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Home garden SPRING 2014 | Capital gazette communications
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Smart landscaping a smart move By SHARON LEE TEGLER Correspondent Landscape designer Tony Smouse, the owner of AMJ Landscaping Inc. at 8211-A Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard in Pasadena, has adapted a technology phrase. “If I had to choose a motto for the company for 2014, it would be ‘smart landscaping’ because, much like a smart phone which offers many applications to choose from, we offer homeowners a range of options that can be phased in over a long period of time,” he said. Smouse’s “smart” concept of design evolved over the past few years in reaction to changes in his clients’ thinking. In the late 1980s and ‘90s home improvement loans were easily available and big, splashy landscapes were the norm. With the downturn in the economy, however, homeowners became more conservative in their approach to landscaping projects, more cost-conscious. “I wouldn’t call it a trend but there has really been movement in the landscaping design process,” said Smouse. “People generally have a good idea of what they want but can’t afford it all at one time. Guidance and information from a knowledgeable, experienced landscape designer can help people achieve their vision in a cost effective manner. We’re able to use the design process as a tool to phase-in their project an element or two at a time according to an overall plan.” The designer pointed to a master landscape plan on his drawing board that clients are phasing in over several years. Hardscaping features include an in-ground pool, a pool deck and patio, an upper deck, a hot tub, a pergola for shade and stone pathways connecting everything. Softscaping elements include trees for privacy and shade, evergreens that serve as a windbreak and frame the front of the house, and combinations of shrubs, ornamental plants and flowers that create curb appeal. By seeing the design in stages, AMJ’s clients were able
to determine what needed to be done first; then tackle each additional step in a practical way. They chose to focus initially on the front of the house which was their highest priority. In another year or two, budget willing, they’ll install the pool. Since it’s already integrated into the design, they will know where the pool goes and how it relates to the future patio. Their next installation might be the pool deck or pathway. Each of the installations can stand alone but, planned carefully, will come together in perfect harmony at the end. Aside from clients’ desire to stay within their means, Smouse hasn’t noticed any new trends this season. The lawn and garden scene has been saturated with trends over the past few years, he said. For (See landscape, Page 3)
ABOVE: A master landscape plan from AMJ Landscaping Inc. enables a homeowner to see how individual elements can be phased into the overall design over a period of time. LEFT: AMJ Landscape owner Tony Smouse discussed arrangements with client Elaine Ezell for a landscaping project being undertaken at her home in Pasadena. Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler, Correspondent
ON the cover Courtesy photo
An AMJ Landscape project.
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example, permeable concrete pavers and waterproof cushions were once novel but are now commonplace. However, in the wake of the passage of a storm water tax, some homeowners have inquired about the use of rain gardens, drainage or other methods to control the flow of water on their property. Though AMJ Landscaping is known for tackling large commercial projects such as a major revitalization of Kurtz Beach in Pasadena, it is particularly adept at designing residential landscapes. For information, visit www. amjlandscaping.com. Mike Gordon, is involved with the residential side of landscaping through Patuxent Outdoors, the design division of Patuxent Nursery at 2510 North Crain Highway in Bowie. Gordon echoed Smouse’s impression that people are creating their landscapes “a little bit at a time but with an overall plan to accomplish their vision somewhere down the road.” “It used to be, ‘I’ll borrow a whole lot of money now and go for it’, but with
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with homeowners but isn’t sure if demand is connected to the storm water tax. For projects aimed at controlling runoff over large areas, permeable pavers that allow water to flow through to form reservoirs beneath a driveway or walkway are much sought after. Homeowner Michelle Brown of Crofton believes both Smouse and Gordon are onto something regarding a possible trend involving the storm water tax. A passionate gardener anxious to prevent runoff in her own yard, she asked landscaping contractor Kevin Sommer of Crofton-based Sommerscapes to help her create a retaining wall, rain garden and other elements to control water runoff and erosion. Patuxent Nursery’s constantly changing inventory of perennials, annuals and ornamental plants make softscaping easy, Gordon says. As far as hardscaping is concerned, things that Courtesy photo Rain could not diminish the beauty of this patio designed and built by Patuxent make the backyard more of a vacation Nursery in Bowie. The walls surrounding the patio, the stately white columns and spot — outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, other elements add architectural interest while the flowers and potted plants pavers for patios or walkways and arbors or pergolas for outdoor soften the effect. living spaces — remain popular. For the current economy that’s no longer new trends but noted that certain information about the products and true,” he said. products are more in demand than services of Patuxent Nursery, visit Gordon also found it hard to identify usual. He says rain barrels are popular www.patuxentnursery.com.
