Home Improvement 2014 by Capital Newspapers

FALL 2014

HOME IMPROVEMENT

OCT. 1, 2014 A CAPITAL NEWSPAPERS PUBLICATION

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Fall Home Improvement

Sellers should give every room a role Kim Cook Associated Press‌

Many of us have one room in the house that doesn’t really have a job. Maybe we set it up with an air bed once in a while for guests, or shove out-of-season clothing boxes in there, or use it as a holding zone for stuff we’re not sure what to do with. But when your house is on the market, every room has a role to play to make the sale. Next to fixing whatever’s broken, staging — decorating rooms in an inviting way to help people imagine living in them — is important. “The purpose of home staging is to draw the buyers into the house emotionally so they say, ‘Wow, we want to live here!’” says Melinda Bartling, a realestate agent and home stager in Overland Park, Kansas. “Buyers must be able to see

themselves living in the house, not questioning why it looks the way it does. For example, if you use your finished basement as a catch-all, buyers will wonder what’s wrong with the space.” New York-based real-estate agent Nathalie Clark’s motto is “minimalism with personality.” “The owner’s presence must be as discreet as possible, but the rooms have to feel inhabited and should clearly state their function,” she says. Some ideas from stagers on what to do with an unused space:

MAKE IT A CLOSET

Everyone wants good storage. Turn a potential shortcoming into a valuable feature by transforming a small room into a large closet or dressing room. Install a shelving system; if money’s an issue, just outfit one long wall to achieve the purpose.

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Add a chair or ottoman and a large mirror, perhaps, so buyers can imagine a dressing room. If your home is short on storage, consider outfitting an under-stair niche or other “dead” space with shelving, and stock the shelves with smartlooking boxes and bins. But leave some empty space in a closet, too. “Closets filled with items other than clothes send the message there isn’t enough storage in the house,” says Bartling.

MAKE IT CREATIVE

Transform a bedroom with a tiny closet into creative workspace. Suggest a craft or art studio with a table and some neatly displayed materials. Line up a series of identical bookshelves and make a small yet inviting library by adding a rug, a comfortable chair and a side table.

MAKE IT AN OFFICE

Real-estate agents tend to prefer that bedrooms be staged as bedrooms, because buyers usually want lots of those. But depending on your market, it may pay off to stage one of those rooms as a home office. If you’ve got more than four bedrooms, Clark says, turn one into a home office. Add a desk, chair and lamp, and lay down a fresh new rug in either a chic neutral hue or a style-savvy pattern that ties it into neighboring rooms.

MAKE IT A WORKOUT SPACE

Empty nesters often have basements that once were playrooms. Clark suggests converting a space like that into a cozy TV room or gym. “For a gym, you don’t need a lot of fancy equipment,” she says. “A bench, some neatly stacked weights, a few ropes or

ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this photo provided by Better Homes & Gardens, an unused space off the kitchen or basement entrance can be turned into a mudroom that provides added value for buyers. Retrofit readymade cabinets and benches, or splurge on custom built-ins.

bands hung on pretty hooks, a mirror and a mat can all easily be arranged to create a powerful visual effect.”

Decorating a retreat sets the tone DALLAS (AP) | From airy beach houses filled with light to rustic retreats tucked into the mountains, vacation homes can lead to inspired decorating. “You love that place, that’s why you’re there. That’s the place you want to go to relax,” says Dallas interior designer Jan Showers, author most recently of “Glamorous Retreats” (Harry N. Abrams). “You want it very user-friendly.” Homes detailed in her book include a seaside cottage in Nantucket with decorating touches in cool blues and greens; shells that the family collected are placed throughout the house. An artist’s getaway in Marin County, California, features the owner’s photorealist work, and a studio that is a riot of

color, with shelves filled with books and antique toys. The master bedroom Showers of a Texas lake house takes inspiration from the colors of the water, with walls painted in what Showers describes in her book as a “pond green.” Showers, whose signature style is adding glamour to interiors, talked to The Associated Press about decorating vacation homes. (The interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.) AP: How do you add glamorous touches to a retreat that is more casual than a yearround home?

