Home and Garden

Building trends have been incorporating high ceilings in many rooms in a home. The feeling is majestic, but sometimes we run into problems with how to furnish such spacious spaces. Common ceiling heights are anywhere from 12 to 22 feet. You will not want to put small-scale furniture in a room with such towering heights.

Considering today’s drive toward environmentally responsible building and decorating, is it possible to find lush design and rich patinas and coloration in this market? Does going green necessitate going blah? In the past, green products did have the reputation of being bland. In the fashion world it was wrinkly cottons and clunky sandals; at home it was rustic wood everywhere from ceiling to floor. All this has changed.

Ever wonder how large, tall pieces of furniture were moved in and out of the small doorways in 18th-century homes? Beginning about 1740, corner cupboards were very popular storage pieces. Some were built into the room by carpenters so they never had to be moved. Instead of a rectangular piece of furniture, the corner piece was triangular in the back so it fit into a corner with no wasted space.

Suzanne and Les have an exceptionally beautiful Japanese-inspired backyard garden. It’s a wonderful expression of their Asian heritage — he’s Japanese, she’s Chinese and their daughters, Amy and Leanne, were adopted from China.