A special publication of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer
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Community Centered Jagoe’s 4200 neighborhood encourages community living
Lush Lawns
Green lawns showcase homes’ properties
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Table of Contents LETTER from the
EDITOR It’s officially summer. With more sunshine and longer days, summertime welcomes all kinds of adventures around the house. From yard work to remodeling, summer is when many people take advantage of the weather and work on their homes. In this issue, you will find details about which countertops are right for your home, instructions for a DIY project and how to maintain a perfectly manicured lawn. This issue also shows off one of the newest communities in Owensboro — Jagoe’s 4200 neighborhood. From property layout to home features, we cover all aspects of 4200. Remember, I am always looking for story ideas to include in this section. Send ideas to mrichardson@ messenger-inquirer.com. Thanks for reading and I hope you continue to improve “at home.” — Meghann Richardson Special Publications Editor
LIGHTBULB GUIDE pages 4-5
COUNTER OPTIONS page 10
COMBAT ANTS page 11
on the cover
Jagoe Homes has been serving the Owensboro and surrounding areas since 1939. Check out the newest 4200 neighborhood | PAGES 6-9
s t u c t Shor to achieving a LUSH LAWN Saturday, July 2, 2016 Messenger-Inquirer
There are one million acres of lawn across the country. Many homeowners aspire to having a lush, green lawn as the showcase of their properties. The front lawn can make a statement and indicate to passersby the property owners’ personalities and design preferences. By employing a few different shortcuts, you can have a healthy, lush lawn without spending all of your free time cutting the grass or pruning the trees.
STOP WEEDS AT THE START
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adequate rain.
MOW WHEN THE LAWN IS DRY
Weeding is one of the most time-consuming parts of maintaining a lawn. Weeds can proliferate throughout the lawn if not addressed in a timely manner. Once weeds take root they can become a nuisance, so it’s best to treat weeds before they even have a chance to sprout. urine-resistant grasses can help cut down on the level of damage to the lawn from your own pet or pets that happen to make potty stops on your property. PLANT A URINE-RESISTANT GRASS Having a dog and maintaining a lush lawn WAKE UP AND WATER has always been a particular conundrum for Watering in the early mornings saves time and homeowners. Dog urine is high in nitrogen. While energy in the long run by fostering a tougher, more nitrogen, when applied in the correct ratio, can be drought-resistant lawn. If you water early in the day, a lawn-growth stimulant, in the large concentration that occurs in pet urine, it causes the grass to dry up less water will be lost to evaporation. Limit watering to a few times per week, and less if you have had and burn, resulting in bare spots. Replanting with
It’s not advisable to mow the lawn when it is wet. Slippery conditions can not only make it more dangerous to push a mower, but also slow down the time it can take to tackle the chore. The mower blades can become clogged and coated with wet grass clippings, necessitating stopping and starting the task. Another thing to consider is lawn diseases spread more readily through wet clippings. Stick to mowing when the lawn is completely dry.
MOW LESS OFTEN
Raise the mower’s blade so that the grass is longer in between cuttings. The taller grass will shade the soil and block weeds from germinating. It also helps improve soil’s moisture retention.
DON’T CUT CORNERS
Adjusting a landscape design to have arches and curves can reduce the time it takes to mow and edge a property. Hard corners in a landscape will require more time to keep straight and pristine. Caring for a lawn can take less time and effort than you think.
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5
understanding new
o t e LIGHTBULB TERMS, d i A gu leds and even more BY MICHELLE LOCKE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Anyone who has stood in confusion in the light-bulb aisle (and that’s most of us) knows that technology and the push to save energy are continuing to flip the script on home lighting options. The good news is the new bulbs are much more efficient than old-school incandescents, and give designers the freedom to move beyond the standard bulb-lamp-fixture configuration. “The new types of light bulbs, LED in particular, let light-fixture designers create all kinds of lighting designs and fixture designs that they could never create before,” says Karman Hotchkiss, executive editor of Decor magazine. “There are a lot of new shapes out there. There are a lot of really artistic interpretations of lighting, things like sparkle and effects that designers couldn’t create with old-fashioned incandescent bulbs.” A primer on the latest in a changing technology:
TERMS
For consumers, the big switch has been letting go of the concept of wattage, which is associated with brightness but actually measures energy use. Today’s bulb brightness is measured in lumens. Old incandescent bulbs needed about 60 watts to produce 800 lumens. Compact fluorescents (CFLs) use around 15 watts to get to the same brightness, and LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs require only about 10 watts to get to 800 lumens. Another major change is use of the color temperature scale based on heat, as measured in Kelvins, not Celsius or Fahrenheit degrees. The
higher the heat, the cooler the color — which makes sense if you’ve ever looked at a flame and seen the blue at the hot center. While we typically don’t think in Kelvins, this is a more precise way to define the relative whiteness of a light source, says Joe Rey-Barreau, a Kentucky architect and lighting designer who serves as an educational consultant to the American Lighting Association. If you see a bulb marked “daylight,” you may be thinking about a warm afternoon light when the manufacturer means the much cooler color of the sky. A point of reference: The warm, orange light of the old incandescents burned at about 2,700K.
LEDs of the early 21st century tended to have a bluish cast, but LEDs now are available in a wide spectrum of colors. Because LEDs use solid-state chip technology, they can be made very small and in various configurations. For instance, there are easily installed under-cabinet strip-lighting options, as well as lights for the kick-toe space near the floor, says Hotchkiss. Tiny LEDs can be embedded into a fixture, such as a lamp itself, instead of the lamp having a holder for the bulb. There are even LEDs that resemble old-fashioned light bulbs
with a visible “filament.” LEDs cost more than conventional bulbs but last longer and use less energy, and prices are dropping, says Rey-Barreau. For now, it’s mostly lighting designers who are experimenting with the more extreme lighting possibilities of LEDs, such as installations that change color. But there are fun options for homeowners, too, Hotchkiss notes. GE, for instance, has a C-Life bulb that is Bluetooth-enabled and can be dimmed or turned off via a phone app.
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PACKAGING
Manufacturers are still printing wattage-equivalent numbers on packaging for reference, and on the back you’ll now find a required “Lighting Facts” information box — modeled after nutritional labels — listing lumens, estimated yearly energy cost, life span, light appearance and energy used. Incandescent bulbs, by the way, haven’t been banned. Manufacturers had to change the gas used inside them and make them more efficient. So, the old 100-watters are available as 72 watts; the 75-watt bulb is 52 watts.
LEDS
The trending technology is the LED. Introduced in the ‘60s, these bulbs used to be low-intensity and limited to red light. But recent developments have allowed for bright LEDs. The
This photo by Kichler Lighting shows a kitchen with linear under cabinet lighting. Kichler Lighting via AP
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Community Centered
new jagoe community welcomes neighbors of marketing at Jagoe Homes, said residents are always invited to take Jagoe Homes is one of the advantage of their unparalleled dominant home builders in community amenities. Owensboro. With the addition of 4200 includes a homeowner’s their new neighborhood, they have association, so there are no added even more people to their list worries when it comes to exterior of homebuyers. The neighborhood, maintenance such as mowing. named 4200, is a charming, Dormeier said this service All-American, neo-traditional gives residents a chance to take neighborhood with an emphasis on a leisurely stroll through the front porch living, creating a strong neighborhood enjoying the pristine, sense of community with your manicured green spaces. Plan neighbors. an afternoon visit at the gazebo, Chip Dormeier, vice president perfect for an afternoon tea or quiet BY MEGHANN RICHARDSON
meditation time, or enjoy an evening walk around the lake with lighted fountain. Your brand new home at 4200 will allow you to bring back a sense of community with your neighbors. The community’s street is named Celebration Circle because Jagoe Homes wants you to celebrate the freedom of your new-found lifestyle. All homes come with stainless steel appliances, plus many other benefits. SEE COMMUNITY/PAGE 8
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COMMUNITY FROM PAGE 6
Home features include: EXTERIOR
• Brick and engineered wood siding • Fully sodded yard and enhanced landscape package. INTERIOR
• 8 ft. Solid core doors on main level and 6/8 solid core doors on second level of home (reduce noise by 25 percent,
feel of a true wood door, higher resistance to fire, more green product). • Deluxe direct-rear vent gas fireplace with marble surround, painted mantel, decorative surround and A/V niche (May vary per plan.) • 9’ Smooth Ceilings throughout the first floor, with many rooms offering special ceiling features. • Custom wood trim LIGHTING
• Exterior step lighting and exterior accent lighting
• Front porch ceiling fans or hanging lanterns • Chandelier in owner’s bath Included • Under cabinet lighting in kitchen ENERGY EFFICIENCY
• Tankless hot water heater, 92 percent plus high efficiency gas home furnace FLOORING
• Hardwood in main living areas (Foyer, great room, kitchen, powder room, dining, etc.) • Ceramic tile in owner’s bath,
secondary bath and laundry room. Some plans offer a second story porch or a wrap-around front porch. This extension of living space allows you to spend your mornings. Dormeier said 4200 is nestled in an ideal location on Owensboro’s east side, away from the hustle and bustle but still convenient to shopping, restaurants, the Greenbelt, golf courses, city parks, the hospital, schools and more. For more information or to set up an appointment to tour a home, call 270-684-0639.
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ABOUT
jagoe
homes Jagoe Homes is a thirdgeneration, Owensboro based builder co-owned by brothers Scott and Bill Jagoe. For more than 70 years Jagoe Homes has been building homes in Evansville and Newburgh, Indiana and in the Kentucky cities of Owensboro, Henderson, Louisville, Bowling Green and beyond. Since its founding in 1939, Jagoe has built more than 6,000 homes. Jagoe Homes offers 14 beautiful residential communities in the Owensboro area. In 2010, Jagoe Homes was named National Builder of the Year by Professional Builder magazine, earning the distinction over 119,000 homebuilders nationwide. For three consecutive years, Jagoe also was awarded the Energy Star Leadership in Housing Award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its contributions to home construction that help reduce energy usage and the emission of greenhouse gases. New Jagoe homes are up to 60 percent more energy efficient than existing homes. In addition, Jagoe was honored with the Builder Partnerships Achievement Award at the International Builders Show in Orlando in 2011 by earning higher than a 93 percent score in customer “willing to refer� rates.
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d n u o COUNTERTOP OPTIONS ab
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Granite is naturally porous, so if it is not sealed properly, it can harbor bacteria. Some granite countertops must be sealed annually, while some pretreated countertops can go as long as 15 years without a need for resealing. Unlike other countertop surface materials, granite, which is among the most expensive countertop materials, does not come in a vast array of colors, so homeowners should expect to choose from just 20 or so color options. Fiorella said the natural beauty and durability of granite make it so appealing. Every slab is unique because it is “made by nature,” according to Fiorella.
BY LEXINGTON SOUERS
Many things in a kitchen contribute to giving this popular room its personality. Appliances and choice of cabinets go a long way toward crafting that look, but perhaps nothing defines a kitchen more than a homeowner’s choice of countertops. Paula Fiorella, sales manager at Phil’s Custom Countertops said updating a countertop is an affordable way to update a home. “If you have a very outdated countertop, it dates your kitchen,” she said. Countertops are where the action takes place in a kitchen. It’s where meals are prepared and where hungry houseguests or curious kids watch the family chef whip up the night’s meal. The options with regard to countertop surfaces are numerous, and the following are just a few of the more popular options homeowners planning to replace their existing surfaces might want to consider.
RECYCLED GLASS
LAMINATE
Laminate countertops are popular and affordable. Made of sheeting glued to plywood or particleboard substrate, laminate countertops are water-resistant but not very heat-resistant, so homeowners will want to place any hots pans, pots or baking sheets on trivets to maintain the laminate. Many homeowners prefer laminate countertops because they are available in so many colors, meaning they can match any homeowner’s preferences, no matter how colorful those preferences are. Cutting on laminate countertops is not recommended, but such surfaces are easy to clean and maintain. Fiorella said while laminate is not as durable as other countertops, it is a more affordable option.
QUARTZ
Quartz is among the most durable countertop surfaces available, as it is resistant to bacteria, heat, stains, and water. Fiorella said because quartz is man-made, there is a more uniform look. Though quartz is not available in as many shades as laminate, it
is similarly easy to clean. Also like laminate countertops, quartz surfaces tend to have easily visible seams, which may irk homeowners who find such minor imperfections an eyesore. Quartz countertops can be expensive depending on the amount of surface area a kitchen has, so budget-conscious homeowners with especially large kitchens may find quartz countertops bust their budgets.
GRANITE
The natural beauty of granite is what draws many homeowners to install this popular surface material in their kitchens. Thanks to their unique shading and tone, granite countertops are never the same from one home to the next, and granite complements many different cabinet colors. Granite also is resistant to heat, scarring and, when sealed properly, stains.
Homeowners who want to give their kitchens a modern and eco-friendly feel may want to consider recycled glass countertops. Recycled glass countertops, the majority of which are now produced with 80 to 90 percent post-consumer glass, are made of pieces of glass that are held together with cement binders. Some might be concerned that countertops made of recycled glass are not very strong, but the cement binders are very hard, making the countertops durable, strong and unlikely to chip or crack. Recycled glass countertops come in various colors and are resistant to both heat and stains. Installation of recycled glass countertops can be tricky, as improper installation can lead to stress points that make the glass susceptible to cracking. As a result, the installation of recycled glass countertops is best left to professionals with experience on such projects. Recycled glass countertops can be quite expensive as well. A homeowner’s choice of countertop surface material can go a long way toward defining the personality of his or her kitchen, so homeowners should consider their options before making a final decision. According to Fiorella, adding a new countertop is a great way to change a kitchen that is “no longer in style,” at a more affordable price than it would take to update an entire kitchen.
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o t w Ho ANT INFESTATIONS combat and control
Few things elicit the ire of homeowners more quickly than insect infestations inside a home. Though many types of insects can find their way into a home, ants tend to be especially skilled at such invasions, causing many a headache among homeowners hoping to send their uninvited houseguests packing once and for all. At Action Pest Control, Keith Smith, said the most common ant is the odorous house ant. Smith said they are called the odorous house ant because when crushed it often smells like coconuts. Ants are attracted to food, water and shelter, making kitchens, bathrooms and laundr y rooms ideal havens for these unwelcome critters to congregate. Such infestations can frustrate homeowners and make them uncomfortable in their own homes, but curtailing an ant infestation need not be so difficult. According to Smith “eliminating the food source,” is one of the easiest ways to avoid an ant infestation.
IDENTIFY THE POINT OF ENTRY
Upon discovering an ant infestation, homeowners should conduct a thorough inspection of their homes to identify where the ants are entering the home. Ants are tiny and capable of crawling through the smallest of cracks or gaps, so ever y home is vulnerable to an ant infestation. Once you discover an ant inside your home, follow the ant rather than killing it, as foraging ants are typically sent from a colony located outside the home in search of moisture and food to bring back. Smith suggested keeping bushes outside the home trimmed and sealing windows and doors appropriately.
SET THE BAIT
Once you have identified the point of entr y, you can then set some indoor ant bait. Employing borax, a natural mineral found in many
common household products such as hand soaps and toothpastes, as their active ingredient, TERRO® Indoor Liquid Ant Baits use ants’ anatomy against them to curtail infestations. Adult worker ants cannot digest solid food, which they must bring back to the colony for additional processing. Liquid ant baits exploit this physiology by making it easy for ants to transport the liquid bait back to the rest of the colony, where more ants will ultimately succumb to the bait. In addition, as the worker ant carries the bait back to the colony, it’s also dropping a pheromone trail from the bait to the nest, ensuring that other ants will know where to find the bait, which they will hungrily seek out, making it easy for homeowners to eradicate the entire colony of ants. Smith said the homeowners tolerance and how many ants one can see affect how the infestation is treated.
EXPECT TO SEE MORE ANTS AFTER SETTING THE BAIT
Baiting ants requires some patience on the part of homeowners, who should expect to see more ants appear in the hours after initially laying down the baits. That’s because the bait is intentionally attempting to draw ants out and attract as many of them as possible, so the more ants you see in the first couple of days after laying the bait, the more effective that bait will be at eradicating the colony. Especially large ant colonies may take up to 10 days to curtail, but smaller infestations can usually be controlled within 24 to 48 hours. Smith said some infestations can be cleared in a week, but other established colonies can take several months to clear.
ADDRESS THE OUTDOORS AS WELL
Nearly all ant infestations can be traced to a colony beneath the ground outside a home. Though ants prefer to invade the interior
of a home where they can find food, water and shelter, that does not mean your home’s exterior is immune to such infestations, which can typically be found by searching for foraging trails that look like a line of traffic filled with ants. That line often leads directly into a home via windows, doors, exhaust vents, faucets, sliding glass doors, and along gutters and exterior walls. Smith suggests calling in professionals if over the counter pesticides and basic housekeeping don’t clear up the infestation. Outdoor Liquid Ant Bait Stakes provide an effective and long-term solution to control outdoor ant colonies. Just like the indoor baits, these stakes employ a specially formulated liquid ant bait solution that attracts and kills all common household ants, including Argentine ghost ants, little black, acrobat, and pavement ants, among others. The Liquid Ant Bait Stakes have a snap off bait activation system that keeps the bait fresh until ready to use, while a see-through window makes it easy for homeowners to monitor the liquid ant bait so they know when it’s time to replace the stake. Simply place the stake along ant trails or any areas outside the home where ants have been obser ved.
MAINTAIN AN ENVIRONMENT INSIDE THE HOME THAT’S UNINVITING TO ANTS
Once baits have been set and ant colonies have been curtailed, homeowners can take steps to make their homes less inviting to ants in the future. Clean kitchens regularly, quickly cleaning up spills or crumbs, and use an exhaust fan in bathrooms and laundr y rooms to cut down on the type of moisture that may prove attractive to thirsty ants.
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Create a fresh
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APPLIANCES•BEDDING•FURNITURE•ACCESSORIES
When you grow bored with your furnishings or want to change up the look and feel of a room, you may find yourself trying to put off redecorating until you have a bigger budget. Instead, you can give the furniture you already have a unique, fresh look at a fraction of the cost. Projects from the crafting experts at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores show how easy it can be to transform a tired old desk or a basic dining chair into one-of-a-kind pieces that complement your space perfectly. Find more ideas for crafty ways to update your furnishings at joann.com.
Sitting Pretty Painted Chair SUPPLIES AND TOOLS:
Remove old upholstery from chair. Reserve it to use as a pattern for cutting white cotton canvas to cover seat and painted fabric. back of chair Spray paint chair base; allow to dry. masking tape in a variety of widths Tulip Soft Fabric Paint in Ebony, Cut out painted canvas to fit chair Crimson Red, Royal Blue and backing and base. Apply tacky spray to Sunshine Yellow chair base and position painted fabric foil or foam plate for palette over base. This will help to hold new paintbrushes fabric in place while gluing and stapling spray paint in coordinating color scissors edges. Repeat for chair back. tacky spray Use tacky glue around the edges tacky glue of fabric to secure it to chair base staple gun and staples and back. Use staple gun to secure craft knife fabric edges on the base and back for black trim fabric additional security. Trim excess fabric iron-on crystals in clear Tulip Cordless Heat Setting Tool around edges with craft knife. Cover edges of fabric and staples with black Lay canvas flat on work surface. trim, secured with tacky glue. Allow Randomly place a variety of tape strips glue to dry completely. on canvas, intersecting strips to create Cut out heart shape from scrap of abstract lines and shapes. Fill in open areas between tape strips painted canvas. Cover heart with clear crystals and use heat-setting tool to set with fabric colors, using one dominant crystals in place, following instructions shade for majority of sections, with on packaging. Use tacky glue to secure other colors as occasional accents. Remove tape and allow fabric to dry. crystal heart to chair back. Allow to dry.