CLOSED: 4241 Connecticut in Tower Grove South

Closing day! This historic 1891 cutie in Tower Grove South just closed escrow. 

Connecticut is not only adorable from the inside out (a sneak peek)...

... but it is only three blocks from Tower Grove Park. A huge congratulations, C and A! My time spent with you was so much fun. Your optimism is contagious and I’m so excited for your next phase of life.🏡🥂❤️

Wonderful day, stunning property, lovely couple.

In St. Louis and contemplating a 2021 move?  Let's connect!  The market is insanely competitive for Buyers and you need someone on your team working for you.  Let me help...

Under Contract: 4241 Connecticut in Tower Grove South

The best phone call that a Realtor gets to make to a Buyer?

YOU GOT IT! 🍾 🎉 

Happy tears this morning made my day and the only thing 130 years old about this gorgeous 1891 Tower Grove South cutie? The stories the walls could tell. Beautiful from the inside out, just like my wonderful clients who beat out 24 other contracts. Great day, wonderful house love match. Connecticut closes escrow in four short weeks- Yippee and congrats C and A!

If you are contemplating a 2021 purchase, the time to start strategizing is NOW, friends.  I can help, let's connect...

CLOSED: 5033 Adkins Avenue in South City

I adore assisting 1st-time Buyers, and this fabulous transaction went off without a hitch! Closed. My clients duked it out with competition to contract this gem, and they are saving significant money monthly by becoming Home Owners. The mortgage of this adorable historic brick bungalow is almost $1000 less than their current rent. Such a win. Amazing! 

 

Congrats, Team Adkins and thank you for putting your trust in me. I truly enjoyed my time with you!  In addition, a sincere thank you to M for her kind referral.

If you are contemplating a 2021 move, the time to start strategizing is NOW, friends.  Need advice or someone to bounce ideas off of?  Curious about what your house is worth or what Buyer strategies are beating out the competition?  Need more space or a home office or more room for at-home-learning?  Seeking a quiet weekend retreat outside of the city?  I can help, let's connect!

A new recommendation on LinkedIn...

Oh, this warms my heart...

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a kind online recommendation, Jamie.  No one speaks for a Realtor like their past clients.  Your sentiment means so much and the feeling is mutual.  If you guys set the tone for 2021, it’s going to be a spectacular year!

See more of what my clients have to say HERE.

Under Contract: 5033 Adkins Avenue in South City

Happy Weekend came in the form of my Buyers contracting this adorable 1916 historic brick bungalow in the vibrant Bevo Neighborhood.  They competed against 8 other contracts and won with carefully strategized terms!  YES.

Historic charm with every modern amenity makes this the perfect starter home.  A warm congrats to J and A for ending the cycle of renting with this beauty.  A gorgeous home, a wonderful couple, the perfect match!🍾🏡

If you are contemplating a 2021 move, the time to start strategizing is NOW, friends.  Need advice or someone to bounce ideas off of?  Curious about what your house is worth?  Need more space or a home office or more room for at-home-learning?  Seeking a quiet weekend retreat outside of the city?  I can help, let's connect!

CLOSED: 4916 Delor in South City

Hey hey, hello Friday...

Lovely Delor, a handsome 1921 South City brick bungalow, closed escrow yesterday afternoon!  I am incredibly excited for my first-time Home Buyer clients, J and E.  Not only is their new home dreamy, but their mortgage payment is SIGNIFICANTLY lower than the rent they have been paying.  Monthly savings while building an equity nest egg... that is what ownership is all about!

One of the most coveted aspects of my job is working with first time home buyers as I really see it as an incredible teaching opportunity.  These two?  Total pros and an absolute PLEASURE from day one.  Congrats Team Delor and a special thank you to my sweet friend A for her thoughtful referral.  I feel so blessed to have these folks in my life!

Well friends, what can I say?  2021 has started off with a bang!  Rates are still incredibly low, the tight inventory market remains swift, and the St. Louis real estate industry pushed right through the holidays without pause.  

I have a feeling that this year is going to break records!

If you are contemplating a 2021 move, the time to start strategizing is NOW, friends.  Need advice or someone to bounce ideas off of?  Curious about what your house is worth?  Need more space or a home office or more room for at-home-learning?  Seeking a quiet weekend retreat outside of the city?  I can help, let's connect!

