Homestyle ctw 2 by Mary M. Flory

Home style Newspaper Name Here | 2009 Issue 5

The Great

Cover-Up

Images courtesy of frockZ, istockphoto

It’s time to get down with ‘upcycling’

Plus

Get more bathroom for your buck ✱ How to whip up a last-minute feast

Image courtesy of Restoration Hardware

H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

Kn Kn c kck Like the perfect earrings for your little black dress, there’s a door knocker for you By Genevieve Knapp CTW Features

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he anemic squeal of a doorbell doesn’t compare to the rich, reverberating thunk of a solid door knocker.And a knocker won’t go on the fritz, either. Door-knocking décor has a rich history steeped in basic functionality – in colonial times, knockers indicated people’s professions.A blacksmith had a different knocker than a tailor, and just a glance at their doors would let you know who lived there. “I come from a generation where everyone had a doorbell but it never worked,” says Russell Cazeault, who owns Cape Cod Weathervanes in Hyannis, Mass.“So we knocked.” Now,“door knockers express a person’s personality,” says Donata Maggipinto, the director of brand communications for Corte Madera, Calif.-based Restoration Hardware.“They also really define a house.”Adding a doorknocker is like picking the perfect earrings for a little black dress; it can complement the style or change the entire look. Knockers are popular gifts for newlyweds, and parents often give them when their children buy their first house. “They can become sort of an heirloom piece to remember when you first started,” Cazeault says. Michael Healy and Colby Smith make top-quality, handmade and artistic doorknockers out of solid, locally-cast brass.“The quality and detail on them is fantastic,” Cazeault says. Smith, who lives in Swansea, Mass., creates everything from shell-shaped knockers, horseshoe crab knockers, nautical knockers and a flipflop shaped knocker to ones depicting flowers, pineapples and organic shapes. Healey has Western shapes like a howling coyote, and some of his combine a couple different brasses to make vibrant knockers. The pineapple is always popular knocker shape because it’s the symbol of hospitality, Cezault says.Anyone can find a shape they like; bears, dragonflies, and cats are popular at Restoration Hardware. But doorknockers work best when they match and compliment a house’s style. If you have a cottage, you can make a whimsical animal knocker work, Maggipinto says. On a Georgian style home, an elongated, formal-looking plate knocker goes best, and ring door knockers are great on modern houses. Colonial homes take classic bell and u-shaped knockers. © CTW Features

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H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

Back in Black How the secret of the dark side can get you and your kitchen through this recession

appliances and cookware. Jessica Lyles, associate brand manager of enameled cast iron at Le Creuset Inc., recommends the company’s Black Onyx collection because it doesn’t compete with other kitchen colors.“It makes its own stylish individual statement,” she says. Embrace differences When buying accents, don’t be afraid to add different textures and shades of black.When things match perfectly, the space becomes less interesting. “Match the general look and feel, and no matter what you bring in, it [will] work together,” Smith says.

Image courtesy of Alessi

Support System Black cookware won’t detract from or compete with your current kitchen color scheme. It will subtly compliment any space with its cool, calm presence.

Taniesha Robinson

CTW Features lack just might be the safest color in fashion – when in doubt about selecting a pair of pants to wear with a floral patterned shirt, we buy black. It may not deliver the trendiest look, but it will match whatever else is going on, and that offers peace of mind. Besides being a safe color, black can also be bold, and it may just become the “in” color during our current recession.“We’re going to be seeing a real surge in the interior [for black accents],” says Kate Smith, Time’s Up Call the shots in the kitchen with a chrome and black timer – one part sleek necessity and one part goofy trinket.

Color Marketing Group expert and creator of SensationalColor.com.“It’s hard to go wrong with black.” At times when life seems less stable, people are attracted to the safety of black in interior design. Here’s how to make black bold in your kitchen with affordable accents. Dash. Don't Drape “I think every room should have a touch of black,” says Smith.The key word here is touch. You don’t want to cover your kitchen in black – paint cabinet handles and knobs black, Smith suggests.Think about small items like placemats,

Image courtesy of Jessie Steele

Image courtesy of Le Creuset

Wear it You spend enough time in the kitchen – it’s time you started adding to the décor. A flattering black apron is elegant and practical, says Claire Steele, co-owner of Jessie Steele, a Berkeley, Calif.based family-run, vintage-inspired hostess and kitchen aprons retailer. Don't believe the hype “Generally people think black is too dark and it will make the room look smaller,” says Karen Anderson, a Pittsburghbased ASID interior designer.“Lots of time, a really dark color will make corners disappear.”The contrast between black and other colors usually packs a positive punch. © CTW Features

I Feel Pretty There’s no reason your kitchen should have all the fun – inject style and delicate black lace into your next meal prep.

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H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

Make Your Mark

Update your kitchen’s hardware to get a new look for less. Here’s how to get the knobs rolling By Genevieve Knapp CTW Features new stove can make a kitchen look cleaner. But a glance at the checkbook can make updating your kitchen seem like a bad idea. “In this economy, complete redecorations aren’t always financially feasible,” says Marianne Buckman, an interior designer who owns CocoBello Interiors in Hudson,Wis.“People are always looking for a way to change their kitchen’s look, and updating hardware is a great way to refresh cabinetry.” With catalogues layered with thousands of tiny, nearly identical-looking photos of handles and knobs, it’s hard to know where to even start.Take a

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look at your fixtures, Buckman says. If your faucet is a stainless steel swanneck shape, you probably shouldn’t get square brass knobs.Then take your cabinets’ material into account. If you have gorgeous wood cabinets, you’d want something simpler to accentuate the grains, according to Terri Ulisse, an interior designer at Richmond,Va.-based firm Custom Kitchens. She says a black or white painted cabinet can take a highly decorative pull.And to really visualize your new knobs,“you have to see it on a door and touch it,” Ulisse says, so head to the local hardware store. Knowing your kitchen’s style can help you pick the right hardware. Buckman says antique brass lends itself to more of a traditional kitchen, whereas oil-rubbed bronze is the latest trend with Craftsman-style homes. Highly polished chrome is another slick, modern metal.And cut crystal pulls give an elegant look, Ulisse says. © CTW Features

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H o m e St y l e 2 0 0 9 – I s s u e 5

Open Up

took the cupboard doors off.” If you're the crafty, artsy type, Cosentino says it's natural for you to need everything within sight, so consider her trick of removing cabinet doors.

