FIX_May-June 2016 by Special Publications from The Commercial Appeal

May â&#x20AC;¢ June 2016

HOSPITALITY FIX

artisan burgers PROS WHO KNOW

outdoor weddings

DESIGN FIX

terrarium trends

a place of

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From The Editor MAGAZINE Fix Magazine is dedicated to providing local information about all things home and garden.

FIX EDITOR

Holli Weatherington holli.weatherington@ commercialappeal.com CONTRIBUTORS

Suzy Askew Emily Adams Keplinger Andrea LeTard Lance Wiedower Stacey Wiedower PHOTOGRAPHERS

Mike Boatman Troy Glasgow DESIGNER

Ashley Kumpe

FIX Magazine 495 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103 VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING

Stephanie Boggins stephanie.boggins@commercial appeal.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR NICHE PUBLICATIONS

s summer approaches, roses bloom on our bushes while schedules get busier and outdoor events come together. In this issue we take a look at a favorite place of solitude in our home, the master bathroom. Our cover story, p. 12, showcases four different master bathrooms, each with their own unique style and energy. Explore these havens with their clawfoot tubs, convertible showers, relaxing colors and customized furniture, all which help make each bathroom a retreat from the outside world. This month’s Ask the Expert reviews best practices for home staging to sell your house, p. 6, and our Pros Who Know, p. 8, details the basics of pulling off a successful outdoor wedding in Memphis. With summer right around the corner, it’s hard not to notice the blooming roses. Our Garden FIX, p. 10, details how the pros at Dixon Gallery and Gardens keep their rose garden so lush and fragrant, and they give advice on the best rose choices for this area and how to maintain them. This month’s Artist Spotlight reveals the joy of metal smiting with a local pewtersmith, p. 17, who develops handcrafted pieces, just in time for wedding season! In this issue, we wanted to let in the light and our Why I Love My Home, p. 20, showcases a beautiful solarium addition on a downtown home. It brings together modern décor with natural light, the perfect combination for poignant moments and times of reflection. As the temperature warms, so does neighborhood activities. Not everyone has time for neighborhood watch, but we all could stand to be more connected. Check out our Community FIX, p. 22, on the Nextdoor app, which allows neighbors to connect, send alerts and stay in the know about all neighborhood activities, from crime alerts and lost pets to advice and items for sale. We round out this issue with an ode to our grills and the aroma of cooking meat wafting from the backyard with a delicious artisan hamburger recipe, p. 24, and our final piece is on a fun twist to home plants, Terrariums. Our Design FIX, p. 26, reviews the trend and how a local artist uses them to spruce up her dining room. Be sure to follow FIX on social media and send us story ideas or comments. Enjoy the warm weather and this colorful issue of FIX! Happy reading.

David Boyd david.boyd@commercial appeal.com

facebook.com/fixmagazine fixmagazinememphis FIX Magazine is published once every two months by The Commercial Appeal. Opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors are not those of FIX. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Copyright 2016. MAY

JUNE 2016 |

May • June 2016

8 10 Find your place of solitude, be it a luxury bathroom, your garden or behind the grill.

✶ ✶ ✶

FEATURES Bathroom Renovations 12 Why I Love My Home 20

DEPARTMENTS Ask the Expert • Home Staging 6 Pros Who Know • Outdoor Wedding Guide 8 Garden FIX • Roses 10 Artist Spotlight • Tennessee Pewter Co. 17 Community FIX • Nextdoor 22 Hospitality FIX • Artisan Hamburgers 24 Design FIX • Terrariums 26

20 24

Ask The Expert

Home Staging Works Story by Stacey Wiedower

elling your house this summer? Keep in mind that most buyers won’t see past your clutter, your color palette, your personal touches or your use of space. “Maybe 12 percent of people can visualize how a home will look when they walk in the door,” says Teresa James, an accredited staging professional and owner of Organize and Stage Your Home. “The other 88 percent will have problems visualizing how the space will look with their things.” While your house is on the market, it should look like a model home — because that’s what it is, says interior designer Michael Taylor of Memphis-based Michael Taylor Interiors. “How you live in a home is completely different than trying to sell your home,” says Taylor, who’s also an accredited home stager. “And people don’t realize that.” Research shows that home staging helps a house sell 6

