Make Your Front Yard More Appealing Yet Private

 You want to show off your lawn, but you also want privacy when you are enjoying it. A great way to do this is by using natural landscaping along your wall or fence. Here are some ways to enhance your privacy and curb appeal at the same time.

1. Install Light and Airy Decorative Screens

A decorative screen is a nice way to add some privacy without saying keep out to everyone. Strategically placing decorative screens is a common tool used to make your front yard a bit more private. A lattice-style wall is both private yet lets light pass through and does not entirely close off a space. Using a lattice-style wall will allow you to add decorative designs, hang things up or run a vine through the wall.

“Decorative screens are a gem. When positioned right, screens can give you much-needed seclusion. The trick isn’t just about hiding away. Instead it’s about creating privacy stylishly without losing the essence of your space,” explains Brian Pal, CEO of Green Pal.

2. Combine Lush Planting with an Ornamental Gate

Iron gates are a nice touch to any front yard. They are welcoming and look great, especially for a Spanish look. Tropical plants are another way to create a private setting in your front yard. These lush green plants help you feel like you are in a tropical oasis.

“Plant fast growing shrubs (like hydrangeas or weigela) either in the ground or in pots that you can move around. This can help block prying eyes while maintaining the natural appeal of your yard, plus it means you can place them strategically,” says Miguel Camperos with SunVara.

3. Choose Evergreen Hedging for Year Round Screening

Evergreen hedges are a great way to create a private setting. You can decide the height that you want. These are fast growing and include Italian cypress, arborvitae or privet.

“Evergreens are my personal favorites too. They’ve got your back throughout the year. If you’re leaning towards hedges, boxwood or privet can be your green guardians, and they’re super moldable as well,” says Clayton.

4. Put Up a Wire Fence and Grow a Pretty Vine Over It

A tall link fence is a perfect way to create some privacy and enjoy nature. All you have to do is install a tall link fence and intwine a vine through it to cover the fence for privacy. This way the fence will look like it is a part of your natural landscaping.

“Vines are one the best plants to cover a fence as they provide a lot of coverage, can grow quickly, and will provide blooms that attract birds and butterflies. Cross-vine is part of the trumpet creeper family, and a super star for being fast growing and giving great coverage, plus it’s super hardy too,” says Amy Hovis of Eden Design and Barton Springs Nursery.

5. Pair a Smart Hedge with a Picket Fence

Having both is a great idea! If you are adding a hedge to outline your front yard, then pair it with a nice picket fence. Make sure you read up on how big the plant that you choose gets.

“Native plants are useful, if possible, and ‘adapted’ plants offer an alternative option. Use something that has proven successful in your area and utilize local nurseries who can help with selecting plants that need minimum care and are adapted to your soil, climate and watering frequency,” says Mike Teal with SSC Services for Education.

These are some great ideas to make your front yard look natural and welcoming with a little privacy. Call in the experts if you are having a hard time with what works best with your home. Remember, there are plenty of creative solutions to enhance front yard privacy landscaping.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

Bucktown's Waterfront Project

 Bucktown’s waterfront will be restored to a marshland. The $15.5 million dollar project will be along a one-mile stretch of the shoreline in Jefferson Parish. Projects such as these are called living shorelines that help create bunkers with natural materials and green vegetation.

They will start with barging in rocks that will create nine segmented breakwaters in Lake Ponchartrain. The formations will be between Bonnabel Boat Launch and Bucktown Harbor and will help protect the federal levee system and keep it from eroding. There will be 20 feet of open water between the jetties and the new marshland area which will create a pathway for kayakers and canoers.

This is the first time a living shoreline will be used to protect a federal levee system and if it is successful, it will be used in other areas along Lake Pontchartrain’s shoreline.

“It’s habitat restoration that also protects the protection,” Greg Grandy, the incoming executive director of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority said. “This will reduce the wave energy that comes off of Lake Pontchartrain, particularly during winter storms.”

Funding for the project came from grants and government funding. $4.5 million in grant money came from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The remaining included $2.5 million from the National Wildlife Foundation; $1 million from Louisiana’s construction budget; $4 million from proceeds the parish receives from oil and gas revenues in the Gulf of Mexico; and $3.5 million from the CPRA.

“Having this project here, where you can see a marsh, where you can get educated about our environment, where you can see a living shoreline, this is where we can educate the 99% of the population that lives behind our federal levee system,” Jefferson Parish Council member Jennifer Van Vrancken said.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

Music and Fun During Bayou Classic Weekend

 Contemporary R&B star Maxwell will also take the spotlight the weekend of the Bayou Classic. The performer will be at Smoothie King Center the night before the annual game. The game is being played at Caesars Superdome between HBCUs Grambling and Southern universities.

The concert tickets start at $63 and part of the proceeds will benefit the Southern University System Foundation. The open act for the concert will be Leela James.

Gerald Maxwell Rivera was born in Brooklyn and is part Haitian and part Puerto Rican. His first album came out in the 90s and was the catalyst for the neo-soul movement. Since then he has released many other albums and is still on the rise today.

New Orleans is a place that the singer has performed in for a long time. Maxwell has a long-standing association with NOLA’s Essence Festival. He has filled the Saenger Theatre to the Smoothie King Center.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

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.”

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

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.”

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

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.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

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.”

Click Here For the Source of the Information.