House & Home January 2016

JANUARY 2016 Vol. 1 Iss. 8

REPURPOSING TO REMODEL “It was quite the project.”

Bradford dotted with Atmosphere top Reclaimed wood adds all-metal Lustron concern in deciding instant appeal to homes wood vs. pellet stove home projects

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Bradford dotted with all-metal Lustron homes

By Amber Turba

Special To House & Home

O

n Brook Street in Bradford stands the home of Ann Markowitz, an all-metal Lustron structure that has often been revered as a piece of history. And, as one of only six of its kind in the region — and one of 3,000 in the nation, Markowitz’s Lustron home is a prized piece of the community.

The house, unique for its all-metal interior and exterior, was built in 1949 by Miller Lumber Co., according Markowitz. It cost approximately $13,000 to build.

“The house is constructed on a cement slab, with no basement,” Markowitz explained. “I originally made the decision to purchase this house in this location because of my mother. We were looking for a one-floor home so that she didn’t have to do laundry or anything of the sort in the basement, and this happened to come up. We more or less bought the house unseen and have been living in it ever since. I like it because it is reasonably low-maintenance.”

The structure was brought in by a flatbed truck in pieces and was bolted together on-site, according to Markowitz. The house is one floor and measures approximately 900 square feet. It has a full-size living room, dining room, galley kitchen, bathroom and laundry room, in addition to two bedrooms that have 9-by12 and 10-by-12 dimensions.

Two of the interior rooms are painted. The rest of the house is finished with a baked-on enamel.

“Because it is metal inside and out, you can hang a magnet anywhere and it’ll stay, without having to drill any holes,” Markowitz explained. “But when you need to drill holes, it can be difficult cutting through the metal. And, like a car that is weathered through years of driving and use, the house must be taken care of; otherwise, it’ll rust.”

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Francie Long/The Bradford Era Ann Markowitz stands next to hear Lustron house in Bradford.

Francie Long/The Bradford The home was erected in 1949 by Miller Lumber Co. andEra Ann standstonext to hear Lustron house in Bradford. costMarkowitz about $13,000 build.

The home was erected in 1949 by Miller Lumber Co. and cost about $13,000 to build.

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(Former Law Office of Steve Minor)

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814-642-5133 219 N. Main St., Port Allegany

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Lustron homes continued from page

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Many owners of such homes even use automotive paste-wax on the walls to renew the shiny finish, Markowitz continued, a trick that had been applied to the original Lustron houses — the history of which stems back almost a century.

Because of World War II and the 12-year Great Depression preceding it, very few new homes were built between 1929 and the war’s end, resulting in a severe housing shortage for returning soldiers. The federal government quickly passed legislation banning nonessential construction so that all materials and labor could be diverted to the immediate need of supplying new housing.

Prefabricated of porcelain-enameled steel components, the Lustron home could be mass produced like automobiles and marketed through an automobile-style dealer system to individual consumers who could then erect the home on-site.

The entire structure would be steel framing, interior and exterior walls, roof trusses and roof tiles. The exposed steel — interior and exterior walls and roof — would have a porcelainenamel finish; a hard, glass finish baked onto the steel panels; and roof shingles. The exterior color options were pink, tan,

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yellow, aqua, blue, green and gray, and the interiors were either beige or gray.

Nearly 3,000 of these homes were built in 18 months, though only a fraction of them still remain, many in the Midwest. Many Lustron houses, like Markowitz’s, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“I can’t tell you how many people stop and want to look at the house because it is so unique,” Markowitz said. “It draws people in because you just don’t see houses like this anymore.”

One of the largest collections of Lustron houses is at Quantico, a U.S. Marines base in Virginia. The 60 Lustrons there have undergone several renovations and may soon be demolished.

However, efforts are underway by preservationists to have the Lustrons relocated, rather than destroyed, due to their timeless appeal.

“The houses are grounded, too,” Markowitz added, “so even though they are completely metal, they can’t be struck by lightning. Isn’t that amazing?”

