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HOME AND GARDEN
How to attract busy contractors to your remodel By ANNIE MILLERBERND
Maryland Professional Contractors, says when he has dozens of voicemails, referrals get the first calls back. Williams says he enjoys working with new customers, but the referral network supports his business. “That base supports about seven full-time employees right now,” he says. “I know that was there before this boom, so I’m pretty sure after the boom we’ll have that referral base.” You might also use your real estate agent. Williams says about half of his referrals come from agents.
NerdWallet Brian Gawthrop has waited over six months to remodel his home. The Washington statebased certified financial planner and his wife have a long enough wish list to keep a contractor busy: a kitchen remodel, new flooring, a new deck and many other upgrades. They did a cash-out refinance last summer, which lowered their mortgage rate and gave them money to use toward home improvements. They planned to start soon after receiving the cash, but by mid-December Gawthrop still hadn’t found the right contractor. Contractors say pandemic-prompted home remodels have kept their schedules full, while labor and material shortages have extended project timelines. That means the next contractor you call may be more selective about the projects they accept, and your quote may be higher than you expected. Here’s how to stand out
BE PATIENT — AND NICE
For Williams, summer is the busy season and demand starts to drop in the fall; last year, however, he stayed busy through the end of the year. Renovation timelines could be delayed by backlogged city permit requests, AP photo a shortage of subcontractors A workman cuts sections of a beam at a housing site. The busy season for home remodeling usually ends in late and backordered materials. Christina Starmer, buildsummer or early fall, but contractors say demand from the pandemic renovation rush hasn’t let up. ing contractor at CenterBeam Construction in Jacklikely to call you back if an member or neighbor who’s sonville, Florida, says she in a crowd of homeowners GET A REFERRAL existing customer refers you. had work done recently. vying for a contractor’s atMike Williams, owner of A contractor may be more You can try a friend, family tention. See Contractor / Page 4 • Maytag • Frigidaire • Kitchen Aid • Amana Speed Queen • Broan • Whirlpool • GE
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HOME AND GARDEN
Contractor Continued from Page 3
returns every customer’s call, but acknowledges that not all contractors do. “I think it’s really important to be extremely kind to the customers and call them back, but the customers right now are just extremely frustrated because they can’t get anyone to pick up the phone,” she says. Frustrating as it is, don’t let anger get the best of you. Starmer says renovations are hard work, and a little empathy goes a long way. If someone is unkind early on, Starmer assumes they’ll be unkind to her staff as well, and usually moves on to a new client.
KNOW WHAT YOU WANT Research finishes, like cabinets and countertops, before calling a contractor because they can make a big difference in the project’s cost, says Jonathan Larkin , sales manager of St. Paul, Minnesota-based JoNick Construction. “It’s much easier to write up a bid if somebody has some solid ideas of what they really want,” he says. If you don’t have the details ironed out, Larkin recommends setting a budget ahead of time. Giving a number may feel like relinquishing leverage, but he says a reputable contractor will use your budget to help you assess options, not overcharge you.
Your budget may need to be higher than before the pandemic, he says. Wood prices skyrocketed last spring and still haven’t fallen to their pre-pandemic levels. Other materials, like shingles and siding, are also more expensive than they were in 2019, Starmer says. Larkin recommends getting an itemized estimate in case you need to find opportunities to cut costs. PROTECT YOUR FINANCES Gawthrop says his wife wants to start their renovations sooner than later, but he wants to stay budget-conscious. In this market, he says price seems largely at the discretion of contractors. “It kind of feels like the wild west,” he says.
Plan ahead for successful renovation Remodeling projects are significant undertakings. Homeowners must consider a host of variables before any such project can begin. While planning ahead may take time, it is essential to ensuring successful completion of a renovation project. Consider these pre-renovation planning pointers to help any job go smoothly. Renovation projects often involve balancing needs and wants, and determining if a project is a necessity or a luxury can set the timeline and course of the project. Is the roof leaking? If so, immediate action is necessary. Could the kitchen be a bit more functional? If the kitchen is still manageable, a homeowner may be able to wait a little bit to get better prices on appliances or contracting services. Separating needs from wants helps homeowners map out a viable timeline that maximizes productivity
and affordability. Many homeowners are under the impression that doing the work themselves can save a considerable amount of money. This may be the case for homeowners with renovation experience. But by and large, professional contractors are an asset to any renovation. They can provide a realistic overview of the project, map out projected costs, point out areas that could be troublesome, and may have industry contacts that can keep supply costs low. Even if a homeowner will do a portion of the job, a contractor can do the bulk of the work and keep the project on budget. Permits are designed to ensure the work is being done to code and in a safe manner. However, they are not without additional costs and processing time, and that can cause some homeowners to skip this step. According to the home information site
The Spruce, building permits cost anywhere from $400 to about $2,200 for new home construction. Building permits for smaller projects can cost $100 or less, and typically are based on a percentage of the anticipated cost of the project. A permit may be issued the day the application is submitted, while other cities and towns may issue permits up to two or more weeks later. Factor permit fees and processing times into the renovation plan. If it comes to light a homeowner did work without a required permit, he or she may face penalties; may have to tear out work done to have it inspected or redone; some may be unable to sell a home until permits have been obtained and work has been done to code. Homeowners insurance coverage also may be affected if homeowners do not obtain the proper permits.
But you can maintain control of your finances. For example, ask to build a pricing buffer into the contract. Larkin says if material costs increase or decrease by more than 12% between the time he makes a bid and when the project starts, he’ll correct the bid. This helps protect him and his customers from volatile materials prices, he says. If you’re not paying for the renovation in cash, compare financing options. For example, home equity financing typically comes with single-digit rates and repayment terms of 10 or more years, while personal loans can have rates between 6% and 36% but shorter terms of one to seven years. Weigh each type of financing to find one that works best for you.
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HOME AND GARDEN Must-have features in your updated bathroom Veteran homeowners recognize the value of remodeling their kitchens and bathrooms. Kitchens and baths tend to appear dated more quickly than other spaces, such as living rooms and bedrooms, which can always be revamped with some fresh paint and new furnishings. The home improvement pricing resource Home Guide indicates an average bathroom remodel costs anywhere from $5,500 to $15,000 depending on the size and scope of the renovation. However, a bath redo can increase a home’s resale value and can return as much as 68 percent of homeowners’ investments. As homeowners plan their bathroom renovations, it’s a good time to consider improvements
that will improve function and add design appeal for years to come. ≤ Floating vanity: Add an airy feeling to the room by creating space between the vanity and the floor. A floating vanity can be a counter with a vessel sink or even have cabinets, as long as the vanity doesn’t extend to the floor. ≤ Freestanding traditional sink or tub: There’s something elegant about a freestanding tub or pedestal sink. Such features can lend a classic vibe to a space. However, freestanding fixtures also come in modern or eclectic forms, so there are options for any design style. • Frameless showers: Switch to a walk-in shower option, which improves aesthetics and makes it easier
to “age in place” in a home. Pair that frameless shower with clear glass shower doors so sightline in the space remains unencumbered. ≤ Natural textures: Create a calm and serene sanctuary in the bathroom with light, natural hues and materials. Nature-inspired colors on tiles, walls and vanities can add to the spa vibe. ≤ Dual sinks and vanities: With a double vanity, two people can share the space and easily use the bathroom without getting in each other’s way. One vanity with two sinks works, but homeowners can create even more personal space by dividing vanities and mirrors. ≤ Small textured tile on See Bathroom / Page 8
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Lewistown, PA—7
HOME AND GARDEN
Pollinator gardens good for the Earth, and for the soul By ROXANNE CARSTETTER
Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden
Penn State Master Gardener
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1-Bn
Pollinator gardens are more important than ever, and once established, are virtually care-free. Why are they so important? Simply put, pollinators feed us. The birds, bees, and butterflies that visit our gardens enable us to have food crops. Ninety percent of all plants require pollination. So, let’s get to work! To be considered a true pollinator garden it must contain not only pollenand nectar-producing plants but also shelter and a water source. That is not as labor intensive as it sounds. The shelter may be the plants themselves. You should allow your garden to be a bit un-kempt. Wild and free plant growth can provide adequate shelter. Bird, butterfly, and bat houses are also good options. Yes, bat houses. Bats are pollinators as are wasps. They are just as beneficial as the butterflies and birds so, give them a wide berth if you must, but don’t harm them. A water source can be a fountain, birdbath or a ground level, shallow pan of water. Keep your water clean and fresh. Of course, the most important ingredients are the plants themselves. Plants native to Pennsylvania will ensure your garden is going to flourish. The PA Native Plant Society can furnish you with a list of pollinator friendly native plant nurseries. Check out their website at https:// www.panativeplantsoci-
1 Am
5 At
3 Ss
1 Sn
9 As
5 Lis
Plant sale returns in 2022
5 Vn
2-Lb 2-Sc
6 Lc
9-An 9-Ai
3-An
2 At
2 Gm
6-Hh
6 As
2 Gm
3 Cg 1 Gm
Perennials: 3 - Ar Actea racemosa - Black cohosh 9 - Ai A sclepias incarnata - Swamp milkweed 15 - As Asclepias syriaca - Common milkweed 8 - At Asclepias tuberosa - Butterfly weed 12 - An Aster novae-angliae - New England aster 3 - Cg Chelone glabra - Turtlehead 7 - Gm Geranium maculatum - Wild geranium 6 - Hh Heliopsis helianthoides - Oxeye sunflower 5 - Lis Liatris spicata - Blazing star 6 - Lc Lobelia cardinalis - Cardinal flower 7 - Ls Lobelia siphilitica - Great blue lobelia 7 - Pd Penstemon digitalis - Beard-tongue 7 - Ps Phlox stolinifera- Creeping phlox 3 - Ss Schizachyrium scoparium - Little bluestem 1 - SN Sorghastrum nutans - Indian grass 5 - Vn Vernoia noveboracensis - New York ironweed
1 At
Shrubs:
7 PD
3 Ps
1 - Am Aronia melanocarpa - Black chokeberry 2 - Lb Lindera benzoin - Spicebush 2 - Sc Sambucus canadensis - Elderberry
7-Ls
1 Ps
2 Gm 3 Ps
Trees: 1 - Bn Betula nigra - River birch
(multi-stemmed trunk preferred)
Modifications to the plan might be needed or desired based on space limitations, proximity to buildings or other factors.
Scale 5/16” = 1’- 0
You can find this and other native garden templates at www.dcnr.pa.gov/PlantNative
ety.org or follow them on Facebook for inspiration. Now, for the plants. Butterfly weed — not to be confused with butterfly bush — is a great choice. Check for the scientific name Asclepias tuberosa to ensure you are buying the proper plant. Coneflower, bee balm, black-eyed Susan, meadow rue, milkweed, goldenrod, beard tongue and phlox are no-fail choices. If you want to include a few non-natives that are attractive to pollinators and easy to grow, try lavender, cigar plant and autumn joy sedum. These plants are, for the most part, sun lovers so make sure your garden gets a daily six hours of sunlight.
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Most are also perennials so they will return each year. What could be easier? One more thing — don’t use pesticides on or near your pollinator garden. They will kill the very pollinators you are trying to attract. Ready to get busy?
Good! You’ll be doing a good thing for the Earth and a good thing for your heart and soul. Questions? Contact the Penn State Master Gardeners of Juniata and Mifflin Counties at (717) 2489618 or mifflinmg@psu. edu.
Juniata/Mifflin County Penn State Master Gardeners are planning their annual Plant Sale for Saturday, May 14, from 8 a.m. to noon, outdoors at the Mifflin County Airport in Reedsville — rain or shine. The Master Gardeners will once again offer a wide selection of greenhouse-grown plants. Vegetables, annual flowers and herbs, along with sun and shade loving native perennial plants will be available. Also, back by popular demand are succulents. Compost will again be offered for sale. Everything is reasonably priced. Residents are encouraged to Ask-A-Master about plants, planting, yard issues and more. Friendly, knowledgeable Penn State Master Gardener volunteers will be available to answer questions and help you find those special, right plants. Proceeds from the plant sale support the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden, located at the Mifflin County Library, and other public education programs.
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HOME AND GARDEN
Improve wellness with affordable bathroom upgrades (Family Features) Wellness is at the forefront of nearly everyone’s mind, including keeping germs at bay and creating surroundings that promote mental and physical health. Even small, but important, spaces like the bathroom can benefit from changes with wellness in mind.
A bathroom can be one of the easiest rooms in your home to give a little extra TLC toward creating a healthier lifestyle. These cost-effective measures can turn your bathroom into a more practical, functional space that promotes your well-being.
SWITCH UP SURFACES The countertops in your bathroom, much like the flooring, must be able to withstand a lot of water. Nonporous vanity tops, such as those made from quartz, hold up to being wet constantly and can help keep
germs from breeding. In addition to being easy to clean, a solid-surface option like quartz never needs to be sealed or polished, making it an aesthetically pleasing, long-lasting option.
ter vapors in the air can carry potentially harmful chemicals from cleaning products. Green cleaning products are made to control the spread of bacteria and viruses using safe and effective means. Not only are they helpful in CLEAN GREEN preventing asthma attacks Bathrooms are often hot and other respiratory ailand steamy places, and wa- ments, but they are a low-
cost way to improve overall indoor air quality. What you use to clean yourself is just as important. Using green or organic personal care items can help reduce toxin exposure and lessen the likelihood of an allergic reaction. See Wellness / Page 10
Bathroom Continued from Page 6
shower floors: Small textures are appealing and add safety. The added texture and grouting will keep feet from slipping on wet floors. Also, opt for mold-resistant grout to make cleanup even easier. ≤ Special shower heads: Invest in shower heads that can run the gamut from creating steam showers to rainfall effects. Some showers will have multiple shower jets to offer an invigorating experience. ≤ Improve drainage: Increase the diameter of the drain pipe in the bathroom from the standard to a twoinch drain pipe. This will reduce the risk of clogs and overflow leaks. ≤ Install a window: Natural light and air flow can reduce the risk for mold and mildew growth, and windows add some aesthetic appeal to a space. Just be sure to choose frosted privacy glass. Additional considerations for a bath remodel include heated floors, well-placed and attractive storage options and a toilet enclosure (water closet) for added privacy. These and other bathroom renovation ideas can add value and improve the appeal of the room.
