We are still celebrating our anniversary serving the Washington, DC Metropolitan area, and we have a great coupon for our customers!

Print this coupon to receive a FREE Cocktail or Dessert with purchase of a la carte lunch or dinner at Blair Mansion Restaurant in Silver Spring, Maryland!

Expires November 30, 2011.

Johnson’s Landscaping had the opportunity to work on this yard in Northwest, Washington, DC.

 See how we transformed this small, shaded, urban back yard into an oasis for the family by designing and building dry stack walls and installing artificial turf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9gdww5j79I

We can make any dream closet come true.. Just take a look at this photo! What woman wouldn't be happy with tons of room for shoes and a beautiful chandelier?

At Closets by Design, we design, build, and install custom closets (closet organizers), garage cabinets, home offices, laundries, pantries and other storage solutions for DC, VA and MD homes. We offer a wide selection of finishes, accessories, and hardware. Contact us for more information about solutions for your home organization needs.

Windows are definitely one of the “glass half full / half empty” situations (pun intended). The views, the ambient light and architectual relief windows that windows provide cannot be replaced. Windows let us experience the outside elements without sensing the heat or cold – but how do yours feel?

If your windows are 5 to 10 years old you might start looking at them. Changes in technology for windows and exterior doors have been dramatic in the past decade. There are compelling reasons to consider changing older windows in your home. Consider the following examples.

The photo on the left shows a window with a broken seal. Windows are made with two panes of glass and the air between the two panes acts as an insulator and is often filled with argon gas, which is effectively a super-insulating gas. When the seal fails, the insulating gas is released and air can freely flow in and out of the space between the two panes. This invading air between the panes of glass can contain varying humidity and pressure. The result is what appears to be condensation or clouding between the two panes that cannot be cleaned. The only solution is replacing the entire window.

The photo on the right shows a door jamb with excessive rot. Old and rotten wood parts are often the primary reason to replace windows and exterior doors. Water can easily get into the home causing mold and mildew. One might consider repairing the bottom of the door jamb with a synthetic material but one should determine if any function of the door has been compromised by the rot and water intrusion first.

The most obvious evaluation is simply to feel if there is cold air coming through your windows. Clients say they could see their curtains move on a windy day before we replaced their windows. If you feel that your home is significantly more comfortable when you pull curtains or window treatments over the windows, then you really should consider replacing your doors and windows. All this plus the evident energy savings make replacing your doors and windows an easy decision.

Feel free to contact me at Bob@NatelliHomes.com or visit us at http://www.natellihomes.com

Battle of the Branches

Chapel Valley will be holding a battle of the branches soccer game on Saturday October 15th. We will have two teams of employees playing for their region's pride representing the different offices.

Battle of the Branches: Who Will Win?

Otto Herrarte (pictured above on left) is leading the Virginia team in their quest for the trophy, while Miguel Cedillo (above on right) has gathered his men to play for Maryland pride.

Who will win? Check back for updates on the Battle of the Branches!

For game day updates Like us on facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/chapel.valley.landscape

Don't miss celebrity guest Tom Silva from "This Old House" at the Montgomery County Community Home Show this Sunday at noon and 3pm.

Show Info:
Saturday, October 8, 10am-6pm
Sunday, October 9, 11am-5pm
The Conference Center at the Universities at Shady Grove
9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville

Admission: $5 Adults; $4 Active & Retired Military; FREE Kids 11 & under

Stop by our Rockville showroom to pick up your free admission tickets. (While supplies last.)

Click here for more information.

Many clients of Johnson’s Landscaping ask us about good times to plant. Another great thing about the Fall is planting! Late September is a great time to start planting, to sod or to seed your yard.

 The plant gets in the ground, and there is no harsh weather to harm the root ball while it is establishing.  The little stress from weather extremes makes it perfect to plant sod, seeds, trees, shrubs, and plants.

 For questions about planting, call us at 301-740-8850.

I am both proud and excited about a campaign Natelli Homes has organized with the Capital Area Food Bank as our focus for the next year.

Hunger is a staggering issue in our community. This condition is an unfortunate and often overlooked result of our country’s economic status. Poverty levels have reached new levels and thousands of people in our area simply don’t have access to appropriate food sources and proper nutrition. The CAFB serves almost 500,000 people each year through its non-profit partners. Surprisingly more than half of the households assisted by their efforts have at least one employed adult and only 5% of the recipients are homeless. Hunger and food insecurity are quickly reaching into households that were previously self-sufficient. Sadly, the numbers of children affected are an increasing component of the statistics.

