Okay, I do admit to having some pool envy. Just the idea of stepping out your kitchen door… onto your patio… then SPLASH! Infinitely better than schlepping the kids to the local community pool or even the close-by neighborhood pool.
(Sure, it’s only a couple of blocks away, but you’re basically toting half a room’s worth of stuff—between snacks, toys, pool noodles, water pistols, rafts, etc.—when all is said and done!) When all of those “pool tools” actually live in the place where your pool lives… well, that’s a little cool blue slice of heaven right there.
If these pools have you saying “Pass the sunscreen, honey,” then check out our list of pool options here. You can also use this list to guide the decision-making process.
When you have that down, just click here to find a local pool professional in your area. Pretty soon the only thing you will be wishing for is a cabana boy!
I used to have a friend who said that when she was done cleaning her home, she felt like she had “purged her soul.”
Really? I guess I can somewhat understand that sentiment. If your house is a disaster and you go through blood, sweat and tears to get it clean, that process (and the end result) can be invigorating.
Here’s the rub, though: That process—even the very thought of it—can also be daunting. That’s why so many people procrastinate on large-scale cleaning jobs like spring cleaning until, well, summertime… even fall. Heck, until next spring!
You just gotta love spring for cleaning, though. After all, it’s a time for renewal. For cleansing.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com
For dust and pollen GALORE… 24/7.
Source: thegreenbacksgal.com
It’s about not only clearing the clutter, but cleaning on a deep level. So if you typically dust, mop, clean your kitchen and bathrooms and vacuum every week, you may take it up a notch in the spring and take care of some of these oft-neglected chores, such as:
Take a tooth brush to the grout in your bathroom tile (though this guy looks way too happy here…)
Source: ehow.com
Or a scrub brush to your baseboards…
Source: makingroomfor.blogspot.com
And while you’re at it, rent a carpet cleaning machine and give your carpeting a thorough soak…
Source: ctmaintenance.com
Scrub your stovetop grills and clean your oven…
Source: bellabeforeandafter.blogspot.com
And now that winter’s done, clean the soot out of your fireplace and chimney…
Source: decoradventures.com
Wipe down your walls…
Source: buzzle.com
And don’t forget your dryer vents…
Source: ductcleaningco.com
And how about a springtime duct cleaning, just to cap it off. (Yuck. Are you telling me that my air ducts look like the valley of the shadow of death, below??)
Source: abatement.com
Are you exhausted yet?
Okay, who am I kidding? Really? Who wants to (who CAN) do all of that? (I know, I know—there ARE some of you out there raising– waving– your hands right now. Just sit down. I’m not talking to you.)
My advice… wait for it…
Hire a pro. Some may do all of the above; others may do none of it (though I do believe there IS a price for just about anything.)
We talk about inspiration a lot here at Kudzu because our job is to provide a resource for both information and the best local service providers to help get your “inspired” home projects (both big and small) done.
Like the way the woman in this commercial was motivated to change the exterior or her home, all because of a pair of earrings…
But sometimes you have a project based on pure need, rather than inspiration. Take pest control, for example. Unless you want little critters crawling and flying and biting their way across your home, garden and loved ones, you need to take action. (Hint: Kudzu is all about helping you find the right pros for these kinds of tasks, too.)
Not all pests are bugs, in the true sense of the word… as in, “These things really bug me!” Some are truly valuable to our eco-system. And some, like these insects below, are truly beautiful… (Talk about inspiration!)
I have no idea what this guy is called, but he is gorgeous in the most eccentric way…
Source: http://www.designswan.com
This, of course, is your everyday ladybug…
Source: http://www.designswan.com
And something called a banded demoiselle…
Source: http://www.galleryofpix.com
And here’s what’s called (I kid you not) “yellow-winged darter”…
Source: http://www.galleryofpix.com
A scarce swallowtail…
Source: http://www.galleryofpix.com
And a couple of absolutely spectacular butterflies…
Source: Marcofolio.net
You can’t miss these colorful guys…
Source: Marcofolio.net
Source: Marcofolio.net
(The one above is actually a type of praying mantis. Amazing.)
Okay, getting back to reality. SOME pests really ARE pests, like the (ouch!) dreaded red ant, so common in the south. (Stay away from those anthills!)
