F | | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 , 2024
ANTIQUES: The mystique of opal glass, F6
IN THE GARDEN: The importance of fall fertilization, F4
LIGHTING: A renewed focus on the power of illumination feels long overdue, F5
Fall’s a perfect time to plant a tree. Some tips on doing it right
If you’ve been pining to plant a tree, now is a great time.
By Jessica Damiano Associated Press
THE SEASON’S COOLing temperatures and still-warm soil mean less stress on newly planted trees, which allows them to direct more energy into growing strong roots rather than struggling to survive the heat and drought often seen in summer. And, because the trees are preparing for dormancy, that energy doesn’t have to be shared with root and flower growth.
Since planting a tree is a long-term investment, it’s important to get it right, and that will require a bit of research.
For starters, choose the right tree. Yes, this means selecting a tree that will make you happy, but it also means taking your hardiness zone, soil type, sunlight exposure and natural moisture levels into consideration.
The tree’s mature size is important, too, lest it grow into overhead electrical wires, eaves or other overhangs, or
its roots grow to interfere with underground utilities. When digging a hole, make it twice as wide as the tree’s root ball and exactly as deep. Then remove the tree from its container and place it in the center of the hole, taking care to support it under its roots rather than holding it by the trunk.
Evaluate its depth. It should land level with the ground around it so that when planted, all the roots are covered with soil, but the flare where the bottom of the trunk attaches to them is not. If the top of the root ball is too high, remove the tree and dig the hole deeper; if it’s too low, add more soil to the bottom of the hole, tamp it firmly and check again.
If your new tree came balled-and-burlapped rather than in a container, that means it was grown in a field and dug up for sale. Although often larger, these trees are more susceptible to transplant shock because their roots are severed in the digging process. Canvas or burlap is tied around the remaining root system to retain soil and prevent the roots from falling apart during transport. Sometimes, roots are enclosed in a
wire cage.
After you’ve situated the tree at the proper depth in the hole, cut and remove the twine (or use wire cutters to remove the cage) and cut away as much of the burlap as possible, allowing the portion under the roots to remain; it will gradually decompose without interfering with root growth. (However, if the roots are wrapped in a synthetic material like plastic or vinyl, remove it all.)
If the roots appears tightly wound, gently loosen them with a garden fork to allow them to grow outward into the soil.
Next, confirm the tree is straight, then backfill the hole with soil, periodically tamping it down to eliminate air pockets. Never mound soil up against the trunk.
Thoroughly moisten the soil with a slow flow of water. Allow the surface to dry for a day or so, then add 2 inches of compost or well-rotted manure, topped with 2 inches of wood chips or mulch, over the soil, extending at least as far as the branches extend overhead. Push those materials 4 inches away from the trunk (never mound soil, amendments or mulch up against trunks “volcano” style; the practice slowly kills trees).
Water your new tree regularly during its first 12 months, especially during hot and dry spells. Then, familiarize yourself with the species’ requirements. Some tree types will need supplemental watering throughout their lives, but others will not.
Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the Associated Press and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter.
These images, along with the cover image, were provided by Jessica Damiano showing trees on display at Giordano’s Garden & Gifts in Sea Cliff, N.Y., earlier this month
(PHOTOS BY JESSICA DAMIANO VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS)
lee reich | In the Garden
Fall fertilization a key to strong root systems
ALTHOUGH shoot growth of woody plants grind to a halt in autumn, root growth continues until soil temperatures drop below about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Root and shoot growth of woody plants and lawn grass are asynchronous, with root growth at a maximum in early spring and fall, and shoot growth at a maximum in summer. So, roots aren’t just barely growing this time of year; they’re growing more vigorously than in midsummer.
Remember the song lyrics: “House built on a weak foundation will not stand, no, no”? Well, the same goes for plants. (Plant with a weak root system will not be healthy, no, no.) Fertilization in the fall, rather than in winter, spring, or summer, promotes strong root systems in plants.