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faster and for more money. In fact, 95 percent of staged homes sell in an average of 11 days or less and sell for 17 percent more, according to StagedHomes.com. “A well-staged house increases the likelihood of getting an offer close to asking price,” says Megan Cathey, a Realtor with Keller Williams’ Memphis office. “If buyers think it needs to be redone, they’ll automatically deduct it from their offer.” Plus, says James, if a home is cluttered or too personalized, prospective buyers tend to focus on the contents of the house rather than the house itself. “The point is that you’re trying to sell the square footage of the home,” she says. “You’re not trying to sell your belongings.” When staging a house, James focuses on three key elements: flow, function and focal point. Rooms should have not only a pleasing visual flow, but also an easy physical flow with clear, accessible traffic paths. “You

Ask The Expert buyers are seeking in a home, Cathey says. And curb appeal is as important to creating a first impression as a home’s interior. “Home staging starts Michael Taylor with the mailbox and Michael Taylor Interiors ends with the attic,” she says. To make the best possible impression, your home should appeal to the senses — sight, sound, even smell. Along with organizing, rearranging and de-cluttering, professional stagers can offer insight on everything from paint colors to lighting, pet odors to curb appeal. “It’s really just about making the home appealing to everyone who might come in the house,” Taylor says. “It’s about making an impression on somebody so they can see themselves living there.”

“(Staging is) about making an impression on somebody so they can see themselves living there.”

want it to be open so that (buyers) are not weaving around furniture,” James says. “Because then people start thinking, ‘Well, my furniture is not going to fit in here.’” As for function, it’s key to show buyers how a space is meant to be used, leaving nothing to the imagination. “I go into a lot of homes where the homeowners have the dining room set up for something else, an office or a playroom,” James says. “People leave the house and say, ‘You know, that was a really nice house, but it didn’t have a formal dining room.’ And it actually did.” What’s more, Taylor adds, buyers in 2016 are trendsavvy and want the latest features — the finishes and fixtures they see on Pinterest and HGTV. And that means cleaning, de-cluttering and de-personalizing aren’t necessarily enough to attract a younger buyer. “The latest trends and research show that it has to be current for the millennials to get into it,” Taylor says. “If your furniture is old and outdated, people can’t see past that to see themselves in the house. Changing the paint color alone is just not doing it.” Neutral colors (whites and grays) and minimal accessories help create the open, airy atmosphere modern

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PROS WHO KNOW

Outdoor Weddings

101

Story by Stacey Wiedower

JON SHARMAN

CALEY NEWBERRY

edding season is kicking into high gear, and if your special day includes an outdoor component — a garden ceremony, a starlit reception — Memphis’ unpredictable spring weather means it’s wise to over-prepare. “When planning an outdoor event, you want to have a backup plan and be prepared for very warm temps, very cold temps and any form of precipitation — even snow,” says wedding planner Kathryn Sparks, co-owner of WED Memphis with her mom, Patti Ruleman. For a late March wedding in 2015, Sparks and her team hauled in space heaters due to unexpected flurries and unseasonable lows. A year earlier, a late June event was met with record rainfall.

“You want to have tents on hold for situations that could arise,” Sparks advises. “In May, with Memphis in May, brides struggle to find backup tents at the last minute because so many rental companies are completely booked.” Unpredictable temps can affect more than guests’ comfort. A too-hot, too-cool or too-wet day can also af8

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fect the flowers, the food, the music — even the footwear. “If it’s a more formal event, a lot of couples worry about guests wearing heels and sinking into the ground,” says Amy Miller, principal at Amy Miller Weddings. “You can provide plastic heel stoppers, which provide a larger surface area so shoes don’t sink into the grass.” Hot temps can spell trouble for the cake and flowers, so plan their placement and arrival accordingly. Also, for a summer ceremony, consider a pre-event mosquito spray and strategically-timed refreshment stations. “A lot of couples like to provide refreshments as guests are arriving, bottled water or a small bar set up with tea, lemonade, herbal water, even Champagne,” Miller says. “Giving guests something to cool down with is always nice.” If temps run low, you can shift gears to a coffee bar, adds Sparks. A tomato soup and grilled cheese station at the entrance to the reception is another nice surprise for guests. “Have ideas you can pull out at the last minute if you want to swing a different direction because of temperature,” Sparks says. Outdoor events bring unique decorating opportunities. “You want to work with the space,” Miller advises. “It’s my personal preference to take what’s naturally there and just enhance it. That can be done a lot of different ways.” For example, a tree can be strung with twinkle lights or even hung with lanterns or chandeliers. A floral arch can create a backdrop for the ceremony, as can wood

