5-6-17 At Home

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High-tech bathroom Upgrades to give your bathroom over-the-top luxury

Patio Relaxing

Big ideas for small spaces

A special publication of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer

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Saturday, May 6, 2017 Messenger-Inquirer

Table of Contents MYTH BUSTED

LETTER from the

EDITOR The best part of springtime is the sunshine and the opportunity to be outside more. To me, yard work doesn’t seem so bad when you’re outside with the sun hitting your face and working with your hands.

Some days I think I would rather mow yards all day, than sit behind a computer. But then I remember I love my job and telling other people’s stories.

If you are a homeowner working on a renovation project or know someone who is, please contact me at mrichardson@messengerinquirer.com or 270-691-7233, I would love to tell their story.

In this week’s edition of At Home, you will find tips on how make your bathroom more high tech, tips on buying a new tv and learn about the common myths about raising backyard poultry.

— Meghann Richardson Special Publications Editor

The truth behind raising poultry in your backyard pages 4-5

BATHROOM UPGRADES

Give your shower a luxurious feel pages 5-6

TAP INTO TECHNOLOGY Simplify your decisions when buying a new TV page 8

BIG-IMPACT ideas for those small patio spaces of yours

BY BPT

Do you have a small patio? Do you think you can’t do much with the space due to its size? There’s probably a lot more potential than you think.

From the influx of urban dwellers, empty-nesters in transition and even the tiny-home movement, the trend of downsizing continues across the United States. Contrary to popular belief, you can have an impressive patio even if you have a smaller abode.

Here are a few design ideas to help bring your limited patio area to life while maximizing the space:

RUGS

Hanging plants are a classic option, but vertical wall gardens are a top trend that’s sure to be a conversation starter.

You’ll enjoy plenty of greenery but also open floor space for your furniture, water feature and entertaining to ensure a welcoming area for hosting summer parties.

BUILT-INS

To get the most out of every inch of your petite patio, look for furniture and features that multitask to help save space while maximizing functionality.

An easy solution is to opt for a table that opens to become a cooler for beverages or a bench to hold blankets and other patio extras. Just remember to keep scale in mind so you don’t overwhelm your space with massive furniture.

Add visual interest under foot with a patterned rug. A rug properly placed under a table can break up a smaller floor, giving the illusion of more square footage. Colored rugs are readily MIXING MATERIALS available in a variety of designs. Pick Matching is out for 2017, so forget your favorite striped, chevron or paisley about perfectly paired combos and variety and see what a difference it explore a variety of decor. A great way makes. to try this trend is to add visual interest by experimenting with different WATER FEATURES materials. Inject your own personality The natural elegance, gentle gurgle through various finishes. One example: and sparkle of a flowing water feature consider setting black resin pots next can add a sense of peacefulness to a handwoven wicker for an eclectic to any patio. For smaller spaces, blend of textures. easily turn a decorative waterproof container or planter into a beckoning VIBRANT COLORS water feature by simply adding Don’t make the mistake of thinking water and a smartpond Low Water a small space must have muted Shut-off Fountain Pump. This smart colors. Vibrant hues inject energy pump automatically shuts off if the and style, often making a small patio water becomes too low, preventing feel larger than it is in real life. From pump burnout. It’s also a great ocean blues to ferocious fuchsia, replacement pump option to revive a an accent pillow here and a throw decorative premade fountain that has blanket there will transform your quit working. Learn more at www. space dramatically. smart-pond.com.

From DIY water features to vertical gardens, a small patio doesn’t have to THINK VERTICAL be short on style or functionality. Let To get the most out of a limited these top trends guide you to create a space, think upward instead of outward. space you’ll enjoy all year long.

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N I K N I H T From fresh egg production to natural garden fertilizer, there is no shortage of benefits in raising backyard poultry. But even as families become more familiar with sustainable living and keeping chickens, several poultry myths still exist.

Here to set the record straight for our feathered friends is poultry expert Lisa Steele, creator of the renowned Fresh Eggs Daily brand and author of three top-selling books on the subject.

Steele is also a consultant with Tractor Supply Company, the rural lifestyle retailer now celebrating Chick Days with live chicks and ducklings at its stores nationwide.

Here are Steele’s eight most common myths surrounding backyard flocks:

P O O C E H T E D I S G OUT

CHICKENS ARE DIFFICULT TO TAKE CARE OF

“There is, of course, a certain level of responsibility required to properly care for any living animal. However, when it comes to backyard poultry, the time commitment is fairly minimal — maybe 30 minutes daily,” Steele says.

Here’s what you can expect: In the morning, chickens will need to be let out and fed; waterers will need to be filled. At some point, eggs will need to be collected. Then, around dusk, after the chickens have wandered back to the coop, the door needs to be locked to protect from predators.

