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The “Old World” Style of Decorating is one that brings all of the elements of nature into play. Metals, clay, stone, wood, and countless other elements combine to create an atmosphere that is as charming as it is ageless. This is what old-world means in a modern kitchen. Despite the idea that this would be an inexpensive method of decorating the truth is that this style of decorating for a kitchen, probably more so than any other room in the home, can add up fairly quickly. The good news is that the results are typically breath taking when all is said and done.

The kitchen of a home is often the family center. This is the room in which meals are prepared and sometimes eaten. It is also the room where families congregate and discuss plans for the evening and the events of the day. It is often the location in which homework is completed and heartaches are commiserated with pints of ice cream. Your kitchen is the one room in the home that will probably experience more emotional moments than any other room in your home. For this reason it makes perfect sense that it would be the most expensively and extensively decorated room within your home.

When beginning with the walls for an old-world kitchen you may want to consider plaster or some soft of faux finish that looks like plaster in order to give the walls of your kitchen a truly ancient appearance. Aged yellows and shades of gold are an excellent choice for these walls as it will blend nicely with the terra cotta and stone accents that should grace the remainder of the kitchen as well as the darkly stained woods. Of course the walls are just the beginning.

You will want to insure that the lighting doesn’t go against the old world home decorating that you are incorporating by being too modern and bright in appearance. Wrought iron light fixtures and chandeliers as well as low light wall sconces work wonderfully in an old-world style kitchen. Keep in mind that many of the old style home decorating ideas can spill over into the rest of your home from your kitchen or can be used in order to set your kitchen apart as the warm center of your home. Either way a kitchen such as this will make a stunning impression.

Candles may also be used in order to enhance the old world appearance of your kitchen. Of course candles are a great touch in every room of the house as far as I am concerned. They can be used to create an atmosphere, set a mood, or simply as a method of adding a subtle hint of fragrance to the air. In addition to candles, grapes are another great addition to an old-world style kitchen. From wine to the simple pleasure of grapes straight off the vine these tasty fruits are almost a must in a kitchen of this nature. Wrought iron wine racks large and small are a common addition to most kitchens of this nature. These racks may be used to hold wine as intended or can be used for other creative purposes such as to hold kitchen towels or some other creative means for those who do not drink wine.

Pottery and terra cotta are also welcome additions in this type of kitchen. They, much like the plaster, the colors, the wood, and the stone add another degree of warmth to a room that simply exudes warmth and charm to all who enter. Use pottery to hold commonly used utensils, straws, toothpicks, fruits, and vegetables that do not require refrigeration. Use platters as art and terra cotta planters to hold herbs that are growing along the windowsill. In other words, let your imagination soar when creating the old-world atmosphere in your kitchen. You just might be surprised at where it takes you.

“I thought I knew how to grow tomatoes — until I read this guide”

“Ok, I admit it. I consider myself a pretty good tomato grower, but I learned so many things about growing tomatoes from your guide that I can’t even tell you. Now I ‘know’ I’m a good tomato grower.” John Harrison Click Here!

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Both Inuit Eskimo art and Native American art have gained international recognition as valuable art forms over the past few decades. However, the rising popularity of both Inuit Eskimo art and Native American art has resulted in the increased proliferation of imitations and mass-produced reproductions of original Native arts. Some obvious fakes are made in Asia from molds where the finished pieces are forms of plastic, resin or ceramic.

Other fakes are actually made of cast stone simulating actual Inuit Eskimo art carvings and wood for imitation Native American carvings. These fakes, which are harder to distinguish from authentic artwork, are often hand carved reproductions of an original piece of artwork. Workshops have illegally reproduced hundreds of copies without the artisan’s permission. The counterfeiting companies would then attach some type of tag that claims the fake pieces were influenced by aboriginal artisans and even background information on the Native designs used in the artwork. Some even go as far as adding in Inuit syllabics on the bottom of the fake Inuit Eskimo art carvings.

These are very deceptive tactics on their part since they give the consumers the impression that the imitations are authentic and income producing for the aboriginal communities. Fakes and imitations have lowered the image of authentic Inuit Eskimo art and Native American art. Sales of genuine aboriginal artwork have declined which in turn have deprived aboriginal artisans of income. The argument against these claims is that not every consumer can afford to buy authentic Inuit Eskimo art or Native American art so the souvenir level reproductions legitimately meet this part of the market. The imitations, which are usually low priced, enable students visiting Canada for example, to bring home a Canadian souvenir without breaking their travel budget. This claim would have more support from Native communities if aboriginal artisans were paid a fair royalty as income for each imitation and reproduction piece sold. However, this is seldom the case since most of the time, no royalties are paid at all.

