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Paint Chips Turned Wall Art

admin — Mon, 02 May 2011 21:21:51 +0000

Filed under: Crafts , Crafts & Celebrations Decided on a color and left with a pile of those tiny paint chips? Display them on your newly painted walls! Maybe you just painted your walls and have a stack of reject paint colors from the job. Or maybe you’re the kind of obsessed that makes you pocket a few paint chips every time you saunter into a hardware store. Either way, your extra chips can make for some pretty fantastic art. Check it out: Apartment Therapy Yes, yes, this one will make your guests gasp “How on earth do you have so much free time?” But the truth is, they’re just jealous. REALLY jealous. Because not only is your artwork cool and original, it’s free! Get the full details at Apartment Therapy . Angelina La Dawn via Curbly Over on Curbly , they’ve discovered a fun project that takes those chips to a new high. Love the graphic feel. Get those scissors ready! Get the full step-by-step on Angelina La Dawn . The 3 R’s Blog And then on the terrific The 3 R’s Blog , there’s instructions to credit this beautiful piece. Doesn’t it look like something you’d snatch up at a boutique? Tired of tiny paint chips? Check out the World’s Largest Paint Swatch- 68ft ! All DIY Info | All DIY Info | Linking Blogs | All DIY Info

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Paint Chips Turned Wall Art

Fireplace Ideas For Spring and Summer

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:21:59 +0000

Filed under: Living Rooms , Living Spaces Just because it’s warming up doesn’t mean your fireplace should be concealed. Here’s how to showcase it in the off season. Every day that the weather gets warmer we’re lightening things up in every way we can. So we don’t blame you if just looking at your fireplace makes you sweat. But don’t fear — the stunning rooms at the 2011 Kips Bay Showhouse showed off some pretty perfect-looking fireplaces that added a tremendous amount of glitz to each room without ever lighting up. So look to them for inspiration and take advantage of the architectural element — even during its off season. Left: Amanda Nisbet Design, Inc. Right: Kemble Interiors . Kips Bay Showhouse. Photo: Courtesy of Nikki Pepper Fireplace Idea #1: Paint We’re not just talking a solid coat or two. Have fun. Take that brush and go wild. (As long as the mantle is properly covered, that is.) Take a tip from this oh-so-pink fireplace by Amanda Nisbet Design and get creative with haphazard brush strokes. It creates a lively patterned effect that really wakes up this paneled backdrop. Fireplace Idea #2: Mirror the Mantle Adding small, square mirrors to the face of the fireplace surround easily brightens and livens up the space. Just look at the effect of Kemble Interiors ‘ fireplace. And it’s so easy to do! Pick up some mirrors at a craft store and get to work. Robert Stilin at Kips Bay Showroom. Photo: Courtesy of Nikki Pepper Fireplace Idea #3: Build Out A thin mantle — or maybe just an ugly, outdated fireplace — cramping your room’s style? Take on the project and make it worthy of display. Use MDF to copy this look for a fireplace surround makeover . The Robert Stilin photo above has a sleek, modern look that can easily transform an old, neglected design. Left: Jeff Lincoln Interiors. Right: Matthew Patrick Smyth, Inc. Kips Bay Showroom. Photo: Courtesy of Nikki Pepper Fireplace Idea #4: Decorate Above If you truly don’t want to highlight your fireplace, follow the lead of Jeff Lincoln Interiors and Matthew Patrick Smyth and go above and beyond while decorating around the hearth. Decorating the mantle takes the focus off of the fireplace. A promising piece: A super decorative mirror. It will draw the eye up and across. Finish off the look by pulling out your best decorative items and displaying them on the mantle. Looking for more ways to get your home ready for spring? Check out… Celebrate Spring at Home like Eva Mendes Spring Trend: We’re Seeing Stripes Spring Gardening: Get Ready All DIY Info | All DIY Info | Linking Blogs | All DIY Info

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KBIS 2011: What’s New, Who’s There and What It Means For Your Kitchen

