Tin Lanterns for Your Home or Patio!
Consider a Collection
Last summer, I fell in love with tin lanterns that had been hand crafted using recycled soda cans and canned foods!  And of course, I needed not one, but five of these!  Outdoors, I hung them from the arms of my patio table umbrella and later, inside, […]

Outdoor Decorating for Winter!
(Note:   Click on any of the photos in this article to enlarge)
After you’ve taken down your bright and cheery Christmas lights and tossed your dried out greenery, your front door and steps are probably looking a little drab!  But despite the cold weather, it’s still possible to add some wintry appeal to […]

Bring a Touch of Fall to Your Front Steps!

As I write today, the weather is still very warm and sunny, but Fall is just around the corner! To inspire you to embrace this transition, I’m offering a few clever ideas for making your front steps inviting, with a nod to the fabulous, rich colors of […]

Creative Container Gardens and My Latest Obsession - Sweet Potato Vines!

I am far from a master gardener, but I’ve always enjoyed planting colorful flowers in containers around my patio and on my front steps.  But in the past few years, my selections have gotten a little predictable - geraniums (red and white), marigolds (yellow), trailing ivy and […]

Display Your Patriotism with Creativity and Pride!

Memorial Day has come and gone, happily launching us into the summer season!  If your family is like mine, you marked the occasion well with pool openings, barbeques and parades!  But – did you also mark the occasion with a nod to the heritage of the holiday?  The very […]

Front Step Curb Appeal!
Writing about this topic is about as big as the great outdoors itself, and can be a little intimidating.  Taking one spot at a time, here are some thoughts for sprucing up your front steps!
A Bright Front Door!
Years ago I was watching a HGTV show and the decorator remarked that your front […]

Here are some online sources for nice doormats!

improvementscatalog.com - this site offers rectangular half-moon shapes and one version that can be personalized
williams-sonoma.com - also carries great doormats
nextag.com - lists several nice options for doormats

Do you have a favorite doormat?  We’d love to hear!

Here are some sources for nice urns!

target.com - big name designers offer lovely choices on this site.  Sean Conway for target has designed a square, slatted wooden planter that is very attractive and currently on sale for $59.99.
Smithandhawken.com - consider the “Libitina Urn” for $49.99 or a large planter with a copper liner and black […]

Here are some ideas for filling your urns with the nicest flowers of the season!
Spring -

Pansies with stems of pussy willows “planted” toward the back of the planter for height

Summer -

Try for color that compliments the color of your home or your tricky front door!
If your front door is pink, skip the red geraniums and […]

Here are some online resources for nice door knockers.  All three sites also sell kick plates.

yourdoorknocker.com - This site offers very traditional choices in eight different finishes and many different sizes.  Engraving is also available.

door-knocker.com - This site carries some very unique designs including a crab, palm tree, pineaple, turtle and light house.  Here’s a […]