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HOME AND GARDEN
Wait for right time to plant By LEE REICH
Associated Press Spring in the vegetable or flower garden is a carefully orchestrated series of events. The goal is to keep things moving forward with the warming season, taking into account weather predictions and, because those are just predictions, average spring warming trends where you garden. Many gardeners use Memorial Day as a turning point in their gardening calendar. But Memorial Day weather in San Diego is very different from Memorial Day weather in Concord, New Hampshire. A TURNING POINT A better measure is “the average date of the last killing frost in spring” where you live. Note that this is just what it says, an average. In any year, that date might be earlier or later. You can figure out that average date of the last killing frost online at a variety of sites where you just type in your ZIP code. Or contact your local County Cooperative Extension office for that information. SOME LIKE IT HOT Vegetables and annual flowers can be grouped into the cold-tender and the cold-hardy. Cold-hardy vegetables include onions, lettuce, arugula, parsley, spinach, radish, carrot, parsnip, and cabbage and its kin, such as kale, collards, Brussels sprouts and broccoli. Snapdragon, pansy, petunia, pinks and verbena are some cold-hardy, annual flowers. Corn, winter and summer squash, tomato, pepper, eggplant, okra, melon, cucumber and bean are some popular frost-tender vegetables.
Marigold, zinnia, impatiens and heliotrope are frost-tender annuals that should not be planted too early. Vegetables and flowers can also be grouped according to whether their seeds are sown directly in the ground or, for an earlier harvest, started indoors or in a greenhouse, to be moved into the garden eventually as transplants. Some vegetables are grown both ways, as transplants for an early harvest and also seeded outdoors for harvest later in the season.
cold-tender transplants into the ground. Timing for this is about a week after the last spring frost date. Remember — and this is important —î that the magical date is an average, so frosts can sometimes occur after that. Frost is most threatening on cool, clear, windless nights. Be ready, when frost is predicted, to cover cold-tender plants with blankets, upturned flowerpots or anything else that can hold in heat. ≤≤≤ Lee Reich writes regularly about gardening for The PUTTING IT Associated Press. He has ALL TOGETHER authored a number of books, How to relate all this to including “Weedless GarAP photo that magical “average date dening” and “The Pruning One week after the ‘average date of the last killing frost’ for your garden is the time Book.” He blogs at http:// of the last killing frost in when it’s generally safe to plant out tomato transplants. www.leereich.com/blog. spring”? First to go into the ground are seeds of cold-hardy vegSpring Bulbs Seed Potatoes etables and flowers. Generally, they might be planted Bedding Plants Vegetable Plants as soon as the ground has thawed. Even cold-hardy Hanging Baskets Onion Sets seeds won’t germinate well Potted Plants until the temperature of the Herbs top few inches is above 40 Ferns degrees Fahrenheit. Figure Variety of Berry on planting these seeds four House Plants to six weeks before the averBushes age last frost date. Succulents Next in the lineup are Seeds - Flowers, transplants of cold-hardy Herbs & Lots Of Large vegetables and flowers. Set Vegetables selection of them in the ground about three weeks before that avHummingbird erage date of the last spring Feeders! 60 Varieties frost. Of Tomatoes Follow this group with seeds of cold-tender vegeCeramic & Plastic Containers • Black Wrought Iron • Lots of New Pots tables and flowers, which can go into the ground about Garden Tools & Gloves • Potting Soil a week before the last frost Peat Moss • Fertilizers & Sprays (Organic & Conventional) date. The ground at that point retains heat to smooth out any swings in temperature, and the tender new shoots won’t peek above ground for a few days, after temperatures have further MON.-FRI. 8AM-8PM, SAT. 8AM-6PM settled. 2620 Locust Run Road, Mifflintown (1/2 mile south of VanWert) Finally, time to move
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HOME AND GARDEN
Wellness Continued from Page 8
REDUCE HUMIDITY All that steam can affect your health in other ways, too, since it creates a humid environment that encourages mold and mildew. A heated towel rack is an inexpensive way to add a touch of luxury to your space while generating heat that helps reduce humidity and the growth of mold and mildew, therefore benefitting indoor air quality. Heated towel racks like those from Amba Products come in a variety of
finishes and styles to coordinate with your decor. For modest accommodations, the Radiant Small is a space-saving choice, and freestanding models are available if wall space is at a premium. Another advantage: Since the racks dry towels, they’ll stay mildew-free longer and don’t need to be washed as often, which helps save valuable natural resources. ENHANCE AIR QUALITY Creating a green, spalike oasis with plants can bring wellness benefits that don’t break the bank. Indoor plants help rid the environment of pollutants, and
the energy and ambiance they add may have mental health benefits, too. Plants like mother-in-law’s tongue or peace lily are popular options to incorporate as natural air purifiers. EXPLORE COLOR A bathroom’s color palette can also play a role in your wellness goals. Warmer shades like red and orange enhance energy while cooler colors like green and blue can be calming. Begin planning bathroom upgrades that improve your health and well-being with more tips and ideas at ambaproducts.com. Source: Amba Products
Friday, April 1, 2022
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Friday, April 1, 2022
Lewistown, PA—11
HOME AND GARDEN
Add beauty, function to your garden with a path By LEE REICH Associated Press A path is a feature too often overlooked in a garden or landscape. Maybe it lacks functionality, or beauty, or it’s needed —î but just not there. A well-designed path can do more than keep your feet dry. It can tell you where to walk, and also guide your eyes and imagination. What’s at the end of the path?
WHERE TO? When planning a path, consider both its aesthetic and functional purposes. Wide paths and paths with jogs or curves are for slow strolling —î just what’s needed to encourage a prolonged look at a choice planting. A straight shot is more suited from the back door to the vegetable garden, or any other route where footsteps are hurried. How many people will walk together on a path? Two people —î even two in-
timate people —î need a path 4 to 5 feet wide. In any case, a path should be no less than 18 inches wide. An orderly design of materials in a path can contribute to the formality and order of a garden: square or rectangular pavers butted together, for instance. Random-shaped pavers create a more organic look for an informal garden.
