Marin San Francisco Real Estate Business Tecnology Climate

7/30/2010 2:00 AM

Interior designers have a down-to-earth option for integrally colored, VOC-free wall finishes: clay. "We like clay for its color and its ability to absorb moisture and vapor within a space," says Croft Elsaesser, a former decorative furniture artist and co-...

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Bargains on wool rugs, carpets; home hardware

7/30/2010 2:00 AM

Carpets of New Zealand (a division of a fine wool floor-covering manufacturer), has solid bargains this month and next. Its carpets and rugs are normally found in designer showrooms and include a wide range of floor coverings designed exclusively for high-end...

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A modern take on a classic desk

7/30/2010 2:00 AM

I've had a major crush on vintage campaign desks for years now. Many of these throwback lookers unite sleek with haute, and the combination of lacquered wood paired with brass fittings elevates even unglamorous duties, such as paying the bills. Collapsible...

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Home-team advantage

7/30/2010 2:00 AM

While George Brazil and Cecilia Sagrera-Hill began their careers in different fields - he in graphic design, she in the culinary arts - the two have now made a name for themselves in the interior design community. They met while working at James Marzo Design...

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Eco-responsible bathroom water conservation

7/30/2010 2:00 AM

Simple, inexpensive upgrades to bathroom and kitchen fixtures are a great way to start conserving water. Something as basic as replacing an old faucet with a water-efficient model can save 8,000 gallons of water a year. This kind of easy change is just one of...

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Smaller pink cordylines add dramatic touch

7/30/2010 2:00 AM

Cordylines and phormiums have become popular landscape plants in recent years, with the latter especially offering an ever-increasing variety in color and form. We keep these members of the Agavaceae family together in our Ace nursery, and occasionally...

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How to stop the western spotted cucumber beetle

7/30/2010 2:00 AM

Two questions from readers address the same pest: Q: I hope you can help me. Last year, we had a major invasion of spotted cucumber beetles. I began with my usual routine with pests: hand-picking and dropping them into a pan of soapy water. Soon I was doing...

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Honey harvest: From hive to table

7/30/2010 2:00 AM

It's shaping up to be a warm summer day as Don Eidam slips into his white, head-to-toe bee suit. He uses a bit of smoke to calm the bees in his Piedmont backyard. "A little smoke stimulates the bees to fill up on honey and be peaceful," he says. An earlier...

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Pruning's in the bag with Gardener's Hollow Leg

7/30/2010 2:00 AM

Hear about someone with a "hollow leg," and chances are you're not thinking they're filling it with weeds. But thanks to Bob Blomberg, the Berkeley creator of a new debris collection and harvesting bag, dubbed the Gardener's Hollow Leg, the expression has a...

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