MYTH ONE

BY BPT

8 common myths about raising backyard poultry CHICKENS (AND COOPS) SMELL

“Chickens themselves don’t smell, nor does a wellmaintained coop,” Steele says.

“On average, a chicken produces about 1.5 ounces of manure a day, which is far less than the average dog — not to mention, when composted, it makes wonderful nitrogen-rich fertilizer for a garden.”

MYTH TWO

CHICKENS ARE NOISY

“Despite what you may have heard, chickens are pretty quiet. In fact, a clucking chicken tends to be on par with normal human conversation (60-65 decibels).

In other words, it’s a lot quieter than your neighbor’s barking dog, lawn mower or car alarm,” Steele says.

Roosters are a different story, and some areas prohibit them for that very reason. Be sure to check your local ordinances about keeping backyard poultry!

MYTH THREE

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YOU NEED A ROOSTER TO GET EGGS

Chickens will lay eggs regardless of whether or not there is a rooster in the flock. A male chicken is only needed to fertilize an egg, meaning eggs laid by hens in a rooster-less flock can never hatch into baby chicks.

And while there are some benefits to having roosters, they aren’t necessary for your hen to produce a basket of delicious, fresh eggs.

MYTH FOUR

A CHICKEN LAYS AN EGG EVERY DAY

Fresh eggs to eat and share with friends are one of the best benefits of raising poultry, but Steele says not to expect your hen to lay an egg every day. “The average chicken will produce four to five eggs a week, but that will vary depending on the chicken’s age, breed, health and environment. Shorter days, extreme temperatures, molting (growing in new feathers) and other stressors, such as the presence of predators, can all affect egg production,” Steele says.

MYTH FIVE

BROWN EGGS ARE MORE NUTRITIOUS THAN WHITE EGGS

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CHICKENS ATTRACT RODENTS AND PREDATORS

“The nutrient content of an egg is based largely on a hen’s diet, not the color of its egg, which is determined solely by the chicken’s breed,” Steele says. According to a study conducted by Mother Earth News magazine, a free-roaming chicken that consumes grass and bugs will lay eggs with less cholesterol and saturated fat and more Vitamin A and E, beta-carotene and Omega-3s than a chicken fed purely commercial corn/grain-based foods.

“Wild predators are not any more attracted to chickens than they are to wild birds, rabbits, squirrels and other small animals,” Steele says. “The truth is, predators are likely already living in your midst. The key to keeping them at bay is to keep your chickens safe in an enclosed pen or run area. Chicken feed should also betaken up at night and stored in predator-proof containers to reduce the possibility of flies and mice.”

Now through April, Tractor Supply features Chick Days, where at nearly every location you can see and select live chicks and ducklings. When it comes to raising backyard poultry, Tractor Supply is a onestop shop with coops, equipment, feed and the expert advice you need to successfully raise chicks into an egg-laying flock.

MYTH SIX

MYTH EIGHT

CHICKENS CARRY DISEASE

“Chickens don’t carry any more risk of disease than a dog or cat. In fact, they love to eat ticks and other pesky critters known to transmit diseases like Lyme disease, tapeworm and heartworm,” Steele explains. “While salmonella can be transmitted to humans through poultry dander and feces, simply washing hands after handling the chickens keeps the risk of infection minimal.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also cautions against live poultry inside the home and against letting children younger than 5 years old handle poultry.

MYTH SEVEN

ONLINE

For more expert information on safe handling and care for poultry, starting a chicken coop and more, visit TractorSupply.com/Chicks.

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High-tech upgrades to give your bathroom

BY BPT

Americans love luxury and technology, so it’s no surprise that the two are meeting and thriving in one of our favorite places — the bathroom.

Just as technology is transforming every other area of the house, inside and out, it’s recreating our concept of what constitutes a luxurious bathroom.

The 2016 Houzz Bathroom Trends study found many homeowners renovating their bathrooms are incorporating technology into their plans. From smart mirrors and medicine cabinets to showerheads with Bluetooth connectivity and self-cleaning toilets, technology’s time has arrived in the American bathroom.

If you’ll be designing or renovating a bathroom this year, here are four must-have technology items to incorporate into your plans:

THE MEDICINE CABINET OF TOMORROW

Hidden speakers, high-efficiency task lighting with capacitive-touch dimming, integrated USB charging ports — clearly, this is not your parent’s medicine cabinet! The modern medicine cabinet does far more than serve as a repository for aspirin and toothpaste.

Acknowledging that today’s homeowners multitask constantly, even in front of the bathroom mirror, Robern’s AiO collection of medicine cabinets also includes magnetic storage strips, accessory trays, adjustable shelving, a magnification mirror and integrated electrical outlets.

The embedded, invisible speakers turn the entire mirror into an audio system that’s compatible with most USB-enabled music-playing devices.

