2-24-18 At Home

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Home decor and design styles for 2018

Home on Wheels RV life for people of all ages

A special publication of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer

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Messenger-Inquirer

LETTER from the

EDITOR Friends, the time has come for me to move on. I have accepted a new job and will be passing the torch of Special Publications Editor on to Jodi Holloway. She is a great fit for the job and I can’t wait to read about the fun and exciting home stories as this section progresses.

I have loved writing for this section and choosing the stories to help you all turn your house into a home.

In this edition of At Home, you learn how to deliver curb appeal with a DIY block mailbox, 2018 home trends and why RVs are becoming popular with people of all ages.

We are still looking for homeowners who have tackled a big DIY or home renovation project or anyone who has an interesting story about their home. If you would like your story told, please contact the Special Publications desk at 270-691-7233.

— Meghann Richardson Special Publications Editor

Deliver curb appeal with a DIY block mailbox

W

e’ve all heard the old adage, “you only get one chance to make a first impression.”

Well, that statement holds true when you’re talking about a home.

Whether it’s the landscaping, the siding, the front door, the windows, the paint, the driveway or the outdoor furniture, the initial reaction to the exterior appearance of a home is permanent. Quite literally, the curb appeal of your home can influence the experience of visiting guests. In addition, 63 percent of homebuyers will visit a home they like after viewing it online, according to the National Association of Realtors.

So, investing the time, energy and money to maximize the curb appeal of your home makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately, an important element of curb appeal that is often overlooked is the mailbox.

There are more than 50 million curbside mailboxes in the U.S. While these mailboxes serve an important daily function, they also set the tone for a home’s curb appeal. Rather than feature a mailbox on a plain wooden or metal post, placing one in a brick, stone or block enclosure is a popular alternative that can be done without hiring a contractor or being a skilled mason. Building an attractive mailbox column is a DIY project any

homeowner can now handle using a versatile block system like Stonegate Country Manor from Keystone Hardscapes.

Note: Wearing gloves and eye protection is recommended.

Steps for building a block mailbox column: • Mark off the mailbox footprint with paint and remove the dirt from inside until the hole is 12 inches deep. Level the bottom with a hand tamper.

• Add 6 inches of crushed stone a few inches at a time and compact with a hand tamper.

• Install the first course by centering the blocks inside the mailbox footprint and place 6 inches below finished grade. Check front to back and side to side with a level and adjust as necessary with sand and a hammer.

• Lay the second course of block on top of the first course of block in an alternating pattern to make sure they fit correctly. Remove the blocks and apply two quarterinch-wide strips of QUIKRETE Polyurethane Construction Adhesive on each block in the first course approximately 3 inches away from the inside and outside edge before attaching the second course.

• Repeat the process until you

complete the column, being sure to alternate the course layouts as indicated by the directions. Be sure to use a level on each course.

• Once the seventh course is completed, fill the core with the remaining crushed stone so the mailbox has a location to rest. Build the mailbox layer by placing the first course of blocks and securing with concrete adhesive as indicated by the directions.

• Use spray foam to seal behind the face of the mailbox and use QUIKRETE Non-Shrink Grout to fill around the mailbox so that it’s flush and the door opens and closes freely.

• Install the second mailbox course and secure with concrete adhesive before filling around the mailbox again with grout.

• Finally, secure the mailbox in place with concrete adhesive before installing a cap of your choice.

There are a variety of block mailbox column styles, colors and sizes to match the look of any home. In addition, you can easily update your front or back yard with fireplaces, fire pits, kitchens, benches and retaining walls by downloading block system project designs and step-by-step instructions like Stonegate Country Manor at www.KeystoneHardscapes.com.

décor trends to make a style

Messenger-Inquirer

Saturday, February 24, 2018

At Home

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s your home décor starting to feel a bit stale? Spruce up your interiors with some of the hottest home design trends for 2018 — from customized cozy to natural textures to retro touches.

Here are some stylish ways to incorporate new trends, from one of the nation’s most sought-after celebrity interior designers, Taniya Nayak.

1. CREATE AN OASIS

Make your home a tropical escape all year long. Add floral or banana leaf accents to form a staycation-worthy “at-home paradise” no matter the temperature. Nayak suggests pairing pops of metallic gold with plush greens and crisp white to build a look that is sophisticated, yet fun and exotic.

2. KEEP IT SIMPLE

In 2018, Nayak encourages DIYers to “go big or go home ... in the simplest way imaginable.” An easy way to accomplish this is to paint your baseboards, trim or window mullions a dramatic contrasting color, like black against a white wall, for an effortless, yet powerful effect. And when it comes to achieving clean, sharp paint lines, one of Nayak’s vital, go-to tools is a premium painter’s tape, like FrogTape brand painter’s tape that delivers the sharpest paint lines possible.

Treated with patented PaintBlock Technology, FrogTape is a fool-proof way to get professional-looking results and eliminate the need for touch-ups.

3. INCORPORATE NATURAL TOUCHES

This trend is all about nature’s textures — think wood grain, geodes or ocean waves. One way to incorporate this look is to combine earthy tones like browns, beiges and deep blues with vibrant neon colors to generate the effect of the northern lights around the home.

With 25 years of experience in the lighting industry and over 300 light fixtures on display, our staff will be happy to help with all of your lighting needs!

4. GET BACK TO THE FUTURE

Give what’s old a modern, futuristic update to achieve this trend. Try painting a vintage chair with a pop of color, like the Sherwin-Williams 2018 color of the year, Oceanside, a combination of rich blue with jewel-toned green. This creates an eye-catching masterpiece that seamlessly integrates into both retro and modern home décor. Introducing bright colors to antiques produces a beautiful new spin on a classic look.

5. DESIGN IT WITH LOVE

What’s “in” in home design this year? Creating warm and cozy spaces that are customized just for you. This is the true essence of DIY. Painting an accent wall in a pastel color, like lavender, will set a relaxed and comforting tone in the room. From there, add personal pieces like a soft woven blanket, a macramé wall hanging or ivory plates on a wall to transform any room to “your” room.

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270-478-4836

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Mix, match and mosaic the top interior design trends of 2018

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Messenger-Inquirer

Saturday, February 24, 2018

hether you’re redecorating your home, changing up that old carpet for warm hardwood flooring, or just longing for a fresh coat of paint and some new accents in the living room, the design trends this year are all about texture, style and surprises. It’s hardwood floors celebrating knots and imperfections or variations in plank sizes and color. It’s wood on your walls and faux stone tile backsplashes. It’s mixing unexpected materials to create an entirely new look. Mix, match and mosaic is what it’s all about this year.

Sara Babinski, a designer for Armstrong Flooring, offers her view of the top design trends of 2018. with the same protection, consider Paragon Solid Hardwood, which INSPIRED BY NATURE incorporates the same Diamond Earth tones are big this 10 Technology without any year in everything from accent compromise. Paragon floors are pieces, to linens and walls, to made from 100 percent solid flooring. Think natural-colored Appalachian hardwood, ensuring solid hardwood and rattan dining your floors will remain beautiful chairs. Also on trend: breezy, for a lifetime. uncomplicated seaside styles that incorporate natural aquatic blue STIMULATION and green shades.

OF THE SENSES “We are seeing an ode to Create a mosaic of varying the elements in interior design colors and textures in your home.

— walls and flooring that look Hardwood flooring in 2018 will distressed or weathered, and an celebrate the natural beauty of the ongoing demand for the look of wood, showing and highlighting reclaimed wood,” says Babinski. knots and naturally occurring A trend that was hot in the imperfections, including varying ’90s is also making a resurgence: plank sizes, colors, and widths. faux stone, and designers taking Artisan styles will also be popular artistic license with depicting this year, with hand-brushed and natural stone in decor, flooring, -scraped patterns. and walls.

The “raw meets polished”

DIAMONDS ARE A FLOOR’S BEST FRIEND

Looks can deceive, and what may appear to be a hardwood floor is actually luxury vinyl or LVT. Thanks to incredible advancements in printing technology, these are no longer your grandma’s floors. A perfect example of this trend is Armstrong Flooring’s vinyl or engineered tile floor with Diamond 10 Technology, a proprietary flooring innovation that infuses cultured diamonds into the floor, providing the ultimate in scratch, stain, and scuff resistance.

If you still want solid hardwood

trend is all about high shine versus ultra low gloss. This may include reclaimed wood furniture, updated with modern, shiny metal hardware or the aesthetic of using both low gloss and medium gloss on your floor.

Also on tap this year is mixing metals, especially in the kitchen.

“Warm-toned fixtures can now live harmoniously with stainless appliances and with the latest appliance trend — a beautiful black finish! Copper, rose gold and oxidized metals are especially popular,” Babinski says.

CULTURAL INFLUENCES AND ANIMAL PRINTS

Globally, Babinski sees trends

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of warm minimalism (warmer shades of gray, blue and brown evoking Hygge), and on the flip side, bold maximalism, a strong mix of bold colors and patterns balanced with gray walls and blonde hardwood and wood-look floors.

Cultural influences in accent pieces continue to trend. Whether it’s a hand-woven basket or a lamp with a Moroccan design, they add a sense of global style to your rooms.

Although exotic hardwood is going out of style in favor of American domestic species, Babinski is still seeing fun pairings with animal prints in furniture and accessories, such as area rugs, which pair perfectly with natural material floors.