Seeing is believing when it comes to open storage Jessica Abels CTW Features

The Brain Game Depending on which side of your brain is most dominant, open storage may actually be necessary to your

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hether you've exhausted all your closet space, or never had any to begin with, it’s worth your time (and space) to consider open storage. By housing things in plain view, you save space in drawers and cabinets, and place your belongings in visually accessible spots. From dishes to sneakers, a variety of everyday items are ready for their chance in the spotlight. And clutter-haters, don't fret: Open storage doesn't have to mean chaos. Here's how to open your home without sacrificing its organization.

peace of mind, says Kim Cosentino, owner of Westmont, Ill.-based De-Clutter Box. Right-brained people are more creative, and tend to have “flat-surface disease,” she says. “They keep everything out so they can see it. I had a lady whose whole laundry room floor was covered with everything she needed, so we

Boxes and Baskets and Bins, Oh My! Reign in clothing, toys, accessories and even shoes by purchasing relatively inexpensive baskets or bins. The Container Store even has a Four Drawer Shoe Cabinet for those who don't have the closet space to house footwear, says Olescia Hanson, a store spokeswoman. She says it's best to opt for bins and boxes with label areas on the front, so you can find what you're looking for faster. Many baskets come in a variety of colors, patterns and design styles, so don't be afraid to mix and match to complement the décor of a room. Go Vertical “What if all the books in a library were lying flat?” Cosentino asks. “That would take up a lot of space.” She says it's crucial to think vertically and not horizontally, particularly in the home office. Try using file folders vertically with label tabs, instead of lying them flat in drawers. You'll save space and be able to quickly find that random receipt or letter you're after. © CTW Features

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H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

Green 3 0

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The latest generation of green home décor has bridged the gap between functionality and creativity – and there’s not a hemp fiber to be found By Margaret Littman CTW Features

adee Wilder was a fashion designer who specialized in print textiles. She wanted to spruce up her office, and, thanks to her profession, had high standards. “I was looking for cool wallpaper that was eco-friendly. I couldn’t find it. So, I started making designs for myself and from that point on, decid-

ed that this is what I wanted to do.” Wilder is now designer and partner of California-based Kreme LLC, which has a line of sleek wallpapers made with low VOC (volatile organic compounds) inks and eco-friendly papers. Wilder is one of a growing number of designers, decorators and manufacturers who are looking at going green in a new light.The old stereotype of green products is officially dead: Forget hemp and natural-looking, nubby fibers, bamboo motifs, and recycled plastics made into carpets and rugs. Not that there’s anything wrong with those products, but they have a certain aesthetic, which not every homeowner is going to want. Even worse, in the early days of the green movement, these products may have been eco-friendly, but not necessarily

Image courtesy of Caroma

H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

practical. In many cases they were hard-to-clean, scratchy on the skin or otherwise less-than-perfect. The latest eco-products unite form and function in new ways. Think of them as green 3.0.The Kreme wallpapers are just one example.While they are made with a natural latex coating, they are applied just like traditional wallpaper, and Wilder says they are even more durable. Some can even be cleaned with a damp rag, as you might clean a painted wall. But Wilder and her team didn’t abandon their desire for new graphics when they were working on the eco-elements.Wilder is an animal lover, and uses inspiration from the animal kingdom in her modern designs.“I am trying to give people something a little more fashion forward. It is a more fun line; we are not going for the subOutside the green box: From low-VOC wallpaper to tle,” she says, adding that many of water- and space-conscious toilets, companies her customers are using the bold are thinking creatively about green homes.

patterns for a singular feature wall presentation, rather than to cover four walls in one room. “Feature walls used to be marble, tile or stone. But people are trying to do something cheaper and more environmentally friendly.This has a lot more impact than painted walls,” Wilder says. Another eco-friendly product having an impact in an unexpected ways is Caroma’s Profile Smart toilet. Few people would think a toilet could be as sexy as fashion-inspired wallpaper. But Profile Smart is just that:A toilet focused on performance and water conservation that is also sleek and modern. Caroma supply chain manager John McFadden is from Australia, where water restrictions are more prevalent than they are in many of the states. “When I moved to the U.S., I did not how to use a plunger,” McFadden confesses.“It baffled me that people

would accept a $90 toilet from the hardware store and buy plungers at the same time because they know they are going to get clogged.” Profile Smart is pricier than other toilets (in the $400 range), but McFadden says the large trapway prevents from clogging. Even more green is the mini gray water system: The toilet has a sink on top of the tank. Fresh water comes into the sink, you wash your hands and the water drains into tank for your next flush. Because the sink is on the tank, there is not just water savings, but physical space savings.This has made the toilet appeal to city-dwellers with small bathrooms, as well as those with high water bills. And, when visitors walk into your powder room, they’re sure to ask, “What will they think of next?” When it comes to green design, the sky’s the limit. © CTW Features