The nutrient plants are most hungry for is nitrogen. But nitrogen is also the most evanescent of nutrients in the soil, subject to leaching down through the soil by rainwater or floating off into the air as a gas. The goal is to apply nitrogen so that it can be taken up by plants in the fall, with some left over to remain in the soil through winter and be in place for plant use next spring.
Two conditions foster nitrogen loss as gas. The first is a waterlogged soil. Nitrogen also evaporates from manure that is left exposed to sun and wind on top of the soil. Manure either should be dug into the soil right after spreading, or composted, after which it can be spread on top of the soil, or dug in. Leaching of nitrogen fertilizer is a more common and serious problem, especially on sandy soils. The way to prevent leaching is to apply a form of nitrogen that either is not readily soluble, or that clings to the soil particles. Most chemical fertilizers — whether from a bag of 1010-10, 5-10-10, or any other
The goal is to apply nitrogen so that it can be taken up by plants in the fall, with some left over to remain in the soil through winter and be in place for plant use next spring.
formulation — are soluble, although a few are specially formulated to release nitrogen slowly.
The two major forms of soluble nitrogen that plants can “eat” are nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen. Nitrate nitrogen will wash right through the soil; ammonium nitrogen, because it has a positive charge, can be grabbed and held onto negatively charged soil particles. Therefore, if you’re going to purchase a chemical fertilizer to apply in the fall, always buy a type that is high in ammonium nitrogen. The forms of nitrogen in a fertilizer bag are spelled out right on its label. Rather than wade through the chemical jargon, nitrogen loss through the winter can be averted by using an organic nitrogen fertilizer. Nitrogen in most such fertilizers is locked up and held in an insoluble form. As soil microbes solubilize the nitrogen locked up in organic fertilizers, it is released
first as ammonium nitrogen. So, by using an organic nitrogen source, the nitrogen is not soluble to begin with, and when it becomes soluble through the action of microbes, it’s in a form that clings to the soil particles and not wash out of the soil.
(Except in very acidic soils, other soil microbes then go on to convert ammonium nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen. This reaction screeches almost to a standstill at temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, so the ammonium nitrogen can just sit there, clinging to soil particles, until roots reawaken in late winter or early spring.)
Common sources of organic nitrogen include soybean meal, cottonseed meal, fish meal and manure. Hoof and horn meal, leather dust, feather dust and hair are esoteric sources, though plants will make use of them as if they were just ordinary, organic fertilizers. Even organic mulches, such as wood chips, straw and leaves, will
GARDEN NOTES
STOCKBRIDGE Upcoming program at Berkshire Botanical Garden
nourish the ground as they decompose over time.
The Cadillac of fertilizers is compost. Compost offers a slew of nutrients, in addition to nitrogen, released slowly into the soil as microbes work away on it. Note that compost — most organic fertilizers, in fact — are not the ticket for a starving plant that needs a quick fix of food.
Every year I spread compost an inch deep beneath especially hungry plants like vegetables and young trees and shrubs to keep them well fed. Less hungry plants get one of the above-mentioned organic mulches. The benefits of these applications continue, trailing off, for a few years, so annual applications build up continual reserves of soil nutrients, doled out by soil microbes, that translate to healthy plants and soil.
Come visit my farmden at http://www.leereich.com/ blog
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming program: Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., “Sketching in the Kitchen.” This workshop, led by Jean Mackay, will provide tips and techniques for sketching outdoors and help you gain confidence working directly from nature. Learn to create expressive lines and employ simple washes to convey the essence of your subject quickly, capturing the beauty and changing nature of fall in the garden. Explore autumn flowers and trees and their fruits, nuts, and seeds using pencil, pen, and wash techniques. Participants will sketch outside for part of the time, if the weather permits, and bring nature inside if it doesn’t, so please dress accordingly. Instruction will be tailored to various skill levels. Materials list provided upon registration. Cost $100 members, $120 nonmembers; Saturday, Oct. 26, 1 to 3:30 p.m., “Preserving Apples the Freund Way.” In this workshop led by Theresa Freund of Freund’s Farm Market and Bakery, participants will turn a variety of locally grown apples into apple butter. Beginning with the applesauce process, make a thick, spiced spread to use on toast, oatmeal, meats, and other foods. Participants will take home 8 to 10 half-pint jars of butter. Cost $100 members, $130 nonmembers. To register or for more information, visit www.berkshirebotanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub. com two weeks prior to publication.
