with an area for dining, grilling or lounging.

First thing to consider: You’ll want to decide whether your property is good for a deck or patio — or a combination of both.

Deck. A deck is a platform with decking boards, usually made of either wood or a composite material. A deck is ideal for sloped yards where you want a flat area. It’s also good for homes that sit high above the ground or atop a basement, because they can be built as high as you need. If your home sits higher than about 14 inches off the ground, a platform deck is probably for you.

Patio. A patio is on flat ground and is usually made of concrete, pavers, flagstone, wood or another hardscaping material. Doing a patio on a sloped lot is costlier and much more difficult, because retaining walls must be built to create a level surface. If your door opens right at the ground level, then a patio is the option for you.

Many people choose to build a deck that steps down to a patio.

Fine Decks Inc

What do you want your deck to do? Typically, people want a deck that’s multipurpose, with areas for eating, cooking and hanging out. But, as with most things, the sky is the limit. So depending on your budget, consider things like an outdoor TV, a fireplace, a fire pit, a hot tub, a kitchen, a water feature and more.

Figuring out what you want your deck to do will also help determine its size, safety measures and traffic flow. Do you host a lot of parties, or is it just you and a partner? Do you have a lot of kids? The last thing you want or need is a deck that’s too small or too large for your needs.

Also consider privacy on your deck. If you don’t want to feel like you’re on a stage performing for your neighbors, you’ll want to think about adding an arbor, a pergola, latticework or something else to create privacy.

FJU Photography

How will you access the deck? If you currently have a door that leads outside to where you’ll want your deck, then congratulations — you’re in good shape. But if you’re adding a deck to a portion of your house that doesn’t have a door, then you’ll have to add an opening, which can increase costs drastically depending on whether you’re planning for a door in a load-bearing wall or not.

If you’re using your deck for dining (which you should), you’ll want it located as close to your kitchen as possible. “You don’t want to have to climb a bunch of stairs just to go back in for some salt,” says Clemens Jellema, who runs Fine Decks and has been building decks for 20 years.

clark kitchens and construction

Consider how it will look. When adding a deck, it’s best to consider the style and architecture of your house so that the addition either blends in with or at least complements your home. A trained professional will be best suited to make recommendations on deck style, materials, color and more.

Holloway Company Inc.

Know Your Material Options

The two main options for decks are wood and composite boards. Historically, wood has dominated decks, but lately composite boards are more in demand. Jellema says there was a time when many homeowner’s associations didn’t allow composite decks, because they looked too plasticky and had other problems. Now it’s the complete opposite. “Many developments don’t allow wood decks,” Jellema says. “People don’t take care of them, and they can start to look ugly in five or six years when they start to weather.”

Composite boards. Composite boards, seen here, are engineered products that are a mixture of wood fibers and plastic; a lot of the material comes from recycled plastic grocery bags. Some companies use old shredded carpets for wood fillers. Newer composite boards are wrapped in a thin plastic layer so they won’t stain or fade. These are more expensive than wood boards but often come with a warranty of 20 to 25 years, are low maintenance and can be made to look almost identical to any species of wood out there. Plus, they stay the same color as the day you installed them.

“A lot of contractors have had problems with composites in the past, but they’re getting pretty good now,” Jellema says. Composite is about 40 to 50 percent more expensive than real wood, but because you don’t have to keep restaining it and paying for upkeep, the cost over time can be equal to or less than real wood.

To clean composite decking, just rub some detergent on it and hose it off.

SD Independent Construction

Wood. Many wood species are less expensive than composite but can weather over time and drive up maintenance costs. If you don’t take care of the wood, it can rot, dry out, warp, crack and splinter, and nails can pop out. But if you’re willing to maintain it, wood decking is beautiful, especially up close. Shown here is an ipe deck, which is a Brazilian hardwood known for its natural durability and for being weatherproof. Jellema says the price of ipe has risen dramatically in previous years due to demand. It’s now about the same price as composite.

If you go with a wood deck, it’s recommended that you power wash it and re-oil it after pollen and leaves have fallen, because they’re a food source for bacteria, Jellema says.

Keep in mind that the availability of certain woods varies across the country. Redwood and cedar are popular deck choices on the West Coast but are hard to come by on the East Coast. And, again, check with your HOA about any restrictions on using wood or composite decking.

See more on wood versus composite

Fine Decks Inc

Other Considerations
Shade. If it’s too sunny or raining, you won’t be enticed to use your new outdoor space unless you have some shade or some sort of covering. There are endless options here, from large umbrellas and retractable awnings to pavilions, gazebos and screened-in porches. Of course, the more elaborate, the more expensive it will be. You can have a deck porch with finished ceilings, fans, TVs, heating and A/C, fireplaces and more. “Projects can get so elaborate that it’s almost like building a house,” Jellema says.

If your deck will be raised 8 or 9 feet off the ground, consider converting the space below into a dry area for entertaining or storage. To do this your deck builder will integrate panels beneath the decking so that water falls through, gets collected and is sent to a downspout. That way you have a dry, shaded extra patio spot.

