So you're already doing your part to protect the planet by bringing reusable bags to the grocery store, using low-energy light bulbs and looking for ways to reduce, reuse and recycle every day. Here are even more tips and tricks to live so “green” you’d swear it was always St. Patrick’s Day — many of which will even put some green back in your wallet.
Let the light shine bright
Next time you’re dusting, give those light bulbs a good onceover — you can coax 50 percent more light out of your bulbs just by dusting them regularly. Turn off the light, let the bulb cool down and clean with a dust-grabbing dry cloth. (And, of course, when a standard light bulb burns out, replace with an Energy Starrated bulb.)
Classic touches, custom features and a focus on natural light give this Berkeley Hall home a relaxed elegance.
Situated under its own forest canopy, the rustic residence at 76 Oak Tree in Colleton River Plantation blends French country-inspired design with the majestic natural surroundings of the Lowcountry. Constructed for Barbara and Patrick Sommers by architectural firm Court/Atkins and built by Pat and Ron Strimpfel of Bluffton based Reclamation by Design, the lakeside property was conceived using a meticulous design theme that aimed to preserve as much of the surroundings as possible. That meant using reclaimed materials and maintaining the property’s five live oak trees; in the end, only a small amount of strategic pruning was required to accommodate the 8,000-squarefoot living space.
This “casual, warm” home at the headwaters of the May River is designed for rustic comfort — and the location is perfect for its photography-minded owners.
Sometimes, the big, splashy home design trends you see in the slick pages of magazines don’t always translate to the Spanish moss-framed homes of the Lowcountry. And while the rest of the country follows the latest trends in designs and products, the South has often simply followed its own sense of style.
This masterpiece in the Tidewater Landing community can’t seem to stop collecting building and design accolades. Take a look inside.
Seasons come and go — and gardeners’ aspirations come and go with them — but nothing is more firmly implanted in a gardener’s psyche than the phrase, “Wait until next year!” Fortunately, the Lowcountry Master Gardeners Educational Garden Tour is here just in time to sustain and nourish that longing. The third annual tour will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 16.
With a brutal summer finally winding down and the beginning of cooler weather on hand, it’s a good time for looking both forward and backward.
