3-10-18 At Home

At

HOME

Spring awakening Bedding benefits from fresh pops of color

Scandinavian style

Clean, minimalist design borrows from Nordic aesthetic

A special publication of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer

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Saturday, March 10, 2018 Messenger-Inquirer

LETTER from the

EDITOR Greetings, friends! This is my first letter to you since taking the helm of the Special Publications desk. As a homeowner, I have been through the ups and downs of home projects, and I am thrilled to have this space to share our experiences with each other.

With spring around the corner, we increasingly dream of decluttering and home improvement projects. In this edition of At Home, we’ll cover new styles that will give your space a fresh look, early spring care for your lawn and garden, and how to clean and maintain your hardwood floors without harming them.

As always, we’d love to hear about your DIY projects, redecorating experiences and home renovations. If you think your living space has an interesting story to tell, let us know by calling the Special Publications desk at 270-691-7233. We look forward to hearing from you!

— Jodi Keen Special Publications Editor

How to maintain hardwood floors

BY BRANDPOINT

“sweeping” as the correct way mop and residue-free, neutral to clean wood floors. This cleaner. Look for third-party Although most people envision answer was closely followed by certified cleaners that will be their dream home with shiny 19 percent who believe using a healthier for your floors and your wood floors, many consumers are soap- or oil-based cleaner is best, family. unaware of the best way to care and 12 percent who believe using • As needed: When scratches for them, according to a 2017 water and vinegar is pop up or the survey conducted by the National the best solution. finish looks dull, With an estimated Wood Flooring Association.

With an estimated a recoat 25 million homes in consider “Not surprisingly, many 25 million homes or refinish to keep the U.S. with wood floors durable and homeowners are unsure of in the U.S. with the best way to effectively and wood floors, floors, understanding beautiful. Ask an quickly clean hardwood floors. understanding how how to clean them is outside contractor Some believe mopping with a to clean them is for a water-based bucket of water and a cleaning essential to maintain essential to maintain finish and dust and protect the solution is best while others and protect the containment system occasionally sweep or vacuum. investment. Try to ensure the job is investment.

Many cleaning methods can the following tips VOC and toxin free. hurt rather than help a floor, for to keep your hardwood floors • Things to avoid: Water and example, even a ‘damp’ string looking beautiful. vinegar, soap-based cleaners, mop can leave excess water • Regularly: Dust/sweep. wax or steam cleaners. Vinegar on a hardwood floor, and we While using a broom can be (remember, it’s an acid) and know that water and wood don’t effective, it also just pushes the water will damage and dull the mix,” said Bona U.S. Director of dirt around, so using a microfiber floor’s finish, while soap and wax Marketing Cate Vanegas. mop or cloth is the best daily leave residue. Steam cleaners put The key findings in the defense against scratches and heat and excessive water on the online survey, conducted in surface damage. floor, which can lead to cupping October 2017 by Public Opinion • Often: Dust and mop. After and long-term damage.

Strategies, found that just 24 a quick spin around the floor to Want more cleaning tips? Visit percent of consumers answered grab dust, use a microfiber pad Bona’s Wood Floors 101 tutorials.

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Incorporating Scandinavian style

BY BRANDPOINT

materials that meld indoors with outdoors — natural woods, slat walls, leather accents and greenery. “Cottage culture” architecture style draws on these influences and makes interiors feel like cozy cabins in the woods.

As homeowners look for ways to refresh their spaces, Scandinavian style has become ever more prominent and popular among designers and interior decor experts. The clean, modern, minimalist aesthetic shows up in interiors COOL, NATURAL TONES AND and exteriors, from streamlined furniture LIGHT WOODS IN FLOORING to low-maintenance landscaping. Here’s Scandinavian style incorporates how to achieve a Nordic look in your natural tones of whites, grays and light own home: browns. Pale wood and whitewashed floors create a clean, spacious look.

‘SLOW DESIGN’ AND That look can be achieved with oak MINIMALIST DECOR and maple styles, as well as wood-look Perhaps the most common tiles and laminates with wood graining. association with Scandinavian style is Retailers like Lumber Liquidators, minimalist decor. Less is more when it who regularly publish seasonal trends comes to decorating, and the concept of reports, have an array of cool-toned “slow design” focuses on fewer, higher flooring options to choose from, such quality pieces collected over time. as Dream Home X2O Misty Morning Oak, a water-resistant laminate with a soft seashell tone and realistic oak FUNCTIONAL FURNITURE: graining.

