Home & Garden

Long Island interior decorators rescue local families who don't know what to do with their open space.

What to do when cold air comes out of all the light fixture openings.

The art of growing Montauk daisies and planting tomato seedlings.

WAY TO GROW. It's spring gardening weekend at Old Westbury Gardens.

Gary Dymski rounds up new seasonal products.

Check out DIY Network's "Bob Vila's Home Again" and tour the completed renovation of a Manhattan brownstone apartment. From the huge historic windows to the gleaming ash floors, the restoration pays tribute to the history of the building and neighborhood at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. tomorrow and midnight Saturday.

I have wild onions coming up through my lawn and flower beds. Besides moving, what can I do?

At 93, this mother, grandmother and longtime Great Neck resident spends hours in her at-home studio.

Terri Frankenberg of East Meadow had vague memories of the prayer shawl her father used during religious services.

FIESTA FUN. These fun and whimsical glasses are designed by Humphrey, N.Y., artist Bette Hestle and hand-painted by four stay-at-home mothers and one high-school student who's saving for college. The Fiesta Fun collection is available in green and pink, purple and green, and turquoise and pink. $24.50 at Originals, 582 Westbury Ave., Carle Place, 516-333-9410.

Meet the Long Island Orchid Society.

"The One-Minute Cleaner: Plain & Simple: 500 Tips for Cleaning Smarter, Not Harder," Storey, $10.95: Author Donna Smallin shows us how to get the house shipshape, from the obvious - vacuum your rugs once a week - to the lesser-known - how to remove mold. Whether you're tackling cleaning for the first time or you've been doing it for years, there's a tip in this well-organized book for you.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN. From 7 to 8:30 tonight, the Smithtown Library in Nesconset will show a free slide presentation on basic landscape design. To register, call 631-265-3994.

Watch a Long Island makeover on "Real Simple" at 2:30 p.m. today on WLIW/21 and at 3p.m. Saturday on WNET/13, with the reorganization of Rockville Centre resident Gloria Romanowski's custom-built desk in her kitchen.

This year's Mansions & Millionaires event at Caumsett is about clean, contemporary design.

Taking care of your gas-powered small-engine yard and lawn equipment.

Our flowering purple plum trees are about 10 years old and for the past four years they developed scale.

Bill Margiotta must have wished upon a star for all the Pinocchio collectibles he could get his hands on.

"The Organic Lawn Care Manual: A Natural, Low-Maintenance System for a Beautiful, Safe Lawn," by Paul Tukey (Storey, $19.95): This comprehensive lawn-care manual is written in an easy-to-read narrative style and provides much-needed information for going organic. While the author warns that a lawn's appearance might suffer at first, he promises beautiful grass will be achieved over time. Tukey advocates the sound practice of caring for the soil first, maintaining that healthy soil makes for healthy grass. And he shows lots of ways this can be done without the use of chemicals. Truly a great read and a great resource.

HEALING GARDENS. At 7:30 tonight, the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington will screen "The Healing Gardens of NY," a film by Alexandra Isles that tells the stories of lives and communities transformed by the creation of gardens and green spaces in response to crime, neglect, poverty and urban decay. The filmmaker and gardeners from the film will be on hand for a reception, panel discussion and book-signing after the screening. Nonmembers, $12. Call 631-423-7611 for reservations.

A SUNDANCE CATALOG. Robert Redford, the Sundance Kid who launched the Sundance Channel as well as a film festival by the same name, also sells home goods through his Sundance Catalog, like this set of two Toltec bookends crafted of recycled railroad ties. $55 at sundancecatalog .com or by calling 800-422-2770.

Found, handmade or inherited, furniture they love

Last week's heavy rain was the final test. I'm positive now that I've solved the mystery of my leaky master bedroom skylight.

I have a neighbor who has bamboo growing for the entire fence perimeter. I have it growing up under my side and I can't seem to get rid of it.

Do you or someone in your household have a disability? Do you need to install a ramp, or make a kitchen or bathroom accessible? If so, you may be one of two Long Island households to participate in a national nonprofit's pilot project.

"The Little Book of Quick Fixes for the Home Handywoman" (Quadrille, $12.95): Jam-packed with solid, practical tips on everything from replacing a floorboard to installing shelves, this book is a must for anyone, male or female, with little or no home-repair expertise. Author Bridget Bodoano takes questions, such as how to determine how much wallpaper is needed for a job, and then thoroughly explains the steps, with illustrations, before moving on to the next question.

Stained glass. Artist Ron Gladkowski designs and builds his watertight stained-glass terrariums entirely by hand with traditional Tiffany methods and will customize colors and sizes. Models range from $65 to $2,000 for his 26-inch-high signature Victorian Terrarium shown here. terrariums.net.

BLOOMING ART. Gallery North's new exhibit, "Into the Garden," features work by Long Island artists and crafts people. Paintings, photographs, sculpture and jewelry with a garden theme are on display from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and from noon until 5 p.m. Sundays through April 29. 90 North Country Rd., Setauket. Gallerynorth.org or 631-751-2676.

If backyard furniture looks like it-s good enough for the house, that-s because it is.

How to fix a leaky basement window.

I'm toying with the idea of trying to grow coleus directly in the ground from seed.

"Island Girl" was a No. 1 hit for Elton John. Sarah Battaglia may be his No. 1 fan.

"Easter Eggs: 40 Fabulous Projects for the Whole Family" (Chronicle Books, $14.95): With vivid photographs and step-by-step instructions, Matthew Mead invites readers to take egg decorating to a whole new level this Easter. Eggs are central to each and every project, from faux filigree decor to an inventive night-light to goldfish cupcake toppers; his creativity will impress all. Although divided into simple, moderate and advanced levels, many of these fresh projects may prove challenging for young children.

"Gardening Basics for Dummies" by Steven A. Frowine (Wiley, $21.99): Written in the fun, no-nonsense style typical of the series, "Gardening Basics for Dummies" is packed with easy-to-follow instructions for gardening enthusiasts. Chapters on pest control, weed management, growing fruits and vegetables, and gardening for kids accompany how-tos on annuals, perennials, bulbs, roses, lawns, trees, ponds and more. There's a frequently-asked-question section in the back, and a "Cheat Sheet" inside the front cover that includes a guide to fertilizers and shade-loving plants.

The artistry and beauty of the unexpected in design, furniture, lighting and food.

Adding dramatic detail to wood floors.

Huntington native Kim Parker's signature collections of cheery floral Spode dinnerware are to be showcased at next month's Macy's Herald Square Flower Show in Manhattan.