Natelli Homes hopes to make continuing donations to the Capital Area Food Bank through the installation of replacement windows and doors for our clients. Our “WINDOWS FOR HUNGER” campaign will provide a constant source of funding for the programs at the CAFB. We hope to introduce our clients to the successful efforts made by the Food Bank in our area. There are many ways to contribute to the CAFB, both through volunteering and donations.

I encourage you to learn about the Capital Area Food Bank by visiting their website at www.capitalareafoodbank.org

Please share the attached coupon with anyone who might be interested in assisting the Food Bank when they install new windows or doors in their home. Look for similar opportunities on the Natelli Homes FaceBook page in the near future.

Feel free to contact me at Bob@NatelliHomes.com

If you are looking to add a beautiful addition to your exterior landscaping, consider porous permeable pavers. With night lighting, these pavers make for a stunning accent to the entry of your home.

An added bonus to these kinds of materials is the filtering of storm water through areas that would normally be impervious to the soil below.

Call Johnson’s Landscaping at 301-740-8850 to learn more about these additions.

 Eco Cobble Permeable Pavers from EP Henry (stone product used by Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc.’s certified installers) 

Washington Home & Garden is ALL about going green and being eco-friendly, so we are really excited about this!

The US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon took off on Sept. 23 and is happening until Sunday, Oct. 2. The decathlon consists of international university teams competing by building solar homes on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

The homes are open to the public to view for free.

Keep up-to-date with the competition on the Solar Decathlon Facebook page.

The folks at Blair Mansion Restaurant are THRILLED to tell you about their spooky new murder mystery for October – Legend of the Creepy Hollow!

Creepy Hollow has an unsolved murder that has haunted the town for decades.   The shocking murder of hometown girl Tabitha Craven is something the town can’t forget…because the spirit of Tabitha Craven won’t let them rest in peace until her murderer is brought to justice.

Be prepared to be “creeped out” next time you are at Blair Mansion Restaurant in Silver Spring, Maryland!

Although the fall is my favorite time of the year, with the cooler temperatures, beautiful fall colors and most importantly football is in full swing, it also means winter is right around the corner. My worst favorite time of the year. Given the long winters we have had recently, it makes sense to do some basic winterization to protect and allow the house to function efficiently during those months.  

Heating system
Before the cold weather hits, check your heating system by simply turning on your furnace. Replace the furnace filter. Most of us don’t change it until after the winter is over. Make sure heating vents are working properly too. With gas being used for heat and cooking, make sure those carbon monoxide detectors are in working order. Check your gas-fired fireplace before the cold temps hit as well.

Air Conditioning
For it’s faithful service to us during the summer and to ensure it works the following summer, clean your condensing unit and put a cover over it to protect from rusting.

Plumbing
Exposed pipes should be insulated. Additionally, turn off exterior water supply and drain excess by opening all exterior faucets. 

Insulation
For the walls and ceiling, most of the homes in our area are pretty well insulated.  But, there are crawl spaces, especially for offices over garages that could do with some more insulation.  Getting insulation blown in is easy and affordable these days.  For my office, I went with the cellulose option and it’s helped improve temperature control for the summer and winter. 

Gutters and Downspouts
To prevent ice damming and roof damage, get those gutters and downspouts cleaned out.  Strong recommendation: Please let someone that does it for a living handle this task.  This year I’ve heard and seen the results of people getting hurt on ladders that weren’t prepared to handle the heights and tasks required.

Doors and Windows
Basically, if the working mechanisms, locks and balances systems work well, and the seals are not compromised because of degradation of the sash and frame, along with rampant seal failure, a simple maintenance check should do. If you find that the window is leaking air, check the interlock on double-hungs, weathering stripping on casements, double-hungs and sliders and the locks on all three. A professional company should address glass failure, especially if it’s double paned glass. It’s more complicated to fix than single pane glass and in many cases it requires sashes to be replaced, which should be left to the pros, given there are myriad of window and door manufacturers that have been used in homes.

As I’ve said before, a little active maintenance before the challenges of a season hits, prevents aggravation and saves money.  What’s not to like.

Blog from Hammer & Nail Exteriors

Bethesda's famous food and music festival, brings 60 restaurants and five stages of entertainment to Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle. Each year, more than 40,000 attendees sample the delicious restaurants, enjoy the live entertainment and visit the kid's corner for face painting and arts & crafts.

Admission to the Taste of Bethesda is free. Taste tickets are sold on-site in bundles of four tickets for $5. Food servings cost one to four tickets. Restaurants serve delectable dishes from 11am-4pm. Ticket sales end at 3:30pm.