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 02:08:40 +0000

Filed under: Kitchen & Bath , Big Projects , Products & Materials Today marks the last day of the 2011 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, where builders, designers and home enthusiasts take to Las Vegas to preview everything you’ll want for your home in the next few months. KBIS, for the uninitiated, is like Fashion Week for kitchens and bathrooms. Companies are presenting their new and best wares, looking to impress and inspire designers and design fiends alike. But while Fashion Week is all form, KBIS is heavy on the function. Every year, the companies introduce products that aim to make your life easier through Jetsons-style technology. Here’s what’s happening so far: The Builder Buzz At KBIS 2011… The winners are announced ! The winners of the “Best-Of” awards, that is. 500 entries came in across 19 categories, ranging from the simple “Best Kitchen” to more specific ones like “Small Bathroom.” That’s one of the winners in the above photo — Best Bathroom by Holly Rickert of Ulrich, Inc . in Ridgewood, NJ. At KBIS 2011… The stars are out: Great kitchens deserve great chefs, right? The Food Network’s “Cooking for Real” host Sunny Anderson and “Top Chef Masters” winner Rick Bayless are at the show, along with celebrity chef Curtis Stone . Yum! Also attending: Designer Jeff Lewis of “Interior Therapy With Jeff Lewis”, “celebrity carpenter” (who knew that was a title?) Ed Sanders of ” Extreme Makeover: Home Edition ” and the always charming Eric Stromer . Lastly (and perhaps, most surprisingly): Mariel Hemingway , who will present on keeping families healthy through the best local food and products. At KBIS 2011… New product introductions, galore. There’s the NanaWall Kitchen Transition , a custom window-door combo that has the ability to turn your kitchen into an indoor-outdoor paradise. NanaWall Also new, Dacor’s new Distinctive Series , which focuses on affordable luxury in appliances. LG also has announced the new Studio Series a line of energy efficient appliances, from microwaves to dishwashers. And Arne, over at Useful Spaces , has been blown away by a SileStone sink made of a single piece of quartz and the new Hybrid line of outdoor grills from Kalamazoo . Grill with gas, charcoal or wood and have designated areas for fish, beef, chicken and pork. Genius! And just in time for good weather… Want more? Keep checking in on KBIS’s Twitter . And if you want more kitchen trends, check out… 2011 Kitchen Trends – Shelterpop 5 Kitchen Trends We’re Pretty Sure You’ll Regret All DIY Info | All DIY Info | Linking Blogs | All DIY Info

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KBIS 2011: What’s New, Who’s There and What It Means For Your Kitchen

