Northern Home by Prince George Citizen

page 10

Add a touch of spring

Decorating ideas to bring the joy of the season indoors page 3

Five tips for home safety A-Tech Securityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Scot Saul helps give you peace-of-mind

page 8

Quartz vs. Granite Find out which will work better in your home Product of

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Five tips for home safety A-tech Security’s Scot Saul helps give you peace-ofmind

Maintenance tips for spring landscaping Suntree Landscaping owner Russ Hill on preparing for warmer months

Simple do-it-yourself gift wrapping Save money and get creative with this easy tutorial

Quartz vs. granite Find out which will work better in your home

Add a touch of spring Decorating ideas to bring the joy of spring inside

Coffee nooks Create a morning sanctuary with a well-ordered coffee station

The black toilet An unconventional bathroom accessory that’s back

10 ways to refresh your kitchen If you can’t do a full reno

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SPRING 2019 | NORTHERN HOME

5 Tips for

home safety

By Scot Saul Manager, A-Tech Security

We spoke with A-Tech Security’s Scot Saul to get some advice on home security and how to keep your home safe while away. Here are five tips from Saul that you can use every day to give you some peace of mind when you leave your home-sweet-home. 1. We’ve all posted some regretful things on social media — maybe it was that cringy prom photo or when you thought that mullet of

NORTHERN HOME | SPRING 2019

yours was a good life decision. However, there are worse things you can post online. Don’t post your absence on Facebook or other social media platforms as burglars have been known to snoop on social media to find victims who are away from home. So make sure you refrain from checking in or posting holiday snaps until after you’ve come back home. 2. Up to 76 per cent of all false alarms—commercial and residential—are caused by user error. Instruct anyone who will use your system to feel confident that they can arm, disarm and be aware of false alarms: children,

babysitters, employees, neighbours, real-estate agents, etc. Make special arrangements for guests, repair technicians or others who may have access to your premises. 3. One of the biggest home security mistakes that people make is failing to secure all entry points whenever they leave the house. So even if you’re popping out for 10 minutes to walk the dog or to post a package, make sure you lock your front, back, side and garage doors, windows and gates. Most burglars are opportunists so if they struggle to get in at one entry point, it’s likely that they’ll seek an alternative target.

4. Burglars love the cover of darkness so make sure you put them in the spotlight with outdoor security lights. It’s also a good idea to install timed lighting inside your home to create the illusion that you’re home at night, even when you’re away. 5. Carelessly throwing expensive packaging away (e.g. leaving it outside your home or next to your garbage can) can make your home a target for burglars. So if you recently purchased a new TV, laptop, handbag or other expensive items, make sure you break down the packaging and cover it up before throwing it away.

Maintenance Tips for

spring landscape By Russ Hill Owner, Suntree Landscaping Ltd.

Spring is in the air and with that comes spring cleaning. Most of us focus our efforts on the inside of our home when it comes to spring cleaning but what about the outside? Russ Hill, owner of Suntree Landscaping Ltd., gives us six tips on how to spring clean your yard and prepare for the warmer months. Trees & Shrubs There’s not too much to be done with trees and shrubs in the spring. If you’ve wrapped your trees in the fall, remove the wrap. Avoid pruning until late summer or fall as the trees will be budding out at this time of year. If there are obvious dead branches then you can remove them- otherwise just clean up around the trees and pick up fallen leaves and branches from last fall. Perennials and Grasses These can be cut back to 20 per cent of their maximum height- this will help them regenerate for new growth. This is also the time to divide or split plants and transplant them if you have other areas to fill; this will also give them time to grow this season. Clean up and remove any excess mulch and leaves around base of plants. The ground is already wet and 4

leaving this material around the base can cause root rot and mold.

Lawns Rake and clean up your lawn, removing anything that was left on the lawn from the fall or over the winter. If you have an irrigation system, flag all heads and valve boxes. Thatch your lawn and remove the excess. This doesn’t have to be done every year, but it’s a good idea to do it every couple of years if you mulch your lawn when mowing during the summer. Aerating your lawn will help water, fertilizer and air into the roots of your lawn. Add a spring fertilizer to your lawn to help give it a boost. Remove dandelions and other weeds before they go to seed and spread throughout your lawn and the neighbour’s lawn.

