Let’s Welcome The Season of Warm Weather With These 11 Elegant Ideas For A Dreamy Home Makeover

Let’s Welcome The Season of Warm Weather With These 11 Elegant Ideas For A Dreamy Home Makeover

A new time is a excellent option to give your dwelling a small update. If you want the inside of of your residence to come to feel fresh and shiny in the summertime to match the cheerful sunshine exterior, some easy but tasteful decor tips can make a enormous variation. Below are 10 decorating ideas to encourage a summer months home makeover.

1) Select a warm color for the walls

Heat shades can fill your rooms with light and make the space search larger sized. You will be pleasantly astonished at how nicely it fills the place. You can include negligible wood home furniture to develop balance. Accent decoration also gives a fantastic contrast. 

colour
color

2) A wallpaper mural

A wallpaper full with a scenic mural is a amazing way to makeover any space. Not only does a mural add drama and influence to a place – it really is also the most price tag-helpful way of getting a substantial-scale artwork for your wall.

Take into consideration edging your mural by producing a frame from attractive mouldings these kinds of as photo rails, which are low cost to purchase from hardware outlets and can be painted to mix in with the wall or picked out in a contrasting color.

mural
mural

             

3) Swap hefty curtains for sheers and layers

Most designers would concur that hefty curtains would be making their way out of our homes this 12 months in favour of lighter and brighter window coverings, and we all know there is nothing like daylight streaming into the residence on a spring morning to elevate the temper. Lighter, sheer fabrics are the vital to building a softer look substantial-excellent possibilities are obtainable in wool and linen. Silk is an additional good option and is somewhat decadent. If you truly need to block out the light, even just through the night, including a black out-blind can aid this when allowing for you to hold your mild and brilliant daytime seem.

4) Insert plants

Adding vegetation to your home is a excellent way to beautify without the need of litter. Indoor vegetation in home corners and cabinets can make your household glimpse fresher. Vegetation will add a traditional touch to your home, increase your home’s air quality, and make you sense shut to nature.

plants
crops

5) Elevate your old home furniture

Old and worn out household furniture hidden away or found in the auction room can be given a new lease of everyday living with a fresh coat of paint to go with your picked out color plan pastels, violet and navy are all building a comeback. If you are interested in anything a little much more fingers-on, you could even check out your hand at reupholstery. Earthy hues and worldwide prints are hot right now if you are a globetrotter, it can be the best time to begin accessorizing on your travels bright Indian prints or traditional Chinese florals are best.

6) Cushions make a big variation

Purchase a several plain cushions in a conventional dimensions, such as 40-by-40 cm, and dress them up with cushion handles to accommodate the year or the latest colour and style tendencies. Select animal prints, chevron styles or big floral styles to set the temper and carry the summer season year in. Swap them as usually as attainable to give your sofa or bed a new look.

cushions
cushions

7) Update your artwork

A new year is a wonderful time to update the artwork pieces all-around the dwelling. This can be done by switching the photos in the frames now hanging and picking images with a summer time search. You can also dangle different objects that remind you of travelling.

Switching the artwork, just like transferring your home furniture all around, will give your eyes something new and new to seem at and provide new electricity to the space.

8) Brand-new table location

Placing new, vivid flowers at your dining table’s centre will make a substantial change. You can also get a new established of dishes with a pop of colors as very well as new washable napkins with summer months patterns on them.

table
table

9) Commit in new rugs

Rugs can deliver a great deal to any place of your dwelling since they can make a area experience extra total, inviting, and totally decorated.

For your summer season household makeover, swap out outdated rugs and provide new rugs into spaces that never have any. You can make a rug work in pretty much any room as extensive as you coordinate the patterns and colours with other decors in the space.

Location a substantial rug in your living home, a comfy rug by your kitchen area sink, a water-resistant rug outdoors your bathtub, and a prolonged runner in your hallway.

10) Try out going white

In the course of the summer season, the days are considerably longer and brighter, which signifies we get a lot more normal gentle. This ought to be created the most of when it comes to the inside of your property. Inviting as a great deal all-natural mild into the area as attainable and working with white as a base color can assist this.

