6-3-17 At Home

At

HOME

Eclectic kitchen Design ideas for your kitchen renovation

Koi ponds

Benefits of backyard water gardens A special publication of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer

2 At Home

Saturday, June 3, 2017 Messenger-Inquirer

Table of Contents LETTER from the

EDITOR The days keep getting longer, school is out and the official start of summer is only weeks away. Now is the time to get outside and work on your home renovation projects. Mow the yard, prep the patio and break out the drinks for the summer barbecues and parties.

In this edition of At Home, you will learn about the benefits of backyard koi ponds, ways to reduce energy in your home and how to clean your outdoor furniture in preparation for summer parties.

I am 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 me at mrichardson@messengerinquirer.com or 270-691-7233. — Meghann Richardson

Special Publications Editor

OUTDOOR LIVING page 8

ENERGY SMART DESIGN pages 4-5

ON-TREND KITCHENS pages 6-7

Messenger-Inquirer

Saturday, June 3, 2017

At Home

The benefits of backyard koi ponds

3

Koi ponds can make for beautiful additions to landscaped backyards or home gardens.

While many people are drawn to koi ponds because of their aesthetic appeal, there are many additional reasons for homeowners to consider installing koi ponds in their backyards.

Ponds and water gardens can transform yards rather quickly. Ponds can add appeal to other wise mundane yards and provide eye-catching, relaxing spots to sit and enjoy the scener y.

Koi ponds have recently fallen into favor with homeowners in North America, but these popular water features date back several centuries to Asia. Centuries ago, Chinese rice farmers began keeping carp in their rice paddies, and that practice eventually caught on in Japan. The fish started to breed and form slight color variations. Koi, often referred to as “Nishikigoi,” are actually descendants of the common carp, though the koi of today are more brightly hued and ornamental fish than carp.

Koi can become a low-maintenance family pet. These fish tend to grow accustomed to having people around, and will often interact with visitors at the surface of the water. It’s not unusual to have koi beg for food or take food from a person’s hand. They also may tolerate some light handling.

Another benefit of koi ponds is that they create a miniature ecosystem within the yard. When stocked with aquatic plants and other fish that can help keep mosquito lar vae and other parasites at bay, they can sustain themselves quite nicely. Ponds also can attract birds and beneficial insects, such as butterflies and dragonflies. By implementing straight vertical walls on the perimeter of the pond and setting up some natural barriers, homeowners can prevent unwanted predators from disturbing their koi ponds.

Koi ponds also provide some psychological benefits. The sound of the water can be soothing and relaxing. Sitting by the pond may help alleviate stress, as unwinding next to a pond and watching the fish swim by can help individuals decompress.

Homeowners who have koi ponds may also benefit socially from these eye-catching additions to their landscapes. Homeowners may connect with others who share their passion for koi and water features. This opens up the opportunity to share the landscape and pond with others, building new friends and relationships in the process.

4 At Home

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Messenger-Inquirer

Messenger-Inquirer

Saturday, June 3, 2017

At Home

5

Reduce energy reliance with home upgrades

BY FAMILY FEATURES

responsible for as much as 20 percent of air infiltration into or out of the home, according to U.S. Department Enhancing your home’s energyof Energy data. Windows are a major efficient features is a savvy way to culprit for these types of leaks. make the space more livable while If a complete window replacement also making a smaller impact on the is out of your budget, there are still environment and your bank account. numerous ways you can improve The U.S. Department of Energy the energy efficiency of existing estimates that the average American windows. The U.S. Department of homeowner spends about $2,000 a Energy estimates that adding storm year on energy for heating, cooling and other power needs throughout the windows can reduce the amount of heat lost through windows by as house. However, inefficiencies caused by poorly operating systems, drafts and much as 25-50 percent. Caulking and other energy drains may account for as adding weather stripping around much as 10-20 percent of wasted money windows can also make a noticeable difference, as can window coverings each year.

Whether your motivation is reducing such as blinds or drapes that minimize the transfer of heat and cold home energy expenses, creating a through window panes. more earth-conscious lifestyle or both, there are numerous ways you can make a significant impact on your DOORS home’s energy efficiency.

Like windows, doors, and especially their perimeters, are a common source WINDOWS of lost energy. Poor insulation due to Faulty seals and cracks are faulty installation or simply wear over

time can contribute to energy loss.

