I always felt that landscape trees are one of the most important aspects of a landscape designs.
That's because they have so many outstanding features. They have height, mass and they also provide screening. And let's not forget about spring and fall color.

There are basically three types of landscape trees.

Shade Trees
Ornamental Trees
Evergreen Trees

Shade Trees

Shade trees are typically very large and their canopies offer much needed shade in hot and sunny areas. There are many different shapes form columnar to those with wide canopies. Those with wide canopies will provide the most shade. Picture the stately Elm trees on estates in our American landscapes from years ago.

Andrew Jackson Downing used these in his designs. Many old black and white photos portray these graceful trees out in large open lawn areas.

Due to their size, however, they must be used with care in areas that they have room to grow. Large open areas are perfect.

The Red Maple is one of my favorites. It has dazzling red color. October Glory and Red Sunset have flaming red and orange foliage in the fall. Red Maples are also a native tree and very hardy.

Ornamental Trees

These trees are usually smaller in size, although some can get quite large. They have outstanding features, such as leaf color, flowers, outstanding bark or interesting shapes and branching structures. Ornamental trees can be used at house corners, near a front door, or out in the open lawn. They also look nice if you have a privacy screening of evergreens. They can be placed in front of the evergreen trees so their features really stand out.

One of my favorite ornamental trees is the Flowering Dogwood Tree. It is a true all season plant. In the Spring, it produces lovely white or pink flowers. It has a lovely shape. Although not a true multi stemmed tree, its branching structure is wide. The leaf has a nice shape too. In the fall it gets red berries which creates not only fall color but also an attraction for the birds.

Evergreen Trees

As their name implies, they are evergreen and retain their leaves all year lawn. Evergreen trees may be have needle type leaves or broadleaf ones. Needle type varieties are such trees as Norway Spruce, Douglas Fir, or Hemlock. Broadleaf evergreen trees are such as the Southern Magnolia with it's large leaves.

Evergreen trees often have a specific purpose for being used. They are used as a screen to block unwanted views or create privacy from an adjacent neighbor or road. Because of their form and mass, they at times can look nice at house corners, as long as enough room is left for their mature size.They can get quite large. There are however, varieties that stay smaller, such as Hybrids of the American Holly. Foster Holly is one that comes to mind and can easily be used in the landscape.

Consider adding trees to your landscape. They add a sense of scale and beauty that no other plant type can. Just be sure to select the right tree for the right place. Size, texture, and sun/shade conditions should all play a part in your decisions.

By: Susan Schlenger
Susan Schlenger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in Landscape Architecture. Please visit Landscape Trees to learn more about trees in your landscape. You might also enjoy visiting Evergreen Trees for some suggestions.

In its Lifestyle SCENE section, The Sacramento Bee recently took on a homeowner's kitchen cabinet dilemma. The reader wrote in and asked the newspaper what could be done about the dark wood kitchen cabinets she was sick of looking at. She specifically pointed out the dings and scratches that had marred her kitchen cabinets but also mentioned the embedded fingerprints that no amount of scrubbing seemed to remove.

It seemed a complete kitchen makeover was in order, but maybe, just maybe, there was another-a better-option available. Getting right down to the nitty gritty, the reader wanted to know: "My cousin suggested that refacing them (her kitchen cabinets) would be a lot less expensive than buying new cabinets.... I also haven't been very impressed with the looks of the refaced (kitchen) cabinets advertised in fliers I've seen. Could (kitchen cabinet) refacing give us something different than the standard look of oak, maple or cherry?

The Sacramento Bee's kitchen remodeling experts weren't shy in offering a resounding YES to refacing the homeowner's kitchen cabinets as a solution to her dilemma. The article explained and lauded kitchen cabinet refacing in this way: "The process, which applies new wood or laminate veneer over existing cabinetry and adds custom doors and drawer fronts to match, enables you to keep your existing countertops, if you choose. It also helps save the environment by not throwing perfectly good wood cabinets into a landfill."

It went on to point out that the process of refacinng kitchen cabinets "begins by removing and discarding the old doors, drawer fronts, hinges and trim. Next, 1/4-inch wood or laminate veneers are bonded to all exterior surfaces of the cabinets. Finally, new doors, drawer fronts, semi- concealed hinges and new trim, as necessary, are installed."

