You Said It: ‘What Will You Grow?’ and More Houzz Quotables

There’s no denying it: Even though a large part of the population was blanketed with more snow this week, we’re all making plans for spring. Whether you’re planning to grow edibles in a tight spot, prepping the landscape for safety or drawing the birds within view of your windows today, there was a featured ideabook for you this week. Also, with headline-making droughts occurring recently, there were two great articles about how to conserve water when gardening. I was struck as well by a stunning view in the Pacific Northwest, learned a new word and started to covet hammered metal. Finally, I’m stirring up the tub-or-no-tub controversy, always a divisive issue.

“In addition to doing a great service to the world’s drinking water supply by reducing your consumption, you may be able to reduce your water bills substantially with relatively little effort. Plus, you can lower your grocery bills by using that water to irrigate an edible garden.” — Mariana Pickering

Well, I’m sold on harvesting rainwater. But like many of you, I know it seems like a great idea to add rain barrels to my home, but I don’t know where to begin or how much it would cost me. Thankfully, Pickering has given us all of the nitty-gritty details, from what’s involved to the price. This ideabook earned a bookmark from me.

Full story: How to Harvest Rainwater for Your Garden
Great related ideabook: Grow a Beautiful Garden With Ecofriendly Greywater


“What do you grow?” — Marianne Lipanovich

So, you’ve got your rainwater plans ready. Which fresh backyard crops will you grow? This ideabook lists 10 plants that will help get you started on an edible plant-growing adventure.

Full story: 10 Easy Edibles for First-Time Gardeners


“User zsuzsikonyha showed us how even a wall can be good for growing food.” — Annie Thornton

This clever Houzzer has turned rain gutters into space-saving edible gardens for parsley and other herbs.

Full story: 14 Crazy Places to Grow Edibles


“Horizontal pieces with dial faces have hour lines that track the shadows cast by the gnomon.” — Charlotte Albers

I learned a new word. The “gnomon” is the part of the sundial that casts the shadow. Had you heard it before?

Full story: Is It Time for a Sundial in Your Garden?


“If you’re just starting out, go to the library and check out a variety of books about birds: field guides, children’s picture books and nonfiction titles. Allow your children to choose books for you to read together.” — Alison Hodgson

I remember doing this as a kid and loving it, and I think I need to do it again, as I can count all of the birds I can identify on my fingers.

Full story: A Quick-Start Guide to Bird-Watching for Fun and Learning


“The loud crunch of footsteps on gravel is enough of a deterrent for a burglar to search for another target.” — Julie Kim

This story was fascinating to me; for instance, I had no idea most home invasions happen between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. While I knew all about trimming shrubs and improving lighting, I never thought of crunchy gravel as a burglar deterrent.

Full story: How Landscaping Can Keep Burglars Away


“Whether the party you are throwing is kid centered or not, if kids will be present, it’s better for everyone if they are kept happily occupied.” — Laura Gaskill

This one quotation does not do the story justice; it’s jam-packed with great ideas for spring parties. However, this one underscores an important part, which to me is: Give the kids their own fun place to hang so they are happy and, more important, out of everyone’s hair. OK, that last comment came from someone without kids. I love kids, but I love grown-up time at parties too.

Full story: Spring Party Primer: 20 Ideas for Fabulous Fetes


“With all of its dimensional changes and divots, perhaps no other metal finish plays with light as dramatically as a hammered one.” — Karen Egly-Thompson

Oh, this story had me hankering for some hammered metal somewhere in the house, but I especially love the idea of it bouncing light around a room at night.

Full story: 7 Great Places for a Hammered Metal Finish


“The view is toward Vashon Island.” — Mitchell Parker

At first glance I thought this was one of those photos in which the TV was styled to be frozen on some gorgeous panoramic view. Nope, it’s the real deal. This renovated home makes the most of the views and respects the neighborhood context.

Full story: Houzz Tour: Major Changes Open Up a Seattle Waterfront Home


“So ask yourself if you really want that tub.” — Bud Dietrich

Not only is this a bookmark-worthy ideabook for anyone who ever plans to remodel a bathroom, but architect Bud Dietrich eloquently boils down the bathtub-for-resale issue. I have written a few ideabooks about homes where folks have opted to go tubless, because they never use one, and the Comments section has gone bananas with people admonishing them for ruining resale value. I think attitudes toward bathtubs are changing. I have friends who just put in a big garden tub only to find out their hot-water heater cannot keep up with it. If you’re not a soaker and you don’t have little ones to worry about, think about giving yourself a big, luxurious shower instead.

Full story: Bathroom Workbook: 12 Things to Consider for Your Remodel

Did something you read on Houzz this week resonate with you? Please share it in the Comments section.

URL: You Said It: ‘What Will You Grow?’ and More Houzz Quotables http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-23077.html