Attempt to preserve home furniture and vital items white or gentle stone, and then use wall art and subtle décor objects to increase a pop of color. This permits you to embrace summer’s all-natural brightness and lovely bold colors – the greatest of each worlds.

white
white

11) Shell out interest to the entrance

Past but not least, acquire a search at your front door. Summer time is commonly when we host far more dinner get-togethers, so welcome your friends starting up at the front door!

Get a new welcome mat, add potted fresh flowers by the entrance, and hang a summer time wreath. And, of class, this isn’t just for your guests! You will certainly be experiencing it each and every day, far too!

For additional on information and present affairs from around the earth, please visit Indiatimes Information.

Home Office Makeover: 3 Designers Step Up to the Challenge

Home Office Makeover: 3 Designers Step Up to the Challenge

He was also drawn to the creamy McGee & Co. Elton chair because it does not predictably expose four legs without the need of remaining a “fussy” chair. “I loved that it was playing off a vintage moment, the chair wraps you up in itself,” he continues. The cloudlike chair also operates with the lighter linen material of the Pottery Barn curtains that bestow just the right amount of texture with no going “glammy.” The Persian-influenced rug, also by McGee & Co., ties the walnut-coloured canned desk to the rest of the interiors. “I wanted you to have depth in the room,” he suggests. “I never want it to be matchy-matchy, but all the pieces require to be cousins of the identical spouse and children, they need to have a identical aesthetic.” 

By tuning into the all-natural earth without having getting extremely clear about it, Welch stepped it up in the add-ons division. In addition to the snake lamp, he introduced in things like the reptilian Stalk gold platter from CB2 (the suitable resolution for my mail). Jewel-toned Agate bookends from West Elm serve as the best eye-sweet for the developed-in book shelf. The Visual Convenience & Co. bubble chandelier, with ripples in the baubles, mitigates the daring blue on the walls. 

“Accessories are often crucial when you are designing the room,” Welch adds. “You want things that are surprising, no matter whether neutral or colourful, these objects should be believed provoking. You can design a gorgeous dwelling, but without having equipment it will tumble flat.”

My dwelling office makeover takeaway

Armed with inspiration galore, the area of my very own is ultimately using shape. McClain, Jane, and Welch all tapped into my aspirational style and design narrative: Bold, but grounded, hues to express a significant, qualified tone which is then subdued with playful facts like animal-themed add-ons. In this article is how I approach to recreate a variation of this skilled zootopia that is my property office.

Go daring on the walls

Hague Blue No. 30 Contemporary Emulsion paint, 1 gallon

Even though drawn to rich colours, I was anxious to paint the full office environment, but observing how equally McClain and Welch leaned into the dusty blue gives me self esteem. I am notably drawn to Farrow & Ball Hague Blue No. 30 as it has a lighter undertone and functions as a neutral, not one thing I experienced regarded as right before.

Enjoy with a whimsical rug

Iris Apfel Flutterby Multicolor Rug, 5×7

I loved how McClain place up the exotic animal menagerie wallpaper on the ceiling, but with a coved ceiling, I am a bit nervous for the Diy. Alternatively, the fantastic compromise: an insect menagerie rug from the new Iris Apfel selection for Ruggable that will take me a few minutes to roll out and deal with my considerably less-than-stellar ground. The border works splendidly with the Hauge Blue paint, the neutral qualifications carry in light, and I really like how the butterflies and the dragonflies include pops of coral to liven up the space. 

Embrace texture

Many thanks to Jane’s insight, I notice that bringing in a compact lounge chair for visitors can make the residence place of work much more relaxed. I am opting for a curvy 3-legged Everse chair with textured velvet upholstery to add visual curiosity and intertwine the browns in the rug with the walnut desk. 

Have pleasurable with equipment

Adding in metallic factors (with discussion-worthy structure) improves the office environment with just the ideal volume of glam and interest. The crocodilian platter will work as the excellent spot to store my cellular phone and mail, and the snake desk lamp can make me feel that its a design preference Cleopatra would make, must she require to decorate her desk.

Sprinkle in art

Citrus Grove Art Print, 11 x 14 with Custom made Antique Gold Frame

I fell in love with the navy Rifle Paper Co., Citrus Grove peel-and-stick wallpaper and required to paste it into the wall panels. But on 2nd though, it could possibly be as well much when paired with the Iris Apfel Flutterby rug. As an alternative, I am opting for a smaller dose of the pattern with this framed art print to remind me of my times in Florida. 