Under Contract: 4916 Delor in South City

Well, oh my goodness... hello, 2021! My amazing Buyers earned their New Year toast of bubbly BIG time as UNDER CONTRACT! This charming historic 1921 South City brick bungalow closes escrow in February.🍾🏡

A warm congrats Team Delor and a sincere THANK YOU to my sweet friend A for her thoughtful referral. What a terrific way to kick off a new year!

If you are in St. Louis and contemplating a move, the market is still moving swiftly and rates are fantastic. I am an incredibly COVID-19 safe and aware agent.  I have established new virus business protocols to ensure the safety of your family (and mine), while taking advantage of this incredible market!  

Let's connect...

CLOSED: 1405 Pepperdine Ct In Ballwin

Hey hey, Hello Tuesday... 

1405 Pepperdine in Ballwin closed escrow today. It was a wicked competition between several Buyers, but my clients won out!  Yes.  Adorable family, gorgeous home, exciting new adventures. Congratulations and thank you, Team Pepperdine!

Check out the listing HERE. 

If you are contemplating a 2020 move, the market is fast and furious, friends. I am an incredibly COVID-19 safe and aware agent.  I have established new virus business protocols to ensure the safety of your family (and mine), while taking advantage of this incredible market!  Let's connect...

Under Contract: 1405 Pepperdine Ct In Ballwin

Word just came in that my Buyers contracted this beauty today, competing against several other Buyers...

Isn't it adorable? It also backs gorgeous common ground and boasts green space for DAYS, ideal for my clients' littles. Pepperdine will be an amazing home for their young active family and closes escrow by the end of the month.  A HUGE congrats to my wonderful Buyers for acting fast and writing the winning offer.  I am so, so very excited for you guys!

Check out the listing HERE. 

If you are contemplating a 2020 move, the market is fast and furious, friends. I am an incredibly COVID-19 safe and aware agent.  I have established new virus business protocols to ensure the safety of your family (and mine), while taking advantage of this incredible market!  Let's connect...

CLOSED: 2636 January and 7804 Weil

Hello Tuesday, happy Buyers...

Both January and Weil closed escrow today and two sets of my Buyers embark upon a new life chapter with one relocating back to the Lou and the other purchasing their very first home.

I have been SO incredibly fortunate during Spring of 2020.  I have not only had a healthy number of excited and motivated clients, but they have been truly lovely people to spend time with during a difficult period in history.  The very best part and I am so appreciative of their trust and loyalty. 💓

Cheers and congratulations, Team January and Team Weil, and thank you, THANK YOU for allowing me to play such an instrumental role in your big move.  I can't WAIT for update pics! 

If you are contemplating a 2020 move, the market is fast and furious, friends. I am an incredibly COVID-19 safe and aware agent.  I have established new virus business protocols to ensure the safety of your family (and mine), while taking advantage of this incredible market!  Let's connect...

Under Contract: 7804 Weil Ave in Shrewsbury

The news rolled in late last night that my Buyers contracted this adorable Shrewsbury split in Webster Schools...

It was the 1st weekend of showings and contracting this property was no easy feat, friends?!  After 3 straight days of non-stop showings... we competed against a whopping NINETEEN OTHER CONTRACTS.  19.  My sweet and deserving clients beat out the competition with a quick clean top-notch offer, closing escrow in 4 short weeks. YES.

The F duo- they are total troopers and have been so much fun to spend time with!  I couldn't be happier for them.  Weil will be the perfect place for the exciting new chapter to come for these 2 (almost 3).  Thank you, S and L, for allowing me to assist in your big move and a heartfelt THANK YOU to my sweet friend K for the referral. 💗

I am so humbled and appreciative for the opportunity to help in such an important purchase.

Fall Lawn Care "Do's and Don'ts" for the Midwest

Now that Fall is officially here, it's time to pay special attention outside to get your yard prepped for Winter. One of the most difficult aspects of being a novice home gardener is learning the rules of the what and when, as one little mistake can result in the loss of plants.  We have learned a lot from trial and error over 23 years of home ownership, which I have shared here on the blog from time to time.