The obvious fakes can be spotted quite easily. An imitation of an Inuit Eskimo art carving spotted at a gift shop was not made of stone as it was not cold to the touch. It was very light in weight unlike a stone which has some mass to it. The detail and the bottom of the piece had the molded look to it. There was even a sticker on the bottom with the company name Wolf Originals. Side by side comparisons of similar pieces in the souvenir store revealed that they were all identical in every detail, which is impossible for original artwork.

A black totem pole had a very flat uniform back and bottom again giving away the fact that it came from a mold. Other totem poles made from wood or mixed wood with a claim that they were hand painted were among many similar pieces in the store. All of these examples were each priced less than $20 Canadian which was another indicator that they were not original artwork.

Imitations of Inuit Eskimo art sculptures were recently spotted for sale in shops located at major Canadian airports. From a distance, these Inuit Eskimo art sculptures of hunters, polar bears and Inuit women with children looked very authentic. However, each piece had several identical copies on the same shelf.

To avoid accidentally buying a fake or imitation, it is suggested that consumers buy Inuit Eskimo art and Native American art from only reputable galleries and dealers rather than from tourist souvenir shops. A piece of original, authentic Inuit Eskimo art or Native American art is one of a kind. There should be no other identical pieces on the shelves. In addition, original Inuit Eskimo art carvings should come with an Igloo tag (or sticker) which is a Canadian government registered trademark. Inuit Eskimo art carvings that are certified by the Canadian government to be handmade by Inuit artisans, come with Igloo tags.

“I thought I knew how to grow tomatoes — until I read this guide”

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So you find yourself in the middle of the worst drought within living memory and your garden occupants are starting to sag, flag and wilt. Which plants should be watered first and which plants should receive the main quantities of the irrigation? You begin to feel like the leader of a third world country trying to spread your counties meagre budget across healthcare, military and education. Never fear, let me dampen your worries with some drought advice.

First to receive the H2O

Recent plantings are top of the list for regular watering, if water is available. New plantings such as bare-root trees or shrubs planted the previous autumn / winter, with newly planted perennials also at great risk from drought damage. You see these new plantings have not had much time to produce water-seeking roots, the type of roots that travel deep and wide for moisture. Because of this, we must supplement the plants natural water supply. During a hosepipe ban, recent plantings of annual bedding summer bedding such as marigolds, impatiens, Nicotiana etc should be regarded as probable casualties of the water war. If I had a limited supply of water to divide between a Japanese maple and some annual bedding, I am afraid the maple would receive the lions share and to hell with the bedding. As a rule of thumb, if the soil 5cm (2 inches) below the grounds surface is dry, then it is time to water. The following is short list of plants can cope with a short period of drought, once established… Brachyglottis, Corokia, Gleditsia, Halimiocistus, and Hippophae.

Container plants during a drought

Next on the water-receiving list are containerised plants, hanging baskets and window boxes. Essentially a containerised plant is growing above the ground water table, with just the soil inside the container to provide the required moisture. If the moisture is not inside the container, then I am afraid the roots have nowhere else to go to quench the plants thirst. Again, if the compost 5cm (2 inches) below the pots surface is dry, then it is time to water, it is up to the gardener to provide that water when required. Try to provide a catch plate or tray beneath containers, these “catchers” will contain any excess water that will eventually be absorbed in the compost. Be aware that terracotta and other porous container materials absorb a good quantity of water that the plant is then unable to access. The following is a short list of container bedding plants that can cope with a short period of drought, once established… Arctotis, Lantana, Plectranthus, Portulaca and Zinnia

Vegetables and fruit during a dry spell

Provide adequate quantities of water for moisture-hungry vegetables such a tomatoes, peas, onions, cucumbers, marrows and lettuce. Insufficient supplies of water will lead to miniature, shrivelled and limp specimens. Fruiting plants such as strawberries, raspberries, currants, apple and pear trees are also very moisture hungry especially while their fruit is forming. Notice how much water is within a strawberry or pear the next time you eat one of these delights. Water-content figures of 70 to 90% are quoted for fruits and vegetables, regardless of whichever quantity is correct, you must supply that water during a drought. Plants growing in an exposed or wind swept area will require a fair quantity of supplementary water during a drought. Have you ever gone for a bracing walk on a windy day, upon arriving home, you smile at your spouse, children or pet and realise that your lips are cracked and chapped, ouch! This illustrates the severe drying element of a strong breeze, plants leaves are constantly being dried out and then remoistened by water from the soil when available. During a drought, if that water is not present the leaves will dry up, shrivel and shed. This is known as the desiccation of foliage. Watering deeply will prevent this happening.

Shallow rooters and moisture lovers

Shrubs and trees that are shallow rooted or have a particular liking for moist soils are quite at risk during a drought period. The shallow rooted specimens include Rhododendron, Azalea, Heather (Erica), Hydrangea and Birch (Betula). The moisture lovers include Hosta, Ferns, Helleborus, Sarcococca, Fatsia and Camellia. If water is available, please allocate some to these plants. Climbers or wall-shrubs planted close to house walls will struggle for moisture at the best of times, due mainly to the rain-shadow cast by the house itself. Do not forget to water these wall huggers. The following is a short list of climbers that can cope with a short period of drought, once established… Clematis Montana, Fallopia, Jasminum, Trachelospermum and Vitis.

Lawns during a hosepipe ban

During a drought, the first part of the garden that people tend to water is the lawn. This is probably because lawns usually make up quite a quantity of most gardens and these lawns tend to look burnt earlier than many plants. However, the lawn would be the last form of plant life within my garden that would receive any rationed water. Lawns are more resilient than you may think, a green lawn that becomes browned off due to water shortage will eventually return after a few heavy rain showers. The burnt piece is the foliage above ground; the roots below ground will sit tight and wait the dry spell out. Of course, lawns comprised totally of fine grass will be damaged significantly by prolonged dry weather, but you should have no worries if your lawn is sown with a utility seed mix (No. 2 or Manhattan mix).

How to apply water during a drought (if water is available)

I find sprinklers are quite wasteful of the available albeit rationed water, instead I would choose either hand watering or seep watering. With hand watering you direct your watering can or hose to the base of your chosen plant, water deeply at a rate of approx 10 litres per metre squared. Watering lightly will do more harm than good as it encourages surface rooting, which is easily damaged. On many dry soils, water applied directly will tend to run off over the soils surface and away from the plants base, if this happens try the following trick. Sink a two-litre pot filled with gravel at the base of the plant, water slowly into this pot and you will have no run off problems. Seep watering, also known as drip irrigation is an effective and economical way to apply much needed moisture directly. Most well stocked garden centres will sell seep hose or porous pipe, which you will weave between plants within your beds and borders. This seep hose when connected to a water supply will slowly ooze water through small holes along the length of the pipe. It is extremely direct and efficient.

“I thought I knew how to grow tomatoes — until I read this guide”

“Ok, I admit it. I consider myself a pretty good tomato grower, but I learned so many things about growing tomatoes from your guide that I can’t even tell you. Now I ‘know’ I’m a good tomato grower.” John Harrison Click Here!

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Perhaps, there is no place in the earth with such high density of artisans and craftsmen as in Bali. You name it and you can find it here – woodcarving, stone carving, silver and gold smiths, basket weavers, terracotta and ceramics, full range of handicrafts – the list goes on forever. Here is a short list of some of the best things or products available and you can go to find them.

Woodcarving and wood handicrafts
Traditional Balinese woodcarving has always been of religious subjects. In the 1930′s though a new type of carving developed in Mas near Ubud catering to the tourist market. Today, the best Balinese carving galleries are still there. Another important area for wood carving is on the road up to Sebatu. This is the region where most of the new antiques are made.

The principal part is that you find something you like for a price you can afford. There are also numerous other Balinese standards like wooden banana trees, wooden flowers, Bali wooden masks and the type of things that might often be found at cheaper prices. Wood handicrafts for souvenir like wooden boxes, wooden nameplate, key chains, dreamcatcher, wind chimes, and many alternative types assorted of color and form can be found easily in most art shops in Bali.

Stone Carving
There are numerous types of stone carving such as traditional Balinese sculpture, hyper-realist animals, modern style, etc. The preferred material for stone carving is known as volcanic tuff that resembles the colour of cement when it is newly carved. Many visitors to Bali assume that they are cast, not handmade. To see the truth with your own eyes, have a look at the bend in the road in Batubulan which has long been touted as being the village of stone carvers.

Silver and Gold smiths
The village of Celuk is now lined with galleries all selling silver ware. They are typical Balinese work using granulation and a process of attaching gold to the surface of silver. Today the industry is very sophisticated and includes everything from traditional pieces to contemporary designs.