Aside from ensuring a properly installed, insulated and sealed doorway, the door itself can also make a difference when it comes to energy efficiency. For example, foam insulated entry doors offer greater energy conservation than wooden alternatives. Also remember that proper sealing and installation applies to all access points, including garage doors.

that reduces reliance on powered light and ventilation fixtures. In addition, skylights can work in concert with vertical windows to create the “chimney effect� where cool, fresh air enters through vertical windows and warm, stale air escapes from the skylights, cooling your home without using electricity.

HVAC SYSTEM

FIFTH WALL (A.K.A., THE CEILING)

An often overlooked home element, but one homeowners and interior designers are increasingly turning attention to, is the ceiling, affectionately dubbed the “fifth wall.�

Not only does this surface offer a blank slate for introducing new style to a room, it’s also an ideal space to integrate energy-efficient features such as skylights.

Skylights engage all of the senses while providing balanced, natural light

Climate control accounts for as much as half of the average home’s annual energy costs, so while it’s a behind-the-scenes home feature, it’s an important one. An outdated heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, or a system that isn’t big enough or strong enough for your home’s footprint, will draw more energy than necessar y to maintain a desirable temperature.

Regular ser vice can help keep systems operating smoothly, but eventually all HVAC systems need replacing.

Home Equity Line of Credit

2.99 4.25 %

AS LOW AS

*

APR

6 MONTH INTRODUCTORY FIXED RATE

%

*

WITH

0

$

APR

S CLOSING COST

ONGOING VARIABLE RATE

TAMARRA MILLER

1019 Lincoln Ave. t Evansville, IN 812-423-2338 t therugmerchantevansville.com

It’s just easier here.Ž RepublicBank.com

Member FDIC

270-926-0965 tmiller@republicbank.com NMLS ID# 488939 3500 Frederica Street Owensboro, KY 42301

Exclusively at *

 � �  � �  �

­ € ‚ ƒ€ ‚ € „ � …

€ ‚ € ‚

€ � †‚ € � ‡ ˆ ‚ ‰Š‹Œ€ Ž ­ � � ‘ ‘ ’ � �€ � � � �

­ � � € ‹ � ‘ � �“ ” € Ž ‘ � �

”

‘ ‡

€ Ž �

”

‘ •–Š—‰ ‡ � € ” ‰ ‰

€ ‡ � € ‹ ‘

Â?

Â? Â?

­ ˜ ” ™ ‹ ‰ �€ — …

€ Š … ­ ‘ € �€ Š € ˜ ” ™ ‹ ‰ � Š — š› œ ƒ „ „€

6 At Home

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Messenger-Inquirer

Mix up something eclectic

On-trend design ideas for your kitchen renovation

BY FAMILY FEATURES

For most homes, there’s one room that serves as the hub of all activity. From preparing mouthwatering meals to entertaining a house full of guests to grabbing a few minutes to relax with a mug of steaming coffee, the kitchen is the place where it all happens.

That’s why such careful planning is necessary when you set out to redesign this essential living space.

LAYOUT

Arguably the most important decision is the overall layout of the kitchen, defining which appliances will go where and what architectural details — such as windows and doors — need to be integrated into the plans. Determining how many and what kind of cabinets you need can be even more complex, and contemporar y design can help open up plenty of options.

In the past, cabinetry was fairly straightforward.

Lower cabinets were topped with a counter, then a backsplash and a matching set of cabinets above.

These days, design is far less predictable, and introducing variety through the cabinetr y is a savvy designer’s trick to grab attention. The comprehensive product lines from Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. make it easy to mix diverse finishes, door styles and wood species to blend different design techniques while achieving an eclectic but cohesive feel.

For example, you could pair complementar y styles and colors for the upper and lower cabinets, or create some contrast between the perimeter and island to capture an on-trend, eye-catching look that is anything but boring. You can also rely on varying heights and sizes to create more visual variety.

stain option and two paint options, allowing for nearly endless possibilities, especially when you consider integrating a standout color to make a feature like an island countertop really pop.

STORAGE

for kitchen knives so you can free up counter space from a bulky butcher block. A slotted wood knife drawer is the perfect solution to securely hold each of your knives and help prevent dull blades and cut fingers.

If you’re stuck with an awkward space, look for creative ways to make it work for you. For example, a narrow gap could be closed with a unique pull-out cabinet, such as Wellborn Cabinet’s Base Canister Organizer Pullout Cabinet, which holds three small, one medium and three large containers. The quart containers are included with this canister organizer when ordered direct from the company.