Flower Arranging 101: Dress Up Your Home and Impress Your Friends

admin — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 02:08:34 +0000

Filed under: Crafts , Essential Skills , Know-How , Crafts & Celebrations With this five-step guide to arranging bouquets, you can skip the florist and head straight to the flower market (or better yet, your garden). My ideal self does a lot of things well. I speak different languages fluently, I never drip paint on the floor while doing simple touch-ups and I arrange flowers effortlessly and beautifully while wearing a lovely apron and telling some charming joke. Want flower arrangements like these? All photos: Amy Preiser And now, thanks to floral subscription company H.Bloom , I’m one step closer to my ideal self. As a preview of the new flower arranging classes they’re offering in their New York and Washington DC locations, they invited me and a friend to a tutorial with their experts — and wine and cheese. I can’t share the snacks (sorry!) but I can take you through the step-by-step guide. Flower Arranging Step #1: Pick your flowers. Pick your color palate. Choose flowers in groups of threes. We chose ours from a mix of big blooms like Yellow Spider Mums (yellow flowers with lots of skinny petals), Coffee Break Roses (dark roses), Free Spirit Roses (bright orange roses) and Esperance Roses pink-and-white roses) and then moved onto accents like Happy Romance Hypericum (red berries), Erica Pink Bliss Heather (fluffy pink/purple stems), White Hybrid Waxflower (small white flowers on branches) and Yellow Solidago (fluffy yellow stems). But when it comes to your bouquet, remember this: Just pick what you like, and what you feel goes together best. Flower Arranging Step #2: Clear everything off of the stem, except the good stuff on top. That includes the leaves. Toss all the extra aside and only focus on the long stems with beautiful leaves and flowers up top. Not only will this give you a healthier arrangement but it will look better and be easier to manage. Flower Arranging Step #3: Start with one flower in your hand and place the second flower’s stem diagonally across it. Slightly turn your hand, then add the next flower. This is really the key for arranging a hand-tied bouquet. You’re always turning your hand and “crossing” a new flower into the mix. This is the creative part — use your eye to continuously try to fill out the bouquet to make it look round and full, while keeping the flowers at similar heights. Make sure to alternate between the flowers to keep the mix interesting. And when it looks just right, use the leaves to surround your bouquet. Flower Arranging Step #4: Tie things off and cut the stems It’s easiest if you have a friend to help you. At H.Bloom we used Oasis wire , but if you’re doing this at home, try stealing a twist tie from a bag of bread. It has a similar consistency and gets the job done. Once your bouquet is secure, snip off enough of the stems so it will fit in your vase. Flower Arranging Step #5: Line the vase with broad leaves. We used Aspidistra leaves. See how only two leaves lined in there cover the glass so that you don’t see the tied-off, naked stems? It’s a tiny touch that makes things look super professional. I’m grinning here because I’m so proud of my first flower arrangement. Not bad, right? And check out the pro-level arrangement made by my friend Nicole! And now — more exciting news: For those of you who still prefer a florist’s perfect touch, H.Bloom has generously extended a special offer for DIY Life and ShelterPop readers: If you’re in New York or Washington DC, head over to H.Bloom and use the coupon code ShelterPop25 for 25% off any floral subscription’s first delivery! Still have flowers on the brain? Check out… America’s Most Fascinating Public Gardens Celebrate Spring at Home like Eva Mendes April Flowers: What’s Blooming? All DIY Info | All DIY Info | Linking Blogs | All DIY Info

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Flower Arranging 101: Dress Up Your Home and Impress Your Friends

Protect Your Home With… Dinosaurs?

admin — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:58:06 +0000

Filed under: Living Spaces Home security system feeling a little stale? A Japanese company’s been trying to use plastic dinosaurs to stand guard. Can you imagine? Check out this piece from our friends at Charles & Hudson ! We stumbled upon this little interesting little tidbit stemming from this year’s CES and thought we’d share with you: how’d you like a pet robot dinosaur as your home security? Plastic Pals via Charles & Hudson Back in 2002, Japanese robotics company TMSUK developed the “Banryu” (or “Guard Dragon”) line of robots intended for home use. The prehistoric crime predators were designed to patrol homes and photograph would-be intruders using a camera installed in their snouts, and some were designed to even detect carbon monoxide in your home! The robots supposedly automatically patrolled buildings, and, in an emergency, could be remote-controlled to fire fight in an early stage. Available in two styles (triceratops and stegasuarus), and could go up to 15 meters a minute to chase down intruders in your abode. It should also be noted that they were designed to be controlled with a mobile device — including a mobile phone. Do you remember what cell phones were like in 2002? We do, and the fact that they could control anything more than calls or maybe a text is mostly mindblowing. At the staggering price of $18,000 US, obviously these items were not the utmost in affordable home security technology. Some models were available for rent as well, but unfortunately the Banryus didn’t catch on as the next best thing since guard dogs. It bears stating that in 2002, home-robotics were just beginning to become possible, and perhaps the “trend” of robotic pets with purposes were a wee bit overestimated at the time. Still, can you imagine? A pet dinosaur robot home defender — without all the mess of an actual pet? Only in yesterday’s future. And tighten your home’s security with other our other home security stori es: DIY: Home Security System Secure your Home for Summer Vacation All DIY Info | All DIY Info | Linking Blogs | All DIY Info

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Cleaning Out the Closet With "Pawn Stars"

