B4 • Friday, November 1, 2024
thegardenisland.com
THE GARDEN ISLAND
Create a perfect backyard oasis and tranquility to your outdoor experience. Incorporate a water feature like a fountain, pond or waterfall to soothe, cool and calm. Imagine sitting in a comfy outdoor armchair next to a bubbling fountain with a good book on a lazy summer afternoon. You can just feel the stress of the day melt away.
BRANDPOINT There are no two ways about it, this summer has been a hot one for the entire country. Everyone is experiencing record high temperatures. But that doesn’t mean you need to retreat inside and spend the summer cooped up to beat the heat. You can still enjoy the outdoors by making a few changes to your backyard space so you can enjoy it no matter the temperature. Here are some tips for creating your perfect backyard oasis, from the experts at Belgard.
Incorporate greenery and landscaping Trees, shrubs, flowers and plants add a lush sense of beauty to your backyard oasis, but they also provide natural cooling. A beautiful way to do this is by using a retaining wall like Belgard’s Melville Wall, which is designed to incorporate shrubs and plants. Or try Artforms, a modular panel system that can quickly and efficiently construct raised beds to include native plants and shrubs.
Cool off with shading Is your back patio in the direct sun and your table umbrella not quite cutting it? It’s time for a pergola. These beautiful, decorative features come in many styles, from simple wooden frames to more elaborate metal elements. Pergolas don’t typically have roofs so how do they block the sun? The secret is installing linen or muslin curtains. They block the sun and add a breezy, Mediterranean flair. Create functional outdoor living spaces Think of your backyard as an outdoor room. Now, imagine how and when you will use it. Designate specific areas for dining, lounging and entertaining.
COURTESY OF BRANDPOINT
Designate specific areas for dining, lounging and entertaining. Think about where the sun hits your backyard at certain times of the day. Think about where the sun hits your backyard at certain times of the day. Shady in one part of the yard around dinner time? That’s where to put your grill and patio table. Sunny spot in the afternoons? Arrange your furniture there under your pergola. Get creative and be thoughtful of your space to increase
30-year mortgage rate surges to highest mark since July
its functionality. Take inspiration from Belgard Rooms to explore pre-designed outdoor spaces or get an expert’s opinion. Install an outdoor kitchen Do you have a grillmaster in your life who loves making meals outdoors? Go beyond the grill and
compact fridge (yes, you can!), bars and sinks, and every grilling accessory you need to whip up your culinary masterpieces al fresco. Enhance with water features Nothing says “oasis” like flowing, bubbling water. It adds an element of peace
What’s that? Biophilic design is the notion that humans have an inherent need to connect with nature, so permanent design elements like walls and patios should weave in elements of nature. It’s good for your mental and physical health. By creating a perfect outdoor living space, you can enjoy your backyard all year round.
Hawaiiana Management Company, Ltd. Serving Kauai’s Condo & Community Associations with award-winning service
Ann Saphir REUTERS The interest rate for the most popular U.S. home loan jumped last week to 6.73 percent, its highest since July, adding to headwinds for the housing market even as the Federal Reserve looks set to further lower its target for short-term borrowing costs. The average contract rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose 21 basis points in the week ended Oct. 25, the Mortgage Bankers Association said today. The main home loan rate is now 60 basis points above where it was immediately after the Fed’s mid-September meeting, when the central bank made an initial half percentage point cut to the policy interest rate and signaled more reductions to come. Mortgage rates had been falling on anticipation of the Fed’s move, pumping new life into the housing market. Contracts to buy previously owned homes jumped by the most in four years in September, the National Association of Realtors reported today. Pending sales turn into actual sales a month or two later. But almost immediately after the Fed’s September meeting, home loan rates began climbing again, as stronger-than-expected data including a jump in spending and big job gains allayed concerns about a recession and fueled expectations that the Fed would cut rates more slowly. A report Wednesday showing consumer and business spending bolstered economic growth in the most recent quarter also reinforced that view. In addition, traders have been piling into bets that both inflation and interest rates could stay high if Donald Trump takes the White House and his Republican party takes control of Congress in next week’s close fought elections. U.S. 10-year Treasury yields, which mortgage rates track closely, hit a nearly four-month high on Tuesday. Refinancing applications slumped last week, the MBA said, and now account for just 43.1 percent of total mortgage applications.
create a complete outdoor kitchen. Belgard’s Elements line of outdoor essentials has everything you need for a truly functional, convenient outdoor cooking space — no more running inside for items you forgot to haul from your indoor kitchen. The line features grills, side burners, ovens, storage, a
Think about biophilic design
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awaiiana currently serves over 60 residential and commercial associations on the Island of Kauai. Kauai native Sunshine Ruiz Hatto serves as Hawaiiana’s Vice President of Kauai Operations from its office at the Kukui Grove Executive Center in Lihue.
Sunshine Ruiz Hatto Vice President Kauai Operations
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99% retention rate among clients Local (vs. mainland) banking All employees are in Hawaii Serving over 60 associations on Kauai
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Hawaiiana’s Kauai Properties: Alihi Lani Alii Kai at Hanalei Alii Kai II Aliomanu Estates Apopo Hale Emmalani Court Halaulani Condominium Hale Honu Halelani Village at Puhi Halemalu at Puhi Hanalei Bay Villas Hooluana Condo at Kohea Loa Hookena at Puhi Islander on the Beach Kahala at Poipu Kai Ka‘iulani of Princeville Kakela Makai Oceanview Kalaheo Pali Kai Kalapaki Beach Club AOAO Kalihiwai Ridge Kamahana Kapaa Shore
Kauai Beach Resort Kauai Beach Resort Association Kauai Kailani Kawaihau Sports Villa K.G. Enterprises Condominium Kiahuna Plantation AOBO Kohea Loa Master Association Koloa Garden Apartments Kuhio Shores at Poipu Kukui‘ula Kulana Lae Nani Lihue Townhouse Makanui Manualoha Paradise Court Pali Ke Kua Paliuli Pikake Pili Mai at Poipu Plantation at Princeville Poipu Crater
Poipu Kai Association Poipu Kai Racquet Club Poipu Kai Water Reclamation Poipu Kapili Poipu Sands Prince Kuhio Princeville II Community Association Princeville II Community Association - Queen Emma Bluff Princeville Makai Ranch at Halele‘a Princeville Paniolo Princeville Sealodge I Puamana Puhi Industrial Park
Pu‘u Po‘a Regency at Poipu Kai Regency Hule‘ia Regency Villas at Poipu Kai Sandpiper Village I Sealodge II The Villas at Poipu Kai Villas at Puali Villas of Kamali’i Villas on the Prince Waikomo Stream Villas Wailua Bay View Waipouli Beach Resort
For more information about Hawaiiana’s services, contact Sunshine Ruiz Hatto at 808-792-0515 or email sunshine@hmcmgt.com.