PROS WHO KNOW

JON SHARMAN

or floral elements like pillars or crosses. “In a church you’d have an altar,” Sparks says. “In an outdoor space you want something up front to bring it together and create a focal point.” Miller also recommends defining the entrance to your event space — in essence, creating an outdoor room. “You might have a table set up with programs and the guest book and a sign welcoming guests so they know they’re in the right place,” she says. “But also to make it more intimate.” Lighting is another key to “Memphis weather a successful outdoor event. Consider not only atmosphere, is so unpredictable ... visibility and guest safety, but but if it turns out to also glare during the ceremobe a beautiful day, ny — be sure chairs are angled it’s so worth it.” so the sun isn’t in guests’ eyes. “If the ceremony starts a Kathryn Sparks, little bit before sunset, I alco-owner of WED Memphis ways try to time it so the sun sets right at the time the bride and groom are being introduced as husband and wife,” Sparks says. “If there are candles, they might not be visible earlier, but toward the end, the space begins to glow. Plus, in that ‘magic hour’ before sunset, you can get the best photos. The lighting is just right.” Planning for an outdoor event might be tricky, but the rewards can be great. “Memphis weather is so unpredictable you don’t always know whether you’ll need heaters or fans,” Sparks says. “But if it turns out to be a beautiful day, it’s so worth it.”

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GARDEN FIX

Crowning Jewels Story by Suzy Askew Gardens Education, Dixon Gallery and Gardens

n a letter to Hugo Dixon on October 16, 1940, Hope Dixon Crutchfield, his sister, wrote that in planning for the Dixon gardens, “First and foremost, it should be a garden of fragrance.” In celebration of Dixon Gallery and Gardens 40th anniversary as a public garden, we are going to follow Hope’s advice and concentrate on fragrance for the Orgill Rose Bed.

Choosing the Right Rose

Roses rating at the top of Dixon’s list: 8 Crepuscule, a noisette climber first introduced in 1904, is an apricot blend and can reach 12-15 feet. 8 Souvenir de la Malmaison is a bourbon rose with an intense, spicy perfume. It is light pink and can be a climber or a small shrub rose. 8 Sombreuil has a delicious tea rose fragrance, is a lovely white and climbs to 12 feet. Climbing Pinkie is a polyantha that grows to 12 feet and is a medium pink. 8 Buff Beauty has a tea rose fragrance but is a hybrid musk. Apricot in color, it can climb up to about 10 feet or be shrub size at 5-7 feet.

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When planning a rose garden, the factors to consider are color, size, type, fragrance and a specific use in landscape design, for example will it be a hedge or covering a trellis, or do you want roses in pots? Is the goal a rose border or to make a formal rose bed. Do you want a climber rose, a tree rose, or do you want fresh-cut flowers? Not all roses are suitable for floral arrangements. All of these factors dictate rose selection. Some roses bloom only once a year while others bloom off and on during the growing season, and still others bloom in two basic flushes, one in May and again in October. Heirloom roses, hybrid teas and miniatures just begin to narrow the choices of which ones to grow. Rose fragrances are described by five terms: myrrh, fruit, musk, old rose and tea rose. There are six flower shapes in roses and there are five flower fullness types, 18 flower color classifications and five different flower centers. There are several ways they are arranged on the stem from a solitary terminal bloom to clusters or sprays. In keeping with culturally sound environmental practices, we do not use chemical spray programs routinely in our gardens. Our hierarchy of selection for roses goes in the order of disease resistance, repeat blooms and fragrance. For us at the Dixon, we were led to antique or heirloom roses.

Old Garden Roses are known for their heavy fragrance and disease resistance. They may get a little blackspot, but can recover on their own and thrive without spraying chemicals.

Care and Maintenance

In growing roses one must have a good sunny spot with plenty of room for air circulation and lots of energy to care for them, as most of them require consistent grooming and attention to look their best. Ground preparation of a site that gets full sun is paramount. Full sun is a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight per day. Roses need rich fertile soil and great drainage. There are roses that can take part shade but what this really means is they can survive but not necessarily flourish. A regular fertilizer program is necessary because roses are heavy feeders and adequate fertilizer helps them produce the maximum number of blooms. A consistent watering schedule is also important. Roses require at least one inch of water per week during the growing season. Once roses start to bloom, the spent blossoms should be removed with a cut right above a set of leaves, which means not leaving a stick or stem above the leaves. This saves the plant the energy of not dying back and encourages more growth.

