Archives: 2008 August

Through clever innovation melded with traditional and classic designs, Kathy Ireland has built a vast, multi-billion dollar enterprise specializing in home interior and garden designs. Recent additions to her collection include a line of French garden lighting which includes chandeliers, sconces, buffet lamps and floor lamps.

Of this set, the 21-inch wide French Garden Ceiling Light Fixture has proved to be one of the most popular pieces. Its golden oak finish and twinkling shower of glass beads make it perfect for both modern and older homes.

Wrought of crystal and hand-worked metal, and adorned with beaded shades of gold, the French Garden Beaded Chandelier is another of the beautiful and elegant pieces from this set. The shades emit a vibrant golden glow when lit, while the beaded crystals dazzle with a rainbow of colors.

The Amber Raindrops Grand Chandelier is yet another charming chandelier from this set, featuring clear and unassuming beads next to amber and ruby-hued crystals.

Sconces are a classic lighting source that dates back even further than the chandelier, and can add a touch of stateliness and elegance to any room or hallway. The Kathy Ireland French Carriage Wall Lamp is the perfect example of this, casting a soft white glow around its vicinity which can easily be coordinated with the color patterns of any room.

Geraniums, known technically as Pelargonium’s, are one of the most common flowering house plants grown in the country. While their stoutness may be in question, their beauty and ease of maintenance is not, making them perfect additions to a window garden or table centerpiece. They Begonias, Geraniums have come to be grown in a large variety of sizes, shapes and styles. In fact some can resemble trailing vines when fully grown, with others more accurately resembling bushes five to six feet in height.

The various Geranium strains have been broken down into four major classifications for easier identification, and we’ll look at those four major groups now.

First up is the Fancy Geranium, also known as The Show, or Lady Washington. The plants bloom with large, vivid flowers in the summertime, usually lasting throughout the summer months. They grow in a vast range of colors, with many of petals containing striking black dots in the center.

Next is the Fish Geranium, also known as The Zonal. This is the most common form of Geranium seen in households, and blooms for longer stretches than the Fancy Geranium, often lasting half a year from early spring until mid to late fall. This flower has a tendency to focus its growing efforts away from the flower, and can quickly grow out of hand if not cut back. These flowers are not quite as showy as the Fancy Geranium, but make up for it by blooming for a longer stretch of time.

Along with the great summer weather comes numerous outdoor jobs that have to be done. It takes a lot of work to keep your lawn and the outside of your house appearing perfect. Some things can be done seasonally, but many jobs need to be carried out on a weekly basis.

Your landscaping is one thing that needs constant care to look it’s best. If winter wasn’t good to your lawn, you can plant grass seed to cover bare patches. Fertilizing your lawn will replace nutrients in the soil that winter freezes have destroyed and encourage a thicker lawn.

Wood chips and plastic sheeting can be used in flower beds to eliminate the need to weed. It can also help the soil to retain moisture and reduce watering times. And, your trees, bushes and shrubs will need to be trimmed and pruned.

Your deck is an extra thing that the winter months aren’t usually too good for. The wood can appear faded and dried out and may need to be resealed with a good water proof sealant. Any crevices or cracks should be checked for foliage or dirt that can retain moisture and cause the decking to rot.

While solar lighting fixtures are practically maintenance free, they must be cleaned. Any solar panels must be wiped down to help them work at their best. And, you should remove the glass globes and clean them well to allow the light to shine through better.