Home improvement: Yard & deck
July 1, 2011
Creating a backyard getaway
When Jean Rollo's friend brought her English setter, Watson, to see Rollo's new outdoor room, the pooch's antics said it all. Which should I do first, he seemed to debate, take a dip in the pool, grab a hamburger from the grill, beg for a drink from the outdoor refrigerator or help the kids make s'mores? So many decisions. So little time, especially in dog years. Watson did 50 laps around the yard while weighing the decision.
Fabulous floors spice up outdoor entertaining
With gas prices soaring, the most cost-effective place to throw a party this summer might be our own backyards.
5:37 PM CDT, June 17, 2011
Upgrades make these garages the envy of the neighborhood
The sign in John Schneider's garage says "Schneider's Biker Bar — Bikes, Beers and Babes." Bikes and beers, yes, said the Shorewood electrician about his five-car castle.
June 4, 2010
Porches that bring the outdoors in
Forty years ago, when the young Charles Page was first designing and building custom homes, he faced a pesky problem. The houses he built were going up amid the forests and marshes of suburban Riverwoods. Mosquitoes there were so thick, "I got to the point I just ignored the bites," Page recalled.
9:32 AM CDT, April 16, 2010
Green lawn, happy planet
Want to make the planet a little greener? Look no farther than your own backyard — or, for that matter, your own front yard.
May 25, 2008
Rescue-and-refresh methods to primp a patio
You have three choices when it comes to patio furniture: Spend all of your economic stimulus check -- and then some -- on a glamorous new set from some upscale brand, spend a couple hundred dollars on something more affordable from Target, Home Depot or IKEA, or go the most economical route and spruce up something funky. The latter, rescue-and-refresh approach is a specialty of Elk Grove's Island Girl Salvage (160 Kelly St., Elk Grove Village, 847-593-2433, island girlsalvage.com).
May 25, 2008
YOUR MONEY
The DNA of patio price tags
The warming weather, refreshed shop windows, summer catalogs, outdoor markets. Every year at this time, it all conspires to plant widespread thoughts of buying new patio furniture. If only their sticker prices didn't threaten to keep the thoughts from becoming reality. As evidenced by the gorgeous patio pieces featured in this story, most outdoor furniture has been retailing higher and higher over the past several years. Unless you're buying it from mass-market giants such as Target, Kmart or Home Depot, you can expect to pay several hundred dollars for an ottoman to several thousand dollars for an outdoor sofa. These are prices that, in many cases, outrank interior furnishings. It's a hard economy to grasp, especially when it's a product that lives outside, isn't always the most comfortable and, in regions like the Midwest, gets only seasonal use. What accounts for all those zeros, exactly?
2:00 AM CDT, May 18, 2008
GARDENING
The great 8
By now, you've likely visited your garden center and plunked down some cash for plants. Your spade and gloves are at the ready, your little plot just begging to be planted. What could make this moment in a gardener's spring more perfect -- a little inside gardening information, maybe? A bit of expert gardening mojo you can claim as your own? We've got you covered.
May 15, 2008
Gardens and pets can get along
Those who love both their dogs and their gardens often seek ways to protect their plants from the stress of daily dog traffic.
May 15, 2008
Pavers simplify patio installation
Interlocking concrete pavers make it possible for even first-time do-it-yourselfers to install patios and walkways. Concrete is more malleable than brick or stone, so it's easier to cut and fit. But even if you hire a contractor, having some knowledge of the basics beforehand will help ensure that you get your money's worth. Here are some points to consider, assembled with help from the Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute.
May 8, 2008
Time to spruce up patio chairs
You didn't bring the outdoor furniture inside for the winter, or even cover it. Now, your chairs and patio table, even the umbrella, look plug ugly. No need to panic, though. Just give them a good cleaning, maybe even new paint, and they'll look fresh as spring.
May 1, 2008
YARD & GARDEN SPECIAL ISSUE
In pursuit of perfect lawn
On nearly any hot, hazy morning, thousands of landscapers are mowing residential lawns, trimming and edging with high-tech power equipment, providing clients with what amounts to a horticultural manicure.
