The thought of having fresh organic eggs straight from your urban backyard sounds enticing, though a potential feather-laden mess. Architects Shelley Martin and
Mitchell Snyder solved the problem when they moved to
Portland to launch a new architecture firm by creating their first design project: a
hen house....
Continue reading Chicken Crazy in a Modern Portland Hen House
While there's nothing better than that retro swimming-pool smell in the summer, chlorinated pools are causing increasing health concerns, including asthma and wheezing in kids, and unhealthy natural chemical breakdowns—not to mention green hair. Many avid swimmers and homeowners are looking to "greener" swimming choices for their back yards.
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You want the exterior of your home to stand out, to make neighbors and friends gasp with delight. But you don’t want to be so "out there" that you marginalize yourself and distract rather than attract prospective buyers. It’s a juggle between individuality and a certain expected conformity. Where does the balance lie? Perhaps in these examples…
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After moving back to his childhood home, and in the midst of caring for two parents in failing health, Ric Venzie decided he needed a retreat that could heal his mind and rejuvenate his body. He found it in the backyard of his childhood home, where he turned an everyday lawn into a spectacular lush getaway.
It was a job he tackled little by little, working on small patches of land at a time. Eventually, he had a designated woodland garden, pumpkin patch and a small forest of bamboo and redwood trees. As it grew, the land took control and became something less manicured...something wilder.
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Are you pining away for some lounge time in the great outdoors? I don’t blame you. As the seasons warm, all I can think about is hitting the patio with a good book and icy margarita.
Here with an eye for attractive outdoor living spaces: Bourne + Blue Architecture from Australia. The gurus helped one family remodel their typical backyard patio, which was being used for function, storage (and other tragically boring purposes), and artfully transformed it into an inspired outdoor oasis.
Before = yuck!
In the before picture, you get the sense of a young family with small children bursting out of a house too cramped for them. But from the post-remodel shots, you can see a home more befitting a comfortable family lifestyle, a home that has plenty of room for function but just as much for enjoyment as well.
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