Irrigation Don’t start your system too early. You want to wait until the frost and the moisture is out of the ground. When starting (prior to turning on your main line water supply) open up a zone so the water has somewhere to go- this will prevent any damage. Go through and run each zone checking for pressure. Make sure there are no broken heads and they’re adjusted properly for coverage; this is easier to do now, in the spring time, before everything gets overgrown. Set your controller for start times and zone times and you should be good to go! Planting Beds Now is the time for transplanting plants that you may find too crowded in some areas or plants are too big for where they were originally planted. It’s also a good time for weeding. Weeds can get out of control in planting

beds if you don’t stay on top of it. It’s also much easier to work with in the spring, while the soil is soft and the weeds are small. You can also freshen up your planting beds with a new mulch ground cover that not only makes your planting bed look great, but will also slow down the weed growth.

Patios/Driveways (Brick & Concrete) To give your patio or driveway a clean, new look, you can edge the lawn around the perimeter to prevent the lawn growing up over the edges. Pressure wash and clean the surface to remove any growth in cracks or joints. If you have paving stones, top up joints with a fine sand or a polymeric sand which helps prevent weed growth in the joints. Install a sealer- this will give your patio or driveway a fresh look. SPRING 2019 | NORTHERN HOME

simple do-it-yourself

gift wrapping 1. 2. 6. 3. 4. 5.

By Michelle Sandu Citizen Staff

My mom is an artist in every aspect of her life. I noticed it in the simple things like how she would pack my lunch for school or when she would clean her house. Two years ago, she bought a bottle of wine to give to a friend and she couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find anything to wrap it in. She remembered she had just bought white flour sack towels (Walmart - $6.94 for 5) for her home and had an idea.

Lay the towel flat.

Fold the towel in half.

Fold the top edges of the towel down to make the towel look like a rose!

Place the wine bottle on top of the towel.

Roll the bottle up in the towel.

Secure the neck of the wrapped bottle with a ribbon or string.

SPRING 2019 | NORTHERN HOME

Hanstone Indian Pearl

Hanstone Specchio White

quartz vs.

Hanstone Tranquility

granite

By Carl Harasym General Manager, Vanway Kitchen + Bath

Irah 102 Lima

Irah 501 Cascade

Photos Submitted

We regularly hear many questions about the difference between quartz and granite countertops, such as: What’s the difference between quartz vs granite? Is quartz better than granite? Which is harder, quartz or granite? What is the heat resistance of quartz vs granite? The answer: Quartz and granite are both stone products and they’re both in high

demand, but the similarities end there. Read on to see how they differ in terms of appearance, heat resistance, scratch resistance, and care.

Appearance Granite is natural stone. It’s composed of three different minerals (quartz, feldspar, and mica) and is cut from rock quarries in giant slabs. Because it’s natural, granite comes in a wide range of colours and patterns. No two granite countertops will be the same due to the natural varia-

tions in the stone. Quartz is engineered stone. Ground quartz is combined with resins and polymers that form near-indestructible bonds. Because it is engineered, the appearance can be controlled somewhat. The colours and patterns can be customized to a certain extent.

Scratch Resistance Granite is a durable stone, used in buildings and memorials for centuries. You’ll need to use a cutting board on your granite kitchen counSPRING 2019 | NORTHERN HOME

tertops – but that’s to protect your knives, not the stone! Because granite is one of the hardest materials in the world, cutting directly on it will dull your knives extremely quickly. It is possible for granite to chip or crack, however, if something heavy is dropped on it. Avoid dropping heavy pots or pans on your granite surface. Quartz is harder than granite. In fact, quartz is as scratch resistant as a countertop can be – but that doesn’t mean it can take prolonged jabbing with a knife or sharp tool. A cutting board is always a good idea, not only to eliminate any danger from knives but also to keep a sanitary surface where you prepare food.

