http://naplesnews.com/news/at_home/?partner=RSSnaplesnews.com Stories: At Homeen-usat_homehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/02/home-painting-primer/?partner=RSSA little paint, a lot of patience and ... poof! Your home has an entirely new look and feel. All it takes is a few gallons of paint and a handful of other inexpensive tools. “Painting is becoming the great alternative to buying a new house or doing major renovations,” says Carl Minchew, painting guru at Benjamin Moore. “It’s the economical, efficient way to get a new look.” Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:04:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189435-733409at_homeBy J.W. ELPHINSTONE, Associated PressBonita Springs, FLAt Home: The painting primernaplesnews.comhome-painting-primerurn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189435-733409Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/02/home-after-weve-checked-all-our-front-yard-needs-w/?partner=RSSAfter we’ve checked all our front-yard needs, we start the design process Last week, you made a conceptual diagram. You analyzed your property, and learned how the property is experienced. Now, we take the next step, and consider what kind of plants we need. Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189737-733409at_homeBY Michael Spencer, ASLABonita Springs, FLAt Home: After we’ve checked all our front-yard needs, we start the design processnaplesnews.comhome-after-weve-checked-all-our-front-yard-needs-wurn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189737-733409Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/02/home-garden-lecture-series-here-take-you-brighter-/?partner=RSSIt’s hard to believe another year has gone by, but obviously it has, and it’s once again time for the annual garden workshop lecture series. The Garden Workshop Series (GWS), presented by the University of Florida Collier County Extension Service, opens the 2009 season on Thursday. With the new year also comes a new location. The 2009 GWS will be held at the Naples Elks Lodge No. 2010, at 3950 Radio Road in Naples. Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189736-733409at_homeBY Cathy Feser, horticulture extension agent, the University of Florida Collier County Extension ServiceBonita Springs, FLAt Home: Garden lecture series here to take you to a brighter, more beautiful yardnaplesnews.comhome-garden-lecture-series-here-take-you-brighter-urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189736-733409Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/02/home-x-tremely-helpful/?partner=RSSNine months into its new life, the Naples X-treme Yard Makeover on Trail Boulevard is about to face its planned extreme test. Rainfall has been six-tenths of an inch, less than a third of the 1.5 inches considered normal for December in Naples. That’s even lower than last year’s solitary inch, which was also below historical averages. There’s probably not much relief coming. The first five months of the year is the dry season here. hkheithaus@naplesnews.com (HARRIET HOWARD HEITHAUS)Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189732-733409at_homeHARRIET HOWARD HEITHAUSBonita Springs, FLAt Home: X-tremely helpfulnaplesnews.comhome-x-tremely-helpfulurn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189732-733409Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/02/home-conquering-clutter/?partner=RSSThe battle between homeowners and their stuff is all-encompassing. When a home office is inevitable, so is an endless parade of bills, reports, articles, junk mail, emails and magazines. The trappings of high technology stack up everywhere, much of it unused, obsolete or broken. Closets overflow, and guest bedrooms become catch-alls for doo-dads that need to be repaired, donated, dusted or dealt with later. Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-190070-733409at_homeBy MARY LOU SMART, At Home contributorBonita Springs, FLAt Home: Conquering clutternaplesnews.comhome-conquering-clutterurn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-190070-733409Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/02/home-black-and-white-potent-design-combination/?partner=RSSThere’s nothing quite as crisp and sophisticated as an interior designed in black and white. It is even a bit dramatic. Starting with the floor, that large white tile with black diamonds connecting the corners always impresses the eye. It’s bold. There’s nothing wishy-washy about it. Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189738-733409at_homeBY Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, an interior designer in NaplesBonita Springs, FLAt Home: Black and white a potent design combinationnaplesnews.comhome-black-and-white-potent-design-combinationurn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189738-733409Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/dec/26/make-it-green-getting-magazine-cover-front-yard-re/?partner=RSSOften my readers ask me: “How do I design my front yard?” It is very difficult for professionals to help on small design projects, because budgets often are very small, leaving no room for the pros; we have to eat, too, and fees will be 20% to 25% on small projects. However, here are a few simple steps to help you organize your project. Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189203-733402at_homeBY Michael Spencer, ASLABonita Springs, FLMake it green: Getting to that magazine-cover front yard requires an architect’s approachnaplesnews.commake-it-green-getting-magazine-cover-front-yard-reurn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189203-733402Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/dec/26/home-shining-moments/?partner=RSSEver wondered why you bought that antique samovar in Istanbul and dragged it all the way home? Now it’s shoved in a corner in tarnished disgrace. And what about the Egyptian tray, pride of your husband’s years there, that he wouldn’t let you use lest you dim its colorful patina. Once displayed on the wall, it’s now relegated to a back closet. You needn’t discard that forgotten plastic container full of dulled Thai bronzeware, no longer fit for a soup kitchen, let alone a dinner party. There’s an answer to such metallurgical disasters. Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189169-733402at_homeBy SUZY DORR, At Home contributorBonita Springs, FLAt Home: Top Brass Metalcraft has made a business out of shining momentsnaplesnews.comhome-shining-momentsurn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189169-733402Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/dec/26/home-when-floor-footage-small-foldups-are-space-so/?partner=RSSIf you have a tiny room that you’re looking to turn into a bedroom for your child or a guest, getting the most out of a small space is a challenge, but not an insurmountable one. Think carefully about what space you have and whether you can use furniture that folds away, or has more than one purpose. Loft beds, which allow a desk underneath, and Murphy beds are good space-savers. Also, filling up the wall with built-in cabinets or a flexible storage system are great options. Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189173-733402at_homeBy ALAN ZIBEL, Associated PressBonita Springs, FLAt Home: When floor footage is small, foldups are space solutionsnaplesnews.comhome-when-floor-footage-small-foldups-are-space-sourn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189173-733402Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/dec/26/free-yourself-ficus-these-colorful-alternative-hed/?partner=RSSThe right plant in the right place is one of the key components for a beautiful garden or landscape. The right plant in the right place will also reduce maintenance in terms of time and money. Many beautiful plants are put aside or overlooked in south Florida in favor of the inexpensive and quick fix with weeping ficus (Ficus benjamina). Weeping ficus is the “play dough” of shrubbery species because it can be sheared into all kinds of topiary, such as arches and elephants and tolerates frequent shearing to keep it at the same height for 20 years . Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189168-733402at_home By MIKE MALLOY and DOUG CALDWELL, Collier County Extension Service Bonita Springs, FLFree yourself from ficus with these colorful alternative hedgesnaplesnews.comfree-yourself-ficus-these-colorful-alternative-hedurn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189168-733402Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/dec/26/holiday-wrap-fold-it-store-it-reuse-it/?partner=RSSWhile regifting may be frowned upon by some, re-gift-wrapping can be a delight for many. Every holiday season, dedicated holiday recyclers find ways to reclaim wrapping paper, containers and bows, using them again and again in later years. Those who do it say they can help save the planet, while spending less and savoring memories. Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189270-733402at_home By LEANNE ITALIE, Associated Press WriterBonita Springs, FLHoliday wrap; fold it, store it, reuse itnaplesnews.comholiday-wrap-fold-it-store-it-reuse-iturn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-189270-733402Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/dec/19/planning-can-make-tree-showpiece/?partner=RSSO Christmas tree, o Christmas tree, you are such a delight to look at and have so many ways of being decorated. Finding the perfect tree is always fun, particularly if the choice is to buy a real one. But even artificial trees take some time to find in just the right height and in the most pleasing style of evergreen. Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-188917-733395at_homeBY Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, an interior designer, NaplesNAPLESPlanning can make tree showpiecenaplesnews.complanning-can-make-tree-showpieceurn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-188917-733395Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/dec/19/one-one-tomatoes-well-try-again/?partner=RSSThe bugs have been amazingly kind to my spread-out container garden. The whiteflies went elsewhere to roost and lay eggs. The snails have stayed away in droves. That last blessing may be due to a rigorous search-and-stomp program last summer during which I’d come out at dusk with a flashlight after a good rain. An entire crustacean trailer park eventually was crushed into fertilizer. My family still runs screaming when they see me heading for the front door after dark. hkheithaus@naplesnews.com (HARRIET HOWARD HEITHAUS)Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-188909-733395at_homeHARRIET HOWARD HEITHAUSNAPLES One for one on tomatoes, we’ll try againnaplesnews.comone-one-tomatoes-well-try-againurn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-188909-733395Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/dec/19/start-slow/?partner=RSSThe Third Street Farmer’s Market is a fun way to spend a Saturday morning and staffing the Collier County Extension Office information booth offers both surprise and predictability. It’s surprising because you never know what can happen from chance meetings, and predictable because you always meet nice people. Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-188751-733395at_homeBY Cathy Feser, horticulture extension agent, the University of Florida Collier County Extension ServiceBonita Springs, FLStart slow ...naplesnews.comstart-slowurn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-188751-733395Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/dec/19/get-way-beyond-your-favorite-plants-planning-your-/?partner=RSSWhat are we to make of the famous dictum that “form follows function”? How can we use this idea in shaping our garden and planting designs? The phrase is credited to Louis Sullivan, a modernist architect, who in actual fact said that “form ever follows function.” The original notion, though, has far deeper roots, rightly traced to Horatio Greenough, an American sculptor. Greenough, living in the first half of the 19th century, was noted for his writings on art and the nature of design; greatly influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson’s sensibilities about function in nature, he was able to translate Emerson’s notions about nature into treatises on art, and design, and to draw parallels from nature to the business of architectural design. Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-188910-733395at_homeBY Michael Spencer, ASLABonita Springs, FLGet way beyond your favorite plants in planning your yardnaplesnews.comget-way-beyond-your-favorite-plants-planning-your-urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-188910-733395Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/dec/19/home-gifted-home/?partner=RSSWith more of us staying put for the holidays, gifts for the home are more important than ever under the tree. Whether you’re the guest at another’s home, or the host is doing the wishing, local gift stores are the best place to start for a wide range of the unique. Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-188753-733395at_homeBy MARY LOU SMART, At Home contributorBonita Springs, FLAt Home: The gifted homenaplesnews.comhome-gifted-homeurn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-188753-733395Change0Usablehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/dec/12/stone-floors-are-just-fragile-fabric/?partner=RSSDo you have a marble, granite, quartzite or limestone floor? Has it lost its luster? Do not worry; help is on the way. First, let’s get the negatives out of the way. Do not use vinegar, no matter how diluted, as a cleaner on stone. Vinegar is acidic and that acid will etch the stone. Same goes for tub and tile cleaners and any cleanser that contains acid. Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:02:00 -0000urn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-188322-733388at_homeBY Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, an interior designer in NaplesBonita Springs, FLStone floors are just as fragile as fabricnaplesnews.comstone-floors-are-just-fragile-fabricurn:publicid:naplesnews.com:news-Story-188322-733388Change0Usable