Of the many ways to feed plants, mulching with compost is one for the best. (LEE REICH PHOTO)
The crusade against overhead lighting
By R achel Kurzius
The Washington Post
MUSIC ICON MARI-
ah Carey is best known for her love songs, but this week she expressed her distinct hate for a particular foe: overhead lighting.
“Listen, I can’t with overhead lighting,” Carey said on the podcast “Las Culturistas,” during a segment in which people have a minute to air specific — and humorous — grievances. She jokingly said she was “tortured by the hideous lighting in every elevator, doorway, gyms. … Shut the lights. Turn them out. I don’t want to see them.”
Her salvo struck a nerve.
David Warfel, founding designer at Light Can Help You, agrees with Carey. “Overhead lighting is a curse that most of us live under,” says Warfel, who is based in Madison, Wis. “And I would say that anyone who says they hate overhead lighting is basically saying, ‘Hey, I’m a human being.’”
There are compelling reasons bright light from above can ruin the mood or make someone feel ill at ease. However, the phrase “overhead lighting” has become a catchall for many types of lighting people don’t like: recessed lights, boob lights, LED wafer lights and whatever other ceiling fixtures are on the outs. Indeed, the lighting designers we spoke to don’t even agree on what, precisely, constitutes “overhead lighting.” The jury was split, for example, on whether chandelier and pendant fixtures count.
Still, designers caution against a full-throated disavowal of all lighting affixed to the ceiling. When placed and directed correctly, overhead fixtures, even of the oft-maligned recessed type, can create light that bounces off the walls and ceilings before hitting your eyes, resulting in a soft and comfortable glow. The problem is that most of the time, people don’t bother to set them up this way.
Carey isn’t the only celebrity to put overhead lighting
in the spotlight by accusing it of providing overly harsh and unflattering illumination.
“Nothing makes me angrier than overhead lighting,” the typically cheerful actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore said last year.
A viral TikTok from Australian TV host Gemma Driscoll directed particular scorn toward what is often referred to as “the big light.” She says “I don’t have many rules for my house, but I do have one, and that is that we never, ever, ever, ever, ever, eh-vah use the big light.” The audio is a popular soundtrack on TikTok and Instagram posts where users show off their lamps, sconces, candles and other sources of light.
The rationale against “the big light” is simple: Direct overhead lighting casts shadows and creates glare. Even worse, light from above typically lands in our glare-sensitive peripheral vision.
“Now that lighting is getting better and brighter, it just means the glare is getting worse and worse,” Warfel says. “While we have the technology and the scientific understanding of the human body to deliver better electric light than at any other point in human history, I think lighting in our homes especially is getting worse instead of better.”
So why are the big light and its ilk so common? Part of it has to do with maximizing profit, says Dave Konstantin, founder of Konstantin Lighting Design. And the fact that often, no one with specific knowledge about lighting design consults on projects. “I’ve gone into multimillion dollar homes that are brand new, just built,” he says. “And the builder has just put very cheap recessed lights throughout the entire house.
… A lot of people are totally immune to bad lighting.”
The notion of having a big light in the middle of the room is also a bit of a historic holdover, Warfel says. A fixture up high sheds light more broadly
Designers contend that layers of light are the key to making a room feel welcoming. An overhead light can be a part of the equation, particularly if it’s on a dimmer.
Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting
Opal glass mystique ranges from magical to unlucky
CRYSTAL, AMETHYST, amber, emerald, ruby: Decorative glass is often made to capture the vivid color and intense sparkle of gemstones. It isn’t limited to transparent stones, either. A type of opaque matte glass called opal glass or opaline became popular in Europe in the mid-19th century.
