Dallas/Fort Worth House & Home Magazine November 2010 Issue

DALLAS/FORT WORTH

T TH HE E C CO OM MP PL LE ET TE E R RE ES SO OU UR RC CE E M MA AG GA AZ Z II N NE E F FO OR R Y YO OU UR R H HO OM ME E

N O V E M B E R

Second Chance BREATHING BREATHING NEW NEW LIFE LIFE INTO INTO AA HISTORIC HISTORIC DALLAS DALLAS HOME HOME

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AFTER

BEFORE

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contents

D A L L A S/F O R T W O R T H

N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 0 | Vo l . 9 I s s u e 1 1

features

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PUBLISHED BY

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Jewel Boxes

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A Second Chance

Glamorous power rooms that set a tone of elegance.

A historic Dallas home finds a new life.

20 Kitchen-Centric departments

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Home Safe Home

Security measures that both fortify and beautify your home.

In This Issue

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Handbook: Magic Carpets

on the cover

Area rugs that punch up a room’s wow factor.

A historic Dallas home, formerly owned by the Abrams family, underwent a major renovation, in which the current homeowners preserved the original home and added a new kitchen, family room, upstairs rooms and a rooftop deck. Rich in architectural detail, the home features Gothic design, arched windows and doors, and a stair tower with dazzling stained glass windows. See Page 11.

Photography by Terri Glanger

A preview of our November 2010 edition.

DIY Decorating: Room for Family

A budget friendly family room redo with space to play.

PUBLISHER . . . . . . . .Nitzan Mendelbaum ART DIRECTOR . . . . . . . . . .Robert Coplin CONTRIBUTING WRITERS . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leigh Bell, Debi Bryant, Amanda Flatten, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shawn Gustafson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Terri Glanger, Janet Lenzen, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tammi Greene PRINTING . . . . . . . . . DROR International

Today’s more casual floor plan

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MBH PUBLISHING, LLC

MBH Inc., dba Dallas/For t Wor th House & Home ("DFWH&H"), is a news magazine with emphasis on interior design and remodeling.

House & Home does not knowingly accept false or misleading adver tising or editorial content, nor does H&H or its staff assume responsibility should such adver tising or editorial content appear in any publication.

House & Home has not independently tested any services or products advertised herein and has not verified claims made by its advertisers regarding those services or products.

House & Home makes no warranties or representations and assumes no liability for any claims regarding those services or products or claims made by adver tisers. Readers are advised to consult with the advertiser and/or other home repair and renovation professionals regarding the suitability of an advertiser's products.

No reproduction is permitted without the written consent of the Publisher. Copyright 2010, all rights reserved. Subscriptions available for home delivery at a cost of $25 per year.

P.O. Box 2396 Fredericksburg, TX 78624 214.532.3290

around town November 2010 Opening on November 1 and running to Dec. 4, the free Pollock Gallery exhibit, “Out of Africa: Important Historic Ceramics and Textiles from Private Collections in Germany and Texas,” blurs Western distinctions between practical use and spiritual import. This powerful selection of low-fired ceramics, raffia weavings, and barkcloth drawings from Congo, Nigeria, Cameroon and other countries south of the Sahara offers visitors a unique opportunity to encounter traditional African arts at their most inventive. Nov. 1 – Dec. 4, 2010. Pollock Gallery in Hughes-Trigg Student Center, 3140 Dyer St. on SMU campus, Dallas.

Info: 214.768.4439.

More than a showroom, the newly opened Dallas COSENTINO CENTER is designed to support, promote, and educate trade professionals by integrating distribution facilities, exhibition areas, workspaces for designers to bring clients, classrooms for continuing education, and fully functioning kitchens and event space for demonstrations.

Located on Emerald Street, the center includes over 48,000 square feet of warehouse space and distribution center and a state-of-the-art showroom. Visitors to the Dallas COSENTINO CENTER will be able to explore and engage in all aspects of the kitchen & bath experience — from material and color section to specification and fabrication. 11639 Emerald Street, Suite 400, Dallas. Info: 714.520.4100.

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The 34th Annual Lakewood Home Festival Tour is Nov. 12 to Nov. 14, featuring six beautiful homes. Start the weekend off with the Candlelight Tour on Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The home tour continues Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also a part of the event is a special marketplace at Lakewood Elementary. Dine in the Lakewood Local Café, which offers festivalgoers wonderful food and beverages and get a jump on your holiday shopping with more than 60 unique vendors showcasing art, jewelry, children’s items, holiday keepsakes, gourmet foods and more. Ticket prices range from $75 for an all-weekend pass to $12 for Saturday and Sunday. Information: www.lakewoodhomefestival.com.

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in this issue:

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ovember finds many of us honoring traditions. November launches that special time of the year, when we start shifting our busy lives to make time for moments of sharing and reflection. Meetings and work schedules are adjusted to account for “the holidays.”

A November tradition for Dallas/Fort Worth House & Home is celebrating the magazine’s anniversary. This year marks 10 years for us. We are proud to be your magazine devoted to resources for the home. From new construction to remodeling, interior design to landscaping and more, we are thrilled to bring you inspiring ideas and solid advice for your home, inside and out.