Other arts and crafts
These include paintings, basket weavers, wood puppets, shadow puppets, Bali dried flower, terracotta figurines, ceramics, wooden chess boards, Balinese musical instruments, textiles, costumes, furniture, large pots from Lombok, leather works from Java, primitive statues from the eastern islands, brass bowls, bronze statues and other decorative items.

Shopping for art and craft is supposed to be fun and Bali is one the best places in the world to find something cute and beautiful for yourself or somebody that you love.

“I thought I knew how to grow tomatoes — until I read this guide”

“Ok, I admit it. I consider myself a pretty good tomato grower, but I learned so many things about growing tomatoes from your guide that I can’t even tell you. Now I ‘know’ I’m a good tomato grower.” John Harrison Click Here!

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“I thought I knew how to grow tomatoes — until I read this guide”

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As the controversial real estate bubble tumbles toward its imminent burst, homeowners look for new ways to increase their home’s value. In the past, you could slap some paint on a wall and bam, instant home improvement. As more and more people choose to spend time at home versus going out, they want their homes, or at least certain areas, to feel like a retreat – their own private oasis.

According to research from the Propane Education & Research Council PERC, 35 percent of homeowners surveyed currently have a finished outdoor room and one in three of those homeowners who do not 34 percent plan to design and furnish an outdoor room by spring 2007. When you apply this data to everyone, more than half of United States homes could have an outdoor entertaining area some time next year.

We are seeing a big trend in people investing in the outdoor living areas, said Leslie Wheeler, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association Director of Communication. With more people looking for ways to enhance their homes, it isn’t surprising that they are turning to their backyards, decks and patios. Homeowners want all the conveniences of an indoor kitchen outdoors such as an island complete with refrigerator, grill, sink and countertop surface.

There are wonderful products on the market today to extend the outdoor living season and make outdoor living comfortable and enjoyable. Most consumers who invest in an outdoor living and entertaining area think that their investment with yield a return, should they decide to sell their home or borrow against it. Industry professionals interviewed for Designing Out: The Home Lifestyle Report agree that a home’s outdoor space can add as much as 30 percent to the total value of a property.

Lifestyle factors are also driving consumer demand for outdoor living spaces, with 50 percent of survey respondents saying they spend more time at home than they did five years ago. Survey respondents also said that relaxation and wanting to spend more time outside were the primary drivers for an outdoor room, with entertaining coming in a surprising last among the top five reasons listed.

If you’re just hearing about this trend and are not sure where to start, Katherine Whiteside, best-selling garden and cookbook author advises people to start simply. By definition, an outdoor room is simply an outdoor area that homeowners can use for relaxing, cooking and entertaining, said Whiteside. By adding some furniture and propane appliances to an existing patio, garden or deck, you have the beginnings of a great outdoor room.
When planning your outside room, Whiteside recommends paying attention to your climate.

Think about protection from the elements: sun, rain and cold. Use a market umbrella or a canopy hung with mosquito netting to protect yourself from sun and rain. But what happens when the evenings get cold? Consider a propane tabletop heater. At 3 feet tall, they can heat up to 5 feet in diameter. Outdoor Leisure just came out with a spectacular Bistro Tabletop Heater with a hammered bronze powder finish. The same company also offers a gas light patio heater. If you have the space, install a propane fire pit, which can be used during spark bans and is marvelous for putting your feet up while stargazing.

Protection from the elements leads right into comfort. You have to be warm, said Whiteside, so think about installing a porch floor with propane radiant heating. You need a place to sit down, so think about comfortable furniture. And if you live in an area near water, bugs are a consideration. A propane mosquito chaser can keep pesky insects away from you and your guests.

No outdoor room would be complete without a place to dine and a grill. Today’s propane grills come with all sorts of accessories that make creating appetizers and a main course a snap. You can get a rotisserie, a grill with a burner next to it, even woks. And, if you have three or more propane-fueled appliances, consider putting in an underground tank, so there are no unsightly above-ground tanks and you won’t have to worry about running out of fuel during your backyard party.

The industry’s top-selling appliances in the outdoor living category mirror the preferences of PERC’s survey respondents and Whiteside’s suggestions. After outdoor lighting 94 percent, other propane appliances dominate the list of must-have accessories: 86 percent of those surveyed said gas grills and mosquito eliminators were a necessity, followed by outdoor fireplaces 67 percent and patio heaters 53 percent.

Whether you live in a shoebox or a Mediterranean oceanfront mansion, outdoor rooms have taken the forefront and summer is the perfect time to clean up your backyard and transform it into an outdoor living space where your children can play and you can relax or entertain friends. One ay to improve the value of the backyard is to add an attractive and functional structure, such as a gazebo, pavilion, poolside cabana, or playhouse – even a yoga hut, artist’s studio, dog house, music practice room, hobby workshop, or any other private retreat.