Showers: My glamour is a very relaxed glamour. It’s not about satin, furs and all that stuff. My idea of glamour is Katharine Hepburn in a black turtleneck and black pants and a red cardigan sweater. I think most of my clients love the fact that I use really fun glass, and maybe it’s glass that’s not as expensive or as important as they’d use in their primary residence. But we do use groups of glass because it brings such an interesting element to a room. I’m a big believer in everything looking comfortable. And to me, if it’s comfortable and inviting, that’s glamorous. Another way is good lighting. There’s nothing worse than overhead lighting. Lamps add to the glamour of a room because

everybody looks better. AP: How would you suggest sprucing up a retreat that looks tired? Showers: An easy, fast way to change things up — one of the easiest — is pillows. There are so many different fabulous pillows, and they’re not expensive. It’s nice to do seasonally. If you go to your retreat in the summer, you may want linen pillows that are lighter colors, more summery, and if it’s winter, you might want some plaid pillows. Another thing that’s easy to change is throws. I love throws — they just sort of say “take a nap.” And now there are all kinds of wonderful rugs at all kinds of prices, and washable. It can change your whole look in a room to do a new rug.

Fall Home Improvement

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Making the indoors safer for allergy sufferers of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology recommends frequent vacuuming using a HEPA (highAlthough the thought efficiency particulate air) of sleeping with millions filter. Those with allergies of dust mites — microshould stay away or wear scopic arachnids that feast an N95 particulate mask on flakes of skin — is just during and immediately plain gross, it’s something after vacuuming, since most people can handle ASSOCIATED PRESS particles can remain airwithout worry. After all, This photo provided by borne for up to two hours. our bodies are inhabited courtesy of Mission: Allergy 3. Just Encase. All by multitudes of bacteria, Inc. shows a pillow encased in mattresses, box springs, to which we seldom give an allergen-proof cover. pillows and comforters a thought. should be encased in wellare suspected, the first For the many people sealed, tightly woven, step is to get tested by who suffer from allermicrofiber “mite-proof” gies, though, the allergens an allergist. covers from a reputable While periodically in dust-mite feces and replacing all your bedding company, such as Mission: body parts can lead to might seem to make sense, Allergy or National Allergy chronic sinus problems Supply, and linens and experts say it’s unnecesand coughing, among stuffed animals should be sary for those without other symptoms. If gone washed weekly, allergists allergies and insufficient untreated, the problem say. “The temperatures for allergy sufferers. can escalate to eczema Instead, these tips from and detergents used are and asthma, particularly much less important than allergists can help make in children, according to the regularity of washing,” James Sublett, president- any home friendlier to Sublett said. “Washing in those with indoor allerelect of the American College of Allergy, Asthma gies, dust mites included: any temperature dramatically reduces the level of 1. Keep It Dry. “One of and Immunology. “The sooner you inter- the biggest and most com- allergens.” 4. Opt for smooth. mon mistakes people make vene, the less likely the Smooth surfaces that can is to install vaporizers problems are to escalate,” be wiped clean are generand humidifiers,” Sublett he said. ally better for allergysaid. “Moisture can and Luckily, homes can sufferers than more porous does cause all kinds of be made more livable for upholstered surfaces on problems.” Dust mites allergy-sufferers — and couches, chairs and even can’t survive in less than less amenable to dust car seats, Sublett said. mites — in just a few steps. 50 percent humidity, so 5. Clear and clean the buy a humidity meter and, About a quarter of air. To help keep indoor if needed, a dehumidiAmericans suffer from allergens of any kind at fier to keep humidity to some sort of allergy and between 35 percent and 50 bay, homes should be of those one-half to percent. “Just three hours smoke-free and pets two-thirds are sensitive above that level of humid- should be kept out of the to dust-mite allergens, bedroom. For the very ity, though, is enough to according to Sublett, keep the dust mites alive,” allergy-prone, use a HEPA making it one of the air filter in the bedroom he said. most common causes with a CADR (clean air 2. Rip out the rugs and of allergies. delivery rate) adequate for ditch the drapes. Carpet “Around the world, the size of the room. Install and heavy drapes are a dust mites are the most common indoor allergen,” reservoir for allergens like MERV 11 or 12 disposable, high-efficiency filters in said Robert Wood, director dust mites and should the furnace and air condiof the pediatric allergy and be removed, particularly tioning system that can be in bedrooms. If removimmunology division of changed every few months, Johns Hopkins University. ing them isn’t an option, according to Sublett. the American College If dust-mite allergies