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cover story

a place of

SOLITUDE Master Bath Renovations Story by Holli Weatherington • Photos by Mike Boatman

place for serenity and solitude, a place to be alone and find privacy. These words are the ones most often used to describe a home’s master bath. In fact, the bathroom is often the only place where a person can find true refuge from the world and be alone. Here is a place not only to get clean and get ready, but to find a piece of respite from the daily grind. In this issue we explore four different master bathroom renovations in houses across the Mid-South. Each one has its own style and unique identity with the common theme: a relaxing getaway at home. 12

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This classic white clawfoot tub with chrome hardware is the gem of the room. “That thing weighs 350 pounds,” says DiSalvo. “We had to reinforce the floor.”

Glass tiles along the walls add dimension to the black and white theme, and frameless glass shower doors give a clean, sleek look.

Retro Fusion Room size: 12 x 14, 9-foot ceilings Step back into the early 20th century with this masterpiece of retro Americana. This master bath nestled in the top floor of an antique Midtown home is a blend of classic designs and hardware with a modern twist. Builder, Tim DiSalvo worked with the homeowner to bring her ideas to life. “She knew what she wanted,” DiSalvo says. From the wainscot look on the walls with subway tiles halfway up, to the old-school style medicine cabinets inlaid 4.5 inches into the walls behind them, this bathroom is a step back in time while providing all the modern conveniences of the 21st century.

The homeowner wanted to do black and white with a dabble of gray for depth. Forgoing crown molding offers clean lines from walls to ceiling to keep from interfering with the federal headers on the windows and doors. All hardware is polished chrome and custom woodwork. MAY

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These are true beveled mirrors, framed by hand. All Moen faucets are in wrought iron. Borderless porcelain tile floor.

American Classic Room size: 18 x 8, 10-foot ceilings Designed to capture the essence of the Galloway Gardens area, this home in Collierville exudes calmness and serenity. Seamless lines continue from tub to countertops, carrying over to the shower and closets. Framed mirrors, custom cabinetry and soft colors give a custom feel with the softness of color adding a layer of depth. Custom woodwork and design elements are vital to make each home in this community district from one another. “We do not do factory cabinets,” says Karen Garner, president of Magnolia Homes. “We try to get all master bath cabinet as custom, where they look like a piece of furniture.” This home was designed by Jeff Bramlett. “The whole feeling captures solitude,” says Garner. “We’re all so busy now it’s hard to find a place to go for solitude.

Cove molding at the ceiling adds depth. The center cabinet extends further for depth and provides an arched toe kick and inset doors and drawers offer a seamless appearance. “To me, they add so much to the tapestry,” Garner says. “It adds that nice, finished look.” 14

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The shower is covered in azure blue mosaic glass tiles. “It is the most gorgeous color,” Cheryl Lee says. All handles in the shower are crystal faceted. “I wanted it to look like a jewel box.” The shower is made for sitting or standing.

The mirrored doors open out to three-way mirrors, and hidden inside is cabinetry for multiple pairs of shoes. The mirrors also open the space up wide and make it seem much bigger than it appears. With the mirrors and glass from the shower, the chandelier becomes tripled in the field of view as if three separate fixtures are hanging.

Designer Chic Room size: 10 x 17, 9-foot 6-inch ceilings

The homeowner displays her mother’s heirloom jewelry in a custom made display case, shown to the left of the dressing table. The designer had the cream vanity specially crafted with velvet lining for jewelry on one side and sunglasses on the other.

Customized and personalized, this Chickasaw Gardens home is a slice carved out as an extension of the homeowner’s own personal style. For the client who prefers to save the space a tub takes up and embellish more on the shower, this bathroom is it. A boutique setup with custom walls, built-ins mirrors and paper… “It’s just so exciting when a client says, ‘Just do it,’” says interior designer, Cheryl Lee. “It’s just stunning.” Before, the bathroom was totally useless. The homeowner wrote a list of everything she wanted. To make it come to life, Lee had the walls knocked out and basically “tore out everything,” she says. There was a surprise in the niche behind the shower that became a display case for the homeowner. Lee’s process has the client’s individual tastes in mind. “How can we carve out a space so in arms reach, you have everything you want?” says Lee. “What I do is very custom and fits the client like a glove. It’s an outward manifestation of who they are.”