In addition to the Markowitz home, other Lustrons can be seen in Bradford on Williams Street and Interstate Parkway, among other locations.

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Atmosphere top concern in deciding wood vs. pellet stove

By Rick Miller

Special To House & Home

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hen it comes to deciding whether to get a wood or pellet stove for residential heating, it’s all about the atmosphere.

According to the website firewoodresource.com, many people prefer the traditional wood stove for its satisfaction and comfort over the convenience of a wood pellet-fired stove.

Many people enjoy the outdoor exercise involved in getting their own firewood — even if it’s only stacking a truckload of split firewood. Cutting and splitting their own logs is another method others prefer because it is less expensive, but need a chainsaw and wood splitter is, of course, required.

The cost of fuel for a wood stove can be free if one includes waste wood pallets or logs from one’s own property.

Pellet stoves, on the other hand, are more convenient and able to maintain a constant temperature via a thermostat. Homeowners don’t have to carry firewood from the garage all the time, either; just fill a hopper with pellets a couple of times a day, and they are automatically fed into the combustion chamber. Some require electricity, so if the power goes out, the belt feeder and fan will stop.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cattaraugus County, N.Y., points out that wood’s advantage over other fuels is that it is inexpensive, locally grown and renewable. Newer EPA-certified models have improved efficiency and reduced emissions. However, more than two-thirds of the existing models were made before 1991, when there were no emissions regulations.

After doing some homework on the Internet, check out wood stove and pellet stoves at a dealer’s showroom.

The Southern Tier’s largest showroom is Sisson’s Chainsaw and Stove Service Inc., which has been in business since 1981 in

Bolivar, N.Y. Sisson’s has 50 stoves on display — wood, pellet, gas, coal and electric — plus fireplaces and inserts. Other area stove dealers include Peterson Stoves, Route 305 in Portville, N.Y., and Ray’s Stove and Fireplace Co., on Utley Road in East Otto, N.Y. Worth W. Smith in Bradford, Pa., offers, wood, pellet and coal stoves.

High’s Chimney Service Inc. website looks at the cost of heating with firewood and wood pellets, as well as “greenness.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certified woodburning stoves, but since pellet stoves give off very little smoke, they are not monitored by the EPA. Wood stoves also require a chimney sweep to clean the chimney.

From an aesthetics standpoint, a wood-burning stove comes out on top, from watching the logs burn to their smell, but pellet stoves can be cheaper to maintain and safer.

Pellet stoves can be less expensive than wood stoves, but wood stoves can be less expensive to operate because they don’t require special pellets. Pellet stoves also win the competition over wood stoves on “greenness,” safety, performance and maintenance.

It often comes down to aesthetics, though. Many owners like to see the logs burning and smell the smoke.

The website sums up the battle over which is better, wood stove or pellets: “Strictly speaking, pellet stoves may be the better investment due to such factors as maintenance, efficiency, safety and more. But ultimately, the decision lies with you. What things are most important. If it’s the crackle of logs burning, wood may be good too. You decide.”

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Repurposing to remodel

Diana McElfresh/Olean Times Herald The Perrys’ renovated dining room at 513 W. Sullivan St. in Olean, N.Y., was completed last summer.

By Diana McElfresh Special to House & Home

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etween being parents to two sons, coaching and teaching, it would seem the Perry family of 513 W. Sullivan St. would have limited time to remodel its home, built in 1903.

Somehow, over their last nine years in the house, the Perrys have found time.

According to Joelle Perry, the home was in rough shape when they purchased it in March 2007. “(The house) had been vacant for two years and in terrible condition,” she said. “We spent several years slowly remodeling the house ourselves.”

The family had finished its remodel when it encountered a new problem in March — a carbon monoxide detector went off during the night.

“We found out that the problem was starting with the boiler,

and it was coming out of this chimney,” Matthew Perry said, gesturing at a space in the dining room where a chimney used to be.

According to Matthew Perry, when they replaced the boiler, they also found out a stray brick had dislodged from the chimney, built in 1903 with the original home, and caused a buildup of sediment in the structure. “So, added moisture was coming into our guest room and down into the dining room, which was causing all this water damage,” he said.

