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Intuitive design is a type of design that focuses on the ‘flow’—what makes sense for this space and the person/people within it? How can the design capture the essence of their lives? What feels comfortable and normal for them? Answering these questions can help you to intuitively design your home. And beyond the obvious, there are also other elements to consider—specifically astrology and how it can lend to authentic design, too....

When it came to assembling our home renovation team for our English countryside cottage, my husband and I were starting from zero. Because we don’t currently live in or near our village, we didn’t know anyone local, so personal recommendations were off the table. This meant a lot of googling, cold calls, and blind faith, but it ultimately led us to our contractor: a local man named Paul. From our very first walk-through with Paul, we realized why it’s key to find a great contractor as early on in the process as is humanly possible....

Figure Out What You Need to Move The first step to packing is to sort your things and get rid of stuff. Paring things down to only what you definitely want to keep even before you think about packing will help tremendously. Once you’ve done that, determine the best packing and transport methods for the items. For instance, it might be best to carefully pack and transport small breakables in your car to prevent damage in a moving truck....

Sistering can also be done to reinforce undamaged floor joists or rafters. For example, sister joists are sometimes installed to increase the load-bearing capacity of a floor so it will hold more weight, as when installing a large whirlpool tub. Non-Load-Bearing vs. Load-Bearing Studs The method of sistering varies depending on whether the wall is load-bearing or non-load-bearing. Load-bearing walls are those that support the weight of the roof or floor above....

Symptoms of Bacterial Wilt One sign of bacterial wilt is the plants wilting even when they’ve been well watered. You can also test cucumbers by cutting a badly wilted stem just above soil level and squeezing it. If a sticky, oozy substance comes out, it’s bacterial wilt. This slimy substance clogs the plant’s circulatory system, so it can’t take in the water it needs. The damage from cucumber wilt happens quickly in cucumbers and muskmelons....

The front lawn shown here is small, but the homeowners still found an attractive, sunny spot to add some color and curb appeal. No matter how busy they are, they can enjoy their garden every time they pull into their driveway or look out their front window. Evaluate and Choose a Site If you have your heart set on growing a specific plant, check to see what growing conditions it requires....

Where to Start Decide what will move with you and what will stay behind. There may be items that you don’t need anymore or that aren’t worth moving or perhaps your move is temporary and certain unnecessary things can be put into storage. No matter what the answer is, decide beforehand what stays and what goes. If you have items already in storage, make sure you take a thorough inventory to ensure you’re not moving items you could do without....

The Problems With Leaks A simple drip or two from a nectar feeder may not be a problem, but consistent leaks can create hazardous issues in the garden, including: Waste When a feeder leaks, the nectar is wasted because birds will not drink it off the ground. This means feeders need to be refilled more frequently, requiring more labor and expense. If a feeder leaks heavily, visiting hummingbirds may not have any nectar left to drink before it can be refilled....