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French Country Room size: 11 x 16, 10-foot ceilings

This bathroom is all about the beautiful copper tub with stamped nickel on the inside. And it’s not just a mere tub; it’s a remote controlled Whirlpool tub. This house is very French country with contemporary elements. The energy is warm and comfortable. “It’s unique,” says builder, Dave Moore. “It looks like an old world tub.” But new world it is.

The small corner square doubles as a foot pedestal and plant holder.

All connections are in the base for electrical and plumbing and the tub is mounted to the floor. This “drive-in” shower is a highly sought-after design in most new homes. It’s nice and open, no doors to clean and offers plenty of room, even for a bamboo plant. Showerhead is rainwater style and includes a handheld spray. 16

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Kathleen Armour Walker’s

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

PROVIDED PHOTO

Tennessee Pewter Company

athleen Armour Walker has literally poured herself into her company, Tennessee Pewter. She takes each piece she crafts from the design stage, to the mold stage, to polishing and buffing. This 100percent handcrafted philosophy stands out in a world of one-size-fits-all and mass marketing. And Walker stands out as a female pewter smith in a field dominated by men. Name: Kathleen Armour Walker Company Name: Tennessee Pewter Company Hometown: Memphis Medium: Metal/pewter How did you get your start: When I was dating my now hus-

band Dan, he would give me the most beautiful pieces of hand-crafted pewter. Two years after we married in 2008, the little pewter company where he bought my gifts came up for sale. I had no doubt it was meant to be mine, but I had no idea how to make pewter. I purchased the company from a man who believed no woman should learn how to make the product. My fire was lit and the flame has burned brightly ever since. Since then, I have apprenticed under some of the great metal workers in our country. What was your “aha” moment: In January 2010, I purchased a building on the square in Brownsville, Tennessee. Two months later, after an extensive renovation, the building collapsed. We were shut down for nine months. Yet, not one customer canceled their order — they all waited for their products and for us to get back in business. That sense of loyalty to me and to our products was truly inspiring. How did you find your niche/style: I am a traditional, no-

Compiled by Emily Adams Keplinger

nonsense person, and that transcends to my style of Classic American Pewter. I make hollowware to be used. I am a person of authentic quality, no shortcuts — and the same goes for my pewter. Why metal: Pewter is easy to work with and produces beautiful results. I get a great deal of satisfaction knowing that I’m crafting heirloom items, like julep cups, serving trays and pitchers that will be passed down through families and still maintain their original beauty. These same items make great commemorative gifts for birthdays, graduations, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and can be monogrammed for an added personal touch. How do you describe your work: My work is very skilled and requires attention to detail. It is also physically demanding and requires imagination to interpret the idea in a customer’s mind and turn it into a tangible product. There is no other female in the country doing what I do on the scale of Tennessee Pewter. I thrive on giving attention to detail and the challenge of working through complex issues to get a piece made. We make many custom pieces, and I make it my job to ensure every piece is perfect and that every customer is thrilled with his or her order. What’s your favorite piece that you have done: We craft the Memphis Music Hall of Fame Awards presented by the Memphis Rock ’n’ Soul Museum each year. We love to make pieces for the very special Memphians chosen to receive those awards. It is very rewarding to have local folks appreciate our work. Proudest moment: You will find our pewter gracing tables throughout the South and beyond. Tennessee Pewter has been featured in some of the country’s most beautiful magazines. But my greatest sense of pride comes when I unlock my shop each day and walk into my building. And I’m so proud and thankful for all of the love and support from family and friends. Where can your work be seen: We craft our items in our Tennessee Pewter shop, 16030 U.S. Highway 64 in Somerville, Tennessee. We are open to the public Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Who has influenced your art: My mentor is a retired Tiffany silversmith in New England. He greatly inspires me in the pursuit of quality and striving to continue learning the craft. He is very willing to support a female in a man’s industry. NEXT SHOWS: Germantown Charity Horse Show, June 7-11 Germantown Festival, September 10-11 WEBSITE: https://tnpewter.com FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/tennesseepewter/

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Quantum Construction presents

