http://www2.allblues.org/aroundthehouse en-us http://www2.allblues.org/aroundthehouse N/A alfred@nwnet.us Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:36:54 PST 20 http://www2.allblues.org/aroundthehouse/articles/112/1/The-Silver-Lining With the help of Berg's Landscaping, a Kenmore couple overcomes a number of serious landscaping woes and transforms their back yard and garden into a work of art. Read on to find out more!  Cedar Burnett Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www2.allblues.org/aroundthehouse/articles/107/1/This-Kitchen-Has-Gone-to-the-Dogs%21 With the help of Conner Remodeling and Design, a couple remodels their kitchen to accommodate their puppies. Read on to find out how they make cohabitation more efficient (and beautiful). Cedar Burnett Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www2.allblues.org/aroundthehouse/articles/103/1/Accidental-Greening This month's feature article tells of one homeowner's plan to create a small, funky home that blended seamlessly with surrounding natural elements and - through intelligent design, a versatile floorplan, and reclaimed materials - "accidentally" became quite the green home. Cedar Burnett Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www2.allblues.org/aroundthehouse/articles/98/1/Synthetics-Aren%26%2339%3Bt-Always-Bad Did you know that synthetic lawns can save upwards of 18,000 gallons of water annually? Or that they're virtually maintenance-free? This month's feature article tells of how one Issaquah family who, having gotten fed up with trying to grow their grass in a muddy, inhospitable lawn, used synthetic grass to create a luxuriant, maintenance-free, eco-friendly place of leisure. Cedar Burnett Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www2.allblues.org/aroundthehouse/articles/94/1/If-These-Walls-Could-Talk Old houses are alive with history. Their very walls, it often seems, are imbued with tales of those who have called them home. One older, brick Tudor in Kirkland may have been practically screaming its tale when its owners decided to embark on a remodel in 2006. When the couple had purchased the home it had been configured as a duplex. They had rented the upstairs space for ten years while living on the ground level, but had decided they no longer wanted to continue in this arrangement. Knowing that the home had once been a single-family dwelling, they decided to convert the home back to its original layout. Cedar Burnett Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www2.allblues.org/aroundthehouse/articles/86/1/Capitol-Hill-Garage-Remodel There are many parallels between the terrains of Japan and the Pacific Northwest. Both landscapes are rain-soaked volcanic regions naturally suited to gardening. It is not surprising, then, that more and more Japanese style gardens are popping up in our neighbors' backyards between English gardens and other cultural fusion gardens. One such backyard belongs to a Capitol Hill couple who extended their love of Japanese aesthetics from their garden to the rest of their property. With an interest in Eastern design and a pressing need for a new garage, the couple called on Master Builders Association and Built Green® member Ventana Construction to marry the two desires. Cedar Burnett Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www2.allblues.org/aroundthehouse/articles/82/1/Allergy-Sensitive-Remodel From air particulates to wily dust mites, toxic cleaning materials to mold spores, the home is a hot bed for things that can make us sick. Would the average American spend 90 percent of their time indoors if they knew that indoor air pollution in our country can be up to 100 times worse than outdoor air quality? With this in mind, local remodeling company, Grif'N'Hook Construction, has made it their mission to alter the course of the air in the homes they remodel, both through their work and through educating the homeowners who benefit from their work. Cedar Burnett Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www2.allblues.org/aroundthehouse/articles/79/1/A-Great-Room-for-Your-Castle Throughout the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, castles reigned in Europe as the dwellings of choice for those of noble birth and affluent means.  One distinguishing characteristic made them domestically bearable despite the draughts, the darkness and the chamber pots. This characteristic was the Great Hall, or Great Room - a large, multipurpose space used for dining and entertaining.  Old is new again as the Great Hall finds itself making a comeback... Cedar Burnett Mon, 08 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PDT http://www2.allblues.org/aroundthehouse/articles/74/1/A-Yard-to-Live-In Pools can be great if you can afford one and you're a former high school swimmer looking to maintain your Piscean technique. One local couple, however, found they had neither the interest nor the drive to revamp their inherited pool. Thus, they decided the time had come to find a better use for their limited backyard space... Cedar Burnett Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PDT