The Personal Side of Outdoor Living!

How to Create Places and Spaces for Privacy and Personal Time

How many times have you walked into your back or front yard and beendiscouragedwithwhat you see? How often have you just ‘made do’ with something you really did not want because someone in your family insisted it be that way? Does your yard reflect your own personal side or the personality of someone else?

Continuing with the thoughts and ideas we started with a few weeks ago, let’s explore the need for private outdoor spaces in your yardscape. It truly isn’t enough to just have party space, play areas and cooking or dining spots. We also have to feed our need for retreat and relaxation, out of doors. We encourage you to take the time, today, to analyze what you want your yardscapes to provide for you in that area, and create a corner of the world that gives you that space.

The first step is to focus on what you want, and what it means to have a retreat space. The busy life most of us lead, full of frantic, disorderly haste, means that it is all the more important to have those private elements in your yardscape.

The next step is to choose the portion of your yard in which to create this getaway space. Not everyone wants meditation space, or desires a formal setting for that purpose. But we all need a place to be alone, sometimes, and a place outside to give us space to dream, read, write, or meditate is precious indeed.  (We can help you create that outdoor area with our free assessment offer. Click here!) No vision is too big, just allow it to flow from you with a deep sense of “Yes, I can have that!”

Here are some elements to think about while planning:

Creating privacy: It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, but for the most useful space, it helps to have screens, fabric or fencing to delineate your special private area. Remember you will need room for seating, a table or two, lighting and a garden ambiance. It is outdoors, after all! Umbrellas, shade trees and judicious plantings can create the illusion of private space, even if you are limited by a small yard or minimal budget.

Creating Mood: Next, you need to create the mood of your special area. This will depend both on purpose and intent. If it is a space for reading and meditation, then bodies of water, both still and moving, are a terrific addition. The gentle sound, and the connection to nature provided by water, is a great enhancement for your quiet-time areas. Another terrific idea is to have statues or items like seashells or rocks that express your interests, what means peace and relaxation to you. A source of music, either an outside sound system, or a personal sound system that can play calming, meditative music for your quiet times is also a great enhancement.

Creating Ambiance: An important key to your garden private get-away is to use the elements (plants, water, statues, music) etc. to create the feeling and ambiance you want. Are you looking for silence, or a place simply to be alone? Will you share the space with someone else, (either concurrently or consecutively) or is it for your use only? Do you need the space to be flexible and growing, with new additions of items, or will it be a still place, unvarying and reassuring in its constancy?

Last but not least: In order to be sure that all the elements will come together the way you want them to, you will have to consider a few things. One would be the cost to  getting it done. Another would be the perspectives of other family members. And yet another would be an awareness of the requirements of the elements in your quiet zone. Do the plants in your personal area need watering? Is there a way to refill your water feature? Does the seating i have selected need to be protected from the weather, or a place to store mats and cushions? Do you have appropriate electric outlets and faucet connections?

Be sure to  have a bird’s eye view of what you envision, and how you want to create this special, unique space for yourself. You can relax and not worry about upkeep on a daily basis, and instead simply unwind, rejuvenate and recharge your inner spirit. We can not overstress how important it is in the hurried life we live that we create spaces of peace, joy and repose. You deserve it!

(Let us help you with your outdoor living needs, especially electrical. We are licensed and insured!  Need a fence? We can build it. Need a raised flower  bed? We can build that too!Want a meditation bench? Let us make it for you!)

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~ Outdoor Living ~ Creating Spaces for Family and Self ~

How Does Your Family’s Lifestyle Influence your Outdoor Areas?

Continuing with the thoughts and ideas we started with last week, I want to remind you of the importance of creating not only a dreamy yardscape, but keeping it in tune with your needs, and your lifestyle. With life going by so quickly, it becomes so very important to create spaces outdoors that we can relax in, meditate in, and yes, even escape in! To Make these areas happen so that they are functional and attractive, you have to know what your family needs and wants.

Today, we are going to focus on the elements of family entertainment space out of doors. Here’s a good way to begin creating this outdoor living space: Have  a confab with your family! Whether there are two of you or 10 of you, it is important to get feedback. You may have to find a way to agree on everyone’s desires, for instance sharing with your partner “I don’t want an outdoor television,” or maybe find a way to warn your children that you will not have a place for bizarre pets! No matter your final purpose or desire, a well-planned outdoor living area is essential. (We can help you create that outdoor living area with our free assessment offer. Click here!) No vision is too big, just allow it to flow from you with a deep sense of “Yes, I can have that!”