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H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

The Great Cover-Up

It’s time to get down with ‘upcycling’

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f the economy is keeping you from buying new furniture for your home, maybe it's time to give your old furniture a new identity – or even a new purpose. From South Dakota to South Carolina, designers, inventors and upholstery experts are employing creative tactics to revitalize old furniture and home accessories. “This is the new rage right now,” says Judi Kieffer, president and principal designer of Kieffer Design Group in Boise, Idaho. A growing number of entrepreneurs and companies have seen the light when it comes to resuscitating furniture and home accessories. Consider the case of frockZ, a Baton Rouge, La.-based company that creates decorative and versatile slipcovers for lampshades. “Customers love them; we get steady re-orders and lots of rave reviews,” says Shelly Dick, a practicing lawyer who started the company with friend and neighbor Wanda Guadamud, a business administrator. FrockZ can be fitted for either cone or drum-shaped lamps, with colorful floral, geometric and even zebra-striped styles, available for between $26 and $34. After forming in 2007, the company now has frockZ in more than 170 retail outlets across the United States. “Rumor has it a frockZ will be on the set of ‘Desperate Housewives,’” Dick adds. Of course, slipcovers are not a totally new concept in re-shaping the look of your furniture. Neither is painting. It's the new way to do it that makes news. Take Simply Spray, for instance. The

Images courtesy of frockZ, istockphoto

By Jeff Schnaufer

The upswing: Combine vetted home-décor problem-solvers, like slipcovers, with fresh, ideas, like upcycling, to take your worn-out furnishings from frumpy to fabulous this weekend.

Lincoln, R.I.-based company has launched a specialty Upholstery Fabric Paint line to encourage “upcycling” of furniture and home-décor accessories with fresh colors that don’t harden soft, touchable fabrics such as cotton, linen or canvas. Upcycling entails the use of existing décor, accessories and materials to increase the value, functionality and aesthetic of an otherwise defunct piece of furniture, home décor or other lifestyle item. Unlike traditional aerosol spray paints, Simply Spray paints are nitrogen propelled, non-toxic, non-flammable and virtually odorless fabric spray paint. Available in nine colors, including Burgundy, Brite Red, Burnt Orange, Plum, Navy Blue, Periwinkle, Hunter Green, Saddle Brown and Midnight Black, the water-based paints will not harm the environment when discarded. It sells for $12.99 a can. Of course, you don't have to be an entrepreneur to re-invent your furniture and accessories. Katie Hixon, president of Katie Hixon Interiors in Columbus, Ohio, says painting is the simplest way to give a piece new life. “Those old brass candlesticks that are tired and pitted – spray paint them with a flat black paint and then rub some of the new paint off to let the old brass show through,” Hixon says. “You can also go for an Art Deco look and have the pieces sprayed with lacquer for a very dramatic look at a fraction of the cost of new.” For other ideas, Hixon suggests trimming a lamp shade with fringe or ribbon to give it new life. Pillows can be revitalized by applying fancy buttons or a mixture of button styles for a funkier look. You can even cover a pillow with new fabric by using an iron-on fabric binder to make the hem and just cut the fabric wide enough to tie a knot at each corner

H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

ples of repurposing furniture because it is one of the most universal pieces, Kelly says. “I have used dressers in entryways – a tray on top gathers keys and mail, and drawers capture hats, gloves, scarves and mittens,” Kelly says. “Other repurposed ideas include a dresser or buffet in a workroom to store art supplies and in a kitchen for pots and pans. Adding a granite or butcher-block top can make a dresser

Image courtesy of “The Gentle Art of Domesticity” (STC Craft, 2008)

without sewing. Hixon say a sofa with loose pillow backs can be made to look almost new with a full makeover of fresh fabric on the pillows instead of reupholstering the entire piece. Old furniture can also be given a new purpose, experts say. “With repurposing, the choices are limitless,” says Kerrie L. Kelly, a Sacramento, Calif.-based director of interior design at the Art Institute of California

and author of “Home Decor,A Sunset Design Guide” (Oxmoor House, 2009). Perhaps the latest furniture piece being given a second life is the giant television armoire, she says.“Modern flat-screen and plasma TVs are turning these armoires into relics, but they don't have to be,” Kelly says. “So get creative and change the purpose for a functional use in another area of your home. With some adjustments – removing the doors, replacing wood shelves with glass, and adding a mirror as a backdrop – an old armoire can become a wine cabinet. Or it can be repurposed into a home office, with storage for a computer and drawer space for paper and a printer.” Or possibly storage in a spare bedroom for craft and hobby supplies, or for seasonal décor items. A dresser is one of the best exam-

just right in the kitchen.” Kieffer suggests turning outdated panel doors into tall floor mirrors and adding old doorknobs on the sides as a catchall for purses, scarves and jackets. A fun-styled old headboard and bed can be repurposed into a bench by making the headboard the back, the two posts and footboard for the front and the two side rails as the bench seat. Even an old window pane with glass can be turned into a bird feeder under a favorite window with mounting chains at a 90-degree angle. “You can put different seed in each panel,” Kieffer says. Of course, some furniture just needs a little TLC. Reupholstering can be expensive, though, and should be decided on a case-by-case basis. “I normally only reupholster quality pieces,” Hixon says.“It is not eco-

Image courtesy of Behr

Old faithful: Don’t ignore the traditional home-renovation and makeover standbys – crisp, white dining-room chair coverings, a fresh coat of paint and vibrant fabric for a reupholstered sofa or throw pillows always makes an impact.