Another possibility is to build a backyard home office, away from the distractions of the house.
No matter how large or small your yard, a water garden, pond or fountain is a great way to create a tranquil getaway just feet away from your back door.

Steve Sandalis, owner of Mystic Water Gardens in Los Angeles who has a large celebrity following, believes adding a water feature brings a peaceful element to any backyard, and in his opinion,the bigger, the better. Consider making your water feature bigger, he said, allowing it to meander through the backyard rather than being tucked away in the corner. It will create a stunning environment in which to live and relax.

Before you buy materials, determine the size of the water feature you want. Steve suggests going a little bigger than what you think will be the right size because once the landscaping grows and fills in, your water feature shrinks. To create a low maintenance water feature construct your feature that is essential an ecosystem that works with Mother Nature and not against it. The water features that we build use a biological filter and a mechanical skimmer that cuts down on the maintenance, Sandalis said.

Create a water feature that is placed strategically in the yard so you can view it from the inside, creating year-round enjoyment. If you have children and concerned about water safety, Sandalis recommends a pondless waterfall. We create features with very little depth, making it much safer for the entire family to enjoy. Water plants add a natural touch to water features. Sandalis says to keep the water clean from algae because plants absorb nutrients in the water.

When it comes to outdoor furnishings, not all products are created equally. Some are designed for specific climates and are more durable than others. You can spend a little or a lot. With so many options, and every manufacturer claiming their product is high-end and the best on the market, making a decision is nerve-wracking. We’ve taken the guesswork out of planning your backyard entertaining area or retreat with these luxury picks.
Tabletop Lantern Heaters by Outdoor Leisure Depending on where you live, you just might need a little heat on a cool summer evening.

As we move into fall, a heater will allow you to enjoy your outdoor space even longer. We like these brand-new, patio and tabletop lantern heaters from Outdoor Leisure that are heads and tails better than the usual mushroom heaters.

Cal Flame MC700 We love the Cal Flame MC700 barbecue island. It’s a part of the Master Chef Series, which is designed for the frequent barbecue cook who requires bar seating and counter space for dining and entertaining. The Series is mid-priced with numerous options that enable the consumer to create a convenient outdoor kitchen facility. The MC700 has a U-shaped countertop around the grill. It comes with a 2-burner grill (option of natural gas or liquid propane), tile top and stucco base and single-door under-counter storage. Available options include up to a 5-burner Convection grill, beverage tap, refrigerator, food warmer, side burner, LED lighting, entertainment system and built-in waterfall.

\Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet Another great grill manufacturer is Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, a company that has been making high-end grills, outdoor kitchens and recently, a martini bar, for 100 years. In addition to their awesome free-standing grills, Kalamazoo will literally build the kitchen of your dreams outdoors. The entire system stands fully finished in stainless steel and on its own leveling legs.

They will also integrate your kitchen into stone surrounds, outdoor enclosures or other hardscape treatments. Every outdoor kitchen cabinet door and drawer opening is surrounded by its own rain gutter, so any items you store inside will remain clean and dry no matter what the weather. Hand-crafted entirely of 304 and 316 stainless steel, including all hinges, handles, drawer glides and other hardware, your outdoor kitchen will withstand the elements and look beautiful for a lifetime.

If you’re interested in keeping chickens at home, or you already are, then Chicken Keeping Secrets is here to provide you with litterally everything you need to know. Over the past 3 years, we’ve helped 10′s of thousands of home chicken keepers from around the world with all of their chicken keeping needs, and now we’re here ready and willing to help you too… Click Here!

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“I thought I knew how to grow tomatoes — until I read this guide”

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How do you take a boring backyard and transform it into something special? Add a water feature. Water features can transform the ordinary into something incredible as well as hide road noise creating a peaceful and tranquil environment. So all you have to decide is what kind of feature you want. Here are some of the options.

Fountains
Garden fountains are one of the easiest water features to add to your yard. Most home improvement stores and garden centers will carry do it yourself kits. Choose from a large variety including stand alone fountains and those that hang on your wall. All you have to do to install it is position the fountain, fill it with water and plug in the fountains pump. If you want to get creative, you could even make your own fountain out of new or old pots, a little bit of plastic tubing and a small water pump.