“Some of the water got onto my sunshine picture that I drew,” added his 6-year-old son, Gehrig.

The excess moisture damaged the west side of the dining room, but the Perry family decided to remodel the whole room.

“Once we were doing part of the room, we figured we might as well do the whole thing,” Matthew Perry said.

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JANUARY 21, 2016

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Since the family had already taken apart the old chimney that had caused so many problems, they decided this summer to put its bricks to use as the façade of the north-facing wall.

The process of dismantling the chimney and remodeling the dining room took a few months’ worth of weekends, according to Matthew Perry.

“He cleaned (all the bricks) and carried them all downstairs, measured them, cut them and put them all up,” his wife explained.

The newly stripped-down north wall of the dining room Photo submitted Matthew Perry puts mortar between repurposed chimney bricks in his dining room this past summer.

Photo submitted The Perry family put time and effort into remodeling their home at 513 W. Sullivan St. in Olean, N.Y.

shows its studs, original to the home.

“Those are the original studs of the house. All we did was sand them down, stain them, then polyurethane them,” Matthew Perry said.

They discovered that many of the bricks had been crafted at local brick mills in Olean and Bradford, Pa. These bricks, now adorning the wall of their dining room, are stamped with the location of their origin.

The Perry family also sourced other bricks from the area, including one from Olean High School, a few from the recently torn-down Montessori School on Fourth Street and one from the family’s hometown of Springville.

“It took us almost seven months from start to finish,” said Joelle Perry, adding that the dining room was boarded off while it was being remodeled. “It took us a long time, and it was a really dirty, dusty job … It was quite the project.”

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Reclaimed wood adds instant appeal to home projects R

epurposing salvaged wood is a popular trend in the home improvement industry. Not only can using salvaged wood give a home a one-of-a-kind look, but it’s a handy way to incorporate the three Rs of green living into your lifestyle: reduce, reuse and recycle.

Reclaimed wood is often used in flooring, beams, wall treatments, and doors, but it also can be turned into furniture or home accent items. Reclaimed wood adds warmth and historical interest to a home’s decor that newer materials may lack.

Although finding wood that can be salvaged takes time and some legwork, such efforts can quickly pay off. Many businesses are now devoted to reclaimed timber, which can help make the process of finding and using salvaged wood even easier.

Homeowners considering reclaimed wood may be interested to learn that such wood can serve various functions aside from benefitting the planet.

• Match old-growth wood. New regulations may prevent

certain species of trees from being cut down. That means it can be challenging to match old wood in a home, particularly if you’re looking to maintain historical value and authenticity.

Relying on salvaged wood items can alleviate this concern, ensuring that you can find rare woods that are no longer available brand new.

• Salvaged wood has character. It’s difficult to mimic the natural age marks and character that older wood may have.

Instead of being raised on farms, wood harvested decades ago probably grew in natural environments, making the wood both durable and strong. The color and grain of salvaged wood may also be unique.

• Look at objects in a new way. Doors are versatile pieces of reclaimed lumber because they’re already flat and rather large.

Doors can be turned into headboards, tables or benches. Staircase or porch posts can be turned into candlestick holders, and wood shutters can dress up walls and provide a place to hang artwork and other wall items.

• Reclaimed wood can be found everywhere. Most people do not have to look too far to find wood they can salvage.

Check salvage yards, landfills, dumpsters in front of older homes being renovated, or older, unused barns in rural settings.

You also can collect driftwood or discarded shipping crates.

While some reclaimed wood can be used as-is, some pieces may require millwork, including sanding, cutting, shaping, and finishing. If you do not have these skills, you probably will have to hire someone who does.

The Internet is awash with ideas for putting salvaged wood to use. Get inspired and then find the pieces that will fit your project.

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NY SCHOOL DISTRICTS

THE BRADFORD ERA • OLEAN TIMES HERALD • THE SALAMANCA PRESS

PA SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Cattaraugus County

Allegany County

McKean County, Pa.

Potter County, Pa.