nomically feasible to redo work on an inexpensive piece, when you can replace it with a brand new one of the same quality for less. The same guidelines apply to wood furniture as to upholstery. If the quality is there, it is worth the investment.” Of course, you can always consider reupholstering a piece of furniture yourself. “Doing upholstery isn't easy, but you can save money and there's a great deal of satisfaction in recovering your own furniture,” says Ken Bowles, the Sonoma, Calif.-based editor of Upholster! Magazine Online (www.upholster.com). Before you get started, Bowles says, you should take

a little time to prepare. “Get some books or videos to help you,” says Bowles, whose Web site has 75 pages of how-to information and a discussion board that is used by both newbies, upholstery pros and people starting their own businesses. And, perhaps the most important bit of do-it-yourself upholstery advice: Take “before” pictures. Lots of them. “Take some photos and close-ups before beginning,” Bowles says.“Don't strip a piece down to the frame and expect to remember how it goes back together in a month.” © CTW Features

H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5 Meet the Designer: Celerie Kemble

The Sweetest Thing Create space that has a heartbeat by building a room around the pieces you can’t live without – embrace offbeat items and indulge in what makes you happy

Reprinted from “Celerie Kemble:ToYour Taste by Celerie Kemble.” Copyright © 2008 by Celerie Kemble. Photographs copyright © 2008 by Zach DeSart. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of Random House, Inc.

not perfection you should be after. There’s beauty in the faded and worn, the well-loved and the sentimental. Your home should be like a loosely woven fabric of desires, memories, practical notions and even compromises. Living in it, you mold it to yourself – you are what holds it together and makes it beautiful.” Do you see much of a generational split in terms of design today – do young people want a very different look than older people? Celerie: Not really. The U.S. in general is a very visual culture. No matter how old we are, we all read the same magazines and watch the same television shows. What I do see, however, is more of an emphasis on personal style. People want to be in on the process today. They’re less interested in letting a designer make all the decisions. What is the dominant style today? Celerie: American design right now is mainly about the mix of modern

By Robert Sharoff CTW Features here’s no formula to what I do,” says Celerie Kemble, of Kemble Interiors in New York City and Palm Beach, Fla.“I feel like I’m inventing the wheel every time.” Well, perhaps not totally. Kemble’s partner is her mother, noted Palm Beach interior designer Mimi McMakin, who founded the firm in the 1970s. There is no doubt, however, that Kemble, who is in her late 30s, has reenergized and refocused the business with a series of lush,

“T

“Your home should be like a loosely woven fabric of desires, memories, practical notions and even compromises.”

eclectic interiors for New York style-setters like fashion designers Tory Burch and Lela Rose. “My mother and I have a lot of the same priorities when it comes to quality,” she says. “But I think I’m more influenced by fashion.” That she is. Though far from a populist, she casts a wide cultural net. The title of her latest book – “Celerie Kemble: To Your Taste” (Clarkson Potter/Publishers, 2008) – says it all. “In life as in design,” she says, “it is

and traditional, and high and low price points. I see it in my own house, which is pretty much a collection of a billion different elements. It’s incredibly eclectic. How is the recession affecting design choices? Celerie: I think there’s a sense of vulnerability and the ground shifting at all levels. For that reason, I think design is going to be a little more traditional over the next few years.

People are asking themselves, “Just how important is all this stuff to me?” – and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I keep reading that conspicuous consumption is finished – is it? Celerie: I think there are going to be a lot fewer people seeking to replicate the look of a boutique hotel in their homes – that sense of total controlled chic. People are into design that makes them feel comfortable. What is the first step when you’re designing a space? Celerie: Understanding the desired effect. Do you want the room to be cozy or formal? Colorful or restful? Those kinds of questions are incredibly important. I look at a client’s home as being almost an album of their life and sentiments and fantasies. The more a room has the heartbeat of an actual person, the better I like it. What are the hardest rooms? Celerie: I don’t really think in those terms. Clients are hard, not rooms. That said, some rooms certainly take longer than others. Kitchens are always a challenge because they’re about things like ergonomics and efficiency and ever-evolving technology. You have to understand how long an average person can walk with a hot pan in their hands from the stove to the counter and what kind of countertop can take the heat and still look pretty over time. What colors are you liking today? Celerie: Deep blues, plums, apricots and copper tones. Also, I think gray is important. Gray will be for the next decade what brown was for the last one. But it’s really all about combinations. There are no ugly colors – only ugly combinations. If you could give people one piece of

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First things first: Recognize what you want out a room before any decorating/designing begins. Cozy or formal? Functional or pretty?

advice about decorating, what would it be? Celerie: I think very often people fall in love with something – maybe an antique or a work of art or maybe just a beautiful lamp or mirror – but then they’re afraid to commit to it because it seems too extreme or they don’t see how it will fit into the overall decorating scheme. My own feeling is that these are the most important pieces of all because they get the ball rolling. You’ve got to start somewhere – why not with something you love? I always tell people that the first step is to find something that has all of the colors and mood they want and then go on from there. Who influences you? Celerie: That question is a little too broad. I’m an omnivore. Everything influences me. Design is about keeping your eyes open. Right now, I’m loving the work of Tony Duquette, a California designer who did a lot of work for MGM and other film studios in the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s. He styled some of Vincente Minnelli’s films. There is a freshness and a theatricality to his work I really like. My admiration is for people who can take what they’re given and create a unique perso-

na with it. Duquette was a major collector of art and idiosyncratic furniture and objects, many of which found their way into his interiors. Do you collect anything? Celerie: I don’t collect – I hoard. Right now, I’m hoarding archaic academic materials - outdated maps and school charts, things that are often a tiny bit off or wrong. They have a sweet charm – kind of like opening a dusty book – as well as a simplicity of line and shadow I find really appealing. What kind of house did you grow up in? Celerie: I was lucky enough to grow up in a beautiful house in Palm Beach that was surrounded by other beautiful houses. It’s an old shingle-style Episcopal church built on stilts in about 1890. My room was in the steeple – it was shaped like an octagon and had a 20-foot ceiling. Were you one of those kids who was actively involved in rearranging their rooms from a very early age? Celerie: Not really. I just kind of sat on my bed and took it all in. © CTW Features

