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Home and Garden

Take charge

Sometimes it really is the little things in life that make a big difference.

Desert lawns require special care

: I have a backyard that has gotten patchy and ugly. When we moved in, the grass here was in bad shape. Then, with our golden retriever and being out of town, it got worse. We want to remove our pretty turf from the front and go to desert landscaping. Could we move that nice grass into the back and start over? Should I give up on grass in back and go to just a combination of groundcovers, sand and rock and paving? I do not want artificial turf. We moved from southeast Idaho and so we are used to a hostile environment, but we did have water up there.

Knock on wood: Study characteristics before shopping

Although we like glass-top tables, mirrored chests, ceramic garden benches and tables made of metal or some other man-made materials, we are still in love with solid-wood furniture, and wood is still the most-used material in furniture construction.

FURNITURE & DESIGN BRIEF

Robb & Stucky to host free design workshops

Famed football play inspires chair design

Famed Pittsburgh Steeler and Hall of Famer Franco Harris will attend Super Bowl XLIII this week not only to root for his team, but to introduce a line of fine furniture inspired by him and the incredible 1972 “Immaculate Reception” play.

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Super Style

The beverages are chilling, there’s plenty of snacks and the big game is just hours away. Now the only problem is where all the fans will sit as they cheer on their favorite team.

‘What’s-its’ fun, but generally not made by artists

“What’s-its” are fun, but were rarely made by great artists. Paul Revere, the famous horseback rider who warned that “the British are coming,” made this odd silver piece stamped with his name.

Counter-height tables ideal for big game

Be prepared for the biggest game of the year by setting up a counter-height dining table on the 50-yard line to set up the game-winning feast. The aspenhome playbook shows how it’s done with its Kensington counter-height table.

Similar sizes make differences in window coverings less obvious

DEAR GAIL: I am not sure what is acceptable as far as store-bought blinds and custom blinds and where they should go. My husband bought some off-the-shelf one-half-inch miniblinds to put in our garage that faces the street and I just hate them. We have custom 41/2-inch shutters that are on the front windows of the house and it seems it just makes them look cheaper with the minis on the garage. Please help me; I know that he will take your advice. — Becka R.

Size does matter

When purchasing or renting a home the first issue that usually comes up is size. We’re concerned about square footage, size of rooms, closets, etc.

Time ripe to go beyond green

It’s safe to say that green has hit the mainstream in a major way. Newspapers cover it, radio shows talk about it and there are even entire cable television networks devoted to the topic. Green living is the new paradigm that will continue to progress until it has become standard operating procedure.

Plug or debris cause gap in drain service

: Whenever I run my dishwasher, water runs out onto the top of the sink. Is the problem my dishwasher or something else?

Pests venture indoors seeking food, shelter

The weather outside is cold and sometimes rainy. You’d like nothing more than to cozy up to a warm fire with your favorite beverage and a good book.

Glass shades favored in early 1900s

Electric lamps with glass shades were popular from the 1870s to the 1920s. Because a light bulb could face down, not up (like a candle flame), and was cool enough for a shade with a closed top, the use of glass shades became possible. And as very up-to-date, unusual and attractive objects, glass-shaded lamps became expensive status symbols.

Entertainment niches have built-in decorating dilemmas

I’m often called upon by homeowners and designers alike to help with a problem inherent in numerous homes across the Las Vegas Valley and beyond. It’s then that I put on my “cabinetry hat,” take a deep breath and do my very best to solve the dilemma of what to do with those nasty entertainment niches left behind by well-meaning architects and builders.

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