What should I do with this blank space next to fireplace?
Charlene
4 years ago
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Bought a lot - what should I do next?
Comments (6)We're finishing up a house on heavily wooded land with a well and septic. We are in Minnesota and things may be different in NJ, but it would have been fine for us to clear land before getting a building permit. Weirdly, our builder might have gotten in trouble for clearing our land before getting the permit-- I think the logic is that as the owner, you can cut down your trees, but a licensed builder who is planning to build a house can't start the building process, including clearing the trees, before getting the permit. So, if you know where you want to put the house, odds are you can go ahead and start clearing. However, it might be good to at least talk to an architect first, so you know where you are likely to need to put the septic, or whatever, and you don't have to pay for the tree guys to come out again later. In our area, the septic has to be designed for the house and the septic plans are approved along with the rest of the house plans in the building permit process. If you were to install a septic system before finalizing your house plans, it could be either very limiting or something you have to pay to fix. Our septic went in before we were connected to electricity, and our well went in after, but I don't think it mattered either way. The pump for the well needs power to bring water into the house, but they don't need electric to dig either septic or well. I would recommend spending your time coming up with a plan with an architect, and possibly improving the land-- planting screening trees if necessary, clearing scrub and weeds, that kind of thing....See MoreWhat to do with blank wall space?
Comments (15)Are you saying the sofa extends across part of the doorway? If so, I woulds uggest you move the sofa to a solid wall wide or long enough to provide a backdrop for the sofa and place a smaller or narrower piece of surniture against the narrow wall. I believe the colorful artwork looks wonderful, and it seems to be the correct scale for the sofa....See MoreWhat do I do with space above fireplace? And below tv?
Comments (25)Not a Pro. I agree with above about the tv. Above the fireplace I would put a painting over the top of that alcove. From the pictures it looks like there is a ledge, so the art can be place over the top and it will appear that it is on a wall. The other alcove I would add shelves, or a sculpture, lighted up as suggested above. Some inspiration:...See MoreWhat should I do to my garden next?
Comments (10)harold100, thanks for your feedback - you're right, those bushes were hideous! When you suggest I move the taller plants and put in low plants, do you mean like sunflower tall, or anything over creeping phlox tall? I have a few low plants like some dwarf salvias, creeping jenny, and silver mound artemisia, but if I were moving all the tall plants from the road, I'd have to basically dig and amend another 60 foot bed closer to the house, and I'm not sure I'm ready for that much change, lol. I definitely plan to deal with the moss, but will probably hire someone to take care of it because I am afraid to get moisture under my shingles with a power washer, and I don't own a ladder that tall. I will try garden art to distract from the sign, thanks! I have this armillary sphere from the Philly flower show in my side garden - is that similar to what you were picturing? Ken, thanks so very much! I truly appreciate the encouragement - I am so often inspired by thinking about your responses on this forum to experiment and try things with my plants. For example, I was waffling over foxgloves and couldn't decide whether to winter sow, direct seed, buy small plants, or get larger plants and let them reseed - and then I remembered all the times you have advised someone to try them all and see what works, so I did, lol. I agree that "free" is one of my favorite garden words (right up there with "clearance" and "end of season sale") so I have enjoyed learning ways to make my plantings grow by saving seeds and dividing. I am on the corner of a cul-de-sac of three houses, but I have been careful to keep the sightlines clear, and have my daughter check in her shorter car, too. There is a drainage culvert that runs along the main street (which is to the right of the picture) that gives an extra 6 feet of view before you turn from the cul-de-sac to the street, so that helps, and I haven't planted anything along that side curve. I will try to keep building confidence in my garden decisions, but I'm sure I will kill those required plants along the way. Honestly, I have probably killed enough lupines to qualify there alone! lisanti07028, thank you for the compliment and the good advice! I definitely have to work on my spacing, although I want it close enough to flow together and choke out weeds. It's a tough balance between tightly planted and plants devouring each other! I look at my puny little first year ostrich ferns with their 6 fronds and think, oh, they're so small - but then I make myself look at the ones I planted last year that are arching over the caladium and merging with the oakleaf hydrangea and say, "patience, Jenn!" NHBabs, great advice! I didn't think about the idea of letting the front border be flat for winter, but bulking up the evergreen presence in the foundation area. That makes lots of sense, because it gives that pretty blanket of snow up to the green by the house look. And then spring brings it back to life. I did pick up a red twig dogwood which is near the lamp post, although currently hidden by dahlias and the summer perennials. I'm not sure what I want to do about the garage - I'm really not sure I can plant anything there. The arborists ground the stump of the huge cherry tree that used to be there, but the roots are still everywhere, and the soil is like concrete. The reason people tend to use it as a path is the overhang - my kids got used to using it as a shortcut to the car in the rain. Currently, there's an 8 foot mulch bed there, and I was kind of wondering about a narrow raised bed with paver stones or maybe a big huge planter with a trellis for a clematis (I have this sweet autumn clematis in a pot I haven't found a good spot for yet...) I am excited to research your specific plant suggestions for winter and early spring interest. I do have iris and crocus and scilla and snowdrops and hellebores, but they are all in the backyard. I take too many photos, so I will definitely go back and look through and see where seasonal interest is lacking. For example, it's much less interesting in very early spring... And in winter, there's basically nothing. Again, thanks all! Off to research plants with berries, evergreens, and flowering evergreen groundcovers. (There are flowering evergreen groundcovers?!?!)...See MoreCharlene
4 years ago
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