We wouldn’t be here without the support of our advertisers, so this November, and every month of every year, we are thankful for their continued support. We know you’ll find our advertisers provide goods and services designed to make your home more beautiful, functional and durable for years to come.

We’re also thankful for the talented professionals in the Dallas/Fort Worth area whose outstanding projects and expert insights help make our articles exciting and useful, to you, our readers. And thank you for picking up Dallas/Fort Worth House & Home each month at your local Kroger, Tom Thumb, among other stores. We are honored to be a part of your home-improvement endeavors.

On Page 11, find out how a Dallas couple saved this historic home from being torn down, restoring it to its former beauty as well as adding supplementary space to fit their needs, while staying true to the look and feel of the original home. The completed French Normandy-style home is rich in architectural detail and Gothic touches. Highlights include a grand stair tower with stained glass windows and a rooftop deck with a view of downtown.

Then, on Page 8, we look at the latest powder room trends. Now that so many families are entertaining, this small jewel of a room is no longer being overlooked. These days, it’s viewed as a showplace. From expensive Italian glass tiles and custom vessel sinks, to elegant chandeliers, this room can be a dramatic highlight in your home.

Additional articles this month show you how to rev up your rooms with rugs and how to beef up your home’s security. And get your fix of before-and-after inspiration from Joetta Moulden’s DIY Decorating, which includes savvy seasonal flourishes to light up your holiday spirit.

Thanks for 10 years and cheers to wonderful traditions!

House & Home

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JEWEL BOXES GLAMOROUS, ELEGANT POWDER ROOMS SHIMMER AND SHINE

Treat your guests and yourself to “Specchio Oro Bianco,” a striking round mirror framed by a band of gold tasserae, as well as glittering silver and white Bisazza glass tile in a large floral pattern, “Winter Flowers Oro Bianco,” designed by Carlo Dal Bianco. Find Bisazza tile at Dal-Tile.

B Y D E B I B R YA N T A N D A M A N DA F L A T T E N

Just because it’s small doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a punch. We’re talking, of course, about powder rooms. This is the space between the public and private, says Elisa Stocchetti, public relations and communication director for Bisazza, an Italian tile manufacturing company that markets extensively in the United States. “Today, people want to take risks in decorating this room, which they feel they can do since it’s such a small space,” she says. “Some people even risk decadence — just a bit.”

Powder rooms can set a tone of elegance in a home. Gabrielle Jewison of Gabrielle Jewison Interior Design in Dallas says powder baths are becoming more prominent in homes. “Powder rooms are now being designed with the guest in mind,” she says. “The powder bath is a punctuation to the house’s style. It’s all about drama and luxury. It’s a showplace.”

SUBLIME SINKS

When it comes to choosing a sink for a powder room, there are options galore.

“Vessels are popular, and now they come in so many price points,” Jewison says.

“There is glass, stone, metal, and hand-painted and blown glass — it’s all a personal preference.”

In contemporary powder rooms, Jewison says sinks play a dramatic role and are sculptural in design. In a contemporary space, you might see overflow sinks, shallow basins, deep vessels, floating vanities, wall-mounted faucets and more.

Kristin Mitchell, a representative with Ferguson Kitchen & Bath Gallery in Dallas, says glass vessel sinks, such as Alchemy and Gravity Glass on the high-end, and Decolav at a lower price point, really are making a splash in powder rooms.

“We used to deck-out the powder bath with accessories,” Jewison says. “We don’t do that much anymore. Now we let all the elements stand out on their own because they are so decorative in and of themselves.”

DRAMATIC LIGHTING

Lighting is very important in a powder room from both decorative and functional standpoints, according to Jewison. “In the powder bath, you want lighting that will add style and luxury,” she says, adding that lighting fixtures with decorative glass or crystal drops can create a sense of elegance in the room.

Mitchell also is seeing more dramatic lighting in powder rooms. “I see a lot of mini chandeliers and custom lighting,” she says.

BREATHTAKING TILES

Jewison says homeowners often give themselves permission to use more expensive tiles in the powder bath because it’s a smaller space and it’s a great place to show off special surfaces. She sees all kinds of textures from mosaic glass tiles in contemporary spaces, to travertine, marble, slate and even hand-painted tiles in traditional spaces.

Bisazza, an Italian firm that applies highly industrialized technology to Venice’s grand glass-making traditions, uses its tiles in all rooms, from furniture to flooring, but they are perfectly suited for powder rooms. Glass tiles with a nearly infinite range of shades within a single color offer a dizzying choice of palette. “Our designers and architects have really opened it up. Tiles in any color or combination can be used anywhere,” Stocchetti says. “Today it’s all about design and patterns.”

PRICE TAGS

Jewison says a powder room easily can cost $10,000 to $15,000, with upscale powder rooms costing as much as $35,000.

Also at the high-end, Bisazza makes a 24-carat gold-leaf mosaic tile, handmade and hand-cut tiles that are made of gold leaf sandwiched between two layers of glass, which costs about $530 per square foot.

However, with so many design shows on TV and the abundance of home design magazines, Mitchell says homeowners these days are more aware of the variety of decorating options. “There is the trend for the masses rather than just really rich people,” she says.