Inspired by Venetian lattimo (milk glass) made since the 1500s and English Bristol glass of the 1700s, opal glass is a semi-opaque glass, usually white or a light color, with a slight iridescent sheen. Decorators found that it made a beautiful background for gilt or enamel designs, like this blue opaline vase that sold at Alderfer Auction for $307.
The auction described the vase as “French style,” and opaline was at its most popular in France in the mid-to late-1800s. About the same time, the opal gemstone experienced a resurgence in popularity. Believed to have magic powers and healing properties in ancient and medieval times, it was considered unlucky in the 1800s.
One of the superstitions surrounding it is that, as the October birthstone, it brought bad luck to any wearer born in any other month. However, Queen Victoria, who was born in May, defied superstitions with her love of opals. She wore opal jewelry, gave it as gifts and promoted the newly established Australian opal mines. By the art nouveau period of the late 1800s, opals were a favorite stone for jewelry. Perhaps this influenced the popularity of opal glass.
Q. I am wondering how much my 1932 Luke Appling jersey might be worth. The interesting thing about this jersey is that it is the only year that Mr. Appling wore the number 8 over his historic career.
A. Luke Appling was a shortstop for the Chicago White
Opal glass, also called opaline, shares the opacity, pale color and iridescent shimmer of opal, the October birthstone. (ALDERFER AUCTION)
Sox from 1930 to 1950. He was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964. Gameworn jerseys are some of the most valuable items in sports collecting; recently, the jersey Babe Ruth wore for the 1932 World Series sold for $24.1 million at Heritage Auctions, a record price for sports collectibles. Important factors include the jersey’s age, condition, rarity and historical significance. If your jersey is a game-worn one, not a replica, it could be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars. An autographed Luke Appling White Sox jersey from 1947 sold for over $4,000 in 2009, while a 1937 Luke Appling gameworn jersey sold for $20,400 in 2017 at Heritage Auctions. Sports Collectors Digest sportscollectorsdigest.com, owned by the same company as Kovels Antique Trader, has more specific information about sports collectibles.
Q. I have a pumpkin that I purchased in the 1990s at a holiday bazaar. As I recall, I paid $5 for it. The pumpkin is round with an opening
in back, a wire loop inside and cut-out eyes, nose and mouth with paper lining. It is attached to a stick. What, if anything, are you able to say about the pumpkin? Do you think it is homemade or manufactured? Are you able to possibly date it without seeing it? Does it have any value?
A. Your pumpkin sounds like one of the Halloween parade lanterns that were popular in the early 1900s. They were usually made of painted tin. The wire loop inside yours is a candleholder. Many companies made and sold lanterns like these. Halloween collectibles are extremely popular and can sell for high prices. If yours is authentic, consider yourself extremely lucky; an early tin Halloween lantern can sell for about $500 to thousands of dollars! There were also papier-mache lanterns, which usually sell for lower prices; about $100 to $500. But be careful: there are some very convincing modern reproductions. For more information about Halloween collectibles, look
CURRENT PRICES
Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.
Peanuts, wristwatch, stainless steel, red dial, Snoopy, dancing, arms move, Woodstock, numeral and bar indices, red band, windup, 1965, 8 inches, $60.
Box, lid, porcupine quills, round, four sets of three red stripes, three strawberries on lid, Ojibwe, Ontario, Canada, 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches, $85. Quilt, patchwork, pinwheel, yellow and red pinwheel blocks alternate with green blocks, wide red border, hand sewn, Pennsylvania, c. 1900, 76 x 79 inches, $185.
Silver-American, grape scissors, dolphin, figural handles, hallmarks, Gorham, 5 3/8 inches, $190.
Art Deco, pen stand, dog figure, Greyhound, silvered metal, black marble base, rectangular, 8 x 12 x 6 inches, $250.
for books like “Halloween in America” by Stuart Schneider, “Collectible Halloween” by Pamela E. Apkarian-Russel, “Halloween Collectibles” by Pauline and Dan Campanelli or “Vintage Halloween Collectibles” by Mark B. Ledenbach. Ledenbach is one of the nation’s leading experts on Halloween collectibles. His website, halloweencollector. com, offers a great deal of helpful information. He will also answer your questions about vintage Halloween items through his website.