Here are some elements to think about while planning:

Seating. For the best looking and most relaxing entertainment spot, you need to have a variety of comfortable seating. Be sure to take into consideration your weather or climate, shade, age-ranges to be entertained and form(s) of entertainment. Do you want conversational groups? A place to eat? Seating around a pool? Do you need easy-to-get-out of  seating for your elders, or miniaturized seating for little ones? What sizes of parties will you have? Once you have these basics in mind, then look over what you already have that can be used. Can tables and chairs be refinished or refurbished? Can you put cushions on walls for additional seating? Put it all together in a few special areas, and you will have the most popular yard around!

Food service and dining: Another thing you and your family need to determine is whether you want to prepare food outside, or inside, as well has how you want to set up your dining areas. For many, the ideal situation is a potluck – you cook the main entry, outdoors, provide drinks, and let everyone else contribute salads, sides and dessert. Consider having a barbecue area, with places to lay out food, and nooks and crannies for conversation and consumption.

Last but not least, know what you will need for electrical use, (CFGI plugs) or propane or other gas for the barby! Should you like to use things like crockpots, warmers or other barbecue and potluck additions, you will want to plan ahead for their safe use. If you want to use special lanterns for parties, or lighting like Christmas strands, you must have adequate and safe outlets. They need to be safe for not only the use to which you will put them, but for children that may have access to them. They have to be weatherproof, and accessible to the areas that you want to use them.

In order to be sure that all the elements will come together the way you want them to, you will have to be aware of the costs, the dynamics of how your yard is used, and the weather or climate that will affect how and when you use your yardscape. With a dream and a plan, you can go slowly, as budget allows, or do it all at once. What matters is that you keep your thoughts focused on what you want, and how you envision the completed look!

(Let us help you with your outdoor living needs, especially electrical. We are licensed and insured! Need a fence? We can build it. Need a raised flower bed? We can build that too!)

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Outdoor Living – Create a Life in the Slow Lane!

~ How Does Lighting Enhance your Outdoor Spaces? ~

How many times have you desired for life to slow down a bit so you can catch up? Do you have too many tasks to accomplish, people to take care of and events to attend? It seems a sense of overwhelm and excess busyness permeates everything these days. As if the internet highway has taken over every aspect of our lives. Buzz, buzz, buzz, whoosh, whoosh, life is whizzing right by! How about bringing on life in the slow lane instead?

What exactly is “Life in the Slow Lane?” It can be any number of things but for us it is a place, a lifestyle, a mood and an expression of self. Yet many of us don’t take the time to explore Life in the Slow Lane! One of the best ways to create it, especially this time of year, is to create outdoor living spaces to enjoy. It gives you a chance to deliberately set aside a place for relaxation, conversation and time away from workday worries.

Here’s a good way to begin  creating this outdoor living space ~ begin with a vision. (We can help you create that vision with our free assessment offer. Click here!) No vision is too big, just allow it to flow from you with a deep sense of “Yes, I can have that!” While considering what you want, also think about what you want your senses to experience while you are in your yard. Are smells, looks, sound important to you? Let those factors lead the way.

Then focus on one intent, one purpose at a time. For example, what does the lighting look like in your dream yard? Will it be ambient light, subtle, discrete and unobtrusive? Or will it highlight special plantings, meditation areas, social areas or specific activities? Here is an overview of how lighting can bring your yardscape front and center, and give your outdoor living spaces the attention they deserve.

You can easily mix and match lighting types in different areas of your yard. Each area of your yardscape can have it’s own unique look with the proper lighting. Remember to visit your yard at night to see how a change (or addition) of lighting might work for you. Yard lights not only give homes added safety by brightening dark areas and steps, but they also enhance the landscape by creating shadows and accenting garden areas.

Three basic types of lighting are possible; High Voltage, Low Voltage and Solar. Each has it’s own value, and the decision may be based on whether you want a Do-It-Yourself project or a professionally installed lighting. High voltage landscape lighting systems use a separate electrical circuit and need installation by a licensed electrician. They use more power, but they can also handle more fixtures without a significant voltage drop if you decide to expand your landscape lighting in the future.