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:58:03 +0000

Filed under: Storage & Organization , Know-How Wonder what the junk in your closet is worth? Our writer got a crash course from ” Pawn Stars “‘s Rick Harrison… and found out just how much money she’s sitting on. My mother always says that she’s going to leave all of her possessions to my brother when she dies, because she knows that I’ll sell everything once she’s out of the picture. Look: Sentimentality isn’t my strong suit. I prefer new to old and money to no money, thanks. I’m not one of those people who think that whatever it is inside that old hope chest is going to get me so rich that I’ll be able to dive into a pile of gold coins like Scrooge McDuck in the ” Duck Tales ” opener. But I took the opportunity to enlist the expert help of Rick Harrison from The History Channel’s smash hit show ” Pawn Stars “. He knows all about finding hidden gems — from the inventory in his Las Vegas pawn shop to the show itself. Courtesy of The History Channel “I pitched ” Pawn Stars ” out for four years,” says Harrison. “Everyone told me that no one wants to see a show about four fat guys in a pawn shop.” Now they’re the number one show on cable. You just never know. So, I sent some old junk I found in my parents’ house to get Harrison’s expert opinion as to whether or not I can quit my job and spend the rest of my days laying on my couch and keeping up with the Kardashians (it’s a full time job in itself, really). Here’s what I found… http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=997770&pid=997769&uts=1303855522 http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf What Treasures are Hiding in Your Closet? Remember when cameras had film? Yeah, me either. But apparently, they did. This movie camera probably documented countless family memories, but who cares? I know what those jerks looked like. My genius brain stores all the documentation I need (there’s no “off” switch). “This is a mass-produced camera,” says Harrison. “They probably produced millions of them so it’s not really that valuable.” Think about it like this: if it’s something that was inexpensive and accessible to the masses, it’s probably not going to be worth anything. “Other cameras from the 1960s, like an original Nikon that’s in really good shape can be worth up to $2,000,” says Harrison. “But something like this isn’t going to get you very far.” What Treasures are Hiding in Your Closet? So you’re sitting on the couch, eating your feelings in the form of a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, and you see a commercial for something that is “valuable,” “priceless,” and “collectible.” Limited time order, they say. Buy now, they urge. Only 42 easy payments of $19.99, they promise. Put down the phone. This junk isn’t going to be worth anything, ever. “When you buy something that’s already deemed a collectible when it’s brand-new, it’s never going to be worth anything,” says Harrison. “It’s the things that people never thought would end up being worth money that end up being the most valuable. I’ve sold Zippo lighters for over $3,000 and people carry those around in their pockets every day.” The lesson here? You should always be skeptical when someone shouts from the rooftops how rare and collectible an item is, especially when it’s on a TV commercial on Lifetime at 2AM. If only my grandfather had known this when he bought this sculpture. And the 30 or so other ones we have lying around the house. What a financial wizard he was. What Treasures are Hiding in Your Closet? When looking for antiques, remember this: just because something is old doesn’t mean it’s valuable. Need an example? Take a look at Joan Rivers. “I have three billion-year-old rocks in my backyard, but no one’s willing to buy them off of me,” Harrison laughs. In other words: don’t make assumptions. The pupils in my eyes had already turned to dollar signs when we unearthed this old phone from our crawl space. This thing doesn’t even have buttons! It looks like something that would be in an old Western movie, or at least in a restaurant that’s trying to manufacture old-school charm. I will be rolling in dough, like a baker (is that an expression? It should be). Wrong. “These types of things aren’t worth as much as you would think,” says Harrison. “They’re definitely collectible, but you have to remember that every house had one, so they’re not that rare.” What Treasures are Hiding in Your Closet? The word “rare” isn’t always synonymous with “big money.” Your weird cousin might collect unusual bocce balls, but just because something is rare or strange doesn’t automatically mean it’s worth anything. “I’m sure dinosaurs turds are pretty rare, but I don’t imagine that they’re worth a lot,” laughs Harrison. This cash register was stationed on the bar in my grandparents’ restaurant for years. “They would call this a candy store cash register, because the highest amount on here is $1,” says Harrison. Because it’s functioning, in good shape, easy to clean up, and in relatively high demand, my ship has finally come in. BOOM! What Treasures are Hiding in Your Closet? Total value: $1,720 But out of four old, seemingly rare items that I dug up, only one was worth the effort involved to drag them out of the basement. Harrison says that this is something that happens all of the time. “People always seem to think that grandma’s wedding ring has a perfect diamond in it,” says Harrison. “When I tell them it’s not, they get mad at me. I have to say to them, ‘I’m sorry your grandpa was cheap,’” laughs Harrison. Is this really all that surprising? Unrealistic expectations make the world go ’round. Moral of the story? I’m not getting rich any time soon. By Amanda Waas Not ready to get rid of your old things? Try repurposing! Check out… Bright Idea: New Uses For An Old Ladder New Uses for Old Kitchen Cabinets Give Old Books New Life All DIY Info | All DIY Info | Linking Blogs | All DIY Info