So, for the homeowner who is considering kitchen cabinet refacing, it makes sense to look for a manufacturer of kitchen cabinets whose invetory includes a selection of wood door styles, finishes and decorative cabinet hardware.

The best kitchen cabinet refacing manufacturers will give you the natural beauty and durability of a natural wood species base like maple, hickory, oak, cherry and birch. But they'll also provide you with a variety of colorful wood finishes to brighten the kitchen and add a pop of decorator color to the room. And for those who want to add a real designer touch to their kitchen, a reputable kitchen cabinet refacing manufaturer will also have a vaiety of door styles and shapes from which to choose.

Kitchen cabinet refacing offers the best of all worlds. According to The Sacramento Bee, not only is it "the quickest, most economical and efficient way to completely transform your cabinets," but "many colors and door styles in laminates and natural oak, maple, alder or cherry wood in a variety of stains are available."

When you're getting the kitchen of your dreams while saving scads of money in the process, it's easy to put on a happy face ... both on your kitchen and yourself. That's why kitchen cabinet refacing can be the cost-conscious homeowner's best redecorating friend.

By: Carmen Fontana
Visit KraftMaid.com for help and tips on planning your kitchen remodeling project.

Spending money to remodel kitchens and bathrooms is an excellent way to recoup an investment on home improvements. This can be as expensive – or as inexpensive as you desire. Following these guidelines, however, will assist you to save money where it counts the most; in your utility bills. The more of these valuable measures you implement, the more you will save!

• Upgrade the commode. Water-saving toilets were introduced about 1994. Homes built before this time were constructed with commodes that used as much as seven gallons of water. In comparison, the most recently designed models use less than a gallon of water with each flush. By saving between two and four gallons of water with each flush, you soon will be regaining the purchase price of your commode – by saving on your water bill!

• Composting toilets are becoming more popular. These commodes do not use water for flushing, and also require less power. Furthermore, they are more environmentally friendly than standard commodes, which make them especially desirable to those interested in making “green” choices while remodeling or renovating their homes.

• Install new plumbing. It’s very likely that the bathroom pipes and faucets were installed when the house was built, or with the last renovation. If your commode is older than 1994, chances are your plumbing will be older as well. Changing old, worn pipes can help you to save as much as ten percent of your water bill each month. Furthermore, if your house is more than 50 years old, lead pipes may have been used in the original plumbing. The dangers of lead poisoning have been well documented, especially in children.

• Purchase low-flow showerheads. These were introduced in 1992, and are mandated in all new homes or bathroom remodeling projects. These reduce water usage to 2.5 gallons per minute, and save an estimated 15,000 Liters of water each year. This translates into about a $30 decrease in the average household water bill. Recently, even more eco-friendly showerheads have been designed. These “green” options offer cost-conscious homeowners even more savings than their predecessors.

• Opt for tankless water heaters. These require very little space – less than 2 feet by 2 feet. In addition, they use up to 70 percent less energy than standard electric water heaters. Although they cost more upfront – approximately $1,000 more, the significant savings over time is more than worth the investment. Imagine saving 20 percent of the energy costs for your home with this environmentally friendly decision!

• If you cannot afford the extra outlay to purchase a new water heater, consider dialing down the heat on your older model. Older water heaters are set to heat at 180 degrees, which is much higher than any person’s tolerance for hot water. Newer models can still be dialed as high as 150 degrees, and this is still excessively hot for most people. Turning the water heater down to 120 degrees will save energy expenses – and also decreases the risk of a burn injury to someone in your household!

By: Joseph
Author and Content Expert
516 395 2080
This article provided by the unique wall clocks designed and manufactured by PebbleArt Inc.

House hunting is a bit like "speed dating". You may have heard of this dating craze, whereby singles meet 20 or more potential mates in one evening by having 5 minute dates with each of them. The idea behind the phenomenon is that two people either have chemistry or they don't.

Many of us look for a mate with a logical list of our personal criteria. But when the chemistry and emotional connection are right, who remembers logic? We follow our hearts. If you've ever been house hunting, you can see the similarities. Your agent will take you to six or more houses in a single afternoon. Within minutes, you'll reject most choosing possibly one or two properties to go back to for a second look.

