Handrail for front steps

 Add an interesting, quirky handrail to your front steps for a little pizazz on the exterior. These were made and installed by Portland artist and metal worker Todd Littlehales.

Concrete Retaining Wall with Visual Interest

When adding a retaining wall, you can create a pattern to add visual interest. On this wall, when the concrete form was being built, the contractor added the pattern by cutting out rectangles in 3/4 inch plywood and attaching them to the forms.

No Grass! Parking strip plantings

Are you tired of cutting grass in your parking strip? Plantings can change all of that for you and make your landscaping more dramatic. Here are two great examples using flowers, ground cover, and decorative grass to create the wow factor. (I'm thinking someone should get a teenager out of bed, get a broom, and sweep the gutter in the first photo to spiff it up.)