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Cleaning Out the Closet With "Pawn Stars"

The Typewriter Lives On (Through Crafts)

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:58:02 +0000

Filed under: Crafts , Crafts & Celebrations This week, the last standing typewriter factory in the world closed up shop. But you can still keep the spirit alive with these craft ideas. I’ll admit, it was a blow to hear that that no new typewriters will be produced — after all, they have a special nostalgic place in my heart next to Polaroid film . But it’s not fair to get too hung up over the news: If nothing else, it’s highly hypocritical, considering I’m typing this on a computer. But while you can’t expect companies to continue to produce typewriters when the sales have plummeted, you can count on the crafters on Etsy to produce beautiful tributes to the typewriter. As we take a moment of silence, check out the work of these brilliant DIYers. Clockwise from top left: CuteAbility; NoteTrunk, virginiakraljevic, MeadowTea, iloveinkling, MrPS. Clockwise from top left: Typewriter Necklace 18K Gold Plated Brass, $24, CuteAbility Self Inking Custom Ribber Address Stamp, $28, NoteTrunk Olivetti Green Fine Art Archival Print, $15, virginiakraljevic Retro Type Set, $25 for 4, MeadowTea Just My Type Pillow, $22, iloveinkling Background: Proper Coffee tea towel, $14.25, MrPS Looking to create your own typewriter crafts? Check out sites like Oriental Trading and Rubber Nation to buy antique typewriter keys to make your own projects (and don’t forget to share them on Facebook !) All DIY Info | All DIY Info | Linking Blogs | All DIY Info

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The Typewriter Lives On (Through Crafts)

High-Tech Cleaning Gear

admin — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:19:24 +0000

Think beyond the broom. These high-tech spring cleaning tools deliver results (and yes, are perfect for getting gadget fiends to neaten up fast)! Check out this piece from our partners at Fox News Home & Garden ! Photo: Age Fotostock Spring brings with it sunshine, warm weather, and blossoming flowers. But it’s also time for the ever-dreaded spring cleaning. While this annual multi-task can be a drag, investing in a few cool gadgets can help cut down on some of the drearier tasks so that you can get back to enjoying the — hopefully — lovely weather. When it comes to prepping your garden’s soil in the spring, traditional hand tools are a back-breaking option, while motorized tillers are expensive, large, and difficult to navigate around trees and bushes. The Black & Decker Garden Cultivator ($203) is battery-powered tiller that is roughly the size of a weed whacker, making it easy to work around existing growth. Its spinning tines dig a few inches deep, perfect for breaking up compacted top soil and uprooting weeds. Few household tasks are as loathsome as cleaning the gutters. Scraping years’ worth of half-decomposed goop out of a trough while perilously perched atop a ladder is no way to spend a beautiful spring afternoon. Enter the iRobot Looj ($129-$169), an automated gutter-cleaning solution from the same company that brought us the Roomba vacuum cleaner. Running on a set of tank-like treads, the Looj blasts through leaves and debris with its spinning front paddles, meaning you only have to climb the ladder once, set it loose and you’re done in no time. If you were to cross a chainsaw with a pair of garden shears, you’d end up with Black & Decker’s Alligator Lopper ($95-$238), a power tool perfectly suited for trimming small to medium sized branches. The Alligator’s clamping jaws form a tight grip, while its 6-inch chainsaw makes short work of overhanging branches or overgrown shrubs. Want more ideas? Check out the full piece on Fox News Home & Garden ! All DIY Info | All DIY Info | Linking Blogs | All DIY Info