TIP: Do not wash or rinse gold-decorated glass with very hot water or strong soap. It will remove some of the gold.
Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures, the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses
Furniture, chair, midcentury modern, teak, upholstered seat and floating backrest, vinyl, open arms, 29 x 22 inches, three pieces, $310. Print, Ransom, Fletcher C., Yer Out, baseball scene, home plate, Christy Mathewson throwing out Honus Wagner, signed, frame, 22 x 26 inches, $450.
Furniture, umbrella stand, porcelain, Old Paris style, pink ground, painted flower bouquet in oval cartouche, gilt trim, gilt metal mounts, dragon and scroll handles, pierced rim, 22 inches, $600.
Handel, lamp, three-light, chipped ice shade, reverse painted, yellow, flowering vine around rim, blackeyed Susans, Teroma, dome shape, signed, patinated metal base, c. 1920, 23 inches, $1,550.
Steuben, vase, blue, Cluthra, swirled, bubbles, flared rim, shoulders, tapered base, hand blown, acid stamp mark, c. 1930, 10 1/2 inches, $2,770.
or email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels.com.
Average rate on 30-year mortgage in the US rises to 6.44%
Rate reaches highest level in 8 weeks
By A lex Veiga Associated Press
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. rose for the third week in a row, reaching its high-
Deeds
AGAWAM
Debra A. Mason, Daniel P. Bryden, Michael J. Bryden and Julie M. Morgan to Kevin Pfefferle and Meghan Pfefferle, 91 Carr Ave., $375,000.
Jesse Mason and Lillian S. Mason to MJ Homes LLC, 89 Riverview Ave., $260,200.
John T. Snellinger and Nicole Snellinger to Gregory Orr, 9F Castle Hills Road, $330,000.
Silverbrook Environmental LLC, to MJ Homes LLC, 148 N West St., Lot A, $240,000.
SM Real Estate Investments LLC, to David Sirois and Renee Sirois, 3b Sabrina Way, Unit 3B, $445,000.
AMHERST
Monroe S.Z. Rabin and Joan G. Rabin to Vanessa Cardinale and Emmanuel Hernandez Febo, 21 Atwater Circle, $610,000.
Claudia A. O’Brien and Claudia O’Brien to Claudia A. O’Brien, trustee, Claudia O’Brien, trustee, and Claudia O’Brien Revocable Trust, 1201 South East St., $100.
ASHFIELD
David A. Fessenden and Dawn Fessenden, “aka” Dawn C. Fessenden, to Ariel Brooks and Nathaniel Brooks, South Street, $65,000.
BELCHERTOWN
Steven A. Ross, trustee, and QS Lending Two Trust to Evan Matthew Beaulieu, 252 Amherst Road, $103,000.
Anthony R. Green and Eve Green to Ellen Strycharz and Thomas M. Paluszynski, 320 Barton Ave., $715,000.
Marcel A. Nunes to Tang Properties LLC, Oasis Drive, $115,000.
William H. Fitzpatrick and Cassandra Fitzpatrick to Erin Holmes and Adrian Lethbridge, 65 Pond-
est level in eight weeks.
The rate rose to 6.44% from 6.32% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 7.63%.
The last time the average rate was higher was on August 22, when it was 6.46%.
Three weeks ago, the average rate
view Circle, $625,000.
BERNARDSTON
Beverley C. Kerber and Peter P. Kerber to River Arts LLC, 1 Brattleboro Road, $110,000.
BUCKLAND
Joseph O. Scalise and Luke Scalise to Steven Lantner and Bethe Palmer, 32 Charlemont Road, $300,000.
Grinnell Real Estate LLC, to Cara Leach and Charles William Leach, 48 Prospect St., $325,000.