STORAGE AND GOOD LOOKS If homeowners want to be on trend Another key aspect of the Nordic with Scandinavian style in their home, style is hardworking, functional the key is updating with clean, modern furnishings. A piece can be beautiful and light-toned accents. Functional and also have utility, like eye-catching shoe racks and shelving, or built-in bed furniture will help you organize your space and efficiently use the room. storage that creates a unique frame.

Finish off the room with sunny wood grain flooring and your Nordic look is MELDING INDOORS AND OUT complete.

Scandinavian style incorporates

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Spring awakening *

Freshen bedding with seasonal shades

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Messenger-Inquirer

BY MELISSA KOSSLER DUTTON

are tired of having just white bedding, and they’re ready to try something bold.”

Colored, textured and patterned Louise Traficanti, creative director for comforters and duvets are telling a Eastern Accents , a bedding company dramatic bedtime story these days. in Chicago, thinks that homeowners “Bedding acts as a narrator to set the were decorating with muted palettes tone of the room,” said Anthropologie’s for several years in response to the home textiles buyer Brittany Peacock. economic downturn and their own “As the focal point of the room, the bed financial constraints. Things have begun is a natural location for a pop of color or to change, she said. pattern.”

“Over the last two years, we’ve been Taking their cue from manufacturers really pushing more color, and seeing our and high-end design projects, consumers customers respond enthusiastically to are moving away from the pale colors patterns and designs,” she said. that once dominated bedroom decor and More color in the bedroom also is toward vibrant tones and patterns, said a reflection of how much time people Joy Coulter of Couture Designs in New spend there, added Chris Chapin, Albany, Ohio. co-founder at Company C , a home “In the more upscale magazines, I furnishings company in Concord, am starting to see more bright colors, New Hampshire. With the bedroom especially in master suites,” she said. functioning as a place to watch television, “The new trends seem to be getting away read a book or use technology, it’s not from so much neutral and gray. People surprising that people are craving livelier THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

looks realized through florals, prints and geometric patterns in dramatic colors, she says.

“People want color and some excitement in their lives. Color can represent what someone’s passionate about,” she said. “You walk in, you feel good.”

The desire to decorate in a way that tells your story also has helped drive the use of color, Traficanti said. “As people get more expressive about their own personality,” they are choosing more interesting colors and patterns for a “more curated look,” she said.

Eclecticism is in and “matchy matchy” is out, added Andrew Howard of Andrew Howard Interior Design in Jacksonville, Florida. A room should look as if “it grew over time — that it wasn’t bought on the same day with all the fabrics perfectly coordinating.”

The practice of buying bedding

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in a bag — a complete set of sheets, comforter, bedskirt and shams — is on the wane, Coulter said.

Texture and layering also contributes to the bold look, Chapin said.

Increasingly, customers are mixing quilts, waffle-weave blankets, rich throws and other fabric pieces to create an interesting look, she said.

Going bold with your bedding is also one of the most affordable ways to change the look of a room, said Suzy Cacic, an interior designer who blogs at BetterDecoratingBible.com.

“Bedding is an easy way to dress up your bedroom without having to stick to a commitment like painting your walls or purchasing new statement furniture,” she said. “Leaving your walls neutral and playing up your decorating with accessories such as your bedding is an easy and commitment-free way to bring in some great style to your space.”

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Fresh home upgrades for spring

BY FAMILY FEATURES

Spring is the perfect time to start re-imagining your home and making upgrades that create a fresh, welcoming vibe. These project ideas — some big, some small — can help breathe new life into your home so you’re ready to enjoy your favorite rooms to the fullest.

AIR IT OUT

Months of closed windows and doors can make any room feel dusty and stale. As soon as temperatures allow, throw open the windows and skylights to let the fresh air chase away the remnants of winter. It’s a perfect time to launder window treatments and clean area rugs. After a few passes with a carpet cleaner, allow rugs to air-dry outdoors. If you’re considering an update to the overall decor, changing out these textiles is an easy and

affordable way to create a new look.

Just donate the used drapes and rugs after cleaning instead of bringing them back into the room.

SHIFT YOUR OUTLOOK

When contemplating changes to a room’s aesthetic, most people focus on the floor, walls and elements like furniture and accessories. As some homeowners are discovering, there’s a whole other space waiting to be discovered. The ceiling, a fifth wall of sorts, opens up endless creative design opportunities.

Whether you’re seeking more natural light, access to fresh air, a sense of spaciousness or a way to bring sophistication to a room, a skylight may be just the solution. For example, Velux room-darkening and light-filtering blinds can add a splash of color just where you least expect it, and they’re efficient in shielding your space

from the sun, meaning the blinds and installation are eligible for a 30 percent tax credit. Learn more at whyskylights. com.