Home Staging or real estate staging is all about creating the best first impression - paving the way for potential buyers to fall in love. Creating just the right atmosphere is accomplished in the overall look of your home, but it's also very much in the details. Potential buyers start to form an opinion of your house before they even walk in your front door. It's important to maximize curb appeal, but then you must also carry that same attention to detail right through the rest of the house. Your goal is to romance potential buyers... you want them to lose their hearts and say, "This is home. We have to have this house!"

Expensive furnishings don't necessarily help sell your home. But, an organized and calm interior can put buyers at ease and help them imagine their own furnishings in the space. The furnishings should also suit the target market of the home. If you're selling a high end home, it shouldn't look like students are tenants in all your rooms. Rent more appropriate furniture if necessary to project the right image.

Many of my clients have the right 'stuff', there's just too much of it and many items can be better used in different rooms. My role is to bring an objective eye to the project and look at every room in a new way. Often my clients are surprised by how much better their home works for them after I've been through it. Three families even decided not to move once I was done!

Despite what some people claim, you need to be aware that there are no official credentials to become a Home Stager. This is a completely unregulated field. When you hire a Home Stager, you trust this person with the "merchandising" of your single biggest financial asset and how well they decorate your home to sell can mean tens of thousands of dollars in your pocket.

Ask your real estate agent or other individuals who have worked with a professional Home Stager to recommend one. And be sure to ask lots of questions about any portfolio photos the stager shows you. Unfortunately, it has become all too common for training programs to provide before and after photos to their students. This enables stagers to pass off a ready-made portfolio as their own work. Be sure you are hiring someone with the experience needed to do the best job staging your home quickly and effectively.

By: Debra Gould
Internationally recognized home staging expert Debra Gould is president of Six Elements and creator of The Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program with 700+ Graduates worldwide. Debra offers a Directory of Home Stagers to help homeowners and real estate agents locate home stagers to decorate homes to sell quickly and for top dollar. Free Report "How to Get Buyers to Fall In Love With Your Home Even In A Slow Real Estate Market" at http://www.stagingdiva.com/romancebuyers

Any bathroom is incomplete without proper bathroom vanities. They give the bathroom a beautiful look apart from providing storage space. Not only this but bathroom vanity provide a countertop space and also a storage place below apart from the sink on top. Many a times bathroom specifications and vanities are not given special thought while planning a remodel. Storage is a very important aspect of a bathroom for everyone using it and it should be accessible. The bathroom looks more organized and is convenient for those using it since you can avoid clutter.

When you begin to make purchases for your bathroom vanity there are some important things to be considered. Look for these vanities in stores which have variety so that you can find whatever it is you require. One can find bathroom vanities made of wood, like walnut, oak, maple and cherry and has a glossy lacquer finish which enhances the natural wooden finish. Choose the wood according to your bathroom's suitability, whether its contemporary look that you want or traditional.

You can find four different types of bathroom vanity varieties. The first one is wall mounted, like a medicine cabinet. The second is the open shelf kind with either corner shelving or a surface mounted one. If you are looking for extra space then you can have the over the toilet type of vanity. Lastly, there are the closet type of vanities that can be used like a linen closet, the freestanding ones which stand next to the sink reach upto the ceiling, the built in ones and the tower type with baskets.

There are two different styles that come in vanities. The first kind is the vanity cabinets which are traditional to look at and give a formal look to your bathroom. There is a panel that frames the cabinet box and the hinges are either hidden from view or made very simple. The other style is the frameless vanity cabinet also called European style. To achieve a more contemporary look you can go for these styles suitable for modern type of bathrooms. The hinges on these vanities are completely hidden from view.

No matter whether you are just adding to an already existing decor or going for a complete remodel, it is a wise investment to have theses bathroom vanities. If you decide to sell your house these modern looking and attractive bathrooms will fetch you a good price too. You have to select them carefully to get the right look that blends well with your settings whether its a modern look or traditional.

By: Adam Peters
Adam Peters writes for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com Keep reading about bathroom makeup vanities and bathroom art at his web.