GROW YOUR GARDEN RIGHT New to gardening? Just bought a new home with a blank outside slate? Freshening up your curb appeal to sell? Whether you’re faced with a sprawling plot of land or a handful of window boxes, the hobby of gardening can be extremely rewarding! Read on for gardening tips to launch you…
Historic Building Materials from Grass to Glass Think American homes were always cubes of 2 x 4’s, drywall, and aluminum siding? Think again! Throughout American history, many different building materials have contributed to a wide range of architectural styles. Read on to learn more: Indigenous Architecture The Native Americans who lived across North America before…
Tips for a More Sustainable Home by Wendy Tanson Making your home “green” has become a hot topic, and with good reason. From energy efficient lighting to appliances to insulation, there’s much you can do to reduce the energy use in your current home. And if you’re getting ready to build or renovate and want…
Four Fun Ways to Store Your Beloved Books A lazy summer afternoon spent in a hammock with a glass of lemonade and good book sounds perfect, doesn’t it? But where do you store your books while you’re not reading them? We’ve rounded up our four favorite ways to display your books and organize your bookshelf.…
Share the joy of reading! Reading is a true delight—it can transport us to far off adventures, teach us about one another, and provide limitless inspiration and motivation. To support literacy in our greater Morganton community, we’ve created the Nest Library to share reading resources with you. Read on for our list of Little Free Libraries,…
Summer is the perfect time to catch up on some reading! Below, we’ve gathered links to a dozen reading lists, full of recommended books that are sure to inspire adults and children alike: Award-Winning and Highly Rated Books National Book Foundation: National Book Awards Over the past seven decades, the National Book Foundation has honored…
You only get one chance at a first impression, so make it count! Copy the look of this American colonial classic in Earlysville, Virginia, to enhance your curb appeal! COLOR PALETTE Bright blue shutters and a cheerful yellow door help this stately home feel welcoming and inviting. The crisp white feels elegant and classic against…
Pricing your home can be a tricky process. Too low, and it may sell quickly, but you won’t get the best return on your investment. Too high, and your home might stagnate on the market, losing you money in the long term. What does pricing it right take? Lucky for you, if you’re working with…
The beauty and grace of historical architecture attracts many homeowners eager to live in a piece of history. But although many historic homes have features that are still useful today, some original architectural artifacts are best left in the past. Here are several important home features that owners of historic dwellings should strongly consider upgrading:…
A contrarian approach to traditional paint companies We’ve all been there—standing in the paint aisle trying to decipher between “Snowbound,” “Chantilly Lace,” and “Cloud White.” Overwhelmed by the options, we are left to close our eyes and point (or arbitrarily choose a shade based on the playfulness of the name)…we then order two gallons, grab…