The event is held along Norfolk, Fairmont, St. Elmo, Cordell and Del Ray Avenues in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle. Taste of Bethesda is located just three blocks from the Bethesda Metro.

Stop by the Renewal by Andersen tent on St. Elmo Avenue and enter our $10,000 Renew Your Home Sweepstakes.

Wine: A wonderful complement to a meal, but not always the easiest thing to store. Wine bottle collections take up space, so people often turn to wine racks to store and display bottles.

Another tricky collection to store is the dish collection. China, decorative plates and other dishes for special occasions can't be store just anywhere. Considering their fragility, dishes must be carefully stored where they will remain safe.

At Closets by Design, we specialize in building custom organization solutions. Take a look at this photo of a recent project.

For your own customized storage solutions in Maryland, Washington, DC or Virginia, call Closets by Design toll-free at 800-293-3744.

Artist and cultural icon Andy Warhol may be best known for his soup can and celebrity prints, but two exhibits of his different works are now open in Washington, DC.

The National Gallery of Art opened its first Warhol exhibit on Sunday, September 25 with "Warhol: Headlines." This exhibit looks at the artist's obsession of news headlines and how he used them in his art.

Additionally, the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum opened "Andy Warhol: Shadows," a 450-foot-long installation of his use of abstract shadows. This is the first time his 102 "shadows" have been shown together as he intended, side-by-side.

Both exhibits will run from Sept. 25 to Jan. 15, 2012.

Image here

This September, folks in Northwest DC and Montgomery County, MD have experienced some incredible rain storms, and this brings on damage and erosion, and often issues of landscape drainage.  Coupled with the rains we always know we’ll be getting come Springtime, now is a great time to learn more about these common concerns.  The experts at Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc. know all about these problems, so read on to learn more!

Here are some solutions for rain and erosion:

·      Connecting your current gutter system to new drainpipes running underneath the ground and away from the house.

·      Building a retaining wall with drainage installed behind the wall.

·      Installing ground cover (which is great to mitigate against erosion!), such as pachysandra, periwinkle, or ornamental grass

·      Installing hillside boulders in between planting to mitigate against erosion and add natural beauty to your slope.

·      Installing channel drains and/or catch basins to catch the running water and direct it to connecting pipes running underground and away from the house.

·      Installing a sump pump connected to your drainage system for the water that is difficult to move away from the house.

·      Directing the water to a dry well in the back yard.  In essence, a dry well is a large hole filled with gravel which receives the water from the house and allows the water to dissipate through the ground, with no resulting erosion issues.  Oftentimes, the drywell is covered with soil and sod, so it is not apparent in the landscape.

·      Installing a dry creek river rock bed to allow the water to flow through potential erosion areas.  This river rock bed supports the mitigation of erosion and is aesthetically pleasing.

Have questions about erosion and your yard? Give Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc. a call at 301-740-8850 to learn about solutions for rain and erosion in Northwest, Washington, DC and Montgomery County, Maryland.

A Bethesda Home Uses Hillside Planting & Boulders

and a River Rock Dry Creek Bed to Address Erosion

Check out this video from Aquascape about creating a patio pond. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj2npKheztw

For your own patio pond in Washington, DC or Maryland, call East Coast Landscape Design at 301-421-4141.

One solid organization strategy is donating items you no longer need to charity. Not only does this create more room in your closet, but is a great way to give back to the community! At Closets by Design, we encourage our customers in the Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC area to give back by donating old clothes.

image

Check out Goodwill of Washington, DC for drop-off locations in the area.

Click here for other charitable organizations accepting donations.

Blair Mansion Restaurant values their customers, so much that we want to hear about your experiences at our restaurant! To hear your feedback and reward you, we are offering a free cocktail to our customers who write reviews about us on Yelp!

To receive your free cocktail:

1. Write a post on Yelp! about your experience at Blair Mansion Restaurant in Silver Spring, Maryland

2. Email blairmansion.grant@gmail.com after you posted your review on Yelp! (include the link, if you can!)

3. Print the email reply and bring it to Blair Mansion Restaurant!

Click here to review Blair Mansion Restaurant on Yelp!

Please note: One cocktail per review. Posting two reviews will not grant you a second cocktail

Barbara Hawthorn (of Barbara Hawthorn Interiors) will be presenting “I Never Met a Color I Didn’t Like” on Tuesday, September 27th at 7pm.

As part of architecture photographer Ken Wyner’s “Structure of Spirit… Design of the Heart” program, Barbara invites you to a wonderful evening of friends, fun, and color for Ken’s “Design Story Tales”.  To RSVP, email angela@barbarahawthorninteriors.com or call 703-241-5588.
 

