Are You Thinking INSIDE the Box!

Is Your Yard Looking Its Best?

In this day and age, we are often encouraged to let our imaginations go, and think outside the box – the box being “conventional” thought. But today we are here to tell you about Thinking INSIDE the Box – planter boxes that is! One of the most dynamic and creative ideas for your backyard is the creation of raised garden beds and planter boxes. It is a way to separate areas in your yard, create easy-to-maintain gardening areas, and, at the same time, provide seating and an ambiance for entertaining that will make your yard a hot spot for friends and family!

Envision . The first step is to envision where you might place planter boxes and raised beds. One helpful hint would be to look at your yard from INSIDE your house. Look out your windows that face your yard, and view things “at a distance.” Maybe take a photo or two of the area. Many times a photo reveals more than the naked eye!

Evaluate. Next, evaluate your wants when it comes to gardens. Do you enjoy gardening? Do you want low-maintenance planting? Where could you use more seating, more planting areas, or more form and shape? What about your lifestyle, and your entertainment needs, as well as your desire for more planned gardening space? All of these goals are well within your reach with raised beds and planters.

Plan. Almost all raised beds and planter boxes can be planned and built with seating, giving you a multi-purpose use and expanding the enjoyment of your yardscape. One of the most convenient forms of planter boxes can be used either as a part of your deck or along your paths. Variations can include trellises for climbing plants, and storage benches (with end planter boxes) for cushion storage.

Moreover, the great things about raised beds and planter boxes is that they can be built in whatever configuration works for you. Whether you like to Do-It-Yourself, or want to have the beds built for you, designs and plans are easy to come by. They are limited only by your space and your imagination! Paint, stain, and varieties of wood can all contribute to making your chosen beds or boxes unique and original.

Plant. Besides deciding the configuration of your beds and boxes, based on your space and needs, you will also need to consider what you want to plant. Do you want to plant perennials? Bulbs? (Those are plants that come back year after year.) Do you want a vegetable garden? A herb bed? A flower garden? (Some of those plants will be annuals that have to be replanted each year.) These factors may affect the depth of your boxes. Roses, for example, need a hole 15″ deep, and 18″ wide.

Enjoy. Planter boxes and raised beds can be such a fun project – enlivening your yard, and creating space for beauty and relaxation as well. You can work with what already exists in your yard, addingplanter boxes and raised garden beds as you need or want them. The greatest advantage about them is that they can be used year after year, and with good maintenance, will add value to your home. What’s not to like! Think of the ongoing enjoyment for you, your family and friends!

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What Does Focusing on the Good Things around You Have to do with Repairs & Fix-its?

I just received, for Mother’s Day, the current issue of Oprah’s magazine. It is her 10th Anniversary Special edition and it is packed with great ideas, solutions and life changing insights. I loved her quote, “We’re focusing on the good things around us right now, and the joy to be found in the present moment!“

What does this have to do with priority lists and making repairs or fix-its to your home? EVERYTHING!!

How can I be so bold as to say so? Because I too have a home where keeping up with the joy, beauty and pleasure of it is critically important to me. When it’s out of sync with my own desires, needs or wants or when it needs updating, repairs or changes … well, it just plain makes me feel sad, depressed or frustrated.

I spoke to a woman today who struggled to even define what she wanted, needed or desired. She knew what she had wasn’t it, yet what exactly did she WANT. Not to mention she was fearful of the cost or work involved, so she wouldn’t even let herself DREAM about it at all. She just shut down.

That makes me sigh in despair when I hear women say they won’t even dream of what they want simply because they believe they cannot have it. I know that we must dream and allow ourselves to create, then speak it out loud. It simply cannot come true if you stop the creative process from unfolding. First you dream it, then you allow it, and finally it shows up!

That’s what I am here to offer, a way to DREAM, to speak out loud what you desire. There is no one to judge you, only someone to support you in making it come true. Let me capture it for you and give it life, put YOUR priority list on paper.

Don’t be afraid … it’s FUN! I guarantee it.

Check out my offer ~ no obligation ~ no cost! Now you can’t beat that.

In the meantime, here’s to happy planting, digging, sanding and painting (unless, of course, you’d rather we did it for you?)

PS. Your yard, home, office and car are a direct reflection of you! Make sure you like the reflection that you are seeing!

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The Wonders of Spring

Are You Growing a Home You’ll Love?

Despite all the wetness, or perhaps because of it, spring brings us new thoughts of growth, yard work and making our homes, inside and out, be all they can be. It is important that you value what you have, and keep it looking fresh, and in tune with what you want your life to be. I believe in the law of attraction, so if you want a home that inspires you, creates a haven of comfort and relaxation, and is a centerpiece for your life, today is the day to begin!

Are there things you really like about your home? Decor, colors, shapes of the rooms, placement of the windows? How can you accentuate the positive, enhancing them so they are focal to your surroundings? Color is a great way to provide emphasis in

certain areas of your home. Frame a room by painting one wall a vibrant, dynamic color. Draw the eye to that wall by additionally placing artwork or a favored piece of furniture on that wall. Other uses of paint and color can include doing doors, door frames and/or baseboards as key color elements. Outside, you could do what I just did, and restore older patio furniture with a fresh coat of paint. Use a neutral background color, or let the colors in your garden lead the way. Paint is inexpensive, and a great way to provide an uplift, inside or out.