CHARLEMONT
Berkshire Rafting LLC, to River GSO LLC, 48 Main St., $365,000.
CHICOPEE
Andrew Placzek to Guy Delia and Marie Delia, 148 Woodbridge Road, $245,800.
Angel L. Chiclana and Sandra E. Chiclana to Luis Liriano, 50 William St., $335,000.
Angela P. Riva to Joshua T. Clark, Joshua Tyler Clark, Meredith P. Clark and Meredith Perri Clark, 100 Mathieu Drive, $335,000.
Kenneth R. LaBrie and Stephanie J. LaBrie to Jennifer Roy, 55 Hyde Ave., $279,900.
Larry Williams, Betsy Williams, John-Dozier Williams, Logan L. Williams and Xyla Williams to Jeremy D. Laflamme, 114 Fletcher Circle, $330,000.
Patrick H. Dumas, Nicole J. D. Dumas and Nicole J. D. Lowell to Jackeline Curet, 23 Yvonne St., $210,000.
Samantha James to Arielle Maille, 1480 Pendleton Ave., $231,000.
Sudan Curiel to Angel Luis Chiclana Pabon and Sandra Elizabeth Chiclana, 78 Catherine St., $289,000.
COLRAIN
Marie E. Fuller, Don P. Noyes, Kenneth E. Noyes Jr., and Linda
slipped to its lowest level in two years — 6.08% — a boost to home shoppers’ purchasing power as they navigate a housing market with prices near all-time highs.
Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy deci-
M. Raymond to Mark A. Thibodeau, 25 Coburn St., “fka” 42 Coburn St., $120,000.
CUMMINGTON
Jason Tomaskowicz and Kiley A. Tomaskowicz to West Cummington Congregational Church, 25 West Main St., $150,000.
DEERFIELD
Grandview Estates LLC, to Andrew R. Beaudry, Grand View Drive, $320,000.
EAST LONGMEADOW
62 North Circle Drive LLC, to Eric Douglas Flynn, 62 North Circle Drive, $419,000.
Happy Acres LLC, to Bedrock Financial LLC, trustee, and China Cat RT, trustee of, Happy Acres Lane, Lot 10, $175,000.
Justin Michael Barry and Julie A. Barry to Anthony Montemagni and Julee Montemagni, 7 Scantic Drive, $412,500.
Michael H. Schoenberg and Ellen Hatzakis to Leslie J. Ryan, 15 Tamarack Drive, $594,000.
EASTHAMPTON
Bruce Simonds, Bruce Simonds, attorney-in-fact, and Sandra L. Simonds to Daniel F. Schrader, 27 McKinley Ave., $525,000.
William J. Heron and Suzan E. Heron to Jean Pearson, 7 Evans Ave., $385,000.
Philip L. Sullivan, Phillip L. Sullivan, personal representative, and Gloria M. Warnock, estate, to Paul Teta and Diane Teta, 53 Clapp St., $420,000.
Kuber Krupa LLC, to Michael J. Either, 41 South St., $216,500.
GRANBY
GC & RK LLC, to Chad A. Coderre, 92 Chicopee St., $70,000.
Gregory S. Giorgio and Karla A. Giorgio to Megan B. Durell and Marcia J. Durell, 64 Granby
sions. That can move the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was 4.09% Thursday, up from 3.62% in mid-September, just days before the Fed slashed its benchmark lending rate by a half a point.
Heights, $256,500.
Kathryn C. Mercier to Sarah Moretti and Andrew Johnson, 53 Porter St., $505,000.
GREENFIELD
Jeffery M. Hayer to Peter Sheperd, 117 High St., $150,000.
Patricia A. Falvey to Daris L. Emerson, 88-90 Norwood St., $385,000.
Jamie M. Koscinski and Nicholas M. Koscinski to Christopher J. Bailey and Gail M. Bailey, 58 Shattuck St., $365,000.
HADLEY
Timothy P. O’Leary, personal representative, and Glenda C. Hall, estate, to Trista J. Fedor, 25 Aqua Vitae Road, $150,000.
HAMPDEN
Robert C. Beaumier and Donna M. Beaumier to Minnechaug Land Trust Inc., North Road, Par 2, $165,000.
HATFIELD
Stephen J. Herbert and Michael A. Herbert to Alyssa Christine Bossenger and Brian Clifton Greene, 55 Depot Road, $400,000.
Ellen Noreen and Maria Petitt to Maria Petitt and John Gregory Petitt, 58 North St., $200,000.
HEATH
Suzanne Spisak-Moutinho to Anthony Cardillo and Teresa Spagnuolo, Waterfall Drive, $50,000.
HOLLAND
Cheryl B. Murray to Kathryn Ingham, 18 Halfway Lane, $120,000. D. Lussier Builders LLC, to Geoffrey A. Landstrom and Amanda R. Landstrom, 29 Butterworth Road, $616,000.
Debra L. Hevey and Douglas N. Bachand to Donna Charette, 3
Vinton Lane, $340,000.
Sunnyside Educational Center Inc., to Brian Fahl and Jessica Fahl, Union Road, $195,000.
HOLYOKE
Ahydee Melguizo and Anibal Melguizo to Krystal Clark, 7 Meadow St., $255,000.
Claribel Andujar and Eddy A. Andujar to Gibram Correa Mota, 205 Homestead Ave., $300,000.
Hector L. Torres to Gilberto Perez, 26-28 North East St., $350,000.
Jesus M. Candelario to Kyle Michael and Danielle Michael, 1139 Dwight St., Unit C, $173,500.
Megan E. Pfefferle and Kevin Paul Pfefferle to Ryan C. Laflamme, 35 Ridgeway St., $311,000.
Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, Lucas Giusto, trustee, and Dominic Santaniello, trustee, to Ryan R. Read, Francesca L. Pacheco and Angelina A. Mackie, 24 Springdale Ave., $245,000.
LEVERETT
Aaron D. Rubinstein and Catherine M. Rubinstein to Katherine van Keuren Blair, 2 Chestnut Hill Road, $705,000.
LEYDEN
Ramani Maria Dayon and Rafail Dhimpali to D. Peter Bittinger, 296 River Road, $250,000.
LONGMEADOW
Carol L. Sachs to Kimberly Adegoke and Adesina Adegoke, 28 Revere Road, $549,900. Howard Hausman and Christine Hausman to Nathaniel Cohen and Alexandra Cohen, 96 Pinewood Hills, $935,000.
Jeffrey Murdock and Christine McQuade to Peter G. Landry and Marsha Landry, 359 Williams St., $580,000.
Michael J. Soucy and Helen E. Soucy to Katherine Buck, 213 Sheffield Ave., $330,000.
Deeds
LUDLOW
Antonio Rosa, Maria Grace Plourd, Maria Grace Rosa and Suzette M. Robinson to Deanna M. Delnegro, 48 Ray St., $268,000.
David R. Lavoie, representative, and Lucilia Lavoie, estate, to Cyril Chou, 517 Ideal Lane, Unit 508, $650,000.
Miguel A. Cordero to Modern Homes LLC, Mariana Lane, Lot 19, $120,000.
MONSON
Lisa K. Pagliaro and Emily Jerusha Perkins to Justin Barry and Julie Barry, 58 Bradway Road, $541,500.
MONTAGUE
Jennifer M. Knapp, “fka” Jennifer M. Brooks, to Xinmiao Jiang and Shao Kuo, 409 Federal St., $112,000.
Michael Pike, personal representative of the Estate of Nancy Pike, to Michael Pike, 11 Meadow Road. $178,500.
Sea Gull Properties LLC, to Andrew M. Palmer, 250 Federal St., Unit 1A, Stoneyside Condominium, $248,000.
Barbara B. Rosenau to Timothy J. Flynn, 23 North Taylor Hill Road, $225,000.
NORTHAMPTON
Barry D. Elson to Barry D. Elson, trustee, and Barry D. Elson Trust, 80 Damon Road, $100.