American Institute of Architects
1735 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006
Boardroom, 2nd Floor

These exhibitions celebrate Washington's design community, its finest architects, builders, engineers, and the structures they create in our community. For more detailed information, please visit Structure of Spirit.

In addition to exterior lighting, adding a dashing outdoor fireplace will help you extend the beautiful fall season.  Keep warm outdoors and provide a center for entertaining guests in your own backyard. Social and family gatherings find a new, special place on your outdoor patio.

Outdoor Fireplace built by Johnson's Landscaping in Chevy Chase, MD

For more information about an outdoor fireplace for your home, call Johnson’s Landscaping at 301-740-8850.

This interesting landscape renovation for East Coast Landscape Design created a beautiful architectural focal point for a home in Howard County, Maryland. The backyard had an unusable hill.

East Coast Landscape Design found a creative way to incorporate the hill into the new yard design with two hillside streams. Each stream meets at the bottom of the hill, where they flowed into a new koi pond. Dwarf trees and shrubs accent the water feature, and the deck was renovated with paver patio.

The Howard County, Maryland homeowners were thrilled about the improved appearance, and most importantly, the improved privacy, of their backyard that is now a beautiful outdoor room.

Check out this property landscape work done by Chapel Valley Landscape Design!

A commercial site we maintain in Timonium, MD

We also had our maintenance enhancement group work on the site to redo the layout of the landscape.

The landscape now has an updated and fresh look which incorporates seasonal flower rotations.

https://www.facebook.com/chapel.valley.landscape

To view more photos of this property Like us on Facebook!

Don't miss celebrity guest HGTV's Vern Yip's interior design seminar at the Annapolis Home Show this Saturday, September 24 at Noon and 3pm. 

Show Info:
Saturday, September 24, 10am-6pm
Sunday, September 25, 11am-5pm
National Guard Armory, Annapolis, MD (Hudson St. near the intersection of West St. and Rt. 2)

Admission: $5 Adults; $4 Active & Retired Military; FREE Kids 11 & under

Stop by the Renewal By Andersen Rockville showroom to pick up your free admission tickets. (While supplies last.) Or, bring up to three legal size boxes of files to be shredded and receive one free ticket to the Home Show.

Click here to learn more.

Are you looking for a chic and elegant table decoration for the holidays this year? Something that is easy to put together, family-friendly, and maybe even cute? Try putting together a series of holiday table decorations based on a large glass vase with holiday items inside.

For the base, check out craft stores, home decor shops, and even everything-for-a-dollar places to find a pretty glass vase or a round fish bowl. It should be fairly large and plain, but elegant. Ideally, the glass should be thick and heavy. You won't want a delicate vase, particularly for outdoor use. A vase which is almost spherical would be perfect. Whatever shape you choose, be sure the opening is big enough to enable you to safely fill the vase with the items you’ll be adding to it. Figure on tennis-ball size as a minimum; softball would be better. You might also pick up a few rose-bowls in order to make miniature versions of these centerpieces for sideboards and mantelpieces.

Halloween  

Small colorful gourds the shape of pumpkins are readily available in farm markets, grocery stores, and some craft-supply shops. Jack-o-lantern faces may be drawn on the miniature gourds with permanent black felt-tip marker. This is an easy, fun project for the whole family. Very young children could use no-toxic water-color felt-tip markers of the kind normally used for coloring books.

Thanksgiving

The same types of gourds, without the faces, make a festive Thanksgiving table decoration. Fake autumn leaves, assorted fruit, and brown feathers may be added to the vase if you like.

Christmas

That same glass vase with glass tree decorations inside makes a festive Christmas accent. A few sprigs of pine or spruce to line the bottom of a wide vase, or to poke out the top of a tall one can make a nice touch. If the bulbs are white or silver, or pale blue, this also works well for New Year’s Eve.

If you happen to have some floating candles on hand (or if you spotted some cute ones at the craft store), your vases can be used as candle holders. Fill them half-way with water and float a candle inside. For safety reasons, never leave these or any other candles lit when they are unattended. The glass will become warm, or even hot, after a while, so it is a good idea to put a trivet under the vase, to protect your tabletop.

Starting with a simple vase, you can put together lovely and simple table decorations for the holidays.

Closets by Design understands that each part of your home has unique requirements, and as organizational experts, we have learned a thing or two about organizing in the home.

Here are some tips on keeping your home clutter-free.

• Address each mess one at a time
• For every one new item you purchase, get rid of an old one.
• Envision how you want the room to look when you are finished
• Use a hanger system to determine which clothes you wear most
• Ask yourself if you really need something. If you hesitate, you don't.
• Create three boxes for items (Keep, Toss, Donate) to sort items.