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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Fall Home Improvement

Tween bedroom’s a balancing act Mom-I-can’t-believeyou-bought-me-thisfurniture. Here, designers Decorating a baby’s Michelle Workman of room is all about what Michelle Workman Intemom and dad want. But decorating a bedroom for a riors, Brian Patrick Flynn “tween-age” child is more or Flynnside Out Productions and Betsy Burnham complicated. It’s a great place to give of Burnham Design offer growing adolescents some advice on designing a creative freedom. But will tween bedroom that has ample storage, homework they reject at age 12 the color palette and furniture space and enough cool they begged for when they style to keep kids happy year after year. were 10? Kids grow up fast enough that parents may COOLER COLORS not want to rush the Kids love color, but it’s process by removing all practical to start with a childhood whimsy from neutral base. Flynn sugtheir rooms. But we also gests going all-white don’t want to redecorate on walls and ceiling but each time our kids get adding texture “to keep just a bit more mature. all-white from reading flat So we’re left walking the or sterile.” line between playful and “I use 1-inch-by-10-inch Melissa Rayworth Associated Press‌

pine planks on the walls and install it horizontally,” he says, “then have it all whitewashed or painted solidly. This brings architecture to the room and also creates a linear backdrop for showcasing favorite things.” Workman recently designed a bedroom for a 10-year-old boy with gray walls and cabinetry. “Gray allows you to layer either cool or warm colors on top,” she says, “whereas beige tends to only work with warm colors, and then the room becomes too warm.” She added a navy leather sofa (“a pullout for sleepovers,” she says, “and leather only gets better with age”), plus a rug, throw pillows, an ottoman and chairs that included shades of orange and turquoise. The result: playful but not immature. Another approach: “Red, white and blue has become a modern classic for boys and girls,” Flynn says. “For a masculine touch, I’m a fan of sticking with rich navy and fire-engine red. Girl spaces are an

excellent fit for more muted blues such as robin’s egg or sea foam, and more poppy shades of red such as cherry,” he says. What if your kids have their hearts set on colors you think won’t work? Respect their input, Burnham says, but adjust the shades as necessary: “It’s your house, too. If you don’t want a school-busyellow wall, what can you live with? Maybe a dijon, or maybe the school-bus yellow is his bedside lamp.” If your daughter wants purple, “maybe it’s a gray lavender,” she says, or another shade of purple that “she won’t get sick of in six months.”

WILDER WALLS

For walls, “tweens and teens tend to favor bold patterns, and find wallpaper cool due to its vintage, retro appeal,” Flynn says. “If wallpaper is too much of a commitment,” he adds, “consider a graphic treatment on the walls with paint. Stripes are classic and genderneutral, plus they’re not

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In this photo provided by Burnham Design, designer Betsy Burnham filled this bedroom for a preteen girl with white bedding, a white rug and chair, and white curtains, then added just one piece of furniture, a bit of paint and a few accessories in the girl’s current favorite color. The room can easily (and affordably) take on a new look if her taste in colors changes as she grows.

too difficult to paint.”

