A stylish shed – all your own
10 design tips for creating the backyard shed of your dreams.
By Debra Prinzing | Photography by William Wright
Do you dream about a place of escape? In merely one-hundred-square feet or so, you can design and create a private garden retreat, a tranquil space to pursue your heart’s desire.
Working with Seattle photographer William Wright to create Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways, I have visited close to 100 sheds occupying city gardens, suburban backyards, and quiet country fields. Each of these highly personal destinations provided design inspiration, revealing many possibilities for creating a tiny building with big impact. There are infinite ideas to explore, depending upon your space and ambition. Here are my top design tips:
1. Check local building codes for zoning guidelines. Sheds usually categorized as an “accessory building” or “temporary building.” There may be a maximum size (often 100- to 200- square feet) under which you can build a backyard shed without a permit. Adding electricity, water or other utilities will likely require a building permit. And be sure to ask how close to the property line or main residence you are allowed to build.
2. Identify the activities that draw you outdoors: Are you creating art, making music, writing poetry, growing flowers, playing with children, stargazing, entertaining friends, or meditating? Virtually any personal passion can find a home in a small, but distinct garden shed.
3. Consider the shed’s architectural role in the landscape. Is it a design focal point or intentionally hidden from view? Will its outer walls support vines and climbing roses? Or will the shed be a backdrop for displaying flowerpots, artwork or sculpture? Will it camouflage an unsightly view? Is it for pure function or pure folly – or a little bit of both? Continue reading »
WORK-AT-HOME MOMS: GET SCAM-FREE JOBS!
Just what you’ve always wanted: the chance to work at home and still be part of your children’s lives. Let’s face it. We all want that life. Millions of mothers are trying to get jobs from home, and the most likely place for them to look is on the internet.
Once again, the internet scams. 6 million moms have reported being scammed trying to work from home this past year. What is unique about these scams now is that they often come from individuals who are posing as legitimate and familiar “name brand” companies.
WORK AT HOME BUSINESSES
The key with Work at Home Businesses is holding on to your money. As crazy as it sounds, don’t fall prey to any business that asks you to pay for books or manuals.
You may want to consider www.globalresponse.com for excellent at-home job opportunities.
Other options:
TUTOR STUDENTS ONLINE
Parents don’t have a lot of homework time. Help out by offering online tutoring, for $10-15/hour. Tutor.com.
Good:
For parents: they have discounts or freebies, like the first 20 minutes for only $1, or a free TI calculator when you join their services. You get qualified tutors in every subject.
For tutors: Many benefits, like health insurance and life insurance—that is huge, paid holiday time, even gym membership reimbursement!, free online tutoring for your own family—having a study buddy is a great luxury these days. Looking for bi-lingual people.
Good job, as the hours are typically after school, into the evening.
Bad:
Full-time is only $30 hours/week, looking more for advanced subject tutors, and pay is not great; $10-15/hour, but looking for a very skilled tutor. Watch out: Must pay for videos you need to get started. Wait-list common until you get slotted for a position, especially in this economy.
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Episode Title: A Non-Financial Person’s Current Economic Perspective
EPISODE DESCRIPTION:
October hit us like a storm. With the sudden stock market crash, inflation rising and fears about our future and whether or not we could whether this storm, we have been left hanging on, not knowing who to turn to or whom we could trust with our future. Most of us believe that those working with the government to fix the economy may not have the answers or even understand the full scope of the nation’s economic crisis. In this show, joining me will be astrologers and a well-known psychiatrist offering an alternative perspective about the economy, how we got into this global mess, and how we can turn the corner. Please join me for an entertaining hour.
THE GUESTS:
John Douglas is a Master Spiritual Healer, clairvoyant and telepathic, and is in contact with Master Angelic Beings. At the age of nine, John received a complete clairvoyant activation, allowing full vision of the energetic or spiritual dimension. John claims to be able to measure and identify various energetic frequencies within the body or spiritual realms. These remarkable tools have allowed John to practice extraordinary spiritual healing, or “spirit repair” , encompassing various precise techniques and processes that create positive change, healing and evolution in humans on many levels.The “secret healer” has been quietly evolving and refining with the help and love of his beloved Masters and is now considered at the cutting edge of spiritual healing evolution by many admirers. Many lives have been changed and touched by the love and devotion John expresses to people, the earth and his mission. www.spirit-repair.com.
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THE LATEST CHANGES IN ONLINE SHOPPING ARE UPON US!