At Closets by Design, we design, build, and install custom closets (closet organizers), garage cabinets, home offices, laundries, pantries and other storage solutions for DC, VA and MD homes. We offer a wide selection of finishes, accessories, and hardware. Contact us for more information about solutions for your home organization needs.

If you are looking for a venue for your next holiday event or corporate function, look no further than Blair Mansion Restaurant in Silver Spring, Maryland! We have seven elegant private dining rooms, able to fit any of your needs. Plus, we can accommodate parties of 8 to 350!

Here is some quick info about three of rooms we have available. For more information about our other rooms, click here!

State Room

The parlor room of the original mansion, the State Room serves as an elegant dining room on our first floor.  Grand double doors lead from the lobby into the State Room.  A mural of Annapolis, painted by Ed Robinson in 1966, covers one wall and the ceiling.  This room is perfect for any smaller function, can serve as a beautiful ceremony location, and can be rented in conjuction with the adjacent Colonial Room and Fireside Room.

Terrace Room

With the exception of the industrial kitchen, the Terrace Room is the only addition on to the original mansion.  The room closes in what was once the outdoor porch, and as such, carries a character all its own.  The original walls and roof of the mansion make up part of the structure of this room.  The addition of a flagstone floor makes this an elegant dining room that can double as a dance floor.  This is our largest dining room, seating up to 140 people.  It is handicapped accessible and provides easy access to the bar.  It is the ideal setting for wedding receptions, anniversary parties or any other large social event.

Maryland Room

The pride of our second floor, the Maryland Room is the perfect location for events not requiring handicap accessibility.    With its close proximity to the restrooms, bar, and buffet room, the Maryland Room gives ease to your event.  In the past it has served well for smaller social gatherings including wedding ceremonies or receptions.  There is no dance floor, but one can be provided at additional cost.  The Maryland Room is often rented with the adjacent Parlor Room (our upstairs bar, which can also serve as a small dining room), the Tiffany Room (our upstairs buffet nook), and access to the upper floor’s beautiful, covered, wrap-around balcony.

Click here to reserve a room at the Blair Mansion Restaurant for your special event.

Attention Johnson's Landscaping customers! Our Fall Sale is here, and we have a special coupon for you! 

Save 10% on jobs over $3,000.00. the coupon applies to Construction and Planting jobs only, and is not good with any other offer. It is available for new contracts only, prior sales excluded, and minimum of $3,000.00 to use the discount. 

This is the perfect time to get professional landscape design by Johnson's Landscaping, so call us at 301-740-8850 to start planning your next project!

The Village of Friendship Heights and the Friendship Heights Urban Network proudly present the 5th annual Taste of Friendship Heights.

Join sponsor Renewal by Andersen and enjoy great food from local restaurants, music by B-CC High School Jazz Band, moon bounce, face painting, balloon sculptures and basketball fun and games.

Saturday, September 17, Noon to 5pm (Rain or Shine)
Village of Friendship Heights, 4433 South Park Avenue, Chevy Chase

In the Washington, DC area, Fall is almost undoubtedly everyone’s favorite season. The weather is beautiful, the colors of the leaves start to change colors, the kids go back to school.  As it becomes increasingly colder, less time is spent outside than desired. 

Luckily, the beautiful autumn time can be enjoyed longer than usual. As the days become shorter, consider exterior lighting to lengthen them! Besides enhanced curb appeal and improved safety, exterior lights provide sufficient outdoor lighting to allow you to enjoy the outdoor weather longer. 

 Johnson’s Landscaping offers lighting in 12 and 24 volts, dependent upon your needs. These low-voltage options do not require an electrician; also provide less of an investment and less upkeep, adding an extra element to the overall design of your landscape.

Exterior Lighting Installed by Johnson’s Landscaping

Increases the enjoyment of this pond into the night, for both

the humans and the fish!

With the recent rains including hurricane Irene and Lee, the question whether to replace a leaking/ damaged roof or repairing a problem roof has been a relevant topic.

As a homeowner, the first course of action is to check the flashing around the chimney as well as pipe collars and other items that extend beyond the roof.  These are likely areas for water to infiltrate due to worn caulking or improperly installed flashing.

When it comes to any roof that is over fifteen years old our experience has shown that once we begin pulling up shingles to locate where the repair needs to be made we typically run into rotten plywood that has spread far enough along where the entire side of the roof would need to be replaced.  Water likes to run all over so if we just repaired the leaking area we would be missing the other unseen area where water may have gotten to as well.  Wet plywood that is not discovered can cause mold to develop.  This mold can spread to the rest of the plywood, to supporting beams and eventually could infiltrate itself into the attic space and possibly to the interior of the house.  Mold can also disrupt the function and structural integrity of a roof over time.