Low Voltage lights are wired to a transformer connected to a home’s electrical circuit. The advantages of a low-voltage landscape lighting system are that it uses only 12 volts of electricity, it’s easy to install, and its lightweight wiring requires smaller ground trenches. Solar landscape lighting systems may not require any wiring at all. They’re environmentally friendly and cheaper to operate, but not very practical in some areas of your yard, or underneath trees and bushes where the sun can’t charge the solar element.

If you are more interested in safety and security, a low voltage system with a motion detector is a good choice. You can also set up lantern-style driveway lighting, for instance, as well as path lighting with low voltage systems. Landscape lighting kits are very comfortably priced, and great for low voltage systems. However, if you were to want to expand that kind of lighting, you would probably have to buy a bigger transformer, and as trends change in lighting, you might not be able to match older fixtures.

High voltage lighting systems with accent features are great for aesthetic purposes. Flood lights, spotlights, well lights, wall lights and walkway lights can all be used, imbuing your yard with drama and style. Solar lights are perfect for evening parties and social events, as they can provide ambiance and a gentle lighting to enhance the mood.

Whether you choose one system or a combination of techniques, lighting is the base on which your yardscape revolves. You can highlight  a statue or plant; lowlight a flowerbed with a series of lights; or accent with scattered lights to create mood lighting. The choice, creativity and  variety is up to you, only limited by your own preferences, desires and inclinations. You can create a beautifully lit outdoor living environment that will enhance your yard, and your lifestyle!

Remember the sky is the limit when it comes to creating life in the slow lane. You get to define it and let it unfold. Recognize that lighting plays an important part in that environment, creating the mood you wish to embrace. Don’t forget candle light too!

(We are licensed, insured electricians if you need our help! Just drop us an email for an electrical assessment appointment!)

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He Said, She Said!

Joan’s Task as Woman-speak vs. Handyman-speak Interpreter

One of the many “hats” that I wear as part owner of The Fix-it Professionals is that of translator. Being both an educated and “bona fide” woman, I both understand and speak fluent woman (or women) speak.  Women speak a different language than men. It sounds simple but that is one of the major differences between the sexes. Since the primary client base we have is busy, professional, working women and active seniors, John and I agree that it is one of the most important aspects of our partnership that I am able to interpret for him what the job entails, what steps will be taken, and in turn decipher what the clients expectations are. By doing this, “Team Fix-It” is insuring that the client gets the job done the way they want, and deserve, and John can do the job at hand in the most efficient way possible. A win-win for everyone involved.

What are some of the ways that “womanspeak” manifests itself? Often, women speak to projects, repairs, tools, etc. in a different way than men, especially men in the trades. Often they speak over women’s heads, using terms that make no sense to most women. That is not to say that they speak “down” to us, but rather that they use terminology that might not be within our realms of experience. Every field has a language of its own. In addition, since language overlaps, what a client might call a wrench may not be the wrench the repair-person means! So often, a “painting job” may seem very straightforward to BOTH the painter and the client, and yet their concepts of what that “painting job” entails may be miles apart in reality!

You may be asking, if I’m hiring someone to paint a room for me, why would I need to know, what type of paint or surface is being painted over (oil or water based for instance)? Or that there may be a need for cutting in, which requires things to be hand-trimmed? Or even that some forms of wall or paint damage will require either a primer or base coat or maybe patching before painting is done?

The answer is that knowledge is power, and helps you make an informed decision. The extent of the work involved is critical to the output of cash you may have to make. Wouldn’t you like to know if you are asking for something that is higher in cost than you have cash flow to cover! With clarity, and interpretation, John and his team can know the tasks ahead, the amount of time and materials needed, and can give an accurate pricing to the client.

Consequently, one of my tasks is to be sure that the client’s needs are understood, and addressed directly, specifically. It may seem slow or overly detailed, but communication is the key to getting what you want when you hire us for repair and fix-it tasks around your home or office. Often our job is to not only repair, remodel, re-purpose or redefine your living spaces, but to help you articulate what it is you want, and what end result you are hoping for. That is why we encourage you to be actively involved in analyzing and understanding the spaces you want to change. Lists are a great way to make that happen, as we discussed in last week’s newsletter. So are quick photographs, and family meetings.

