Future of Design 2015: More Sustainability, Adaptability

Los Angeles Times Home. January 30, 2015: Despite advances in building and technology, many architects and designers say they are frequently asked to preserve existing floorplans while adapting interiors for modern living. Additionally, they are designing smaller kitchens, smaller footprints, even small lot developments.

Looking forward, designers anticipate more sustainability, increased transitional spaces and adaptability. Here, designers offer their take on the year ahead.

Garden Safety Tips for Dogs

HGTV. By Holly Aguirre: The temptation with owning a dog is to just open up the back door and let Fido run free.

Not so fast. The garden is full of temptations and potential dangers if you aren’t careful. By meticulously planning your garden and in some cases, calling in a pro, you and your best friend can enjoy the pleasures of your garden with no worries.

Gardeners Struggle to Adapt to Drought

Los Angeles Times. December 11, 2014. By Esmerelda Bermudez: Wet weather kept Alberto Ortega from working most of last week — and he couldn’t have been more pleased.

“This rain is a blessing I was beginning to think I’d never see,” the gardener said.

In four decades of tending people’s yards, this year has been Ortega’s roughest: Clients put off landscaping projects, scaled back his duties or simply let their yards go altogether, costing him thousands of dollars.