Robern, an independently operated subsidiary of bathroom fixtures giant Kohler, has been making innovative bathroom fixtures for nearly 50 years. The AiO line is also fully customizable, and buyers can choose the size and shape that fits their design needs. Visit www.robern.com to learn more.

FANCY, USER-FRIENDLY FAUCETS

Remember the days when touchless

faucets were the wave of the future?

Modern bathroom faucets go far beyond the mere ability to turn them on or off without touching them. Faucets now marry high-tech functionality with leading-edge design to create a visual focal point for your bathroom vanity.

A variety of manufacturers offer a staggering array of features, including: • Built-in face recognition that automatically adjusts water temperature and pressure to the settings of the recognized user.

• Internet connectivity and a display screen so you can see emails, your calendar and the weather report while you’re brushing your teeth.

• Patterned or shaped spray produced by special mechanisms within the faucet that create swirls in the water discharge or shape it into a thin sheet of water.

• The ability to track water consumption while adjusting the temperature and flow to maximize efficiency.

SMARTER TOILETS

Seventy percent of the homeowners surveyed by Houzz said they had upgraded their toilets as part of their bathroom renovations. Today’s toilets are far more than just a place to take care of business. From super high-efficiency models that flush with amazingly small amounts of water to self-cleaning bowls and motion-activated lids and seats, the toilet has gone high-tech.

You can find features that range from practical to decadent, including: • Heated seats and bidet functions • Dryers and deodorizers • Built-in music players • Illumination for nighttime bathroom visits • Remote controls for opening and closing the lid and seat • Hands-free flushing • Automatic self-cleaning

MODERN MIRRORS

From built-in TVs to task lighting and integrated USB ports, mirrors, like other bathroom fixtures, are now

incorporating a variety of high-tech features.

Robern’s AiO wall mirror collection offers numerous features, including the ability to wirelessly turn the entire mirror into a speaker. The mirror can communicate with any Bluetoothenabled smartphone to stream your favorite music or news program into the bathroom.

Quality light is essential for everyone’s bathroom routine, and the AiO wall mirrors allow users to customize light output for their needs.

A capacitive-touch dimming switch controls the LED lights in the mirror, and LUM Lighting produces light in the 4000-4500 Kelvin range to provide brighter, fresher light that imparts neutral illumination to skin tones.

Whether you’re renovating an old bathroom you just can’t stand anymore or building a new home with the bathroom of your dreams, high-tech features can add enjoyment and usability to one of the most popular rooms in the house.

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TAP into TECHNOLOGY

Simplify decisions when you buy a new television

The technology of today is vastly different from that which was available as recently as 20 years ago. Perhaps nowhere is that more evident than with regard to televisions. Once heavy and relatively small, televisions are now lightweight and larger than ever. In addition, televisions now come with enough specifications and gadgets to make the average consumer’s head spin when it comes time to purchase a new TV. While the right TV depends on a host of factors, the following are some tips to simplify your next television purchase.

GIVE STRONG CONSIDERATION TO 4K TELEVISIONS

4K televisions have become more affordable in recent months but still come with a slightly higher price tag than the alternatives. However, many consumers feel the extra money is worth it. 4K televisions, often referred to as “ultra HD,” offer substantially more pixels than more the HD TVs of yesteryear. Many 4K TVs come with high dynamic range, or HDR, which produces more intense

colors for viewers.

PAY ATTENTION TO REFRESH RATE

According to the technology and consumer electronics website CNET.com, refresh rate is how often a TV changes the image on screen. LCD and OLED televisions are subject to motion blur, which refers to the blurry look that can develop around objects in motion on your television screen. That blurry look is partially a byproduct of your brain noticing the motion and anticipating where that object is going to be next. Refresh rate can help to combat motion blur, but only if the refresh rate is high enough. CNET notes that TVs with refresh rates no less than 120Hz can be enough to combat motion blur. Any TV with a refresh rate less than 120Hz might still bother viewers affected by motion blur.

important as viewers are increasingly relying on alternatives to cable and satellite companies to provide their content. Rare is the new television that does not come with HDMI ports, but make sure any TV you’re considering has enough ports to support all of the things you hope to do with it when you get it home.

CONSIDER A SOUND SYSTEM OR SOUND BAR

Today’s televisions are thin, lightweight and aesthetically appealing.

But that thinness does affect the sound quality of modern televisions because the speaker drivers must be smaller for the TVs to be so thin. As a result, the sound created by modern televisions is not as robust as the sound produced by the televisions of yesteryear. At the very least, consider a sound bar to improve the sound coming from your television. If LOOK FOR A TV WITH you have some money to spend, a home MULTIPLE HDMI PORTS audio system can dramatically improve HDMI ports enable viewers to plug their devices into their televisions. That’s the sound coming from your TV.

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