Reader Jose wrote in to suggest getting worn patio furniture refurbished as an alternative to hauling it to the landfill. What a concept. While Native Americans suggest thinking of the impact of our actions seven generations into the future, we would do well to consider seven seasons in the future. For instance, what will this…
During these lovely spring days, your thoughts may turn to buying an inexpensive metal garden swing with a charming fabric canopy. I have one short piece of advice for you: DON’T DO IT! Pictured here (bottom) is one of these swings I spotted on a SoCal balcony. The metal is rusted. The fabric is rotted…
Got a square foot or two of 3/4-inch tile left over from your kitchen or bathroom project? Here’s an idea seen on a SoCal street. I’m not sure this will hold up in the sun.
Here’s what was showing off yesterday in SoCal front yards. Hey, does anyone know what that thing is on the top left? It looks Australian.
Question: Could you find a landscaper to comment on pros/cons of pea gravel in a residential setting? I’m entranced with the look, and permeable hardscape is important to me. However, when I research on the Internet, I find most postings by homeowners are negative: It does not stay put if there are children or dogs…
Back in the 1980s, Michelle Griffoul chose her home for one reason. “It had forklift access to the backyard,” said Michelle, who bought the home, in the Santa Barbara County community of Los Olivos, when she was a fledgling ceramic-tile artist with a very large kiln. “The house itself was irrelevant.” But the sage-green house…
High-tech wizards have tried to get us to use our computers to control so many mundane daily tasks: opening and closing the drapes, turning on the hot tub, setting back our thermostats. But so far, we’ve resisted, finding a quick yank on the drapery pull easy enough. But here’s a device that might tip us…
My mother-in-law is visiting from Santa Barbara and wonders if she can rinse off her truck at my house. It’s no longer allowed in her town. As the population explodes here on the planet, supplies of fresh water don’t seem to be keeping up. Something has to give. A helpful article in Sunday’s newspaper, headlined…
After countless vain attempts to locate a solar-powered fountain similar to the one I stumbled upon at my local Home Depot, I’ve decided the better way is to find the components and assemble one myself. The elements are shown above: fountain + pump/solar panel = solar-powered fountain. Fountain: The fountains come from places like OSH,…