Sometimes replacing one side of the roof can be just as affordable as repair and if possible full replacement is definitely the recommended solution for a leaking roof.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller of Odenton Maryland have chosen Home Visions Inc. for the third time to work with them on their exterior home remodeling projects.  This time, they have decided to replace their rear door leading out to their deck with a new energy efficient Provia entry door and Provia storm door.  First, in 2008, the Miller's had Home Visions install fifteen replacement windows as well as a sliding door in their basement.  The next project included their front entry door that they converted from a standard height door with a transom above to a custom height door eliminating the transom and giving their home a nice new look.

We are thankful for the Miller's putting their trust in Home Visions Inc. again in 2011 and we intend to do an excellent job as we have for them in the past.

It occurred to me the other day how fast 21 years has gone. I remember starting our first custom home…the details were critical as my name was on it. It was the first one that was “mine”. When I came up for air a couple of years later, we had finished 8 homes! The last 21 years has been a bit like that. We’ve completed over 200 homes, each one very special to me. As I reflected on what we’ve done, I came up with a fun list I’d like to share with you.

Did You Know?

Visnic Homes...
• has worked with influential Washingtonians planning their homes for over 20 years in the Washington/Baltimore Metro Region.
•has built more custom homes than any other custom builder in the Washington/Baltimore Metro Region.
• has won more awards than any other custom builder in the Washington/Baltimore Metro Region.
• has built more “pure” custom homes for a more diverse cliental than any other builder in the region.
• has built multiple projects for the same families over ten times. Today, two more are in the works.
• was the only custom builder to start and finish in the community at the Reserve in McLean.
• has built over 40 custom homes in Avenel, Potomac, MD.
• has built in nine counties: Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince George, Montgomery, Howard, Frederick, Anne Arundal, Queen Anne, and Talbot.
• has longtime relationships with the best architects, interior designers, and craftsmen in the Washington/Baltimore Metro Region.
• has built homes from 2000 to 26,000 square feet, with the same TLC.
• has built more Green homes with GeoThermal Systems than any other custom builder in the region.
• has facilitated the sale of more residential lots than any custom builder, and many production builders.
• believes no architectural issue is insurmountable. • has been invited to build in more exclusive communities than any other custom builder.
• had very quiet phones after the recent earthquake and hurricane!

To all who have had confidence in our ability, I offer a cliché from Bob Hope, “Thanks for the Memories!’. I look forward to the next 21 years, building more memories with you.
Ted Visnic 

East Coast Landscape Design jumps at the opportunity to use “green” materials in re-designing landscapes. This home in Georgetown, Washington, DC was no different!

The homeowner wanted to replace his lumber deck with a composite deck. He was excited about the composite material, which is all recycled, green and eco-friendly. East Coast Landscape Design replaced the deck and added in a brand new garden, giving the yard a bungalow feel. The composite material will last longer and require less maintenance for a longer lasting value. 

To learn more about making your landscaping project more eco-friendly, contact us at 301-421-4141. East Coast Landscape Design would love to help you with your next project!

We are HUGE animal lovers at Washington Home & Garden, and advocates for adopting at local shelters. 

The Washington Humane Society is hosting a special event, Empty the Shelter, Saturday and Sunday, September 17-18 at its two shelter locations, on Georgia Avenue, NW, and New York Avenue, NE, to promote the adoption of more DC animals.The Society is waiving ALL adoption fees during this event (although regular matchmaking procedures still apply), making it easier than ever to adopt a special new pet. The event is a part of the Society's participation in the Save More Lives: ASPCA $100K Challenge, competing to provide much-needed funding to save homeless animals in the District. 

“Winning the Adoption Challenge would be amazing, but our ultimate goal remains to find loving homes for as many DC animals as possible,” said Stephanie Shain, Chief Operating Officer, Washington Humane Society. “We are calling on our community to support DC’s animals by adopting, encouraging others to adopt, fostering or joining a WHS volunteer team; when we come together, we can all play a major part in ending animal homelessness.” Potential adopters are invited to visit the WHS shelter at 7319 Georgia Ave. NW, and the DC Animal Care and Control Facility operated by WHS at 1201 New York Ave. NE, during adoption hours to meet their potential new companion. 

For more information, please visit: www.washhumane.org.

Chapel Valley maintains this property in NW Washington, DC. We have been maintaining the site for over 16 years. 

