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Greek Key

Thousands of years old, and still in style

Outdoor Design Put spring in your space while staying on trend

A special publication of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer

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HOW TO USE

houseplants

TO CLEAN INDOOR AIR LETTER from the

EDITOR Greetings, friends!

We’re getting trendy this edition!

Spring is an excellent time to hit the “refresh” button on our living spaces, and thankfully it doesn’t take a major renovation to do so.

In this edition, we’ll examine how to incorporate the latest trends (hello, patterns!) into our kitchens and bathrooms and give our outdoor entertainment spaces a comfortable yet high-function feel. We’ll also get a little green by learning the basics of composting.

This is also the final edition of At Home in its current form. Starting April 22, our home content will be folded into the Lifestyle section of every other Sunday paper. We’ll still feature the same range of home design stories, but now you’ll only have to turn the page to also get delicious recipes, helpful parenting advice and our Sunday puzzles — everything is under one roof. Look for our new home pages in our April 22 edition!

— Jodi Keen Special Publications Editor

BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Gardening is a rewarding hobby that can pay a host of dividends, both for the planet and the people doing the gardening.

Healthy plant life can help clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and various air pollutants, while the act of gardening can help gardeners combat stress.

Published in 2011 in the Journal of Health Psychology, a study from researchers in the Netherlands found that gardening promotes relief from acute stress. In the study, two groups of participants were asked to complete a stressful task and then instructed to either read indoors or garden outdoors for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, the latter group had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and even reported being in a better mood than the group instructed to read indoors.

But gardening does more than just provide gardeners with a reason to spend some time relaxing outdoors in an effort to relieve stress. Gardeners who raise certain plants may be able to bring those benefits with them when going inside as well.

According to an article published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives in October 2011, houseplants can work wonders when it comes to improving overall health, removing toxins from air, soil and water by metabolizing some toxic chemicals and releasing harmless byproducts while sequestering such toxins by incorporating them into plant tissues.

Clean indoor air is important for ever yone, but especially so for those people who suffer from respirator y ailments like asthma.

In fact, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology considers indoor air filtration an essential part of any strategy to improve respirator y health. But filtration systems and air purifiers are often not enough, and those who want the air in their homes to be as clean as possible may benefit from introducing certain houseplants into their homes. The following are a handful of plants that can help to improve indoor air quality.

• Aloe vera: Aloe vera might be most often associated with hand creams and hand soaps, but the aloe vera plant, a succulent that even novice gardeners should

have no problem growing, can clear indoor air of formaldehyde and benzene, two common byproducts of chemical-based cleaners many people use in their homes.

• Spider plant: Spider plants are resilient, and that makes them great houseplants for busy men and women who tend to be forgetful when caring for their plants. In addition, spider plants are pet-friendly and can be used to combat benzene, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde and xylene.

• English ivy: NASA researchers exploring the possibilities of long-term space habitation found that certain houseplants were more effective at cleaning air inside energyefficient, nonventilated buildings than others. One such plant was English ivy, which can effectively combat the formaldehyde found in certain household cleaning products.

• Bamboo palm: Bamboo palms also found their way onto NASA’s list. Bamboo palm plants thrive indoors, where they are especially effective at filtering out the chemicals benzene and trichloroethylene.

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Saturday, April 7, 2018

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Refresh your space with new ideas for your kitchen, bath

BY FAMILY FEATURES

When it’s time for a home remodel, specifically of a bathroom or kitchen, many homeowners turn to trendy looks as inspiration. Color, texture and material variance, like using different types of tile, lead the way in this year’s kitchen and bath trends.

To help amplify the look and appeal of your space, consider these tips from the experts at the National Association of the Remodeling Industry:

TRY DIFFERENT SHADES

White is classic, crisp and always in style, while gray also provides a traditional look. Many designers pair white or gray cabinets, tile and wall color with a pop of color to add interest without overwhelming the space.

There are many ways to introduce color, such as a bright island or items that are easily switched out like window treatments and artwork.

Combining different shades of white, gray and other neutral colors like beige is an effective way to create a warm and inviting space.

One important note to consider when mixing these hues is that they need to be in the same color family.

When incorporating white and gray, go for colors that have the same base — either yellow or blue. Mixing a yellow-gray with a blue-white can result in discord that may not

“feel” right. A qualified remodeler who has experience in design can provide expert advice and guide the decision-making process to help avoid costly mistakes.

CONSIDER VARIOUS TILE TYPES

Another popular treatment in kitchens and bathrooms is to use different types of tile and surface stone. Incorporating tile of different shapes and texture such as quartz, marble or granite can energize even the smallest space.