Ponds
Ponds involve a little more work but are still easy to do in the hands of a competent do it yourselfer. Once again, kits are readily available from your home improvement or garden center. To put in a pond you will have to first dig a hole in a suitable location. Ponds are normally only a few feet deep but it is still a lot of work to dig out all of that soil. Next you will either line the hole with a flexible pond liner or insert a formed hard plastic liner. Then add rocks and a pond filtration system. After treating the water, you can then add plant life and even fish if you so desire.

Waterfalls
If you want more than a basic pond, you could try installing a waterfall. This installation is a little more complicated and you might want to consult a professional landscaper. It does take some experience to plan out the flow of water on a waterfall.

Waterfalls are also an excellent feature to add to an existing swimming pools landscaping. They will make an ordinary pool a sight to behold.
With all of the options, it can be hard to decide what type of water feature to add to your yard. Go over your options and choose the type that best fits your budget and your do it yourself experience level.

If you’re interested in keeping chickens at home, or you already are, then Chicken Keeping Secrets is here to provide you with litterally everything you need to know. Over the past 3 years, we’ve helped 10′s of thousands of home chicken keepers from around the world with all of their chicken keeping needs, and now we’re here ready and willing to help you too… Click Here!

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“I thought I knew how to grow tomatoes — until I read this guide”

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If you feel that your backyard is lacking a certain something, a water feature might be just the thing to bring new life to your outdoors. There are many different types of water features to consider, such as a pond or a waterfall. Flowing or still water has a peaceful relaxing quality to it, and water features allow you to bring this natural beauty right into your own yard. You may be thinking that the care and upkeep of a water feature may not be worth the hassle, but they are much less labor intensive as you may think. By following a few simple guidelines and understanding how your water feature lives and breathes, you can enjoy this natural work of art for as long as you own your home.

Water fountains are considerably easier to deal with then a water garden. Fountains must be regularly cleaned, but really require little upkeep. If you want a successful water garden you will probably need to invest a little more time, especially when you’re first trying to get it established. When creating a water garden, it is vital that you understand the relationships between the plants and animals coexisting in this environment. If you want your water garden to thrive, you’ll need to take special care to choose the right fauna and flora.

Many new pond owners have problem with algae. If you don’t want to be cleaning out your pond every few weeks, adding a few fish can greatly help as can floating plants which help to reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the algae. Ensure you don’t have an excessive amount of chlorine in your water, especially if you have fish. You may want to install a pump and/or a filter along with regularly checking the pH level of water (should be between six and eight).

If you’re having your pond installed for you, ask the professionals for advice on getting started. If you are still unsure about where to start you can also buy one of several books which can guide you step-by-step through the process of creating your own water garden. Once your pond is established you will likely find the upkeep to be quite minimal.

Many people find that adding a water feature to their yard can literally transform their entire surroundings. Ponds, fountains, and waterfalls add a natural beauty and serenity to any outdoor area, no matter how small or modest.

If you’re interested in keeping chickens at home, or you already are, then Chicken Keeping Secrets is here to provide you with litterally everything you need to know. Over the past 3 years, we’ve helped 10′s of thousands of home chicken keepers from around the world with all of their chicken keeping needs, and now we’re here ready and willing to help you too… Click Here!

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“I thought I knew how to grow tomatoes — until I read this guide”

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Garden fountains come in a huge variety of decorative styles, from ornately carved wall fountains to floating pond fountains. If you’re looking for a way to bring a soothing ambiance to the sanctuary of your backyard or patio, then a water fountain can be a wonderful feature. The sight and sound of flowing water can have a lovely soothing effect, helping to wash away the stresses and strains of daily life. An outdoor fountain can become a stunning focal point of your garden design. The gentle trickling sound can help drown out the sound of the city and create a peaceful and inspiring environment.

Outdoor water fountains run on either an electric pump or solar power. They come in a range of sizes and styles, to suit all kinds of garden themes. Tiered cascades, birdbaths, wall mounted and traditional pedestal designs are some of the many options available. Designs based on mythical figures, animals and cherubs are popular, as are more contemporary designs. Having a pond fountain not only adds to the atmosphere of relaxation and calm, but also helps keep the water circulating and prevents it from becoming stagnant.

Patio fountains and waterfalls are sought after by many people looking to reduce stress levels and wishing to create an oasis of calm in their own backyard. Water fountains have been features of gardens throughout history in many cultures, and the soothing effects of flowing water have long been recognized. For instance, according to the principles of Feng Shui, moving water in certain areas of a garden can help activate beneficial chi energy.

If you’re looking to transform your garden or patio into a relaxing retreat, then a water fountain could be just what you need to add that touch of serenity and calm.