Stain Resistance A quartz kitchen countertop is able to repel moisture. Can’t get to that spilled tea or red wine immediately? Not a prob-

NORTHERN HOME | SPRING 2019

lem. Quartz will hold its own against the spill until you get to it. Similarly, contaminants, such as germs and odors from raw meat or fish, will not penetrate the surface; your countertop will remain hygienic and odor-free. Other the other hand, granite is porous. As such, it is susceptible to stains. It needs to be sealed upon installation and then resealed as needed, typically on an annual basis. If you spill a liquid such as wine or grape juice on your granite countertop, clean it up immediately. In this quartz vs granite countertops issue, quartz is the winner.

Heat Resistance Quartz has a reputation for withstanding at least 300 degrees F, but problems can occur when the change in temperature is sudden and drastic. For instance, placing

a roasting pan right from the oven onto the counter and leaving it there while you finish dinner is asking for trouble. We recommend using trivets or hot plates on your quartz kitchen countertops. By contrast, granite is extremely resistant to heat . Have to put that hot pot or pan down in a hurry? No worries with the granite countertop. However, using a trivet or hot pad is still a good idea to protect the counter from grime on the bottom of the pot or pan that might scratch or pit it. There’s also the risk that the sealant used to seal the granite could burn or discolour from the heat. In this quartz vs granite countertops issue, granite is the winner.

Cleaning Cleaning quartz is easy! Use a soft cotton cloth or paper towel with warm water and mild dish soap. You can also spray

it with a cleaner designed for quartz countertops then wipe it clean. Dried on food, grease or gum can be scraped up with a plastic putty knife, then cleaned as usual. Granite is also easy to clean— a soft sponge and soapy water, a gentle cleansing scrub for stubborn stains. Don’t use abrasive pads or steel wool, bleach, ammonia or ammonia-based products, acidic products such as vinegar. As with quartz, read the labels before using cleaners. In this quartz vs granite countertops issue, both varieties of stone are easy to clean. In conclusion, the quartz vs granite countertops debate leans towards quartz, but both stones have benefits and drawbacks. Your choice depends on your lifestyle and the kind of use your countertop will get. Both will improve the aesthetic quotient of your kitchen and can last up to 50 years.

spring add a touch of

Door Wreath $30 - $65

Spring time in Prince George is a bit delayed in comparison to the Lower Mainland. So I decided to shop around local home décor and plant shops to see how I could incorporate spring into my northern home- even if the weather isn’t in full bloom.

Tea Towels $10 - $30

Colourful Picture Frames or Pictures of Flowers $8 - $45

Throw Pillows $40 - $150

SPRING 2019 | NORTHERN HOME

Succulents & Air Plants (including the pot/holder) $10 - $45

Wall Hook $12 - $40

Placemats $12 - $30

NORTHERN HOME | SPRING 2019

Citizen News Service Photos

Create a morning sanctuary with a

well-ordered coffee station by Jura Koncius Citizen News Service

Tricia Huntley says coffee is a priority for her, but there is no way she could start her day at a chaotic Starbucks. Her morning Zen moment begins at the charming coffee station she created in her Washington home. The ritual starts with grinding Peet’s French Roast beans, brewing the blend, and drinking it either from a Wedgwood teacup or a hand-painted pottery mug. Everything she needs, including sweeteners in vintage bowls, spoons and a spoon rest, is arranged on a tray in a niche in her kitchen. “Coffee is the one thing you can depend on for starting your day,” says Huntley, an interior designer. “Normally I like my counters clear, but coffee is a priority, and I created a special corner for it next to the refrigerator and under a cabinet. It’s nice to have one thing you can count on.” A bit of order is important in the morning, says Clea Shearer, co-founder of the Home Edit organizing com-

pany - “just as important as a cup of caffeine.” Shearer and her co-founder, Joanna Teplin, have written a book, “The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals,” coming out in March, which features uber-organized coffee and tea setups with white mugs stacked in rows and tea boxes lined up by color. “What’s better than your own beverage station?” Teplin says. “It’s like your own little restaurant.” These stations can be as simple or as fancy as you want; the point is to have everything in one place. Rustic bowls, dainty tea cups and mixand-match teaspoons add personal style. Shelves, trays and drawers keep things or-

ganized. Instagram is sprinkled with photos of pretty little coffee pods nestled like bonbons in glossy wooden drawers fitted with dividers or tea bags arranged by color. You’ll see these setups in sleek trophy kitchens, on wooden farmhouse tables and in urban apartment nooks. In a chaotic world, these wellordered spots seem to be sparking good feelings. “It’s a tiny little space in your life that matters. Making a cup of coffee makes me feel good,” says Ashley Murphy, cofounder of the Neat Method. “There aren’t enough personal moments in our lives that we get to pause and enjoy something.”