23 Modern Bedroom Ideas to Inspire a Makeover

23 Modern Bedroom Ideas to Inspire a Makeover
modern bedrooms

If your bedroom is in need of a refresh, consider a more modern look. Modern bedrooms feature clean lines and classic silhouettes, which lay a serene foundation for resting and recharging. It’s no secret that you can design your bedroom for better sleep. You’ll want to cover the basics first: Invest in a quality mattress and linens. Incorporate lighting in layers. Bring in calming scents. Opt for soothing-to-you colors.

Beyond the basics, when it comes to a bedroom’s composition and overall vibe, there are many ways to turn your space into a peaceful retreat. Decluttering and incorporating design elements that speak to you will help you decompress. Because the bedroom is also likely the most personal room in your whole home, you have a chance to really tap into your design preferences here. What does modern bedroom design mean to you? Maybe you’re creating a minimalist cocoon or something more mid-century sleek.

These 23 modern bedrooms, which range from coastal charmers to desert gems, all have standout ideas that you can recreate at home. Read on for bedrooms by some of our favorite designers who expertly balance modern spaces with classic comfort.

🏡Love looking at designer spaces for inspo? Us too. Let’s obsess over them together.

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1

Go for a Headboard and Nightstand Combo

Much of this Rupp Studio-designed bedroom is actually vintage, from the blush and gold chandelier to the pair of ceramic table lamps. But the custom Donald Judd-inspired headboard with built-in nightstands and the soft neutrals modernize the small space.

2

Color Block with Quilts

Turn vintage quilts into custom-made pillows to personalize a space in a fresh new way just like this serene room designed by Leah Ring of Another Human. Juno Peach by Benjamin Moore provides a peachy backdrop for the plexiglass butterfly artwork above the bed in this room that has cozy and colorful layers.

A mid-century staple, paper lanterns are beloved for their diffuse lighting and organic feel. If you’ve got vaulted ceilings like this sun-lit, all-white room designed by Leanne Ford Interiors, go big with a globe-shape pendant. Washi paper lighting pairs beautifully with other organic furnishings, like stone or wood side tables.

The paint color you choose for your bedroom has a major impact on the space, and cool bluish-greens like this moody teal just feel exceptionally modern. The Studio Shamshiri bedroom also features a custom built-in desk and subs in a stylish armchair for an ergonomic workhorse. Need some paint inspiration? Here are 10 bluish-green colors great for bedrooms.

5

Lighten Things Up with Lucite

Full transparency: We love a lucite accent piece to modernize small spaces, like the side table in this Kristin Fine-designed bedroom. The bedside lights by the headboard are a little touch of luxury, too.

6

Play with Large-Scale Pattern

Glass and steel are an uber-contemporary combo. Designer Kathleen McCormick softens the look in the bedroom with wool carpets and luxe layers on the bed, plus has some fun with coordinating large-scale polka dots and graphic stripes.

7

Give Geometric Motifs a Go

This sweet bedroom designed by Atelier ND provides quite the geometry lesson, with conversation heart colors showing up on the cubic nightstand, curved headboard, and neatly squared frame. The theme continues to the geometric printed curtains.

The sleek and modern platform bed keeps a low profile in this bedroom that designer Elaine Santos says does “enough architecturally that the furniture and the textiles could stay quiet.” If you’ve got soaring ceilings in your own bedroom, try a tiered chandelier like this one from Circa Lighting.

9

Keep It Neutral and Natural

This Fiona Lynch-designed space feels like an autumnal cocoon with its mocha brown walls and gold linen bedding. A jute rug adds the finishing touch (and a tad more texture).

The white linens and curtains allow other pieces to make a statement in this Tamsin Johnson Interiors, specifically the water view and the matching brass-based rattan lamps. The modern bust also elevates the space.

Tonal silvery-grays throughout the bedroom yield to the winter landscape outside the wall of windows of this slopeside A-Frame madeover by Sarah Richardson Design. The soothing monochromatic look comes together with custom fabric wrapping the headboard, contemporary sconces from Artemide, and a textural rug.