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H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

Rest

Here are the secrets to snagging a great mattress, the best weekends to buy and why you should even care about the health of your bed By Dawn Klingensmith

More specifically,“Studies show quality sleep is directly related to the mattress you sleep on,” says Pete Bils, vice president of sleep innovation and clinical research at Minneapolisbased Select Comfort, which makes the adjustable Sleep Number air bed. Poor sleep, he adds, is tied to irritability, lack of focus, unsafe driving and health problems. Signs that your mattress has seen better days include sunken spots that force you and your partner to roll into each other.And if you’re waking up sore or stiff, a wornout mattress may be to blame. “If you stay at a hotel or a friend’s house and sleep better than you do at home, that’s a good sign that it’s time to start mattress shopping,” says Karin Mahoney, director of communications for the International Sleep Prod-

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Credit

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Image courtesy of the Better Sleep Council

hich piece of furniture or household appliance do you use most? The television? The perfectly broken-in sofa you sit on to watch it? Another good guess: The kitchen island? The kids eat and do homework there, and guests crowd around it when you entertain. And let’s not forget your computer. Those are all good guesses, but in all likelihood they are wrong. You probably use your more bed more than anything.After all, people spend roughly a third of their lives sleeping.And researchers have shown that the condition of your bed significantly affects the two-thirds of your life when you’re not in it.

ucts Association, an Alexandria, Va.-based trade association for the mattress manufacturing industry. Mattresses seldom hold up for more than 10 years, and they might start breaking down as early as five to seven years, according to the Better Sleep Council, ISPA’s consumer education arm.Though it may seem short, that very life span makes mattressbuying a serious business. Making the wrong decision literally could cause you to lose sleep – for up to seven years.This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase,“You made your bed, now you have to lay in it.” Where to start? Specialty, department and furniture stores all sell mattresses. Perhaps the most maddening thing about mattress shopping is that it’s difficult to comparison shop among those stores.Although each store might carry the same beds, the model names will differ from one retailer to another.This is not a delib-

erate tactic to confuse consumers, according to the Better Sleep Council. Rather, it’s because retailers, as part of their brand strategies, prefer to offer products that are exclusive to their stores. But comparison shopping is not impossible. Decide which type of bed you like in one store and ask to see an illustrated or actual “cutaway,” or cross-section, of the mattress’s interior to see what it’s made of.Then, at other stores, you can ask for mattresses of similar construction. Other factors to take into account while comparison shopping are delivery services and terms, financing options and whether the delivery crew will haul off your old bedding. When shopping, wear comfortable clothes, and if you co-sleep, bring your partner.You may also want to bring your pillows. Be prepared to kick off your shoes.Then, you and your partner should test out each

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H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

The inside scoop: Figuring out just what it is about bedding that you like can be hard to pinpoint. Ask to see a “cutaway” of the mattress or the inside fibers used so you can compare. mattress by lying in your normal sleep positions for 10 to 15 minutes. Though you might be embarrassed, you’ll get a much more accurate reading of how your body responds to the

mattress then if you pressed your hands into the mattress to see how it responds to your touch.And no one will be thinking,“Get a room,” provided you’re just simulating sleep.

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H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

Sleep on it: Experts suggest testing a mattress in a store for at least 15 minutes. And the push-on-themattresswith-yourhands test? Don’t waste your time.

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Image courtesy of the Better Sleep Council

What you’re looking for are comfort and support. “Comfort is immediately obvious when you lie down on the mattress, while support can be harder to judge,” says David Perry, executive editor of “Furniture Today” magazine. “Sometimes you don’t know if a mattress is supportive until the following morning.” Such being the case,“Many retailers offer a ‘comfort guarantee’ that allows you to take [a mattress] home, try it out for so many days and return it if it doesn’t work out,” Maloney says. A comfort guarantee is not the same as a warrantee, which protects against product defects, not loss of comfort and support over time, she adds. Home trial periods vary, but 30 to 60 days is fairly common. Make sure there’s a money-back guarantee unless you’re fine with a store credit. Also, ask if any pickup and restocking fees apply.

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H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

There are several types of mattresses to choose from.The most trendy are high-density or memory foam mattresses, latex mattresses and ecofriendly mattresses made of soy-based foams, sustainable wood framing, and natural and organic cotton and wool. Natura, a Canadian producer with U.S. dealers, is a forerunner in “green” bedding. Simmons has an eco-friendly line called Natural Care. Latex and foam mattresses are recommended for allergy sufferers because they don’t harbor dust mites. Trends and new technology aside, the most widely sold type of mattress is the familiar old innerspring mattress, consisting of coiled springs covered with layers of upholstery. Your customary sleep position may help determine the best mattress set for you. Side sleepers put pressure on their shoulders and hips and may be more comfortable on a cushiony mattress to relieve those pressure points. Back sleepers may prefer a

memory foam mattress to conform to the curvature of their spines. Unless you and your partner are all-night spooners, you should buy the largest mattress that fits your bedroom and your budget, and that can be maneuvered up tricky stairwells and around tight corners.That way, you can both stretch out a bit without crowding the other person or accidentally waking them with your ice-cold feet. The best time to purchase a mattress set is on national holidays, like Memorial Day and Labor Day, when they go on sale. Some consumers successfully negotiate the cost, but certain brands invariably sell for the sticker price. To extend the life of a mattress, occasionally rotate and flip it (from end-to-end and from top-tobottom) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Some one-sided mattresses, such as pillow-top models, need not be flipped.

