Know What You're Working With

 Consider your walls as one cohesive piece to decorate and remember proportions. “It’s just like when you’re looking at a floor and deciding what size rug to put on it,” Paulus explains. “With a huge wall, you want to create an area of interest that’s proportionally appropriate.” She also explains, “How much of this wall do we need to fill for it to feel the right scale?”

No Need To Cover Every Inch

Paulus warns that too much hinders the design of the space. She says that negative space can be very important to have. “I always tell people you don’t have to put something on every wall,” she says. “We don’t want things to fight.”

Embrace Layering

“People are always like, ‘I want my home to feel warm,’’’ Paulus notes. “Well, warmth comes from what you see, but also what you hear. So if we can soften the acoustics of the space through textiles—adding more rugs, bringing drapery up—we can lessen that echo and make it sound warmer.”

Consider Fewer, Bigger Pieces

“People think, ‘Oh, it’s bigger, I can put in more shelves,’” she says. “But they actually make it feel smaller. When you step away from it, it feels like you’re looking at shutters, instead of the massive built-in that it is.” She goes on to explain, “Less is more in this case, but it’s larger accessories,” she says. “You want big things instead of trinkets. Everything scales up.”

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360insights New Home Is Now New Orleans

 The global software firm, 360insights, is moving its U.S. headquarters to New Orleans. The firm, originally based out of Delaware, will add around fifty new jobs to the New Orleans job market. According to Louisiana Economic Development, the jobs will be added over the next two years and will have an average salary of $85,000.

The company is familiar with New Orleans as it already has an office on St. Charles Avenue. In fact, the found and CEO of the company moved to New Orleans a couple of years ago.

“We’re excited to continue to grow at a fast pace and we’ll looking forward to continuing that growth with the New Orleans community over the coming years,” Heather Margolis, 360insights senior vice president of marketing said.

“This announcement validates that our strategy of being a low-cost, high-culture destination for tech is working, and, with 360insights jobs averaging $85,000, that these companies are providing outstanding opportunities for our residents,” Michael Hecht, president and CEO of GNO Inc., said in a statement.

“Two years ago, my family and I relocated to New Orleans to be part of this amazing city and experience the culture-rich, diverse and service oriented community,” Atkins said in a statement. “The programs, support and incentives offered by Louisiana to help us grow our U.S.-based technology team made it a perfect fit for 360insights. We look forward to welcoming NOLA to the 360 team. We are on an unbelievable journey, and we are just getting started.”

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Five Things To Consider Before Building a Pool

 A swimming pool is a plus during those hot summer days, especially if you just have to go out your backdoor the enjoy. If you do have a pool or want to build a pool, make sure you have money, time and attention to maintain a pool. A swimming pool will add value to your home, but might be a selling point buyers just don’t want. If you want to take the plunge, consider these five factors before deciding.

A well-maintained pool can add value to a home

According to Zillow homes with a saltwater pool will sell for 1.5% more than a home without one and sell two days faster. In warmer climates, inground pools add more value to a home. An older pool that needs updates and repairs will have a negative impact on your home’s value.

Utilities and maintenance add to the cost of owning a pool

Not only can pool maintenance cost money but it can cost on time too. You cannot just fill your pool with water and then sit back and enjoy, a pool takes constant cleaning and chemical treatments. You can do it yourself or hire someone to maintain your pool. According to Thumbtack, it costs around $148 a month to hire pool maintenance.

Pools can be made more sustainable

Energy-efficient pool pumps and heaters are one great way to make your pool more sustainable. A solar-powered pool heater will heat a pool with only the sun as its energy source. Chemical-free pool treatments are another option that can help keep your pool lasting longer. If you are building a pool, use eco-friendly materials such as LED lights.

Pool safety requires vigilance

Pool safety is extremely important and it is your responsibility as the homeowner to keep it safe. Not only can a child drown but a pet can also drown in a pool. Many states around the country have laws in place that require homeowners to install a fence around their pool.

You can pay for a pool in several ways

There are a lot of ways to pay for a pool if you are in the market for one. This makes it a little less intimidating when trying to budget for a big purchase like a pool. Finance options include a cash-out refinance, a home equity loan, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a credit card.

Remember a pool might be worth it for some but not always the best option for others. If you are worried about resale value, check with a local realtor who can tell you the pluses and minuses of owning a home with a pool in your area.

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The Audubon Tennis Courts To Get a Makeover

 The Audubon Nature Institute and Tulane University will team up to renovate the Audubon Tennis Courts after coming up with a plan for close to two years. Another part of the deal is for Green Wave tennis teams to train and host their tournaments at the renovated courts. The Tulane tennis players will also move to the courts that are closer to the campus than City Park where they currently practice.

Tulane will pay for the renovations while Audubon will still operate and own the courts. There will be 12 new courts which include six hard courts and six clay courts. NCAA only allows college tournaments to be played on hard courts. There will also be new directional lights for night practices or matches, new restrooms, and new locker rooms.

“Partnering with Tulane would be beneficial for our avid tennis players as well as for Tulane tennis,” said Audubon Institute Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kyle Burks. “We believe this type of agreement can serve as a model of how communities and universities can work together.”

