By Nanette Wiser
With the change in season, it’s time to refresh your home and garden. As we live in Paradise, there’s no need to batten down the hatches for a frosty winter.
Is your indoor plant SAD? Just like people with seasonal affective disorder, indoor plants yearn for natural light during the winter months. Why not add a grow light to support strong, healthy growth, increase nutrition and accelerate flowering? For most, full-spectrum, LED grow lights are cost-effective and energy-efficient. Place the grow light within a couple of feet of a plant directly above rather than off to the side. Set your timer for 8-10 hours daily, imitating natural sunlight.
Spot check your home exterior. Clean your gutters. Make sure there is no damage to your gutters post-storm season as well as clean out fallen leaves, nests, and other debris. Ditto for screen. Do they need repair at a local hardware store? Is it time to rinse pollen and dirt off and look around window exteriors for mudwasp nests or other issues? If your outdoor plastic furniture looks dull or has mold, Mold Armour and a little Lysol cleaner can do wonders for your patio chairs. Sacino’s Cleaners cleans patio cushions and provides free pick-up and delivery to your home.
Add pizzazz with local artisans. We discovered some home décor and furniture vendors we love at November’s Shopapalooza including Treehouse Gallery, Love Liz XO Designs, Avis Adele Creations, Berry’s Vintage Boutique, Costa Bohemia, Eurolaz, Florida Outdoor Mat Co., Gopali Imports, Great Scott Designs, Sunny South Love, The Seashellmichelle Shop and Two Chubby Seacows.
The Treehouse Gallery was founded by owner Marc Georgian in July 2001 as a rather humble, tiny Mexican rustic furniture store in Odessa, Florida, and is now located in downtown St. Pete, with a 20,000 square foot treasure trove of showrooms, warehouses and garden spaces full of one-of-a-kind furnishings, accessories and statement pieces made from salvaged materials like old doors from Mexico, beams from demolished agricultural cabins, boat wood from Indonesian fishing vessels, oil drums from Haiti, bulkhead lights from decommissioned ships and architectural carvings from India to name a few.
For more design and home improvement ideas, visit these recommended professionals: Granite Girl, Van Selow Design, New Closet Today, The Shutter Man, Budget Blinds, The Shutter Guy, and Beacon Windows and Doors.