Jewison says homeowners now can get a customized look in their powder rooms with wall-mounted or vessel sinks, furniture vanities or other custom-looking pieces for an affordable price. “There are so many things that look customized, but that really aren’t customized because they are readily available,” she says. “People now have more of a design sense and want to express themselves, and now they are willing do that in the powder room.”

“Selvaggio” (meaning “wild” in Italian) is one of Ann Sacks’ stunning additions for both walls and floors and is perfect for the powder room. Combined with simple accessories, such as the clean-lined counter and vessel, the field tile, cut into borders or drops, is graphic and dramatic.

AVENTURINE In Italian, “aventurine” means “little adventure.”

Bisazza, the Italian tile manufacturer appropriated the word and concept for its collection of shimmering metallic glass mosaic tiles. It refers to the required, yet uncertain process that combines glass and semi-precious stones, a process based on the Venetian glass-making tradition from some 300 years ago.

“It’s very labor-intensive and produces a lot of waste because despite all the technological advances we now have, you are never sure what you will end up with,” says Elisa Stocchetti of Bisazza.

However, you only need to look at Bisazza’s stunning LeGemme collection to understand that each little adventure is worth it — a small square of beauty wrought with hard work, education and skill, and a mysterious chemical process that works like magic.

Maya Romanoff ’s “Beadazzled” wall surface covering sets the backdrop for an incredible Cascade Wall Bracket II by Todd Rugee for Boyd Lighting. A tall, reflective vanity lends more light to this small room. Photo by David Duncan Livingston

Beautiful tone-on-tone “Rete Rosa” pink glass mosaics by Bisazza form an iridescent geometrical pattern. The Louis Ghost chair is by Philippe Starck. The washbasin and faucet are by Flaminia.

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SURVEY SAYS ...

Powder rooms are currently in such high demand that the addition of a powder room to a home that formerly had only one full bath can mean a return of $15,000 to $20,000, depending on regional location, according to a Moen Inc. survey of realtors.

Moen’s research indicates these products are being used to upgrade powder rooms: • Faucets and bathroom accessories • Vessel sinks and furniture-like vanities • Open sink bases, pedestal sinks, corner-mount lavatories and inwall toilet tanks • Natural materials, such as glass, stone and wood • Natural finishes, such as oilrubbed bronze, brushed nickel and wrought iron • Sculptural accents, such as specialty lights and mirrors.

Below: Kohler redefines “vanity” with its Provinity furniture made of European sycamore.

Featuring cove molding, slightly contoured lower shelf and a modern interpretation of the traditional Queen Anne leg, the vanity lends grace to any powder room. Visit www.us.kohler.com for a showroom near you.

Above: High-end Alchemy fused glass vessels are handcrafted by a small group of artisans.

No two are alike. Alchemy sinks can be found at Ferguson Kitchen & Bath Gallery.

RESOURCES DAL-TILE 7834 C.F. Hawn Frwy.

Dallas, TX 75217 214.398.1411 www.daltile.com DALLAS NORTH BUILDERS HARDWARE 6709 Levelland Dallas, TX 75252 972.248.0645 www.dnbh.com FERGUSON KITCHEN & BATH GALLERY 1502 Slocum St. Dallas, TX 75207 214.761.9333 3433 West 7th Street Fort Worth, TX 76107 817.348.8489 www.ferguson.com GABRIELLE JEWISON Gabrielle Jewison Interior Design 214.289.3299 www.gabriellejewisoninterior design.com INTERCERAMIC TILE & STONE GALLERY 2682 Forest Lane Dallas, TX 75234 972.243.4465 821 Jupiter Road, Ste. 300 Plano, TX 75074 972.423.5661 www.interceramicusa.com

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KOHLER Multiple showrooms www.us.kohler.com MORRISON SUPPLY CO. Multiple locations in Dallas and Fort Worth www.morsco.com NADINE FLOOR COMPANY 1105 E. Parker Rd., Ste. 132 Plano, TX 75074 972.424.2525 2930 Preston Rd., Ste. 860 Frisco, TX 75034 214.705.9799 www.nadinefloors.com PASSION LIGHTING 1649 W. Northwest Highway Grapevine, TX 76051 817.310.3261 www.passionlighting.com PIERCE DECORATIVE HARDWARE & PLUMBING 6823 Snider Plaza Dallas, TX 75205 214.368.2851 4030 W. Vickery Blvd.

Fort Worth, TX 76107 817.737.9090 www.piercehardware.com ANN SACKS 1621-B Oak Lawn Dallas, TX 75207 214.742.8453 www.annsacks.com

A Second Chance ABOVE :

The side of the home offers a stunning view of the original sunroom with Greek columns from the 1920s, as well as the new addition of the home, which includes a dramatic stair tower with stained glass windows and a rooftop patio.

BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO A HISTORIC DALLAS HOME In 1997, the Abrams home was for sale. It was going to be torn down and replaced by 21 town homes. This plan didn’t appeal to a couple who owned a home behind the estate on the neighboring street.