Decorators, kitchen designers and professional organizers all get involved in creating and accessorizing these stations, which can look ultramodern, traditionally charming or just plain cute. But “anyone can do it,” Teplin says. “It’s such a little amount of work for the satisfaction and practicality.” Designer Barry Dixon says he doesn’t lay out a kitchen for clients without analyzing their morning routines and then specifying a spot for coffee, tea, espresso or latte. “It’s a byproduct of the Starbucksization of our homes,” Dixon says. “It’s a big part of 21stcentury life.” Dixon’s own warm yellow kitchen at his 1907 country house in Warrenton, Virginia, has a station stocked with large ceramic mugs in black, celadon green, mustard yellow and burgundy. He has 40 varieties of tea stacked in a cabinet and a drawer for Keurig pods. If he has guests, he lays out a tea towel, a cup of tiny silver spoons with elephants on them that belonged to his parents, and his grandmother’s cow-shaped creamer.

SPRING 2019 | NORTHERN HOME

Some homeowners prefer to keep supplies behind closed doors. Julia Walter, showroom manager of Boffi Georgetown, a high-end Italian kitchen and bath company, says more customers are asking for coffee and breakfast stations, often with doors to allow for uncluttered counters. She describes them as a “modernized form of the appliance garage.” Walter adds: “Often these stations are multifunctional. In the morning you use the coffee machine, toaster and blender, then in the evening if you have guests, you use it to serve wine and then coffee again after dinner.” Richard Anuszkiewicz, a kitchen designer at Alt Breeding Associates in Annapolis, Maryland, likes to design beverage stations so house guests can help themselves. “A kitchen is much more of the living room these days where everyone is hanging out, so we want everything properly stored,” he says. For one Annapolis family, he placed coffee makers and breakfast appliances on shelves on either side of a range. Then he installed marble panel doors on either side that can be lifted or lowered with the push of a button to keep the stations out of sight when not in use. A common mistake people make is setting up a kitchen with coffee-making elements scattered throughout, organizers say. The hulking machine may be at one end of the counter, the bean grinder somewhere else and sweeteners in a pantry. Murphy also sees out-of-control amounts of tea and coffee cups. “We go to a client’s home and often see three shelves full of coffee mugs. Even if they have sentimental value, we believe that no one will ever need 40 coffee mugs and you are taking over valuable real NORTHERN HOME | SPRING 2019

estate if you have this many.” She suggests keeping 12, and her preference is for matching mugs for a calmer look. “The simplicity is wonderful and they line up perfectly when they are all the same size,” she says. Tea bags, she says, are problematic because consumers often pick up boxes at random and never get rid of any. Tea does have an expiration date, she says, but people rarely cull their stash. Larry Rosen, president of Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens in Rockville, Maryland, says he has noticed a big jump in interest from clients in beverage stations in the past 10 years. “It came with the popularity of the Miele coffee machine and Keurig cups,” he says. Miele’s sales have spiked as well. Kathrin Jahnke, Miele’s senior product manager, says the sleek built-in integrated coffee systems, which create the full range of hot beverages, cost about $3,300 to $4,100 (not including installation). Some models store up to 10 individual user profiles, so everyone can get their favorite blend with the push of a button. For any setup, Murphy’s tips include positioning the area as close to the sink and refrigerator as possible and using a rolling cart if counter space is in short supply. Use labeled canisters to hold coffee and filters and acrylic drawer dividers to line up pods, sweetener packets, honey and other essentials. Mugs can be hung from hooks for easy access. “If something picks up the aesthetic and tonal quality of your house and represents your style, you are more likely to maintain it,” Shearer says. “A coffee station starts your morning off on the right foot. If we can have one semblance of order in our lives, we will take it.”