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Eye-catching details in past Homes of the Week Glimpses that are novel, innovative or just fun! treehouse
windows with a view
File photos by Joshua McKerrow, staff
The treehouse in the yard of Pierre and Nancy Moitrier’s home in Annapolis Roads.
Staircases
A window opens up above the living room from an upstairs hall in Barbara and Michael Dowling’s home in Annapolis.
patios & decks
Plexiglas, transparent steps lead down into the kitchen in Tim Whisted’s home in Hillsmere.
A patio in the backyard of Elva and David Joyner’s home in Arnold.
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By WENDI WINTERS wwinters@capgaznews.com One of the most popular and enduring features in The Capital is the weekly Home of the Week column that appears in Saturday editions of the paper. Readers have a lot of fun perusing the photos that appear in the paper and online at www.capitalgazette.com. However, through the more than four decades the column has been published, the writers and photographers have had the lion’s share of the fun. We have climbed, clambered and crawled through hundreds of this area’s most unusual residences, ranging from boats and treehouses, to dorm rooms, a lighthouse and The Light House, to condos and cabins, to historic residences and palatial modern-day spreads. People frequently ask, “What are some of the most unusual features you’ve seen in a Home of the Week?” That’s a hard question. There are so many things we’ve enjoyed. We treasure the memories. One of my favorites was the floating glass staircase in Tim Whisted’s Hillsmere home. The staff photographers, too, have their favorites. They see things with the eye of an artist. Here is a roundup of just a very few of our favorite features: • Staircases that twist, wind or curve grab our attention. We’ve seen some spectacular ones — from the glass stairwell of Tim Whisted, to the polished hand-hewn wooden slabs that comprise Gary Stiewing’s residence in Tracys Landing. • Windows with a view — or a way to view the scenery — are enticing. It’s easy to be captivated by a grand view whether the window looks out from a living room, bedroom or the bath. • Sometimes, we want to stay and enjoy a drink — and drink in the view — at some of the outdoor decks and patios. • Hand-carved details, especially vintage molding, catches our eye. • Then, there was the marvelous, much talked-about treehouse! • And, lest you think we’ve lost our senses, here’s a bathroom floor paved with common cents — hundreds of classic copper pennies. www.twitter.com/wendiwinters
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Vintage molding
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Penny tile The main bathroom in Celynda and Christopher Frank’s Centreville home features a floor made from pennies.
File photos by Paul W. Gillespie, Staff
Original plaster molding dating to the 1770s hangs in Nan and Mike Farmer’s home in historic Annapolis.
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Members of the Annapolis Design District discuss trends in home building and design By WENDI WINTERS wwinters@capgaznews.com In an industrial neighborhood, about a half mile square, located south of West Street in Parole is a bustling business community that calls itself the Design District. A nonprofit organization called the Annapolis Design District, founded in 2005, is leading the way in encouraging leading home design, showroom, arts and other related business to collaborate together. Inside and outside the district’s borders of West Street, Chinquapin Round Road, Legion Avenue and Forest Drive, members include craftsmen; flooring, plumbing and electrical professionals; architects and interior designers; design-buildfirms, builders, contractors, retail or wholesale shops, showrooms and suppliers, and contractors. Day-to-day, these enterprises are aware of “what’s hot and what’s not” in home building, design and decorating. They know what the “next big trend” will be because they’re busy creating, building, selling, renovating or installing it. According to one Annapolis Design District member, Lisa Publicover, owner of Lisa Publicover Interior Design, 202 Legion Ave., green or environmentally conscious design is still a major trend. There are new and interesting uses for recyclable materials, including inserts for upholstery. More and more people are seeking out low-VOC or no-VOC paints for their home interiors. They want to reduce the amount of man-made volatile organic compounds, including formaldehyde, from their habitat. “There’s a real ‘less is more’ philosophy in design today,” she said. “People are simplifying, streamlining and clearing out all the tchotchkes.” She noted all-white kitchens continue to be big. “They’re not too contemporary, but instead are very traditional. They have an appeal and longevity. People are more cautious and want more timeless designs. It’s almost like a turn of the century look is very in vogue. A look that is not as stark as Shaker design, but clean.” “The last 10 to 15 years, we saw a lot of ivories with glazes, now, kitchen cabinets have a classic white matte finish.” She’s also observed an emerging look she describes as “rustic contemporary or vintage modern.” It’s a blend of rustic wood items mixed with modern pieces. Publicover said the signature
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Wood is becoming popular in kitchen area countertops. They are not intended for work surfaces, but top raised breakfast bars, eating and serving areas.
“The hood above the cooktop is not strictly functional, but can be an opportunity to create a nice focal point with nice tile work, a hood with an interesting design or one made of decorative metals,” said Mark T. White, owner of and designer for Kitchen Encounters. colors of the past decade, a spa blue and brown or spa blue and green, are fading. They’re being replaced in popularity with saturated colors like teal, cobalt blue and emerald green balanced by neutral gray or taupe tones.
