Think Newly Built Homes Are Problem Free? Think Again.

Interest.com. July 18, 2012. By Amy Fontinelle: Buying new construction seems like a great way to avoid the hassles and expenses that come with buying a home that’s been around the block. Any older house will have things that need repair or replacement. Brand-new homes are perfect and move-in ready. Right? This is a faulty belief that can leave you battling issues with your home for years to come.

Prevent Natural Disasters with Smart Landscaping

Naturally Vibrant Living BlogTalk Radio. Fall 2012. Interview by Diane Brandon: Planting shrubs and trees not only beautifies our homes, but also allows us to dig in the dirt and develop a closer relationship with nature. There can be many factors and considerations that go into landscaping and choosing plants, but one may be overlooked. Can you landscape your home in a more sustainable way? And could you actually landscape in a way that helps to prevent natural disasters?

Showcase House in La Cañada

Pasadena Sun. May 1, 2012. By Kat Ward: And what a show it is. Holy moly (yes, this will be the tone of this post, can’t help it, fresh from the tour, brain still buzzing).

If you’re intrigued, amused, or even disdainful of how the 1% live, get your ticket and go. This tour is fascinating, inspirational, amusing and just dreamy. We’d go again just for the views of the San Gabriel mountains. Tennis, anyone? A game of “H-O-R-S-E”?

Pasadena Showcase House of Design 2012: An Inside View

Arts Beat LA. Saturday, April 14th, 2012. By Pauline Adamek with Photography by Karol Franks: Exquisite detail and luxe touches – this year the legions of designers have truly outdone themselves. For several months numerous teams of dedicated interior designers, as well as countless workers and volunteers, have been enthusiastically laboring to transform and restore a magnificent estate to its former glory with a gorgeous and modern makeover.

The result is breathtakingly spectacular.

Theodore Payne Garden Tour

Urban Dirt. April 26, 2012. By David Walrod: The Native Plant tour was in full swing and so was David. We were only able to visit 6 of the 37 gardens on display, but we hope you’ll join us next year! Together we’ll visit gardens that celebrate native plants, smart gardening practices and the natural history of the region.

Tips and Inspiration for Outdoor Rooms

At Home, Outside. HGTV. May 2012. Looking for your landscape style? Tour four outdoor rooms with strikingly different styles, a cozy bohemian space, a Japanese inspired dining area, a Mediterranean oasis, and the rustic modern retreat created by FormLA Landscaping. (Clicking to the video will launch HGTV sound.)

1927 Robbins Estate Featured in Pasadena Showcase House

Pasadena Sun. April 14, 2012. A La Cañada Flintridge property will be featured during the month-long 2012 Pasadena Showcase House of Design, which opens to the public on Sunday. Known as the Robbins estate, it was built in 1927 as part of Sen. Frank P. Flint’s tony development. Above, the courtyard and balcony area

Explore Home Gardens Across the San Gabriel Valley

EagleRock Patch. April 13, 2012. By Anjay Singh: Attention gardening lovers: Here’s your only chance this year to feast on the botanical beauty of as many as 37 home gardens in the Los Angeles area—from the Antelope Valley to Long Beach—where native plants are grown and smart gardening practices de rigueur. The 9th Annual Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour is scheduled this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday.

Low Hanging Fruit for Green Building

USGBC Green Home Guide. April 5, 2012. By Cassy Aoyagi: Sustainable landscaping saves time and quickly produces both cost savings and health benefits for existing buildings as well as new construction. Of all the tricks of the trade, replacing a thirsty, traditional lawn – or not planting one in the first place – has the most profound total cost benefits.

First, the benefits. Simply swapping a traditional lawn for a native grass can eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which can adversely effect the health of children and pets.