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Good

Riddance

Ask the store where you bought your new mattress to haul off your old one when they deliver the new set. Some will do so for free, some will charge a nominal fee and some will refuse. If you’re stuck with your old set, don’t repurpose it for the guest room or hand it down to a child. Do you really want houseguests sleeping on a mattress that’s deprived you of rest? Perhaps it beats a fold-out couch or a blow-up air mattress, but you really should retire a worn-out mattress. They’re no good for kids, either, whose grades suffer when they sleep poorly, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Increasingly, retailers that pick up old mattresses are recycling some of their components, particularly steel, instead of dumping them in landfills, according to the Better Sleep Council. If you must dispose of the old mattress set yourself, call your local municipality, sanitation department or garbage collector before dumping it on the curb. They usually have provisions for picking up larger items, but advance notice generally is needed. When pickup day arrives, if you’re embarrassed by the condition of your mattress, cover it with an old fitted sheet and your neighbors will be none the wiser. © CTW Features

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H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

Image courtesy of Sony

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F at and Sassy Make sure your flat-screen TV … flatters … its surroundings By Jeff Schnaufer CTW Features

ith more than 20 percent of American households owning one, flatscreen televisions can be found in nearly every type of room – from living rooms and kitchens to garages and man caves.

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H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

Image courtesy of Sony

And while HDTV and other technologies give flat screens the ability to turn any room into a private movie theater, there are plenty of design options to keep your room glowing long after the TV is turned off. “Flat screens being close to the size of a painting or piece of art,

makes them much easier to design around,” says Kristianne Watts, owner of KW Designs in Solana Beach, Calif. “For me, it becomes a fun challenge to come up with an innovative design that carries the style of the house and function for technology. Design evolves as technology evolves,” she says. “I personally think they're great because of the size flexibility and shallow depth,” says Louise Farrar-Wegener, principal owner of Tigard, Ore.based Z-3 Design Studio “I can make them a showpiece, downplay their presence or make them disappear depending upon the client's desires.” While most Americans place the television in the living room or media room – the places where they

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H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

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Depending on size of the room and how the walls are placed, Watts suggests using a subtle, textured wall finish in a neutral or muted color for the TV wall and/or surrounding walls.Add accents along the TV wall that are balancing in size, as well.

Incorporate your flat-panel television into a modular pre-made or custom wall unit of shelves and closed storage, Farrar-Wegener says.“This works best with the unit in

black or dark woods and a black TV case,” she says.“Off-set the TV to one side so it's less prominent or dominant. Have the closed storage be deeper (project out further) than the open shelves and the TV. Display books and artwork on the open shelves.”

Image courtesy of Panasonic

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watch the most television and do the most entertaining – some designers warn against putting a flat-screen TV in just any room. "One place it doesn't belong is in the bedroom," says Farrar-Wegener. "Medical sleep studies have shown viewing TV in bed is detrimental to a good night's sleep. For clients who just have to have the news on in the morning as they get dressed, there are TVs that are incorporated into bathroom vanity mirrors and towel warming racks." Such clever design techniques can be used for flat screen televisions, as well – here's how to make your flat-screen television blend in with your home décor:

Create a recessed art niche so the TV face is on the same plane as the wall, Farrar-Wegener suggests. Display 3-D art pieces to each side of the TV. A black cased TV works best.

Recess the TV in the wall or in cabinetry behind concealing doors or panels, says FarrarWegener. The doors or panels can lift, slide, or open and recess. The doors or panels can be mounted with artwork or be artwork pieces that display when closed. © CTW Features

H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

Quick

No advance notice? No problem. Unexpected dinner parties rely more on improvisation than cooking

Reflexes

By Taniesha Robinson CTW Features

Shop your home Don’t have a party pantry, yet? Don’t panic.“Run a quick inventory in your head of what you have available,” says Georgeanne Brennan, author of “Gather – Memorable Menus for Entertaining Throughout the Sea-

Ciliegie mozzarella with basil & cherry tomatoes Makes 12 hors d’oeuvres Ciliegie means “cherries” in Italian – because the mozzarella is formed into cherry-size balls. I like that it also refers to the cherry tomatoes in the recipe.This bite-sized hors d’oeuvre is inspired by a wonderful summer salad the Italians call “insalata caprese” (a salad of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil). William Geddes

Create a party pantry In life, it’s always nice to give yourself a head start. Having a go-to space in your home stocked with the bare necessities for a dinner party will put you ahead of the game. Karen Bussen, the author of “Simple Stunning Parties at Home” (Stewart,Tabori and Chang, 2009), recommends grabbing items for a party pantry when you see things on sale throughout the year. Her suggested must-haves include non-perishable food items, unscented candles, and special plates and glassware. “White, unscented candles make an instant centerpiece when you have that last minute get-together,” Bussen says.

William Geddes

few friends have just called to say they’re in the neighborhood and want to drop by. It’s inconveniently near dinnertime and you were actually planning on taking a trip to a local fast-food joint. Now, you have 20 minutes to plan a dinner party. Such preparation can be stressful with a month’s notice, so the pressure cooker really starts boiling over when you have to pull off a dinner party in a matter of minutes. But don’t worry – it takes more improvisation than innovation to plan a memorable last-minute dinner party.

