10 Keys to a Low Maintenance Garden

10 Keys to a Low Maintenance Garden

Based on my discussions with clients and the popularity of previous posts on low maintenance gardens, you do not want to spend more time caring for your landscapes. You want to spend less time, even no time if possible.

In an effort to give you what you want, here are 10 ways to lessen the amount of time needed to care for your landscape (and some pictures of our low-maintenance landscapes to the left):

Wood Flooring Trends 2017

Wood Flooring Trends 2017

The home improvement industry is booming and bustling this year like never before, at an all time high Americans are spending over $170 billion dollars on remodeling and construction projects. 

What does this mean? It means styles and trends for interior design change in a blink of an eye (not really, more like a few years). 

Things you Should Know About Roof Repair, But Probably Don't

Things you Should Know About Roof Repair, But Probably Don't

If you live in the Portland, Oregon, area, you already know that the roof is your house’s first line of defense against the rain that makes Portland weather so special. You owe it to yourself and your home to take care of your roof. Keep it in the best shape possible and it will protect you for many years to come.

5 Tips to Avoid Choosing the Wrong Paint for Your Home!

 5 Tips to Avoid Choosing the Wrong Paint for Your Home!

Paint hues can significantly change the inclination and inside plan of your home. Paint can create an impression with sprinkles of intense shading, or it can be a delicate background to a more quieted inside.  

Painting is one of the most effortless and cost friendly methods in the inside plan world that makes your home beautiful. Here are 5 tips that will help you to avoid the mistakes that most home owners make while choosing paint.

Getting on the Same (Design) Page with your Partner

Getting on the Same (Design) Page with your Partner

One of the most frequent scenarios I encounter with my clients is this: Partner A calls me to ask about my services. We agree to meet, see the space, talk about goals and objectives and so forth. After being assured that the Partner B doesn’t have any interest in the outcome of the space, I begin to design. I return to present the design – generally to Partner A and B – and Partner B is none too pleased with what s/he sees. An argument ensues. I have to scrap my design and at the client’s expense, go back to the drawing board.

Susie Knows Portland Thanksgiving

Susie Knows Portland Thanksgiving

There’s Thanksgiving … and then there’s Portland Thanksgiving. And while there’s nothing wrong with a Butterball Turkey, white rolls and cranberry sauce out of a can, for some people, living in Portland means we have an inner maniacal Michelin chef just yearning to break free on this high holy day of food. Here are some tips for taking advantage of the bounty the Pacific NW has to offer.

Before you Cut a Rug: What Size Works Best for your Home?

Before you Cut a Rug: What Size Works Best for your Home?

Area rugs – sometimes called carpets -- have a way of making a space feel and look more like a home.  Whether it’s the texture or the unique design, rugs can really make a room seem more inviting.  However, knowing the right rug size to choose for your home can be tricky.  With lots of different options out there, and limited space to use them in your home, how do you know what size will look best in what areas?  By following these simple guidelines you can master the art of knowing what rug size work best in the three areas of a home I am most asked about.