Source: http://vinsonlab.tamu.edu/ants.htm
By the way, in case you need more reasons to detest fire ants, keep in mind that they both “bite” AND dig into flesh with their horny little feet. And apparently do so with great relish. Maybe a little mustard, too. (Sorry, couldn’t resist…)
Below is a gentler soul– the carpenter bee. Now keep in mind a carpenter bee isn’t really harmful to people, or to most of your home and garden. That is, until it decides it wants to burrow into your deck or other wooden structure around your home. In that case, you need to call a professional.
Source: http://www.bee-pollen-health.com/
Ugh. The dreaded fly. This reminds me of that old movie (appropriately titled “The Fly”). Those eyes. Those wings. The little voice yelling, “Hehhhlp me”! (Sorry, I digress…) What ARE flies, anyway? Annoying. Just plain annoying. ‘Nuff said.
Source: http://www.drmcbug.com
Even worse is the cockroach. In some areas of the south, “tree roaches” (which look exactly like their city-dwelling cousins) are also called palmetto bugs. And they are HUGE. Because I’ve lived in both big cities and the south, I can’t deal with either type. If they’re in my house, I want them gone.
Source: Robertspestcontrol.com
At last. We come to our summertime favorite, that loveliest of lovelies (insert dripping sarcasm right here)—the mosquito. Here in Atlanta, it will be prime-time mosquito season pretty soon. I actually saw my first mosquito of the season two weeks ago on a tennis court around dusk, and it was as big as a full-grown moth! (And I know many insects have tremendous value, but I can’t honestly think of anyone who thinks mosquitoes have any redeeming qualities whatsoever.)
Source: Modernpest.com
So many pests, so little time. There certainly is no shortage of not-so-pleasant bugs to contend with at this time of year. (Although in the eyes of their mothers, they’re all beautiful.)
Ah, tile. It’s not your momma’s cold, hard bath surface anymore. Tile has become one of the most versatile, beautiful, customizable—and useful– “accoutrements” for your home.
Tile as a flooring choice is fantastic– especially if you have kids or pets because it’s long-lasting and tough as nails. (Not to mention the fact that it can be great for hiding minor flaws and those annoying specks of dirt that crop up every minute of every day.)
Best of all, you can install designer tiles (hand-painted like the ones below or otherwise) and lay them out in a customized pattern to produce a floor or wall that transforms into a one-of-a-kind work of art.
Source: http://www.westsidearttiles.com
And tile can be used anywhere. Below is a great use of tile in a cozy little attic space…
Source: www.houzz.com
And tile can be made from hard materials, or soft… like the tile on the garage floor below…
Source: http://css2psd.com/
Glass tile can add brightness and sparkle to a kitchen backsplash…
Source: www.home-indoor.info
And can add depth above a countertop, and can create the look of stacked bricks…
Source: bhg.com
Source: bhg.com
A listello border can be added to either wall or floor tile, to break up a monotone (and potentially monotonous) color scheme…
Source: bhg.com
Of course, if flooring’s your thing, you just can’t beat tile (unless we’re talking hardwood, of course). Speaking of hardwood, the following is actually vinyl tile! (It’s defined as tile because of the way it’s installed.)
Source: alibaba.com
Another example of vinyl flooring—this one would be great for a playroom…
Source: materialicious.com
Here’s an example of concrete tile—the use of horizontal and vertical patterns can really add dimension to one room, or can be used to separate two rooms (or areas of one room) beautifully.
Source: concreteflooringss.com
And talk about beautiful, this Minton floor resides In the U.S. Capitol building…
Source: aoc.gov
Here’s a beautiful entryway that showcases stone tile so effectively…
Source: kcrock.com
Check out this stone tile—between the walls and the floor, it creates a ton of character in this home. And that custom medallion… priceless.
Source: elitewoodflooring.com
At last we come to ceramic tile… what many people think of first when they think “tile flooring.” (Great pattern and colors here, by the way, and it carries through all the way up the garden tub steps.)
Source: ceramic-tile.com
More ceramic for a patio floor and enclosure (note the custom inlaid designs on the walls)…
Source: jerusalempottery.biz
What a dramatic use of porcelain tile—this flooring really makes a statement!