least expensive paths to create and maintain is mowed grass. Arborists’ wood chips are another option. Unconventional materials or combinations of materials can look attractive in their own right. Rounds of black locust, a naturally rot-resistant wood, sunk into pebbles, for instance. Bricks or stones make paths that not only appear durable; if properly conWHAT’S structed, they are more UNDERFOOT? durable. For brick paths, One of the easiest and use nonporous bricks (SW
type), which do not absorb water and flake apart during winter freezes. For stone paths, use “flagstone,” which is made by splitting any type of horizontally layered rock into flat slabs, or “flags.” Bluestone and slate are among such rocks, but even concrete could be used if dyed the yellow, buff, tawny red, or gray color of natural flagstones, and cast into slabs. A DURABLE PATH
stone, slabs, or any unconventional solid material or combination of materials durable, give the solid material firm footing on a welldrained base. First, mark the path’s proposed outline by sprinkling two lines of pulverized limestone on the ground. For a straight path, guide yourself with strings and stakes. Achieve smooth bends on a curved path using two garden hoses as a See Path / Page 13
To make a path of brick,
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HOME AND GARDEN
Blowers, mowers: American yards quietly go electric By KATHERINE ROTH Associated Press
For Jared Anderman, of Croton-on-Hudson, New York, switching from gasoline-powered tools to electric ones for lawn care was a no-brainer. “I’m concerned about climate change and wanted tools that are more eco-friendly, and also quieter. I like listening to music when I do yardwork and this way I can enjoy music or a podcast while I work,” he said. “I could never do that with gas-powered equipment.” The biggest advantage of all, he says, is maintenance. “Gas mowers are a pain. With electric tools, they boot right up and there’s really no
maintenance at all. It’s just about keeping the batteries charged.” First, he bought an electric lawnmower. Then an electric string trimmer, hedge trimmer and leaf blower. “I don’t have an electric snowblower, yet. But when I do replace the gas snowblower, it’ll be with an electric one,” he says. There’s a quiet transformation going on in yards across the country. Longstanding complaints about the roar and fumes from gas-powered leaf blowers, mowers and other equipment have grown even louder as more people work from home because of the pandemic. Meanwhile, the quality of zero- to low-emissions elec-
tric landscaping equipment has improved markedly, with battery packs that last longer. “Batteries have changed a lot in the past year alone, and we are there in terms of technology. Now it’s just a matter of getting the word out to professionals and consumers,” says Kurt Morrell, associate vice president for horticulture operations at the New York Botanical Garden. “Last year we were 90 percent electric on hedge trimmers and this year it’s 100 percent. My guys won’t even touch a gas hedge trimmer anymore,” says Morrell, who oversees the trimming of the garden’s 4,850 linear See Tools / Page 13
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HOME AND GARDEN
Path Continued from Page 11
guide, measuring across at intervals to keep the path’s width constant (if that’s what’s wanted). Next, remove a 4-inch depth of soil where the path will be. The excavated soil is no longer needed, so pile it directly into a wheelbarrow to be carted away to add to the compost pile or potting mixes, or for use as fill. Into the excavated area, shovel porous drainage material such as sand or rock dust, tamping it well and smoothing it as you proceed. This material provides a solid base beneath the paving,
Tools Continued from Page 12
feet of hedges. There are even autonomous lawnmowers akin to the Roomba vacuum cleaner. “They are really taking off, and in the next four or five years you’ll see more robotic mowers in the private sector,” says Morrell. Morrell, who also teaches aspiring landscaping professionals, says that while electric trimmers and mowers are now as good or better than gas-guzzling versions, cordless electric leaf blowers are still a challenge “because they require a lot of velocity and power, and the weight of the battery at this point is a lot heavier than gas.” But the technology is evolving quickly, he says. “When I teach my landscaping management students, who will go on to manage large landscapes, I know they will be using electric equipment.” The electric tools, and some less-polluting gas op-
and prevents water from collecting there, freezing, and heaving up the pavers. Add enough material so that when stones or bricks are in place, their topsides are a little above ground level. Slope the top of the path to one side if the path is narrow, or crown the center if the path is wide. Settle each stone or brick in place tight against each other or, if you’d like plants to grow up in between, leave some space from its neighbors. Creeping thyme or chamomile make attractive and fragrant paving plants. Once paving is in place, shovel additional stone dust or sand on top of the path, then sweep the material with a broom to fill the cracks.
Further settle the material into the gaps with a fine spray from a hose. Repeat the shoveling, sweeping and watering a few days later, after everything has settled. Time and moisture will imbue the path with a soft patina. For all this mellowing in appearance, the stones, bricks or slabs will give firm footing for decades to come. ≤≤≤ Lee Reich writes regularly about gardening for The Associated Press. He has authored a number of books, including “Weedless Gardening” and “The Pruning Book.” He blogs at http:// www.leereich.com/blog. He can be reached at garden@ leereich.com.
tions, are just part of a rethinking of many lawn-care practices and their effect on the environment. Many gardeners and landscapers are moving away from “a hyper-managed standard of blow drying leaves,” for instance, in favor of “just letting leaves be leaves, with some of them staying on the ground,” says Daniel Mabe, founder of the American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA), which offers homes, businesses and organizations across the country a certification for low carbon-footprint landscaping. Letting more leaves, plant stalks and other garden debris cover garden beds during the winter helps the soil, and insects and other wildlife, experts say. Where power tools are needed, the shift from gas to electric is not unlike the trend toward electric cars. According to the California Air Resources Board, a department within the California Environmental Protection Agency, operating a gas leaf blower for an hour can create as much smog-forming pollution as driving a Toyota Camry
1,100 miles. The battery-powered lawn equipment sector is growing at a rate three times faster than gas, according to the Freedonia Group, a division of MarketResearch. com. “In terms of residential adoption of electric landscaping equipment, at least here in California, it’s already about 50 percent,” Mabe says. He sees more resistance to electric equipment among professional landscaping companies than among residential consumers. But he estimates there are now at least 200 “all-electric” landscaping companies. Many of them make use of robotic technology, programming and maintaining the lawn equivalent of the Roomba. Andrew Bray, vice president of government relations for the Fairfax, Virginia-based, National Association of Professional Landscapers, says, “The transition to electric is inevitable, and most landscapers are trying out this See Tools / Page 14
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Tools Continued from Page 13
Tyler Campbell uses an electric hedgetrimmer to trim hedges at the New York Botanical Garden.
AP photo
equipment all the time. But while the technology is already there for homeowners -- and I myself use electric equipment at home —î the technology isn’t there yet for most of the commercial sector.” “With leaf blowers, for example, they don’t yet have the battery power needed for commercial use,” he says. And he said there are cost and infrastructure hurdles for professional landscapers looking to switch from gas to electric. “Since battery packs are not interchangeable between brands of tools, you’d have to retrofit your whole shop so that every-
thing is the same brand. You’d also probably have to upgrade the wattage of the electrical system in your shop, since an average crew would need about 36 batteries,” he says. Still, electric’s momentum is growing. Stanley Black & Decker, a leading maker of outdoor products, estimates that the volume of electric-powered landscaping equipment that North American manufacturers shipped went from 9 million units in 2015 to over 16 million last year, an over 75 percent increase in the past five years. “We continue to innovate in cordless (electric) products focused on delivering high performance while having lower noise and no emissions in use,” says John Wyatt, senior vice president of Stanley Outdoor.
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Not all remodel jobs are DIY ready By ANNIE MILLERBERND
ON THE WEB
NerdWallet
National Association of the Remodeling Industry: Find a NARI Remodeler https://remodelingdoneright.nari.org/remodelers
A do-it-yourself remodel can be a budget-friendly way to freshen up your home. For some projects, it may take just a few YouTube videos to show you how to modernize your space. But not every project is right for amateur renovators. Your skill level, budget and how important the project is to your home’s value can all be deciding factors in whether to call a professional. Here are home remodel projects you can probably DIY, and those that are better left to experts. USE CAUTION IN KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS Homeowners should consider their skills before committing to a full DIY kitchen or bathroom remodel, Lovery says, because those spaces are often essential to your home’s value. Some things, like painting the cabinets, may be within reach. But if you need new cabinets installed and you don’t feel confident about accurately measuring for them, Lovery says it may be worth using a professional to get a quality finished product. Using a contractor for a kitchen or bath remodel might cost tens of thousands of dollars, but Egner says their knowledge of building codes and design best practices may end up saving you money because they’ll do the job correctly. A designer can show you multiple options for a new layout and predict possible issues down the line, says
How do home improvement loans work? https://bit.ly/nerdwallethow-home-improvementloans-work Kevin Brown, design manager with Sunnyfields, a Baltimore-based kitchen and bath remodeling company. The project may also finish faster, Brown says, since a professional can coordinate electricians and plumbers, avoiding “a real nightmare” of potential delays if you do it yourself. The Chungs have two kids and full-time jobs, so a DIY kitchen remodel would take a lot longer, Aminah Chung says. “I believe in doing the projects that you can do so that you can save the money for the projects you don’t necessarily want to do,” she says. OUTSOURCE PLUMBING, HVAC, ELECTRICAL WORK It’s best to let experts handle systems that make your house function, like the electrical, plumbing and HVAC system, Egner says. This work often involves permits and background knowledge, and the cost of a misstep can be high. “A simple mistake in an installation of a toilet or a faucet could lead to thousands and thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage,” he says.
