Shannon and I recently helped a client choose exterior paints for their home. Their main goal was to achieve some curb appeal for potential renters. We have some great feedback we would like to share.

Before our paint consultation the comments from our clients friends, family and neighbors were:

• “Is (NAME REMOVED) poor, his house is so small and old”, a friend’s son
• “You need to add some color”
• “Those outside colors are horrid”

After our paint consultation, the remarks changed drastically:

• “Darling, darling, darling, darling”
• “Gorgeous”
• “Cute.  Nice old style beach cottage, not many of those left.”, a local architect

Pictures soon to come….

Tracy Lynn

Watching in horror as October’s wildfires destroyed thousands of homes, Tracy Lynn and the staff at Style On a Shoestring decided to use their expertise to help people get their lives back together. The interior design firm would, for free, help those who lost their homes or suffered severe smoke damage with choosing new paint colors, picking out window treatments and creating design plans for furniture arrangement. One hitch: No takers. While Lynn describes a frustrating struggle to get the word out, she hasn’t given up. “I truly believe that Style on a Shoestring could be a valuable resource for some of these families in need,� she says. “The offer of free assistance is still available and will continue to be so as long as there are people in our county who can use our services.� Call Lynn at (858) 335-7033 or visit styleonashoestring.com for more.

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Solar powered lighting is a relative newcomer to the outdoor lighting market. However, it has  captured homeowners’  attention with a vast selection of fixture styles and because of  their “no-brainer” installation and upkeep. Like landscape lighting, solar lights can be used to illuminate steps, paths, and pools. However, instead of an electric power source, solar lights use a photocell that charges a NiCad battery during the day and then powers the light at night. With virtually no wiring to speak of, solar lighting kits have become very popular.

 This particular  type of landscape lighting  uses 12 volt electrical instead of the 120 volts delivered by regular household current. These 12-volt systems do not require an electrician to install which makes them safe, easy to work with, and thus popular with homeowners.  Most people can install these lights after a “do-it-yourself” class offered by local hardware stores.

Another benefit is that light fixtures can be added and adjusted while the system is plugged in and turned on. Low voltage landscape lighting kits are generally affordable and available in most hardware and building centers.  With that being said, professionally installed and designed low voltage systems using higher grade components will give you lasting satisfaction that stands the test of time.

When planning your new garden, ask any landscape architect and they’ll tell you that well chosen and situated outdoor lighting is essential to all-season enjoyment of your garden.

 When carefully planned and installed, outdoor lighting can transform your property at night, turning trees, buildings and other landscape features into dramatic focal points.  Lighting is also essential for safety along paths and walkways, and around decks, patios, and stairs.

Staining concrete, also known as colored concrete,  is one of the most popular applications for transforming plain concrete slabs. Homeowners, builders and designers are using stained concrete because of the unique outcome that can be achieved combining colors. The results of this process is limited only by the creativity of those involved in the stained concrete process.

Because of concrete’s porous qualities and neutral tone, it is the perfect blank canvas for applying color. Using acid-based chemical stains, decorative concrete contractors have been able to achieve rich, earth-toned color schemes resembling natural stone, marble, wood, or even leather, giving a completely custom look to cement floors, concrete driveways, patios, walkways, pool decks, concrete walls and more.

Most acid stains are a mixture of water, hydrochloric acid, and acid-soluble metallic salts. They work by penetrating the surface and reacting chemically with the hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) in the concrete. The acid in the stain lightly etches the surface, allowing the metallic salts to penetrate more easily. Once the stain reacts, it becomes a permanent part of the concrete and won’t fade, chip off, or peel away. Like stains for wood, acid-based stains are translucent and the color they produce will vary depending on the color and condition of the substrate they are applied to. Each concrete slab will accept the stain in varying degrees of intensity, creating natural color variations that bring character and distinction to each project. What acid stains don’t offer is a broad color selection. You’ll mostly find them in a limited array of subtle earth tones, such as tans, browns, terra cottas, and soft blue-greens. But newer products on the market such as water-based penetrating stains and water- and solvent-based dyes are greatly expanding the color choices available. These colores can range from soft pastels to vivid reds, oranges, yellows, and purples.

Stamping isn’t the only way to put a realistic brick, stone or tile pattern in your concrete. You can achieve very similar effects with stenciling—and often with less time and effort. And the stencil can be applied to patios, driveways, sidewalks, floors and any other flatwork that you can think of using it on.

Both processes are completed while the concrete is still in its plastic state, but instead of rubber stamps, stenciling uses disposable paper stencils to impart the pattern. Because the stencils mask off the underlying surface, they leave behind realistic “mortar joints” the color of the gray concrete base. By applying a dry-shake color hardener to the exposed concrete before stencil removal, you’ll get the appearance of individual stones or bricks in a design pattern that all yours.

 Stamped concrete, which is sometimes referred to as patterned concrete, is a great choice when it comes to hardscaping your yard. This, in part, is due to its ability to mimic  both the color and texture of popular paving materials such as cobblestone, brick, fieldstone and slate. Yet stamped concrete surpasses these traditional favorites in many ways, offering greater versatility, economy, long-term performance and ease of installation.

Stamped concrete may have built a reputation as the ultimate copycat, but today it’s gaining respect for its design flair and versatility. Unlike masonry pavers or natural stone, cement offers  a myriad of options for customization. This is  because it can be shaped, imprinted, textured and colored to achieve almost any look imaginable. With concrete, stone that looks like the natural material can be economically recreated when patterns are pressed into the concrete. Stamping concrete can also blend harmoniously with just about any landscape or architectural scheme, making it suitable for all types of exterior hardscaping—and some interior applications as well.

The best news is that because stamped concrete is a customized product, it can be tailored

  Now that Winter is behind us, you can starting adding a little color to your outdoor patio. By adding some flowers and potted plants you can change the overall look of  your patio and make it appear to be an extension of your home.

1. When selecting what flowers to place in what area you should  consider the lighting in the patio. Study where the sunlight hits in the morning, at noontime, and at four o’clock in the afternoon. This can give you an idea of how to evenly spread plants and flowers so that at all times of day there is something blooming in your patio.

2. You want to select a focal point in the patio landscape design just like you would if you were doing the inside of your home. Focal points can be just about anything you choose, like colorful plants, birdbaths or fountains. The focal point you choose will serve as your patio highlight. These are usually placed in the corner of a garden, or if you have a round garden, right in the center.

3. Choose a theme to plan your patio landscape design on. You may want to choose a complimentary motif with your existing patio. The theme you choose will be the basis of all the planning of your patio. In selecting a theme, you should consider the following factors:

a. The style of your own home. Since the patio is an extension of your home, choose a patio landscape design that is complimentary so that the colors and materials you choose will bring about harmony in design.

b. Keep the patio theme the same as the overall feel of your . For example, choosing a Mediterranean style, or Desert landscape.

4. Planning your landscape around curvy and round shapes add grace to the whole landscape. You can soften up sharp edges with plants, flower beds, and focal points.

Keep in mind that some plants are poisonous and can be dangerous to children and animals. Be sure to read the label or ask a gardening professional before you make your plant purchases.