On cue: Create a welcoming atmosphere for your guests with a set table, complete with flowers, candles and defined seating. sons” (Sasquatch Books, 2009). Buspull them all to the middle of the sen likens shopping your home to table. For a rectangular table, arrange shopping your closet for a new look. them down the center of the table. One of her favorite ideas for table Candles are great for centerpieces, designs came to her after spotting a too, she says. few bangles around the house that she later used for napkin rings. Give a warm welcome Offer refreshments soon after your Set the stage guests settle. Drinks and hors Both Bussen and Brennan say that a d’oeuvres are not only great appetizset table signals to guests that they ers, but also great ways to put people are welcome. Plates, flatware, glassat ease in your home. ware and napkins are a great start, “If people feel welcome, no matbut a centerpiece is the final welter what you cook, it will be a nice coming touch. For an easy, inexpenoccasion,” Brennan says.“Guests sive yet beautiful centerpiece, Bussen should feel welcome even if it’s suggests buying a bouquet of whatunexpected.”And even if they invited ever is in season and putting each themselves! blossom in its own shot glass and © CTW Features

✱ 6 cherry tomatoes, cut into halves ✱ 12 fresh basil leaves, cut into halves ✱ 6 ciliegie mozzarella balls, cut into halves ✱ Salt and pepper ✱ 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar ✱ 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil ✱ 1 teaspoon minced garlic (optional)

Spear one half of one cherry tomato on a toothpick. Next, spear two halves of a fresh basil leaf, followed by one half of a mozzarella ball. Repeat for all 12 hors d’oeuvres, and season with salt and pepper. Arrange on a tray and serve with the balsamic vinegar and olive oil (I like to offer them separately) on the side for dipping. Add the minced garlic to the olive oil for an extra layer of flavor. Courtesy of “Simple Stunning Parties at Home” (Stewart, Tabori and Chang, 2009) by Karen Bussen © CTW Features

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H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

w e lcome home !

Images courtesy of frockZ, istockphoto

Your home is important, not only because it’s a major financial investment but also because it’s the place where your family gathers to share wonderful moments together. That’s why we’re pleased to bring you this edition of HomeStyle, your source for up-todate home-improvement information and creative decorating ideas that truly make your house a home. The upswing: Combine vetted home-décor problem-solvers, like slipcovers, with fresh, ideas, like upcycling, to take your worn-out furnishings from frumpy to fabulous this weekend.

The Great Cover-Up

It's time to get down with 'upcycling'

Quick Reflexes

No advance notice? No problem. Unexpected dinner parties rely more on improvisation than cooking

En Garde

There's a lot of think about when choosing a new fence, or reinvesting in your current one. Here's what you need to know

Knock Knock

Like the perfect earrings for your little black dress, there's a door knocker for you

Open Up

Seeing is believing when it comes to open storage

More Bathroom for Your Buck Achieve bathroom bliss today with 10 solutions for busy powder rooms

Green 3.0

The latest generation of green home décor has bridged the gap between functionality and creativity - and there's not a hemp fiber to be found

Meet the Designer: Celerie Kemble

Create space that has a heartbeat by building a room around the pieces you can't live without - embrace offbeat items and indulge in what makes you happy

Back in Black

How the secret of the dark side can get you and your kitchen through this recession

Make Your Mark

Update your kitchen's hardware to get a new look for less. Here's how to get the knobs rolling

Flat and Sassy

Make sure your flat-screen TV ... flatters ... its surroundings

Rest Easy

Here are the secrets to snagging a great mattress, the best weekends to buy and why you should even care about the health of your bed

HomeStyle Bookshelf

Things are looking up: Upcycle for a fresh home

HomeStyle 2009 – Issue 5

More bathroom

for your buck

Achieve bathroom bliss today with 10 solutions for busy powder rooms CTW Features

Image courtesy of simplehuman

Image courtesy of Colgate-Palmolive

aah, the bathroom. Not an exciting place to talk about, perhaps, but a room we spend about 45 minutes a day in, according to a recent survey conducted by Charmin. It makes sense to make it look, and feel, warm and comfortable. “Your bathroom is another room in your home,” says Nia Collins, a Seattle-based interior designer. “Make it inviting with fun knickknacks

and artwork.” In the survey, 74 percent of respondents said it is important that their bathroom is nicely decorated, and 23 percent said they are sometimes embarrassed to have company because they think their bathroom is a mess. The good news is that there are simple, quick and inexpensive ways to reorganize and redecorate the washroom.We talked to interior designers across the country for these 10 realistic solutions – even if you like your bathroom just the way it is.

Easy does it: Clean up a cluttered shower by switching to chrome shampoo dispensers, and add a homey touch to necessary bathroom staples, like soap bottles. 1. Use fun containers on your vanity or counter. Glass canisters, clear jars and even kitchen tools like magnetic knife strips can work great for organizing while still looking good, says Julie McCullough Kim, designer and owner of The Make Shop & Studio in Dallas. Little items can stick onto the strip, clearing clutter instantly. 2. Buy already decorated soap bottles. For example, Softsoap Ensembles, from New York City-based Colgate-Palmolive, let

you keep the reusable pump and switch the pre-filled disposable base for a cheap way to update your bathroom decor. 3. Clear the clutter from the shower. Wire hangers above the showerhead don't always work, and built-in shelves can get crowded. Try something like Torrance, Calif.based Simplehuman’s shampoo and soap dispensers, which hold their contents neatly and securely on the wall. The dispensers have a transparent soap chamber and elegant chrome body, similar to ones in spas.