the black toilet: An unconventional bathroom accessory that’s back

by Jura Koncius Citizen News Service

When the jet-black toilet was introduced by Kohler in the 1920s, it was considered so avant-garde that it was featured in a 1929 Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibit about the design of the “modern bath and dressing room.” This spring, when designer Scott Sanders installed a black toilet (Kohler’s Memoirs Stately) and black sink (Kohler’s Caxton undermount) in his powder room at the 2018 Kips Bay Decorator Show House, it was still considered avant-garde. “A white toilet and a white sink are the most expected thing you can do in a bathroom,” says Sanders, who is based in New York. “A powder room should be chic and interesting. It’s great to treat your guests to something really unexpected.” Sanders admits it’s not a look

let models that come in black, for everyone. “It’s not the first and spokeswoman Lenora time I’ve used one. Sometimes Campos says the company has if you suggest it, though, you been getting more requests for do get some pushback. ‘A black them recently. toilet?’ They look at you like The styles and shades of black you have two heads.” But Sandtoilets do evolve over time. In ers explains that basic black blends in more than white does, the 1920s, black toilets were inspired by art deco; in the 1980s, allowing for a greater number they had a of wallpaper resurgence choices. because Betsy FroA powder room of the elich, a Kohler should be chic and popularity marketing interesting. It’s of Italian manager, says great to treat your modern black has been guests to something design in its line aland black most continureally unexpected lacquer. ously for 90 – Scott Sanders, designer Today, years. But in fashionsome decades, forward such as now, sales of black go up. To put it in designers are showing them in dramatic ways and in different perspective, the overwhelming finishes and textures. Kohler choice in toilets is still white or biscuit. But black is No. 3, and it has more than 30 toilet options seems to be getting more atten- in black (as well as 40 black sinks) in a wide range of styles tion these days. Luxury brand Toto sells 15 toi- and prices. And the brand is

seeing a lot of interest in a new matte finish it is offering in Numi, its luxury “intelligent toilet.” Part of the reason for the surge, Froelich says, is the recent popularity of black stainless kitchen appliances and matte black finishes on cars. Also, she says, “You see a lot of moody man-cave bathrooms, and that look is brought to life through the use of black fixtures. Black gives the toilet a look of sophistication that the standard white toilet doesn’t offer.” Sanders says he chose black to add drama to his tiny space at Kips Bay. To dress it up more, he used brushed brass hardware that had a gold hint. He says the black looks great with dim lights, a burning candle and fresh flowers. “The black tends to blend in more, while a white toilet is all you see when you walk in.” Other designers are not convinced. “I’m not too fond of them,” says Camille Saum, a Washington, D.C.-area designer. “I don’t like the water spots that show up on the shiny black finishes.” New York designer Nick Olsen, who grew up in a house in Florida with a black toilet, pedestal sink and tub that his mom was never fond of, says he finds that look quirky and “a bit too out there” for residential bathrooms. “It would require a very adventurous and open client,” Olsen says. “In a restaurant bathroom, a black toilet could be glamorous and sexy. But at home, it could feel like a 1980s nightclub.” SPRING 2019 | NORTHERN HOME

10 ways to refresh your kitchen

if you can’t do a full reno by Lindsey M. Roberts Citizen News Service

Who hasn’t stared at their kitchen and wished HGTV could sweep in and update it? Short a television show’s budget and ability to bring in contractors, the next best thing might be talking to people who have decorated for TV: Orlando Soria, who is launching his own HGTV show in the fall called “Unspouse My House,” and Karin Bennett, who was a lead designer for a season of “Property Brothers.”

Citizen News Service Photos

But first take some advice from professional organizer Jeanie Engelbach, founder and owner of apartmentjeanie in New York. “Organization of any space in the home is the foundation,” she says. “The kitchen should be the cleanest room in the home; however, it is often the most highly trafficked, congested and forgotten space.”

