Spring is here and along with it comes that dreaded ritual of “spring cleaning.” Oh there’s no denying that there are some perks, like finding that long-lost lip gloss you love hidden beneath the winter socks. (Don’t ask.) But for the most part, spring cleaning is just too much to bear. It’s not that we [...]

Patience doesn’t come easy, we know. After all, it’s hard to wait for something when most of the time you can run to the 24-hour store, get online, or make a phone call to get what you want right away.
Alas, many gifts from nature do require patience. In particular, one illustrious and desirable spring [...]

Yes, neat-nicks, there is nirvana. It’s called the mudroom. Here, you can shed the dirt and baggage of the day and enter the house ready to relax and unwind. Having a mudroom means no muddy footprints in the house, and always knowing where you left the keys the night before. Whether it’s the size of [...]

We may not have all the power of the sun but we can certainly recreate the happy feeling we get from its warm light. All you need to do is learn how to put the right light in the right places in your home, and voila—instant good mood.
Even though the concept of mood lighting has [...]

If you’re like many Americans, buying your “dream house” is out of the question right now. But just because you can’t purchase a new home doesn’t mean you have to go without the extra bedroom, bathroom or kitchen you want. You just have to find the right people to help you get what you want. 
“This [...]

In movies, the closets are always filled with flawlessly folded sweaters, jewelry is nestled in velvet-lined cases, and Prada peep-toe pumps are perched neatly on shelves. Down here in the real world, most of us have closets that are a bit less, shall we say, visually appealing.
A streamlined closet is practically a necessity, according [...]

At first it may feel like just a rug. Then you slide your hand up and over the patterns etched in an area rug drenched in blues, grays, and ivories and wonder: Should I get one?
Of course you should, say Charles Snider and Dawn Rezai, two local rug vendors.
Rugs can accent what you already have [...]

Toss those stiff old paintbrushes and half-empty paint cans buried in your garage. Go ahead and do it now because you won’t need them this summer. Luxurious and vibrant wallpapers that turn rooms into art are ready to reclaim their place atop your walls.
“Wallpaper’s not going to be outdone,” says Carolyn Mahone of Mahone & Sons [...]

 
Lawn irrigation systems are not just about creating a beautiful yard. Water conservation and the environment are forefront in the minds of landscapers and irrigation companies today. That means fabulous floribunda without a drop of water or moment of time wasted.
“A lot of customers are asking for things that are going to conserve water and [...]

By Amy Coutee
Certainly there are beautiful, warm and inviting homes all around us. But then there are homes so appealing and comfortable you find yourself unable to leave. Welcome to Frederick Wilt’s Smith Mountain Lake home where, seated on the family’s plush red-patterned couch, you can control the home theater and every light, thermostat, security [...]