Admit it, you have the most elaborated back yard from the entire neighborhood but what if it isn’t functional, then what you have built is probably in vain. Admit more, we all(yes that includes me!) want to have beautiful and flourishing gardens, but when we have a family, we must also take into consideration the needs of the other members of it.

Here’s some advice from the expert - start by dividing the space of your yard in two or three visual spaces, one for play and relaxation, one for gardening and one for pets of course!. Gardening and pets are of my least concern now because they can be made by anybody because they require least time and cash. I’d always suggested people to spend more time in play and relaxation. this is where the lawn is ideal for your children. Install a table for open air lunches or for a romantic summer evening dinner. Get some stuff for play and for kids to use.

Now here’s the most important thing. Benches. Yes you read it right, benches are very important for a garden. Functionality is an important factor in your garden, so you have to think about children, little pets and family assets before you take a decision where your garden benches will be placed. Save a portion of the yard especially for you, in which you can plant whatever you want and leave for the others some space to breathe freely. You will find it more satisfying this way, once the whole family is happy with your garden and your wooden garden bench and they might even bring their personal ideas for it. It is important that personal space is respected and that is why the garden must not be very wide, taking up all available space. From time to time benches are where memories are made and that’s where you can just relax and admire your home.

I am a huge fan of using natural fibers in my home design and wicker furniture is a classy way to do that. The only real problem with natural fibers, like wicker, is that they eventually break down. Buying new furniture from a reputable dealer like www.patiofurniture.net would be easier, but sometimes we have one piece of furniture that we really love. What are we supposed to do when that one starts to break?

Repairing wicker furniture takes a little time and effort, but it’s actually fairly simple. The earlier you spot the problem and address it the better. You will need some new wicker material that matches the piece that has broken, two part epoxy and a pair of needle nosed pliers. For wicker wrapping, you should remove the broken pieces entirely, clean off the surface of any dirt or old paint and wipe it down with isopropyl alcohol. Now you can start wrapping. Cut a piece of caning that is a little longer than what you need. An additional seven inches will help you get a grip and make for a tight wrap. Soak that piece of caning in water for around 30 minutes to make sure that it is properly hydrated and as flexible as it can be.

If there is a hole where the original wicker wrapping started, clear out as much glue and left over caning as possible. You may have to drill it out with a bit that is the same size as the hole. Cover the end of the caning with two part epoxy and insert it into the hole. Let this set and then start wrapping tightly around the frame of the wicker furniture. If there is no hole then you should secure the caning with a dab of two part epoxy and a small tack. You should finish the wrap in the same way.

You will want to use the pliers to make sure that you get a good, tight wrap; especially on supporting pieces of the wicker furniture, like the legs.

At this point, all you need to do is paint the new caning to match and seal the whole piece. You may be tempted to seal only the new caning, but you need to reseal wicker furniture every year or so and if one piece of caning started to deteriorate then you should take this opportunity to reseal the whole piece.

Well, to start of with. This is a serious topic to write about. “Going Green”. Everybody talks about this but how many of us actually cherish and willfully do green and in the process educate the people around us and at last cherish owning things that help you achieve the green status!

Ok, onto one thing that I noted this morning while I was walking through online stores which offer green items that also make you happy, I came across fully hand made mattresses that will give you a 100% green status, at least in your bedroom! Choose one of those hand made well crafted beds and you will be total green-bliss, for these beds are made by Warren Evans - officially known for all of their green initiatives and plenty of awards for these green products.