SMARTER STORAGE

Toys, trophies, books, papers and a whole lot of electronics: Kids have an awful lot of stuff. Burnham suggests choosing a wall “that can accommodate 18 inches of depth or 22 inches of depth,” and have built-in cabinets and shelves installed. “Built-in cabinetry is so very handy in a tween room,” agrees Workman. It allows “an easy transition to a teenage space” because you’re not dealing with furniture that the child may no longer like. Custom carpentry can be expensive, but it’s an investment in your home’s value. You can save money by using less expensive wood or MDF (mediumdensity fiberboard manufactured to look like wood). And “don’t be afraid to use Ikea as a resource for inexpensive cabinetry that can be given a built-in look by adding crown molding and baseboards,” Workman says. For free-standing storage pieces, Flynn suggests hitting a flea market or garage sale: “This way, the

tween has something cool that becomes a huge part of their room’s design, but also is packed with practicality. Some of my go-to items are Danish modern desks with sleek drawers, rustic metal lockers and three-drawer dressers to use as nightstands.”

UNEXPECTED FINDS

“Tweens are still finding themselves, so it’s tricky to decorate their rooms with one particular style,” Flynn says. His preferred style for tweens? “Eclectic.” Workman agrees that vintage pieces — especially those already banged-up and scratched to perfection — are perfect for older kids’ bedrooms. Vintage chairs can be recovered in fresh fabrics, and antique furniture can shine with a new coat of glossy paint. “I like to use vintage items, and industrial style for a tween boy’s bedroom,” Workman says. “I created a huge lighted sign out of tin letters that spelled out the boy’s name. There was a definite cool factor to this, and it’s the type of ornamentation that won’t be too ‘baby’ later on.”

Fall Home Improvement

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Extended warranties a big sell improper maintenance.” love extended warranFor example, she says, ties and service contracts a flat-screen TV might fall but only the ones you sell yourself,” he says. “Look at off the wall. “Your warfile a claim or bring the WASHINGTON (AP) | ranty is not going to cover the price of that contract product for repair? This Offers of extended warthat type of event.” and put the money in the ranties or service contracts is important since many Galovich says HSB bank and hold it there.” service-contract providers are becoming the norm, Some consumers might works with more than are third parties, not the whether you buy a big200 property and casualty have another option: stores where the item was ticket item like a car or extended coverage through companies to provide kitchen appliance or a less purchased, she says. coverage, but the company home insurance. One of those providexpensive one like a televiwouldn’t identify them. “All personal property ers is SquareTrade, which sion or phone. She suggested that conunder the homeowner The plans basically are offers protection plans for policy could be covered, as sumers ask their insurance a range of smartphones, insurance policies in case providers whether the well as the main systems computers, electronics, something goes wrong, of the home,” says Rebecca coverage is available. home appliances and other but they come at a price. ASSOCIATED PRESS Galovich, assistant vice The FTC’s Gans, meanproducts. Ty Shay, the Federal Trade Compresident of personal lines while, cautions consumers company’s chief marketing This undated photo provided by SquareTrade shows Ty Shay, mission staff attorney the company’s chief marketing officer. SquareTrade offers to be wary of telemarketers at Hartford Steam Boiler, officer, says purchasing Svetlana Gans says conprotection plans for a range of smartphones, computers, which provides home-sys- selling service contracts a protection plan is “an sumers should research tems protection coverage. by phone. individual decision — how electronics, home appliances and other products. Shay says a service plan before purchasing a protection plan is “an individual decision — how If you have problems “Insurance coverage is you feel about the item deciding whether to buy do you feel about the item and whether you can live without it.” designed for the accidents with service contracts or an extended warranty. But and whether you can live their providers, you can regardless of the cause,” without it.” she acknowledges that file a complaint with the she says. “It could be Giorgianni doesn’t think Shay said the company problem with an iPhone, could be difficult, since agency, she says. has sold tens of millions of for example, SquareTrade service contracts are worth human error. It could be many of them are offered the money. at the same time the prod- protection plans, working gives you the option of “You’re basically paying getting a replacement with retailers like Costco, uct is purchased. a fee on the possibility that phone overnight or takSam’s Club and Amazon; The FTC says on its ing the phone to an Apple the thing may malfuncwebsite that a service con- you can also buy its plans tion, break or other ways store for repairs and then tract “might not be worth online. SquareTrade’s go bad in ways that will being reimbursed for the plans are for products the price.” conform to the fine print cost to fix it. bought within the previAnd Anthony Giorgiin that coverage,” he says. For repairs on applious 30 days. anni, associate finance Consumers would be ances, Square Trade’s proThey cover accidents, editor of Consumer better off, he says, amasstection plans provide indrops, spills and other Reports’ Money Adviser ing a repair fund should home service, Shay says. newsletter, says, “You can malfunctions, but not something go wrong. “I Consumer Reports’ go broke basically insuring loss or theft. If you have a everything you buy.” So how do you decide whether to purchase one? Goodman Air Conditioning and Heating Systems Offers: “I would definitely • Energy Efficiency • Quiet Operation look at the duration and • Reliability and Long System Life when the coverage actu• Industry Leading Warranties • Guaranteed Quality ally starts,” Gans says. 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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Fall Home Improvement

