Revitalizing the lighting in your home is a good cure for the short, dreary days of Northwest winters. Whether you are remodeling or just making a few changes, good lighting pays big dividends.

As I drive through neighborhoods, I am constantly amazed at the horrific pruning I see. While some plants are meant to form a hedge and should be sheared, most plants should not be. It pains me to see beautiful Japanese maples, flowering and fruit-bearing trees, and others lose their character and beauty by being sheared.

It is a fact that there is a positive correlation between the quality of public education in a local community and that community’s residential real estate values. From coast to coast, buyers agree that good schools create desirable neighborhoods, resulting in sound investments.

It is helpful to know how the real estate trends are affecting our local community.

The holidays present the perfect opportunity to showcase impeccable taste and unwavering creativity.

Local trends are always interesting for fall. Some years I am deluged with customers asking for beautiful centerpieces for the dining room table. Other years it’s a new permanent botanical to replace the old dusty one that has been used for years. This year, I think, is the year of the wreath.

Sooner or later almost every neighborhood ends up with one home that morphs, through neglect or some quirks of the owners, until finally it qualifies as the “ugly duckling” of the neighborhood.

It is farmers market season, and the Issaquah and Sammamish farmers markets are back in business. Can’t decide which market to visit first? Check out the vendors we’ve highlighted below. Grab a reusable grocery bag and head over to both weekly events to support local farmers, enjoy live entertainment, and chow down on delicious food.

Two-car garages facing the street have become an all-too-common feature of contemporary houses. But there are many ways to fight their overwhelming prominence. Paint tricks, architectural details, colorful plantings and garden elements, and creative paving designs can do a lot to mitigate an overbearing garage and driveway while creating new focal points to attract the eye.

What garden is truly complete without the sound and beauty of water? Think of the beautiful gardens you have visited: a water feature of some form is probably an integral component to many of your favorite garden spaces.