Scale provides another way to create interest. To achieve a mosaic feel, look for 1-by-1-foot tiles prepped on larger 12-by-12-foot sheets. Sometimes these sheets include a pre-defined pattern that can help simplify installation.

textures adding movement and a relaxing and warm environment. interest with easy care. For example, Find more trendy tips for home using a variety of gray hues can create design at NARI.org.

With over 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!

PICK ALTERNATE PATTERNS

Tile options are available in many varieties, so it can be difficult to know where to start. Subway tile, a classic standby, can be invigorated by arranging the rectangular 3-by-6-inch shapes in patterns like herringbone or basket weave. This versatile tile can be used in both traditional kitchens and bathrooms as well as transitional or more contemporary spaces.

Many manufacturers now include textured tile, featuring patterns that carry the look of wood grain; tiles are also available in three-dimensional

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Getting down with

Greek key

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At Home

Style may be thousands of years old, but it’s still in vogue

BY ELIZABETH MAYHEW

SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON POST

On a recent trip to London, I spent a morning wandering the antiquity galleries of the British Museum and was reminded — as I always am — that so many patterns and designs we use today are actually as old as time.

Perhaps there is no motif this is truer of than the Greek key, which is even older than its name suggests.

Variations of the design are found on Egyptian tombs, ancient Chinese buildings and sculptures, and Mayan car vings. Still, we most closely associate the linear geometric pattern with the Greeks and their mosaic floors, red and black pots, and master fully car ved marble friezes.

Greek key, also referred to as meander, is in its most basic form a linear pattern. The design is made up of a long, continuous line that repeatedly folds back on itself, mimicking the ancient Maeander River of Asia Minor with its many twists and turns. Homer mentions the river in “The Iliad,” and it is believed that the meander motif symbolizes infinity or the eternal flow of things. (In fact, the word “meander” is derived from the 250-mile-long snaking Maeander, known today as the Menderes, which flows through southwestern Turkey.) What is most astonishing about the meander motif is that it is found in the architecture, sculpture and decorative ar ts of many early civilizations — civilizations that could not possibly have known or seen one another’s ar tifacts.

It seems that those cultures, independent of one another, created their own version of the motif.

But it’s the Greeks who used the motif with abandon, hence the reason we most commonly refer to it as the Greek key.

The Romans then copied it,

Left and above: Ballard Designs. Top: David Nix

and by the 18th centur y, all of Europe had adapted it into their design vocabular y. For our own histor y, the motif has been celebrated in many design periods, including Empire and Hollywood Regency.

Greek key strikes the right balance of decorative and simple, ancient and modern,

masculine and feminine — all at the same time. For this reason, it has always been one of my go-to decorative elements: I own sheets with Greek key embroider y, upholster y edged in Greek key trim, a pair of Gustavian chairs with car ved Greek key details, and a slew of plates

and platters rimmed in the Greek key pattern. (I search eBay monthly for “Greek key transfer ware.”) But as with any design element, too much is too much. So I tr y limiting my use of it to one item per room. I use it as I do any other geometric pattern; it works par ticularly well when juxtaposed with more organic or flower y design.

One of the greatest benefits of Greek key is that it adds architectural interest to a room where there isn’t any.

Edge simple cur tains with a Greek key trim, and it’s as though you’ve magically added architectural moldings to your windows. Put down a large-scale Greek key rug, and you instantly have a strong, geometric shape that anchors the room and optically makes it look bigger.

Using the pattern on walls can have the same ef fect.

San Francisco-based Briana Nix used the Phillip Jef fries wallpaper “It’s Greek to Me” in a powder room she designed, giving the room serious architectural interest and graphic punch. She said she felt the black-and-white Greek key was more unexpected than its “overplayed” cousin, chevron.

You can find items with just about any scale of Greek key.

The key can be blown up to a single large bracket so that the design takes on a super graphic quality, or the motif can be miniaturized and densely repeated so that the keys are less noticeable.

When it comes to color, there are no rules. You can find Greek key items from trim to tile in ever y color. And one thing to note: The Greeks themselves used color freely; all those white temples were actually heavily decorated with color and gilding. So take it from the Greeks — their color and their key.

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TOP TRENDS

TO INSPIRE YOUR OUTDOOR LIVING

BY BRANDPOINT

Outdoor living spaces rank first among special function rooms desired by consumers, according to the American Institute for Architects, and so homeowners are expected to be going all-in for the outdoors in 2018.

Trex Company, a maker of premium decking and railing, has gleaned insights from contractors, homeowners and industry experts to compile the following outdoor living trends that will dominate this year.