Lovery is willing to knock down walls in her home, but she makes room in her budget to outsource some work, saving potential headaches down the road. “When it comes to those very niche trades it’s really, really nice to throw in the towel and hire out those jobs,” she says. YOU CAN DO FLOORS AND WALLS Aminah Chung and her husband Bernard, who share their DIY projects on social media, updated their Phoenix-area home’s master bedroom and pantry, and built a playhouse for their kids. Starting in small spaces or trying simple changes, like paint or paneling on a wall, can help you build confidence for bigger rooms, Aminah Chung says. With a little extra research, installing new floors can be a spare-time project, says San Diego-based DIYer Liz Lovery. She and her See DIY / Page 18
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DIY Continued from Page 15
husband, a former structural engineer, installed laminate flooring in their home. “Things like that might feel overwhelming, but they aren’t,” she says. “They’re very attainable, and it can actually save you a lot of money in the long run.” Tools can be a significant portion of your DIY budget, says Chris Egner, president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Add those costs to your bud-
get, and ask if the tools are way to pay for home imworth the investment, he says. provement projects, but if you don’t have enough MANAGING HOME available, shop around to IMPROVEMENT find the best financing. COSTS Home equity loans and If you’re still undecided, lines of credit offer low have a contractor write up interest rates and long rean estimate and compare it payment terms, which keep with your DIY budget, Egn- monthly payments low, but er says. You can search for it could take a few weeks to professionals on the NARI a month to get approved. Personal loans have website. He also recommends higher rates and shorter readding about 10% to 20% payment terms, meaning to your budget for unex- your monthly payments are pected expenses, which are higher, but the debt is often inevitable with DIY and cleared sooner. With these loans, you can typically get professional projects. Cash is the interest-free funds in a week or less.
Stylish color trends for 2022 (Family Features) A new year brings opportunities to refresh your living space and add colors into your life. These four trends are all about incorporating more of yourself and your lifestyle into your home, whether it’s answering your need for a serene escape or dialing up the energy with vibrant surroundings. BRING IN NATURE Soothing earthy tones help bring a sense of calm and balance indoors. When designing with nature in mind, use gray-green tones to connect your aesthetic with the serene elements of the outdoors. Incorporate nature’s palette with greens in fabrics, accessories and even on the walls. Wood and stone materials naturally complement these shades for a look that’s cohesively pleasing and peaceful.
update to a favorite space, opt for a monochromatic look in a dark (almost black) hue. The approach is simultaneously bold and classic, but the secret to this trend is finding a shade that’s rich and deep, but not quite black, then complementing it with fabrics and furnishings that let the hint of color shine. CONNECT WITH YOUR INNER SELF
Creating a living space that is uniquely yours requires understanding your inner motivations, traits and talents. One source of personal inspiration may be your zodiac sign, a reflection of the earth’s orientation to the sun on your birthday. The color experts at Valspar partnered with Ophira and Tali Edut of the AstroTwins to make it easy to explore the intersection of your character and style by explaining which 2022 Color STYLISH of the Year best aligns with SOPHISTICATION each zodiac sign. When you If you’re aiming to infuse combine your sign with the some sophistication with an convenience and advanced
one-coat coverage of premium Valspar Reserve Interior Paint + Primer, available at Lowe’s, you can create a luxurious space that reflects the real you. ≤ Aries — Sunset Curtains: A warm and soothing color like this supports a transformational year full of new opportunities. ≤ Taurus — Gilded Linen: This clean, cozy color makes spaces feel open, perfect for celebrating togetherness. ≤ Gemini — Grey Suit: This is a color of warmth and versatility, a signature combination for Geminis. ≤ Cancer — Delightful Moon: A spirited, playful color inspires a year of growth and adventure. ≤ Leo — Mountain River: A dark and dreamy color invites inspiration for a year filled with abundance. ≤ Virgo — Subtle Peach: It’s the year of partnerships for Virgos; this harmonious color works well alongside See Colors / Page 20
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HOME AND GARDEN
COUNTRY FURNITURE & CRAFTS
Quality Handcrafted Hardwood Furniture Furniture Trends are moving towards subtle finishes that showcase natural wood tones.
On-trend home designs (Family Features) A home design that blends multiple elements seamlessly can be both inviting and visually interesting. If you’re planning to upgrade your living space in 2022, consider incorporating materials like stone and brick, which bring color, texture and functionality while complementing some of this year’s leading design trends. Settling on a design aesthetic is the first step for most renovation projects, but it can be a challenge for many homeowners. If you’re in need of inspiration for a project on the horizon, consider these 2022 trends from the design experts at Glen-Gery: WARM COLORS Look for a shift toward warmer colors like beige, tan, caramel, cocoa and even black. Designers are moving from cool grays to a warmer coffee-inspired palette. The use of warmer colors on structural elements of a home, like brick, stone, siding, doors and shutters, offer
visual warmth while making owner’s style and climate, a statement. but examples include larger patios in brick and stone, TEXTURES as well as more functional AND PATTERNS private patios and porches. Textures and patterns are Another aspect of this trend popping up in many on- is the tendency for hometrend designs. Texture can owners to integrate indoor enhance the overall feeling conveniences such as kitchof a space by offering depth ens, fireplaces, furniture and and complexity that draws electronics into their outa visitor into the room. The door spaces. use of texture in a design CLEAN LINES element, like stone or brick, This season, designers are can provide visual interest and engage the mind with a creating inviting, comforttactile response that encour- able and serene spaces with ages interaction with the en- modern vibes through the use of clean lines in design, vironment. materials and furnishings. OUTDOOR One trick is integrating elINSPIRATION ements that transfer light or Nature is inspiring an give an illusion of illumiarray of design elements nation from a higher sheen, this year. You may see this such as glass brick. The play trend emerging through in- of light and shadows simulcreased use of glass for light taneously blends inspiration and views of nature, as well from nature with sleek lines as continued focus on the and dramatic focal points to versatile and transitional evoke a sense of balanced indoor-outdoor spaces that calm and strength. This apgained momentum during proach can also come to life the height of the pandem- through ceiling windows, ic. Approaches may vary See Trends / Page 20 depending on the home-
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Trends Continued from Page 19
furnishings and the use of stone, brick and wood on statement walls or accents. For more on-trend design ideas for your home, visit glengery.com. BRINGING ON-TREND DESIGN INTO YOUR HOME
Colors
warmth and stability for a year of productivity. ≤ Pisces — Lilac Lane: Continued from Page 18 A playful pastel hue that brings softness along with others but can also stand on optimism and renewal. its own. ADD COMFORT ≤ Libra — Orchid Ash: A AND WARMTH cool and breezy color keeps Treating your home like a it simple so Libras can focus sanctuary never goes out of on a year of vitality. ≤ Scorpio — Fired Earth: style, and one way to create This warm and approachable a soothing, inviting space is color is perfect for Scorpios through the use of cozy neuwho plan to bring new peo- trals. Whether it’s applied to ple into their lives this year. a bedroom retreat or a more ≤ Sagittarius — Rustic bustling space like the living Oak: A relaxing and com- room, a neutral palette can forting color that welcomes add to the allure of comfort and warmth. Keep the visual coziness in the new year. ≤ Capricorn — Blanched interest strong by incorpoThyme: For Capricorns, this rating subtle patterns, texis the year of variety, and tures and layers of complethis is a refreshing tone to mentary neutral colors. Find more 2022 color support change. ≤ Aquarius — Country trends and design inspiration Charm: This hue provides at Valspar.com.
