So you’re considering taking on a remodeling project or a design project of some kind for your home. Maybe its an entire kitchen remodel, or maybe it’s more modest like re configuring some of your landscape beds, or buying furniture and home decor. That’s great! Next question though - how to make a budget for it, and if its a larger project like that dream kitchen or bath, how to fund your remodel?
Read MoreIf you love house tour and you’re in the L.A. area during spring, Pasadena’s Showcase House is not to be missed. In fact, the city of Pasadena isn’t to be missed, and I’d recommend sticking around for another day or so to see other sights while you’re there. We’ve been making a habit of the Pasadena Showcase House for years, and after a two year hiatus, the 2022 showcase house didn't disappoint.
Read MoreSpring is almost here, and I know parts of my home could stand some refreshing for spring, especially the living room fireplace area. It's no secret T.J. Maxx is one of my favorite online haunts. Why? Because you can find some seriously great stuff deeply discounted! Plus, it seems like they put their more high-end merchandise online - you don't have to dig through stuff like you do in the stores. Here are some of my favorite TJ Maxx hang outs:
Read MoreRed foliage philodendrons, whether it’s Philodendron Congo Rojo, Black Cardinal, Imperial Red, or Congo Red, are all spectacular. It’s no surprise so many are smitten by their dramatic dark-reddish foliage, and caring for red philodendrons is so easy they will make even a novice plant parent feel like a proud expert!. I’ll cover all things related to what I’m calling the red philodendrons.
Read MoreIf you’re looking for easy and natural holiday decorating for your home’s front door and exterior, this post will give you helpful ideas. Decorating with fresh greenery garlands and evergreen swags turned out to be a surprise keeper for future years! I've retired my faded faux garlands that decked out my Christmas porch for years, and I'm not going back. See my fresh, green Christmas porch.
Read MoreThanksgiving is upon us, and for many of us that means lots of travel, family, and food. I know I’ll be some of each.
Before we hit Turkey Time though, I wanted to bring you a holiday gift guide from one of my favorite haunts - TJ Maxx. My sis and I are big fans. Why? Because you can find some seriously great stuff deeply discounted!
While scavenging for bargains in-store has been a traditional sister-bonding pastime for us, 😁 during lockdown she introduced me to their online shopping.
It's even better than the store because there's nearly so much "sifting" to do - they seem to put their better merchandise online.
Read MoreIt’s definitely fall y’all! (There I said it, try not to hold it against me:) Halloween is around the corner, and if you haven’t already, it’s time to get your fall on. Check out the variety of autumn inspired objects and décor both new and vintage. Fall especially puts me in the vintage mood for some reason. Anyway, old or new, there’s something for everyone in this fall décor haul.
Read MoreAfrican beads are on my radar as an emerging interior design trend. You may have seen them in IG posts and not even realized what you were looking at unless you checked sources. Often styled in flat lays or layered over other décor, African beads are beautiful and versatile accent pieces. My interest in African beads began during a trip to Morocco when I purchased large brass Tuareg beads.
Read MoreLabor Day weekend is upon us. Kids are back in school, and it signals the end of summer. With that are lots of Labor Day, End of Summer sales to be had, and I’ve put together a lengthy list for you. I know I plan to score a few deals over the long weekend - I’ve hardly shopped for anything this summer, and my wardrobe could use a refresh. So check out the sales, and enjoy the long weekend!
Read MoreLooking to create your own backyard oasis complete with an outdoor living room? Great goal! But then you go shopping for outdoor sofas and furniture and you have serious sticker shock. Here’s a solution - with a little resourcefulness and elbow grease, you can DIY it! Source a sofa or daybed for cheap that can work outdoors and create a stylish statement-making piece for way less.
Read MoreI don’t know about you, but I get really excited about seeing some of my favorite indoor tropical plants growing and thriving outdoors. Besides just the novelty of seeing a plant many of us think of as a “houseplant” growing outside, it’s also interesting to observe how their growth habits differ in a natural environment.
Backstory - I just took my boys on a vacation to Puerto Rico. We were thrilled to learn it’s home to El Yunque National Forest, the only rainforest in the US National Forest Service.
In the capital city of San Juan as well, there were many “indoor plants” we saw growing as stunning landscape plants. (Including our favorite FLFs!) It was spectacular, and I want to share with you some of the botanical wonders we saw there.
Read MoreIt’s time to reveal the Mediterranean inspired garden so long in the making! It’s my outdoor oasis here in Napa California & I love it, especially after living with the sad state of garden affairs for so long. To get ideas for my landscape design process, I referenced lots of historic gardens from Spain, France, and Italy. It's now finished with patio, bocce court, stonework, & lots of lavender.
Read MoreIt’s Amazon Prime days and there are deals galore! Take a look and see what suits your fancy. I’m going for a mesh WIFI system since we have serious coverage issues in my house, a Kindle Paperwhite - it's $50 bucks off and my sis insists it’s a must have, some shelter mags like Elle Decor, and who knows what all else - the day(s) are still young! :) Prime Day runs now through tomorrow, so don't dilly-dally!
Read MoreMonstera deliciosa is a botanical and design icon due to it’s statement-making leaves. Photogenic foliage has made this tropical plant an internet star with its’ strange and beautiful holes, monster-sized leaves, and deep green tropical appearance.
As a result, we see them unfurling all over social media both in houseplant circles and in heavy rotation as a green interior design accessory. Plus, they even make the cut as décor itself, and you can find them on everything from wall art to throw pillows.
Best of all - Monsteras are easy houseplants to care for, and can be grown to impressive size with minimal fuss.
Let’s explore this wild and wonderful tropical plant together. In this post, I’ll cover:
Monstera characteristics (it’s NOT a Split Leaf Philodendron, and how to tell the difference)
How to care for your Monstera - soil, water, light, fertilizer
Design tips for making Monstera a beautiful part of your interior décor
Geometric design has always been a fixture in design because, well, geometry. In recent years though, geometric design has meant a preference for a lot of triangular and rectilinear hard-edged forms in everything from logos to wall art to planters. Now however, the design world has seen a distinct shift towards more organic and sculptural forms that include curvy, wavy, and even squiggly.
Read MoreI undertook a major landscape redesign project last spring of the side garden of my home. Now that it’s grown in some, I want to show you how it turned out, which I’ll do soon. Today, I want to show you my garden “mood board.” It’s not a mood board in the traditional sense, but a collection of imagery from Pinterest that helped me pull together design ideas before starting actual design work.
Read MoreMemorial Day Weekend Sales! Memorial Day weekend is upon us - can you believe? Along with it are lots of big sales! I’ve put together a lengthy list of plants, décor, and fashion for your perusal. I know I plan to score a few deals over the long weekend - I especially want to see what’s available for outdoor cushions, fun home accessories, and of course, the Nordy 1/2 yearly sale! Happy shopping!
Read MoreThere are lots of opinions on the best indoor plants for beginners and the green-thumb challenged, but even so, there are certain plants that repeatedly make the lists. What one person considers an easy-going plant will be influenced in part by our home-growing environments, but also on individual plant preferences.
I’m the first to admit I have my own set of plant preferences and prejudices, and while a couple of the contenders on this list are the usual suspects, a couple are more often overlooked but are every bit as easy in my opinion. Take a look and give them a try if they’re new to you, and if not, let me know what you think.
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![Monstera Deliciosa Care [Soil, Watering, Repotting, Fertilizing]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5dd86eda07db674ed859c949/1623902871212-WZ3MFG2N8842WITDARJZ/how-to-care-grow-display-monstera-deliciosa.jpg)