Custom Master Bathrooms

o some, the master bathroom is the most important room in the house. It can be a place to relax in a warm bath after a long day or to find a moment’s peace from the kids. Large showers and deep soaking tubs can turn anyone’s bathroom into his or her own personal spa. No matter how small or big a bathroom is, Quantum Construction can turn it into a dream. For years, the bathroom was about function and not comfort. Homes were designed with small master baths that included cramped shower stalls and highmaintenance Whirlpool tubs. Old shower doors collecting mold and calcium deposits can make the bathroom seem dirty. Small tiles and man-made marble can make a bathroom seem outdated. Even some of the colors used can make a homeowner ask, “What were they thinking?” Quantum Construction can give your bathroom a makeover and give it that feel you have always wanted. Whether you want to turn small shower stalls into great, big showers with all the bells and whistles or remove a mammoth of a Whirlpool tub that is seldom used to make more space, we handle it all. A custom selection of vanities can be designed to make organizing all your

toiletries and bath items very simple.

Designs for the Aging Population Getting older can be a scary thing. Having a bathroom that will function can ease some of that fear. “It is all about keeping your dignity,” says Kevin Wright, owner of Quantum Construction. The Quantum team will change the bathroom into something that functions but is not institutional. For instance, we can widen doors to accommodate wheelchairs, install showers that have no step and remove tubs that are hard to get in and out of for people with mobility issues. As you get older, you want to age with dignity and affordability. Quantum Construction will help you create your dream bathroom. We lead you through the process of design, selection of fixtures and tile, and develop a trust with you that we have upheld with homeowners in Memphis for more than 40 years. Wright says, “You know you are doing the right thing when a customer who had their bathroom remodeled by us 20 years ago still trusts us enough to update it again.”

why i love my home

Let in the Light Story by Stacey Wiedower

hen architect Kayce Williford met this East Memphis house for the first time, her challenges were clear. Literally. The homeowners — husband from the West Coast, wife from the East Coast, and a young son — love Mid-Century modern design, and they also love light. The house had the former element, but it was masked by decades-old cosmetic changes that covered up original architectural details. And it didn’t have much of the latter element at all. “It was dark, with a lot of old wood finishes and a lot of carpet,” says Williford, of archimania. “Over the years it hadn’t been updated much, but the things that were updated were maybe not the best for the house. It was being sold as a tear-down.” The owners saw potential in the structure, though, and they loved its large, wooded lot. The house rests on nearly three and a half acres in an established East Memphis neighborhood. They called in archimania and Williford to help 20

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them revitalize the modern home by turning its dark, dated living room into a glass-walled, light-filled hub of family life. “We wanted to be as close to the outside as we could,” says the husband, a general contractor. “We had added a solarium to our previous house as well, oddly enough, and loved it. That’s what we wanted — we wanted to be out in the yard and enjoy it.” Working with Williford and her team, the homeowners completed a whole-house renovation, lightening and brightening rooms and modernizing finishes throughout the home. The main living space, though, presented the biggest challenges and biggest opportunities. “The most important thing for us was creating a node in the middle of the house,” Williford says. “The house faces the northeast, and it has this northeast-southwest axis through the middle of the house, from the entry to the back.” Previously, the house had virtually no windows to bring in light from the rear elevation. A large fireplace on the rear wall blocked both light and views of the leafy setting.

“We tore down that part and replaced it with a new family room that connects to the kitchen and connects to the entry and connects to the dining room,” Williford says. “It acts like a node between the private family bedrooms of the house and the living quarters, and also acts as a way to really extend the house into the outdoors.” The new space is streamlined and sleek with minimal decoration, turning the focal point outward to the view. “The yard, again, is the No. 1 thing,” the husband says. “For my wife, it’s the fireplace. She loves the fireplace. But for me it’s the glass, the windows.” The new space, which opens to a rear patio, is a distinct addition, and that’s by design. “We wanted to make it pretty obvious that it was not part of the original house,” Williford says. “We decided to go with a flat roof that had a different language than the gable and hip roof of the existing house.” The team used a dark gray, standing seam metal as opposed to the brick of the existing house, creating an interesting play of light and shadow from the overhanging trees. Projections extend from beneath the roof line to open up more of the home’s rear elevation to the exterior, adding light to the bedrooms. With its sleek natural stone finish, the fireplace shifts to become the family room’s focal point at night, Williford says. “The fireplace really takes up the only solid space in that room,” she says. “In daytime, with all the light streaming in, the room becomes 10 times bigger and extends out into the patio space, all the way back to the shady tree line in the backyard.” And that, says the husband, is why he and his family love their house. “We love the light.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HANK MARDUKAS PHOTOGRAPHY / ARCHIMANIA