Kindness to wildlife can pay off in the garden Dean Fosdick Associated Press‌

Competition and conflict have existed between people and animals since the first gardeners began sowing seeds on the ground. The critters just as quickly carried them away. But coexisting with wildlife in farm fields or gardens can be a winning proposition if you’re willing to alter your habitat. Even nuisance animals can become plant partners with a little planning. “You can steer your way around a lot of the usual

‘Know where raccoons or deer traditionally utilize cover or use traffic lanes. It’s common sense that you wouldn’t want to plant gardens in those areas.’ ROBERT PIERCE, extension fisheries and wildlife specialist at the University of Missouri

wildlife-property owner confrontations,” said Robert Pierce, an extension fisheries and wildlife specialist with the University of Missouri. “Do some homework

about animal behavior,” Pierce said. “Know where raccoons or deer traditionally utilize cover or use traffic lanes. It’s common sense that you wouldn’t want to plant gardens in those areas.” And sharing property with wild birds and animals doesn’t necessarily mean reducing the size of your harvest, said Tammi Hartung, author of the new “The Wildlife-Friendly Vegetable Gardener” (Storey Publishing). “Welcome pollinators into the garden,” Hartung said. “Invite animals that can do your pest management. That will actually increase your yields in many cases.” Almost any wildlife species can become a nuisance, Pierce said. Canada goose droppings are messy and potential health hazards. Moles damage lawns. Squirrels

ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this Aug. 18, 2013 photo, this blacktail doe and fawn are steered away from these backyard gardens by some appealing-to-the-eye fencing in Langley, Wash. Many people are wildlife watchers and enjoy having them around but any species can become a nuisance in the garden. A variety of benign control and prevention techniques are available including repellants, frightening techniques and distracting them with other plants.

eat freshly planted bulbs. Small rodents like voles will strip the bark from grapevines. Feral hogs damage pastures. “Tolerance levels vary,” Pierce said. “Lots of folks just enjoy wildlife and like having them around. Much depends upon whether you have the money to invest to keep them away from your plants.”

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The most benign ways to keep wildlife away from the garden include repellents, frightening techniques, rotating crops, decoy plants, fencing, netting and other barriers. Consider: — Being proactive. “Before the raspberries ripen, put up some tape or nets so the birds will never taste them and won’t know what they’re missing,” Hartung said. — Modifying food and cover. “We have 30 deer coming through our property every day,” she said. “The deer wouldn’t leave my tulips alone, so I don’t grow tulips anymore. I grow (deer-resistant) daffodils instead.” — Distractions. “Parsley redirects rabbits from salad greens,” Hartung said. “Plant some sunflowers next to your berry patch. Many birds prefer their seeds to the fruit.”

— Growing a surplus for sharing. Add hedgerows outside the garden that include fruiting trees and shrubs. — The hose. “We use a motion-detector apparatus that hooks up to a hose,” Hartung said. “It sprays water when it detects motion. When raccoons come at night, they get a hard spray of water. It doesn’t do them any harm but they stay away.” Wildlife-friendly gardening has its challenges, but you can co-exist for the most part, she said. “Something like a bear may show up and you’ll have to deal with it,” Hartung said. “Maybe then it’s as easy as picking up some fallen fruit and discarding it someplace else. “You don’t really need to trap animals, use toxic chemicals or shoot them,” she said. “You can find other solutions.”