As things get a tad more spooky around here, and we shift our own focus outside this week at Casa de Nenonen, I figured it is a great time to share my do's and don'ts for Fall. Let's face it, this is a busy time of year and daylight time is limited with the shorter days.  Focus your energy on what you can and should do now, and leave the Fall "don'ts" for when the warm weather returns to the Midwest.
.
Do's

Do aerate, fertilize, and seed your lawn.
As temperatures drop, grasses put their energy into developing roots. If you only aerate, fertilize, and seed your lawn ONCE during the year, Autumn is the time to do it in the

Midwest! It is your best shot at a lush yard throughout the rest of the year.

Steve and I actually hire a lawn service for our Fall care and it is WELL worth the money spent, approximately $175 for their Fall package. If you have bare patches in your lawn from dog play, as WE do, this is also a terrific time to request they overseed.
Tip: Learn from our mistake- it is easy to burn your lawn with fertilizer so apply with caution.

Do divide perennials.
It'a time to divide your perennials, particularly if they've become so crowded that they bloom less. This is also a fantastic time to split a large clump into smaller clumps to plant elsewhere. Generally, in Fall you can divide perennials that bloom in Spring or early Summer.

Do mow like crazy
Leaving leaves on the grass over winter can actually hinder Spring growth. Keep the lawn as clean as possible before the 1st snow. That is what teenagers are fabulous for, at least in our house where they appreciate a little more spending money. 

Do corrective pruning.
After the leaves fall from trees and bushes, branches that are broken or scrape against the house are easier to spot and get to. Make the cut where they meet a larger branch or the trunk. Reminder not to leave a stub, as it won't heal and leaves the plant vulnerable to disease.

Do plant.
Fall is the only time to plant spring-flowering bulbs! Sink the tulips, daffodils, and crocus NOW. You can plant bulbs until the ground is too frozen to dig. Fall is also a solid time to plant trees, shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses. Although you can plant them until the ground is frozen, their chances for survival improve if you plant in early fall, giving them more time to develop roots. Remember to water generously if we don't have a rainy Fall.

Do control weeds.
Perennial lawn weeds such as dandelions and violets get their second wind once the weather cools and ironically are most susceptible to attack during this time. In our current house, we have been successful in keeping weeds at bay but fought a continuous violet infestation at our last house. Wage war NOW! If you pay special attention to your weeds in the Fall, they will be less of a burden in the Spring.

Do protect from deer
Got deer? Particularly if you live West of I-270 in St. Louis, I guarantee that you have had a tree trunk annihilated by the Fall scraping of the antlers. Bucks do this seasonally every year- we know this. Buy corrugated tubes and protect your young tree trunks. Just do it.

Don'ts

Don't shear spring flowering shrubs.
Shaping or lopping off length of Spring-flowering shrubs during the Fall removes the buds

that produce next year's flowers. YOU WILL REGRET THIS MISTAKE COME SPRING, I ASSURE YOU FROM EXPERIENCE. If you must control their size, cut off the longest branches at their base - you'll make them more compact and still enjoy flowers next spring.

Don't fertilize trees and shrubs.
Fertilizing stimulates tender new growth that won't have time to toughen up before winter. If your woody plants need fertilizer, wait until the Spring.

Don't cut back ornamental grasses and attractive perennials.
Wait until Spring growth starts before cutting back ornamental grasses and perennials that look decent in winter. Not only do they give you a little something to look at during the cold months, but their stems trap leaves and snow around the base of the plant, which protects the roots from freezing.

Under Contract: 1112 Arbor Creek, Unit 2D in 63122

Yesterday was an eventful day of showings, contracts, and negotiation for my Sellers...

Thanks to serious strategic market planning and preparation with my clients, Arbor Creek sold with multiple offers late last night.  Congratulations, Team Arbor Creek!  

I have confessed numerous occasions on the blog that the relationships I forge with my clients (and their families) are the most rewarding aspect of my job, by far.  This deal holds a special little place in my heart, however, as I sold my client this unit as a starter home just a few years ago.  What a terrific buy it has turned out to be!  A couple years later, she walks away with a whopping 30% of growth appreciation equity, a down payment on the brand new house of her dreams.  YES, YES, YES!!

Above all else, I want to ensure that all of my Buyers make a wise investment.  This is the best case scenario, indeed. S- I am so happy for you and even more so... I am so excited for your brand new start with P.  Warms my heart. Happy for you guys! 💓

Cheers to you Team Arbor on a wildly successful sale and THANK YOU for trusting me to play such an instrumental role.  We close escrow in July!