Another way to insure that your fix-its are completed satisfactorily, whether they are do-it-yourself or handyman repairs, is to take the time to communicate fully your needs and wishes. When you call for assistance, be sure you have time to talk, to explain and to delineate your desired tasks and results. Our combined skills and talents are there for you to use; and whether you are a woman who wants her “womanspeak” to be understood, or a man who wants to be sure he is getting what he needs in repairs, we want to bring your dreams to fruition!

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Help, My Home is Not My Kingdom!

How to Create the Home or Office of Your Dreams

Okay, so none of us want to admit we are overwhelmed or out of control. We would prefer that everyone believes we have our act together, yet we do often feel overwhelmed with the tasks that face us at home (or in the office). There is so much to keep up with, fix or maintain, not to mention all those creative remodeling ideas!

I know, I know, we have talked about this before! However, because I hear women cry out in anguish and frustration over all the things they want or need done, I believe this is the very information you are craving! So, let’s talk about this ~ How can you create the home or office of your dreams?

One very simply answer is to locate the master key.

What is the master key? You’ll groan when I tell you what it is ~ it is making Lists, but in particular it is creating a master list!

I can hear you saying ” Ewwww, you’ve got to be kidding!” But wait a minute, take a deep breath and please, keep reading! For this can be a fun project, or at the minimum, a relief from your very tired and over-active mind!

Here’s how it works ~ First, get a sturdy binder. Along with the binder, get some clear, hole-punched page protectors, binder paper, and labeled dividers. If you prefer, you can also add colored paper and marking pens. Make it as creative, or not, as you wish. Now you are ready to roll and well on your way to creating the most valuable tool you’ll ever own, the Master List!

Here are a few steps to creating it – one you can keep and refer to, on the way to tackling home repairs, decorating, yardscapes and more.

The key steps are simple. Start with defining areas. Write down the areas you want to cover in your notebook or binder, starting with those things that are most critical ~ things that effect health and safety. Do you need more smoke detectors? Their installation should come before painting the bathroom! (Check your local Building Ordinances for information on the required number of smoke detectors. Usually, one in each bedroom is required, as well as in the common living areas.)

Do you have loose tiles, carpet or the like? That should go near the top of the list, for safety reasons. Replacing lighting, for more efficiency and for a safer environment should be placed in the “health and safety” section of your list as well. Walk through your home with that particular vision in mind; making your home safe and healthy for the people who live there – or visit!

Prioritize your list. (Email me if you want more ideas!) After you have finished making acomprehensive list, prioritize it. Many of us are not list-makers by nature – but for home and garden care, a good list makes things happen much faster!

Separate each area you defined into different tabs within the binder, isolating each project or area for ease of reference. Only put key words or single sentences on the master list which is in the front of the binder. This master list, much like a table of contents to a book, refers to each area within the binder.

Be sure you update your list regularly, removing those projects that are done, or adding the date items were completed. You might, for future reference, note if there were problems or suggestions on what you might do differently next time. Be sure to include your kids, if you have kids, or a partner, getting their input, their ideas, in writing, and in pictures. Slip the pictures into the page protectors.

Keep a record of products you like, paint colors, garden ideas and/or themes that appeal to you. There is no wrong way to create your file – just remember to put the health and safety items first! Get paint cards and wallpaper samples from your local stores, and add them to the mix. There is no bad way to create your binder, just remember it is YOUR binder and you are in charge of what is in it!

Let your imagination off its leash! Budgetary restraints, time, and energy all contribute to the viability of your ideas. But for now, let your imagination roam. Think about what you would like your home to look like, the purposes you want it to serve, and the vision that you want to make come true. Get it on paper, in pictures and in your binder for future reference. The best way to make your dreams come true is to have a concrete idea of what those ideas are.

Don’t just dream it, allow it to come forth. The Master List is your way of allowing it to come into action. As you record your desires in the form of a list, you allow those dreams to become real. Your Master List is a constantly moving, growing and evolving creation. Enjoy the process, let it flow and bring it forth into Your Kingdom; Your Home!

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