Source: Myhomeandgarden.com
By the way, in case you didn’t know, porcelain is ceramic’s distant cousin. Both are made of clay, but porcelain is actually made from a more purified and refined clay. So it’s a lot more durable and dense.
A post on tile wouldn’t be complete without a shout-out to marble…
Source: homesandgardenjournal.com
Just keep in mind that marble does need a lot more maintenance than ceramic or porcelain. It needs to be sealed—not only after installation—but after most major cleanings to maintain its lustrous appearance. It’s also very porous and a lot more sensitive to temperature changes.
But, oh, it is gorgeous… especially when inlaid as a marble “rug” as shown here…
Source: designinteriorideas.com
Finally, just a quick peek at how tile can be used in all sorts of decorative ways, from table tops and chair backs…
Source: colorbakery.com
… to knick-knacks, bookends and wall hangings…
Source: colorbakery.com
A nice way to end this…
Source: smalltowndesigns.blogspot.com
I’ll have more on this popular option, in a future blog post. Next week, we’ll be all about bugs. Yes, you read that correctly… bugs. (It’s officially springtime, you know!)
In the meantime, if you’re looking for a reputable flooring contractor (for tile or otherwise), be sure to start by searching on Kudzu.
Ever look out on your yard around this time of year and think to yourself, “So much to do… so little time (not to mention money)…”? Like the friendly-looking couple seem to be doing in this TV commercial for Kudzu:
Scratch that. They actually look very happy throughout the spot and clearly spent a fortune on their outdoor renovation when all was said and done… adding that Japanese garden and bridge and who knows what else. So what was my point again?
Oh yeah. When it comes to your home’s outdoor space, a little inspiration really CAN go a long way. Inspiration can have you outside this weekend, adding an immense vegetable garden to your back yard (with or without its own dining space, as shown here, from House Beautiful):
Of course, sprucing up your outdoors could mean something a lot more elaborate—a project that will probably require a professionallandscaping service.
But you can save some money at the onset and start by sketching out a rough plan of what your “dream” landscape would look like. You can also download a set of free plans from sites like Better Homes and Gardens.
Obviously, your costs will be determined by how much land you have, whether or not you’re doing any hardscaping and what kind of plants and materials you use.
So what follows is a little landscape inspiration. Start with a BIG idea and then whittle it down from there, depending on your time and budget.
This country house, below, inspires me. (And I’m always in awe of how a great design can transform a patch of land– a small portion of the entire lot, really– along with some rocks and stones, plants and flowers into this kind of a lush and picture-perfect landscape!)…
Source: houseplansandmore.com
Here’s a city house with fantastic curb appeal…
Source: myohiolandscape.com
Next up: A house in the ‘burbs that uses LOTS of different types of shrubbery (and even some vines) to perfectly accent this Tudor)…
Source: HGTV.com
Of course, this post wouldn’t be complete without a shot of a postcard-ready home with the proverbial white picket fence…
Source: empirelandscaping.com
And I couldn’t resist sharing this absolutely gorgeous, jazzed-up entryway (LOVE the colors, the accent trees… ALL of it!)…
Source: lhdesignbuild.com
Here’s a great before-and-after (see inset for the before) from a landscaping company… Talk about curb appeal!
And take a look at a few retaining walls and borders– they not only serve a purpose, but also add dimension and depth to a landscape…
Source: klinelandscape.com
Source: louisvillelawncare.co
Source: allanblock.com
Source: davidsonlandscape.com
And the addition of a patio (with or without a built-in fireplace!), deck or outdoor water feature can create a true oasis in (or, rather, outside) of your home…
Source: ourbackyardoasis.com
Source: aboutpatiodesigns.com
Source: continuous-home-improvement-help.com
Source: vithouse.com
By the way, pricing can vary, but you can get a good idea of what your patio costs will be, here.
Source: http://www.poolandspa.com/page6186.htm
Source: http://www.lucaslagoons.com
Source: http://www.kennysia.com/
Source: http://bit.ly/Kgf7tn
Source: http://www.poolandspasinc.com/negative-edge-pool-portland/
Source: http://www.frogspoolservice.com/photo-gallery.php
Source: http://www.hitechpacific.com.au/Ultramax.html
Source: http://www.poolandspa.com/page6044.htm
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