“My husband said, ‘We are going to have to buy and save that house, or we are going to have to move,’” says the current homeowner. The couple did buy the home, and the family set out down a long road to preserve and restore it beyond its original glory.

foundation. “There was some speculation that their house, which was way F L O R A L A R R A N G E M E N T S B Y H O L LY W O O D F L O R A L out in the country back then, was a bordello,” the homeowner says. pon entering the old Abrams homestead, now a “Mysteriously, that house burned down in 1922.” four-acre lot in the Lakewood area of Dallas, you Abrams bought the property in 1929 feel a strong sense of history. The French and built a new house using the remaining walls. He was married in the Normandy-style home, built in 1929, features a house later that year. Abrams also built blue slate roof, stucco walls, Gothic details, and surprisingly, a house behind the main property for his wife’s daughter from a previous mara few Greek columns — popular in the ’20s — on the side riage, which is the home the current of the home. But the grand nature of the home and elehomeowners previously lived in before moving to the Abrams house. gance visitors see now wasn’t always apparent.

HISTORY OF THE HOME Abrams died in 1937. His widow The land and the home have a remarried, and in 1950, she and her long history. In 1846, the new husband, daughter and son-in-law McCommas family purchased one square mile of land in Dallas. The purchase moved to Highland Park. The compound was divided, and throughout the years it price was 12 ponies. They built a two-story home, and when the couple died in had various owners and became quite run down. the 1870s, their four children split the property. The eldest son owned the land THE OLD AND NEW the house was built on and stayed in the home until he died in 1910.

It took two years for the homeowners to clear out the overgrown yard. “We Then, the house was sold to two Greek brothers who owned several restaurants cut down 75 hackberries and an acre of bamboo,” the homeowner says, in Dallas. They tore down the original house and rebuilt a new house on the same

BY AMANDA FLATTEN

•

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TERRI GLANGER

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ABOVE :

The original tiger-striped oak floors, Venetian plaster walls, a limestone fireplace, mahogany windows with a Gothic look and a custom Therien & Co. table are special features in the dining room.

OPPOSITE :

Highlights in the study include mahogany wood paneling, the original fireplace with a new stone surround, a game table by Nancy Corzine, a Paul Ferrante lantern and French doors leading out to the sunroom.

adding that they also cleared away several dilapidated greenhouses on the property.

In January 2000, the couple started working on plans for the house and hired Pat Ford of Rogers-Ford as the architect and Diana Merzwski as the interior designer for the enormous project. The goals were to restore the old part of the home and add on a new section of the home that would include a larger kitchen, family room and breakfast room, as well as an additional bedroom upstairs and a rooftop deck overlooking downtown Dallas.

“Their main goal was to make the house more livable,” Ford says. “We didn’t change the character of the house; we just reinforced it and finished it.”

The entire project took more than double the expected time: The first contractor was let go two years into the project. The home then sat empty for more than a year. Finally, another contractor, Sebastian & Associates, was hired, and the home was completed within two more years.

From the street view, the homeowner says the house looks almost the same as before the project began. “We liked the front of the house; it had good drive-up appeal,” the homeowner says. The couple also wanted to keep all of the original downstairs rooms (including the formal dining room, study, living room and sunroom) intact, but they did make some alterations to the bedrooms upstairs by turning one of the former bedrooms into a large master bath and closet. The entire back of the home is a new addition to the original home, which was about 4,000 square feet.

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The completed home is more than 10,000 square feet.

Ford says there were many challenges during the construction and restoration of the home. “We took a lot of existing pieces off the original house and reintegrated them back into the completed house,” he says. For example, the original hardwood oak floors were reused and mixed with new flooring where necessary. The slate roof was removed, sorted, stored and was mixed with new matching slate to create a uniform look across the expanded rooftop.

While much of the original part of the home remained the same, mahogany windows with traditional detail constructed in a Gothic form and arched doorways were added to the front rooms for more architectural interest. Based on a photo the homeowner found of a wedding party at the home from the 1930s, Ford was able to replicate the original style of the windows and doors that add so much charm to the sunroom. “You feel like you could just open the door and walk outside,” the homeowner says. “The home has beautiful grounds. The property is big enough that you really feel like you have a lot of space. It’s inviting.”

The family uses the kitchen and family room the most. The kitchen, which has a walk-in refrigerator, a pizza oven, limestone countertops and long leaf yellow pine cabinets, looks out onto the wide-open family room and breakfast room. The adjoining rooms have a comfortable, elegant feel.

Safety was also a concern for the homeowners, who have three girls. There are at least two sets of stairs off of every floor, which provide multiple exits, as well as unique

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ABOVE :

Charming wood furniture provides seating next to the cozy outdoor fireplace.

A unique antique barbershop sink and Soleil limestone floors are the highlights of the master bathroom.

OPPOSITE : The dramatic stairwell features St. Germain French limestone stairs and large arched stained glass windows.

LEFT :

twists and turns. “The house has a bit of surprise and interest as you are finding your way through it,” Ford says.

As the interior designer, Merzwski enjoyed the project and the freedom she was given to select much of the home’s furniture and accessories. “The owners like quirky things sometimes,” she says.

“They are very down to earth, and to be able to incorporate that into the design of the house was fun.”

UNUSUAL SURPRISES

Ford says the areas of the home he finds most unique are the rooftop deck and the stair tower. “It was a challenge to add a rooftop deck 30 feet in the air and match the French architecture of the rest of the house,” he says. The rooftop features a limestone tile floor and arch details called Plate Tracery.