4. Incorporate furniture into your bathroom space. “A beautiful chair, dresser, or vanity can create an elegant feeling in the bathroom,” Collins says. “Scour yard sales and flea markets for great finds.” Good furniture can also function as storage. 5. White-wash it. Think about all the beautiful white buildings in Santorini, Greece. “An inexpensive way to make your bathroom look like a million bucks is to take an old wood cabinet, and simply give it a coat of white, semi-gloss paint,” says designer Tracy Morris in Washington, D.C. “Add new, updated hardware, and voila! You have a new look to your bathroom.” 6. Install a unique shower rod or curtain. For example, North Olmsted, Ohio-based Moen sells a curved shower rod. Horizontalstriped shower curtains can make your room look much bigger. 7. Change your tiles. Decorate your bathroom with an accent, border or backsplash of stylish, high-end glass tiles, says Eli Mechlovitz, president and founder of GlassTileStore.com .

Image courtesy of Kohler Co.

By Sally Farhat Kassab

“Because of their luminescent, light-reflecting and luxurious look, only a small amount of glass tile is needed to make a strong statement of style,” he says. 8. Get new accessories. Since you have to use a garbage can, shower curtain, and towels anyway, why not get new ones? Center the room around a theme, such as nautical or spa, Collins says. Groupings and pairings of three are always a good choice, says Frank Fontana, host of HGTV's “Design on a Dime.” 9. Incorporate texture in unexpected places. “I am a big detail guy, and if I have pattern or texture on my towels, wall coverings, or moldings, I will go as far as repeating textures if I can – even in subtle ways like on to my toilet paper,” Fontana says. 10. Make the best use of your drawers. Don't let things roll around inside of your drawers and closets. Morris uses tea saucers inside her vanity drawers for bobby bins other small items. © CTW Features

H o m e S t y l e 2 0 0 9 – I ss u e 5

En Garde

There’s a lot of think about when choosing a new fence, or reinvesting in your current one. Here’s what you need to know By Taniesha Robinson CTW Features

Image courtesy of Sunbrella® Fabrics

n just the last 10 years, the options for fencing in your property have dramatically increased with the introduction of materials like vinyl and composite decking, but so many choices can leave you … well, sitting on the fence. Lattice top, picket vinyl and Madison are the most popular fencing options for Lowe's consumers at one Chicago location, according to sales manager Marina Gibbs. The latter option may be for you if you're the do-it-yourself type.“A lot of people purchase that and put it up themselves because you can just snap it together,” Gibbs says. But if you're more of the let-someone-else-do-it type, the first step you need to take in purchasing a fence is obtaining a detail of your property by square footage. “Historically, wood has been the main material for fencing,” says Tom Lee, vice president of marketing at paint manufacturer Behr. Now, vinyl is more popular. It requires less maintenance than wood and comes in colors.“It's fairly flexible so you don't get damage resistance,” Lee warns.Vinyl also tends to fade, he says. A newer material being used as an alternative to wood is composite decking, which is made of recycled woodchips and recycled plastic. It's more durable than wood but more expensive. It's also more susceptible to mildew and staining. “With a little bit of preparation [composite decking and vinyl] fences can be painted,” Lee says. Painting or repainting an old fence can give your property line a dramatic facelift. Lee advises answering four questions before painting a fence: 1. What's the fence made out of ? 2. What conditions exist today on that fence? 3. How long do you want it to last? 4. How much do you want to spend? The material that your fence is made out of determines whether you paint or stain the fence. Stains are more translucent and work well with wood, allowing the natural texture to come through. Paint is a better option for older fences that have lost texture because they coat the surface. Paints with nanotechnology, like Behr's Premium Plus Ultra, covers surfaces more completely.“It lasts longer and adheres better,” Lee says. It's also a more expensive paint purchase. It may save you time, however, as it has built-in primer.

H ome S tyle 2 0 0 9 – I ssue 5

HomeStyle Bookshelf Things are looking up Upcycle for a fresh home Country Living 500 Quick & Easy Decorating Projects & Ideas by Dominique DeVito (Hearst, 2009) $19.95 Savory Baking by Mary Cech (Chronicle Books, 2009) $24.95 Ruth Pretty Entertains by Ruth Pretty (Penguin Global, 2009) $35

Home, Paper, Scissors: Decorative Paper Accessories for the Home by Janne Faulkner & Harley Anstee (Potter Craft, 2009) $19.95

Old Stained Glass for the Home: A Guide for Collectors and Designers by Douglas Congdon-Martin (Schiffer Publishing, 2009) $29.99

The Lampshade Lady's Guide to Lighting Up Your Life: 50 Custom Lampshades and Lamps by Judy Lake & Kathleen Hackett (Potter Craft, 2009) $27.50

Friday Night Bites: Kick off the Weekend with Recipes and Crafts for the Whole Family by Karen Berman (Running Press, 2009) $14.95

Building Green, New Edition: A Complete How-To Guide to Alternative Building Methods by Clarke Snell & Tim Callahan (Lark Books, 2009) $35

Home Basics - Electrical Made Easy: A Step-by-Step Guide for Common Electrical Projects by Ron Hazelton (Betterway Home, 2009) $19.99

200 Outstanding House Ideas by Esther Moreno & Bridget Vranckx (Firefly Books, 2009) $39.95 Hollywood Bachelor Pads by Carol Kipling (Schiffer Publishing, 2009) $34.99 Fabric Decorating Step-by-Step Project Book by Suzie Stokoe (Southwater, 2009) $20.99 © CTW Features