Roses are a little bit like celebrities. Both have a reputation for being mysterious, elusive and a little bit fussy, and yet somehow they are available everywhere—even in the grocery store checkout line.
But take a closer look at this age-old flower. Roses have a lot more to offer than fodder for tabloids; they have been [...]

Homeowners have always loved bringing a bit of the outdoors in. We find inspiration for our paint colors from the great outdoors, and select fabrics decorated with nature’s creatures. It should be no surprise then that when it comes to renovating our favorite rooms, we bring one of nature’s most beautiful creations—stone—inside as well.

Materials [...]

It’s the time we’ve been waiting for. Summer is the season to be outside,  to let our homes extend gracefully out into our yards and onto porches, patios and decks.
This year, take advantage of this extra outdoor space by making it a place to dine, entertain and relax by sprucing it up with some beautiful
yet [...]

When I first met Lynchburg native Brooke Pettyjohn in the summer of 1997, she was out on her porch painting that quintessential piece of Americana: a white picket fence. With visions of Tom Sawyer toiling in my head, I was surprised to learn that while she was in fact, painting a picket fence, it wasn’t [...]

Water is a source of Both life and comfort; it invokes all the senses with its natural delights. Because of these inherent qualities, there is nothing quite like a water source to enhance the landscape. Swimming pools are one way for homeowners to bring the aesthetics of water close at hand. And today’s pools are [...]

In eighth grade, the girls in my middle school were required to take one year of Home Economics. The course was cleverly divided into two sections: cooking and baking the first semester, followed by sewing the second semester. Our teacher, Mrs. Blythe, (who wore a flour-dusted apron to match her flour-dusted hair) taught us to make [...]

Today’s seniors are more active than ever, and retirement communities, home builders and independent contractors have become even more adept at addressing their physical and social needs. Whether retired, empty-nesters or those seeking a change in lifestyle, seniors today have many options for making their homes in the Central Virginia area.
Blakely also believes in what [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

I admit it. I sometimes find choosing furnishings for my home stressful. When I’m making an investment in things like floor coverings, light fixtures and sofas—pieces I know I’ll be living with for quite a while—I want to get it right and spend my money wisely. Pass the Alka-Seltzer, please.
But when it comes to designing a [...]