The National Retail Federation’s (NRF) website Shop.org has compiled a fascinating list of how shopping online will change this year through “The State of Retailing Online 2008: Marketing Report”. You need to know how companies will try to sell you more. Social marketing is on the rise, repeat customers will benefit from shipping deals and e-store discounts. Internet shopping is not carefully regulated so you’ve got to avoid being harassed by these e-stores, and know how to successfully shop online.
SHOP SMART ONLINE AND KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GETTING YOURSELF INTO!
- Paid search and email marketing surging—most popular marketing avenues for online retailers
- Though most companies are unsure about the effectiveness of social marketing they are diving into it
- Catalogs are the next biggest expenditures this year after email lists
- From 2007-2008, online shopping grew from $175 billion to $204 billion, despite bad economic conditions
- Fastest growing sector of online sales come from computer-related purchases
- Apparel sales up $3.9 billion this year/figure likely to rise at a rapid pace Continue reading »
As Featured in The Arizona Republic
Most Americans will pay down their debt. Some will sock it away for a rainy day.
But about 24 percent will use their tax refunds this year to buy something pricey, such as a big-screen TV, car or vacation, the National Retail Federation reports.
Of course, financial planners wince about taxpayers getting refunds at all.
“I’m a firm believer that we should not be allowing the government to borrow our money throughout the tax year, interest-free, by ‘giving us’ a big tax refund at the end of the year,” said Victor Encinas, a Phoenix financial coach. “If we have the money throughout the year, we can build an emergency fund, strengthen our budget or save more for retirement or education.”
This isn’t news to Eldon Stetson, 36, of Glendale. If he and his wife “were doing our homework like we should be, we’d try to balance things out that way.”
Life happens, though, and soon another year has passed and the formula for owing nothing and receiving nothing on taxes hasn’t been worked out. So this year, Stetson is putting a portion of his tax refund toward a $2,500 mountain bike.
Like Stetson, 70 percent of Americans will receive tax-refund checks – and marketers will try to get them to part with them. The average tax refund is $2,150, the IRS reports.
Encinas suggests that people negotiate all major purchases.
“When you have ‘cash power’ mixed with ‘walk-away power,’ you become a force for retailers to reckon with,” he explained.
If you plan to make a major purchase with your tax refund, here’s some advice on making the most of your money:
AIRPLANE TICKETS
- Consider calling travel agents to book flights. They often have access to consolidator fares, involving tickets bought in bulk at a discount. “Even with a seller’s mark-up, the cost of the ticket may be cheaper than you can find online,” said Chris Elliott, National Geographic Traveler’s ombudsman.
- Take advantage of Internet airfare-and-hotel packages, which can be cheaper than if you book those items separately.
- The best savings for buying and traveling in the same week is the first week of January, Elliot says. Some other weeks also offer discounted airfares: the week after Thanksgiving, to anywhere in the United States; the week of Thanksgiving, to Europe; and the two weeks after Labor Day – when most people have gone back to work or school – to anywhere in the United States.
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As featured in Money Magazine
Catalogues and giant anchor tenants in malls dominate the housewares industry, but while their purchasing power can mean lower prices on some items, most national retailers are locked into a rigid pricing structure, which means no haggling.
For independent retailers, however, haggling is not only permitted, it’s expected (figure on dropping the price by 15 percent to 20 percent).
Regardless of where you shop, remember that the only true judge of quality is you. It doesn’t make any difference if some salesperson regales you with tales of this cotton’s provenance or that sofa’s coil count – only your hand and keister can really tell.
GETTING THE BEST DEAL ON A COUCH
The industry’s pitch Designer-name couch for $699! Marked down from $1,299! All prices are final!
Rebuttal Like clothing designers, furniture designers make different lines for different stores. So the couch you see at a discount store might look just like the posh store’s model, but the company took construction shortcuts to keep the price down. (Think outlet vs. retail stores.)
Also, about 85% of local stores will give you a discount if you ask (request 20% off), so don’t be shy.
And in the end, nothing is as important as how a couch feels.
The Verdict: Sit on the couch. For a while. If it’s a sleeper, fold it out and have a lie-down. Make sure the springs are made of eight-way hand-tied coils for long-lasting support. Look for a kiln-dried hardwood frame (not steel) for durability.
Less assembly is good too – the more pieces there are, the more likely it is that things will jiggle over time.
A good retailer to start with? Ethan Allen, says Jennifer Litwin, author of “Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever!.” “Their sales staff is great and their furniture is well-made.”
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As featured in The Arizona Republic
Next to our homes and cars, furniture likely is the most expensive purchase we’ll make.
And just like with home- and car-buying, it’s best to make informed decisions when purchasing sofas, chairs, chests and dining tables.
What should you look for? Comfort, style and function top the majority of most people’s wish lists, according to the American Home Furnishings Alliance, a trade association based in High Point, N.C.
Quality construction is equally as important, says Jennifer Litwin, a consumer advocate who writes furniture reviews for Consumers Digest. Litwin, whose Web site is jenniferlitwin.com, recently published Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever! (House of Collectibles, 2005, $14.95).
Also important:
- Written warranties.
- Free or reasonably priced furniture assembly.
- Shipping that is free or minimal in cost.
- Salespeople who know their merchandise.
- Price. Buy the best quality piece that you can afford, advises Jackie Hirschhaut, the alliance’s vice president.
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As featured in the Chicago Tribune
Such a simple and utilitarian item, a bookcase. Why, then, is it so challenging to find the perfect one? House & Homes Assistant Editor Cindy Dampier has been searching for months on end for a bookcase to put in her 2-year-old son Thomas’s room.
She’d like a vintage version but is finding that age often equals unsafe. Sometimes other types of furniture, such as stacked benches or bureau drawers, can make tempting bookcases, but it’s hard to know whether they’ll work. With this challenge in mind, we approached two local furniture experts for a good read on what makes the best bookcase.
- Make it strong. Whether you’re buying a traditional bookcase or employing a re-purposed piece of furniture, “the No. 1 most important thing when it comes to a bookcase is strength,” says Jennifer Litwin, author of two books on buying furniture. Generally, dark woods are stronger than lighter woods, and medium-density fiberboard is good. Plywood and particleboard, not so much. To avoid that awful bowing that happens when shelves sag under books’ weight, stick to bookcases with shelves of no less than 1 inch thickness.
When Chicago carpenter Josh Hines is making bookcases, he prefers metal versus plastic hardware for the sturdiest construction possible. He gauges much of a bookcase’s strength by simply feeling it with his hands. “You can feel quality,” he says. “Sturdy hinges that don’t wobble, sturdy slides for drawers, weighty shelves.” Continue reading »
As featured in the Los Angles Daily News
Inside out.
That’s the theme in outdoor furniture this season, as designers borrow what’s fresh and fun from interior design and put it on the patio.
And outdoor rooms aren’t just for dining and entertaining anymore. This summer, the focus is on relaxing in sumptuous comfort. Still, it’s not all about indulgence. There’s also an emphasis on sturdier, and more eco-friendly, materials.
And worshipping the sun? That’s so George Hamilton. Instead, be on the lookout for innovative awnings and umbrellas that stylishly block out the glare.
Here’s a more detailed look at what’s new under the sun:
MODERN LOVE
The mid-century modern look is moving out – to the backyard. And there’s nothing subtle about this trend. “We’re seeing great, molded heavy plastic furniture that you can keep out year-round,” says Chicago-based home furnishings consumer expert Jennifer Litwin. “It’s strong and sturdy, and it comes in a lot of funky colors. It’s like planting a beautiful flower in your yard.”
SWEET SANCTUARY
The concept of the outdoor room has expanded from living to lounging. It’s bedding in the backyard, with an emphasis on comfier yet still weather-resistant materials. Among the hot items? Tandem chaise lounges.
“We sell more double lounges than single,” says Brendan Barry, owner of Barong Furniture and accessories in West Hollywood, whose outdoor furniture offerings are primarily teak and iron. What does this say about the L.A. lifestyle? “Let’s just say people like to cuddle,” he says with a laugh.
Continue reading »
As Featured in the Dallas News
By Marni Jameson
If there were laws against furniture abuse, I’d be in jail. All winter long, I leave my patio furniture outside, uncovered, to endure freezing temps, hammering rain, hide-peeling sun and berry-eating bird assaults. Meanwhile I stay warm, dry and sun-protected inside. Then, about this time of year, I expect my outdoor furniture and me to pick up where we left off.
Turns out I have some making up to do.
The cushions take the worst beating – and not all due to laziness, though that’s partly to blame. The main reason my cushions languish outside all year is because the time is never right to bring them in. When it’s nice out, I don’t want to bring them in because it’s nice out. I might want to sit outside.
When it’s crummy out, I don’t want to bring them in because it’s crummy out. I don’t want to be outside.
When the skies clear, the cushions are wet or snow-covered, and I don’t want to bring them in until they dry. So I wait until it’s nice again. The cycle continues until we’re back to warm weather.
So when I heard that outdoor-furniture makers had started making furniture and fabrics that could withstand this abuse, I got even more excited than I did when Starbucks got drive-through. I felt vindicated.
“Gone are the days of slip-covering outdoor furniture at the end of the season,” said Jennifer Litwin, a Sotheby-trained furniture expert and author of Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever! (House of Collectibles, $14.95), who was singing my song.
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