Fall Home Improvement

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Compost doesn’t just happen tomato stalks, vegetable waste from the kitchen and grass clippings, as well as manures. Nitrogen As the bumper sticker on my truck reads, “Com- fertilizers are concentrated sources of nitrogen, and post Happens.” Sometimes, however, it doesn’t are the active ingredient of commercial compost happen fast enough. “activators.” That problem usually As autumn approaches, can be traced to some an excess of compostable limiting factor in what a materials rich in carbon pile is fed, or to issues of build up, so the way to moisture or aeration. speed up composting of piles built in the next few FEED YOUR PILE weeks is to add suppleCompost piles work mental nitrogen. No need most quickly if the two most important foodstuffs to balance nitrogen and carbon materials exactly, — carbon and nitrogen — because microorganisms are in balance. Old, usuwill eventually do it for ally brown and dry plant materials, such as autumn you, albeit slowly if the leaves, straw, hay and saw- excess is of carbon foods. Also, there’s more at dust, are rich in carbon. The older the plant mate- play than just carbon and nitrogen ratios. Particle rial, the more carbon it sizes, for instance. Chophas. Nitrogen-rich mateping the raw materials rials include succulent, gives microorganisms green plant parts, such as Lee Reich

Associated Press‌

more surface area to “chew” on initially. A machete is a handy, cheap and satisfying tool for this job.

LET YOUR PILE BREATHE

or kitchen waste. These materials compound the odor problem because they The opposite condition, too much water, also are rich in nitrogen, which is vented off as ammonia. slows composting. And In this case, turning the soggy ingredients lead to pile and adding some another common comQUENCH YOUR fluffy, high-carbon matePILE’S THIRST posting problem — a pile rial, such as straw, puts Another frequent cause that gives off offensive things in order. of a sluggish compost pile odors or attracts flies. To monitor compost When too much water is insufficient moisture. progress beyond what your Sun and wind dry out piles gets into a compost pile, nose or time will tell you, air is displaced and a new that are free-standing or slide the long probe of a set of microorganisms go enclosed by wire mesh. A compost thermometer to work, ones that work solid-walled bin speeds deep into a pile. Temslowly and malodorously. things along by holding peratures in a pile that’s The cure for a waterin moisture and generbeen built quickly in warm logged pile is aeration, ated warmth. weather can soar to 140 accomplished either by There’s often not degrees Fahrenheit or stirring the pile, or by enough water when you higher. No heat indicates turning and rebuilding it. gather together quantiinsufficient moisture, ties of dry materials, such Rotating drum bins make nitrogen or air, or too it especially easy to stir as autumn leaves. The small a pile. ingredients. cure, of course, is to add No matter what though, Odors due to poor aerawater, and an effective way to do this is by adding tion also result when piles any pile of living or onceliving materials will evencontain too many dense, raw materials in layers, tually turn to compost, watering each layer as the succulent, raw materials, such as grass clippings pile grows.

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This undated photo shows sprinkling soybean meal on the hay within this compost pile is one way to add nitrogen for quicker composting, in New Paltz, New York.

and a few benchmarks signal when. Take the pile’s temperature: It has cooled down. Look at the pile: It’s mostly a dark brown, crumbly fudge. Smell it: Finished compost has a pleasant, woodsy aroma.