Contact Lisa Publicover Interior Design at 410-263-2500. Mark T. White, owner of and designer for Kitchen Encounters, said the majority of kitchens today are installing granite countertops. The volcanic product is competitively
priced, durable, long-last, and withstands heat and all kinds of abuse. Yet, another product gaining in popularity are man-made quartz countertops. “They’re made of pulverized stone mixed in with resins and poured into slabs to form sheets,” White said. The material has several advantages over granite: it is non-porous, offers greater pattern and color consistency, and some types are available with antimicrobial surfaces. Wood is also becoming popular in kitchen area countertops. They are not intended for work surfaces, but top raised breakfast bars, eating and serving areas. “It is a soft transitional element when seguing from the kitchen to a living or dining room area,” White said. In the kitchen, he’s noticing more space and budget is devoted to appliances, in part because of the recent innovations in refrigeration, the configuration of appliances, and appliances designed to integrate with surrounding cabinetry. New appliances are vying for space, among them: steam ovens, induction cooktops, and modular appliances. A stove top can now feature different types of burners and cooking apparatuses in combinations selected by the homeowner. Proper ventilation is important. The ventilator hood can be an attentiongetter in the kitchen. “The hood above the cooktop is not strictly functional, but can be an opportunity to create a nice focal point with nice tile work, a hood with an interesting design or one made of decorative metals.” Similar choices are available in determining how much freezer and refrigerator storage is wanted in the kitchen. A secondary refrigerator or freezer can be contained in undercounter drawers. Overall, White said, there’s an uptick in the interest in contemporary styling. “In large part, it’s because people are looking for a more soothing, calming environment. The clean lines and smooth surfaces of contemporary styling create that effect.” He added, “But, there is still a lot of interest in the classic look of an all-white kitchen. That look will continue to be popular with treatments like a brushed finish on white wooden cabinetry. It also creates more of a coastal feel and can brighten up a dull (See trEnds, Page 7)
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kitchen.” Visit the Kitchen Encounters website at www.kitchenencounters.biz . John Riley, president of Riley Custom Homes & Renovations, a 35-year business, has seen trends come and go. The green trend, though, is enduring and gathering steam. “People are asking for green and recycled materials. We’re designing with recycled composite Hardi Plank siding made of fiberglass and concrete that looks like wood. It is also low maintenance.” Along with siding, trims are also made of recycled composite products to reduce maintenance costs. On the roof, synthetic or composite roofing is replacing traditional shingles and those made of slate. He noted foam insulation is gaining in popularity as energy prices continue to rise and customers become more energy conscious. Three-quarters of the homes he builds are foam insulated now. Geothermal systems that tap the geothermal energy created and stored in the earth. “It costs a bit more, but government tax rebates are making the installation more affordable. Typically, it is only about 20 percent more than a conventional system, but you’re going to see the payback within five to seven
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years.” Though not a recycled product, an ipe deck, he said, “seems to be the deck of choice with our houses of today. It is an exotic hardwood which does well in the elements around here.” Ipe is a hard, durable wood harvested in Central and South America that resists flames, rot and insects. As the last of the Baby Boomers turn 50 this year, Riley’s noticing an increased demand for homes designed so residents can “age in place.” “Hallways are getting wider, up to five feet wide, to accommodate a wheelchair or walker. Bathrooms are bigger to allow access for wheelchair users,” he said. “Elevators are being installed, too.” “People are thinking about their future. They want to stay in their homes a while.” Describing Anne Arundel County as having an eclectic range of house styles, he’s noticing a shift away from colonial style homes to those that are more contemporary. “No one style is dominating,” he said. Despite the soft economy, his firm is busy building estates, many of them on the water. One recent project on a Millersville horse farm is one Riley describes as “Churchill Downs meets Traditional.” The website for Riley Custom Homes & Renovation is www.rileycustom.com . The Annapolis Design District website is www.annapolisdesigndistrict.com. www.twitter.com/wendiwinters
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Appliances can be integated into cabinetry, including secondary refrigerators or freezers.