Brick is a versatile design material that fits virtually any trending design. From handmade to glazed bricks and nearly everything in between, you can find building products in a diverse array of colors, textures and sizes to emphasize focal points and capture your target design aesthetic. Brick carries a sense of tradition, character and timelessness while also serving as a popular choice for homeowners due to its design flexibility. With benchmark qualities such as low maintenance, resilience, durability, sustainability and beauty, brick can help homeowners balance function with appearance. When looking for brick, consider a quality and reputable option like Glen-Gery, which offers an extensive line of more than 600 brick and stone products that provide nearly endless design possibilities and timeless beauty. The brickmaker’s collections feature an assort-
ment of both traditional and modern products to unique international items sourced from around the globe that evoke beauty, elegance and creativity.
Get your design planning underway with a virtual design tool like Picture Perfect that helps you visualize projects for your home while experimenting with different
building products to achieve the perfect look. Photos courtesy of David Lauer Photography and Glen-Gery.
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HOME AND GARDEN
Company grows on demand for more intricate designs By JEFF MONTGOMERY Telegraph Herald
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — With an emphasis on quality and a distinct artistic touch, a small, Dubuquebased business is carving out a niche in a competitive industry. Painted Sky Designs sells benches, chairs, swings and a variety of other items that adorn decks, porches and patios. The intricate, hand-drawn images featured on these products have become the calling card of the business. “We say we sell functional art,” said CEO Kristin
Dietzel. “We focus on the fact that our products are all artist-designed. Every detail starts with a pencil drawing.” During the past 18 years, Painted Sky Designs has refined its processes and expanded its reach to include retail shops around the country. A flurry of recent changes, however, suggests that the business’ best days lie ahead. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that company leaders are in the process of rolling out additional product lines and establishing new ways to connect with customers.
In 2020, Painted Sky Designs began selling direct to consumers via its website for the first time. Around the same time, the business forged partnerships with a pair of local businesses that display and sell its items. Weston Pins, who is Dietzel’s brother, has been with the company for about eight years. During that time, Painted Sky Designs has operated in relative obscurity in Dubuque. He’s confident that is about to change. “We’re just starting to get our name out there and get our feet wet,” he said. “We have a lot of potential See Design / Page 23
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growth ahead of us. I am really excited about where we are going.” The origins of Painted Sky Designs date to 2003. Co-founder Mike Meyer was working as a freelance illustrator at the time, creating drawings that appeared in medical and biological textbooks. A family friend, Tom Orr, suggested Meyer could use his artistic skills in a different way. Orr believed there was a market for well-crafted images of wildlife, natural landscapes and other outdoor themes. Mike Meyer and Orr soon co-founded Painted Sky Designs, creating a mutually beneficial partnership.
Meyer and his wife, Renee, were both skilled artists. Orr, who later retired from the business, had retail experience that brought useful industry insight to the table. “(The business) took off so fast,” Meyer said. “Before I knew it, that’s what I was doing full time.” A new generation is making its mark. Pins, Renee Meyer’s son, was in high school when Painted Sky Designs was founded. He majored in marketing and business at University of Dubuque, obtaining an education that prepared him for his role with the family business. Today, he is in charge of processing orders, making sure they are getting out on time, scheduling truck freight, forecasting sales and more. Dietzel joined Painted Sky Designs a few months
ago. She noted that her mother, Renee, recently stepped away from day-today operations at the business, creating a void that Dietzel is attempting to fill. Prior to joining the family business, Dietzel served as the vice president of workforce solutions for Greater Dubuque Development Corp. She said that job gave her the courage to “take the leap” and join the family business. “(At GDDC,) I was able to see inside the operations of so many businesses, to see how they function and what makes them effective,” Dietzel said. “For me, this was really an opportunity to work on the other side of the table.” The family members’ chemistry is a key to moving See Design / Page 25
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Home improvement fund helps upgrade house to a home By ANNIE MILLERBERND NerdWallet If you’re preparing to buy a home, you’ve probably been saving up for the down payment and other closing costs. But if that nest egg can only get you through the front door, it may not be enough. Once you own the home, you also own its peeling wallpaper, aging water heater and the carpet on which past owners’ pets have traipsed. A home improvement fund can help ensure your newly purchased house is a well-functioning, comfortable home. Here’s why home improvement savings are a homebuyer must-have and how to build yours. REPAIRS AND UPDATES ARE INEVITABLE
er wasn’t tested. On the first warm day of the year, the certified financial planner discovered he needed to replace it. “I rarely talk to a client who, in their first year of homeownership, hasn’t had a big unexpected repair or replacement,” Miller says. Raquel Obumba, managing broker at Millennial Properties Realty in Atlanta , recommends first-time buyers opt for a one-year home warranty. For an annual fee, plus a service fee for each repair, a warranty covers appliances and systems that homeowners insurance may not. She also recommends homeowners have savings for surprises that aren’t covered under a home warranty. These can include problems found in the inspection and incorrectly installed items.
to finance a repair, Miller says. New homeowners may not have enough equity to borrow against, taking low-interest home equity loans and lines of credit off the table, Miller says. Without them, inexpensive financing options are limited. Personal loans can help in an emergency because they’re often funded within a couple of days after approval. Rates are between 6% and 36%, which Miller says are high compared with equity financing but may be lower than a regular credit card. A zero-interest credit card offers free financing if you can pay it off within the typical 15- to 18-month promotional period. If not, you’ll pay the card’s regular rate once the promotion ends. Borrowers with high credit scores usually qualify, but Miller says a recent home purchase could drive up your rate.
CHEAP FINANCING OPTIONS ARE A home inspection identiLIMITED fies repairs the house needs now or eventually, giving The early months of homesome indication of the exSee Fund / Page 25 ownership aren’t the best time penses you could be taking on. If the inspection finds significant issues, your real estate agent may recommend asking the seller to pay. But in locations where housing Just In Time NEW GIFT & HOME ACCESORIES inventory is tight and sellers For Spring Rustic • Traditional • Barnwood have the advantage, buyers will likely need to cover those & Hickory Furniture costs, says Bryson Lefmann, Poly Furniture a real estate agent based in 268 Long Lane Road, Belleville, PA 17004 Richmond, Virginia. Mon. - Fri. 8 - 5 • Sat. 9 - 3:30 If the seller can choose We accept cash or check only between a buyer who’s asking for extra money and one who isn’t, Lefmann says, “the Residential and seller is obviously going to pick an offer where the buyer Commercial has made significant concessions.” Roll-Off Service Even if the inspection is relatively clean, surprises can still surface. Ethan Miller bought a home in Silver Spring, Maryland, KeystoneDumpsters@gmail.com in early 2021. His home inFind us on spection was done during the 10% Military Discount Facebook winter, so the air condition-
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A workman measures uses a rafter to mark a beam for trimming at a new housing site. If you’re getting ready to buy a home, you’ve probably been saving for the down payment and other closing costs. A home improvement fund can help ensure your newly purchased house is a well-functioning, comfortable home.
