Curious as to what the "edgy" trends are in luxury outdoor living, so you can fashionably participate? They will essentially be creative expansions of what we’ve enjoyed over the last few years, and can be broken into two basic categories.

I. MACRO

The predominant macro trend continues to be the growth of outdoor rooms. Although that formality will likely grow, it is the various components of outdoor rooms that most are able to enjoy.

We Can Help with That List!

Creating interest and finding beauty in the winter landscape is often about perspective.

Consider the two photos.  Do you see toasty colored ornamental grass foliage dancing in the breeze with crusty seedheads that captures both the snow and interested birds?  Or … do you see a clump of dead grass?  What about the winter berry holly shrub with its vibrant orange berries sharply contrasting against the blue spruce?  Or… is it a dreary, leafless shrub with messy berries getting ready to cause havoc with the mulch?  You can imagine my view.  

As the cold weather sets in, all sorts of animals search for warmth and safety.  Some find small creases in bricks or siding and wriggle their way into attics, crawl spaces, soffits and under decks.  Not only can they damage the exterior of the house, but imagine the extreme damage they can cause to wiring and insulation.  Raccoons, chipmunks and squirrels are the worst!

Parking in the driveway because there’s no room in your garage? Here are three  simple tactics that make big impact. Read more

Pimp Your Garage!

You know, you just never get “around to it?” Here are some quick strategies to make some fast progress!

You know how you get out your favorite sweaters and throw a log in the fireplace as winter approaches? Your house needs the same TLC!

Here are Five Winterizing Tips … With a Little TLC for Your Home

Contrary to popular belief, I do not walk around in a tool belt. As a matter of fact, when I'm at home, I tend to turn to the "non-tools."

Below are those non-tools I just can't live without:

Flapper repair or replacement is one of the most common handyman services requested.  If your toilet is running, this is probably the culprit. The internal mechanism inside the toilet tank (the large water-retaining receptacle on the back of the toilet) is where this guy is hiding, and it is attached to the exterior flushing handle. It seems that every 4-5 years it requires a simple adjustment or replacement. Call us or do it yourself.

Me neither.  Perhaps a local handyman can help you get prepared.

Who wants to fall off a ladder anyway?  Imagine one of our long-term (bonded and insured) employees attacking your painful list of “honey-do’s” with skill and delight.

While fall remains a spectacular time of year with trips to the park, hiking trails and debating whether “this is the best year ever for colorful leaves”… it does couple itself with one of the most distasteful homeowner chores. LEAF REMOVAL.

Have you noticed…people everywhere seem to be desperate?  Desperate to squeeze every last moment of outside enjoyment into our narrowing schedules.  Summer's painfully hot / dry routine seems to have exaggerated this growing annual ritual and suddenly we are aware that in just a few short months it will be too cold and dark to

Fire features, from rustic to elegant with many styles and price points in between, are all the fun imagined.  Often they are just happy to look at or hang around, but absolutely get ready for BIG FUN when the flames are happening.  Kids gravitate to them, especially when the marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate appear.  Adults?  We simply appreciate the

Where do we source the plants for our incredible landscape projects?  95% are from a few local growers who also function as re-wholesalers.  Brehob Nursery and Blue Grass Farms are the areas’ largest.  We prefer Perennials Plus for perennials and Heartland for annuals.  Occasionally, Jeff Salsberry allows me access to his personal stash of great trees.  Generally, plants grown in local soils thrive better than those sourced from out of state.

Frustrated, a client recently wondered how they could manufacture shade around their massive pool.  The record heat wave and lack of rain was boiling their refreshing pool into a 101 degree bathtub.  I wasn’t surprised to field the “solutioneering” request.

Yes, I admit it.  On a few hysterical occasions, I too have hired a starving buddy to try to save a few bucks on something.  My caffinated memory bank reminds me that I have appreciated that lesson 3 painful times.  After each, I regretfully take a fresh oath not to collapse to my inherited drive of negotiating a better deal.

All the SPF discussion means it’s summer.  SPF refers to the Sun Protection Factor mysteriously embedded in suntan lotion.  Of course, you already knew that.  Remember when having a bronze tan was super cool?  We still hope a little color looks healthy, but the scientific reality is that pasty is now the new cool.  Holes in the ozone, global warming and an army of left wing scientists are going to win this argument.  My SPF translation is Sexy Pergola Fun.  Ours hovers sexy over the massive grill station, supports 3 hanging baskets this time of year and is

My passion for incredible outdoor living spaces is my fathers’ greatest gift to me.   

How do you enhance your livability quotient? Think “retrofit.” 

Like many other maturing neighborhoods in Hamilton County, we have a plethora of shade tucked in the back corner of our property.  Huge majestic maples and oaks are the usual culprits and challenging planting conditions are the result.

Jim Paluch, one of my favorite speakers, author and “green” industry guru, believes that most people can be separated into two general categories.  And while not an advocate of generalizing, his perspective is keen.  

Does your lawn look as scary as mine?  Bare spots and a little weedy seem to be the norm this spring.  Actually, if you drive by my house real fast and squint your eyes, it doesn’t look that bad.  Hot fashion diva and Union Savings Bank mortgage guru Leigh Ann Clayton says hers looks like @#*&.  Ouch!

Politics, religion, sex and mulch … sensitive topics to be carefully discussed. Mulch? You bet. Try sharing mulch preferences with a group of friends, as I did a few Friday's ago at Carmel Rotary Club, and prepare for debate. 

A mulch addiction approaching 2 decades, married with exhaustive research, has fueled the following observations:

Glamorous flowering pots are perhaps the most underutilized and least appreciated method to create drama, color and curb appeal at your home.  Here are energizing tips from leading landscape designers and garden centers to create the most spectacular pots you’ve ever had!

A Rotary / Chamber / Community buddy wondered recently how to energize her overgrown and tired landscape without completing starting over.  Even when the right trees and right shrubs are planted in the right place, it can occasionally get too large for the intended purpose or just not feel right.  We regularly see  many shrubs and ornamental trees exceed their stated height and width specifications … global warming related, I’m sure.

What do you think are the ingredients for an incredible outdoor living space -- an energizing space that moves ordinary events to the extraordinary and compels neighbors to randomly stop by for a visit.
We believe there are four critical elements for such an escape and it starts with open communication and explorations of your inner self … call it Psychology 101. Most guys are not good at this.

Hate is a strong word, but I really “dislike” weeds. Weeds in the lawn, weeds in my flower beds and weeds growing like a fertilized crop in the middle of my patio make me mad!  Weeds … stink!  Fortunately after a few years of predominantly legal experimentation and employing the latest green technology of weed control, rampant weed growth at the Sorrell residence is a distant, glute firming memory.
 

A critical element in landscape design is creating winter interest, typically accomplished with evergreens.  Fortunately, stimulating alternatives are available.

REJUVENATE.  What does that mean to you?  How does it feel, look and taste?
It seems most of us have developed our personal tools to detoxify and reclaim sanity.  Our devices to do so are many … exercise, faith, a trip to the day spa, alcohol, did I say exercise, escaping with a good book or movie.  And most provide temporary satisfaction before requiring another fix.