In St. Louis and considering a move in 2019? Don't wait.  The market is red hot right now!  Have a friend who is looking for an agent?  I proudly base my business on direct referrals and wear my past client reviews like a badge of honor.  Let’s connect...

CLOSED: #650 Starlet in 63031

Exciting week for my 1st time home buyer clients...

...  adorable Starlet closed escrow yesterday and they could not have chosen a more lovely St. Louis day to kick off "patio season" in their brand new house.

Patron Margarita toasts and a sincere thank you to my Buyers, J and A!🏡☀️

In St. Louis and considering a move in 2019? The time to start planning is now! Have a friend who is looking for an agent?  I proudly base my business on direct referrals and wear my past client reviews like a badge of honor.  Let’s connect...

Under Contract: #650 Starlet Drive in 63031.

Even though it is only February, the swift Spring market pace is in full swing, St. Louis! If a property comes on the market properly priced and prepared, it sells within hours. My 1st time home buyer clients were quick on the draw of this adorable move-in ready ranch...

... and their urgency paid off.  Starlet hit the MLS at lunch time, we toured it by dinner time, we wrote a contract by bedtime, and over a half dozen Buyer appointments had to be cancelled by the morning as we beat them to the party! Time is of the essence friends. Hire a proactive Realtor!

#650 Starlet Drive closes escrow in April. A warm thank you and congratulations, J and A, on your big purchase!  As I have said before, I am a HUGE advocate of young people trading in rent for a mortgage.  Rent or buy?  The numbers don't lie! Buying is the best and only way to begin to build a financial nest egg.  Period.

In St. Louis and considering a move in 2019? The time to start planning is now! Have a friend who is looking for an agent?  I proudly base my business on direct referrals and wear my past client reviews like a badge of honor.  Let’s connect...

Rent or Buy? The numbers don't lie!

Rent or buy?

Numbers don't lie, friends.

We bought our 1st house at 22 and 26 at the urging of my (real estate investor) father and it was probably the best financial decision that we ever made! 🏡💰 We made 47k profit (more than we COLLECTIVELY made per year at the time) in addition to a little payment equity in only 6.5 years. We benefited from tax breaks and instant equity thanks to a strategic and smart buy, which ultimately set us up for a more financially healthy future.

THE FACTS: You are either building your landlord’s nest egg and financial future or your own. Stop making your landlord rich by putting equity in their pocket and pay yourself!  You don't have to wait until you can afford your forever home or the PERFECT house on the PERFECT street.  Be smart and start building wealth now!  Work your way up to that home, step by step.  It works!

In St. Louis?  I would love to help!  Let's connect:

Just listed: 2019 Pincian Drive in Rockwood School District

Cute as a button and move-in ready...

#2019 Pincian Drive boasts a fabulous Southwest St. Louis County location just minutes from I-44 and 141 and within walking distance of numerous playgrounds and South Buder Park. This charming ranch boasts an open floor plan, updates galore, and a sizable fully-fenced backyard in the reputable Rockwood school district.

Home features: 2 main floor bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a beautifully updated kitchen with custom cabinetry and granite countertops, and a professionally-finished lower level that DOUBLES your total living space with a sizable recreation room, recessed lighting, a basement bedroom with full bath, and oodles of storage.

Heading outside, the backyard is adorned with mature trees and lovely low-maintenance perennial landscaping. There is a deck, an organic raised-bed vegetable garden, and plenty of fully-fenced green space for your children, pets, and summer soirées.

Complete with a 1 car garage, a new roof with architectural shingles (14), new gutters with leaf guards (13), fresh paint (16), new flooring, new windows, new dishwasher (16), newer furnace, and a new sump pump (14)… this home is a complete package! Beautifully maintained and move-in ready, this property has been loved and it shows.

Offered for $154,900.

Call Carrie for a private tour at 314.298.5275.  See the full MLS listing HERE.