Allegany-Limestone Central School District 3131 Five Mile Road Allegany, NY 14706 716-375-6600

Alfred-Almond Central School District 6795 Route 21 Almond, NY 14804 607-276-2981

Bradford Area School District 150 Lorana Ave. P.O. Box 375 Bradford, Pa. 16701 | 814-362-3841

Austin Area School District 138 Costello Ave. Austin, Pa. 16720 (814) 647-8603

Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School District 207 Rock City Street Little Valley, NY 14755 716-938-9155

Andover Central School District 31-35 Elm Street Andover, NY 14806 607-478-8491

Otto-Eldred School District 143 R.L. Sweitzer Drive Duke Center, Pa. 16729 814-817-1380

Belfast Central School District 1 King Street Belfast, NY 14711 585-365-9940

Smethport Area School District 414 S. Mechanic St. Smethport, Pa. 16749-1522 814-887-5543

Bolivar-Richburg Central School District 100 School Street Bolivar, NY 14715 585-928-2561

Kane Area School District 400 W. Hemlock Ave. Kane, Pa. 16735 814-837-9570

Ellicottville Central School District 5873 Route 219 Ellicottville, NY 14731 716-699-2368 Franklinville Central School District 31 North Main Street Franklinville, NY 14737 716-676-8029 Gowanda Central School District 10674 Prospect Street Gowanda, NY 14070 716-532-3325 Hinsdale Central School District 3701 Main Street Hinsdale, NY 14743 716-557-2227 Olean City School District 410 West Sullivan Street Olean, NY 14760 716-375-8018 Portville Central School District 500 Elm Street Portville, NY 14770 716-933-7141 Randolph Central School District 18 Main Street Randolph, NY 14772 716-358-6161 Salamanca City School District 50 Iroquois Drive Salamanca, NY 14779 716-945-2403 Southern Tier Catholic School and Archbishop Walsh Academy 208 North 24th Street Olean NY 14760 716.372.8122 West Valley Central School District 5359 School Street West Valley, NY 14171 716-942-3293 Yorkshire-Pioneer Central School District 12125 County Line Road Yorkshire, NY 14173 716-492-9304

Canaseraga Central School District 4-8 Main Street Canaseraga, NY 14822 607-545-6421

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Port Allegany School District 87 Clyde Lynch Drive Port Allegany, Pa. 16743 814-642-2590

Coudersport Area School District 698 Dwight St. Coudersport, Pa. 16915 814-274-9480 Northern Potter School District 745 Northern Potter Road Ulysses, Pa. 16948 814-848-7506 Oswayo Valley Area School District 277 Oswayo St. Shinglehouse, Pa. 16748 814-597-7175

Cameron County, Pa. Cameron County School District 601 Woodland Ave. Emporium, Pa. 15834 814-486-4000

Cuba-Rushford Central School District 5476 Route 305 Cuba, NY 14727 585-968-1556 Fillmore Central School District 104 Main Street Fillmore, NY 14735 585-567-2251 Friendship Central School District 46 West Main Street Friendship, NY 14739 716-973-3534 Genesee Valley Central School District 1 Jaguar Dr Belmont, NY 14813 585-268-7900 Scio Central School District 3968 Washington Street Scio, NY 14880 585-593-5510 Wellsville Central School District 126 West State Street Wellsville, NY 14895 585-596-2170 Whitesville Central School District 692 Main Street Whitesville, NY 14897 607-356-3301

HAMLIN BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

THE BANK THAT TAKES CARE OF ITS CUSTOMERS

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671 E. Main St., Bradford, PA 814-368-5555 333 W. Main St., Smethport, PA 814-887-5555 34 Fraley St., Kane, PA 814-837-8200 35 East Main St., Mt. Jewett, PA 814-778-5441 151 Main St., Eldred, PA 814-225-4767 2102 West State St. Olean, NY 716-543-4000

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House & Home

JANUARY 21, 2016

What You Really Have To Touch When You Buy

By Harry L. Rinker Harry L. Rinker, LLC

“I will not buy it unless I can touch it and see it” is among the most common reasons given for not buying antiques and collectibles online. The rationale predates the internet. Individuals who refused to buy objects listed in classified and display advertisements in trade periodicals made and continue to make the same argument.