May 1, 2008
YARD & GARDEN SPECIAL ISSUE
Fencing lessons for spring
It's spring, that time of year when pieces of fencing, all sizes and materials, show up on the curb, waiting to be picked up by the trash-collection crews. Falling tree branches have smashed these fences, or homeowners have neglected them.
April 24, 2008
10 steps to back-yard fun
Warmer weather turns our attention to the great outdoors or, for the children, the great back yard. And sooner or later, they may request a little something extra: a tree house.
April 20, 2008
GARDENING
A lawn of one's own
When Heather Blaha and her husband, Josh Cooper, moved into their first home this winter, it came with a yard. This may not sound remarkable; but they had never owned a yard before. And though it was small -- this long rectangular strip behind their Rogers Park home -- it scared them. They knew nothing about lawn care.
April 3, 2008
Let the spring chores begin
This pronouncement may be coming too early in spring, but I think we've made it through another winter virtually unscathed. I say "too early" because winter weather can return even in May.
March 6, 2008
SPECIAL CURB APPEAL EDITION
Returning to your roots
Good landscape design ideas can be subtle, bold or abstract. A professional designer can offer suggestions, but only you know what will be interesting and comfortable for you.
March 6, 2008
SPECIAL CURB APPEAL EDITION
Landscapes a blend of form and function
Sometimes, you can find out a lot about a house from the curb. The curb tells it all. The family that lives there either has exquisite taste or they don't. Sometimes, they have the money to buy taste, but even then you can tell. It looks bought.
February 17, 2008
GARDENING
Location, location
When a plant doesn't thrive, it's most often because it was planted in the wrong place. Different plants have different needs because they evolved under different conditions. Give a plant what its ancestors evolved for -- the right sunlight, soil and moisture -- and it's a much better bet.
November 18, 2007
One person's yard art may be another's eyesore
Battles over landscape decor can land property owners in court and cost thousands.
October 18, 2007
Fringe benefits
Whether you've got a suburban side yard, urban gangway or just leftover land at your property's perimeter, the space between your home and your neighbor's is most likely a missed opportunity. Narrow? Yes. Tricky? Maybe. But with planning and a little assistance, that narrow piece of property can become a pleasant passage, bonus garden, or even an integral part of a sustainable landscape design.
September 30, 2007
THE CHICAGO GARDENER
Thinking green? It's getting late to seed lawns
If you are planning to reseed your lawn this fall, time is about up. Grass seed needs plenty of sunlight to sprout before the days get too short. Then the new grass needs several weeks to get going before it goes dormant for the winter. With the first frost likely to come in the next few weeks, time is tight.
September 20, 2007
Composite materials make for low-maintenance decks
Over the last few years, composite building materials such as roofing, siding, and decking have evolved as popular alternatives for people wanting to reduce or eliminate maintenance problems associated with traditional wood building materials.
September 9, 2007
THE NATION
New sales tactics taking root in lush front yards
Most homeowners know that replacing the roof or upgrading siding can enhance a house's curb appeal and boost its sales price. Now, as the housing market continues to weaken, some people are considering what the payback will be if they invest in things appraisers routinely overlook: flowers, shrubs and trees.
June 28, 2007
HANDY@HOME
Shady idea for a back-yard retreat
"Pergola" may not be a term you're familiar with. However, if you're looking for a back-yard structure that not only provides shade but also offers hundreds of absolutely beautiful design options, it's one that's definitely worth knowing.
June 8, 2007
CHOICES
Don't let patio get too crowded with furniture
When laying out a patio, it is important to know what will go on it.
June 1, 2007
CHOICES
Lots of options for patio design
Wondering what type of material to use for your patio?
May 18, 2007
Back yard furniture adds zip
Back yards traditionally are the domain of gardens, play sets and impromptu barbecues. Now make room for . . . a second living room?
E-mail
Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon