18songs's Profile

I will second a couple of the comments above - Great Plant Picks, taking it slowly but from a plan and talking to people to help get shortcuts to the knowledge you need.

We got a full landscape design from a local designer for a couple hundred dollars and have been working it slowly over the last five years - starting with the hardscape and sprinklers, then working the beds - it has been a great resource for planning and not having to re-do work later. I actually figured out the rough cost for each area so we can decide how much we'll spend that year and which projects will fit. The same designer offers a walk-around consultation for even less (at her hourly rate) which was a great option for my mom - she got recommendations for plants for specific areas/goals as well as pruining and maintenance recommendations for existing plants she wanted to keep.

Finding out about your soil will also help improve your results.

Other resources for King County are:
- Savvy Gardener (free) lecture series at Mangnuson Park: http://magnusonnatureprograms.com/?page_id=855
- Washington Native Plant Society (includes sample plans by condition type): http://www.wnps.org/
- King County Go Native: http://green.kingcounty.gov/GoNative/Index.aspx
- Plant Amnesty Valuable Plant List: http://www.plantamnesty.org/documents/ValuableNativePlantList.PDF
- Saving Water Partnership has a great getting started guide: http://www.seattle.gov/util/groups/public/@spu/@conservation/documents/webcontent/choosingt_200311261701525.pdf

There are also a couple great cheap sources of plants:
- WA Native Plant Society Spring Sales: http://www.wnps.org/chapter_info/chapter_sales.html
- King Conservation District Native Plant Sale (past but good for next year): http://www.kingcd.org/pro_native.htm
- Plant Amnesty Adoptions (requires $25 membership to access): http://www.plantamnesty.org/ABOUT/adoptaplant.aspx

Have fun!

My first instinct is to use a cut of classic linoleum - the real cork stuff, not vinyl. But that may be too thick. What about staining the surface with the same stain you are using on the rest of the desk, and then using epoxy to fill it? You could either have a wood look, or could fill the area with an old map, colored paper, pennies, etc. Or paint it before filling for a pop of color.

Depending on your window size, you could use the jump ring "curtain" idea for the valance with a neutral pair of curtains or pull-down shade. 200 would give you 40 by 5.

There are some good functional and tool hints here: http://perfectingmediocrity.blogspot.com/2010/06/someone-who-knows-something-kristen-on.html

...from a woman that posts a very inspirational site for what you are trying to do: http://kfddesigns.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!