The price of the object is irrelevant. It does not matter if the object was priced at $500.00 or $50,000. Followers of the “I will not buy it unless I can touch it and see it” philosophy are strict adherents.

But, are they? The answer is no. Most of the verbal proponents of the “I will not buy it unless I can touch it and see it” school have no problem bidding and purchasing objects sight unseen from a catalog auction. They are blinded by the false illusions that catalog illustrations are honest representations and listings are truthful. If catalog users read the terms and conditions in the front of the catalog, their confidence level would lessen.

Early in my professional career, I attended previews at several of the leading New York auction houses. At each preview, I purchased a copy of the auction catalog. When I was lucky enough to obtain a catalog in advance of the auction, I perused the catalog to identify those objects I wanted to examine when I arrived at the preview. I have distinct memories of the first time I did this. When I saw the objects up close, there were noticeable differences from the photographic images in the catalog. The objects appeared grander in the illustrations. I immediately developed a strong respect for object photographs and their ability to use light to hide an object’s defects.

[Author’s Aside #1: I should not have been surprised. Women use makeup and other enhancing devices to improve their appearance. Professional portrait photographers touched up images to “bring out the best” in a person. As with many things in life, photographs need to be scrutinized and interpreted.]

Buying something without seeing and touching it is a byproduct of the digital age. The digital age has taken the concept to levels unthinkable 20 years ago. It is no surprise that sellers of antiques and collectibles are eager to take advantage of younger generations’ desire for immediate/instant gratification. Storefront websites such as eBay, GoAntiques (www.goantiques.com<http://www.goantiques.com>), Ruby Lane (www.rubylane.com<http://www.rubylane.com>), and TIAS (www.tias. com<http://www.tias.com>), Instagram.com, and independent websites flourish.

Their long-term growth is promising. Future generations of collectors will buy more from online sources than in the field.

The arguments against buying something sight unseen are many. First, if the object is pictured, there is no guarantee that the object in the picture is the one being sold. The seller sent me a lesser quality object than the one in the illustration is

a common complain. Beware if the object, especially if its price is low or middle range, appears to be professionally photographed. Be suspicious if only one image of the object is offered. An honest seller provides photographs documenting any condition issues and/or marks. If the size of the object is not available in the listing, a scale should be included in the overview photograph.

Second, sellers are not professional packagers, albeit some are very experienced.

Objects can arrive broken. If insured by the carrier, filing a claim is a time consuming process. If the seller is approached, a standard response is “it was fine when I sent it.”

Third, receiving any type of sales guarantee from online sellers of antiques and collectibles is a rarity. [Author’s Aside #2: I hate rarity as a word but it applies here.]

Most online sellers wait until a check clears before sending the object. Few sellers hold a purchase check until the buyer receives the object, inspects it, and indicates satisfaction.

Fourth, the seller’s listing is inaccurate. Incorrect authentication is a major issue.

Online sellers often offer antiques and collectibles about which they have little to no knowledge. Further, they are unable to differentiate between a period example and a reproduction (exact copy), copycat (stylistic copy), fantasy (item that did not exist during the initial period of production), or outright fake. I recently answered a reader’s question about a Jennings Brothers Art Nouveau desk set. In my answer, I noted that when Jennings Brothers ceased operations, the company’s molds were purchased by another manufacturer who made inexpensive copies. It takes an experienced eye to distinguish between the two, especially when a side by side comparison is not available.

Fifth, the World Wide Web is filled with scam artists, individuals who offer an antique or collectible for sale that they do not own. The unsuspecting buyer agrees to the sale and sends the payment. An email is received that the package is on its way. It never arrives. Attempts to contact the seller remain unanswered. If the seller is reached, the standard response is: “I mailed it; the Postal Service must have lost it.” When asked for a tracking number, the seller conveniently lost the Postal Service receipt.