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Master gardeners bring spring gardens to life By SHARON LEE TEGLER Correspondent April’s mild temperatures were a blessing as Anne Arundel County master gardeners Carole Fullagar, Susan Smouse and Penny Murname took the first steps to bring the gardens they’re responsible for back to life. On day one, they tackled four rectangular beds off the B&A Trail in Glen Burnie. Fullagar and Smouse, who live in Glen Burnie, showed up first carrying rakes and gardening tools. Murname, a Crofton resident, arrived shortly thereafter. After surveying the beds for winter damage, the trio began clearing away dead plant materials. Two of the beds flank a picturesque wooden arbor the women said is covered with brilliant orange trumpet flowers in the summer — blooms that draw humming birds. The other two beds are on the opposite side of the trail. All contain organically grown perennials and native plants and flowers. As the gardeners worked, they uncovered ornamental grasses, daffodils and considerable green growth beneath the dead plants. Fullagar said a couple more work sessions would be needed to get the beds in shape. “We’ll remove dead flowers and stems, clean out the leaves, trim back the grasses and put up signs to spruce the beds up,” she said. “We’ll
By Sharon Lee Tegler, Correspondent
Eager to neaten beds along the B&A Trail, master gardeners Carole Fullagar, left, and Susan Smouse turned a jaundiced eye on the ivy growing out of control in this bed of daffodils. clean up areas surrounding our gardens and do some mulching. Then we’ll simply wait for the plants already in the ground to come up.” Cheerful crocuses peaked through in one bed. In another, tulips were growing but not yet in bloom. Several contained grassy spikes of liriope while
others revealed high bush blueberries and the greening shoots of spiderwort, sedum, creeping phlox, Echinacea, black-eyed Susan, and lamb’s ears. Breaking for coffee, the women chatted about their personal gardens and the master gardener projects
they’re involved in. Fullagar loves growing vegetables while Smouse and Murname primarily grow flowers. Each of them qualified to be master gardeners by attending 40 hours of classroom training and interning for 20 hours. “Our work is voluntary and new master gardeners
are asked to try as many different projects as they can,” Murname said. “Each February we choose one or more projects depending on what best suits our interests and geographical location. Master gardeners can be consultants at a farmer’s market or library or work on full-blown horticultural projects,” she said. Originally from England, Smouse has gardening in her blood. But she postponed becoming a master gardener for years because work prevented her from attending daily classes. Once retired, she applied immediately. Fullagar also became involved after retiring whereas Murname, an Anne Arundel Public Library system employee, squeezed in classes while working. More than 200 individuals are involved in the Master Gardener Program and volunteer on numerous projects throughout the county. They include: Hancock’s Resolution, 2795 Bayside Beach Road in Pasadena, is a 26-acre historical farm featuring a stone house built in 1785 with a kitchen garden containing vegetables, herbs and ornamental plants originally grown by the Hancock family. Historic London Town, 839 Londontown Road in Edgewater, is an 18th century tavern surrounded by ornamental, woodland and environmental gardens. Master gardeners there collect and plant heirloom seeds and sell produce grown from them. They also have a program called “Science in the Garden.” Crofton Community Library, 1681 Riedel Road in Crofton, features a “Learning Landscape” demonstration garden growing herbs and vegetables mixed with flowering plants tended by master gardeners including Murname. Kinder Farm Park’s “Apprentice Garden” provides small community plots to selected local families who are taught by master gardeners how to plant and grow vegetables from seeds. At season’s end they harvest potatoes, tomatoes, beans and (See gardeners, Page 9)
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By Sharon Lee Tegler, Correspondent
Master gardener Carole Fullagar, left, shows 6-year-old Mark Halla, of Piney Orchard, and 3-year-olds Adam Halla and Haley Brimhall, of Piney Orchard, the brocolli, kohlrabi and cauliflower seedlings in the “Grow It, Eat It” section of The Village Garden at Maryland Sunrise Farm in Gambrills. In the background are 2-year old Alexa Brimhall and mother Christine.
melons. Maryland Sunrise Farm, 97 Dairy Lane in Gambrills, is an 857 acre packet of land formerly known as the U.S. Naval Academy Dairy Farm that’s also headquarters for the Anne Arundel County Master Gardeners, University of Maryland Extension office headed by program coordinator D. Michael Ensor. It is also the site of the master gardeners’ newest project, “The Village Garden.” The project is one Fullagar, Smouse, and Murname truly enjoy working on with other master gardeners and happily headed to the site. The Village Garden was created from a badly overgrown area next to the office that desperately needed revitalization. Now an appealing and ecologically sound organic demonstration garden for four seasons, the plot is divided into sections representing different elements of horticulture. Anthony Smouse, a fellow master gardener and Susan Smouse’s son, volunteered to design the project’s hardscaping and graded beds.