Studio Architectonic

Lighting. A good lighting plan will greatly extend the time during which you can actually use your deck. Consider ambient lighting for lounging, task lighting for things like cooking and grilling, and safety lighting for stairs and railings.

William Quarles Photography

Cost. The cost for deck design, materials and labor varies by location. An average composite deck that’s between 300 and 500 square feet costs around $20,000 to $30,000 in the Washington, D.C. area, Jellema says. A smaller basic size, like one for a townhouse that’s 12 feet by 18 feet, might be $10,000 to $15,000 in the same area, he says. According to Houzz’s Real Cost Finder, an average deck costs about $14,000 in San Francisco; $6,848 in Austin, Texas; and $4,392 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

A deck with varying elevations, a hot tub and a porch or pavilion can cost $50,000 to $60,000. Jellema once built a $120,000 deck. “But that was before the recession,” he says.

But keep in mind that deck additions are solid investments. Jellema says a deck addition often recoups 70 to 80 percent of its value when a home is sold.

Fine Decks Inc

Who to hire: A professional deck designer-builder is recommended for this project. A pro will meet with you, take measurements and photos of your site, and talk with you about your needs. He or she can make suggestions on blending the deck in with your existing home, and is knowledgeable about local building codes and obtaining the proper permits. “We set up decking with lasers to make sure it’s level; we use the right nails and the right screws,” Jellema says.

A professional will also map everything out in 3D software and look at traffic flow and placement of furniture, to gauge whether the deck is too big or too small. “You want people to get drawn to the deck and really come out and enjoy it in the evening or weekend,” Jellema says. “That’s when the design is a success.”

What’s more, if you’re doing a deck, try to find someone who specializes in decks. If it’s a patio you’re looking for, look for someone with patio experience, as different approaches are required for each.

If you’re adding an outdoor kitchen, you’ll need someone to do the plumbing and gas lines. If you’re adding an entertainment system or lighting, you’ll need an electrician as well.

Find a deck professional

Meg Padgett

DIY: Jellema says 65 percent of all decks are built by homeowners trying to save money, but he warns that these structures are often done without permits, and that can come back to bite homeowners when they go to sell. “You go to sell your house and have a home inspection, and in the end you’ll have to fix your deck that isn’t up to code before you can sell your home,” he says. While a deck can certainly be a DIY project if you’re confident enough in your building abilities, keep in mind that a lot goes into a deck to make it look right and stay level. Again, because deck additions can recoup around 80 percent of their cost when you go to sell your home, it’s often worth it to invest in a skilled professional.

Permitting and codes: If your deck is more than 200 square feet, you’ll likely need a permit. If your deck is more than 30 inches off the ground, you’ll need a permit. If you’re doing retaining walls that are higher than 3 feet, you’ll need a permit. Higher than 5 or 6 feet and you’ll need an engineer.

Plus, every county has different building codes for decks. Some places allow cable railings; others prohibit them. If you’ve got a septic tank or well on your property, that can affect where your deck can go. Deck builders will be able to read your site plan, assess where the setback is and if there’s a well or septic tank, and create the drawings to submit for a permit. “It can be hard for a homeowner to pull a permit, draw up the construction plan and build it right according to all the codes,” Jellema says. “It’s not worth it.”

The Taunton Press, Inc

When to do this project: When the weather is nice is obviously a good time to build a deck, but adding a deck is also a good opportunity to think about your backyard as a whole. Many deck builders work with landscapers, pool companies and other outdoor professionals to create a full-package makeover.

American Deck and Patio

How long it will it take? An average deck that’s between 300 and 500 square feet will take about one to two weeks to build. If you’re adding a porch, pavilion or gazebo, it will take at least another week. A simple townhouse deck without many corners that’s 100 to 300 square feet could take as little as three to four days. But it all depends on where you live. Some states, like earthquake-heavy California, may require that everything be done by a structural engineer for approval. Some places issue permits in a couple of hours; others can take up to two months. Other factors include whether you’re in a flood zone, whether you’ll need to cut down trees and whether you have a septic tank or well on your property. A good deck professional will be able to look at your site plan and determine these factors.

Originally published on HOUZZ by Mitchell Parker

DC Metro Info – Events, Info & Real Estate Trends

Keeping You Informed About Where You Live

Category Archives: Seller Information

5 Decorating Tips for Getting Scale Right

How to Create a Cohesive Color Flow Throughout Your Home

Myth-Buster: The Right Way to Test Paint Colors

10 Succulents That Make Pretty, Easy-Care Ground Covers

How to Make Your Kitchen a Sociable Space

8 Budget-Friendly Ways to ‘Fun Up’ Your Patio

10 Tips for Creating a Welcoming Entryway

Make Sure You Read This Before Buying New Plants

To-Dos: Your April Home Checklist

What to Know About Adding a Deck

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: