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Fall Home & Garden

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2013

2 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

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The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

Home & Garden - 3

Today’s Scarecrow Is More Decorative, Fun Than Functional BY KENDRA BOBOWICK

At a glance, a man appeared to be perched above the cornfield. On second glance: he was just old clothes. Today’s scarecrow — used more for decoration, is no longer considered a deterrent to keep the garden safe. “Scarecrows are fun, but if you are serious about saving your garden, you need a fence, a dog, or both,” said Garden Club of Newtown Co-president Holly Kocet, naming just a few of the examples employed to keep crops safe. She recently spoke to a few club members about “using scarecrowlike tactics to deter animals and birds,” she said. “One member uses a bobbing owl [and] doesn’t know how effective it is, but ‘he is cute.’” Another club member hangs compact discs that reflect light “with the hope of repelling unwanted guests.” Club members have put up a scarecrow over the rows they tend at The Victory Garden, a volunteerbased community garden located in Fairfield Hills and founded by resident Harvey Pessin; all produce is donated to local food pantries. Agreeing that the old stuffed jeans and a shirt topped with a hat are more decorative now, Diana Paproski of Castle Hill Farm says while her family has never used a scarecrow to protect their fields, they did buy one to place in the corn maze one year. Castle Hill Farm often opens the farm and corn maze to guests in the fall. Although she is considering opening a scarecrowmaking contest, this year, it’s more for the fun. “Maybe we have a weekend of building a scarecrow,” she said. For scaring away crows or other critters that could compromise healthy crops, Ms Paproski said, “We use aluminum pans. They make noise and they are shiny.” She has also seen Mylar balloons in the garden. The “quick movement and the shine scares” unwanted pests. With dogs running free on the farm property, she said, “The border collie has been pretty useful for us.” Farm animals also have a hard time understanding the strange, shiny balloons. “A few weeks ago our cows were looking at something and inquisitive.” Ms Paproski went to see what had caught the cows’ attention. “Balloons had landed in the field,” she said. Brid Craddock of Brid Craddock Landscape Design, recommends Mylar silver ribbon.

“The light plays on it, it’s hard for birds to detect if it’s moving or how big it is,” she said. Acting just like Mylar, she said, “Old CDs strung on a line will flash in the wind.” The scarecrow might have served to keep out the deer, but “deer are savvy now; they know when they can go into our gardens.” She said, “Deer get used to anything, including most of our sprays — it may not taste good, but they still eat it.” Critters often overcome a gardener’s efforts. Ms Craddock added, “I know someone who put a motion detector on a sprinkler but soon the deer realized it was only water.” While birds don’t do much damage other than to berries, regarding rabbits, she said, “good luck.” For those fuzzy interlopers she suggests “a sharing theory.” Ms Craddock said, “Plant a row for the rabbits and let them eat that.” People have used decoys like fake snakes, but eventually, “They realize it’s not real.” Nature adapts, she said. Some gardeners tell her that, “They took everything they were composting and would throw in a particular place outside the fenced [vegetable] garden.” This particular client’s problem was a woodchuck, which would eat the compost “without trying to get into the fenced area,” she said. But the best cure for a woodchuck is a Jack Russell terrier, she said. This year, Ms Craddock is borrowing an idea she found in Florida, hoping it will protect some of her plants. “We were at a restaurant in Florida and they rolled a spider’s web of heavy fishing line over tables and the seagulls could not figure out how to get in. I am doing that over the blueberries this year.” She said the “web” was not tightly knit, but enough to confuse seagulls. Years ago when the local farmers market, now The Farmers Market at Fairfield Hills, first began, resident Mary Fellows took out her “old iron scarecrow, a cut sheet of metal” that was a silhouette and Halloween decoration. Although she did not use him to scare away birds, she used him to advertise the original farmers market, she said. “It’s decorative,” she said. Does it scare the birds away? “I don’t think so.”

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4 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

From simple to fancy, the addition of decorative skylights brings the added energy saving bonus of providing passive solar heat on cold sunny days from autumn to early spring.

Let The Sun In And Benefit From Passive Energy Savings With Skylights rooms with many windows and no more than 15 percent of the room’s total floor area for spaces with few windows. Homeowners should also consider a skylight’s position to maximize daylighting and/or passive solar heating potential. Those on east-facing roofs provide maximum light and solar heat gain in the morning, while west-facing skylights provide afternoon sunlight and heat gain, the agency says. South-facing skylights provide the greatest potential for desirable winter passive solar heat gain than any other location, but often allow unwanted heat gain in the summer. But you can prevent unwanted solar heat gain by installing the skylight in the shade of leafshedding trees or adding a movable window covering on the inside or outside. Without this seasonal natural cover, skylights can result in unwanted seasonal heat gain or loss. So manufacturers offer heatabsorbing tints, insulated glazing and lowemissivity (low-e) coatings, or install a translucent insulation material between several glazing layers to create a more thermally efficient assembly.

BY JOHN VOKET

Even if your home has a lot of windows, you can let even more of that sunshine in, and benefit from more passive solar heating, by adding a skylight or two to your home. The US Department of Energy says recent developments in skylight design use innovative elements like sun-tracking, open-sided cylinders, large lens-like elements or mirrored reflectors mounted adjacent to a conventional skylight to provide daylighting without daytime heat gain or nighttime heat loss. Such a skylight may connect to a mirrored pipe or “light pipe” with a diffusing lens that mounts on or is recessed into the ceiling of the room below. Most tubular skylights have this feature, although these designs do not provide views or ventilation. Ventilating skylights usually open outward at the bottom, and some units vent through a small, hinged panel. Skylights may be opened manually with a pole, chain, or crank, and automated units with electric motors or pneumatic devices are also available. Some models incorporate moisture sensors to automatically close the skylight when it rains. Larger skylights that can be used as emergency exits are sometimes called “roof windows” and are located within a few feet of the floor. Skylights are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Nonrectangular units usually use plastic glazing, but higher quality ones use glazing that can be flat, arched, domed, pyramidal or “warped plane” — flat on the low side and concave in section on the high side. These pyramidal, arched and domed-shaped skylight designs also do not require the additional framing needed to slope a flat skylight for proper drainage on flat or low-slope roofs. Tubular skylights are smaller than most other skylights. They consist of roof-mounted light or solar collectors, which increase their daylighting potential without the need to increase their size. Ultimately, the agency says the most energy-

If you have unusual roof peaks, or limited space for a practical skylight installation, consider a pyramid shaped configuration to maximize sunlight diffusion throughout the day. efficient skylight must be properly installed to ensure it achieves its energy performance, so it is best to have a professional install your skylight. Adding A Skylight The US Department of Energy (DOE) says when homeowners consider adding a skylight they need to determine what type of design will work best, and where to place it to opti-

mize its contribution to their home’s energy efficiency, daylighting and ventilation. So the DOE experts suggest selecting your skylight based on the local climate and your home’s design. For labeling energy-efficient skylights, Energy Star has established minimum energy performance rating criteria by climate. As a general rule, a skylight size should never be more than five percent of the floor area in

According to the US Department of Energy, tubular skylights are growing in popularity. These devices are smaller than most other skylights. They consist of roof-mounted light or solar collectors, which increase their daylighting potential without the need to increase their size.

Other Installation Factors Sources at the DOE say that in addition to following the manufacturer’s guidelines, it is also important to consider slope and moisture control during installation. The slope or tilt of the skylight affects solar heat gain. A low slope will admit relatively more solar heat in the summer and less in the winter, exactly the opposite of what is desirable. As a general rule, you want to achieve a slope equal to your geographical latitude plus 5 to 15 degrees. At least one skylight manufacturer makes a prefabricated, tilted base that increases the angle of a skylight above the roof. Water leaks are a common problem with improperly installed skylights. Avoid water leaks by: *Mounting the skylight above the roof surface. *Installing a curb (a raised, watertight lip that helps to deflect water away from the skylight) and flashing. *Thoroughly sealing joints. *Following the manufacturer’s guidelines. It is also prudent to apply a layer of sheet waterproofing over the flanges/flashing of the skylight. This is generally installed under the finish roofing material as an aid in protecting against ice dams. Avoid water diversion devices such as roof crickets or diverter strips, as they often create more problems than they solve. Again, the DOE experts say, even the most energy-efficient skylight must be properly installed to ensure that it achieve its energy performance, so they say it is best to have a professional install your skylight. Learn more about skylights and other energy saving building projects at energy.gov.

The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

Home & Garden - 5

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6 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

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Five Signs You Need To Insulate Your Home This Winter (StatePoint) — The average run nonstop in the winter? Adefamily spends more than $1,000 quate insulation leads to less annually — nearly half a home’s maintenance on your heating total energy bill — on heating system, as it lasts longer, runs and cooling costs, according to less and will require less maintethe US government’s Energy Star nance for long-term cost savprogram. Unfortunately, a large ings. portion of those expenses are *Temperature inconsistency: If wasted due to poor home insulayou feel cold spots coming from tion. the walls or attic, or one room of Homeowners prepping for winyour home is drafty and another ter can stop the energy waste cycle one warm, you may need to beef by taking a closer look at their up your insulation. The fireinsulation. As one of the fastest place, walls and attic are prime and most cost-efficient ways to spots for drafts. Look for insulareduce energy waste and lower tion that can fit snugly in rafters bills, insulation traps warm air and other tight areas. For examinside a home’s walls — similar to ple, Roxul ComfortBatt insulahow a fleece sweater does for the As one of the fastest and tion made from recycled stone body — to regulate a home’s tem- most cost-efficient ways can be cut with a serrated blade perature. But how do you know if to reduce energy waste for an exact fit. your home is properly insulated? and lower bills, insulation *Roof hot spots: If your shin“Fortunately, there are telltale traps warm air inside a gles are exposed after a recent signs that can alert any home- home’s walls – similar to snowfall, chances are these “hot owner that it’s time to add to or how a fleece sweater does spots” are indicative of warm air replace their home’s insulation — for the body – to regulate escaping. Check your attic for before the temperature plunges a home’s temperature. adequate insulation. If you can and the energy bill rises,” says Mike Benetti, seg- easily see your floor joists, you should add more. ment manager at Roxul, a leading manufacturer Use insulation, such as stone wool, that will not of stone wool insulation. sag or lose density over time. The experts at Roxul advise any homeowner *Mold growth: Mold in the corners of ceilings with a do-it-yourself mentality to run through could mean your current insulation slumps and the following checklist to determine whether holds moisture. If this occurs, it is time to their home has adequate insulation: replace your insulation with one that does not *Vintage home: Prior to consistent building store or transfer moisture and is completely codes, most homes built before 1980 were not resistant to mold, mildew, rot and bacterial well insulated. If your home has no materials growth, such as Roxul ComfortBatt. trapping heat, energy conservation is an uphill More information about properly insulating battle. Walls, ceilings and floors are the most your home can be found at www.Roxul.com. important areas to add insulation for an immeDon’t let cool weather take you by surprise. diate, positive impact on a home’s energy usage With proper insulation, you can improve the and bills. comfort of your home significantly and enjoy *Nonstop furnace: Does your furnace seem to energy savings.

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The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

Home & Garden - 7

Creating A Space For Your Child With A Focus On Color, Safety And Function BY ELIZA HALLABECK

When designing a space for a child, Mary Villa, owner of the Silk Road Trading Company in New Milford, says there are some factors to keep in mind. The Silk Road Trading Company provides costumers with custom window treatments, bedding, pillows and other design elements for homes and commercial establishments, according to its website, NewtownCurtains.com. For younger children, Ms Villa said some parents are concerned with controlling lighting. For those parents the focus becomes creating a darker space for a child to sleep peacefully. Ms Villa also suggested bold colors, like primary colors, for younger children’s room. As children get older, Ms Villa said she still prefers bolder colors, like orange. “Bright orange is always awesome,” said Ms Villa, adding it has also been a popular choice for children’s rooms this year. From as aesthetic point of view, Ms Villa said bright and bold colors and patterns always work well in a children’s room. As children get older, Ms Villa said parents start to look for color combinations and patterns that will hold more longevity as the child ages, something that will grow along with the child. This normally starts to happen once a child reaches the age of 8 and up, according to Ms Villa. She recently helped decorate a 12-yearold girl’s room with a light pink and black combination that she said turned out wonderful. The combination of light pink and black also had a more mature feeling to it that will grow well with the girl, she explained. For patterns, Ms Villa said geometrics

For younger children, Mary Villa, owner of the Silk Road Trading Company in New Milford, said some parents are concerned with controlling lighting. For those parents the focus becomes creating a darker space for a child to sleep peacefully. Ms Villa also suggested bold colors for younger children’s room, like primary colors. As children get older, Ms Villa said she still prefers bolder colors, like orange. and are always a great choice, adding, “They are fun and whimsical.” Decorating a space for a child starts with understanding the child, said Ms Villa, suggesting that is the best place to start when approaching options for decorating a child’s space. Lauren Smith at YourSpaceEefined.com says there are four main items that she con-

siders when designing a child’s bedroom: safety, comfort, function, and style. Safety First. A couple of easy ideas to make the room safe are no dangling chords from blinds or shades — children have been known to choke on these chords and most companies now have a housing for the chords so they are not visible — and furniture should have rounded corners; no

sharp edges. Comfort: All bedding, including the mattress, pillows, mattress pads, sheets, blankets, etc, must be comfortable. Children who sweat need different sheets than those who are always cold. Comfort is extra important for children with special needs, or those with allergies and other health issues. Ms Smith says consider all of the child’s needs so you can design a room that the child wants to be in and is comfortable. Function: Ms Smith considers storage, bed height, size of furniture, anything that will make the room function properly for a child. If the child studies in the bedroom, a desk is a requirement. Lighting will also improve function. General and task lighting are most important. Closets are usually not very functional in children’s rooms. She create closets that store items in half the space and use the other half to build shelves for children to store anything from clothes to toys on. Function is even more important in the bedrooms of seriously ill or special needs children. Depending on the condition and any equipment needed, storage and spatial requirements may be different. If space is at a premium, in addition to building out into a space, you will need to build up, using available wall space. Style: This is the fun part. Ms Smith says this consideration encompasses color, the design of window treatments and bedspreads, the style of the furniture, and brings the room to life for that child. Let the child be your guide. If you talk to a child with respect, they will reveal their true personality, and this will translate into a bedroom that makes them happy and reflects their personal style.

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8 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

Try These Three Kitchen Upgrades For Easier Cooking

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The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

Home & Garden - 9

Nine Simple Tips For Recycling At Home (StatePoint) — Recycling is crucial to running a green home. It is also an easy and effective way to reduce your weekly contribution to the local landfill. Unfortunately, many people either are not recycling as much as they could be, or are recycling the wrong way. A main reason for this is lack of access to accurate information. Even if you know the basics, you may have lingering questions. Covanta, a world leader and expert in sustainable waste management and renewable energy, offers helpful insights into common recycling questions: *What cardboard is recyclable? All cardboard boxes except waxed can be recycled. In some communities, cardboard includes cereal, pasta or other food boxes. If possible, remove adhesive labels and tape prior to placing it in the recycling bin, as glue can interfere with the pulping process. Recycle the nongreasy portion of pizza boxes and discard the rest with the trash. *Is wet newspaper recyclable? Paper fibers can only hold so much moisture. If wet paper arrives at the recycling facility, it may not absorb the chemicals needed to process the paper fibers into new products. Try to keep recycle-ready paper indoors until pickup day. *Should you remove plastic bottle caps and wine corks? Corks should be reused or thrown in the trash. Remove plastic caps so you can crush the plastic bottles, making it easy to fit more into the bin. Some caps are recyclable, but recycling centers often discard nonrecyclable caps as trash. *Can you recycle items that contained chemicals? Yes, as long as they are completely empty. An exception is motor oil, because residual oil can interfere with plastics recycling. *Is crushing cans necessary? It is not necessary to crush cans in preparation for recycling, but doing so makes room in your recycling bin and the transport truck, which means fewer trips to the recycling facility. *How do you recycle batteries and electronics?

While recycling is an easy and effective way to reduce your weekly contribution to the local landfill, unfortunately, many people either are not recycling as much as they could be, or are recycling the wrong way. A main reason for this is lack of access to accurate information. Many municipalities are now recycling electronics. And some department stores, such as Best Buy, have take-back programs. Visit www.Call2Recycle.org to find your nearest battery take-back location. *Where do recyclables go? After curbside pickup, recyclables go to an interim processor called a materials recovery facility. There, they are sorted by machine and by hand using a conveyor belt. Separated recyclables are sent to a processing plant to be made into new products. *Why recycle? Recycling preserves natural resources and is good for the economy, accounting for about one million manufacturing jobs nationwide, and generating more than $100 billion in revenue, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. *What happens to waste that is not recycled? While some materials may be sent to landfills, the preferred option is an energy-from-waste facility, which offers a safe, technologically advanced means of waste disposal that generates clean, renewable energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and recycles metal left over in household waste. More information about how recycling and energy-from-waste go together can be found at www.CovantaEnergy.com/virtualtour.

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10 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

New E-Magazine Focuses On The Good Life BY NANCY K. CREVIER

Outside on a late summer morning, rain is falling. A diffused light falls across story boards stacked beneath multipaned windows and casts shadows on a farm table piled high with papers, photographs, and notebooks. Wide pine floorboards sigh beneath the foot. A steaming cup of coffee scents the air with hazelnut, and on a plate, half of a muffin oozing with blueberries tells of an interrupted breakfast. Nora Murphy is ready to talk. With the launching of her e-magazine, www.NoraMurphyCountryHouse.com, in July, the Newtown resident has introduced people across the country to the little nuances about life that turn existence into living. Purposely designed to scroll vertically on the screen, rather than have a “turn the page” look, Nora Murphy Country House) can be easily viewed on all mobile devices. The format is designed to incorporate the romantic, traditional and nostalgic content that is Nora Murphy Country House with an “edgier, almost urban” look, Ms Murphy said. NMCH has been evolving for the past two and a half years, she said, seeking the right balance of creativity and direction. The evolution of the e-magazine stretches back much further, however. It is a convergence of every experience she has had since her first job after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, as an architectural renderer, through her last job with Ethan Allen as executive vice president of style and advertising, a position she left in 2010. In between, she made the most of learning opportunities, working as a visual merchandiser (“I loved the hands-on and different room settings. That was my introduction to the different lifestyles people have in their homes,” she said), as a commercial and contract interior designer, as product manager of furniture for Polo Ralph Lauren (“That’s where I learned how people live and that you can create people’s dreams”), and as a free lance residential interior designer. Even at Ethan Allen, her duties evolved, all a continual layering of learning. As part of the team that reinvented the Ethan Allen website in 2007, Ms Murphy took advantage of that opportunity to learn copywriting, master giving direction, and the ins and outs of photography, all skills that have strengthened her knowledge and contributed to her new venture: Nora Murphy Country House. Leaving Ethan Allen in 2010 opened up her life to begin sharing her passion for the country life, through blogging. An initial blog that she coauthored morphed into a solo venture in 2012, www.ConnecticutCountryHouse.com. The dream of an e-magazine was already percolating. “I read a New York Times article, sometime in June or July of 2011, I think. It was interviews with editors of online ‘shelter’ magazines,” Ms Murphy recalled, seated in a cozy wingchair in the antique home in Southwestern Newtown that she and husband, Rick Murphy, have nestled into for the past several years. “I read it and actually started to shake. I knew, ‘This is it! I can take all the things I loved best from my Ethan Allen experience: this is what I have to do!’” She was not quite ready to take on the e-magazine world, yet, though, she knew. But it was coming. She wavered following the events in Newtown of 12/14. “I questioned what I was doing,” she said. Was interior decorating relevant, in the big picture of life? Her blog entries last December, though, generated a response that spoke to her: make people feel good. “It really was the turning point for me, and the blog was instrumental in setting it in motion,” Ms Murphy said. Thanks to the team of friends and family who have supported the making of the magazine, readers can now sub-

scribe to Nora Murphy Country House and rediscover the wonder of living life as it is meant to be, for each person. “Nora Murphy Country House is about creating something good from a foundation of love and caring, in all we do,” she explained. Inside the magazine, readers will find editorial stories, inspirational articles, photography to emphasize the season, tips and regular columns, all geared toward encouraging a gentle lifestyle in keeping with country living. Articles will focus on seasonal and home decorating; the use of color, entertaining, antiquing, flower arranging, gardening and travel. The initial issues of the five-timesa-year e-magazine will be primarily the voice of creator Nora Murphy. “I want to introduce myself and my lifestyle to readers. I want to start simply,” Ms Murphy said. “As we go along,” she said, “all of the imagery will have links to different parts of the site.” For example, in the fall issue, readers will find the “Paint Box,” an online decorating service to help pick paint colors. “Hunt Club” will feature hand-selected vintage and antique items to help achieve the desired look, with the ability to purchase similar items through Nora Murphy Country House. The summer, fall, and holiday issues are complementary to subscribers, with paid memberships beginning in January 2014. Membership in the Nora Murphy Country House Club provides much more than a typical magazine subscription. “It will include extras like a place to register and share ideas. It is about having a place to belong, and being a part of a community,” she explained. Eventually, members will receive perks, such as discounts at the e-commerce Country House, and special smaller editions of the e-magazine, just for members. “Interior design can sound very off-putting to some people. I see Country House as a holistic approach to an individual’s lifestyle, with images and ideas that are relatable. It is a way to learn to involve all of your senses [when decorating],” said Ms Murphy. Sharing doable ideas helps people to look at things in a different way, she said, and she hopes that Nora Murphy Country House can build that type of community. Like a newly hatched bird, right now the e-magazine is sticking close to Ms Murphy’s own Country House nest. But soon, Ms Murphy said, the publication will be spreading its wings into the community. “I see a lot of opportunity ahead,” she said.

Nora Murphy’s own Newtown home is a place of inspiration for the interior designer and new e-magazine editor. —Connecticut Country House photos

The bounty of each season is celebrated in articles, photographs, and recipes in Nora Murphy Country House. Nora Murphy, Newtown resident and editor of the new e-magazine Nora Murphy Country House, stands by the story board filled with possibilities for the autumn issue of the magazine, launched this past July. —Bee Photo, Crevier

The old and new are combined with elements of the season to create a rich and inviting dining scene.

The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

Home & Garden - 11

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12 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

Wayne Grabowski, owner of Southbury Kitchens in Southbury, opens a refrigerator door in the Main Street South showroom. Paneled appliances that blend into the rest of the kitchen cabinetry are popular with customers in the area, he says. A narrow strip of contrasting tiles runs between standard square and rectangular tiles on this backsplash, a look that customers frequently request, says Wayne Grabowski of Southbury Kitchens. The ventilation hood blends into the décor, keeping the powerful ventilation system required for the ever-more-popular commercial kitchen range out of sight.

Ben Pilchard, left, owner of Academy Design in Newtown, and brother Ted Pilchard, who oversees construction, marketing and sales, show examples of cabinet styles New Englanders gravitate toward. Natural hardwoods, neutral paints, glazing and antiquing are popular finishes this year, said the men.

Bee Photos by Nancy Crevier

Today’s Kitchen: A Place Where BY NANCY K. CREVIER

The kitchen continues to evolve as a gathering space, said three area kitchen design specialists, Wayne Grabowski of Southbury Kitchens and Ted and Ben Pilchard of Academy Design in Newtown. Wide open spaces furnished with an island or two invite family members and guests to be a part of kitchen preparation activities. “The island is more like furniture now,” said Mr Grabowski, with a trend away from the utilitarian island pocked with sinks, lights and cooktops. “An island today is a smooth, full work surface with clean, crisp surfaces,” he said. “It takes the place of the old kitchen table,” Mr Grabowski said. “People want inset cabinetry, soft close drawers and doors and a lot more glass. They want some glass feature, somewhere,” Mr Grabowski has observed, features that create that furniture feel, especially to the kitchen island. Granite and manufactured stones remain the top sellers for counter and island tops at Southbury Kitchens, he said, with customers preferring the shine taken off of the stone, over the polished countertop popular in previous years. A simpler tiled backsplash with different “levels” has become the trend, Mr Grabowski said. A thin, linear tile might run between standard tiles to create that bi-level look to the backsplash, or tiles behind the range might be placed in attractive patterns. Subtle decorative tiles inlaid among the standard tiles continue to be popular, he said. Cabinets painted white, off-white or another neutral color are frequently paired now with darker woods for contrast in the kitchen, with pops of color in the wall paint. Whether renovating or installing an all-new kitchen, paneling appliances to have them blend in to the décor is important to customers at Southbury Kitchens. A larger refrigerator than a decade ago cou-

pled with a refrigerated drawer allows people to get rid of the second refrigerator, while paneling to match the cabinetry blends the pieces into the design. That said, Mr Grabowksi finds that many people still go for the look of the stainless steel appliances, and are willing to spend more on commercial appliances today. With commercial appliances gaining in popularity, the kitchen ventilation hood, at eye level, is becoming the focal point of the kitchen. But ventilation is hidden inside decorative hoods that, again, match other cabinets. “It’s the hood and the backsplash that stand out when you look into a kitchen,” Mr Grabowski pointed out. “My feeling,” Mr Grabowski said, “is that the microwave is the ugliest appliance in the kitchen.” So like many of his customers, he is pleased that one of the biggest hits in kitchen renovation is the advent of the microwave drawer, located either in the island or in other cabinetry. The drawer itself is the microwave oven, freeing up wall space or space above the kitchen range. Like the paneled dishwasher and refrigerator, the microwave is now part of a cohesive look. Interestingly, said Mr Grabowski, the simple decision to install a microwave drawer can lead to a progression of changes in kitchen design. With 30 years of experience in kitchen design, Mr Grabowski feels able to help people see beyond what the kitchen appears to be. “We are able to bring in design work that people may not have considered,” he said. “You don’t need a lot of space to have an efficient kitchen,” he stressed, so long as the layout is logical. “A kitchen should make life easier and be user-friendly to the cook,” he said. Proper lighting makes a kitchen functional, and with color range rapidly improving, many customers are requesting LED lighting. “Recessed lighting is still the main light-

ing, with drop lighting for accent,” Mr Grabowski said. Additional undercabinet lighting is also desirable. What is underfoot in today’s kitchen is often now a wooden floor. Darker woods in flooring give that warm, family feel to the kitchen, and modern coatings are highly impervious to spills and stains, he said. New or renovations to kitchens can add up, Mr Grabowski noted, so having a realistic budget and sharing that number with the kitchen designer is important. Research appliance and lighting cost online or in brick and mortar stores to provide a starting point for budgeting, he suggested. A realistic budget prevents disappointment down the line, he said. “It is hard to scale back ideas,” Mr Grabowski pointed out. A general rule is to set aside 12 to 15 percent of the home value for a complete kitchen renovation. Twenty-four years of design and construction experience have given Ted and Ben Pilchard the expertise to guide customers to the best option for remodeling or installing a kitchen. From the customer who needs handholding through the process to the top of the line custom kitchen to the “cash and carry” do-it-yourselfer, they can match the budget to the right kitchen, they said. The Pilchards agreed that kitchen islands remain so popular that Academy Design is often installing two in newer kitchens. “It provides more prep space and an entertainment space,” Ted Pilchard said. “The kitchen is becoming more and more the ‘living’ room for people,” he added. Classic styling of cabinetry beneath the island surface and throughout the kitchen, with Shaker or raised panel doors quite popular in the Newtown area, provide the sleek but warm atmosphere sought, said the designers. Details such as dovetailing to join pieces also offer the higher quality aspect to cabi-

nets, said the Pilchards. In higher-end kitchens, customers go beyond the soft close drawers and doors to those cabinets that close with just a touch. Downlighting within glass-fronted cabinets shows off beautiful dishes or glassware set on glass shelving, a popular option in many kitchens today, said the Pilchards. “People love the pull-out drawers and cabinet inserts,” Ted Pilchard said, along with decorative finishes to the cabinetry. Two other items asked for more and more often, said the Pilchards, are spice cabinets — usually hidden inside decorative pull out cabinets — and open book cases built into one end of a kitchen island. “White, off-white and all shades of green are popular in the painted cabinet, and many people are looking for a finish like the antiquing or glazing,” he said, particularly the customer seeking a country feel to the kitchen. Beneath the stain or paint is a cabinet crafted from birch, maple, poplar or ash, all long-wearing woods. Academy Design customers are looking for cabinet doors made of layers of hardwood, rather than the cheaper pressboard used in many off-theshelf products, said Ted. That country look is often continued with hardwood flooring, often a wider board or random board pattern to emulate an antique home. The advantage to using wide boards, Ted Pilchard pointed out, is that it offers less joint lines. In a kitchen, that means fewer spaces for dirt to gather. Oak, mahogany and the harder Southern yellow pine are the most widely utilized woods for floors, said Ben Pilchard. Tumbled stone tiles have a rustic look that appeals to customers, as well, he said, and they continue to install many stone floors. Academy Design customers seek more and more “built-ins” in the kitchen,” said Ted Pilchard, even coffee makers that double as a full beverage service area.

The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

Home & Garden - 13

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Southbury Kitchen and Academy Design, two area kitchen design companies, both tout the microwave drawer as the biggest new change in kitchen décor this year, moving the clumsy-looking appliance out of the way and out of sight.

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What looks like simply a decorative column alongside the range top is actually a pull-out spice cabinet, a highly requested item from customers, said Ben Pilchard.

A Newtown kitchen completely redone by Academy Design features many of this year’s trends. One of two kitchen islands boasts a natural stone top over furniturelike wooden base with raised panel cabinet doors and an open bookcase on one end. A matching panel for the dishwasher provides a seamless look. Decorative columns on either side of the range top add to the “Kitchen is the New Living Room” look, and large tumbled stone floor tiles continue the upscale country look.

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Life Happens In the last decade, commercial appliances have gained ground in the home kitchen. Many of their customers are currently opting to install a downdraft system behind the range, said the Pilchards, eliminating the need and noise of an overhead hood. As Mr Grabowski has found, Academy Design customers are also flocking to the microwave drawer. “It is really, really popular,” said Ben Pilchard, “and gets it out of the way.” The top loading microwave drawer that they install makes it convenient to the work surface, he said, a quality customers like. Paneled appliances create the clean look that their customers want, the Pilchards said. The must-have kitchen islands and countertops most often are topped with granite, marble or one of the manufactured synthetic stones. “Customers are definitely away from any of the laminates,” Ben said. Like the counters, backsplashes are often stone tiles, and decorative tiles inserted randomly are frequently requested. Limestone or marble is currently the trend for backsplash tiles, said Ben, but Academy Design has installed highly polished New York subway-style tiles in kitchens. Undercabinet lighting is a must when remodeling or installing a new kitchen, said the Pilchards, and customers are trending toward pendant lighting over islands. Compact fluorescent lighting has given way to recessed LED lighting in kitchens, they said, for workspace lighting. What kind of sink is making its way into the 2013 kitchen? At Academy Design, stainless steel remains most popular, with some ceramic or soapstone farmhouse sinks being utilized. “What has crept up on us,” admitted Ted, “is the size of the sink. People want large, single bowl sinks now.” By large, he means sinks that are nine or ten inches deep and 36 inches wide. Adding to the de rigueur clean look in the kitchen are recessed soap and hand lotion

pumps. “Visually, you get a nice, clean counter with these,” said Ben. “Clutter-free is important now in the kitchen, which is the center of the household,” he said. What neither Southbury Kitchens nor Academy Design sees as a big movement is “green” technology. Customers may be going for the green in paint, but discovering the much higher cost of using recycled or renewable materials has them opting to keep the “green” in their pockets, Ben Pilchard said. “Once customers realize the extensive lead time and expense of renewable or recyclable products, they decide it is too steep a price to pay,” said Ben Pilchard. Mr Grabowski also finds that going green loses its panache when priced out against traditional materials. “There is very little you can do in kitchen renovation that is ‘green,’ but one kind of neat thing is to reuse or donate the old cabinets, rather than put them in the landfill,” he suggested. Southbury Kitchens, he said, is happy to help customers find a way to reuse or donate items, Mr Grabowski said. Warm. Inviting. Interactive. Bright. Streamlined. They are all words that describe today’s kitchen. With thoughtful and experienced input, a realistic budget, and a dash of creativity, it is a kitchen that can become a part of any home, said these kitchen experts. Southbury Kitchens, www.southburykitchens.com, is at 385 Main Street South in Southbury. The showroom is open Monday through Friday, 10 am to 5 pm, and Saturday, 11 am to 2 pm. For an appointment, call 203264-4800. The annual open house will take place Saturday, October 26, from 3 to 7 pm, featuring the newly expanded showroom. Academy Design, www.academyllc.com, is at 2 Sawmill Road in Newtown, at the junction of Route 6. For more information call 203270-8004. Look for the opening of the new showroom on Sawmill Road at the end of September.

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14 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

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Frank and Linda Pitrone of Apex Glass and their grandson Edwin are seen at the entrance to their business at 10 Riverside Road in Sandy Hook Center. —Bee Photo, Gorosko

Apex Clearly Knows BY ANDREW GOROSKO

Across time, Apex Glass & Aluminum Products, Inc, has developed a niche in the glass business — designing and installing custom frameless glass shower booths, which typically are placed in bathrooms in existing expensive homes. The firm’s shower booths have been installed across a wide area, ranging from Manhattan to Berkshire County, Mass., explained Apex proprietor Frank Pitrone, Jr, who has been in the glass business his full working life. Darien, Greenwich, Westport, Fairfield, and Norwalk are among the places where Apex typi-

cally has done such installations, he said. Such shower booths usually are installed in homes in newer residential developments, Mr Pitrone said. “This is the rage� among an affluent clientele that desires custom shower enclosures, he said. “Frameless� shower enclosures last longer than previous designs, which included metallic framing around the glass panels, he said. Such frameless glass structures are easily maintained, he added. “It’s all custom,� Mr Pitrone said of the shower booths that are built to specification. Installing shower enclosures has become

Got Better Things To Do? Do more in less time with the Power of STIHLŽ The image of Frank Pitrone, the proprietor of Apex Glass & Aluminum Products, Inc, is reflected in a panel of mirror glass in his workshop at 10 Riverside Road in Sandy Hook Center. —Bee Photo, Gorosko

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The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

Home & Garden - 15

Frank Pitrone of Apex Glass reviews a specifications sheet for a custom glass installation project. —Bee Photo, Gorosko

This Italian-made piece of power equipment is used by Apex Glass to place precision edges on glass panels and mirrors. —Bee Photo, Gorosko

Their Niche When It Comes To Shower Glass approximately 40 percent of Apex’s business, he noted. Mr Pitrone explained that Apex typically works with general contractors who are home remodelers for expensive houses. Mr Pitrone said his firm bases its business on providing quality products and quality service. It simply makes better business sense to install high-quality products, he said. Current trends in the frameless-glass shower niche include the use of a sealant on the glass surface that allows the glass to remain new-looking for a long time, he said. The sealant also simplifies keeping the glass clean, he said.

When requested, Apex can provide a specialized glass that is more transparent than typical glass, he noted. Mr Pitrone estimates that Apex installs a “couple hundred” shower booths a year. Apex has installed shower booths in residential bathrooms the immediate area, he noted. The large majority of booths involve the installation of multiple glass panels, he said. Typically, the time period between measuring a bathroom for an installation, having the glass manufacturer produce the specified panels, and then installing the shower booth is about two weeks, Mr Pitrone said.

A spacious custom frameless shower booth that was installed by Apex Glass. —Contributed photo

Besides high-end frameless shower booths, Apex also installs framed shower doors. The firm also handles custom mirrors, storm windows, storm doors, custom skylights, residential entry doors, commercial storefronts, vinyl replacement windows, transparent plastics, beveled glass and mirrors, glass tabletops, and

screen work, ranging from screen repairs to porch enclosures. Last year, Apex celebrated its 50th year in business. Founded by the late Frank Pitrone, Sr, Apex is at 10 Riverside Road in Sandy Hook Center. For additional information, apexglass.com or 203-426-4475.

An example of an Apex Glass custom frameless shower booth.

—Contributed photo

Are You Ready For FAll Cleaning?

16 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

Top Tasks For Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

By completing certain small seasonal tasks can save you money, time and the need to complete larger, more expensive projects in the future.

(StatePoint) — Keeping your home in shape may not top your daily to-do list, but completing certain small seasonal tasks can save you money, time and the need to complete larger, more expensive projects in the future. “Investing a small amount for preventative fall home maintenance can save thousands in the long run,” Leah Ingram, personal finance expert, says. Don’t know where to start? The following checklist from HomeAdvisor can help homeowners prepare their homes for the cooler months: *Clean gutters: During the year, debris such as leaves and twigs can pile in your gutter. Cleaning them once a year prevents problems such as water damage, roof damage and flooding. *Service your furnace: A well-maintained fur-

nace can help save on heating costs and prevent the need for repairs. Before temperatures drop, schedule your furnace to be serviced. *Install weather stripping: As fuel and electricity costs continue to rise, keeping your home warm without wasting money and energy is important. Weather stripping your doors and windows can make a big impact. *Winterize sprinklers: Removing all the water that is in the lines, pipes, fittings, valves, sprinklers and pumps will prevent your equipment from freezing, expanding and potentially breaking. Hire a professional to attach an air compressor to the system to blow out the water from the lines, pipes and other parts. The service is inexpensive and a professional will know the proper amount of volume and pressure to use to ensure no water is left in the system. *Clean your chimney: Chimney maintenance

is not optional. Deadly fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and expensive chimney repairs are serious consequences associated with neglected chimney maintenance. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends all fireplaces, chimneys, flues and venting systems be inspected at least once a year by a pro. *Flush your water heater: Generally speaking, water heaters are fairly reliable, so they usually are not top of mind. But flushing your water heater periodically can prevent leaks and promote efficiency. “Hiring a professional for fall maintenance tasks like these is a great idea,” Ingram says. “Use a resource such as Cost Guide to research the average price of a project in your zip code before hiring a pro.” To use Cost Guide and find a professional, visit www.HomeAdvisor.com.

Choosing A Home With Your ‘Blended’ Family In Mind SOUTHBURY — With 1,300 new stepfamilies forming each day, there is a constant flow of families starting over in a brand new home. Linda Gottlieb, an interior decorator with Decor&You, understands how difficult moving can be and shares four key tips on how to handle one of life’s toughest transitions. “The process of starting a life over with a stepfamily in a new home can be both exciting and challenging,” said Ms Gottlieb. “Whether you are moving across the country or across town, the pressures of blending two families can be stressful on everyone. It’s important to

make sure every family member has a voice in choosing the new residence and creating an environment that everyone can call home.” Ms Gottlieb shares the following tips on how to create a smooth transition into a new home while taking your “blended family” into account: 1. Carefully consider the size and floor plan of the home you buy. While there is no single “right” home for a blended family, a house with as many bedrooms as bathrooms will allow the family the opportunity to learn how to live with each other without feeling too

crowded. Allow the children to decide if they prefer to have their own bedroom or to share a bedroom with a sibling. 2. Turn a first-floor den into an extra bedroom. Turning the lower-level room into a bedroom allows teenage children or college students to feel independent and maintain their privacy. 3. Consider a renovated house with bedrooms at both ends. Buying a home with bedrooms on both ends and a common living space in the center allows blended families to maintain a degree of physical distance, while

still meeting in the middle at mealtimes or for recreation. 4. Include everyone in the decorating process. Involving the entire family in decorating the new home makes starting over much easier and allows all members to feel included. Give a few options for different elements of shared spaces and let each family member share their opinion. For more information about Decor&You decorating services, contact Ms Gottlieb at 203-405-2159, e-mail lgotlieb@decorandyou.com or visit decorandyou.com.

Christine Fairchild, Coldwell Banker International Diamond Society Award Winner Christine Fairchild of Newtown, a sales associate in the local Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office, was recognized earlier this year with the Coldwell Banker International Diamond Society Award during a special celebration at the Hyatt

Regency in Greenwich. This distinguished honor is awarded to the top nine percent of approximately 82,200 sales associates worldwide in the Coldwell Banker system. With more than 24 years of experience, Ms Fairchild has been successfully meeting

Newtown Real Estate Expert Technology and Service One Place Direct: text or call 914.456.0248 Visit : www.denisekopaszbroker.com to find your home or search recent sales. Email: denise.kopasz@raveis.com and tell me what you are looking for. Subscribe to daily emails and let me do the searching.

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the needs of homebuyers and sellers in the towns of Newtown, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, and Southbury. She has been trained as a Cartus Relocation Specialist and Previews Property Specialist, and is also a member of the Connecticut Association of Realtors and the Newtown Board of Realtors. “Christine Fairchild has been recognized with the International Diamond Society award because of her outstanding performance,” said Cathleen Smith, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Connecticut and Westchester County, N.Y. “She successfully helped clients make the dream of homeownership a reality.” Each year, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Connecticut and Westchester

County recognizes the work of exceptional sales associates and sales teams through its distinguished awards program. Ms Fairchild is affiliated with the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office at 45 South Main Street, and can be reached there at 203-426-5679. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, a leading residential real estate brokerage company in Connecticut and Westchester County, operates approximately 50 offices with more than 2,100 sales associates serving those communities. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. For more information, visit www.ColdwellBankerMoves.com.

Denise Kopasz, William Raveis Real Estate

Denise Kopasz, a broker associate at William Raveis Real Estate, has been a licensed realtor since 1991 and has experience in all areas of real estate and many designations. Throughout her career Ms Kopasz has always made service the top priority and not only does she have a long list of satisfied customers, but most of her business is based on referrals. One thing Ms Kopasz’s customers always seem to agree on is that she not only gets the job done but she is tenacious in following through and making sure nothing is lost along the way. Below is a sampling of the thank-yous received from Ms Kopasz’s clientele. The Newtown William Raveis Real Estate office is at 14 Church Hill Road. Ms Kopasz can be reached directly at 914-456-0248. *** I just wanted to thank you again for all your help in finding us our first house. Lisa and I couldn’t be more excited or feel more at home in our new house and look forward to spending many years here. So … once again … thank you greatly for making our first-time buying experience a seamless one and a fun one, and we know exactly who to call or who to refer our friends/ family to when any of them are in the market! Best regards, Chris and Lisa *** Hello, I am writing to tell you about an agent you have in Connecticut by the name of Denise Kopasz, she is helping our family to find a property and she is the most wonderful, caring, hardworking agent; she loves what she does and you can tell. She has that type of personality that makes you feel as if you have known her forever. William Raveis is fortunate to have her. Thank you, Maria *** Denise Kopasz was the agent we chose to work with us when we sold our home. In a crazy world of “no customer service” we found a top agent that exceeded our expectations. Denise guided us through the whole process and she was very patient and knowledgeable. We felt very confident that Denise would get the job done and she did not let us down. We were able to sell quickly and for very close to our asking price. Denise made great suggestions to get our home ready for market and she kept us informed of changes in the market. We have referred Denise to our friends and family. John and Ilene

Home & Garden - 17

The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

LANDSCAPING Newtown, CT

Since 1991

Unilock® & Flagstone • Walls, Sidewalks & Patios Landscape Planting & Lighting • Plant maintenance & Mulch Design Services Available Before

After

2 yr workmanship warantee on hardscapes.

www.topnotchlandscapingllc.com • 203-426-1191 HIC #0613967

Our CT certified landscape architect will design your project big or small.

You Choose

You Choose

You Choose

Garret Henchcliffe

R. Mathison Floors YOUR COMPLETE FLOORING STORE

S a n d a n d R e f i n i s h Yo u r f l o o r s t o L o o k L i k e New ! to Back ales S l Schoo Our on ite Web S

Wood • Carpet • Vinyl • Ceramic • Area Rugs (203) 426-0778

Fax (203) 426-0323

Store Hours: Mon. 10-2 • Tues.-Fri. 10-5 • Sat. 10-2

MathisonFloorsllc.com

133 South Main Street (Rte 25) Newtown

Change Is In The Air! Now Carrying Benjamin Moore ‘Regal Select’

20% OFF All Benjamin Moore Gallons (Not to be combined with any other offers. Excluding Aura and Natura)

Paint — Stain — Supplies

NEWTOWN COLOR CENTER “Your Paint and Stain Headquarters”

5 QUEEN ST., NEWTOWN • (203) 426-4449 HOURS: Mon-Fri 7:00 AM-5:30 PM Sat 7:00 AM-3:00 PM • Sun 9:00 AM-1:00 PM

TIM WILDER TREE CARE 3rd Generation CT Licensed Arborist Over 30 Years Experience in Arboriculture • • • •

Removals Pruning Cabling Spraying

• • • •

Fertilizing Diagnosis Aerial Lift Stump Grinding

QUALITY VALUE TRUST SERVICE

Prompt Professional Response & Service

• FREE Estimates • Licensed • Insured

NEWTOWN, CT (203) 270-1012 Ct Arborist Lic. #62799

CT DEP Reg. #B-1704

ISA Certification # NE-0735

Come see what we’re building for you. 860-871-1048 • 800-BUY-FINE (800-289-3463) • KloterFarms.com 216 West Road (Corner of Rte 83 & 286) Ellington

Handmade in

Mon & Wed 9-6, Tues & Thurs 9-7, Fri 9-5, Sat 8-5, Closed Sunday

FREE DELIVERY in CT, MA, RI!

$1500 minimum purchase, extra charge for Cape Cod. Sale ends 9/28/13

USA

18 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

Is Your Home Heating System Ready For Cool Weather?

It is estimated that nearly half of all heating and cooling equipment in US homes never performs to its advertised capacity and efficiency due to incorrect installation, according to US government statistics. And if you have an older system that was built before current efficiency standards, you could be spending more than needed on heating your home.

(StatePoint) — In cool weather, wise homeowners will take steps to ensure their homes are well-prepared. There are a number of ways you can keep your home comfortable and your energy bills in check all season. Is your heating equipment working optimally or are you wasting energy and paying more than you should? It is estimated that nearly half of all heating and cooling equipment in US homes never performs to its advertised capacity and efficiency due to incorrect installation, according to US government statistics. And if you have an older system that was built before current efficiency standards, you could be spending more than needed on heating your home. If you need to replace your system, be sure to have it properly installed by a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) professional, certified by North American Technician Excellence (NATE), the nation’s largest independent, nonprofit certification body for HVACR technicians. NATE-certified technicians are skilled professionals who have proven their knowledge in the HVACR industry by passing specialized certification tests. Beyond having an efficient heating system properly installed, there are several other steps you can take to make your home cool-weather friendly: *Clean heating filters. Check them every couple of weeks and change them at least twice in the season, or as directed by the manufacturer. *Check and maintain insulation. Improperly insulated

walls, floors, attics, basements and crawlspaces drain away heat and can also lead to moisture imbalance. Adding weather stripping and caulk around windows and doors can also improve a home’s insulation. *Turn down the thermostat or install a programmable thermostat to regulate temperature. *Clean the furnace area. Do not keep chemicals or cleaning products near a heater, and do not store anything next to it that could impede ventilation. *Keep vents and returns free of obstructions. Do not lay carpet over vents, place furniture over or in front of them, or obstruct the flow of air. *Dry air feels cooler than moist air, so install a humidifier. A simple humidifier may make the home feel five degrees warmer than a home with dry air. *Look into geothermal heating systems. By using the Earth’s natural heat, these systems are among the most efficient and energy-conserving heating and cooling technologies currently available. *Have your system serviced regularly for optimal performance. To avoid poor service and scams, be sure to hire an HVACR professional certified by NATE. To find a qualified local contractor who employs certified technicians, look for the NATE logo or go to HVACRAdvice.com. By making sure your heating system is operating efficiently and by adopting a few energy-friendly habits, you can maintain a warm, comfortable home while keeping heating costs down.

TREE WORK

Bethel Handyman Hardware is Now

STONY HILL HARDWARE Serving Your Community For Over 30 Years!

Climb/Take Downs

Bucket Truck 60’ Specialist in Complicated Work

Complete Line of Hardware, Paint, Lawn & Garden, Hand & Power Tools, Snow Removal and Much More!

Cut Your Trees Before an Accident Happens on Your Property

34 Stony Hill Road, Bethel (Rte 6, between Big Y & Target) Open M-F 7:30 - 6, Sat 8-5, Sun 9-3

203-792-4043

LLC

New Customers Welcome

SPECIALIZING IN Window Washing Carpet Cleaning (Truck Mount) Gutter Cleaning • Power Washing

Family Owned & Operated Since 2000

Family Owned Since2000 2000 Family Owned&&Operated Operated Since 24 Hour Emergency Service • Next Day Delivery • Discount Fuel Oil Dealers Full Service • Energy Assistance Program

Diesel*

203-775-0221

203-894-8713 INSURED

All Clean,

New Customers Welcome

New Customers Welcome

Off Road

IMPROVEMENT

HOD #009

KEVIN BARRETT Established in 1994

- Supporting Community - Gardening to Protect Native Flora, Birds and Wildlife -

DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

thegardenclubofnewtown@yahoo.com

allcleanct.com • 203-270-0000

JOHN SPECTOR LANDSCAPE DESIGN

ADVANCED APPLIANCE REPAIR

Buy Direct from the Grower & Save

REFRIGERATORS • WASHERS & DRYERS DISHWASHERS & RANGES DISPOSALS • AIR CONDITIONERS • DEHUMIDIFIERS EXPERTS ON ALL MAJOR MANUFACTURERS

40% to 70% OFF On Landscape Design & Installation Mulching • Lawn Installations • Sodding Patios • Stonewalls & Walkways • Tree Services Gravel & Regrading Driveways • Drainage Systems

Over rs 20 Yea nce Experie

203-263-4650 • 203-586-8541

(203)

35 Years in Business

Gilbert Painting Quality Painting Affordable Prices

SENIOR DISCOUNTS

Newtown 426-2776

AdvancedApplianceCT.com PROMPT • PROFESSIONAL • REASONABLE

Frank Pruner Gutter Cleaning, LLC Established 1989

(203) 426-3103

Daniel J. Gilbert

www.frankprunerguttercleaning.com

203-520-1518

Gutters & Leaders Cleaned & Flushed Quality Screening Available Minor Repairs • Tree Trimming

dgilbert05@snet.net 246 Wheeler Road, Monroe, CT 06468

Free Estimates • Fully Insured

FN Masonry For Reliability, Quality Masonry & Polite Service FREE ESTIMATES License #614946 & Insured

Stonewalls, Brick Walls, Bluestone, Steps, Fireplaces, Chimneys, Patios, Sidewalks. We can also do any Masonry Repairs!

Cell: 860-417-8500 Home: 860-274-6458 References & Portfolio available

Universal Tile & Marble Natural Stone, Ceramic, Porcelain, Vanities & Sinks

Countertops, Design, Installation, Kitchen Cabinets

Where we have the best Ideas Colonial Park Plaza - 103 South Main St. Newtown, CT. - 06470 Tel: (203)270-8309 - Fax: (203)270-8003

www.universaltilemarble.com

The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

Home & Garden - 19

DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS

APPLIANCE REPAIR Advanced Appliances, LLC . . . . . . . . . .18 BARNS/SHEDS/FURNITURE Kloter Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 BUILDER/CONSTRUCTION Porco Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 CARPET CLEANING Red Baron Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 CREDIT UNION Mutual Security Credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 DUMPSTERS Associated Refuse Hauler of America . .15 EXCAVATION Yacko & Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Black Swann Fireside Hearth & Home .14 HOME IMPROVEMENT/ REMODELING/REPAIRS E&C Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 LANDSCAPE DESIGNER/ CONTRACTORS/HORTICULTURIST A&L Landscaping, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Green Horizon Landscaping, LLC . . . . .8 John Spector Landscape Design . . . . . .18 Top Notch Landscaping . . . . . . . . . . . .17 MASONRY/PAVING Gault Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 FN Masonry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 OUTDOOR HOUSE CLEANING & CARPETS All Clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

FUEL OIL ABC Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

PAINTING CONTRACTOR Gilbert Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Mark Svanda Painting, LLC . . . . . . . . .19

FLOORING Mathison Floors, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Red Baron Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

PAINTING SUPPLIES Newtown Color Center . . . . . . . . . . . .17

GARAGE DOORS Danbury Overhead Door . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Overhead Door of Brookfield . . . . . . . .11 GARDEN CENTER Hollandia Nurseries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Shakespeare’s Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 GARDEN CLUB Garden Club of Newtown . . . . . . . . . .18

PELLET & WOOD STOVES The Trading Post . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 PLUMBING & HEATING Tim Conlan Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..6 POWER EQUIPMENT L&R Power Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Newtown Power Equipment . . . . . . .9, 14

GIFT & GARDEN Wild Bird Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

REALTORS Christine Fairchild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Denise Kopasz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

GLASS/ALUMINUM PRODUCTS Apex Glass, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

REFUSE REMOVAL Associated Refuse Hauler of America . .15

GUTTERS Frank Pruner Gutter Cleaning, LLC . . .18

ROOFING Mark Edwards Roofing & Siding . . . . . .6

HARDWARE/PAINT Newtown Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Stony Hill Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

STONE/TILE & MARBLE INSTALLERS Universal Tile & Marble . . . . . . . . . . . .18

HOME DÉCOR Alcher Interiors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Chintz-N-Prints of Newtown, Inc . . . .13 HEARTH/FIREPLACE/STOVE/GRILLS Berkshire Hearth & Home . . . . . . . . . .20

317 Federal Road, Brookfield, CT 06804 (203) 775-4888 ~ www.wbu.com/danbury BIRD FOOD • FEEDERS • GARDEN ACCENTS • UNIQUE GIFTS

SURVEYOR Brautigam Land Surveyors, PC . . . . . . .14 TREE SERVICE Antonio Freitas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Tim Wilder Tree Care . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Yacko & Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

MARK SVANDA

PAINTING , LLC Winter Interior SPECIAL

Fall Exterior SPECIAL

…in bloom • all seasons • all reasons ®

20% OFF $500 OFF Labor*

Complete Job*

Contract must be signed prior to 10/15/2013

Contract must be signed prior to 10/15/2013

NURSERIES

Call 203-270-9879 or 203-470-4240 SvandaPainting@sbcglobal.net *New orders only. Not to be combined with other offers. Insurance Certificate on Request

CT Lic #00549125

GIFT & GARDEN

203-743-0267

203-792-0268

103 Old Hawleyville Road

BETHEL

95 Stony Hill Road / Route 6 BETHEL

8AM - 5PM EVERY DAY!

9AM - 6PM EVERY DAY!

hollandianurseries.com A Gift Certificate from Hollandia is always appreciated.

20 - Home & Garden

The Newtown Bee - Fall 2013

The Hearth is the Heart of Your Home

Lennox Wood Burning Fireplace

Lennox Country Stove

Lennox Winslow Pellet Stove

Hampton Cast Iron Wood Insert

Quality Wood

Pellet

Selection Gas

Coal

Service Electric

Grills

Berkshire Hearth & Home LLC Established in 1999, family owned and operated by Al and Brad Lutrus since 2004, Berkshire Hearth & Home specializes in the sale, installation and service of top of the line wood, pellet and gas stoves and inserts, as well as fireplace, fireplace fronts and gas grills. Our selection is outstanding and all of our products are made by the best manufacturers in North America – Lennox, Mendota, Regency, Hampton, Monessen and many more. Almost all of our products are made in the United States, Canada or Europe. The hearth is the focal point of the home. We pride ourselves in finding a product to meet our customers’ individual needs, whether it be an energy efficient heat source or an atmosphere enhancing luxury fireplace. Once you purchase a hearth product from us and become a part of the Berkshire Hearth & Home Family, you can expect exceptional service by a knowledgeable hearth expert for the lifetime of your stove. Berkshire Hearth & Home invites you to take a look around our website. There is, however, no substitute for seeing our wonderful selection of stoves, fireplaces, inserts, grills and accessories with your own eyes. September 1, 2012 we moved from Danbury, to Newtown to providing our customers with easier access right off Exit 9 on I-84. Our new location will allow us to provide our customers with more products and burning displays. We encourage you to visit our NEW showroom in Newtown, CT.

121 Mt. Pleasant Rd, Newtown, CT 06470

Call Us (203) 491-2010 Berkshirestoves@aol.com

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