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How Do You Want Your #SummerBackyard To Look

Outdoor areas are often the last to receive design attention, but they shouldn’t be: What surrounds your home is just as important as what's in it. Whether it's a manicured front lawn, stone paver pathway or intricate garden design, these spaces benefit from the same attention to detail as any bathroom or kitchen. Well-designed landscaping ideas can complement your home's architecture and  design, and the right plants, flowers and shrubbery can greatly enhance your curb appeal by adding color, texture and even fragrance to your yard.

Savor The #SimplePleasures

contemporary landscape by B. Jane Gardens

The birds are chirping, the bulbs are blooming and the air is inviting. How will you answer the call of the garden? Is there anything better than that first spring day when the weather finally feels warm enough to really spend time outdoors? Celebrate spring with a full day spent puttering in the garden, tending to chores, sprucing things up and pampering yourself a bit as well. (Fresh herb-infused cocktails in the garden, anyone?)

Southern California #WineCountry

For those who have experienced the Southern California trinity of stars (Hollywood), mouse (Disneyland) and beach (take your pick), there's a reason to return (grape). Wine country offers visitors a leisurely way to soak up the natural riches of Southern California. Wandering into one of the many tasting rooms of the area's wineries is like dropping by a friend's porch on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Most wineries have a dedicated room for tastings and a bar behind which a proprietor or employee dispenses vineyard lore and history with each pouring.

#InspirationalRooms

finished kid's bathroom remodel with brightly colored walls and cubbies This pint-sized bathroom was carved out of a previously unfinished attic. Compensate for the lack of natural light with touches of bright paint colors, big mirrors, and lots of white. Stay on a budget while incorporating this period charm. Grab your ideas from these 20 inspirational rooms!

Just Sold! 4407 Catlin Circle Unit D Carpinteria

4407 catlin circle carpinteria Sold Price $575,000

The Ralston Team just sold an expansive 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath end unit townhome on Catlin Circle. Impeccable condition with remodeled bathrooms and crown moldings. The new owners of this townhome will enjoy its recessed lighting, brand new carpet, private patio, and attached two car garage. Catlin Circle is located in a quiet, nicely kept, community.

#HarrisPoll, #BerkshireHathawayHomeServices #1RealEstate ‘brand equity’

BHHS_2_0_0 Warren Buffett’s brand-new real estate franchise brand, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, has the strongest brand equity of the real estate brands, according to a Harris Poll consumer survey.

The 2014 Harris Poll EquiTrend ranked brands in dozens of industries by how powerfully consumers connect with them based on a survey of more than 41,000 Americans over the age of 15 conducted between Jan. 3 and Jan. 31. The survey gauged consumers’ emotional connection to brands, their awareness and familiarity of them and the influence they may have on them.

Based upon a “pure ranking” of a sample of real estate brands, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices came out with the highest numerical “equity score” among real estate brands in the Harris Poll survey.

 

Find Your Celeb Style Twin

They're just like us! Whether you're into bohemian design or go for clean, modern lines, there's a star that shares your taste. Take a peek at their homes and personal spaces to find your style twin.

HGTV's Celebrities at Home peeked inside this open floor plan. With bright white walls and sleek surfaces, this multitalented star's home is the epitome of modern elegance.

Click here to see more & find your style twin!

#BackstagePasses at the #SantaBarbaraZoo

  • March 17, 2014 - May 31, 2014
  • Recurrence: Recurring daily
  • Times: 1:30-3:30PM (weekdays only) dates are subject to availability
  • Address: 500 Niños Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
  • Admission: Adults: $200, Children $75 (includes cost of admission and parking)
  • Phone: 805-962-5339 x 151
  • Visit Website
Ideal for kids, this is a fun and interactive, up-close and personal experience which allows guests ages five and up to work alongside an experienced zookeeper for 1½ hours as part of one of four Backstage Pass packages:
Barnyard:  Guests enter the barnyard and learn first-hand the ins and outs of caring for three heritage breeds that played a part in California ranching history: Guinea hogs, Navajo-Churro sheep, and San Clemente Island goats.
Feathered Friends:  Guests join the flock – and a bird keeper – to care for Humboldt penguins, Chilean flamingos and other feathered friends residing at different exhibits around the Zoo.
Eeeww!  This Backstage Pass goes deep into the bowels of the Eeeww! Exhibit to encounter reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates – each one with fascinating diets and needs. Perfect for lovers of creepy crawlers.
Small Mammals: Crested porcupines, Channel Island foxes, and slender-tailed meerkats are the focus on this popular package in which guests get up-close and personal with these charismatic creatures.
Minimum age is five, maximum group size is four. Admission and parking included. Offered weekdays. $200 for adults ($150 for Santa Barbara Zoo members); $75 for children aged 5 to 17. Minors must be accompanied by a paying parent/guardian.

Get Your #DreamCloset

traditional closet by transFORM | The Art of Custom Storage The most common type of bedroom closet is the wall closet, also called a reach-in. When you open the closet door or doors, the whole closet is accessible. Since the opening needs to be wide, there are several variations in doors. Sliders are common, as are bifold doors. You can also have a double door (two doors open outward into the room) as shown.

Do you cringe every time you open your closet door? It may be time for a makeover! Most of us have them and appreciate them, but many of us would rather that our closets … stay in the closet. But there is hope for disorganized, messy spaces. From premade closet organizing systems to custom configurations, there’s a solution that can work for you.

25 Ways To Create An #OutdoorOasis

Outdoor Living Room with Brown Wicker furniture and orange cushions and pillows Finished in a weekend or less, these fun, easy projects will help transform your backyard into a personal oasis.

Bring your home and your life outdoors by creating little living rooms on porches and patios. Arrange seating as you would in a family room to encourage gathering for good conversation and relaxation. Use comfortable cushions and pillows covered in outdoor fabric liberally, and your outdoor spaces will become the most popular rooms in, and outside, the house.