nature
“Tropical Tranquility Creating Your Outdoor Escape”
Discovering Your Tropical Haven
Embracing Nature’s Beauty
In a world filled with hustle and bustle, finding moments of tranquility is essential for our well-being. One way to cultivate serenity in our lives is by creating an outdoor escape that transports us to a tropical paradise. Imagine lush greenery, vibrant blooms, and the soothing sounds of nature, all coming together to create a haven of tranquility right in your backyard.
Designing Your Oasis
The key to creating a tropical escape lies in thoughtful design and strategic landscaping. Begin by selecting plants that thrive in tropical climates, such as palms, ferns, and hibiscus, to bring the lushness of the tropics to your outdoor space. Incorporate natural elements like water features, such as a tranquil pond or cascading waterfall, to add a sense of serenity to your oasis.
Creating Ambiance with Lighting
As the sun sets, the right lighting can transform your tropical escape into a magical retreat. Consider installing soft, ambient lighting to illuminate pathways and highlight key features of your garden. String lights or lanterns can add a warm glow to outdoor seating areas, creating an inviting ambiance for relaxation and contemplation under the stars.
Designing Functional Outdoor Spaces
A tropical escape isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s also about creating functional outdoor spaces that enhance your enjoyment of the natural surroundings. Designate areas for dining, lounging, and entertaining, and incorporate comfortable outdoor furniture to encourage relaxation and socializing. Whether it’s a cozy hammock nestled between palm trees or a shaded pergola for al fresco dining, thoughtful planning ensures that every corner of your tropical oasis is designed for maximum enjoyment.
Infusing Color and Texture
The vibrant colors and textures of tropical flora are essential elements of any tropical escape. From the bold reds of hibiscus flowers to the lush greens of palm fronds, a variety of hues and textures can add visual interest and depth to your outdoor space. Consider incorporating colorful accents through throw pillows, outdoor rugs, and decorative accessories to infuse your oasis with personality and style.
Creating a Sense of Seclusion
Privacy is paramount when creating a tranquil outdoor escape. Strategically planting tall shrubs or installing trellises covered in climbing vines can create natural barriers that offer seclusion and privacy from neighboring properties. Enhance the feeling of seclusion by adding elements such as bamboo screens, pergolas draped in sheer curtains, or strategically placed outdoor artwork to create intimate, secluded spaces within your tropical oasis.
Maintaining Your Tropical Paradise
Once your tropical escape is complete, regular maintenance is key to keeping it looking its best. Stay on top of watering, pruning, and fertilizing to ensure that your plants remain healthy and vibrant. Regularly clean and maintain water features to prevent algae buildup and keep them functioning properly. With proper care and attention, your tropical oasis will continue to provide a peaceful retreat for years to come. Read more about tropical garden design
EarthWerks Flooring – A Beauty Only Mother Nature Could Create
A product of the 73-year old Texas-based Swiff-Train flooring manufacturer, EarthWerks is known by the hardwood flooring industry as a leader in natural-looking hardwood floors, with woods so beautiful, only Mother Nature herself could shape them.
Woods created by EarthWerks are subtle and soft. The company’s artisans favor soft touches of pigment and light distressing techniques rather than splashing the woods with bold colors and hiding the wood’s natural character.
In EarthWerk’s Prestige engineered line, oak, walnut, maple, birch, hickory and cherry hardwoods are handsculpted and hand scraped at the surface, with a variety of colors and color application techniques. The techniques, such as the “bleed technique” are what truly separate this line from all other manufacturers.
With the “bleed technique,” color seeps onto the outer edges of the planks. When the floor is installed, the darker outer edges make each individual plank stand out, giving the floor a very earth, “old-world” feel. Natural French Bleed Cherry is absolutely charming, with a floor that looks to have come straight out of a 17th century French cottage.
Walnut Antique is another hit in this collection, hand sculpted with rich shades of umber and burnt sienna. Birch Latte is another favorite, also hand scraped, with shades of russet and sepia swirled so eloquently to create a marble effect.
If the swirls are something that appeals to you, you’ll also appreciate Smooth Walnut Natural, with a soft watercolor effect softly blending light to medium shades of brown. The depth of the walnut woods in this collection are truly incredible!
In EarthWerk’s Durango collection, you’ll see some of this marble effect as well, but with more of an American-Western vibe. The clay-colored Mesa and the coppery Sunset are favorites of that line, although people who enjoy dark wood floors will be drawn to Adobe.
All woods in both collections come in the standard five-inch wide planks with random lengths. Durango’s woods are beveled on four sides, whereas Prestige’s are either four-side rolled or micro beleved. Prestige offers a lifetime structural warranty with a 25-year finish, while Durango offers a 20-year finish warranty.…