12

Embrace Organic Textures

From the custom blush headboard that feels like a tapestry to the rattan pendant anchoring the bedroom and the slatted window that opens like an easel, lovely organic textures fill this Japanese-inspired space from Kureck Jones. To duplicate in your own room, add flowers and a linen coverlet.

13

Mix and Match Graphic Prints

For a modern kid’s room, designer Hilary Matt knew the design called for a funky graphic print wallpaper. Pops of taxi yellow, skateboard art, and lamps that look like ear buds up the cool factor.

Serene and streamlined, this coastal bedroom from Studio Diaa is a minimalist’s muse. Interesting details make the cut, including a two-piece gallery wall, built-in bookshelf above the bed, hooks to hang robes on, and a full moon pendant light.

In this bedroom, designer Marina Hanisch mixed furniture, textiles, and wallcoverings with different types of stripes, adding visual interest. She simultaneously softened up the bedroom with oat colors, a plush rug, and a curvaceous pendant.

What you can’t see in this Melanie Millner-designed bedroom is that the TV recesses into the ceiling when it’s not in use, a trick often used by luxury hotels, but also a good idea for keeping a sanctuary feel in home bedrooms, too. Other modern touches in this room are the matching bedside tables and rotating wall sconces as well as the crisp white bedding that drapes to the floor.

When you’ve got a sun-drenched space like this happy Devin Kirk-designed bedroom, let the light in and allow your houseplants to thrive. As a bonus, houseplants can help you catch some ZZZ’s and purify the air, so bring on the Golden Pothos and ferns.

18

Frame Contemporary Photos

It’s probably been since college since you’ve had a poster hanging in your room; but how about framing art of an icon for a youthful feel? This Dash Snow photo above the writing desk gives the Studio OSKLO designed space a contemporary beat. The bedroom also features a French mid century lamp and a custom bed in flannel hue mohair.

Designer Kate Abt modernized a 110-year-old townhouse, sprucing up this guest bedroom with a cool white paint (Benjamin Moore’s Snowfall White). The space-saving floating walnut nighstands are spacious enough to hold an alarm clock and vase of flowers and don’t take up extra square footage like their bulkier alternatives.

20

Hang a Large-Scale Modern Mirror

Sarah Solis placed the large-scale mirror in the just-right spot for it to reflect a desert oasis in this earthy room with imperfect plaster walls and muted linens. Instead of propping the mirror on the floor, she allowed for a wooden bench to bridge the space and provide some extra storage.

21

Incorporate Walnut Wood

Capable of warming up a room in a snap, walnut wood is predicted to be big in 2023. From there, pile on the patterns like the pillows and coverlet on this platform bed in a Shamshiri Studio bedroom.

From the channel tufted bed frame to the low-slung chairs, curvy silhouettes give this bedroom a contemporary feel. If space allows, crank up the relaxation elements in a bedroom and create a seating area at the end of the bed like designer Hilary Matt did in this texture-rich, neutral space. The veining on the marble table in between the low-slung chairs adds to the polished look.

Canopy beds add an element of grandeur. But you don’t have to go out an buy an all-new bed to try out the look; just add drapery rods to the ceiling and tie back your flowing fabrics as demonstrated in this Ashby Studio bedroom.

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Inside a California Bedroom Makeover That’s Inspired by the Ocean

Inside a California Bedroom Makeover That’s Inspired by the Ocean

Taking on a comprehensive gut reno of your have house is pretty the feat. When the entrepreneurs of a 1952 bungalow in Redondo Beach, California, did just that, they gave it their all. “But when it arrived to their bed room, they have been worn out and succumbed to using present and outdated home furniture and calling it a working day,” claims Dee Murphy. So they tapped the designer to devise a retreat that mirrored the operate they experienced accomplished throughout the rest of the 4-bed room, 3-toilet household.

bedroom before

Zeke Ruelas

after bedroom

Zeke Ruelas

Tasked with generating a boutique lodge-stage suite, Murphy went with a “California beachy but elevated vibe” because the property is found close to the ocean. A McLaurin & Piercy wallpaper showcasing a fern print in a midnight blue coloration sets the tone for the space. “This majestic blue demonstrates light-weight otherwise all through the day, and relying on where you sit and exactly where the light hits,” Murphy states.

dee murphy bedroom

Zeke Ruelas

Murphy combined modern day pieces—a cover bed from Shoppe Amber Interiors and nightstands by Built Items—with classic accents, like the oil painting earlier mentioned the mattress, to give the place a refreshing nonetheless lived-in sense. “I definitely take pleasure in the tone-on-tone levels of blue you see in the wallpaper, classic rug, and nightstands,” she states. “It’s a trick I use when layering textures if I want to create an setting of tranquil.”