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Set off by white picket fences and an arched gateway at the entrance, the garden has a canopied picnic area and benches where visitors may relax. In September, the canopied area will be paved with bricks sponsored by donors. Beyond the entrance, a seed propagation bed has its own coldframe or mini-greenhouse. Opposite it is a children’s labyrinth created by Fullagar and Smouse with plantings and meandering rock-lined pathways. There is an herb garden, a pollinator’s garden meant to attract birds, bees and butterflies, a seasonal garden, a Bay-Wise “zero-scape” with plants and mulch to control storm-water runoff, compost bins and a “Grow It, Eat It” garden. Small-fry Mark and Adam Halla and Haley Brimhall were delighted as Carole Fullagar pointed out seedlings of broccoli, kohlrabi and cauliflower in the Grow It, Eat It garden. Adam, who’s 3, couldn’t resist grabbing a handful of dirt. For information on the Master Gardeners program, visit www. extension.umd.edu/anne-arundelcounty/master-gardener-program. Currently, there’s a shortage of North County gardeners.
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Tips for updating an already terrific home By WENDI WINTERS wwinters@capgaznews.com Dare I say it? Winter is finally over! It’s time to put the winter doldrums behind you. A bold new haircut or style, a new shade of lipstick, or splurging for a few wardrobe items can be the perfect prescription to update or refresh a personal fashion look. What about your home? It could use a pick-me-up, too. Depending upon what you decide to do, the costs for giving a room or a whole residence a fresh look can vary. Interior designer Deborah Goode, owner of A Goode Start
Decorating & Home Staging, has a few suggestions. A room can be painted quickly and economically in a neutral shade that will last a few seasons. Switch out pillows, drapes, shades and upholstery and replace them with those in hot, haute new colors and prints. Vivid colors of coral, yellow, apple green, aqua and turquoise are popular this season. Pantone’s “color of the year” is Radiant Orchid. Fashionable fabrics of the season include bold, bright prints, often reminiscent of the Pucci and Op Art prints of the 1970s, plus those influenced by African, Indian and Indonesian artisans of that era. It’s a fresh
new look for the Millennials and a refreshing take on the past for older generations. Organic prints, depicting bird, shell and butterfly patterns in a bright palette of colors are flying off the shelves. You needn’t go overboard redecorating: Goode recently created a bedroom for the Baldwin Home’s Green Designer Showhouse. Against a white backdrop, she enhanced the room with pillows and throws featuring a aqua, turquoise and white color scheme. The pillows, set upon a white spread, are an artful combination of solid colors and prints. Goode can be reached at www.AGoodeStartDecorating. com or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ agoodestartdecorating. Annapolis architect Craig Martin of Spire Architecture, has discovered many of his clients have similar items on their wish lists when making
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Coral, yellow, aqua and turquoise are very popular colors this year. Organic prints, such as bird, shell and butterfly patterns, are also the rage. Deborah Goode, owner of A Goode Start Decorating & Home Staging, designed this room for the Baldwin Home’s Green Designer Showhouse. plans to structurally update or renovate their homes. “They are looking for an updated bathroom concept,” he said.
They are seeking showers with no doors or glass doors. Soaking tubs are on their bucket list. They want a unique, personal look, more than the standard, cookiecutter “big box store” designs. One way to freshen an older home is to create an open floor plan on the main floor. Prior to this century, homes were built as an enclosed collection of closed-off rooms. More and more, the cook in the kitchen wants to see the guests in the living room or dining room and participate in the fun — not spend the entire party looking at a solid wall. Homeowners are opting to have interior non-load bearing walls removed by licensed contractors to open up the space. New rooms can be created, he said, by changing floor or ceiling treatments. Adding kitchen islands for simultaneous cooking and entertaining blends the “working kitchen” with the traditional living and dining spaces. It creates new areas for food preparation, under counter storage and casual dining. Martin can be contacted at his website www.spirearch.com or on Facebook www.facebook. com/spirearch. www.twitter.com/wendiwinters
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Glean design and decorating inspiration from walking tours By WENDI WINTERS wwinters@capgaznews.com One surefire way to tell spring is here is the blooming of the annual Home and Garden tours in this area. This year, there are three springtime strolling tours, each designed to celebrate the season. Before you go, be sure to wear comfortable, sturdy, flat walking shoes. Dress for the weather: the tours go on, rain or shine. If you are touring inside a home, stiletto heels are not allowed as they can damage wooden floors and carpeting. Homes on the tour are not handicap accessible, nor are they conducive to baby strollers. Take a water bottle — or plan to stop and enjoy a repast at one of the local eateries along your
route.
