by Lisa Van Liefde | Jun 12, 2013 | Green-Sustainable
Sharing great tips for summer gardening, found on the amazing HOUZZ website. Contributing writer Annie Thornton gathers helpful information and organizes it by U.S. geographic region. Anticipation for the summer gardening season peaks in June. Seeds have been sown,...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Apr 11, 2013 | Green-Sustainable
As stone professionals, we believe that stone is as natural as building material can be, and yet it has not received much attention from the ‘green’ industry until now. A recent article published by BuildingGreen.com has finally given natural stone its due and the...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Apr 3, 2013 | Green-Sustainable
What is considered a ‘native plant’ and how does is contribute to sustainability? Some people in the US believe they’re plants that were growing on the continent before the arrival of Europeans or people from any other continents. But a broader...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Mar 1, 2013 | Cobblestone, Green-Sustainable
A home and its landscape is one of your largest investments. A qualified landscape architect, landscape contractor and professional stone supplier can work together to recommend and stay within a budget that will bring your hardscape and paving stone vision to...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Jan 18, 2013 | Green-Sustainable
Architect John Hill writes about architecture and the ability to endure a beating from storms and flooding. On the west coast, the biggest fear are earthquakes. As a result, architecture guidelines do the best they can to ensure a building will withstand that once in...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Oct 9, 2012 | Green-Sustainable
At least in California, homes with a ‘Green’ label are worth more, according to a study conducted by researchers with UC Berkeley and UCLA. The study entitled, “Value of Green Labels in the California Housing Market” found that a typical California home...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Aug 13, 2012 | Green-Sustainable
We thought it was great learning about the effort that went into sustainable architecture for the London Olympics. What happens after the Para Olympics are over in a few weeks? Planning for the future of the impressive Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, has been in the...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Jul 25, 2012 | Green-Sustainable
For a fascinating look at some of the innovative ideas which have gone into making the 2012 Games arenas some of the most sustainable ever seen at an Olympic event, visit RTCC (Responding To Climate Change). The website reports on the structures and their content,...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Jul 20, 2012 | Cobblestone, Green-Sustainable, Reclaimed Stone
After 10 years of importing the finest antique reclaimed granite cobblestone and sandstone cobblestone from Europe, Monarch Stone International announces a second website dedicated to the Historic European Cobblestone® collection! The bright and appealing, easy to...
by Lisa Van Liefde | May 16, 2012 | Green-Sustainable, Reclaimed Stone
Consider the benefits of permeable pavers and permeable hardscape in residential design and incorporate where ever possible. What could be more positive than the results attained from a well planned exterior space; garden, hardscape, or driveway design that is both...