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COMMUNITY FIX

Nextdoor app

brings neighbors closer Story by Lance Wiedower

he best fenced-in yard doesn’t always do the job of containing energetic dogs, causing a nightmare of worry for a pet owner. Locating lost pets wasn’t the sole intention when the Nextdoor social media site launched nationwide in October 2011, but it has become an important function. Nextdoor is a free and private social network that is created by and for specific neighborhoods. Members are verified residents of that defined neighborhood who want to connect for a variety of reasons, of which the core one might be to build stronger and safer neighborhoods. “Nextdoor is one of the few platforms that lets you not just talk to friends but neighbors who you might know but also ones you’ve never met,” says Tracy Wiswall, one of the leads of the Central Gardens neighborhood. “Instead of going to a phone book to find a plumber, you can ask every neighbor in your community who they use and get feedback from all of them. You might have one guy say, ‘Use this roofer,’ then another say, ‘I used that one and he did just OK.’ You get tips, pro and con, and you know these are real people.” Wiswall says searching for lost pets is usually one of the most popular uses of the site followed by recommendations for services. Topics on Nextdoor generally include local events, school activities, service recommendations, requests for a baby sitter, garage sales and crime discussions. Many of these topics are discussed ad nauseam on Facebook. Some neighborhoods do have Facebook groups, but Germantown resident Megan Cathey says the Nextdoor site is much more on point. “On Nextdoor, you’re literally talking to your next-door neighbor,” she says. “I’ve seen people say, ‘My dog got out and within 30 minutes, the neighbor five doors down found it.’ On Facebook if you did that you’d get 800 people who live in Germantown versus the 75 or fewer who live directly in your neighborhood. … It’s different from Facebook groups where people get up in arms about trivial things. The Nextdoor app has less drama. It’s more, ‘Hey, let’s connect with our neighbors and help each other out.’” 22

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Nextdoor 101 • To sign up, go to nextdoor.com and enter your home address that is verified by Nextdoor and confirmed via the user’s email address. • Users create a profile that can be seen by neighborhood members only. • Nextdoor neighborhood sites include service listings, lost and found, events, classifieds, crime and safety, free items and general information. That’s not to say drama doesn’t pop up from time to time. Julie Groff is a member of the Central Gardens neighborhood on Nextdoor. She has observed participants get “bent out of shape” about relatively mundane events like hearing sirens. But, posts about people trolling the streets are taken seriously. For instance, a post that says, ‘This guy is coming door to door, be on the alert,’ that information is helpful, says Groff. “Maybe someone is walking the street and stalking.” Neighborhood leaders monitor the conversation to not only keep it civil but make sure it stays on topic. Wiswall says he uses a welcome message feature that goes out to all new members to set the tone and explain the general rules. He rarely deletes posts now that everyone understands the tone of the neighborhood site. Nextdoor is growing in popularity. In Memphis alone, there are nearly 300 neighborhoods. The Greater Memphis area has 830 neighborhoods using the site. Members can decide to turn on nearby neighborhoods to see information posted on those sites. The profiles of members of other neighborhoods remain private. “Any social media site has its ups and downs,” Wiswall says. “I think Nextdoor is about 95 percent up and 5 percent down.”

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— IN YOUR —

MOUTH BURGER Recipe and Photos by Andrea LeTard

don’t think it matters where you grow up: the grill and warm weather just go hand-in-hand. As a little girl in the South, I remember my parents taking us to cookouts, swim parties, festivals and concerts in the summer months, and no matter where we went, there was always the same smell in the air: burgers being grilled. I love that smell, and every summer, no matter where I go, I still smell it. I make burgers all the time, but nothing gets me like a good ol’ burger with tons of toppings. My South In Your Mouth Burger is just that — plenty of toppings with a little southern spin on it. But don’t fret over working too hard in the kitchen — while there are lots of toppings on this burger, they can all be made ahead!

“I don’t think it matters where you grow up: the grill and warm weather just go hand in hand.”