As you step into the home and walk though the entryway, a grand stairwell unfolds. Ford says the stair tower and magnificent stained glass windows add visual interest and excitement to the space. “There is a lot of detail in the architecture,” he says.

Cindy Ford, who handles marketing for Rogers-Ford, says, “This type of project doesn’t come along very often — where you have the ability to do some preservation work and restoration work, but then also a good portion is new construction.”

Saving an old home and a bit of history can be greatly rewarding for those bold enough to take on the challenge. “You can take an old house and redo it instead of tearing it down,” the homeowner says. “It probably was more expensive, but [a new house] wouldn’t have the charm that the old house does.”

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As the heart of the home, this spacious family room features a limestone fireplace, antique American chestnut floors and ceiling beams that were reclaimed from a barn in the Northeast.

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The rooftop deck with a view of downtown Dallas is one of the stars of the home. It features a limestone tile floor and arch detail called Plate Tracery.

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Kitchen-Centric Today’s More Casual Floor Plan If home is where the heart is, it beats strongest in the kitchen where day-to-day living and weekend entertaining all occur. No longer a “behind the scenes” room, the kitchen has become the scene. As the American lifestyle has become less formal, our homes are following suit.

Homeowners with older, compartmentalized homes are tearing down walls and abolishing formal living rooms to achieve larger kitchens that merge seamlessly with living spaces. The old formal dining room is absorbed into a larger kitchen, making room for pantries, more expansive counter space and increasingly popular appliances like microwave drawers, dual dishwashers and built-in coffee stations. The living room, too ceremonial for today’s more casual living, is transformed into a larger, more versatile dining room. Any separation between the kitchen and family room is eliminated or minimized.

The downturn in the economy served to increase the popularity of this new casual approach as dinner parties were brought to the home table, as opposed to the restaurant table, creating an increasing demand for living and dining spaces that support casual, home entertaining. According to Mary Kathryn Reese of Kitchen Design Concepts, “Post-recession homeowners are moving towards more casual lifestyles by incorporating larger kitchens that merge into a multi-functioning family space, doing away with the formal living room all together. Homeowners are changing the architectural design, as well as the interior decorating, of their homes to incorporate a more open and moderate approach to living.”

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Above: Ellen Cook and Paul Glaser’s new floor plan puts the kitchen at the center of the home and day-to-day life.

Right: Guests can watch Paul cook from the family room or while perched on one of the leather kitchen stools at the island.

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BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

The more laid-back floor plan encourages co-mingling. It brings the kids out of their bedrooms to do homework at the kitchen island or breakfast table. The cook of the house is no longer relegated to the kitchen for meal prep while family life or get-togethers go on without her (or him). Guests feel more at home too, as they’re invited into the family living spaces. Dress-up or dress-down, every occasion is at home in this new setting, whether you’re hosting 5, 15 or 50.

This approach is exactly what Ellen Cook and Paul Glaser were looking for, says Reese of Kitchen Design Concepts. “Paul is a professional chef, so having the kitchen as the focal point was a natural fit. But even without that in play, a more relaxed approach to daily life and entertaining was a match for their lifestyle and for their Hill Country-inspired interiors,” she says.

The Cook/Glaser family is very active with three children who all lead busy lives. The lively family enjoys entertaining and, as an accomplished chef, Paul wanted an environment that would allow him to prepare meals together with his family and friends. Reese explains that to accomplish this, they eliminated the formal dining room and expanded the kitchen into the living room, allowing for a large island.

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This informal breakfast area sits in the space that used to be devoted to the formal living room.

Kitchen Design Concepts gave the kitchen this rustic backdrop to complement the casual lifestyle and Hill Countr y-inspired interiors of this family.

WHAT TO CONSIDER

If you’re thinking about this shift in your own home, Reese suggests the following considerations for planning your renovation.

• When taking space from other areas of the home, walls are frequently eliminated or moved. Moving walls that are loading bearing will increase the costs of the renovation.

• New flooring is often required when merging multiple rooms.

• New light fixtures and possibly rerouting wiring is usually desired and often required.

• Homeowners frequently take this opportunity to update cabinets, countertops and the backsplash.

• Now is also the time to consider adding new appliances such as an icemaker, wine refrigerator, dishwashing drawer, dish warmer or upgraded refrigerators and ranges.

• Turn to a qualified, certified remodeler to execute your remodel professionally.

Whether we need physical, emotional or social nourishment, we gather in the kitchen for what nurtures and sustains us. The kitchen-centric floor plan is a trend that puts your family’s feeding and fulfillment at the heart of the home.

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Home Safe Home SECURITY MEASURES CAN BOTH FORTIFY AND BEAUTIFY YOUR HOME

BY SHAWN GUSTAFSON

Protect your property by strengthening doors and windows, adding exterior lighting and installing an alarm system. Photo courtesy of Robert Huff.

A burglary occurs in a residence every 15 seconds in the United States — and suddenly a house just doesn’t feel like home any longer.

In 2008, more than two million burglaries took place nationwide, accounting for estimated property losses of $4.6 billion. More than 70 percent of these invasions occurred in residential properties, according to the FBI Uniform Crime Report 2008. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to safeguard your family and possessions from unwelcome intruders. And with the approach of the holiday season, when vacation plans and piles of gleaming presents act as a magnet to wouldbe thieves, there’s never been a better time to act.