Maintenance on site includes extensive flower rotations three times a year. Each week we must rake the pea gravel seen around this fountain and also in the driveway.

The site includes a formal garden that requires great attention to detail and weekly shearing.

To see more photos of this property, Like us on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/chapel.valley.landscape

The Capital Home Show returns to the Dulles Expo Center Friday, September 23 through Sunday, September 25 with new and exciting ideas on how to finish up lingering projects and get any home ready for winter. 

Meet area experts in home design and renovation, discover the latest developments in green home products and snag cutting-edge creative ideas!  There will be dynamic stage demonstrations focused on both home design and fresh cooking trends, as well as guest appearances by celebrity headliners.  
“This year the show is focused on using easy techniques with affordable products to get the best results.  We have an amazing group of local industry experts all under one roof, all of whom are eager to share tips and tricks,” show manager Alyson Caplan said.
 
Highlights of the fall Show include:
 

• Sand Castle Creations – The Sand Sculpting Company will create a unique masterpiece through the duration of the Show;
• Kitchen & Home Design Stage – Enjoy demonstrations by renowned local chefs and experts on home design and remodeling who will be offering tips for the holidays, and every day;
• The Repurposing Rooms by Habitat for Humanity – The renovation team at Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia will show how to repurpose household furniture to create new items that look like a million bucks, but actually cost very little to make;
• Celebrity Pastry Chef Yigit Pura – The season one winner of Bravo’s “Top Chef: Just Desserts” will be on site Saturday and Sunday showcasing fun and easy baking tips using the latest modern cookware;
• HGTV’s Sasha Andreev – The host of “Curb Appeal” and “Decorating Cents” will make an appearance to give advice on do-it-yourself home remodeling; and
• Local legend Mike McGrath – The nationally syndicated writer and radio personality, WTOP’s Gardening Editor and host of “Garden Sense,” will be at the show to discuss home design, both indoors & outdoors.

 
“There will be over 200 exhibitors and incredible expect presenters at the Show this fall making it a wonderful resource for anyone living in the region,” Caplan said.  “I encourage everyone to come with questions, because the Capital Home Show has answers!”
 
The Capital Home Show is open:

Friday, Sept. 23 from 10:00am to 9:00pm

Saturday, Sept. 24 from 10:00am to 9:00pm

Sunday, Sept. 25 from 10:00am to 6:00pm.

Tickets are  available at the door – Adults: $10.00; Children 6-12: $3.00; 5 and under: FREE.  Tickets are valid for one day.  Visit http://www.capitalhomeshow.com for more info!

We had the chance to test out the Sport-Brella Chair, the only umbrella chair with 360 degrees of coverage from the sun's rays. We did four days of testing on the beach, and we approve!

The Sport-Brella Chair was lightweight, easy to carry, and perfect for older adults. It was so comfortable for elderly friends on the beach. The chair worked great for them, and without it they would not have been able to enjoy the family vacation at the ocean.

The Sport-Brella Chair comes in Dark Blue, Olive Green and Red, and is available to purchase for $39.99. 

In the last Closets by Design blog post, we discussed renovating your garage space to improve space in your home and provide additional room.

At Closets by Design, we have experience in improving these spaces. Check out the photos of what we can do, and call us to learn more about your own garage space!

Chapel Valley Landscaping showcases the entrance to the Muddy Branch Square shopping Plaza with colorful Green and Red landscaping to welcome shoppers!  Our commercial landscaping has a lot of green thumbs too.

Nothing breaks up the look of pavement like the fresh look of well manicured grass, trees and shrubs to enhance the shopping experience. Our landscaping design, installation and maintenance crews for commercial, office and retail landscaping is dedicated to keeping our clients looking their best.

We continue the red and green them throughout the mall with these decorative islands that provide lighting and décor to the malls walkways...

Nothing says welcome like an array of three different beautiful flowers at the entrance for commercial landscaping in Gaithersburg, Maryland

For more photos of this property, like us on facebook! https://www.facebook.com/chapel.valley.landscape

Landscaping needs to be updated to a contemporary look, just like interior decorating. Plus, landscaping grows and needs to be trimmed and sometimes replaced. 

A challenging project for East Coast Landscape Design stemmed from a 35-year-old landscape at a home on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, DC. The homeowners just moved into the house, and wanted an updated yard. More specifically, they were looking to increase curb appeal by making the yard look more professional and contemporary. 

East Coast Landscape Design removed the entire front and side yard to meet the needs of the homeowners. By adding a retaining wall and putting a ground cover over the hill, they were able to present the homeowners with an updated landscape look for their new home in Northwest Washington, DC.