May Day The first event is free. It’s the 58th annual May Basket Competition. All over Historic and downtown Annapolis — indeed in many neighborhoods throughout the region — on May 1 baskets filled with fresh cut flowers flourish in creative ways on the doorways and entrances to homes and businesses. Locals and visitors alike delight in walking through the area, pausing to admire the colorful, often ingenious methods of displaying Mother Nature’s flowering finery. Bring a camera to photograph the fine flourish of bud-filled baskets. Whether you have five minutes or several hours to spend, you will find every basket is unique. Some are witty, often hysterically so. The business baskets on Main Street are often
especially creative. The basket competition has, since its inception, been coordinated by volunteers of the Garden Club of Old Annapolis Towne. They judge only the baskets in the Historic District. It’s members do the judging. Adult prize winners are invited to attend a special Garden Club of Old Annapolis Towne tea party later in the week. All entries by children are rewarded with a pretty pink ribbon. Budding flower basket competitors have to follow a few rules. The baskets must be on display by 10 a.m. May 1. Businesses may use containers related to their business or place their display in a traditional basket. The fun part is defining what a “traditional” basket is. Only fresh cut flowers and live materials can be used — sorry, no artificial artifices! (See tours, Page 14)
File photo by Joshua McKerrow, Staff
A May basket hangs on a door on Duke of Gloucester Street.
14 — HOME & GARDEN, April 2014 By Matthew Cole, Staff
This home on Chester Avenue in Eastport will be featured when the Eastport Civic Association hosts its 9th annual Eastport Home & Garden Tour from 1 to 5 p.m. June 18.
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Ribbons are a traditional part of a May Day basket — participants find many creative ways to use them. Baskets or containers must include a card with the name of the entrant. If an entrant is younger than 12, the youngster should include their age. Do your own judging! Stroll Annapolis’ lanes and byways with a friend. Which baskets are your favorites? Feel free to take photos and post your top selections online at www. capitalgazette.com/all_yours.
Home & Garden Tour The Eastport Civic Association hosts its 9th annual Eastport Home &
Garden Tour from 1 to 5 p.m. June 18. Rain or shine. Seven Eastport houses and two gardens in the upper Chester Avenue area will be featured. Some are renovated watermen’s houses, some are newly constructed, and some are well-preserved older homes. It is easy to stroll from one residence to another on the tour. Tickets are $20 until June 1; afterward they are $25. They can be purchased online at www.eastportcivic.org or at locations in Eastport listed on the association’s website. Additional information, as it becomes available, is posted on the website. Proceeds from the tour are used to benefit Eastport community organizations, programs and causes.
Secret Garden Tour The Secret Garden Tour is a glimpse into the private gardens and patios of residences in the Historic Annapolis district, located in the heart of downtown Annapolis. You’ll find yourself in pastoral gardens you never knew existed — some creatively segued into small spaces, others lavished across an emerald green vista. The gardens will inspire your own landscaping plans as they feature a lush variety of plants, flowers, creative gardening styles and distinctive landscaping designs. About a dozen gardens will be featured on the tour, all of them at private residences. The Secret Garden Tour benefits the HammondHarwood House. It is from noon to 5 p.m. June 7 and 8. Tickets are $25 in advance through June 6; $30 the weekend of the tour. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www. hammondharwoodhouse.org or by calling the HammondHarwood House at 410-263-4683, ext. 10. On the two days of the tour, tickets can be purchased at a ticket tent outside HammondHarwood House, 19 Maryland Ave. The tickets are good for Saturday, Sunday or both days. www.twitter.com/wendiwinters
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5 things to do when getting a house ready for sale By BOB AND DONNA MCWILLIAMS Correspondents It finally looks as though spring has sprung, and like the season’s fresh blooms, it’s also a time when a new crop of property comes to market. For sellers, there are a few simple steps that can help make sure your house is the cream of the crop, and avoid being one that buyers will pass by. Here are the Top 5 recommendations we have for our sellers when it comes to getting a house ready for sale:
homeowner, saving big bucks on the cost of a contractor. Plus, when buyers see something that’s broken, they tend to knock a $1,000 off the purchase price for a repair that might actually cost less than $100.
Paint, carpet
Clean, clean, clean We all have a different idea of what constitutes clean. So just to be on the safe side, clean your house as though the pickiest person you can think of is going to come over and inspect. We have a video entitled “Preparing for the Buyer’s Eye.” It’s hosted by the late Tony Randall, aka Felix Unger of the Odd Couple. That gives you an idea of
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the importance that’s placed on having the house spotless when it comes time to sell.
Working order Every homeowner has those little fix-it jobs they’ve been meaning to get done. The time to take care of them
is “before” your house goes under contract; here’s why. Nearly all buyers will have a home inspection, and those inspection addendums require that repairs be made by a licensed contractor. If you make these repairs upfront, much of it can be done by the
Two of the easiest and least expensive improvements you can make to a house are fresh paint and new carpet. Not only does it help a home look better, the aroma of new carpet and paint is like that new car smell. It tickles the senses of a buyer and has a way of making them open their wallet just a little bit wider.