Other ways to provide an upbeat element indoors is to use chair rails or other architectural touches. Crown moldings, or ceiling medallions can make even the most modern environment unique and remarkable. Add small wall shelving units or decorative sconces to display treasured books or collectibles. Outside, you can bring the same feel and techniques to bear by using architectural elements such as pediments, louvers, shutters, fancy trim or plinths for eye candy.

Most of us dislike (or even hate) it when our homes don’t speak to our interests, our family lifestyle or our tastes. In fact, many of us are living with the prior owners’ or renters’ tastes, waiting for the perfect opportunity to make it our own. However, learning to enhance the elements already present in the design and structure of our houses and yards is a clever way to present ourselves and our interests. Even baby steps will put you on the path to the home of your dreams.

What else can you do to put your best foot forward? How about some quick and easy ideas? Change your house numbers t0 make your address attractive and your home findable. You can get tile numbers, lighted numbers, or be creative and find a way to display the numbers that catches the eye. We also suggest you consider having the numbers spray-painted on your curb as well, for visibility by emergency services.

Another quickie – utilize solar lighting to make the most of your pathways and stairs. You can get battery-operated ones, in which each light goes on and stays on based on the sunlight it absorbs, or wired ones, which are all connected to a central solar panel, so that they are evenly lit. There is a huge variety out there now, and some are inexpensive enough to create attractive and long-lasting lighting displays for your treasured plantings as well.

Change things that are relatively easy to change. For instance, new curtain rods can make older curtains seem fresh and new. A selection of throw rugs can perk up tired floors, and indoor-outdoor ones are great choices for patio or deck. Think about replacing old screen doors with new ones, and you may find adding lattice-work to decks and fences adds both a visual interest and privacy. Considering a new patio or walkway? Think about colored cements, and additions such as rock chips or marble chips for variation and uniqueness.

Sometimes we are leery of change, and worried about how things will turn out when we try something new. There is no right or wrong answer, just inspiration and creativity. Don’t fret about what others may think, but do things that create the environment, indoors and out, the feed you passions and joys. Whenever you go to a home & garden center, or visit a nursery, or drive down a country lane, keep your eyes open for elements and features that make you say, “oh, yeah!” Then at home, think about how you could incorporate what you saw into what you want your home to look like and to be. Remember what Jiminy Cricket said, “a dream is a wish your heart makes!”

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What Emotions do you Feel When You Look Around Your Home?

Capturing the Dream Within and Expressing it On the Outside

Are you aware that your outside world is influenced by your inside world? Do you recognize how much of your inner feelings make a difference on what shows up in your home, yard or office?

Whether you are conscious of your thought processes or not, many of your choices and decisions about your home, decor, yardscaping and the life you live are influenced by your emotions. The inner self guides the outer self. Not to mention, as you look at those areas surrounding you, they also influence your emotions as well. So if you don’t feel happy, content, secure, and at peace in your surroundings, then you need to find ways to enhance the positive emotions you want to feel when you are actively living in those spaces.

Do you have, perhaps buried in the far reaches of your mind, a vision for your outdoor living spaces? What I call your “yardscape?” They may come from your childhood dreams, or from an article you read or a home you visited and enjoyed. Give yourself time to think about those dreams, and perhaps get them on paper. Consider making a Garden Vision Board to capture those dreams. (Ask us about creating vision boards by emailing us at info@thefixitprofessionals.com.)

Do you want certain emotions to be felt when you are in your yard? Are you thinking about calmness, an environment of peace and relaxation? Or, do you want vibrancy, a place of fun and family gatherings and explosions of color? Do your outdoor living areas inspire interest, enthusiasm, and laughter?

Or, on the other hand, do you feel apathetic when you view your yard? Do feelings of embarrassment or regret influence the amount of time you spend there? These are important emotions to evaluate.

After all, emotion is Energy-in-Motion. It is a way of expressing oneself in life. It is the quality of how one relates to life.

It might sound like the negative emotions are just something to get rid of. Yet they serve a very important function. They show you the opposite of what you want, and help you get clear on what you DO want. They become the motivation to get the thing done. Use the emotions you are feeling as a guideline, a template, to creativity in your yardscape!

Now that you have evaluated your emotional response to your outdoor living spaces … What comes next? Now comes the fun part – exploring the possibilities. Each segment of your yard will have its own purpose, its own emotional triggers and its own value. Taking each area separately, think about what it says to you now, and what you want it to say. Some areas will probably be terrific just as they are. They only need some fresh plantings, or lighting to enhance what is already there.

Other areas will need a closer eye, and a more specific plan. Do you have enough seating areas for the yard you envision? How can you add to that? Do you want built-in benches, new tables and chairs, casual seating that can be stored in the winter, or is year-round living your goal? How about your entertainment areas? Do you have a place to cook and/or barbecue outdoors? Do you want or need a wet-bar, a covered lanai or an area that brings a particular essence to your environment, like the feel of the Mediterranean feel, or the flavor of Hawaii?

Home and garden magazines are great for inspiration – you don’t have to copy what you see, just feel the emotions around certain pictures when you view them, for a guide to what will feel good and right in your own environment. There is no wrong or right here, just discovering what creates the emotions you want to experience when you are enjoying your outdoor areas! If you are at ease in your yard, those who live with you, as well as those visiting you, will feel that same contentment and enjoyment.

Emotions are important to our lives, whether expressed or subliminal. Men and women deal with their emotions differently, but their value is nonetheless present in how we choose to design, decorate, express and respond to our living areas, indoors and out. Make your yardscape uniquely yours in creating the emotions you want!

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