“Our primary focus has always been to operate the Audubon tennis facility as a top-notch public amenity and the potential partnership with Tulane was developed with that as our top priority,” Burks said. “We believe this type of agreement can serve as a model of how communities and universities can work together.”

There are those that oppose the project. “This will reduce public access to clay courts,” said Sandy Rosenthal, a community activist, who plays on the Audubon courts five times a week. “It’s a loss to the community.”

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A New Home For Brown Butter Restaurant

 A local favorite is the pimento cheeseburgers, smoked brisket, and crab mac and cheese at the well-known Brown Butter Southern Kitchen + Bar.  The restaurant which is currently located in Mid-City will close its doors temporarily. They hope to reopen in a new location as their current location will become a medical facility according to the restaurant's landlord.

 

“Needless to say, our hearts were broken, and we weren’t left with enough time to facilitate a smooth transition to another location,” he wrote.

 

Brown Butter opened its doors in 2015 and savors local Southern flavors with a Louisiana twist.  In fact, owner Simon Beck and chef Dayne Womax called it the "Bible Belt cuisine."  The full-service bard and cocktail establishment was always busy, especially for brunch.

 

“This definitely isn’t a goodbye, we’ll see y’all down the line somewhere,” wrote co-owner Simon Beck in a message to customers.

 

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Ways To Landscape a Grassless Yard

 Not every yard has grass, in fact, some yards sans grass have great curb appeal. If you have a yard that doesn’t have grass, you can still use innovative landscaping ideas. Here are some of these landscaping ideas from professionals in the industry,

Implement Artificial Turf

Let’s face it, grass is a lot of upkeep and there can be many benefits of having a yard without grass. A great nice green alternative is artificial turf which can look and feel almost like natural grass. This is the perfect low-maintenance yard which is great for reducing water usage and is eco-friendly in many other ways. Synthetic grass is not only weep-proof but also doesn’t attract any pests.

Grow Moss

Moss is a very pretty source of greenery. It is a great groundcover that saves not only water but time and fertilizer as well. Grass can go dormant during the cooler season, however, moss will stay green all year long. Most grass will not grow in the shade but moss will grow in the shade, and will grow in poor soil conditions. There are tons of varieties of moss so you have many choices to pick from.

Consider Other Groundcovers

Moss is not your only option, as there are other groundcovers that can be good substitutes for a grass lawn. These include Creeping thyme, Chamomile flowers and clover lawns which can grow great in soil. Remember that there are both tall growing and low growing ground covers, so you will need to choose which is best for you. Other factors to consider are your soil conditions and the amount of sun, shade and rainfall.

Plant a Native Flower Bed

This is a perfect eco-friendly option for your landscaping needs. Not only will this take the place of green grass, but a native plant garden will also add color to the landscaping. A good tip is to plant perennial beds so they will come back each year.

Use Gravel, Mulch & Bark Chippings

This is the perfect option for those who do not have to upkeep growing plants. Gravel, mulch, or bark are the perfect alternatives to create a beautifully landscaped yard. Gravel helps with keeping pests away and can withstand harsh climates. There is very little upkeep with gravel yards. Another great organic option is rubber mulch. This is made from recycled tires and holds up over time. If you go for pine chippings, use pine cedar or black walnut.

Install a Water Feature Or Build a Firepit

Water features are relaxing to listen to and pleasing to the eye. These can include a pond or a water fountain to name a couple. They add style and personalization to a grassless yard. A fire pit is another nice way to decorate your yard without using grass. Combining a fire pit with outdoor furniture, or nice green plants can make a perfect outdoor living area.

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A New Orleans Favorite – The Creole Tomato Festival

 

Fertile, alluvial (made from sand and/or earth left by rivers) soil south of New Orleans in St. Bernard and/or Plaquemines Parishes is what truly defines a Creole tomato in the Greater New Orleans area. The plants are grown and harvested all over the Southern Louisiana region, but true Creole tomatoes get their unique color, shape and flavor from the type of soil in which they are planted.

“It’s a more intense, stronger taste, and the flavor has more acid; to me, it kind of has an earthy taste that you don’t get from any other tomato,” says Ben Becnel Jr. is a sixth-generation farmer at the family-run Ben & Ben Becnel’s Farmstand in Belle Chasse.

Because of the semi-tropical, coastal, southern climes in Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes, Creole tomatoes can also grow and be picked from mid-April, all the way to the next January, weather permitting. This differentiates this unique tomato from others grown in the state as well.

These tomatoes were featured in the 37th Annual Creole Tomato Festival, held June 10th and 11th at the New Orleans French Market. Originally founded in 1986, the weekend’s festival included live music, artists,surrounding restaurants offering Creole tomato special dishes, kids’ activities and cooking demos.

Live music was held on 3 stages throughout the weekend, and fifteen vendors sold locally sourced tomatoes in culinary delights, such as fried green tomatoes, shrimp remoulade and seafood gazpacho. The French Market in New Orleans is the oldest open-air market in the United States, and the weekend’s events reflected that unique history and heritage.

 

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