CAUSE FOR ALARM No, we’re not talking widespread panic. We’re talking about a professionally installed and monitored electronic security system. According to the Electronic Security Association (ESA), homes without alarm sys-

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tems are about three times more likely to be broken into. Toss in the fact that today’s security measures can be linked to such modern features as lighting and access control, as well as intercom and surveillance technology, and you’re looking at a gift that keeps on giving, says Michael Jensen, owner of Modern Technology & Integration.

From traditional security elements like access-control gates, window and door alarm sensors, and motion detectors to “price-friendly systems that include cameras that tie into your security system and email a video clip to parents when their kids get home from school,” Jensen affirms that today’s solutions highlight efficiency as never before. The latest buzz centers on home-automation convenience — including the ability to remotely arm your home security system, adjust your thermostat, and control lighting and other features while away from home.

When you’re ready to select a security contractor, look to these tips advised by the Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (TBFAA). First, always confirm that a company is licensed with the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Board, and ask whether it conducts pre-employment screening. It’s also a good idea to contact your insurance agent and friends for referrals, and always require identification before allowing a security rep into your home.

SHED SOME LIGHT Another crucial factor is lighting, asserts John Dailey, managing partner of Robert Huff Landscape Illumination. “Using lights around your property not only adds to the beauty of your home, but also adds safety and security,” he says. Dailey recommends the use of photo cells that turn outdoor lighting on when it gets dark and off in the morning sun.

In addition to porch and eave lights, as well as low-voltage landscape lighting, Dailey also emphasizes the importance of lighting within the home for personal safety and to signal your presence.

Michael Jensen couldn’t agree more. “For peace of mind for moms and their kids driving up to a dark house at night, we recommend a lighting-control system that can turn on the house lights to light the way into the home at the touch of a button,” he says. Such systems can also integrate with your security system to activate all the lights in a home if an alarm is tripped by an intruder, as well as flash exterior lights to alert neighbors and the police.

BREAK-IN NEWS While you’re lighting the path to your door, you’d better make sure it — and your windows — are secure. A well-cited survey in Pennsylvania indicated that 81 percent of home break-ins occur on the first floor, with 34 percent of burglars entering through the front door, and 23 percent through a window. Michael Fjetland, president of Armor Glass International, urges protecting these penetration points.

While installing deadbolts and reinforced door locks is always recommended, Fjetland’s security strategy goes further.

“Homeowners must strengthen their weakest link, which is always their glass,” he states. “It takes the tiniest of force to break a window and enter a home.” Certified security window film is a cost-effective alternative, he says, and it offers the additional benefits of energy savings and hurricane protection.

Sturdy fences are a long-standing deterrent for residential break ins. Photo courtesy of Designmaster Fencing System.

A FAMILY-FRIENDLY FORTRESS The ESA reveals that crooks spend no more than 60 seconds breaking into a property, so any means of slowing down their progress helps. “The presence of a barrier to entry is probably the most important factor, since criminals are usually looking for the path of least resistance,” says Patrick McIntosh, a sales rep with Designmaster Fencing System. He points to the company’s 6- and 8-foot fences as top sellers in the market, adding, “The higher the fence, the greater the deterrent.”

Other barriers, physical and psychological, include keeping trees and hedges near the home trimmed to limit hiding spots, closing garage doors, arming gun cabinets and safes with security sensors, and participating in active neighborhood watch programs. Finally, particularly important during the holidays is to avoid broadcasting your out-of-town trip plans via social media — or else you may end up with a visit from someone on Santa’s decidedly “Naughty” list.

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Security lighting is important for both the front and back yards, especially, around the holidays. Photo courtesy of Robert Huff.

Playing It Safe This Holiday Season Hitting the road for the holidays? Follow this simple checklist from TBFAA to reduce your risk of a home burglary.

• Get a trusted friend or relative to house sit. Or, make sure your neighbors know your plans, and leave a house key and contact number.

• Have a neighbor pick up your newspapers and mail daily, as well as solicitor fliers left on the door.

• Lock all doors and windows. Secure the garage door, plus garage door remotes by removing them from unattended cars.

• Leave a car parked in the driveway, or ask a neighbor to park in your drive.

• Use timers to turn lights on and off, altering lighting patterns.

• Arrange to have your lawn mowed.

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handbook

Magic Carpets IKEA’s Persisk series features hand-woven traditional Persian patterns. Photo courtesy of IKEA.

UNLEASH THE POTENTIAL OF AREA RUGS TO DRESS UP YOUR ROOMS B y D E B I B R YA N T

Since rugs have been used in homes for about 2,000 years, there is no doubt they are a classic element of home design. And today’s artisans, craftsmen and manufacturers are

sive.” She also likes seeing more shapes, such as squares and circles. “They are timeless, but still create interest,” she says.

hard at work coming up with au courant colors, textures and techniques to make sure it stays that way.

“Rugs bring a warm and inviting look to a room. Also elegance. They can open up a small room by using a light color rug with less ornate patterns,” says Valerie Roberts, owner and rug buyer for Roberts Carpet & Fine Floors. “For oversized rooms, they help define the space—maybe use a rug at a conversation area on one side and, across the room, beneath a game table. Besides, there’s nothing like the softness of a rug under bare feet.”