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Free Crafts: Nesting Dolls and Tea Towels

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:14:32 +0000

Filed under: Crafts , Unusual Uses , Crafts & Celebrations Antsy to get crafting without stepping foot in an art supply store? These genius ideas make use of things you already have around the house. Check out this great DIY project — one of our favorites from the brand new May 2011 issue of Country Living ! How to spice up wooden nesting dolls Make matryoshka dolls do more than sit pretty by turning a pair into fetching salt and pepper shakers. With a pushpin, pierce four to six small pilot holes in the top of each doll (from $8.95 for three; arussiansouvenirshop.com ). Then, using a 1/16-inch bit, carefully drill through each pilot hole. Fill the bottom half of one doll with salt, the other with pepper. Tightly twist on each top-and set about dolling up your dining table. Country Living Put tea towels to work as a market tote. Adapted from Clare Youngs’s The Perfect Handmade Bag ($19.95; Cico), this cute carryall requires little more than a pair of small wooden spatulas and two tea towels ($15 each; motherlindas.com). Step One: Cut six strips of fabric from one towel. Two, measuring 3¾”W x 14¼”L each, will serve as the decorative horizontal bands at the top of the tote and should incorporate the towel’s graphics (as shown, left). The other four, measuring 3½”W x 8″L, will form tabs for the bag’s handles.Turn under the long sides of each strip and press a ¼” hem. Step Two: To make a tab,topstitch one of the long sides of a 3½”W x 8″L strip near the edge. Then fold it in half so that the short sides meet, and topstitch the other, now folded, long side, sewing through both layers of fabric. Repeat with the other 3½”W x 8″L strips. Step Three: Lay the second towel on a flat surface, right side up. Align the long side of one decorative 3¾”W x 14¼”L strip horizontally with a short end of the towel (as shown). Topstitch in place. Repeat on other short end. Step Four: Flip the towel right side down. To determine where to place the tabs, center a spatula atop one of the towel’s shorter ends, and use straight pins to mark the spatula’s width. Place a tab at each pinned point, slightly over-lapping the tabs with the top of the towel. Make sure that each tab’s closed side lines up with the pins and that the open sides face each other. Remove the pins, then topstitch both tabs in place. Repeat on the towel’s other short end. Step Five: Fold the towel in half, wrong sides together. Pin, then stitch the sides closed using a 3/8″ seam; backstitch at the tops for reinforcement. Insert spatulas into the tabs, then hand-sew closed to secure spatulas. All DIY Infothe whole article for more practically free crafts at Country Living . Country Living And for more Country Living on Shelterpop, check out: Garage to Garden Shed Country Living Celebrates What’s Country Now All DIY Info | All DIY Info | Linking Blogs | All DIY Info

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Free Crafts: Nesting Dolls and Tea Towels