Keeping what’s inside your cabinets organized only adds to a newly redesigned kitchen’s enhanced function. One often-overlooked solution is using drawers for pots and pans. The ability to store each pot with its corresponding lid eliminates the jumbled stacks and hard-to-reach pieces common in many kitchens. Extra-deep drawers, paired with drawer GOING GRAY storage options provide sectioned, adjustable options COLOR Gray may be neutral, but today’s designers know depending upon size of pots and pans. Another A more eclectic kitchen style brings plenty of char- option: an adjustable wood board peg system that lets that the subtle hue is anything but dull. Follow these acter on its own, so a color palette that lets the archi- you customize the peg locations to fit your pots and tips to help make the most of this versatile shade. tectural and structural details really shine is more pans just right.

1. Although a sleek and modern design may be the appropriate than bold splashes of vibrant color. That first look you envision with gray, you can also create said, there’s still plenty of room to create visual interwarm, cozy spaces by using materials like wood and FUNCTION est and integrate multiple hues to give the room extra While the exterior of the cabinets is what you (and rich tones such as red, yellow and orange. depth and charm.

2. Avoid overdoing bold accent colors, which can your guests) will appreciate when they first enter the Subtle shades of gray may be just the ticket. Gray room, it’s what lies hidden behind doors that makes a overpower the gray and make a room seem busy. Rely cabinetry has grown in popularity in recent years. In good kitchen truly great. After spending so much time on lighting and white accents, such as countertops fact, more than two-thirds of designers believe gray is creating the perfect look, your kitchen demands the and backsplashes, to add some brightness to the the fastest growing color trend in cabinetry, according right tools and enhancements to make it functional. room.

3. If the idea of going all gray is overwhelming, opt to data from RICKI Research. The Nature Collection The trick is to look for unexpected ways to add practiinstead to do a statement piece in gray, such as an from Wellborn Cabinet is one way to achieve this look. cal performance.

The line of gray paints and stains is available in one For example, a shallow drawer is an ideal location island or other feature element you want to showcase.

Messenger-Inquirer

Saturday, June 3, 2017

At Home

7

8 At Home

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Messenger-Inquirer

How to prepare outdoor furniture for the season

As temperatures rise, people increasingly venture outdoors to soak up the sun, enjoy the mild breezes and entertain under the open sky. Clean and comfortable furniture can make outdoor entertaining that much more enjoyable.

After months in storage or nestled under protective tarps, outdoor furniture likely needs a good cleaning before it’s put to the test once again. Mildew may have formed, insects may be hiding out within cushions or other crevices and dirt may have accumulated — even if the furniture was cleaned before being stored away. Experts recommend cleaning outdoor furniture between three and four times per year to keep it in optimal condition.

Before cleaning, determine the material your furniture is made of, as some cleaning products may not be safe for all materials. When in doubt, read the care tags on cushions and other products or refer back to the original packaging for cleaning instructions. Always test a cleaning solution in an inconspicuous area first.

The following are some additional general furniture cleaning guidelines.

or scratching, try some ingredients that may be lying around the house. For example, use a wet sponge dipped in baking soda as a mild abrasive to clean resin.

Just be sure to thoroughly rinse off the powdery residue afterward.

Automatic dishwasher detergent mixed with a gallon of warm water also may do the trick. The detergent contains a mild bleaching agent that will not cause damage like straight bleach.

GLASS

Dish detergent and general home cleaning solutions work well on glass surfaces. Remember to clean all sides, including bottom-facing areas. After cleaning, use vinegar or a glass cleaning solution and a products geared especially to cleaning wood can be microfiber cloth to produce a streak-free shine. handy. On wicker and painted woods, it may be best OUTDOOR CUSHIONS to dilute the solutions before use. Hardwood furniture and built-in decking structures may benefit from Outdoor fabrics are derived from different materiannual sanding and then reapplication of a protective als. However, this general-purpose recipe, courtesy of finish to maintain the look of the wood for long periods the DIY Network, may help clean many outdoor fabof time. rics. Mix 1 teaspoon dishwashing detergent, 1 quart warm water and 1 tablespoon borax together. Saturate PLASTIC RESIN WOOD a sponge and use it to wash the cushions. Let it sit for Commercial cleansers may be too harsh to use on 15 minutes and then spray it off with a high-force hose.

Wood comes in many varieties, from hard and softwoods to wicker furniture. Mild oil-based soaps and plastic resin furniture. Before risking discoloration Stand the cushions on their edges to dry outdoors.

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