A picture perfect garden doesn’t have to take a lot of time or effort. The secret lies in choosing plants that thrive on neglect. Plant them in the spring, and they’ll survive hot summers with little or no care. Succulents, such as agaves and aloes, are among the most drought and heat tolerant plants according [...]

Control your home from your phone According to a Pew study from July 2011, one third of American adults own a smartphone, and that number will rise to 65 percent by 2015. So besides checking email, shooting Angry Birds, tweeting and posting Facebook updates, what exactly can you do with these devices? Believe it or [...]

Green walls (also known as biowalls, vertical gardens or vertical vegetated complex walls) are wall structures partly composed of or filled in with growing plant matter. More than just easy on the eyes, green walls work like green roofs by filtering air and water, soaking up carbon dioxide and helping lessen the “heat island” effect [...]

The kids are raised and on their own, you’ve made the decision to retire and the big home you’ve owned for years no longer suits your new lifestyle. What’s the best way to sell it so you can ride off happily into the sunset? Consider staging. “There’s a big difference between decorating and staging,” Suzanne [...]

Energy audits save both energy and money Keeping our homes warm in winters and cool in summers is getting increasingly expensive with energy prices at an all time high. As a conscientious home owner, you can take many actions to reduce your household energy consumption. The first step is to identify the problems, which can [...]

These days, it seems everyone’s thinking green. The urge to conserve is upon us. Where once eco-friendly was all about saving the planet, today, it’s just as likely to be about leaving a little more green in your jeans and finding a way to put a bite into soaring energy costs. Thankfully, energy-proofing your home [...]

The Landings Recycling Center is just one of the many ways The Landings community demonstrates its commitment to the environment. The Center will celebrate its fourth anniversary in January as it continues to be a popular and well-used community amenity. Located across from the ValleyCrest maintenance shop and near fire station #9 on McWhorter Road, [...]

There’s a story laced with good news and bad news for every energy type. If you’re confused about which ones are clean and which ones aren’t, you’re not alone. Not-So-Clean Coal An affordable and abundant local fuel in the U.S., coal is also one of the most destructive. Not only does burning coal emit millions [...]

Building your own home is a life-long dream for many, so why not ensure that you can spend the rest of your life in the home you’ve created? Incorporating universal design principles in custom construction allows you to age in place and appreciate the fruits of your efforts. There’s no need to compromise aesthetics—some of [...]

Few places evoke the serenity and peace of mind found at Palmetto Bluff, located in the heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry. With over 20,000 acres and 32 miles of riverfront property, the people of Palmetto Bluff cherish the richness of the land and water. Situated on a peninsula in Bluffton, SC, at the convergence [...]

Technology is one of the greatest things in the world, and now it can be used for a healthier you. There are a wealth of iPhone and iPad applications that can help you live a healthier life. Below is our top 10 list for the best and most affordable healthy living apps for your iPhone [...]

If you’ve heard of Skype, but don’t know what it is or how to use it, READ THIS ARTICLE. Staying in touch with relatives and friends has never been more fun, easier or cheaper. If you have children or grandchildren that live out of town, it’s fun to see their faces when you talk with [...]

Summer is here and choosing the best heat and drought tolerant plants while living, working and leisuring in the warmer climates can be a difficult task. That’s why Ideal Living has compiled a list of 10 perennial plants—with a little information about each—that thrive in the Southeastern United States. Adding these plants to your landscape [...]

1. Netflix If you’re a movie buff, this app is for you. Watch all the videos you want each month for only $7.99/month. If you have a Netflix account, you can download the free app for the iPhone, iPad or Android. You can watch from your TV or your phone. 2. Pandora Internet radio at [...]

Today’s new technology and universal design practices enable boomers to ‘age in place,’ so they can stay in the comfort of their own homes throughout their lives. This eliminates the need for expensive and stressful moves or remodels later in life due to an all-ages, all-abilities approach. Andie Day, an award-winning interior designer and certified [...]