A Blissful Retreat

Is upgrading your bath to a freestanding tub a wise investment, or is it just a craze?

Edited by Maya Brenningmeyer

Classic

Plants have long been a source of inspiration for artists, representing everything from growth to beauty and strength of spirit. For artist Lauren Knight, her home garden is very much tied to her artwork. “I grow what I love, ranging from colors and textures to layers and even composition,” she says, explaining how she selects plants. While a hosta might offer bushy layers, an iris could produce a slender figure topped off with a pretty bloom.

 Island Homes: Casual Elegance in Design by Peter Vincent Architects, published by ORO Editions. Island Homes presents the beautiful yet unpretentious new homes, residential renovations and commercial buildings designed by Honolulu-based Peter Vincent Architects. A boutique firm founded in 1992, PVA specializes in custom-built architecture in a broad spectrum of styles and genres.

Easy Steps

Two of my favorite plants for easy care are hardy geraniums and sweet spire shrubs. Both grow just about anywhere and can handle different light exposure. Understanding how much light the area receives can be the trickiest part for beginner gardeners. Utilizing plants that can thrive in a variety of light exposure can help blunt that issue. At Sugar Creek Gardens, we offer free garden design consultations that are especially great for beginner gardeners.

Summer Solution

Steven and Andrea Rosenblum’s Clayton neighborhood is more than a collection of houses owned by very nice people. It’s a community, where people have each other’s garage access codes and pet-sit for one another. An area where the proverbial cups of sugar are passed across backyard fences as easily as friendly chit-chat.