We are excited to announce that  ”Murder at the Oh No Coral” is the latest murder mystery to take place at Blair Mansion Restaurant in Silver Spring, Maryland!

The Gold Rush is over and the town of Oh No is slowly dying… as are some of its most prominent residents.  Travel back to the Wild West and see if you’re fast enough on the draw to catch a killer..

“Murder at the Oh No Coral” beings this weekend, so come by Blair Mansion Restaurant to see if you can figure it out!

Grab your home improvement wish list and head out to the ACS Suburban Maryland Fall Home Show this weekend. The Home Show is designed for all homeowners in every stage of home improvements and remodeling, landscaping and even decorating. Hundreds of exhibitors with merchandise and product demonstrations will be available to meet you. Get expert advice from all the pros at the Home Show.

Renewal by Andersen of Maryland is excited to be part of this popular event. Stop by to see our beautiful replacement windows and doors on display and see how you can add beauty and energy efficiency to your home.

Event Dates and Hours:
Saturday, September 10, 10am – 8pm
Sunday, September 11, 10am – 6pm

Admission is FREE

Event Location:
Discovery Sports Center at Maryland SoccerPlex
18031 Central Park Circle
(Boyds) Germantown, MD 20841

Click here for directions.

Learn more at the Renewal By Andersen website.

If you are looking for other ideas to improve the space in your home and de-clutter, think about renovating your garage space!

Wire or wood shelves and new cabinets will help provide extra space for sports equipment and those Sams Club bulk purchases. This will be extra beneficial come fall and winter, when kids' sports are getting busier and storing for a cold winter begins.

Plus, a more organized garage gives you more room to store that cool car!

Call Closets by Design toll-free at 800-293-3744 to receive more information about renovating your garage space in Washington, DC, Virginia or Maryland.

Hello and welcome to the new blog for East Coast Landscape Design!

What makes East Coast Landscape Design different from the other guys is our experience! Mark Simpson has been in business for 32 years (since 1979!), and has managed over 750 landscaping projects; doing everything from designing and installing walkways, patios and ponds to planting trees and shrubs.

The diversity in the types of work done by EAST COAST LANDSCAPE DESIGN makes us stand out from the competition, which is why we have created this blog! We want to share some exciting experiences and photos of our work in Montgomery and Howard counties, Maryland and in Northwest Washington, DC.

Be sure to look at our blog entries and photos. We would love to connect with you on Facebook, so visit our page and Like us!

Chapel Valley provide a comprehensive maintenance program for this site.

The maintenance includes multiple flower rotations for both seasonal color in the beds as well as multiple pots on the property.

We also provided the installation of the landscape on this property.

This water feature is surrounded by a burst of color with annual flowers.

A warm and welcoming walkway connects the features on site.

To view more photos of this property, like us on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/chapel.valley.landscape

Did you suffer storm damage from Hurricane Irene?

Wheaton Restoration can help! 
We can help with emergency board-ups for damaged roofs, windows, and doors.  We can repair and replace roofing, siding, gutters and trim.  In fact, we can fix anything on the exterior of your home.
We are experts at home restoration and helping homeowners recover from disaster.  Just last year, we processed more than 1,000 homeowners’ claims from hail storm that struck the Waldorf, MD area and parts of Northern Virginia.
If you live anywhere in the DC area, including parts of the Eastern Shore such as Annapolis, Severn, Ocean City, Easton, La Plata, Dundalk, Lewes (DE), Rhehobeth (DE) as well as in the DC Metro including Rockville, Wheaton, Kensington, Potomac, Silver Spring, Columbia, or Gaithersburg, as well as parts of Northern Virginia from Alexandria to Leesburg, and including Arlington, Alexandria, Great Falls and Reston, call us for immediate service.
Wheaton Restoration can help you with siding and roofing repairs.  But we can also help you maximize your insurance benefits, often with little or no out of pocket expense to you.  In many cases, insurance companies shortchange their customers by paying out less than is needed to properly rebuild.  That’s where we can help.  As your contractor of choice, we advocate on your behalf, pointing out damage which insurance adjusters conveniently overlook.  It is not unheard of for us to generate thousands of dollars in additional payments on an insurance claim.   That’s money you can use to properly rebuild. 
After major storms, many unlicensed and unscrupulous contractors flood an area looking for victims.   Don’t be fooled!  Choose a licensed, bonded, contractor locally based with a name you can trust.   Wheaton Restoration has been working with customers since 1945.  We have tens of thousands of satisfied customers.

Call TODAY for a free damage assessment. 888-794-0489