Multi-faceted decor is hot this fall Fans of crisp, modern architecture and cleanlined shapes will love one of this fall’s strongest style trends: faceted décor. For those who feel that the whole bold, geometricpattern thing is nearing overexposure, faceted furniture and prints make sense, according to New York designer Elaine Griffin. “Purer and streamlined, the faceted silhouette is the stylistic descendent of geometrics — think geometrics deconstructed,” she says. The style, says Griffin, can be modern (the faceted Hearst Tower in New York City oozes architectural chic), primitive (think Grand Canyon) and vintage (Art Deco and the Cubists). “Faceted shapes are intrinsically more

visually appealing because, whether they’re mirrored or not, they reflect more light,” she says. “A faceted element in a piece adds a stylish, decorative layer of dimension and surface interest without crossing over into the fussy, frilly or overdone.” The “gemstone” shape is especially attractive in reflective materials — mirror, glass, shiny metallics — where light plays off the planes. The look is clean, contemporary and luxe. Yet in ceramic, wood or fabric, the polyhedron shape looks appealingly organic, as in honeycombs and cellular structures. Wayfair’s got faceted décor from several sources. Stacked, smoky, etched-glass facets make a smart-looking Borghese

table. Imax’s lemon-yellow ceramic Chantal vase has a chic modern look. Three simple, faceted crystal blocks anchor Safavieh’s Cube fixture, creating a simple yet elegant table lamp. Arteriors’ antiquedbrass faceted table lamp on an iron base has presence and personality. (www. wayfair.com)

At Z Gallerie, cowhide is crafted into a faceted Odyssey rug in tones of gray and black. Here, too, a glamorous faceted mirrored table and the Portico mirror. (www.zgallerie.com ) Faceted candlesticks from Godinger stack like crystal jewelry and would dress up a dining table. (www.lampsplus.com )

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Fall Home Improvement

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Even a patio can have a fish pond Director of the Nolan Greenhouses for Living Collections at the New York Botanical Garden. When Ann and Glen The Gages assembled Gage downsized from their their container ponds expansive home and garden in Switzerland to a San using large planters, which Francisco town house, one they made water-tight by caulking any drainage of the things they missed holes. Then they added most was the koi pond gravel and a few larger they’d built and tended for years. It was brimming rocks, and filled the container with water. They with elegant plants, fish added an electric bubbler and its own ecosystem. So they built not one but and filter, “to make the fish happy.” Next came a few two new ponds, this time floating aquatic plants, city-style: one for their which they harvested from balcony overlooking San Francisco and the other for a pond in the area, and finally a variety of “rescue their leafy entryway. fish” from a pet store. “If you have limited “We have a really space or want an interestsmall space and Ann said, ing water feature ... patio wouldn’t it be cool to have or container ponds are an a pond here? It couldn’t easy option, and the only limits are your creativity,” have been easier,” said Glen Gage. “It’s way less said Marc Hachadourian, Katherine Roth Associated Press‌

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work to maintain than a big aquarium — no cleaning the tank or syphoning out the dirty water — and there’s a relaxing zen quality to the gently bubbling water and swimming fish.” Maintenance involves only refilling the container to replace water lost to evaporation. Although some people put mosquito-killing tablets in the water, experts say a few small fish are sufficient to take care of insect larvae. “You can go crazy with really fancy fish, but our local pet store is super nice and they just let us reach in for feeder fish and choose some with pretty markings that make them look unique. It’s like going to the pound. You feel like you’ve done something really good. They’re basically

just goldfish and are pretty hardy,” Gage said. Although the patio ponds can look and feel like miniature koi ponds, koi experts strongly suggest goldfish as the better choice. Unlike koi, which grow large and need plenty of oxygen and moving water to thrive, goldfish and some other smaller fish are hardier and better suited to patio ponds. “Putting a koi in a little container pond would be like trying to raise a German Shepherd in a box,” said Don Chandler, chairman of Koi USA, based in Costa Mesa, California. “The smallest possible koi pond would be a 600- or 800-gallon pond. That’s more than most people are ready for on their patio.”

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This July 18, 2014 image released by Katherine Roth shows a container pond put together using a planter, floating aquatic plants and a mix of goldfish on a patio in San Francisco. The pond contains a bubbler, a filter, and an Asian ceramic ball as a decorative element.

