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Tuesday, 03 August 2010 20:43 |
Here are some of the trends, good and bad, we have seen in communities all over the beach.
“Good is good.”
How simple is that? Things that work are things that endure: a good nozzle on a hose or a coffee maker that does not drip. Maybe you take these two items in your home or garden for granted, but most people, however, can probably relate to items they own that either function well (or not), every day. A toaster oven can be a prize or a dud. If you spent $400 on it, and still cannot get your bagel toasted correctly, it is a little frustrating. And $400 later, you are going to suffer with that toaster oven because getting a new one is first and foremost an acknowledgement you bought the wrong thing, and secondly, especially here on the beach, expensive.
Simple ceiling fans are finally replacing stand alone and table top fans. They are attractive, functional and efficient. How can you not have ceiling fans in a beach house? Even on a hot, humid, muggy summer day, a ceiling fan at the beach is a cost effective way to keep cool.
Open Space: Inside and Outside the Home
Timeless Fire Island houses are those with both good interior and exterior living spaces. The simple houses which were built in Dunewood have endured because the architecture allowed for both interior and exterior space.
There is a move towards simpler living; de-cluttering, repurposing. Getting rid of “stuff” can be difficult. It may be hard to get rid of “stuff” because it seems wasteful. Buy what you need and buy quality. Get rid of stuff that has no real purpose or is not enjoyed.
Landscaping Tips
In the landscape we see new annual varieties appearing in containers.
Move away from tropical plants and a movement towards an emphasis on the palette: color is more important than the variety; plant grasses for a more naturalized look in containers; and keep planters massed with just one variety of annual. Successful varieties include coleus, licorice plant and scaveola. Keeping caladium indoors provides a dramatic impact; pink and green potato vines can effectively offset dark purple or green varieties. We have also seen more and more large and small vegetable gardens.
On the negative side, we still see overplanting and bad landscape design work. A garden takes about five years to develop. If you were to look at a garden’s architectural plans for example, you would see the plant material shown as circles on the drawing. These circles are drawn to indicate the size of the plant when it reaches maturity. If trees and shrubs are planted too close together, or worse yet, underneath other trees and shrubs, there is no consideration for the fact the material is alive and it will grow.
The Hunt for Shade
Renters used to ask for houses with full sun on the decks. Now, almost everyone wants to know if there is an outside space where there is shade. Enjoy this island! Grace Corradino lives and works year-round in Saltaire. She owns Fire Island Living Real Estate and Fire Island Swap.
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House & Garden 
