Dave Osborn | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News
It’s been a hidden respite in Southwest Florida for years.
Naples Botanical Garden sits on 170 acres and is made up of smaller, separate gardens that represent various natural habitats and ecosystems.
And Naples Botanical Garden ― about three miles from downtown Naples ― features exhibits throughout the year. Here’s what to know about the Garden, as it’s known.
Garden becomes magical during holidays It’s an end-of-the-year treat many await. The Johnsonville Night Lights in the Garden creates a colorful world at night, where visitors can walk through the meticulously created wonderland.
Night Lights runs Nov. 28-Jan. 4, and is closed Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Dec. 31.
Ticket prices vary and gradually increase as the holidays approach.
There’s so much to enjoy in the Naples, Florida area. Be close to the fun with a home in the area. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Here’s a graphic provided by NAR that illustrates the top Joy Score projects, as well as the top return-on-investment projects.
By Jameson Doris
RISMEDIA, Monday, October 14, 2019— Homeowners and REALTORS® alike want new roofs and kitchens. According to the 2019 Remodeling Impact Report, released by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the two projects rank as the most popular home improvement projects among both demographics.
The report, which examines homeowners’ reasons for completing the projects ranked, also provides the costs and seller recovery values for many of the tasks.
Although NAR regularly releases similar reports, this is the first time since 2017 the organization has released this report, and there are some notable differences from what was included in that iteration two years ago.
“This year, we saw the estimated cost of closet renovations increase from 2017; however, we also saw an increase in the cost recovered from this project,” Brandi Snowden, director of Member and Consumer Survey Research at NAR, tells Housecall. “Because homeowners are staying longer in their homes, we see them investing more elaborately than in the past.”
Another effect of homeowners staying in their residences longer is that they’re choosing to invest their money in projects that they’ll use on a daily basis, and that will improve the functionality and livability of their home.
Aside from kitchen renovations and upgrades and closet renovations, other interior projects hugely popular with both homeowners and REALTORS® this year are HVAC replacements, new wood flooring, bathroom renovations and adding new bathrooms.
As far as exterior projects, the REALTORS® surveyed in the report note that new roofing was most popular among homeowners, and, in their opinion, would add the most value to a home. Other exterior projects that ticked off both of these boxes were new vinyl windows, new vinyl siding, new garage doors and new fiber-cement siding.
Additionally, a Joy Score was calculated by NAR for each of the projects reported. This score is based on the happiness homeowners noted for each of the renovations. For exterior projects, new fiberglass and steel front doors scored the highest Joy Score each, at 9.7.
For interior projects, several renovations scored a perfect 10 Joy Score. They are: complete kitchen renovations, closet renovations, full interior and individual room paint, kitchen upgrades and basement conversions to a living room.
It’s easy to bring color and life to your home with a container garden. Choose plants for a pop of contrasting color or a soothing blend. Be sure to consider the micro-climate of the location for your container garden. And let the style and color of the container play a part.
From Southern Living | “Brightening up your porch is easy when you turn to a gorgeous container garden. There are hundreds of combinations, in all different color schemes and gardening levels, that give your home major curb-appeal. Check out some of our favorites styles.”
Whether you’re considering putting your home on the market this spring or you’re simply looking for a post-holiday pick-me-up, try one of the following ideas to give your living space a boost…and your mental state in the process.
1. If you hate it, lose it. Why wait for spring cleaning? If you roll your eyes every time you pass that sofa in the sitting room that no one uses and you’ve never liked, get rid of it. See if a friend or family member can use it, list it on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or a neighborhood tag sale site, or donate it to Goodwill or the local shelter. Don’t hold onto objects that make you unhappy.
2. Make windows a priority. Windows are a critical aspect of our home environment as they control the amount of light coming into a space…or lack thereof. They are also our connection to the world outside, whether that’s on the 25th floor of an urban high-rise, or a few wooded acres in the country. Make sure your windows are dressed optimally for letting light in, providing privacy and enhancing views. It’s also important to assess your curtains, shades and blinds and make any necessary changes. Rule of thumb—less is more.
3. Don’t get walled in. We tend to hang a painting or a mirror on a wall and then let it sit there for years. But who said wall décor needs to be permanent? Our tastes change over the years, so take a good look at your walls and decide if you still like what’s hanging there. If not, check out some great wall décor ideas (photo gallery, mural, unique shelving, etc.) on Pinterest, or your favorite home décor portal.
4. Color cures all. Whether it’s painting an entire room, an accent wall or the kitchen cabinets, the quickest way to a fresh feel and change of mood is through a paint brush. Painting also makes for a great weekend project when forced indoors by inclement weather. Too much to tackle? Then change up your existing color patterns with pillows, throws, bedding and area rugs to create a new palette.
5. Rearrange the furniture. Have you ever repositioned your bed? If so, then you know how that one small step can create an entirely different feel within your bedroom. Try the same with your living room sofa, office desk and bookcases, or family room entertainment equipment. Even switching up the location of lamps, plants and decorative objects can add a new flow to your environs.
Remember, updating your home doesn’t require a major renovation or large investment of time and money. Simple strategies like the above will add welcome changes with little effort.
For more quick home makeovers you can tackle today, contact our office today.
Think in terms of warm Fall colors and add them to your Florida home. Replace summery-color accessories with items in russet, bittersweet, deep gold. Then layer in a few additions. A cozy throw for cooler evenings in shades of pumpkin will bring just the right autumn note to your room.
Decorate your table or mantel with natural materials. Driftwood, wildflowers, pine cones, grapevines, and roughly woven baskets will bring the outdoors into your home. What better way to ease into winter?
Whether you’re considering putting your home on the market this spring or you’re simply looking for a post-holiday pick-me-up, try one of the following ideas to give your living space a boost…and your mental state in the process.