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Fountains are one of the most comforting and beautiful elements found in garden design. Any time you think of a world-class garden that you have seen and been impressed by, it almost certainly will include some sort of fountain or other water element. Whether it is in Italy, Japan, Spain or any other country, everyone around the world understands the need for a beautiful garden to also be a place of relaxation and meditation. Not just visually relaxing, but every bit as important if not more so — calming and soothing to the ear. Nothing accomplishes that more than water in motion.

The Japanese, especially, seem to have a deep understanding of how important water elements are because they blend it so magically with the calm of their beautiful and serene gardens. They immediately bring to mind Koi ponds and the art of Feng Shui.

The types of garden fountains today are almost endless. They include every material and every design imaginable. From indoor to outdoor, floor to wall, tabletop to pedestal; you will find them in virtually every natural and man-made substance known to man. Some of the most popular are natural stone, brass, copper, etched glass, slate and stainless steel.

If you have a large estate or lot, they are especially beautiful in ponds and lakes. On smaller lots, simple backyard fountains or swimming pool fountains can also be very attractive.

Something new to me and absolutely charming is a “rain chain”. You add them to your gutter system and they become linked funnels that channel the rain gently from the roof to the ground, sparkling and bubbling as it flows.

A favorite of mine is a small pedestal-type garden fountain made of either mosaic tiles or beautifully patterned ceramic. They can bring a delightful and unexpected burst of color and fun to an otherwise rather mundane rock or ground cover garden.

How to Choose the Right Style of Fountain for Your Home:

Contemporary – stainless, slate, or maybe a fountain sculpture that can double as a piece of art would all work well. Cascading, flat wall or free-standing fountains of a very simple “tablet” design are naturals for contemporary homes.

Eclectic (combines several styles and bold colors) – copper and granite would make good choices. Mosaic is also charming with this style home.

Asian (Feng Shui) – Stone, bamboo, ceramic, slate would all look great, and there are many specific styles for Asian designs that will perfectly complete the exotic look and feel of your fountain.

Traditional – Classic style fountains of stone or resin are great for traditional homes. Tiered garden fountains or wall fountains with scroll work or 18th century style designs with lions or gargoyles for example, look really great with traditional homes. Greek mythology or Italian themes are also perfect.

No matter what your budget, what your style, or what your space, nothing says style, sophistication and serenity more than a fountain.

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Whether you plan on “borrowing ideas” or plan on creating your own landscaping design, you should have at the very least a basic understanding of the principles of landscape design.

This doesn’t mean that you have to apply every principle to every part of your plan. But just having an understanding of these principles will help you generate ideas and increase your creativity.

Great landscaping lies in the eyes of the its creator. So, while the principles of landscape design are great guidelines to follow, don’t feel like they’re the “have to rules” of landscaping. Abstract and creativity are allowed.

Unity should be one of your main goals in your design. It may be better understood and applied as consistency and repetition. Repetition creates unity by repeating alike elements like plants, plant groups, or decor throughout the landscape. Consistency creates unity in the sense that some or all of the different elements of the landscape fit together to create a whole.

Unity can be achieved by the consistency of character of elements in the design. By character, I mean the height, size, texture, color schemes, etc. of different elements.

A good example would be in the use of accent boulders. If you’ve ever seen a landscape design that had one large white round boulder here and another large red square granite boulder there and so on, then you’ve seen that unity wasn’t created by this specific element.

This is just one example but the principle applies to all other elements such as groups of plants and materials.

A simple way to create unity in your landscape is by creating themes. And one of the simplest ways to create themes is by using a little garden decor or garden statues. Creating a theme garden is easier when it’s related to something you’re interested in or have a passion for.

If you’re into butterflies for instance, you could create a theme using plants that attract butterflies as well as using statues, ornaments, and other decor that are related to butterflies.

Unity should be expressed through at least one element in your landscape and preferably more. Using elements to express a main idea through consistent style and a specific theme is what creates harmony.

Simplicity is actually one of the principles in design and art. It’s one of the best guidelines you can follow as a beginner or do it yourselfer. Just keep things simple to begin with. You can do more later.

Simplicity in planting, for instance, would be to pick two or three colors and repeat them throughout the garden or landscape. Keeping decor to a minimum and within a specific theme as well as keeping hardscapes such as boulders consistent is also practicing simplicity.

Balance in design is just as the word implies. Equality. There are basically two types of balance in landscape design. Symmetrical and Asymmetrical.

Symmetrical balance is where there are more or less equally spaced matching elements of the garden design. With a garden equally divided, both sides could share the same shape, form, plant height, plant groupings, colors, bed shapes, theme, etc.

