Home and garden

Gardeners around Spokane already feel the pangs of anticipation, and no doubt, green-thumb daydreams and garden plans are in the works, but if you’re still deciding on what to plant, the city of Spokane Water Department has a few recommendations.

Flex spaces, those multiuse areas that bend and grow to accommodate the disparate and changing needs of a household, took off during the pandemic. We had to get creative about how we used space when we were home 24/7, making room for work, school, hobbies, fitness and, well, everything else. But they’re still very much a part of how we live now.

The past couple of weeks I’ve written about bulk materials to improve your soil. This week I want to tell you about the macro- and microcomponents or nutrients that might need to be added to your soil.

Today’s bathrooms are no longer just about function. They’re about mood, luxurious and innovative materials, and bold design.

I’ve shared in past columns how I’m helping my son finish off about 1,200 square feet of his basement. I’m saving him more than $100,000 in labor and profit costs he would have had to pay a contractor.

David Easterbrook is an unlikely influencer. The retiree has more than 1 million followers watching him water his plants on Instagram. Easterbrook doesn’t have your average backyard garden. The horticulturalist and former curator at the Montreal Botanical Garden is one of the world’s leading experts in bonsai.

Last week I talked about the practicalities of using animal manures as a soil amendment. This week I want to talk about a few other common soil amendments like compost, peat moss and coir fiber.

I’m about to share an incredible story about Jennifer’s new $20,000 septic tank that failed in the first year. You may not care about septic tanks, but this column may save you tens of thousands of dollars if you plan to build a new home, add a room to your home, install a new roof or sign a contract for any other major project.

As we begin our spring garden season, I want to share information over the next few columns on soil amendments. Soil amendments are materials added to soil to enhance its physical and chemical properties, improving texture, moisture retention, aeration and nutrient availability. We’ll start with manures.

Tell the truth. Are there days in the winter when your heating system can’t provide the heat you need to keep you comfortable? What about your AC system? Are there blistering hot summer days when you feel like a simmering sausage in a skillet?

The best-designed hotel rooms often come down to the details. Blackout shades, well-placed light switches and other thoughtful features can make all the difference. “If someone has anticipated these things, that’s the biggest gesture of hospitality you can offer,” said Jo Littlefair, who with her husband, Martin Goddard, runs Goddard Littlefair, a London- and Portugal-based interior design firm that’s worked on projects like the Mandarin Oriental in Vienna and the Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland.

I still can’t read the weather gods well enough to predict what our weather is going to be for the next few weeks, but we are close to planting time. There is a lot of interest in adding fruit trees to backyards. You can’t beat picking a dead ripe plum, cherry or peach? Here are a few things to think about.

A major home renovation can be hard on a relationship. The process includes such classic argument starters as ever-expanding timelines and budgets, choosing from a vast assortment of colors and materials, agreeing on a general vision and aesthetic and the awkward dance of managing a team of strangers making a mess of your primary bathroom.

This column is all about misplaced hope. You can lose thousands of dollars, or even tens of thousands of dollars, if you make this mistake.

Black has become one of the hottest and most used colors in architecture and interior design. From the exterior of a building to tile, cabinetry and fixtures, black remains one of the most fashion-forward finishes. Here are some tips to make black a part of your decor: 1. Use black as an anchor and key foundation color. Black works to not only ground a space but also to add a sense of elegance ...

As you start planning your garden beds this year, make sure you include a good assortment of native plants that support our native pollinators in your plans. Native plants have evolved with our native insects over time, creating a balanced habitat that provides shelter, food, water and breeding space. Gardens planted with native plants attract and keep larger populations of pollinators than a garden full of conventional plants.

When Christine Speare, 36, ended her five-year relationship this past March, she moved out of the New York City apartment she and her ex-boyfriend had shared. One month later, she relocated to a studio apartment in the same building and began working on its decor.

As working from home continues to evolve, so does the design of the home office. Today’s most successful workspaces balance comfort, flexibility and visual beauty. Home offices for many are an extension or replacement for the traditional office. Unlike years past, the move is away from rigid, uncomfortable spaces to spaces that are flexible and comfortable. Considering integrating a home ...