Declutter You might think this is like cleaning, but it’s a little different. There are those who live a minimalist lifestyle; whereas, others have a lot of stuff. Generally, houses show better and look bigger if they
aren’t crammed to the rafters. As a result, it’s a good idea to take some of your stuff and put it in storage. Then, buyers will better be able to visualize what their stuff will look like in your house.
Ask an agent When people have lived in a house for a long time, they become accustom to how it looks, even how it smells. Consequently, it can be helpful to bring in an independent inspector to make sure everything is up to snuff. Real estate agents know exactly what buyers are looking for, so take advantage of their expertise when it’s time to stage a house for sale. Bob and Donna McWilliams are practicing real estate agents with more than 30 years of combined experience in representing buyers and sellers. They can be reached at McWilliams@BobDonna.com or 443-994-9589.
16 — HOME & GARDEN, April 2014 Interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn uses hefty chests and dressers next to beds rather than small night stands. AP photo/ HGTV. com, Sarah Dorio
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Multi-faceted master bedroom Creating a space that’s calm, romantic, practical, stylish By MELISSA RAYWORTH Associated Press We’re told a well-designed master bedroom should be an oasis of romantic calm. It’s also supposed to be the practical place where you store clothing and get a good night’s sleep, and it may also be where you watch television, pay bills and even set up a home office. That’s a lot to ask of a single room. On the bright side, says interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn, you have plenty of decorating freedom. “Since bedrooms are all about selfexpression and comforts,” he says, “you can break the rules as much as you want.” We’ve asked Flynn, founder of Flynnside Out Productions, and two other design experts — Betsy Burnham of Burnham Design and Molly Luetkemeyer of M. Design Interiors — for
tips on breaking those rules with style to create the ultimate master bedroom.
Calmest colors Forget trendy shades or your favorite bright colors. Burnham advises sticking to a soothing palette of ivory and white, evoking a luxury hotel room. “You can layer color into that if you want to,” she says. If your idea of peace and quiet involves deeper colors, Flynn suggests navy blues or black-brown tones. And if you really want bolder color or patterns, Luetkemeyer recommends using a single pattern throughout your bedroom. This “en suite” look involves using the same fabric for curtains and bedspread, and even covering the walls in the same
pattern. “Even a busy pattern won’t feel too chaotic if you’re consistent” in using it throughout the room, she says.
Big beds Think your medium-size or small bedroom can’t handle a gorgeous four-poster bed? Burnham says a bed like that can serve as “a statement piece” that brings lots of style. It actually frees up space, because you won’t need any extra, decorative pieces of furniture for pizazz. Flynn agrees, as long as the bedroom isn’t extremely small and the nightstands are in proportion. One of his pet peeves is a large bed flanked by tiny tables, which can make the tables look like they belong in a dollhouse.
Soften everything These designers are seeing a trend toward upholstered beds and headboards, and even upholstery fabric used on walls. “It’s this idea that you’re being completely cocooned and buffered from the world,” Luetkemeyer says. For some clients, she has also upholstered the inside of armoires or other storage pieces to create a complete sense of softness. With softness in mind, Flynn suggests using more than one layer of window treatment: “I usually layer black-out shades with custom, pleated drapery panels,” he says. “This softens the hard edges of the room, helps with noise control and also allows the homeowner to sleep in as late as they want.” If you’re worried that all that softness will make the room too feminine, Burnham suggests adding just a few sharper, cleaner lines for balance. Choose sleek, midcentury vintage lamps to place on either side of an upholstered bed. Or opt for a dresser with simple, clean lines rather than a piece that’s (See bedroom, Page 17)
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ornate and curvy.
Banish electronics It may sound radical, but Luetkemeyer hears from clients now that they’re ready to remove the TV and all gadgets from their bedrooms. “People are saying, ‘I’m in such overload all day long, and I’m reachable within an inch of myself,” she says, “and I want to have one place where it’s really mine.” Burnham sees the beginnings of a similar trend, though for many people the habit of checking e-mail in bed or watching TV before they go to sleep is a hard one to kick. If you have a desk in your bedroom, consider relocating it. And try plugging in your phone and other gadgets somewhere else in your home at night so you won’t be tempted to check them.
Skip nightstands Flynn suggests using 30-inchtall dressers or chests instead of traditional nightstands: “I’ll hit up flea markets and find two different chests with very similar proportions,” he says, using these less expensive pieces to flank a more expensive custom headboard or platform bed. Luetkemeyer agrees that closed storage at bedside is a wise move for most people. It keeps necessities handy, but hides clutter to make your sleeping area look organized even when it isn’t.
Pendants, sconces Chandeliers are often used in dining rooms and entryways to add glamour and drama. Flynn’s tip? They “work just as well in bedrooms.” “I often install pendant lights over nightstands instead of using table lamps,” he says, “especially if the headboard is tall and dramatic. Whenever possible, I try to use sculptural pendants which introduce interesting shapes to the room and I always, 100 percent of the time, install them on dimmers.”