You may remember creating something like this when you were a kid in art class at school. Where you take a piece of paper, splash paint on it, fold it in half, unfold it, and then it magically creates an interesting symmetrical design. So symmetrical balance or design is somewhat of a mirror image or reflection.

Asymmetrical balance on the other hand is one of the principles of landscape design that’s a little more complex. While textures, forms, colors, etc. may remain constant to create some unity, shapes and hardscapes may be more random. This form of balance often has separate or different themes with each having an equal but different type of attraction.

A good example of this would be where bed shapes or paths differ on both sides of the dividing line. One side could be curvy with a sense of flow while the other side is straight, direct, and hard.

This can also create a neat contrast. Flowing lines are pleasing to the eye but the bold contrast of a curve with a straight line can be very interesting.

Asymmetrical balance isn’t necessarily limited to just the shape of your garden.

An example might be where one side of the garden is mostly large shade trees while the other side is predominately a lower growing flower garden or even a mix of both examples. This is only limited to your imagination.

Contrast and harmony can also be achieved using plants. Fine foliage verses coarser foliage, round leaves verses spiked leaves as well as color compliments and contrasts.

Plant height, color, and texture may be varied from one area to the next but each area should stay consistent within its own theme.

You’ll hear me talk about “themes” a lot. Many successful do it yourself designs follow a basic theme to achieve most of the principles of landscape design described on this page. The proper use of plants and garden decor or a mix of both is a simple way to achieve themes.

Color adds the dimension of real life and interest to the landscape. Bright colors like reds, yellows and oranges seem to advance toward you and can actually make an object seem closer to you. Cool colors like greens, blues, and pastels seem to move away from you and can make an object seem farther from you.

Grays, blacks, and whites are considered neutral colors and are best used in the background with bright colors in the foreground. However, to increase depth in a landscape, you can use dark and coarse textured plants in the foreground and use fine textured and light colored plants in the background.

Colors can also be used to direct your attention to a specific area of the garden. A bright display among cooler colors would naturally catch the eye.

Natural transition can be applied to avoid radical or abrupt changes in your landscape design. Transition is basically gradual change. It can best be illustrated in terms of plant height or color but can also be applied to all elements in the landscape including but not limited to textures, foliage shape or size, and the size and shape of different elements.

In other words transition can be achieved by the gradual, ascending or descending, arrangement of different elements with varying textures, forms, colors, or sizes.

An example of a good transition would be a stair step effect from large trees to medium trees to shrubs to bedding plants. This example is where a little knowledge of proper plant selection would come in handy.

Transition is one of the principles of landscape design that can be used to “create illusions” in the landscape. For example a transition from taller to shorter plants can give a sense of depth and distance (like in a painting), making the garden seem larger than it really is. A transition from shorter to taller plants could be used to frame a focal point to make it stand out and seem closer than it really is.

Line is of the more structural principles of landscape design. It can mostly be related to the way beds, walkways, and entryways move and flow.

Straight lines are forceful and direct while curvy lines have a more natural, gentle, flowing effect.

Proportion simply refers to the size of elements in relation to each other. Of all the principles of landscape design, this one is quite obvious but still requires a little thought and planning. Most of the elements in landscape design can be intentionally planned to meet the proper proportions.

For instance if you are creating a small courtyard garden, an enormous seven foot garden statue placed in the center would be way out of proportion and a little tacky to say the least. Or a small four foot waterfall and pond placed in the center of a large open yard would get lost in the expanse.

Don’t misunderstand this to mean that if you have a large yard you can’t have smaller features or garden decor. Proportion is relative and elements can be scaled to fit by creating different rooms in the garden. The goal is to create a pleasing relationship among the three dimensions of length, breadth, and depth or height.

A small water feature can be proportionate if placed in a corner or on the edge of a large area and becomes a focal point of the larger area while creating its own distinct atmosphere. An entire room, sitting area, or theme can be created around it. Other rooms and themes can be created as well. See small gardens for ideas on creating rooms and creating illusions.

Also, special consideration and study should be given to proper plant selection to avoid using plants that are out of proportion.

Repetition is directly related to unity. Its good to have a variety of elements and forms in the garden but repeating these elements gives variety expression.

Unity is achieved by repeating objects or elements that are alike. Too many unrelated objects can make the garden look cluttered and unplanned.

There’s a fine line here. It’s possible that too much of one element can make a garden or landscape feel uninteresting, boring and monotonous.

However, unity can still be created by using several different elements repeatedly. This in turn keeps the garden interesting.

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