YEAR-ROUND ENJOYMENT

Among the biggest trends is a shift away from seasonality as consumers adopt more of a year-round mindset, no longer restricting outdoor living to spring and summer. Thanks to new high-performance materials and innovative design approaches, homeowners everywhere are transforming their outdoor spaces into multi-seasonal extensions of their homes. For example, Trex contractors have reported an uptick in requests for its RainEscape deck drainage system by clients looking to add multi-seasonal living space underneath an elevated deck.

MINIMAL MAINTENANCE, MAXIMUM ENJOYMENT

Just because people are spending more time outdoors doesn’t mean they’re willing to put in extra hours for upkeep. In fact, high-maintenance materials like wood are seeing a decrease in demand as people are opting for offerings that

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deliver better performance and sustainability.

Unlike wood, high-performance composites resist fading, staining, scratching and mold — and won’t rot, warp, crack or splinter. No sanding, staining or painting is required, and food and drink spills wash off easily with just soap and water.

COMFY COZY

Among the hottest design influences right now is “hygge” — the Scandinavian term for a feeling of coziness and comfort. This year, outdoor spaces will beckon homeowners and their guests to relax and rejuvenate with hygge-inspired accents, from plush cushions and throws to protective pergolas, cozy warming features and outdoor lighting.

RESIDENTIAL GOES COMMERCIAL

While railing matched to the decking remains popular, an increasing number of homeowners are taking advantage of the complementary decking and railing pairings afforded by new railing materials in modern, metal finishes, as well as sleek designs inspired by commercial architecture. More homeowners are inspired by outdoor spaces they find in commercial settings, such as hotels and urban rooftops, and want to replicate those looks in their homes. A prime example of this commercial-to-residential trend is the growing popularity of horizontal railings such as rod rail — a sleek, industrial look that’s ideal for

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optimizing a panoramic view.

HIDE AND CHIC

With the increased usage of outdoor living spaces comes higher demand for chic decor and privacy. An easy design trick that adds personal style and functionality, lattice panels are perfect for enhancing privacy and concealing storage areas or unsightly views. With styles ranging from romantic to deco, lattice panels can be integrated into any outdoor area and applied to structures such as arbors, trellises and gazebos, or used as decorative wainscoting or deck skirting.

FUN AND GAMES

Kids are not the only ones who enjoy playing outside. Outdoor play spaces for all ages are on the rise, including everything from swimming pools and embedded sandboxes to regulation cornhole courts, horseshoe pits and dedicated spaces for volleyball, badminton and bocce ball.

Beyond yard games, electronics manufacturers now offer televisions and entertainment systems specifically designed for the outdoors, taking into consideration differences in lighting and outdoor acoustics. Meanwhile, new storage options include durable wall-mounted television and entertainment centers that beautifully protect pricey electronics from the elements, while concealing all of the unsightly — and potentially unsafe — cords and cables.

For more information about outdoor living trends, go to www.trex.com.

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Learn the basics of composting

BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

on your property: When looking for a spot on your property for your The United States Environmental compost bin, choose a location Protection Agency notes that food that’s easily accessible. The less scraps and yard waste account accessible the bin is, the less likely for between 20 and 30 percent of you are to stick with composting what we throw away. But thanks to over the long-term. The EPA also composting, such waste can be put to recommends placing a compost bin work rather than discarded. or pile in a dry, shady spot near a Compost is organic material water source. that helps plants grow when added • Add the appropriate to soil. Benefitting the planet in materials: Animal waste, cooked myriad ways, compost enriches the foods, diseased plants, and fresh soil by helping it retain moisture. weeds from perennial plants should The EPA notes that composting not be added to a compost pile. also reduces the need for chemical The EPA recommends moistening fertilizers while also suppressing dry materials as they’re added and plant diseases and pests. In addition, adding brown and green materials when homeowners compost, they as they are collected. Examples of inadvertently reduce methane green waste include grass clippings, emissions from landfills, thereby weeds from annual plants and plant lowering their carbon footprints. trimmings. Brown materials include Homeowners who do not yet dead leaves and shredded cardboard. know how to compost can consider Chop or shred large pieces before the following tips as they start adding them to the pile. compost piles on their properties.

• Give the pile structure: • Choose an accessible spot Layering materials can give compost

piles better structure. The EPA suggests burying fruit and vegetable waste under 10 inches of compost material, including brown and green waste.

• Turn and aerate the pile: Using a garden fork, periodically turn the compost pile. This aerates the heap and provides oxygen that can accelerate the decomposition of the pile. Piles that are not periodically turned and aerated may grow malodorous, which can be unpleasant for homeowners who hope to add materials to their piles on a regular basis. In addition, without the heat produced by aeration, composting piles will break down very slowly.

• Recognize when the material is ready: The EPA notes that compost is ready to use when materials at the bottom of a pile are dark and rich in color. According to the EPA, this can take anywhere from two months to two years, so composters must be patient.

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