The International Water Garden Society is a good resource when deciding on varieties of aquatic plants. Hachadourian recommends miniature water lilies like dauben, which has a light blue flower and

tolerates shadier conditions. Plants like water lettuce and water hyacinth float on the surface, control algae and help filter the water. Aquatic grasses, irises and tarrow are also good choices, he said.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Fall Home Improvement

Update exterior with colors and trim or shutters with color is an easy way to make a big impact, said Hiller. And drawing attention Color and decorative to the front door is always pieces can improve the a good idea. “You want look of a home outside people to notice where as well as in. Add trim guests generally enter your boards, columns or porch home,” she explained. accessories and you can “It’s nice to make a statedress up the facade of a house, improving its value ment there.” Consider the roof color and curb appeal. Just be sure to consider as well, she added. Roofs tend to be in either cool the home’s style, age or warm colors, and your and location. “The style of the house paint choice should be in drives the type of materi- the same family. Where you live could als you might add,” said drive your choices. Florida architect Carolyn Dias of houses tend to be painted Lampert Dias Architects in San Clemente, Califor- in a different palette — often shades of peach, nia. “A cottage can’t be beige and gold — than transformed to a Spanhomes in New England or ish Colonial.” the Midwest, for example, Neighborhood assosaid Hiller, who lives in ciations or local building Sarasota. Some colors, departments also might such as maroon and other impose restrictions on earthy shades, make more what can be done to a sense on Colonial homes home’s exterior and what than coastal cottages, paint colors can be used. In any case, pay atten- which are often painted in ocean-inspired blues and tion to how neighborgreens, she said. ing homes look when Paint stores can provide changing yours. You want ideas about what colors your house to look like it are right for different belongs, said Shari Hiller of PBS’ “Around the House building styles. with Matt and Shari.” She recommends TRIM AND OTHER scouting nearby streets for EMBELLISHMENTS inspiration. Veneers — layers of material added after construction that do not offer PAINT structural support — are See what paint colanother way to change the ors the neighbors have outside of a home. Addchosen, what features ing a wood, brick or stone they are highlighting and veneer creates color and how many colors they texture, Dias said. Veneers have used. Hiller typically recom- cost about $10 to $20 a square foot. mends just two to four “There are many kinds colors for a house’s exteof veneers and they are rior. Often, homeowners fairly easy to apply,” choose one color for the Dias said. bulk of the house; similar Exterior wainscoting or complementary colors panels are another way to for windows, gutters and add interest to a facade. other trim pieces; and a The panels, usually embelpop of contrasting color lished with a raised or on the door or shutters. recessed design, can draw Highlighting the door Melissa Dutton Associated Press‌

Changes can be simple, like hanging decorative brackets where the columns meet the roof, or complex, like installing columns or adding stone or brickwork to them. Morris, too, emphasizes staying true to the architectural style of your home. For example, don’t add Victorian-style gingerbread trim to a modern house. Brackets and balusters come in a variety of mateASSOCIATED PRESS rials and styles. “Think about what This photo provided by Sherwin-Williams shows a house with a bright red front door. Designers suggest using a pop of effect you want to have — color to draw attention to your front door. something subtle or something that really stands embellishing its columns, out,” Morris said. attention to a window, When Lynn and Densaid Dave Morris of Nashporch or other architecnis Zawie decided to add ville, Tennessee, who tural detail. operates the website www. rails and balusters to the If you have a front porch that runs around front-porch-ideas-andporch, you can create a two sides of their 1925 more.com . new look by adding or

The ideal comfort system is the one you will never notice.

Dutch Colonial house, they wanted the trim pieces to look as original as possible. The Stony Brook, New York, residents visited lumber yards and big-box stores, and looked at dozens of photos of houses online. “I really wanted it to look like it had been here forever,” said Lynn Zawie. “I was very concerned about changing the look and the feel of the house.” The couple finally decided to go with wood balusters, even though they would require more upkeep. The addition of 300 white balusters and a stained-wood top railing dramatically improved the look of the home, they say. “It just adds to it,” she said. “It makes it stand out more.”

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