The Historic District

image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg Wow, Ron! Those roses and peonies look great! I've had some really nice irises that have already come and gone. IMG_1709.jpg IMG_1708.jpg IMG_1683.jpg I think I have a TON of blooming spiderwort...(please, correct me if I'm mislabeling)... IMG_1713.jpg ...and...

Just thought I'd post a couple pictures of the roller shades from the Handwerk Shade Shop, now that I finally had a chance to hang a few. IMG_1694.jpg IMG_1695.jpg Notice a couple things: 1) The idea was to keep the shade simple (no stencils, no scallops, etc) in order to stay true to the chestnut w...

I'm always excited to see the original Lilac in bloom, nearly 100 years after it was planted! IMG_1673.jpg And after a couple years of dying off....the flowering vinca is getting watered down every day by the new sprinklers (and a heck of a lot of rain) and starting to spread like wildfire! Love tho...

I love this conversation! I never knew the bit about draft tubes and oil leakage, but it makes total sense. One suggestion I would make when it comes to pouring your own cement for the driveway sections: use exposed aggregate. Find a mix that incorporates small (1/4") river stones. The process seems...

{snip}As far as driveway terminology goes, I've always heard to it referred to as a "ribbon driveway." That's the same term I've known for that style. It's also one method we've been debating between that and a permeable when we finally get to working on our driveway. Frankly, snow is really the on...

Matt, what wonderful work you have done over the years, you have turned a drab but functional old home into the best dressed lady on the block. Well done. I bet your neighbours are happy with the transformation. Has it inspired other along the street? If not, it should have. Ron Thanks, Ron--that's...

You're smart to get this work done while the weather is still cool and plants can get established. In a couple of weeks you can do the fine tuning and just watch it grow. I'm jealous of that to strip driveway. Does that style of driveway have a name? The trick to laying sod is to get fresh sod to b...

I've been working on landscaping like a fiend lately. I flattened the hump in the middle of the ribbon driveway and prepared it for new sod. Is there anything quite like rolling out that new lush green carpet?! The before and after is really stunning. There hasn't been great grass there for as long ...

I just confirmed my order with Linda at thehandwerkshop! I'm biting the bullet and doing them all at once. A big nut, but it makes more sense to ship them together since she's in OR and I'm in NJ. They ranged from $87 for plain-jane (probably similar to what you're looking for, James) to $147 for th...

Hi Folks! I own what could best be described as a venacular interpretation of a greek revival cape in northeast Connecticut. Date of build is something of a conundrum. Existing hardware and design elements appear to be not prior to 1830 generally. Town says it was built 1789 - possibly an anticeden...