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Brian Patrick Flynn remodeled a large bedroom with natural light as the focus. Flynn replaced small windows with 6-foot tall French doors, which open to a deck, instantly turning what was a lackluster space into a relaxing retreat. To capitalize on the light, Flynn painted the walls and ceiling with a faint shade of blush in an eggshell finish. AP photo Hayneedle.com, Sarah Dorio
18 — HOME & GARDEN, April 2014
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Victorian garden style lives on By KIM COOK Associated Press Those drawn to 19th century style may be pleased to learn that vintage garden decor is a trend this spring and summer. The look involves florals, weathered wood, wire, period typography, bird motifs and accessories, and other elements with a Victorian vibe, says Tom Mirabile, a trend watcher for Lifetime Brands. The appeal lies largely in the era’s garden-as-haven aesthetic, he says. “We look at the Victorian age as an era when there was just a lot of time,” he said at an industry trends seminar earlier this year at the NY Now trade show. Conservatories, greenhouses and aviaries were popular in stately Victorian-era homes, but even modest residences might have a little birdcage. Fashionable too were ferns, palms and terrariums. Pottery Barn’s got miniature greenhouses this season made
of white-painted distressed pine and glass, perfect terrariums for small plants. A replica of a vintage birdcage is made of wire painted hunter green; it’s tall enough to house an elegant orchid, but would also work as a tabletop accent. On a grander scale is the retailer’s Conservatory bird cage, a nearly 5-foot-long mahogany and wire piece that would fit on a console table or atop a long shelf. While it’s dramatic in and of itself, a collection of objects would look amazing inside it. (www.potterybarn.com ) Floral motifs — and roses in particular — were all the rage during the Victorian era. Art and textiles featured illustrated flora and fauna from home and exotic parts of the world. Bradbury & Bradbury now offers a couple of art wallpapers derived from illustrations by period artists William Morris and Walter Crane. Fenway has an Art Nouveau-style pattern with irises at its heart, while Woodland showcases the artistry
of both Morris and Crane — winsome rabbits and long-legged deer cavort across a leafy landscape. (www.bradbury.com ) Designer Voytek Brylowski offers prints of works by Victorian illustrators Mary and Elizabeth Kirby. Parrots, toucans, lilies and hummingbirds are hand-colored, vibrant examples that can be mounted in simple frames and placed near a patio door — or anywhere the gentility and charm of the period might be appreciated. “By digitally enhancing old images, I feel that I give them new life, and preserve historically significant illustrations and drawings by these famous naturalists,” says Brylowski, who is based in Wroclaw, Poland. (www.etsy. com/shop/VictorianWallArt ) Jennifer Stuart, an artist in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has designed a collection of plates depicting damask and floral prints of the (See style, Page 19)
AP photo/Pottery Barn
This terrarium from Pottery Barn is made of distressed painted pine and glass replicates early greenhouses, popular during the era.
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19th century on patio-friendly melamine. (www.zazzle.com ) And Pier 1’s Floria collection has a vintage damask pattern in garnet, soft blue and grass-green in a collection of indoor/outdoor rugs and throw pillows. (www.pier1.com ) Cast-iron and wicker furniture and containers were used both indoors and out in the late 19th century, just as today we use rattan chairs in the family room and the garden, or iron plant stands in the kitchen as well as the patio. Restoration Hardware’s Hampshire and Bar Harbor all-weather wicker collections include chairs and sofas in restful shades of cream, gray and mocha. (www. restorationhardware.com) Early visitors to resorts in New York’s Adirondack Mountains discovered the eponymous big wooden chair that’s withstood hundreds of years of style changes. A good
AP photo/Farmhouse Wares
This metal sign from Farmhouse Wares, printed on both sides, is wall art with graphic punch and old fashioned charm. selection in both real wood and Polywood, a recycled plastic resembling wood, is at www. hayneedle.com. West Elm’s collection of soft yet sturdy braided baskets, woven of bankuan grass, evoke French laundry bins. Use them as storage in any room; the natural color makes them versatile. (www.westelm.com)
Turquoise chicken-wire baskets and cloches can be found at www.farmhousewares. com, which also has a vintagestyle garden supply shop sign in the form of a hand. Galvanized planter pots in sets of six would make great receptacles for herbs or miniature blooms.
AP photo/Pottery Barn
This tall, wire birdcage in a distressed green painted wire can be filled with a tall plant or just used as a decorative tabletop accessory. Victorians were fond of birds in all iterations, from illustrations to textile motifs to aviaries large and small.
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