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HOME AND GARDEN
Design Continued from Page 23
the business forward. Each new product begins with a brainstorming session, as the family members discuss what customers are looking for and how they can meet the need. From there, Meyer draws the design. He often creates images of flora, birds and other wildlife, a focus that reflects his love for the outdoors. The company’s products also incorporate regional collections focused on the Western and Northwoods areas. It’s a meticulous process, he explained. “I will often draw five different designs (before determining a favorite),” he said. “I try to gather as much input and feedback as I can.” Using digital software,
Fund Continued from Page 24
“If you just took on a mortgage, your credit report shows that you’re in the most debt of your life, so you’re not going to get the best interest rate,” he says. Even if you’re in a hurry, it pays to compare financing options to find the least expensive one. WORK EXPENSES INTO YOUR PLAN Here’s how to plan for home improvement expenses before and after you buy. SET A BUDGET: Decide your budget for updates before you start home shopping, Miller says, and share your limit with your realtor. That way, if you get excited about a house that needs a lot of work, the agent can remind you of your budget. CONSIDER DOWN
Meyer’s drawings are rendered onto a computer and sent to a manufacturing company that has partnered with Painted Sky Designs since its inception. Artisans sculpt the image with clay, create a mold, then cast the design with iron or aluminum. The furniture then is sealed with a bronze coat. Each step is carried out with strict attention to detail, according to Dietzel. “We don’t sell the lowest-priced furniture, but we sell extremely high quality,” she said. Painted Sky Designs partners with Peosta Warehousing, an arrangement that allows it to store large volumes of furniture and distribute to clients in a timely fashion. A pair of other local retail partners also are giving the company a boost. Painted Sky products can be purPAYMENT HELP: Look into local government assistance programs that can help with the home purchase, Obumba says. For example, help with the down payment could let you allocate more savings to upgrades. BUILD YOUR EMERGENCY FUND: Financial experts recommend saving three to six months’ worth of expenses for an emergency fund. Once you buy a home, that fund should grow to support higher utility bills, a mortgage payment and maintenance, Miller says. LEAVE ROOM FOR PLANS TO CHANGE: It’s not uncommon for renovation plans to change once a buyer gets in the home, Lefmann says. When house shopping, you may not want to compromise on some things, like location, but expect to make concessions elsewhere if priorities shift. That may mean more ambitious upgrades take a back seat.
chased at Wagner Nursery in Asbury, Iowa, All Seasons Heating and Cooling in Dubuque, and Aspen Ridge Home and Garden, Mineral Point, Wis. The company also will diversify its products. It recently obtained the necessary licenses to create furniture products bearing the Uni-
rs 23 Ye a e nc Ex p e r ie
versity of Iowa, Iowa State University, Nebraska University and University of Texas logos. It is looking into obtaining similar permissions for other universities. With changes coming quickly, the business’ leaders take comfort in the close, familial ties at its foundation.
“If there is any kind of issue, we are able to work through it,” Pins said. “Our meetings are usually around a kitchen or dining room table.” Dietzel, Pins, Mike Meyer and Renee Meyer make up the business’ staff. Mike Meyer said he doesn’t plan to retire from
the family business any time soon, an important factor given the essential role that his artwork plays. He views his work as a passion and an outlet for creativity, rather than a way to pay the bills. “This isn’t work,” he said. “It’s something I absolutely love to do.”
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HOME AND GARDEN
Think about winter when planning your spring garden By JESSICA DAMIANO Associated Press
As winter winds down, gardeners collectively look for signs of life, whether from the green sprouts of fall-planted bulbs or the return of foliage as deciduous trees leaf out. But our gardens could retain interest year-round. When doing your spring planning —î and planting —î include ideas for next winter’s landscape too. Some tips when planning a garden for winter interest: First, create an evergreen backdrop so that when deciduous shrubs and trees lose their leaves in autumn, your beds will still have “bones,” or structure, to provide screening, height and visual interest. Next, re-evaluate the importance of curb appeal. Although the aesthetic from the street matters, it’s not the only view: The person who sees the garden most is you. Consider where you spend your time. Do you work from a home office? Is there a window above the kitchen sink? Study the vista and plan the garden from indoors. When selecting plants, evaluate how their berries, bark and bare stems will enhance your view. Some plants with the best winter interest aren’t much to look at during summer. But tolerating the ho-hum redtwig dogwood (Cornus alba) during the growing season will reap bright red stems that stop traffic over winter. So, too, will American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), a bushy Southeast U.S. native whose bright purple berries hang on all winter —ì or until the birds eat them. Winterberry holly (Ilex
verticiallata), another North American native, sports a profusion of red berries that are a feast for the senses, as well as the birds. Plant one male for every six to eight female plants to ensure they produce fruit. Witch hazel trees and shrubs are stunning in winter. The bare branches of the Aurora variety hold large, tassel-like yellow flowers beginning in mid-winter, followed almost immediately by my favorite cultivar, Jelena, which seems to burst aflame with red and orange blooms. Two others —î Ruby glow, and strawberries and cream —î live up to their names. Heathers (Calluna vulgaris) are cold-hardy evergreens with flat, scale-like foliage that changes color as the weather cools. Wickwar flame turns copper; firefly evolves from chartreuse to orange as the seasons progress, landing at a dramatic brick-red hue in winter. Heaths (Erica carnea), also AP photo evergreen but with needled Evergreens mixed with deciduous trees offer greenery foliage, have bell-shaped all year round. flowers that bloom from winter into spring. Favorite varieties include springwood pink and furzey. The white blossoms of Christmas rose (Helleborus OSTETLER S REENHOUSE niger) typically open in late autumn; Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis), available in white, pink, purple and Hanging Baskets near-black, starts its show as Fern Baskets winter winds down. Potted Planters Camellia (Camellia japonica), known as “the Bedding, Vegetable, Strawberry, Rhubarb & Horseradish Plants queen of winter flowers,” has an unfair reputation as Single Pots Garden Seeds a diva. Although susceptible Herbs Potting Soil and much more to fungal diseases and scale insects, the late-autumn Monday – Saturday 7am – 7pm bloomer is easy to grow. The Closed for Ascension Day May 26 species includes varieties 847 Fairview Rd., McClure with white, pink, red, yellow Rt 522 to McClure, at OIP go 2 miles on Ulsh Gap Rd., and lavender blooms. left on Fairview Rd., 1 mile to Greenhouse on left
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Lewistown, PA—27
HOME AND GARDEN
Winter Continued from Page 26
Its cousin, Camellia sasanqua, blooms in pink or white starting in late fall, and has fewer pest and disease concerns. As with all plants, select varieties that will thrive in your climate; hardiness zone information is typically included in catalog descriptions and on plant tags at the nursery. Trees with eye-catching bark can steal the show, too. That of paperbark maple (Acer griceum) peels in sheets to reveal swaths of cinnamon-toned bark beneath. And the paper birch (Betula papyrifera) provides four seasons of interest, with beautiful yellow fall foliage, dangling spring catkins and smooth bark that begins to peel when the tree is about 3 years old. River birch (Betula nigra) is a fast-growing, multi-stemmed tree with bark that also curls and peels as it ages. Crape myrtles (Lager-
stroemia), the darlings of the mid-Atlantic and southeast corridor from Virginia through the Carolinas, have been bred to withstand cooler climates in recent years. Natchez, a cold-hardy, white-flowered cultivar hybridized to resist powdery mildew, entertains over winter with smooth, cow-patterned bark. And as black cherry (Prunus serotina) matures, its bark takes on a unique burnt-potato-chip appearance. Plants aren’t the only eye candy in the winter garden, however. Consider wildlife. A hanging birdfeeder viewed from inside the home can have a calming effect on everyone. Place a birdfeeder outside children’s bedroom windows and the kids will benefit from stress relief without even realizing it. And to nurture that wildlife, save cleanup for spring. The wispy seed heads of spent perennials and the rustling, straw-like blades of surrendered ornamental grasses not only lend height
and interest to what might otherwise be a flat and barren landscape, but they also serve a purpose. Grasses like little bluestem, fountain grass and sea oats, left standing until spring, help insulate roots and provide shelter for wildlife and hibernating insects. Dry seed heads lend beauty to beds and borders, espe-
cially when snow catches on them, and they provide a food source for hungry birds. However, there are some plants that gardeners should clear away in fall. Hosta, a favorite winter hideaway for overwintering slugs, should be cut down when it fades, as should iris, which often harbors borer eggs. Other
candidates for the seasonal chopping block are perennials that are susceptible to mildew diseases, such as bee balm, peony and phlox, plus any plants that showed signs of disease during the past growing season. Plant early-blooming bulbs in fall to take advantage of sunny winter spots that are too shady for flow-
ers in summer. Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), Siberian squill (Scilla tubergeniana) and spring snowflake (Leucojum verum) thrive under bare trees at the end of winter. And winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) unleashes a yellow carpet over bare soil or dormant lawn as you await the beginning of spring.
