http://www.elizabethholly.com Fashion, Fitness, Frolic, Focus Sat, 09 Aug 2008 04:51:59 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Storage space is an elusive concept, and the "perfect" amount is often just a little more than we have. The right amount of storage is like a carrot always dangling before us. And no matter what we do, it seems impossible to reach it. Love, Liz Many of us equate "space"—such as ... http://www.elizabethholly.com/archives/places-to-store-your-stuff Some people set up complete, permanent cooking centers as the focus of their outdoor spaces. Others content themselves with a simple grill. In either case, practical planning makes outdoor cooking efficient and more enjoyable, whether it is for the family or a host of guests. Decide exactly what features you want ... http://www.elizabethholly.com/archives/outdoor-decorating-the-kitchendining-area A deck or patio is used most often as a fair-weather family room. Comfortable seating comes first, arranged for conversation as it would be in an indoor room. Add to this an area for snacking and outdoor recreation. Consider the activities of your household, how and whom you entertain, what ... http://www.elizabethholly.com/archives/outdoor-decorating-the-family-roomconversation-area Furniture for outdoor use spans the designs made popular through the centuries. You can select benches similar to those used in Versailles, Adirondack chairs, antebellum wrought iron inspired by Victorian New Orleans, and myriad other choices. A word of caution: just as decorative birdhouses won't last outdoors, some furniture with ... http://www.elizabethholly.com/archives/furnish-your-porch-with-care Attached outdoor spaces that provide total or partial shelter should be considered an extension of the home's interior design. In most cases these areas embrace an entrance or serve to join two interior areas—a breezeway, for example. Traffic patterns figure importantly in overall furniture arrangements, as does the selection of ... http://www.elizabethholly.com/archives/how-to-decorate-sunrooms-and-porches Pillows, upholstery, slipcovers, shades and blinds, lighting, flooring, and rugs all make a sunroom or a porch lush and comfortable. What you can use depends on how rigorous the weather is on the furnishings. In a relatively moisture-free hot climate, for instance, sun resistance is the quality you want to look ... http://www.elizabethholly.com/archives/decorating-your-porch It can be irritating to have to circumvent a deck rail or hedge to get to a frequently used destination, such as the potting shed or the barbecue grill. Figuring out potential trouble spots in advance will save you time and aggravation. To figure out traffic patterns, think about how you ... http://www.elizabethholly.com/archives/patios-decks-and-gazebos-part-two Free-standing outdoor spaces, such as gazebos or other garden structures, differ from sheltered spaces in several ways. Generally, they are not seen from the front of the house and are usually integrated with the landscape. Gazebos provide a wonderful opportunity to let loose a little and give in to your ... http://www.elizabethholly.com/archives/patios-decks-and-gazebos-part-one . While both balance and harmony are used to achieve unity, too much unity can be, well, boring. That's where variety and contrast come in handy. Add interest. By varying the size, shape, color, material, texture, and detail, you can introduce a note of interest or a focal point into ... http://www.elizabethholly.com/archives/outdoor-landscaping-part-two Savvy homeowners don't end their decorating at the door, they keep going to include the decks, porches, sunrooms, and patios that surround their homes. They treat these spaces as outdoor "rooms" that deserve the attention the other rooms in their homes receive. They choose the best furnishings, colors, textures, and ... http://www.elizabethholly.com/archives/the-how-tos-of-outdoor-decorating