I was a victim of such a scam. In January 2013, Scarlett Rhoades of New Castle, Delaware, offered to sell me an early 20th century Erzgebirge Noah’s Ark set about which her former business partner had asked my opinion several years earlier.

She sent pictures. After several email exchanges, Scarlett and I agreed upon a price.

I sent a cashier’s check. The Noah’s Ark never arrived. Repeated email requests asking about the shipping delay went unanswered. I thought about filing a claim with the USPS service claiming mail fraud because I sent the check via the Postal Service.

The difficulty rested with the fact that all correspondence was by email (there is no World Wide Web police) and I have no record of shipment via the US Postal Service

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other than an email telling me it would be done. I still am annoyed, the “it is one of the costs of collecting” argument be damned.

Given the above, why would anyone buy something sight unseen? The answer is twofold. In caveat emptor, the burden rests on the buyer to know what he/she is buying and not on the seller. Although I have strong views against this business principle, it is reality.

Buying via email or the internet does not mean sight unseen. The increasing prevalence of smart phones allows sellers to provide digital images. If a person can take a selfie, he/she can photograph an object and details of the object.

A skilled collector or dealer can quickly evaluate a picture, determining if a seller has properly described the object or not. A great deal of pain and anguish would be avoided if individuals buy what they know and are less focused on finding bargains or making a big score.

Second, if the buyer has a question(s), he/she should contact the seller and ask for an answer(s). Emails are fine. A phone call is better. With Skype and similar platforms, a face to face conversation is possible. One of my 2016 New Years’ resolutions is to try to do more of this.

Which brings me to the main point of this column. In the digital age, it is not the object that needs to be touched. It is the seller. In the 2010s, knowing what you are buying is secondary to knowing from whom you are buying. At the very least, determine a minimum purchase dollar value at which no transaction will occur until the seller is checked out and contact made. Stars and Feedback are not enough. The digital age has depersonalized buying. One is never certain if a cyberspace contact is

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a real person or a computer programmed voice.

When making a recent online purchase from a Ruby Lane storefront, I made a decision to introduce myself to the seller and talk with her. Impressed by her listings, I wanted to learn more. A secondary goal was to share my wants. I obtained the seller’s phone number and called. We had an excellent conversation.

Person to person contact is one of the core values of the antiques and collectibles trade. It builds trust. It creates friendships. It is why corporatizing the antiques and collectibles industry is impossible. Preserving this in the digital age is a challenge that must be met.

Harry L. Rinker welcomes questions from readers about collectibles, those mass-produced items from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Selected letters will be answered in this column. Harry cannot provide personal answers. Photos and other material submitted cannot be returned. Send your questions to: Rinker on Collectibles, 5955 Mill Point Court SE, Kentwood, MI 49512. You also can e-mail your questions to harrylrinker@aol.com. Only e-mails containing a full name and mailing address will be considered.

You can listen and participate in WHATCHA GOT?, Harry’s antiques and collectibles radio call-in show, on Sunday mornings between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM Eastern Time. If you cannot find it on a station in your area, WHATCHA GOT? streams live on the Internet at www.gcnlive.com.

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House & Home

JANUARY 21, 2016

3 tips on choosing the right window for your kitchen or bath remodel K

itchens and bathrooms are not only two of the most highly used rooms in your home, they’re also two of the most popular rooms to renovate, according to home style experts and Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report.

With any kitchen or bath renovation, there are many aspects to consider - cabinets, counters, floors, etc. And whether you’re making small updates or completely gutting the room, make sure to include window replacement in your list of must-haves.

How can new windows benefit a room? With a style that fits your personality, the right window provides natural light and ventilation to help create a beautiful, functional and comfortable living space.

Keep three key elements in mind when choosing a window for your kitchen or bath: Choose a window style with function in mind.

Kitchen windows are often placed above counters or sinks, while bathroom windows tend to be located above tubs, beside showers or above bathroom counters. The placement of these windows can sometimes make them hard to reach, so choosing a window style that’s easy to open and close is a must.

Sliding windows or casement windows - which crank open and closed - are good options for hard-to-reach areas like above a counter or sink.

