Home and Garden

BEAUTIFUL YARDS START WITH GREAT DIRT

Dirt, not love, makes the world go round. There is more to good dirt than meets the eye. Although this is not brain surgery, there is a bit of bio-chemistry involved.

In general, soils may be sandy or clay or somewhere in between, but frequently lacking is sufficient organic matter for good tilth. Sandy soil is composed of large particles of mineral material with large spaces between, causing water and nutrients to drain swiftly through (leaching). Clay soils have small, sticky particles that inhibit the flow of water. The result is water logging and stem rot.

ALLIANCE GROUP WELCOMES TWO

The Alliance Group Realty recently welcomed Grant Evans and Heather Nix to its sales team. Evans practiced chiropractic medicine for 30 years in Ohio before moving to Hilton Head Island in 2014. He has built more than a dozen homes in the Lowcountry and plans to concentrate on general brokerage. Nix is a licensed Realtor and has lived in Bluffton for more than 20 years. She is co-owner of May River Flooring.

CENTURY 21 DIAMOND REALTY ADDS NEW AGENTS

Century 21 Diamond Realty welcomes Georgia Angelillo, Bob Colonna, Vanessa Maloney and Karen Meyer to its real estate team.

Angelillo and Colonna moved to Hilton Head Island in 2010. Angelillo was president of a co-op building for five years, while Colonna has experience in vendor management and contract negotiations.

EVEN AMATEUR DECORATORS CAN DEVELOP A GOOD EYE

Some people are born with a great eye for decorating, and some, well, aren’t. Even if you don't have a natural knack for interior design, mastering a few basic techniques can go a long way. Below are some tips often offered by area pros. 

MOSS CREEK VILLAGE FURNITURE, WHERE BEAUTIFUL ROOMS ARE MADE.

Your home is your sanctuary, and your furniture should reflect that. Every piece should make a statement, whether that statement is one of welcoming relaxation or of bold styling and elegant design. But above all else, your furniture should reflect who you are.

In short, it’s rarely a one-size-fits-all purchase.

ALLIANCE GROUP REALTY WELCOMES SEVEN AGENTS

The Alliance Group Realty, located in the Fresh Market Shoppes on Hilton Head Island, recently welcomed seven agents to its sales team.

Lexie Frazier and Alex Castellanos are new buyer agents with The McTernan Team. Frazier recently worked as an on-site agent for local home builder, while Castellanos is fluent in Spanish and will assist The McTernan Team with Spanish-speaking clients.

2017 WAS A SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR SELLERS, REALTORS

Except for damages caused by Hurricane Irma, 2017 was a pretty good year for the real estate industry on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton. Experts say the good times likely will continue for sellers in 2018, but some buyers may find themselves competing for homes in their price range.

Welcome, 2018 and the interior design trends that the new year brings. Modern interior colors and design ideas this year reflect the universal impulses of people to have fun, nest at home and protect the Earth. 

NATURAL ELEMENTS BRING A LOCAL TOUCH TO HOLIDAY DECORATING

The porcelain insides of oyster shells have always looked like angels’ robes to Stacey Collins, a local attorney who makes holiday ornaments from the shellfish. After gluing the shells together with hot glue, Collins adds Spanish moss for hair and wings made out of burlap. The rough-hewn fabric is used at outdoor roasts to cover oysters steaming over a fire.

“I started making them for myself, and then all my friends wanted one,” said Collins, who lives in Bluffton and works at a law firm on Hilton Head Island.