CUSTOMIZE YOUR ORDER

WEAVING OLD AND NEW

What’s new with this old art form? Plenty. Lois Snider, co-owner of The Great Rug Company with husband John, explains, “Rugs change all the time because they follow furniture trends. Year round, we’re always getting new things.” For instance, she says the color palette is shifting away from gold toward gray, silver and taupe. “Brown is still strong,” she adds.

Jeannie Gupton, IKEA’s shopkeeper of textiles and baths, points out a trend for longer pile, reminiscent of shag carpeting. “The long pile takes it out of the ’70s look,” she says. “It is very popular and relatively inexpen-

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At Rubin’s Custom Rugs, co-owner Raquel Henderson has customers who prefer to tailor their rugs to their tastes. “We can do any size, shape or color so the rug really gathers all the elements in the room and brings the composition together,” she says. Working with traditional and contemporary designs, she continues, “It’s not as expensive as you think.”

In a similar vein, Gupton highlights the hand-knotted Persian rugs offered by IKEA. “Some of them tell a story. A dog might represent protection or a pomegranate motif symbolizes good fortune,” she says. “Each one is unique. My favorite had ostriches around the border and the edges were cut to look like feathers. It got snapped up immediately.”

TAKE CARE

“Everybody has preferences about how much care they want to give a rug,” says Gupton. “For instance, a pile rug is a little harder to vacuum, so you might think about putting it in a low-traffic area.”

Roberts advises homeowners to routinely rotate their rugs 180 degrees to even out traffic patterns. She also encourages using a rug pad—“Rugs

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Karatan’s Chinese design called Mandarin is available at Roberts Carpet & Fine Floors. Photo courtesy of Karastan.

This neutral shag rug and adds groovy retro texture.

Photo courtesy of cb2.

Karatan’s Plum Blossom Mocha rug feels organic, yet modern. Also available at Roberts. Photo courtesy of Karastan.

Splashes of yellow and orange liven up this contemporary space.

Photo courtesy of cb2.

tend to wear out first underneath. A rug pad will extend the life of your rug,” says Roberts.

FORM AND FUNCTION

Pleasing aesthetics isn’t the only benefit of rugs. There’s a practicality, too.

“They absorb sound which is important with the trend toward hard surface flooring. They are versatile—you can take them with you when you move. In fact, you might have a rug that looks perfect in the den of your first home and works wonderfully in a bedroom in your second home,” Roberts points out.

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handbook Below: Textstyle/Jamie Stern offers interpretations of the Strata and Pixel paintings by Mikel Patrik. Photo courtesy of Textstyle/Jamie Stern.

‘P’ is for Potential Rugs present an array of opportunities to be creative. As Valerie Roberts with Roberts Carpet says, “Dazzle your décor and personalize your home with rugs.”

• Rubin’s Custom Rugs can bring equipment to your home and carve a design into your wall-towall carpet. “It dresses up a bland wall-to-wall without adding color and it gives you a new look without buying new carpet,” says owner Raquel Henderson.

• Henderson also uses an unexpected material— canvas—for rugs. Backed with a non-skid material, the canvas rug is perfect for baths, entry ways, back porches and beach houses. Henderson can customize the canvas by painting and then sealing it. “It can be whatever design you want,” she says.

• “There’s no rule that says area rugs only work on hard surfaces,” says Lois Snider with The Great Rug Company. “You can put one on top of wall-to-wall carpet.” The area rug adds color to neutral carpeting, protects new carpet and can cover flaws, such as a bad stain or heavy traffic patterns.

Shop Talk

Right: Soft shapes and earthy colors, such as this tonal brown rug, can anchor a mix of mod patterns. Photo courtesy of IKEA.

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Shopping for rugs can be overwhelming—so much color, so much variety, so much beauty.

To help with this challenging task, Valerie Roberts with Roberts Carpet advises her clients to bring in samples of their existing décor. “Paint chips and fabric swatches help narrow down the choices and let you focus on what will work,” she says.

Jeannie Gupton with IKEA says, “Be wary of buying a rug that will overpower your space. It’s easy to get carried away.” Because rugs hanging in a gallery look larger than they are, Roberts tells people to measure their space before coming in.

For example, “If it’s for your dining room, allow at least 2 feet on the sides of the table so chairs can easily pull out,” she says. “You can also lay down newspaper to get an idea. It’s not an exact science, but it helps.”

diy

decorating

friendly update Room for Family Budget with space to play AFTER: Darker wall paint, new Ballard Designs.com game table, Parsons chairs and bookcases from SteinMart provided practical seating and storage. A grapevine wall hanging from Pier 1 Imports hangs beside the new bookshelves and holds removable holiday decorations. New high-grade cherry Armstrong laminate flooring provides practical good looks.

A wreath is hung on the inside of the door so owners themselves can enjoy it. Stockings are hung from an existing coat rack.

BEFORE: Light carpet was not very practical by the doorway, and there was no place to sit (but on the floor) when playing with the grandkids.

before

BY JOETTA MOULDEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANET LENZEN

House & Home readers Mary and Tom wanted to update their family room at minimal cost.

