Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 6B
^Reporter
September 18, 2008
Add outdoor living space at home
A backyard "room" is simply an outdoor extension of your living space.
An awning provides privacy and protection from the elements in this
outdoor room.
Outdoor living spaces are
a growing home trend, and
backyards are becoming a
reflection of homeowners'
sense of style and person
ality. No longer relegated
to a few folding chairs,
homeowners are designing
their backyards with the
principle that an outdoor
living room is just as
important as an indoor liv
ing room.
"Backyards are becoming
true reflections of the
home, causing for a revival
of gardening and landscap
ing, and growth of outdoor
kitchens and living rooms,"
said Wendy Loomis, land
scape designer at
Minnesota-based Buell's
Landscape Center. "From
serene fountains to stucco
fireplaces to awning-cov
ered patios, there are a
number of options to create
a backyard oasis, allowing
homeowners to reconnect
with their outdoor spaces
in a unique, yet practical
way."
Creating a Color
Scheme
Similar to how you paint
an indoor room with a
color scheme in mind, out
door rooms can make a
statement by incorporating
colorful plants throughout
the area. Bright, large
flowers can be used in
areas designated for out
door activities, while soft,
subtle greens can create a
tranquil reading nook.
Loomis also notes that
homeowners should choose
a landscape style that inte
grates the recurring out
door color schemes and
complements the home's
style.
And the colors can go
beyond landscape.
Carrying a scheme
throughout outdoor pil
lows, rugs, throws, furni
ture or awning fabrics
and styles ties all of the
outdoor elements togeth
er.
"When you take advan
tage of capitalizing on
the color, texture and
fabric of outdoor ele
ments, the entire out
door living space truly
becomes a room," said
Michelle Sahlin, manag
ing director, Professional
Awning Manufacturers
Association (PAMA).
"Just as you would
match a comforter or duvet
with the color scheme of a
bedroom, matching an
awning with other outdoor
elements brings the room
to life."
Lighting up the Room
Proper lighting allows for
more time spent in the out
door living rooms. Whether
you're looking for decora
tive electric lighting or just
simple candles or lanterns,
additional lighting makes
the space enjoyable at vari
ous times of the day. Cozy
outdoor fireplaces or fire
pits serve as an option to
bring both light and
warmth in the cool evening
hours and to extend the
use of the outdoor space
into the transitional sea
sons of spring and fall.
Keeping Safety and
Privacy a Priority
While homeowners are
eager to spend time in
their outdoor spaces, there
are a variety of ways to
make the outdoor room
more private and protected
like the inside of a home.
Patio and deck awnings
create an extension of the
home, serving as an out
door ceiling.
"An awning not only pro
vides protection from the
sun and heat, it also keeps
your home cooler by shad
ing windows and doors
from the harmful rays of
the sun," said Sahlin. "And
with the ability to choose
from a variety of awning
styles, sizes and fabrics,
you don't have to sacrifice
on design elements."
Fences and lattice pro
vide additional privacy,
serving as walls to the out
door living spaces. Some
homeowners have success
fully grown climbing
plants, such as grape vines
and Virginia creeper, on
open fence for privacy.
Creating a Focal Point
In addition to landscape
elements, consider decora
tive items that enhance
the outdoor room. Similar
to pictures and wall decor
inside a home, wind
chimes, fountains and dif
ferent hangings can add to
an overall design theme.
And what better way to
enjoy the view of your out
door room than with coor
dinated deck or patio
accessories. Lounge chairs,
tables, benches and ham
mocks all provide a relax
ing way to take in the
indoor/outdoor transition
you've created.
Celebrating 31 Years
serving Monroe County & surronnding areas
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Bolingbroke, GA 31004
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Right
tools can
ease fall
cleanup
Garden enthusiasts agree
that a thorough yard and
garden fall cleanup is
essential in preparing for
the winter season. High
quality rakes and pruners
are perhaps the most
important tools for doing
so.
Whether it's for clearing
leaves and debris from
your lawn or spreading
winter mulch, the right
rake will make the job eas
ier. Choose a rake that fea
tures flexible, gently
curved tines that keep
twigs, leaves and debris
from getting stuck, so you
can rake without interrup
tions. Smaller rakes or
shrub rakes are ideal for
clearing debris from under
low-lying trees and around
shrubs, and carefully posi
tioning winter mulch
around delicate plantings
After raking the leaves,
turn your attention to
shrubs, trees and perenni
als that may need trim
ming. A light fall pruning
is beneficial to sculpting
deciduous trees, cleaning
up overgrown shrubs, and
cutting ornamental grasses
back to their stubs for easi
er spring growing. Prune to
shape, groom, and remove
dead stems.
Select a pruner that is
right for the job. This not
only means less work for
you, but also ensures that
your plants and trees will
heal more quickly. Select a
tool based on the size of
branches to be pruned and
the amount of pruning to
be done. In general, hand
pruners work well for
small jobs, loppers for
thicker branches, up to 2
inches in diameter and
tree pruners for those
hard-to-reach tree limbs.
Makes as Vifleretisces
Monroe County Solid Waste
Management Services
523 Montpelier Avenue
Forsyth GA 31029
478-992-5049
recycle@monroecountygeorgia.com
CAN IT!
Put litter in its place
SORT IT!
Recycle newspaper, magazines,
plastic, aluminum & steel cans,
glass bottles & jars, cardboard,
used motor oil, oil filters, anti-freeze & tires
COVER IT!
Cover and secure all loads
transported on our roads
«eo Uce _
^/JQ3H« 35^
Monroe County Landfill
FREE MULCH
• Prepare Planting Beds for Winter
• Till to Lighten Heavy Clay Soil
• Control Soil Erosion on Slopes
We'll Load It...
You Haul It
Small Trucks or Large Trucks
Hwy 83 North
on Strickland Loop East Road
478-994-7291
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 - 4:00
Saturday 8:00 - Noon