PAINT TO PERFECTION

Over time, once cheerful walls can grow dull. Create a livelier ambiance with a fresh coat of paint, either in the same shade or something completely new. If you’re not sure exactly where to start, tackle the project room by room. To choose the right hue, select a favorite item in the room, such as an heirloom throw blanket or a piece of wall art, and consider color shades that complement the item well.

MAKE WHAT’S OLD NEW AGAIN

Sometimes a fresh perspective is as simple as rearranging a room to better fit your needs. Over time, the furnishings can become almost an afterthought because they’ve been in

place so long. Try moving things around to create new conversation groupings or to highlight a piece that has been tucked away in the shadows. An updated arrangement may inspire to you add and embellish with some simple new accessories or accent pieces for a room that only looks brand new.

GET EARTH SMART

With all of the new growth and hues of green that abound during spring, it’s natural to be more mindful of the environment. Earth-friendly upgrades like switching out inefficient lighting or installing low-flow toilets and shower heads can make a sizable difference.

Another option for energy conservation: Look for ways to maximize natural light for heat and to brighten rooms.

Well-placed windows and skylights can harness energy naturally, so you can minimize your reliance on electricity for comfort and convenience.

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Saturday, March 10, 2018

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How to make the most of your ceiling

BY FAMILY FEATURES

Don’t forget about your ceiling!

Here’s how to get creative with your fifth wall.

1. START WITH A SMOOTH CANVAS

This means eliminating any details like popcorn ceilings or other texturing that may appear dated and dingy.

2. ADD SOME COLOR

Bring character to the room by adding color to the ceiling that complements the traditional walls for a cohesive look. If you have eaves, dormers or other architectural elements, consider painting some and leaving others white for variety and added dimension.

3. INTRODUCE NATURAL LIGHT

When it comes from above, natural light brightens a room in a whole new way. An option like a Velux skylight is a sensible solution because it offers plenty of ways to customize the skylight to your specific space and functional needs.

4. ENHANCE WITH ACCESSORIES

Both practical and attractive, blinds are a good idea for a skylight. They let you control the light, such as blocking out harsh rays during the heat of the day but letting the gentle evening light illuminate the room.

In addition to choosing a style and color that complements the room decor, also look for features such as remote-control operation and room-darkening textiles.

5. GET CREATIVE

Treating your ceiling like a wall opens virtually endless possibilities.

Especially if you have some unique architectural features, you can highlight them by adding special touches such as built-in shelves for extra storage or new place to nurture lush house plants.

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Spring into lawn and garden maintenance

BY FAMILY FEATURES

rake again to remove dead weeds.

Then you’re ready to over-seed or If cooler weather has you longing for spot seed, depending on your lawn’s sunny days outdoors, take heart. Once needs. Your climate will determine the spring rolls around, you can safely begin best grass variety for your yard. Be sure the annual cleanup to prepare your yard to select and apply a fertilizer that is for months of warm weather enjoyment. consistent with your grass type and water Start by evaluating your lawn. Look thoroughly to promote deep root growth, for bald spots where grass has grown which can help your lawn withstand sparsely and needs reseeding, or uneven extreme conditions as temperatures rise. areas that may need to be filled and Your lawn isn’t the only part of your leveled. yard that needs attention during the Before you take steps to correct spring months, though. Your garden and any problems, you’ll need a clean slate. flower beds may need some care before Clear the yard of any leaves, rocks or they, too, are ready to burst with new sticks that may have accumulated then bounty and color. cut the grass as short as you can. Use a Begin by clearing your garden and thatching rake to remove dead roots and beds of any debris like leaves and other grass. Break up the soil in bare spots matter that piled up during months of to create an environment that will be neglect. Gently turn the soil and work in hospitable to new seed. Add lawn soil to fresh fertilizer. level the surface.

Before your plants and flowers are You’ll also need to apply an herbicide in full-growth mode is the ideal time to treat weed-infested areas. Allow the to make repairs. Check edging for any weed killer to work for about a week then damage, replace rotted woodwork and

complete any other maintenance tasks.

As for the plants, prune before the first buds sprout to minimize stress. You can also start indoor seeds, and early spring is the time to divide perennials and plant some hardier vegetables, such as onions and potatoes.

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The warmer months may still seem far away, but getting some of your lawn and garden care underway now can make those warmer, sunny days feel closer in no time. Find more seasonal tips for prepping your yard at eLivingToday. com.