 

preview for Design School

The lounge space, with a vintage chaise sourced from Elsie Eco-friendly, was a leading ask for from the home-owner, who wished a zone for examining and watching Television. Murphy employed Seaworthy Woodwork to style white crafted-in bookcases with shelving lined with the exact same wallpaper that encompasses the relaxation of the place. The designer positioned the created-in across from the bed and lounge region to improve storage and develop more room for exhibiting decor and a Samsung Body Television set.

bedroom

Zeke Ruelas

bedroom

Zeke Ruelas

Now, the bedroom retreat demonstrates the relaxation of the home’s design—and it really is more useful.


Q&A

Property Attractive: Did you encounter any troubles or surprises in the course of the undertaking? How did you pivot?

Dee Murphy: Oh boy! A incredibly unforgettable hiccup was that when the bed arrived, the headboard and posts had been attached (created in extremely good print on the internet site), and we couldn’t get it up the staircase. We had to reorder the mattress, custom, to supply it in smaller parts, which included an extra 4 months to our timeline. I figured out that this experienced happened to a number of designers, so I did not feel fairly as bad, and thank goodness the shopper had a perception of humor about it.

HB: The place did the the greater part of the budget go?

DM: The the greater part of the budget went to the personalized created-ins and the bed.

HB: How did you save money, Diy, or get crafty?

DM: Essentially, we did not help save any money. The house owner truly needed to go all out and employed me for this home precisely!


You love lovely homes. So do we. Let’s obsess in excess of them alongside one another.


Abide by Household Beautiful on Instagram.

Headshot of Kelly Allen

Associate Editor

Kelly Allen is the present-day Affiliate Editor at Property Attractive, the place she addresses design and style, pop society, and vacation for digital and the print journal. She’s been with the crew for just about a few many years, attending business occasions and covering a variety of subjects. When she’s not viewing each individual new Tv clearly show and motion picture, she’s searching classic house retailers, admiring resort interiors, and wandering around New York City. She formerly labored for Delish and Cosmopolitan. Observe her on Instagram.

WaterSmart makeover: Welcoming a sense of whimsy

WaterSmart makeover: Welcoming a sense of whimsy

Cathy and Mike Godfrey’s most recent front yard landscape project was not their first rodeo. The couple, who bought their Carlsbad house in August 1997 and are empty nesters with two adult daughters, are avid gardeners and DIYers.

Twenty years ago, Cathy dug 40 holes to sink posts for the white picket fence that encircles their small front yard. They reduced the scale of the lawn (mostly to discourage neighborhood dogs being walked from pooping on their property) and, for a tropical look, added palms and decorative plants like red fountain grass, which Cathy said they regretted.

“It’s beautiful, but maintaining it is terrible. It spreads everywhere,” she said with a sigh.

Before, the Godfreys’ grass lawn was surrounded by tropical plantings that had been added two decades ago.

Before, the Godfreys’ grass lawn was surrounded by a white picket fence and tropical plantings that had been added two decades ago.

(Google Maps)

When the time came to refresh the yard again, the couple wanted to create a waterwise landscape to reduce maintenance yet still have an interesting curb appeal. But this time, the couple made the decision to hire professionals.

“I was like, ‘We’re too old. I can’t. I just can’t,’ ” she said. “I wanted somebody else’s input. I was on the NextDoor app one day and somebody posted that they use Claudia Kuepper with Gardenscapes by Claudia. I called her, but it was during COVID, so everyone was home wanting to do something new. She told us it would be six weeks before she could come, but we were in no hurry, and it gave us time to kill off the yard.”

The homework they did during that time, their collaboration with Kuepper, and the heavy lifting by the crew of DB Landscape earned them the 2022 WaterSmart Landscape Contest award for the Olivenhain Municipal Water District, for which they received a $250 check.

Grevillea plant in the waterwise front yard garden at at the Godfrey home.

