Secret Garden
July 9, 2010 by Melissa Labberton
By Melissa S. Labberton
Photos by Sara Gettys
The Barany Home
Yakima abounds with wonderful secret cottage gardens, hiding behind privacy fences and tall arborvitae hedges throughout our many neighborhoods. If you’re lucky enough to be invited in, a magical world of plants, trees, fountains and art awaits.
We’ve asked three local master gardeners to open their special garden retreats to our readers, with the hope that their stories won’t intimidate, but rather encourage others to create their own versions of an outdoor sanctuary.
Scavenger Hunt For Yakima’s Public Art
May 7, 2010 by Melissa Labberton
By Melissa S. Labberton
Photos by Cal Blethen
Whether it’s the Sphinx in Egypt or Michelangelo’s David in Florence, Italy, public art is a hallmark of a civilized society. Yakima has been the fortunate recipient of a number of public art installations that have added a dynamic artistic dimension to our city.
But do you know where they are?
Leo Adams: Ever-changing homescape
May 7, 2010 by Melissa Labberton
By Melissa Labberton
Photos by Sara Gettys
Leo Adams, Yakima’s foremost visual artist, spends almost as much time redecorating his unique home on the Ahtanum Ridge as he does capturing the beauty of the Yakima Valley in his paintings. In fact, it’s difficult separating the talented artist from his house, an amazing amalgam of recycled materials, found objects and a vast array of original art.
Adams grew up on the Yakama Indian Reservation. His late father, cattle rancher Harvey Adams, served as a tribal councilman for 30 years. Adams’ Native American roots have definitely influenced his paintings, especially his stunning landscapes that reflect the colors of Eastern Washington’s desert terrain. That same heritage resonates in the way he accessorizes with indigenous plants, flowers, dried weeds and Native American stone implements. He uses a natural color palette — soothing gray, brown and taupe — for his home’s décor too.
A Calming Color Palette
March 5, 2010 by Melissa Labberton
A Calming Color Palette
By Melissa S. Labberton
Color can set the mood, evoke emotion and bring back memories. (In fact, House Beautiful devoted its entire March 2010 issue to the color blue.) That’s why Sue Fenich and her design consultant and friend, Judy Ausink, felt that choosing the perfect color palette for Sue’s 1907 mock Tudor home on West Yakima Avenue was so important to the overall interior design.
Cave B Inn and Estate Winery
January 8, 2010 by Melissa Labberton
The inn's lobby. Photo by Yan Mei Shi
By Melissa S. Labberton
Featured in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, National Geographic Traveler and Sunset Magazine, the Cave B Inn and Cave B Estate Winery have quickly become one of Washington’s favorite great escapes.
A Peek Inside John Gasperetti’s New House
November 6, 2009 by Melissa Labberton
Photos by Gordon King
John Gasperetti
John Gasperetti never imagined he’d find his dream house at 9:30 at night.
After living for 30 years in a gracious, 1911 three-story colonial on 16th Avenue, Gasperetti and Brad Patterson decided it was time to downsize to a one-level house that hopefully offered a view of the Yakima Valley. Read more