Build a Natural Privacy Fence With Trees & Hedges

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:50:04 +0000

Filed under: seasonal , landscaping , outdoor , Outdoors Forget the picket fence: These all-natural options can get higher, look better and make your neighbors jealous (while hiding your backyard from them). Here’s how to make it happen in your yard. CascadeAndSTAN , Flickr One of my favorite springtime activities is doing the neighborhood garden walk to see what new and wonderful things people are doing with their yards. It’s a great way to gather new ideas for my own home and a bit of eye-candy that’s not too out of reach. Recently, I’ve noticed that people are choosing privacy hedges and privacy shrubs in addition to or instead of fences. Instead of knocking on doors and asking people how they got the look, I turned to J. Mark White, ASLA, president of DC-based GardenWise for his expert advice on privacy hedges and shrubs. While we often think of fences as the standard way to create privacy, they are not necessarily the best choice. Fences are an expensive solution and are restricted in height by local codes — typically six feet which often isn’t enough to achieve the desired privacy or shield your view of unsightly surroundings. White suggests strategically placed hedges, trees and shrubs to create a privacy screen. Your privacy hedge will look different depending on the amount of time you have, your climate, housing situation and preference, but there are options for everybody. If you have a few years to grow the privacy screen, White suggests going with bamboo — which also serves as a sound barrier. Running Bamboo is one of the fastest growers on earth, reaching heights of 25-30 feet in just a few years. But before you plant, beware: Running Bamboo is highly invasive, and it will take over your garden space if you don’t control the spAll DIY Infoof its roots. Mark suggests installing underground barriers 24-36″ deep to successfully prevent the roots from traveling away from your bamboo area; rolls of thick plastic for this purpose can be purchased at any garden center.” A stunning bamboo privacy fence. If you need something less invasive, choose Green Panda Bamboo . Green Panda is a clump form of bamboo and has slow spreading roots. Plus, the clumps are attractive and can be used as a focal point. If you live in a colder climate, Black Bamboo is a strong option. Native to Taiwan and China, it can withstand temperatures to -4F. The new canes emerge green and turn ebony black within two years. Say you just don’t have a few years to wait and need privacy, now. Maybe one morning you wake up to find the cute home next door is being leveled to make way for a much larger home and your six foot high fence might not provide the level of privacy it once did. In this case, you’ll want to keep your existing fence and add height above it. White suggests the Upright European Hornbeam , which is a stately tree with gray branches and trunk. It has glossy green foliage and produces interesting strings of yellow-brown fruits in fall. It’s also a tough plant that will tolerate urban conditions. Tall trees that are pruned high are also great for small spaces — and leave homeowners the option to plant under the tree, adding more visual interest. Some other small upright ornamental trees to consider for a tight situation: Okame Cherry and the Japanese Snowbell . The Okame Cherry is one of spring’s earliest flowering trees, producing gorgeous pink blossoms. The Japanese Snowbell has dark green foliage in summer and turns mildly yellow to red in fall. Flowers are white; less than an inch wide and bell-shaped with a mild fragrance. With three to six flowers on a stalk, they’re extremely beautiful. Corbis If you’re thinking even longer term, upright evergreens will serve you well. Some good choices include the Emerald Green Arborvitae . White tells us that “They belong to the cypress family, grow to 14 feet high and three to four feet wide, and can be easily pruned in spring — before the new growth appears — to fit your garden space.” The Emerald Green Arborvitae has an upright shape and it stays dark green year round. If you’re not worried about space, the Red-tipped Photinia will provide complete privacy. It is a broad leaf evergreen that flowers in the spring. If needed, this beautiful tree can be pruned in the spring after it flowers, to accommodate tighter situations. When I was growing up, we had holly growing all along the back fence. White says that this is a great choice for small spaces and can be kept pruned tightly as a more formal hedge. A well planned privacy fence also functions as the backdrop to the rest of your garden, adding color, texture and new scents to your outdoor space. White recommends that, space providing, you stagger the shrubs, using different heights for a more natural effect. He explains that this is also a good strategy in case a plant dies because it is less obvious. “The back row should have the tallest plants — that will create the screen. The middle row should have medium-height plants, such as a smaller deciduous shrubs like the Annabelle Hydrangea, which will offer texture contrast and offer summer color. The front row should be composed of your shortest plants and evergreen ground cover, such as variegated Liriope, which is grass-like and has the added feature of a late summer spiky lavender colored flower,” explains White. “Another striking effect I like is to use the purple coneflower and the Russian sage against the pendulous white blossoms of the hydrangea. Unity in an outside space is the best way to quickly provide a stimulating visual.” Feeling excited about getting your own privacy fence up? Tell us what you’re planning in theAll DIY Info! Or if you still have gardening on the brain, check out.. Apartment Gardening: Turn a Filing Cabinet Into a Planter Spring Gardening: Get Your Garden Ready Slow Gardening 101 All DIY Info | All DIY Info | Linking Blogs | All DIY Info

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Build a Natural Privacy Fence With Trees & Hedges