Blog by Beebe Cline, PREC*

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5 Sensational Flowering Vines for Warm Climates

August 20th, 2013
Love them or hate them, no tropical garden is complete without those wild and crazy vines. They latch on where they don't belong, require persistent pruning, take up more space than they're ever given and will swallow up a shed within a week if given the chance, but we grow them for one very good reason — the flowers, of course. Here are some of the showiest blooming vines y ...

3 Key Steps for Grouting That Looks Its Best

August 20th, 2013
If the only thought you've given to grout is what color it should be, you may be in for a nasty surprise down the road. There's a lot to consider: A great grout job can save a poor tile installation, and a poor grout job can ruin a great tile installation.In order for grout to be installed well, the tile and substrates need to be installed well, too. Make sure that your tile ...

8 Ways to Break Out of a Creative Rut

August 20th, 2013
Most designers hit a creative roadblock at some point or another. Shocking, I know. Yes, we're paid to be creative, but we're also human. We have fun designing, but doing so over and over without being repetitive has its challenges. Like many others, we juggle busy family lives with a hectic work schedule — many of us are also small-business owners, which comes with added re ...

7 Kitchen Flooring Materials to Boost Your Cooking Comfort

August 19th, 2013
I love the look of polished concrete floors in kitchens, but concrete — along with other nonresilient floor surfaces, such as stone, ceramic and porcelain tile — can take a toll on your joints. I've heard complaints from many homeowners who regret putting in a hard flooring material in their kitchen because of the subsequent knee, hip or back pain they feel after standing or ...

13 Ways to Keep the Peace With Roommates

August 19th, 2013
Sharing space with roommates can be challenging in the best of times — and that's not mentioning the other times. You know, the times your roomie takes your food without asking (or replacing it), leaves a huge mess for others (you) to clean up, or brings a significant other home to stay for weeks (or months). With a new school year here, and lots of folks moving into new apart ...

8 Ways to Dress Rooms in Art Deco Drama

August 19th, 2013
Art deco can feel cold and austere to some — understandable, since many of today's art deco–style homes use palettes based on chrome and black. But original art deco homes actually embraced a multitude of colors and international influences, creating an eclectic and accessible look. Art deco uses furniture and decorative items that embrace technology and manufacturing. Art d ...

8 Clutter-Busting Garage Storage Solutions

August 19th, 2013
Our garages play a very important role in our everyday living. Of course, they protect our vehicles from the elements. But more often than not, they also become dumping grounds for tools, cleaning products and seasonal gear. These tips can help you make the most out of this often overcrowded and underused space. Built-ins, pegboards, slat walls and other smart storage soluti ...

Compact Living: Tips and Tricks for Every Room

August 19th, 2013
From multipurpose rooms and smart space planning to flexible, floating and transparent furnishings, our Small Spaces section is brimming with ideas to help you look at your home in new ways. Reimagine a tricky room — or your whole house — with the tips and techniques in these guides. by Tim Cuppett Architects » ...

September Checklist for a Smooth-Running Home

August 18th, 2013
Whether it's raking leaves in the garden, having applesauce bubbling on the stove or just hanging out late into the evening with friends, September beckons us to spend more time at home. Take advantage of the inclination and devote a weekend or two this month to house projects you've been putting off. Those in chilly climates may want to get a jump on things; if you live in ...

5 Structural Plants to Frame Your Garden Beautifully

August 18th, 2013
First and foremost a plantsman, I have always been lured by rarity, charmed by botanical minutiae and enthralled by novelty. As I turned my attention to art and design, I learned to look at and think of plants in broader terms — size and silhouette, opacity, durability and so on — qualities that make a plant pop, or not. When you're conceptualizing a new landscape, bolder, s ...
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