Robert Magda

Friday, June 2, 2017

How to Attract Birds to Your Yard (Hint: Don't Just Wing It)

It takes more than a bird feeder to attract a colorful variety of songbirds to your backyard. Think of your feeder as a drive-thru fast-food joint in an unsafe neighborhood: The birds will stop to eat, but they won't stick around for very long. They want to get home to their comfy nest in an exclusive deciduous broadleaf community, where they can get fancier food anyway.

If you want to see more than bird backsides at a millet buffet, you need to give them all the luxuries they've come to expect.

Create a habitat

Birds prefer townhomes to single-level ranch houses. They need perches for preening, thickets for hiding, branches for bickering, wide-open spaces for showing off, and, eventually, a tree cavity where they can nest and paint their nursery a nice robin's-egg blue.

Give them privacy by planting walls of foliage. Native shrubs, small trees, and even tall grasses and perennials offer the versatility they need to make a quick escape.

Create a ceiling of tall deciduous and evergreen trees at the back of your property, and plant small understory trees between them and your house. Selectively prune lower limbs of shrubs and small trees so you can easily see perching birds from your window. They'll appreciate the perch, and you'll appreciate the camera angle.

Grow your own birdseed

Money doesn't grow on trees, but, conveniently enough, birdseed does! It also grows on shrubs, perennials, grasses, annuals, and anything else that qualifies as a plant.

To grow the seed that your local bird species prefer, however, choose the native plants that they'd otherwise find in the wild. Native plants vary by region, but some good choices include coneflower, blanketflower, beautyberry, asters, and sunflowers.

Attract hummingbirds with nectar-filled trumpet honeysuckle and cardinal flowers. Native oaks, hollies, dogwoods, sumac, cedars, and spruces provide nuts and berries, as well as shelter.

Stage your birdhouse

Research the birds that you'd like to attract, and give them the house that suits their needs. For example, bluebirds like their nesting boxes out in the open, while chickadees like thick leaf cover.

Whichever bird you try to attract, keep that nesting box away from human noise and activity so you'll never have to witness the heartbreaking sight of abandoned eggs in an empty nest. Also, keep your cat indoors, if possible. Otherwise, you may find birds not only in your backyard but on your front doorstep, too.

If birds haven't moved in yet, be patient. Sometimes all your birdhouse needs is a little lichen, moss, or wear and tear to make it more appealing.

Turn a birdbath into a Jacuzzi

If your birdbath is emptier than a swimming pool in January, there could be a reason. The ideal birdbath doesn't look like you'd expect - it's placed directly on the ground in a shady space with nearby shrubs.

Add some gravel to the basin so birds can find their footing, and even add a few rocks on the outside to serve as steps. Include a small pump or fountain, if possible. This turns your birdbath into a miniature water feature, and the circulation keeps the water clean and helps birds cool off on hot days.

Leave the leaf litter

If you’re looking for an excuse to get out of gardening chores, you'll be pleased to know that you’re absolutely allowed to keep that accumulation of dead leaves and small branches on your garden's floor. It gives birds everything they could ever ask for - bugs and other small animals for snacking, materials for nesting, and even a hiding place from predators.

If things begin to look untidy, just break down the larger branches by hand or with a pair of anvil pruners, and spread everything out evenly. Everyone loves free mulch.

Invest in your feeder

Rather than spending money on multiple feeders that you have to replace year after year, invest in a feeder that's made with quality materials, has a tightly fitting lid, and drains easily. Better yet, purchase a sturdy pole and squirrel baffle before you leave the garden center.

Even the best feeder will need maintenance, so give it a thorough cleaning every year, and break up any clogged holes so moisture doesn’t accumulate. Trust me on this - cleaning out a maggot-infested feeder is something nobody should have to experience in his or her lifetime.

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Traveling With Pets? Put Their Safety and Comfort First

The holidays are a time to gather with friends and family, so it only makes sense that you would take your pets along when you go visiting or adventuring. No celebration would be complete without them, after all.

Of course, not all pets can travel, but if yours do, these tips will help you make sure everything goes smoothly from door to door.

Shopping guide

Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed ($180) and Sleepypod Air ($160), Sleepypod
Yummy travel bowls (small $30, medium $40), Sleepypod
Mission Elevated Double Diner ($30), Loving Pets
Assorted pet foods and treats, Merrick Pet Care

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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Video shot and edited by Sebastian Sokolowski.

Originally published November 13, 2015.

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Thursday, June 1, 2017

Pampered Pups: 5 Home Features Dogs (and Their Owners) Will Love

Designer Lookbook: Jennifer Stoner's Vibrant Family Room Addition

When a growing family wanted a sprawling family room addition constructed on the back of their Glen Allen, VA home, they called on interior designer Jennifer Stoner to make it an attractive and kid-friendly space with the right fabrics and finishes.

The homeowners requested bold colors, fun architectural details, a place to tuck their 75-inch flat-screen TV, and plenty of seating.

Wateredge Construction built the large gathering room, which included a back entry, small office, and staircase to the second floor. "It was fun because it was an expansive room with 12-foot-high ceilings, which afforded a lot of opportunities," says Stoner.

Walls were kept neutral, painted in Sherwin-Williams' Agreeable Gray to allow the decor and color scheme of blue and orange to shine. Stoner painted the ceiling a soft blue (Sherwin-Williams' Topsail), which ties back to the walls of the home's recently renovated kitchen, then layered fabrics and decor in a contrasting orange for a punch.

Airy orange-and-blue patterned draperies, made with Robert Allen fabric, are paired with orange-striped Roman shades, while pops of orange are sprinkled throughout, from the leather ottoman to throw pillows and tchotchkes. "And my client really wanted the orange barn door," says Stoner.

Stoner worked with Joe Fowkes of Wateredge to develop architectural features, like the fretwork pattern on the banister, pullout storage cabinets tucked under the stairs, and a coffered ceiling pattern that departs from the traditional grid pattern.

Under the stairs, they created doors with hidden hinges and pullout shelves. "This provides terrific hidden storage for the kids’ toys, games, blankets, etc.," says Stoner.

A large entertainment cabinet in a gray-blue shade complements the sky-blue ceiling, gray banisters, and stone fireplace facade. And the cabinet doors on the unit thoughtfully echo the fretwork pattern on the banister and coffered ceiling.

"It was a custom piece that I designed with input from my client," says Stoner. "We wanted something that would stand out more than typical built-ins, and we needed to do something custom to accommodate the 75-inch TV."

"We made a great team - our client, Joe, and me - collaborating and successfully creating a unique space," Stoner notes. "The room has some sophisticated elements, so it’s a great space to entertain when they have company, but it’s very kid- and pet-friendly with durable Crypton fabrics."

Get the look at home

Add color to your ceiling. "It’s the fifth wall in your room, and the rule that ceilings should be white is long gone," says Stoner. "A soft, subtle blue is always a winner, but don’t be afraid to go big with a bold color or even wallpaper."
Create colorful entryways. "Paint your interior doors a darker contrast color, and leave your trim white," says Stoner. "This is a fun way to create some architectural depth and interest, and give your home a more custom look."
Bring the outdoor fabrics in. "You can create a beautiful room that will hold up to kids and dogs by incorporating Crypton or outdoor fabrics," says Stoner. "These fabrics have come a long way in terms of available patterns and the feel of the fabrics. They even make outdoor 'velvet' now, which you can clean with bleach after your child drips ice cream on it. We want our rooms to look great, but we want to be able to live in them without having to cover them in plastic, like our grandparents did."

Photos by Bryan Chavez

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House of the Week: Tiny Shipping Container, Big Style

With only 320 square feet of living space, this Carolina Beach house isn’t like others on the street. Set back on a peaceful wooded lot just three blocks from the beach, the tiny home is stirring up a lot of buzz. But, it’s not just the size everyone is talking about.

Two years ago, builders turned an average shipping container into this recycled, ocean-blue residence that listing agent Diana Jewell refers to as “a modern, minimalist tiny beach home” or, more simply, a “cool surf shack.”

Now on the market with Century 21 for $250,000, the home features 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom and decks off the living room and kitchen.

Photos by Cape Fear Real Estate Directory.

The shipping container isn’t the house’s only recycled characteristic. The home is also furnished with mahogany wood floors that were salvaged and refinished.

“Paperstone (recycled paper) countertops were used in the bathroom and kitchen,” Jewell explains, meaning this tiny home makes an even smaller environmental footprint than you might expect.

Although the space is well, mini, a large effort went into create a comfortable and spacious interior.

“Neutral finishings make it appear to look larger and brighter,” Jewell says, and huge glass doors and windows were thoughtfully placed around the home.

“Also, bump-outs were built in the living room and bathroom to maximize those spaces,” she adds.

This tiny container home shows that you don’t need much to live with style.

“It has all the features and amenities necessary to live comfortably,” Jewell says.

Top photo by Harry Taylor.

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Barack and Michelle Obama Buy $8.1M D.C. Home

After Barack Obama’s presidential term ended, there was a lot of speculation about whether the Obama family would move back to Chicago, stay in Washington D.C. or head somewhere entirely new. The uncertainty about where they’d land was further fueled by their decision to rent in ritzy D.C. neighborhood Kalorama.

It now looks like the Obamas have decided to stay - not just in D.C., but in the very Kalorama home they’ve been renting. In a statement quoted by Chicago Sun-Times, Kevin Lewis, an Obama spokesperson, explained, “Given that President and Mrs. Obama will be in Washington for at least another two and a half years, it made sense for them to buy a home rather than continuing to rent property.”

Two and a half years is presumably a reference to when the youngest Obama, Sasha, will graduate high school (she attends D.C.’s prestigious Sidwell Friends School).

The Obamas’ next few years in D.C. will certainly be spent in style. The $8.3 million Tudor-style home contains 9-bedrooms, 8.5-bathrooms, a cozy sitting/reading room, expansive formal gardens, and was renovated in 2011.

Inside the front door, guests are greeted by a dramatic black-and-white checked tile floor and a staircase that leads up to the second story. The dramatic details stop there, transitioning to more muted but sophisticated decor - with the second story featuring light hardwood flooring, pale grey walls, and crisp white crown-and-base molding.

In the kitchen, grey-and-white marble counter tops are framed by tall white cabinetry, state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances, and is awash in sunlight pouring into the room through the tall, gothic door that sits between the kitchen and dining room.

For more dramatic fair - fitting of a family who loves to entertain - the formal dining room features a hardwood ceiling, which serves as a surprising juxtaposition against the more traditional flooring, as well as a wall of black french doors leading to a gated courtyard.

Throughout the home, classic Tudor features, like wainscoting, built-in bookshelves, and casement windows with a diamond grille pattern, add to the stately sophistication of the home.

With the Obama family named the most desirable celebrity neighbors of 2017, those hoping to score an invite to backyard barbecues better start looking for homes in Kalorama now.

Photos courtesy of Mark McFadden of McFadden Group/Washington Fine Properties.

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