VICTORIAN AND ANTIQUE

The reemergence of Victorian and antique decor can translate easily to flooring trends like Millwork Square Solid Hardwood parquet and strip hardwood in Prime Harvest.

Also in 2018, patterns are meant to be broken, especially in floors. Herringbone-patterned flooring is trending, and floors will incorporate different colors, textures, glosses, plank widths and lengths.

“Flooring can even go on the walls, as seen by the continuation of the wood-on-walls trend,” adds Babinski. “Overwhelmingly, though, hardwood floors will continue to be low-gloss and ultra-matte.”

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Ve R lif [FOR

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Your journey begins

BY LAUREN FLOYD

As lifestyles continue to change, the new RV trend begins to rise. RVs create a new style of on-the-go living.

Owensboro RV offers a variety of RV’s anywhere from a small camper for one to two people to larger campers with plenty of room for the entire family.

“There is a wide age range of customers from young families to retired couples that get interested in the RV lifestyle, said Owensboro RV ser vice representative Tamra Payne.

Some people even sell their homes and buy an RV to travel in year-round.

The new form of a mobile home allows for easy ways to travel and experience a whole new way of life. RV parks allow for a more social adventure when you are traveling rather than staying in a hotel.

“It is a good way to get the family together and unplug,” Payne said.

“RVs allow you to get away from your phones and the TV to enjoy the true meaning of nature while in the comfort of your own home on wheels.”

The biggest seller at Owensboro RV is the Forest River Wildwood which is a travel trailer made with good quality and convenience. These trailers range from 18feet -40 feet. They are designed for families or couples For those who like to be above and beyond, the most luxurious RV in stock at Owensboro RV is the Forest River Riverstone which is a Fifth Wheel Camper Ranges from 40-42 feet and has a MSRP over $100,000. There are several floor plans with options of 1-2 baths, king or Queen beds, Fireplaces, Dishwasher, and even a residential refrigerator.

All your RV needs can be taken care of at Owensboro RV which is located at 3810 W. Parrish Ave. For more information, call 270-316-0661.

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Your #1 Forest River Dealer in the TRI-STATE

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CREATE A TEEN-FRIENDLY SPACE AT HOME

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eenagers are busier than ever before. But even the busiest teens need places to unwind and relax with friends. Many parents aspire to create that type of environment in their homes but don’t know where to begin.

Having teens close by and interacting with them on a regular basis can benefit families. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics notes that parental involvement correlates to higher grade point averages. Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says certain parenting styles, including those that set rules and monitor teens in supportive ways, develop kids who are more likely to wear seat belts while driving, while such support also lowers crash risk. Involved parents also may reduce the chances of teen drug use and promiscuous behavior.

Parents who want to keep teens nearby can create hangout spaces at

home that make it easy for teens to feel comfortable with their friends.

These “teen caves” can be private but permit supervision when necessary.

With a few modifications, it’s possible to transform a room in a home into a teen-friendly hangout space.

TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN

Involve teens in the process of renovating a home to create a spot in which they would like to congregate.

Talk about elements they would like to see in the space, whether it be a particular design style, technology or activity.

ESTABLISH A SHARED BUDGET

to your taste, he or she will be proud of the results and may want to share it with friends.

ADD MORE SEATING

Having friends over means having enough seating to handle a small crowd. Beanbags, cushioned benches, a daybed, modular seating, and more can ensure everyone has a place to sit.

MAKE A PRIVATE OUTDOOR SPOT

Teen spaces do not need to be restricted to the indoors. Design advice site Houzz says an outdoor escape zone that includes comfortable seating in a private area — particularly a spot that can also be enjoyed into the evening — will be a coveted spot.

Paint is inexpensive and can transform just about any room in a single afternoon. If the room being HAVE A SNACK STATION renovated is the teen’s own bedroom, Some teenagers always seem to be allow him or her to choose the color hungry, and hanging out with friends palette and other accents. Even if it isn’t while enjoying food is a popular

For your beautiful Bath and Kitchen Cabinets We have the ideas for you. Come visit.

Plumbing - Lighting Bath & Kitchen Cabinets Home Accessories Irrigation - PVF Septic Systems 2110 Grimes Ave. Owensboro, KY 42303 270-691-6040 www.bathandkitchenideacenter.com

pastime. When renovating a room into a teen cave, find a way to make food a focus. Install a mini-refrigerator and non-alcoholic bar where kids can serve snacks to friends. Think about a space you would like as an adult and modify it to be more accommodating to teenagers.

INVEST IN “INDESTRUCTIBLE” MATERIALS

Teenagers are bound to make messes, and having other people over means contending with a certain measure of damage. Design the space with indoor-outdoor carpeting, water-resistant fabrics, distressed wood, and other durable materials.

Adolescents are always looking for spaces to gather without overbearing adult interference. Homeowners can create such spaces for their children in their own homes.