They liked the fact that I work with what clients have instead of starting over. “ We didn’t know where to begin but knew we wanted the den to be comfortable and family-friendly for the grandchildren. We did not want to make costly mistakes nor toss out everything that we owned. We wanted a timeless, fresh look, with color and design choices that would last and not look ‘trendy’,” Mary explained.

Since we had worked together previously, I knew she preferred neutral colors, so we chose Sherwin Williams “ Fresco Cream” SW 7719 for the walls.

In a traditional den, it is important to create a

tip> casual, kid-friendly furniture arrangement that invites guests to sit down and watch TV and to choose

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diy decorating practical fabrics that you can imagine children sitting on.

Mary was excited to learn that most of her furnishings could be rearranged, painted, reupholstered or reused. “You really listened, asked questions about how we use the space and delved into what we wanted, which really put me at ease,” she explained.

She was thrilled that I would go with her to Interior Fabrics to choose fabrics because she was hesitant to select them for the furniture and to coordinate pillows. She did not want to make costly mistakes.

“Since we have been in our home since 1974, we have replaced the carpeting several times. Because we have to cross the den many times per day, we wanted a more permanent flooring solution,” Mary said.

In order to achieve a practical family-friendly room for this

tip> couple, the light carpet had to be replaced with practical flooring and a game table and chairs added to provide seating for games, dining and watching television.

By the end of that first meeting, Mary was feeling very comfortable with what we had decided. The sofas and wing chairs would be recycled with new fabric. A neutral, hose-able indoor/outdoor area rug would be added on top of new Armstrong Grand Illusions Cherry Bronze flooring from Forsyth Floor Co., and the Christmas tree moved into the den where it could be enjoyed. Tom would rub paint on the existing oil painting frame with Modern Masters Metallic Paint Collection paint in “English Brown”, and Mary would shop for a coffee table/ottoman, rug, bookcases, table and chairs using dimensions I suggested.

Because she was timid about adding color to her rooms, I suggested Mary take the fabric samples home and live with them and see them in different lights before we actually purchased them from Interior Fabrics using my design discount.

Take concise measurements and sketches fabric shopping to prevent making expensive mistakes and to make sure everything is works well together.

tip> TRADE SECRETS • Think “green”— reupholstering existing furniture instead of buying new repurposes them, keeps them out of the landfill and saves money, too.

• Once the flooring, rug, seating and fabrics are finalized, THEN paint colors can be chosen. Paint consistently gives the most bang for the buck.

• Get creative. A small jar of paint can transform an already-paid-for picture frame for pennies on the dollar.

• Sometimes the most effective strategy is not to buy more furniture and accessories for your home, but to first rethink the pieces that are already paid for.

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Since this was the first holiday season in their “new” room, my design assistant Dorenda Longoria and I decorated the room for Mary and Tom, focusing on the tree. (When beginning holiday decorating, it is best to make sure the backgrounds and furniture placements are correct first. The room should look fantastic after the seasonal decorations are put away. In this case, one of the matching wing chairs was moved to a bedroom to make room for the tree.)

The idea is to make your home look and smell as fragrant,

tip> festive and candlelit as possible, so it literally oozes holiday cheer.

To accomplish this, you must exaggerate what you would normally do in order for the decorations to look full and festive.

“We wanted to use our existing Christmas decorations,” Mary explains. “You and I shopped for ribbon, wreaths, swags to coordinate, and I learned how with a little pre-planning and attention to detail, you can create a holiday look with very little expense. You raised the tree on an ornament box, brilliantly used an inexpensive tablecloth for a tree skirt and filled in the bare spots of our tree with fruit picks and ribbon.

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Fresh green apples and flowers and greenery were inexpensive but fragrant and powerful.

The finished look is great, the room is comfortable and the setting provides a great backdrop for our relaxed entertaining style, whatever the season. I have never had so many holiday parties,” Mary concludes.

BEFORE: Dated teal and mauve sofas and chairs and too-small pillows needed new fabrics in this well-used family room. The carpet was difficult to keep clean especially along the walkway to the front door and hallway bedrooms. The owners were ready to get rid of the too-large coffee table.

AFTER: An indoor/outdoor faux sisal rug from Lowe’s anchors the seating area, with its reupholstered furniture and pillows with fabrics from Interior Fabrics. A narrow leather storage ottoman from SteinMart serves as a coffee table.

Existing artwork was rearranged and the oil painting frame was painted. The owners’ existing tree was raised on top of a plastic ornament box and beefed up with fruit inserts, new twisted ribbon garland. A copper tablecloth serves as a tree skirt to match the inexpensive Bed Bath & Beyond washable chair slipcovers.

Joetta Moulden offers home makeovers using your own home furnishings to create the home you’ve always dreamed of. Joetta believes your pieces collected through the years reflect your personality and can be artfully arranged. Her ability to focus on your personal style and not let her own preferences influence the design of your home makes her unique. See more makeovers on her Web site at www.shelterstyle.com, e-mail her at joetta@shelterstyle.com or call

before 713.461.2063. If an initial appointment or referral is booked by December 31, a 15 percent first meeting discount will be given.

Shelterstyle.com holds a "Pages of Happiness" rating and, for the third consecutive year, a “Super Service Award” presented to 5 percent of companies that achieve and maintain a superior rating on www.angieslist.com.

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