For our June/July Outdoor issue, we asked local professionals if composite decking is a classic or a craze. Have wood-alternative decks replaced the traditional stained wood? Here's what they had to say.

Classic
“It is my opinion that composite decking is both less expensive and more maintenance free than wood. Therefore, I imagine clients would prefer this option and it would be a classic.” Tom Manche, Tom Manche Interiors.

one: Tilt-a-wire mirror, available at Dau Neu.

two: 1-light pendant, The Wright Stuff collection, by Varaluz, available at Holt Lighting Depot.

three: Cricket brass folding lounge chair, by Brown Jordan, available at KDR Designer Showrooms.

four: Brandy side table, available at Savvy Surrounding Style.

Incorporating a natural element like stone into your home decor adds texture and earthiness. Not just for flooring or countertops, stone has made its way into furnishings and accessories.

one: Pacific opal earrings, from Santa Monica, available at The Porch by Nettie White.

two: Osaka Obelisk, available at Savvy Surrounding Style.

three: Brass ring with overlay, available at The Porch by Nettie White.

SLHL: What is the most common problem in older homes in terms of energy efficiency and comfort?
Marc: Most of our clients complain about drafts, rooms that don’t heat or cool properly and cold floors. Of course, people would also like to see their energy bills go down. We are also getting a lot more calls about indoor air quality and ways to make the house more comfortable for people with allergies or chemical sensitivities.

The butter doesn’t care that it’s interview time. Kaylen Wissinger is ready for our meeting, but the butter is the perfect temperature for kneading into the dough. So I sit at a cheerful wooden table in the sunlit bakery while Wissinger works the butter, and her magic, into bacon blue-cheese scones.

Clicking her ruby red slippers together, Dorothy declares, “There’s no place like home.” While the sentiments were simply a line in the classic film The "Wizard of Oz," the phrase couldn’t be truer. Home is where we go to escape after a long day at the office; a place we raise our families and celebrate holidays. Your home gives you a feeling of security and stability that you can’t find in many other places.