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The striking winter flowers of ‘Ruby Glow’ witch hazel blooming.
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28—Lewistown, PA
Friday, April 1, 2022
HOME AND GARDEN
Home lighting designers get creative, clever, cozy By KIM COOK
they both capture our attention as standalone sculptures Associated Press and fill the space around them with beautiful, high-quality Designers and lighting light.” companies have been busy A look at what’s new: coming up with new ways to BIOPHILIA hold a lightbulb and project light, and winter is a great Bradley sees a trend totime to explore their latest ward nature-inspired objects solutions. and spaces. “It’s something Some are inspired by the deeply rooted in all of us,” he skies overhead. Others by says. style eras, from Deco to disco. Two that he’s been drawn Still others are working with to recently: John Pomp’s Tidinteresting materials around al Chandelier, and Ochre’s which to build a lamp. Moonlight Murmuration. “There’s a growing world “They’re fascinating, both in of lighting that’s so much their form and the techniques more than the glass globe on required to make them.” a stem,” says designer Ted Pomp is a Philadelphia furBradley of Boulder, Colora- niture and lighting designer do. He cites fresh, sculptural who’s also a glassblower and forms: “When done right, surfer. His collections of glass
pendants, chandeliers, sconces and lamps look like blown bubbles, chunks of ice, swelling waves. The Tidal fixture perches sculpted amoeba-like glass pieces on hand-forged brass stems to create an organic canopy. In Murmuration, the British design firm Ochre conceptualizes the phenomenon of birds swooping through the sky in mesmerizing, cloudlike formations. Dozens of LED-lit solid glass drops are suspended from a white canopy to look as though they had been caught in mid-flight at night. Bradley’s own Samsara fixture suspends white porcelain rings from a brass spine, The Love Me Knot pendant by designer Pascale Girardin in Quebec, Canada. The draSee Lighting / Page 30
matically scaled fixture, composed of hand-formed acrylic petals suspended by cables from a matte white canopy, has a romantic, ethereal vibe.
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HOME AND GARDEN
AP photos
This combination of photos show the Gotham sconce, left, and the Happy sconce, part of The Pebble light fixture, formed of dozens of pieces of bone china by Original BTC Studio. the Regina Andrew Detroit collection.
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Friday, April 1, 2022
HOME AND GARDEN
Lighting Continued from Page 28
evoking the rib cage of a sunbleached whale skeleton. Other configurations he’s devised suggest the bowing branches of a snow-covered aspen tree, a raptor’s nest, a constellation. “I aim to capture a moment of beauty in the natural world, and bring it to life,” he says. LOVING THE LIMELIGHT Etsy trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson sees a rise in interest in “statement lighting” —î sculptural pendants, standout sconces, snazzy shades with lots of wow factor. She cites more searches for ‘70s-era lamps, decorative lighting, vintage fixtures and colorful pieces. Statement lighting, she
says, “allows folks to spotlight their homes, while doubling as eye-catching artwork.” Designers of lighting fixtures are getting creative with materials, including fiber, porcelain, glass, fabric, paper and metal. Some statement lighting has a cosmic vibe. The constellation style comes in configurations big and small, with sticks of LEDs arranged to suggest starry skies. CB2’s Savina pendant is an alabaster orb with swirls that resembles a planetary gas giant. And British designer Lee Broom’s Crescent collection includes suspended lighting with illuminated acrylic spheres bisected to reveal a brass interior, as though a futuristic space station were opening its door. Broom’s Eclipse fixture melds an
acrylic circle with a mirrored one, like two moons meeting. Peter Bowles, who with son Charlie runs Original BTC, was one of the first to use bone china in lamp-shade design, over 30 years ago in Oxfordshire, England. “The potter he approached initially thought he was crazy, as they’d only ever made tableware and similar products —î never lighting,” says Charlie Bowles. But he says something special happens when the material meets light. “Bone china appears pure white once it’s fired, but then gives a lovely warm soft glow when lit,” he says. “Despite its challenges and reputation for being a tricky ceramic to work with, the end result speaks for itself —ì it’s versatile, fun to design with, and the light you get is soothing and can positively affect your mood.”
This year, the studio introduced Shard, a circular chandelier of handmade tiles, and Pebble, an elegant ceiling fixture formed of dozens of pieces of bone china, polished like river rocks and fastened to form a kind of mineral cocoon. Arteriors has a collection of pendants crafted from materials like wooden beads, raffia and plant fibers. A pendant called Jana, for example, was inspired by traditional thatched roofs; brown wicker fringe creates a playful, textured fixture, suspended on an antique brass chain. The Jemai table lamp has a charcoal-hued base formed from ricestone, a fine gravel. The stacked asymmetrical forms create a groovy ’70s vibe.
uses pulped newsprint, water-based glue, and natural earth pigments to create imaginative lightweight pendants inspired by the solar system, animal shapes, cartoon characters. Designer Pascale Girardin in Quebec, Canada, was inspired by childhood memories of picking petals off flowers to create her Love Me Knot pendant, for Juniper. The dramatically scaled fixture, composed of hand-formed acrylic petals suspended by cables from a matte white canopy, has a romantic, ethereal vibe. Lampshades are a great way to introduce an artsy element —î and you can usually pop one onto a base you already have. Bespoke Binny, designer Natalie Namina’s London STORIES IN LIGHT studio, has a collection of Spanish designer Ma- African wax-printed drum ria Fiter, in Barcelona, shades with bold patterns
and colors. WALL ART Carla Regina and James Andrew, who run Regina Andrew Detroit in Michigan, say sconces have been on the uptick with their clientele. Besides providing light, sconces are wall art and “can quickly transform and update a room,” Regina says. Their Happy sconce has two white light balls perching playfully atop a smile-shaped tubular base in nickel, rubbed bronze or brass. Their Gotham sconce pairs a sleeve of alabaster with Art Deco brass trim —ì it’s evocative of that era, yet classically modern. France & Son’s matteblack Serge sconce is a reproduction of the classic mussel-shaped Serge Mouille midcentury fixture. See Lighting / Page 31
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Lewistown, PA—31
HOME AND GARDEN
Lighting
Webb had an antler cast in resin and transformed into the Jackson sconce, with a white Continued from Page 30 linen shade and nickel backplate. Apartment dwellers take Inspired by antlers she saw while visiting Jackson Hole, heart; there are many plug-in Wyoming, designer Beth or battery-operated sconces
that don’t need to be hardwired; just attach them to the wall and use a remote. Schoolhouse,AllModern,Rejuvenation and Lamps Plus all have a wide range of plugin styles, and battery-operated ones can be found at Wayfair
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HOME AND GARDEN
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