Ventilation is another key consideration for kitchens and bathrooms. A properly placed window can help decrease the amount of heat and moisture retained from cooking or showering. Awning windows, which can be pulled in or pushed out, are a good option for ventilation, and perform best when placed close to the ceiling or above eye level.

Select a window material that fits your needs.

Kitchens and baths require windows that are easy to clean and can withstand moisture, so materials like vinyl or fiberglass are ideal.

Fiberglass windows can withstand extreme heat and cold, are energy-efficient and can have the quality look of painted wood. Vinyl windows are easy to care for and don’t require additional painting or staining.

However, if wood is a better fit for the style of your home, make sure to select a finish that will hold up against stains and moisture, and be prepared to do a little more cleaning and upkeep.

Consider additional features and options.

If you want to maintain privacy while maximizing natural light in the bathroom, choose a window with obscure or opaque glass.

Or, you can streamline the look and function of your kitchen or bath with between-the-glass cordless blinds or shades, which minimize allergens and eliminate clutter. Because these window coverings are tucked between the panes of glass, you won’t have to worry about moisture or stains.

Take it one step further and motorize the blinds or shades.

Controlled via a remote or home automation system, the blinds or shades can customize the level of light in the bathroom or kitchen. Pella’s Insynctive technology is just one example of motorized blinds and shades.

Visit Pella Windows and Doors on Pinterest or Houzz for design inspiration, or visit Pella.com to begin designing your new windows.

House & Home

JANUARY 21, 2016

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Find and maintain the right carpet for your projects C

arpets provide both practical and aesthetic appeal inside a home. In winter, carpets help keep homes warm, and the right color carpet can add to design schemes.

While rugs may have originated in the Far East, North America also has some rich carpet history. According to The Carpet and Rug Institute, the United States carpet industry began in 1791 when the first woven carpet mill opened in Philadelphia. Others soon followed suit. Tufted carpets and machinepowered manufacturing helped churn out yards upon yards of carpeting, making it a popular, affordable and common addition to homes, especially after the post-World War II housing boom.

Carpeting remains a go-to flooring material in modern homes. In fact, many homes offer a blend of both carpeting in some rooms and different flooring choices in others.

Upon choosing carpet, it is important that homeowners follow some guidelines to prolong a carpet’s longevity and maintain its style. The following are some common carpeting dos and don’ts.

DO consider the room’s purpose and foot traffic before shopping for carpeting. Make a list of the attributes desired (e.g., soundproofing, easy care, high pile) and present these to the salesperson so he or she can help you make the best choice.

DON’T rush into flooring choices. Unlike paint colors, flooring materials are more permanent choices that are only updated every several years or more. Weigh all of your options before diving in.

DO consider conservative colors and styles. Neutral hues and patterns will blend better with furniture options. This means you can change furniture out and still keep the existing carpeting, which complements any new pieces. Also, if there’s a chance you might sell your home in the near future, buyers tend to look for a neutral color scheme they can make their own.

DON’T skimp on padding to save a few dollars on the carpet installation. The carpeting needs a solid foundation to

last and look its best. Inadequate padding can lead to extra and noticeable wear and tear. Invest in a good foundation for the carpeting, like firm, dense padding in high-traffic areas.

DO become knowledgeable about different carpet styles, such as frieze, Berber, Saxony, textured, and more. This will help ensure you make the most educated decision.

DON’T purchase at the first store you visit. Shop around to investigate different pricing and specials. Also, consider the professionalism and expertise of the staff responsible for carpet installation. High-cost carpet may not look very good if it isn’t installed correctly.

DO stain-protect rugs and carpeting, which can help repel stains that would otherwise become permanent and can prolong the longevity of the flooring.

DON’T forget to vacuum carpets frequently to prevent ground-in dirt and debris.

DO pick textured carpets to conceal footprints and vacuum track marks. SH162859

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THE BRADFORD ERA • OLEAN TIMES HERALD • THE SALAMANCA PRESS

House & Home

JANUARY 21, 2016