A ‘Superb’ grevillea’s large, brushlike flower nestles among lacy leaves.

(Eduardo Contreras / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

The inspiration

Cathy, who recently retired from a career in human resources, and Mike, an electrical engineer, decided to create a theme of succulents and arid plants — the more Dr. Seusslike, the better, according to Cathy.

“I wanted a whimsical look that looked fun and interesting, not typical,” she explained. “I didn’t want just shrubs. We wanted a nice colorful variety in different textures.”

The couple also wanted to switch out their pop-up sprinklers for drip irrigation, create a path from the front of the house to the gate leading to their backyard, and install new lighting.

The details

Once the Godfreys decided they were committed to relandscaping and had secured their designer, they took to the streets, driving to neighborhoods similar to theirs to check out plants and designs they liked, photographing their finds, and sharing them with Kuepper.

“When she first came out, she had somebody who came with her who did all the measurements,” said Mike. “They then created a dimensional scale design. She then added all the notes with the specs of what she wanted for the landscaper to follow.

“We iterated with her a couple of times,” he added. “We had an initial meeting and then she went off to produce her first cut. I think we had some suggestions. We had continued to look out in the community for different plants we liked. So, she changed things, and added new plants.”

Blue chalkstick plant in a waterwise front yard garden.

Blue chalksticks, prized for their shape and unusual color, dot the landscape.

(Eduardo Contreras / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Cathy said Kuepper had suggested carving out a little patio in the front, but the couple vetoed that because they had what they felt was a perfect patio in their backyard. Kuepper also wanted to take down the picket fence, but the Godfreys were attached to that and feel it’s a useful boundary.

What they agreed on was that the centerpiece of the space would be a dry creek bed with river rock, punctuated with boulders. While the end of the bed leading to the street is lower than the ground, to help disperse rainwater to the plants in the garden, Mike pointed out that there’s actually a pre-existing drain that goes out under the curb that they tied into.

“We did this because we were getting flooded in the low part of the yard where it was accumulating water,” he explained.

The couple also installed new lighting and a path of quartz charcoal flagstones with crushed rock in between them that leads to the backyard. They pulled the sprinklers and installed a full drip system that waters the plants approximately every four days for about 10 minutes.

A cone bush plant in a waterwise front yard garden.

Bright-reddish bracts of a ‘Jester’ conebush add color and height.

(Eduardo Contreras / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

The Godfreys, whose home is east-facing, get full sun until late afternoon. Knowing that helped with their design theme of succulents and arid-type plants, most of which came from Briggs Nursery and Tree Co., in Vista. Their choices provide plenty of color, with succulents like kiwi aeonium, purple aeonium, variegated agave, and ‘Little Gem’ aloe, which produces coral-colored flowers. ‘Ripple Jade’ crassula with its rippled blue-green leaves offers a unique shape compared with other jades. Their ‘Jester’ conebush, with its bright reddish bracts, and ‘Superb’ grevillea, an evergreen shrub that produces long-lasting spiky clusters of coral flowers that attract hummingbirds, are planted near each other by the white picket fence.

A long-standing trio of huge palms was removed, and Kuepper grounded the garden instead with a ‘Dark Shadows’ tea tree. ‘Color Guard’ yucca, variegated snake plants and blue moor grass create spiky contrasts to the petite mounding aeoniums. She also strategically placed small boulders from KRC Rock Natural Stone & Boulder Supply in San Marcos to create mass and visual interest.

A side yard view with trees in a waterwise front yard.

In keeping with the Godfreys’ wish for Seusslike touches, three trees — a tree aloe, flanked by two giant yuccas — add spiky interest along the driveway.

(Eduardo Contreras/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

In the slice of garden space on the far side of the driveway, which also has a dry creek bed, are three trees: a tree aloe (Aloidendron barberae) and two giant yuccas (Yucca elephantipes). With their dramatic, sparsely branched trunks, they are the most Seusslike in their structure. A cape rush below offers spiky texture and height in contrast to the surrounding small succulents like blue chalksticks and elephant bush succulents, also known as elephant’s food.

The Godfreys dedicated a lot of time to their pot selections and found just the right ones at Green Thumb Nursery in San Marcos and Madd Potter in Encinitas. They took advantage of El Corazon Compost Facility’s program for Carlsbad residents, which gives compost away for free.