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South In Your Mouth Burger Makes 4 burgers

GROCERY LIST Honey Bourbon Bacon: 4 slices thick-cut bacon 1 tablespoon honey ½ tablespoon bourbon Pimento Cheese: 4 ounces cream cheese, room temp 6 ounces smoked cheddar, grated 1 can pimentos, drained and chopped 2 tablespoons mayo - pinch of kosher salt - pinch of cayenne Pan Seared Green Tomatoes: ¼ cup vegetable or peanut oil 1 large green tomato - kosher salt - pepper ¼ cup flour ¼ cup cornmeal 1 egg Burgers: 4 Hawaiian bun or Brioche rolls, split 1 ½ pounds ground chuck (80/20) 1 tablespoon olive oil - kosher salt - pepper

HOSPITALITY FIX Directions 1. Make the bacon. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Lay bacon slices flat on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Combine honey and bourbon in a small bowl and heat in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Brush mixture onto bacon and put back in the oven for another 3 to 5 minutes or until crisp. Set aside. 2. Make the pimento cheese. In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese, smoked cheddar, pimentos, mayo, kosher salt, and cayenne together until combined and creamy. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use. 3. Make the green tomatoes. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cut tomatoes into four slices and salt and pepper both sides. Combine the flour and cornmeal in a shallow bowl. Beat the egg in a separate shallow bowl. Lightly dip each tomato into the flour mixture, then into the egg mixture, then back into the flour mixture. Pan sear tomatoes for 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden. Set aside.

4. Cook the burgers. Take burger meat out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes. Heat grill to high heat. Grill the inside of the burger buns for about 1 minute or until toasted with grill marks. Set aside. Form four patties with the meat, brush both sides with olive oil and salt and pepper liberally. Before grilling, on one side of the burgers, make an indention in the middle with your thumb (this will keep meat flat when cooking). Grill 3 to 4 minutes over high heat on each side for medium-rare. 5. Build the burgers. Spread pimento cheese on both sides of the buns. Layer burger patty, green tomato and bacon, splitting each bacon slice in half first.

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DESIGN FIX

Terrific

Terrariums Story by Stacey Wiedower • Photos by Troy Glasgow

hen her mom gave her a large, clear glass container left over from a friend’s wedding décor, Memphis artist Hillary Butler knew instantly what she’d do with it. “I needed a piece for my dining room,” says Butler, who’s known for boldly-painted abstracts splashed with bright, pastel hues. “I wanted it to be a little quirky, and I wanted it to be something living. I just love the life that plants bring to a room.” She headed to a garden store for supplies, bringing home soil and greenery to create her own version of a terrarium, or a transparent container used for growing plants. Hugely popular in the ’70s, terrariums are back in a big way, with designers, retailers and DIY decorators creating versions in vessels ranging from sealed, sculptural apothecary jars to squat glass vases to, in Butler’s case, oversized fish bowls. “It’s a fun way to add to or snazz up your centerpieces,” Butler says. “It’s really inexpensive and you just feel California-chic.” “(Terrariums) are a special and unique way to add a microflora greenscape into a space,” adds interior designer Ann Nordeen Parker of Memphis-based Parker Design Studio. “I love having natural greens added into whatever the design may be.” For her terrarium project, Butler began by variegating sand and soil in the glass container to add interest to the piece. Originally she added live plants — succulents are a common choice — but quickly found that her dining room didn’t receive the right light to keep the plants alive. So she headed back to the store. “I poked around all the options 26

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Garden Ridge had for the fake ones,” she says. “I looked for pieces with different heights and colors. I wanted interesting patterns, different textures in the foliage.” Butler spread out her finds right there in the store’s aisles until she was satisfied with the mix. And then she took them home and started playing around with greenery once again. She found that faux plants were easy to work with, offering flexibility you don’t get with a live plant. “They have little sticks on the end, and I just stuck them in the sand,” she says. “If you don’t like it, you can just pick it up and move it.” The best part? “Nobody knows that they aren’t real,” Butler says.

“It’s a fun reveal when I tell them that they’re fake.” Parker says she’s used terrariums in several houses she’s designed. She’s also given them as client gifts. And Butler liked her large terrarium so much that she created a smaller, live terrarium that occupies a sunny spot in her kitchen. One tip Butler offers for creating a DIY terrarium: have fun. “I know a lot of people play around with them and make them really nice and quirky,” she says. “I’ve seen plastic animals or little vignettes like dinosaurs living around the plants — so they can be fun for kids, too. I think it’s a really great option to have living plants or fake plants in your house.”

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