Michael Muro http://michaelmuro.com Seattle Garden Design Sat, 25 May 2013 19:52:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=103 Does landscape design really add to the value of your home? http://michaelmuro.com/2013/04/18/does-landscape-design-really-add-to-the-value-of-your-home/ http://michaelmuro.com/2013/04/18/does-landscape-design-really-add-to-the-value-of-your-home/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:04:13 +0000 michael http://michaelmuro.com/?p=1333 Does your garden add value to your home? Does a dilapidated landscape hurt the value of your home?  Recently, when my house was appraised I asked if my garden affected the value of my property. The appraiser explained that he accesses the worth of landscaping by comparing it to the neighborhood average: the margin above the average is where landscaping becomes equity.  Next, he pointed out the degree to which your landscaping exceeds the average is when the value becomes measurable.  I was surprised to find that my garden added more than twenty thousand dollars to the value of my home.  This was confirmed when Zillow http://www.zillow.com/ updated its assessment of my property.  I can see, by comparison, my property has also increased in value in relation to my neighbors with no landscape upgrades.

I am happy to know this as a landscape designer, avid gardener and homeowner. Does it influence my own decisions regarding my garden?  Not really.  But, it is good to know that, with planning; there is really no way to go wrong. That is my kind of investment!

 

 

]]> http://michaelmuro.com/2013/04/18/does-landscape-design-really-add-to-the-value-of-your-home/feed/ 0 Mercer Island, WA http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/04/mercer-island-wa/ http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/04/mercer-island-wa/#comments Mon, 04 Mar 2013 08:23:33 +0000 michael http://darrencoen.dyndns.org:12345/mmuro/?p=1080 Woodland Retreat. Native plants and ornamentals, pop under a canopy of mature Douglas Fir.

before after: year 2 after: year 3 before after: rock placement ]]> http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/04/mercer-island-wa/feed/ 1 Greenwood, Seattle http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/02/greenwood-seattle/ http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/02/greenwood-seattle/#comments Sun, 03 Mar 2013 00:36:22 +0000 michael http://darrencoen.dyndns.org:12345/mmuro/?p=897 Privacy Courtyard. Close proximity to neighbors called for screening and a light, expansive space for entertaining.

before after after: entry gate after: interior courtyard after: view from sidwwalk container gardens ]]> http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/02/greenwood-seattle/feed/ 0 Madison Park, Seattle http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/02/madison-modern/ http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/02/madison-modern/#comments Sat, 02 Mar 2013 19:00:21 +0000 michael http://darrencoen.dyndns.org:12345/mmuro/?p=884 Madison Modern. Featuring a “Living Wall” and custom metal work.

before: street view after: street view living wall before: interior court yard after: interior courtyard container gardens before: entry corridor after: entry corridor before: fencing after: fencing custom iron gate living wall detail ]]> http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/02/madison-modern/feed/ 0 Greenlake, Seattle http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/02/greenlake-secret-garden-seattle/ http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/02/greenlake-secret-garden-seattle/#comments Sat, 02 Mar 2013 10:00:56 +0000 michael http://darrencoen.dyndns.org:12345/mmuro/?p=886 Secret Garden. Featuring the clients’ favorite fountain and privacy screening.

before after after container gardens ]]> http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/02/greenlake-secret-garden-seattle/feed/ 0 Queen Anne Hill, Seattle http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/01/queen-anne-hill-seattle/ http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/01/queen-anne-hill-seattle/#comments Sat, 02 Mar 2013 06:32:20 +0000 michael http://darrencoen.dyndns.org:12345/mmuro/?p=907 Contrast of modern clean lines and an Asian-inspired garden.

before: parking strip after: parking strip India granite slabs and rock after: entry composition Huchera ]]> http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/01/queen-anne-hill-seattle/feed/ 0 Before and After http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/01/test-portfolio-one/ http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/01/test-portfolio-one/#comments Sat, 02 Mar 2013 06:30:30 +0000 chcs http://lupe/mmuro/?p=716 Transformations by Michael.

before after before after before after before after before after before after before after before after ]]> http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/01/test-portfolio-one/feed/ 0 Vignettes http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/01/vignette/ http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/01/vignette/#comments Sat, 02 Mar 2013 05:30:03 +0000 chcs http://lupe/mmuro/?p=806 Some scenes from Michael’s projects.

TulipVignette GroupingMadPark ]]> http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/01/vignette/feed/ 0 Daily Snap Shots by Michael http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/01/daily-snap-shots/ http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/01/daily-snap-shots/#comments Sat, 02 Mar 2013 05:29:42 +0000 michael http://darrencoen.dyndns.org:12345/mmuro/?p=930 BluePoppie PjV Narssisus 'Parisienne' Helleborus MagnoliaCloseup YellowHosta MouseEars SAM_3241 MyBlueParrotTulips ]]> http://michaelmuro.com/2013/03/01/daily-snap-shots/feed/ 0 Real Estate Staging http://michaelmuro.com/2013/02/28/real-estate-staging/ http://michaelmuro.com/2013/02/28/real-estate-staging/#comments Fri, 01 Mar 2013 01:22:59 +0000 chcs http://lupe/mmuro/?p=791 Adding curb appeal and value to any property.

before after before after ]]> http://michaelmuro.com/2013/02/28/real-estate-staging/feed/ 0