Clear out the clutter, put things back purposefully, pick a project or two, and you could have a new kitchen in a weekend. Really! 1. Get rid of excess Go through everything in your kitchen and set aside tools or appliances you don’t use. “If you’re not making fantastic-looking fruit salads all the time, you can let go of the melon baller,” Engelbach says. If you find later that you do use the waffle maker quite often, you can put it back on the counter. Toss that collection of mismatched glassware, too. “Being an adult means letting go of free pint glasses from college,” she adds. 2. Put everything in a logical place When you put things back onto your shelves and into your drawers, organize for the way you use your kitchen. Put knives near cutting boards close to the sink. Gather coffee supplies together on a tray. For one of her clients, Engelbach made a station for the schoolage kids to put their lunches together, with drawers for snacks and containers. 3. Paint something big If you can’t stomach the work or don’t have time to paint cabinets, paint some walls. One bold accent wall might require only a half-gallon of paint and an afternoon of work, says Bennett, who lives outside Toronto. Or paint your floor. “If you have a wood floor but you hate the wood’s color, you can paint it white,” she adds. With the right paint, you can also paint tile flooring or a backsplash - Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams have good options, she says. 4. Update hardware Both Bennett and Soria suggest installing new cabinet hardware. “One of the most SPRING 2019 | NORTHERN HOME

common questions clients ask is whether all of the metals have to match,” says Soria, who is based in Los Angeles. “But I think you can really mix it up.” He says that black finish looks good with brass finish, or even with nickel zinc. Mix up shapes, too. Try knobs on the upper cabinets and pulls on the lowers, a strategy Bennett employed for her own kitchen. For even less money, you can spraypaint your existing hardware. “I am a spray-paint queen,” Bennett says. “Unscrew those knobs and take them out to your garage.” She suggests matte or brushed gold. 5. Change out light fixtures Updating fixtures may seem like a project only for homeowners, but Soria was able to change out the lights in his rental with his landlord’s approval. When choosing a new fixture, consider how much light you want. In a dark kitchen, Bennett says, the lampshades should be translucent or glass. “Then you’ll get a lot more light and not just directional light” shining downward. She finds inexpensive pendants and more at Target, HomeSense and HomeGoods. 6. Accessorize well “Even just the type or amount of accessories you have in your kitchen can completely change the look,” Bennett says. With a classic white kitchen and black countertops, she’d add natural wood in cutting boards leaning against a backsplash or wooden bowls on a shelf. “A copper or terra-cotta plant pot looks amazing,” she adds. If you’re looking for more vibrantly colored accessories, Bennett says to use the color in no more than three accessories. Think, too, of how those appliances on your countertop can be accessories in their own right. Engelbach says Smeg’s appliances in particular are attractive, and adds that even a new kettle and toaster can re-energize a kitchen. 7. Put down a washable throw rug “They’re making some really good washable rugs for NORTHERN HOME | SPRING 2019

the kitchen now,” Soria says, pointing to Hook &amp; Loom as an example. Try a 2-by-3foot rug in front of the sink or a 2-by-8-foot runner down a long kitchen. It adds “softness and color,” he says. “And you want a washable rug because, in a kitchen, there are sauces flying everywhere.” 8. Hang art “Something you don’t see all the time is putting up art,” Soria says. “I’ve put up art on my backsplash using self-adhesive foam tape.” He says it can help anchor those organized stations, making them look visually united. Engelbach agrees. “I think it’s nice to have fabulous artwork,” she says. “For people who have open floor plans and open kitchens, they need to be cognizant of the fact that the kitchen is part of the living space.” If you can see a kitchen wall while you’re sitting on your living room sofa, you’ll want it to be aesthetically pleasing. 9. Try removable wallpaper and tile For renters and non-renters alike, Engelbach recommends temporary wallpaper. Many companies make these, including Tempaper Designs and Chasing Paper. Engelbach says that while many of her New York clients are in rented apartments, even those who aren’t don’t know if they want to commit to the expense of fully adhesive wallpaper. For a “very-budget update” for a backsplash, Soria suggests self-adhesive penny tile, easy enough to find on Amazon, at Home Depot or at Bed Bath &amp; Beyond. “If you don’t have the time or the money to actually tile, you can actually use this wall detail.” 10. Change out a window treatment Soria just finished his parents’ kitchen remodel and added a patterned Roman shade. “It’s a small update that you can do,” he says. To save even more, Bennett suggests, sew the shade yourself with remnants or going-out-of-stock fabric.