HOMEOWNER UPGRADES:

• New roof with architectural shingles - 2014
• Waterproofed basement and new sump pump (through PermaJack, installed below foundation footing with drain leading along walls to sump pit-has warranty for the lifetime of the home) - 2014
• New dishwasher - 2016
• New furnace - 2009
• New French doors w/ enclosed dust-free blinds - 2012
• Full kitchen remodel and reconfiguration with custom cabinetry, separate pantry, and     granite countertops - 2009
• New windows throughout (upstairs pre-2008, basement 2012)
• Main floor bathroom remodel (down to the studs, rebuilt with mold-resistant walls) - 2012
• New Gutters with leaf guards - 2013
• Backyard organic vegetable garden and spacious fully-fenced backyard with new low-maintenance perennial landscaping and installed French drain
• New basement bedroom carpet - 2016

LOCATION AMENITIES:

• Fantastic family-friendly neighborhood includes (multiple and very close to the house) common grounds with playgrounds and basketball courts.
• Located in the reputable and award-winning Rockwood School District.
• Located just one block from South Buder Park with numerous playgrounds and sprawling green space.
• Less than a 5 minute drive from Lone Elk Park and several notable Meramec Greenway running and hiking trails including Riverside Park and the Chubb and Castlewood Loop.
• Easy access to 141, I-44, and I-270.
• Resident access to the City of Fenton RiverChase Recreation and Community Center with 3 pools, over 5,500 sqft of fitness center, basketball courts, multipurpose rooms available for rent, and an indoor walking track.
• Old Towne Fenton Farmer’s Market runs every Saturday from May-October with locally-grown produce, flowers, live music, and crafts.

CLOSED: 1112 Arbor Creek Drive Unit# 2D in 63122

A warm congratulations and THANK YOU to my friend/client S on closing her first home today, a gorgeous move-in ready condo in 63122!  The deal was seamless, you were a total joy to work with, and I am SO excited for your big move.

Congratulations, lady!

Under Contract: 1112 Arbor Creek Drive Unit# 2D in 63122

My Buyer, S, was lucky enough to contract one of the Arbor Creek condos over the weekend in 63122, closing in mid-September.  Move-in ready and cute as a button... this one is indeed a perfect match!  Congratulations S... I am so excited for you! =)

Learn more about the property HERE.  

Gardening Tips for New Homeowners- Where do I start?

Over the last week, I have noted that my daffodils, crocus, and tiger lilies have begun to emerge from the ground.  Sure sign of Spring- exciting!

Knowing that I enjoy the time in my garden, my new homeowner clients occasionally contact me after closing with basic gardening questions.  Exteriorly speaking, when you purchase a home you inherit the landscape from all of the property's past owners!

 The good...

Like a sizable, well-placed hydrangea or peony plant that typically takes YEARS to establish, let alone flower.   Anyone who has planted one can assure you that it can take a DECADE to get blooms the size of their head!

The bad...

Like well-established ivy that has been given free-reign to be as invasive as it would like to be, compromising the architectural integrity of the structure by penetrating the tuck-pointing, siding, and often times gutters and roof.

And well,  the ugly...

Poorly placed, overgrown, and unattractive landscape elements can often add nothing but negative value to the exterior of a property.

In the ideal situation, when making the yard your own, you save what you can.  The task of sorting out a project of this magnitude, however, can be daunting.  Landscaping and "making over" a garden is meant to be a process NOT a weekend project.   To remain sane (ha!), one must keep it simple, take it slow, and not bite off more than they can chew.

My advice, from my personal experience...

1) Enlist the help of the Seller.

If it is obvious that the previous homeowner put a significant amount of time, money, energy,  and/or heart into the outdoor space of the property... they are also typically eager to pass along their care information, including a garden overview and their pruning and care schedule. 

If the Seller didn't freely offer that information at the close of escrow- ask your Realtor to please request it.   It is worth a shot!


2) Dig it up, cut it down, yank it out!

If any part of your landscape is threatening your structure in any way- deal with it now.

If a tree branch is touching the structure or hanging over the roof- trim it!  If ivy is climbing up the foundation or even worse, penetrating your structure in any way- yank it out!  If the sidewalk is overgrown with ground cover- clean it up!  If weeds are invading your flower beds- pull them out!

Even if you don't necessarily like what you are working with, clean it up and get it under control before you do anything too drastic to change it. 

The most important focus initially is to prevent any further damage to the property. Then focus can shift to getting the basic upkeep back up to par: mowing, weed control, trimming, pest control, mulching,  aerating, seeding, etc.  From there, you can make improvements.

3) Identify what you have.

Are the blooms that you see annuals that the previous homeowner planted to punch up the color in the garden or are they perennials that will come back year after year on their own? 