Elephant bush plant in a waterwise front yard garden.

Elephant bush, a succulent resembling jade, adds a pop of vivid green.

(Eduardo Contreras / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

“We were surprised at the need to re-mulch the yard within the year, but it was super easy and inexpensive,” Cathy said. “It’s easy to spread in the yard to give it a fresh appearance, too.”

For the Godfreys, low-water gardening is a mindset change.

“By going from a tropical-type garden to a desert-type garden, you really have to accept that the plants do not like a lot of water,” Cathy said. “It seems that you are ‘starving’ them of moisture, but that’s what makes them thrive.

“We love the low maintenance with the nice, clean curb appeal,” she added. “It’s been a year and we have made small plant changes when we see something that looks interesting, but nothing major. It’s fun to change plants out once in a while. And we’ve gotten a very positive reaction from all of our neighbors.”

A dry river bed in the waterwise front yard garden.

A purple aeonium (center) adds color by a dry creek bed of river rock that carries rainwater to surrounding plants. Water previously collected in the low-lying area.

(Eduardo Contreras / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Costs

$18,000 to $20,000, including hardscape, lighting, irrigation and labor. It was very close to the initial budget. Later, they received a $250 check from the Olivenhain Municipal Water District. They didn’t apply for a grass removal rebate because they felt the application process wasn’t worth the time and effort.

Water saved

It was a modest improvement from their previous $50 to $60 monthly bills.

Entry walkway through the waterwise front yard.

Cathy and Mike Godfrey’s front yard, once a flat, grassy expanse, now features plants of varied colors, textures and heights.

(Eduardo Contreras / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

A closer look: Cathy and Mike Godfrey

Plants used:
kiwi aeonium (Aeonium ‘Kiwi’)
purple aeonium (Aeonium ‘Plum Petals’)
variegated agave (Agave attenuata ‘Variegata’)
agave (Agave victoriae-reginae)
‘Little Gem’ aloe (Aloe rudikoppe)
aloe (Aloe var.)
Bunny Blue sedge (Carex laxiculmis ‘Hobb’)
small cape rush (Chondropetalum tectorum)
dracaena palm (Cordyline ‘Red Star’)
‘Ripple Jade’ crassula (Crassula ‘Ripple Jade’)
‘Superb’ grevillea (Grevillea ‘superb’)
‘Dark Shadows’ tea tree (Leptospermum ‘Dark Shadows’)
‘Jester’ conebush (Leucadendron ‘Jester’)
elephant bush (Portulacaria afra ‘Variegata’)
variegated snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata laureatii)
blue chalksticks (Senecio mandraliscae)
blue moor grass (Sesleria caerulea)
‘Color Guard’ yucca (Yucca flaccida ‘Color Guard’)

A dry creek bed of colored stones winds between a small cape rush plant and small succulents that include blue chalksticks.

On the far side of the driveway, a dry creek bed of colored stones winds in between a small cape rush plant and small succulents that include blue chalksticks.

(Eduardo Contreras / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Estimated costs: $18,000 to $20,000
Who did the work: Claudia Kuepper of Gardenscapes by Claudia created the plan. Dan Barton and crew from DB Landscape did the landscaping.
How long it took: One month, August 2021
Water savings: Modest improvement from previous bills of $50 to $60 a month
Advice:
• If you have the means, using a landscape designer is a good way to go, as they can help you see the potential of your yard and tie all the pieces together.
• Before starting your design, spend weekends traveling around similar neighborhoods with similar homes to see what others do, and take photos of what you like.
• Stick to your vision. Your landscape designer can be invaluable in developing your design and establishing your vision. But stick to your guns if they veer away from that.
• Propagate your plants as they grow, and don’t be afraid to move around plants that aren’t thriving to spaces where they would do better.

About the series
This is the second in an occasional series on winners of the annual WaterSmart Landscape Contest, conducted in partnership with the San Diego County Water Authority. To learn about entering the next contest, visit landscapecontest.com.

For details on classes and resources through the WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Program, visit landscapemakeover.watersmartsd.org. Landscape rebates are available through the Socal WaterSmart Turf Replacement Program at socalwatersmart.com.

Golden is a San Diego freelance writer and blogger.