•  Learn landscape terminology:  The first step in determining what you have is to learn the terminology, as you will need that knowledge from this point on.  Simple terminology articles like this cover the internet and can be extremely helpful to a newbie gardener. 
• Identify:  The second step is putting a name to what you see so you can research it- what is it, when and how long does it flower, is it drought resistant, what type of care does it require, when is the appropriate time to prune it, etc. While the internet is a great resource, I still recommend purchasing a book- trust me, you will use it.  There are HUNDREDS of fabulous choices, just ensure that you try to purchase one specific to your region, if possible.
• Allow for a full growing cycle, by giving it time: This is always the toughest step for a newbie gardener, craving a beautiful Pinterest-worthy outdoor space NOW!  It is rare for a new homeowner to have to start from scratch with nothing worth saving.  The challenge?  What is lurking beneath the soil, preparing to pop up and deliver beauty to the garden?   The fact is: a seasoned Midwest gardener plants perennials that will emerge, flower, and peak at different times of the year to ensure a lush and interesting garden through all of our distinct growing seasons.  The biggest mistake that I see repeatedly from novice gardeners is not allowing their garden to perform for a full 12 months before they start making major changes.  Often times, they destroy the layout and performance of a well thought-out garden, and do not discover that they have done so until it is too late.

4) Plan.

Do not purchase a thing until you can answer these basic questions...

• What are you trying to achieve in aesthetics and functionality?  Color, shade, filler?
• What direction does the property face?
• Are you working with shade or sun?  If partial sun, is in morning or afternoon sun?  Yes, it matters.
• What plants draw your eye?  What flowers do you love?  Do you like soft, colorful blooms or plants with more structural visual interest?  Start a Pinterest Board (this is my personal Green and Garden board) and begin to compile the items that draw your eye AND would flatter the exterior of your property.
• How much time are you willing to give?  If not a lot, stick with hardy and drought -resistant perennials that require very little upkeep.  If you like to get your hands dirty, an annual-heavy outdoor space can really bump up color and beauty!
• Do you wish to incorporate edibles?  Herbs, veggies, fruits trees?
• Does your soil remain moist?  Do you have easy access to water?  Do you have an irrigation system?  If not, are you willing to commit to watering your new plants by hand or have a system installed?
• Do you have specific pest issues?  Grubs, moles, Japanese Beetles, that I wrote about a few years ago. For example, we live in an neighborhood that is highly populated by deer.  Everything that I plant must either be protected OR something that deer do not enjoy eating or it will be gone my early summer.
• Are you trying to attract more friendly garden visitors?  Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds?
• Do you have well thought-out beds/ soil retainment or do you need to create some?
• Does your soil PH need to be adjusted to grow the type of plants that you wish to incorporate?  For example, if your yard has a lot of pine, high acidity is likely.  From my experience, Azaelas and Gardenias would probably thrive in your yard while lilacs would suffer.  Know your PH- this article can help- and adjust your soil or plant accordingly. 

5) Ask for help.

Does your best friend or family member have a green thumb?  Invite them over for brunch and garden advice!  Do any of your new neighbors have a showcase yard?  Introduce yourself and pick their brain.  Contact a landscaper.  Ask the experts at your local nursery or big box store.  Enlist the advise of your favorite gardening blogger (mine is Steve Bender, who I tweet continuously). Reach out to local resources- the Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis.

If you don't have resources,  ask the people who you trust the most for their referrals.  Ask them who designed their garden.  Ask them where they typically purchase their plants.

Regardless, do not be afraid to reach out!

6) Give it time, and be patient.

Resist the temptation to overcrowd your plants.  By planting garden elements too close together, you do nothing but create more work for yourself down the road.  Research the eventual size of your new plants and place them accordingly!  I spotted this quote and fell in love, as it is so true...

What may make for a sparse garden today, will result in a beautiful, low-maintenance garden tomorrow!  Spacing your plants properly allows them to live up to their full potential in the future.  If the bare space during the interim is driving your crazy... use annuals as filler.

7) Have fun!  Nothing is permanent, if you don't want it to be.

This is my absolute favorite aspect of gardening, and why it is my personal stress-reliever!  Be as bold and adventurous as you want to be, as it is impossible to make a mistake that cannot be remedied.  Do not be afraid- this is the ideal place to take chances and try new things!

If you don't like it, change it.  If you change it and your plan didn't work out- dig it up and start again! 

Let your imagination run wild with color and texture in your garden.  Create a space that functions well, but also incorporates the colors, scents, and textures that you adore.