Charles R. Swenson and Meredith A. Gould to Charles R. Swenson, trustee, Meredith A. Gould, trustee, and Charles Swenson & Meredith Gould 2024 Trust, 695 Kennedy Road, $100.
Charles R. Swenson and Meredith A. Gould to Charles R. Swenson, trustee, Meredith A. Gould, trustee, and Charles Swenson & Meredith Gould 2024 Trust, 693 Kennedy Road, $100.
Margo E. Welch, personal representative, and Angelo J. Vacchelli, estate, to Martha DeWolf, 412 Sylvester Road, $190,000.
Brett S. Sullivan to Abby Wolman McElroy and Peter Joseph McElroy, 25 Washington Place, $750,000.
Thomas Novack to Jacob Fine, 68 Blackberry Lane, $890,000.
Service Properties Inc., to Nolava LLC, 82 Conz St., 84 Conz St., 86 Conz St., 78 Conz St., and Pleas-
ant Street, $5,320,000.
Dimension Realty LLC, to Nolava LLC, 395 Pleasant St., 23 Service Center Road and 59 Service Center Road, $4,055,000.
Healthy Neighborhoods Group LLC, to Gabriel Immerman, trustee, and Clac Realty Trust, 31 Park St., $760,000.
Gail David, Gail A. David and Steven Heydemann to Gail David, trustee, Gail A. David, trustee, Steven Heydemann, trustee, Gail David Revocable Trust and Steven Heydemann Revocable Trust, 61 Crescent St., $100.
Matthew Joseph Horan to Matthew Joseph Horan, trustee, Matthew J. Horan, trustee, and MJHPR Revocable Trust, 186 Bridge St., $100.
Meredith R. Palmer and Julie Dick Palmer to Dina F. Haynes, 73 Laurel Park, $371,000.
Jane E. Dion and John J. Dion to Jane E. Dion, trustee, Jane E. Dion 2024 Trust, John J. Dion, trustee, and John J. Dion 2024 Trust, 35 New South St., $100.
NORTHFIELD
Margaret M. Glazier, “aka” Margaret Glazier, to Bruce J. Golinski and Wendy J. Snow, 37 Parker Ave., $289,900.
William C. Arsenault, personal representative of the Estate of Dorothy Mae Arsenault, to Colby Alexander Collins and Peter Hannum, 207 Captain Beers Plain Road, $123,000.
ORANGE
Ambar K. Ortiz, “aka” Ambar K. Ortiz Velez, to Karen J. Beliah and Antroy N. Cleghorn, 36 Summit St., $97,500.
Jack A. Ackert and Margaret L. Ackert to Matthew Cook and Laura Luoma, 120 Mechanic St., $330,000.
Charlene A. Ellsworth, Michael J. Woodbury, Roland E. Woodbury Jr., “aka” Roland E. Woodbury, and Scott A. Woodbury, personal representatives of the Estate of Roland Elmer Woodbury Sr., to Juliano Alves-DaSilva, 69 Battle St., $295,000.
PALMER
B & B Realty Partners LLC, to Nathan Philip Duda and Raymond Joseph Duda, 3205a Main St, Par A, $74,000.
Lois A. Halstead and Lois A. Hastings to Quinessa Crosby, 4046 Pleasant St., $260,000.
Marlene Gelinas and Dorothy Wilk to Jamie Chevalier and Megan Chevalier, River Street, Par 2, $20,000.
Mona Lisa Labonte and Dina Sibley to John J. Reilly V, 3084 Main St., $235,000.
Thaddeus J. France Jr., and Linda A. France to Timothy Leroux, 19 Cedar Hill St., $325,000.
SHUTESBURY
James H. Fownes and Robin A. Harrington to Lakeisha M. Applegate and Mark Joseph Perriello, 45 Pelham Hill Road, $494,000.
SOUTH HADLEY
Luke T. Gelinas, Lorraine A. Mangan and Lorraine A. Gelinas to Chenevert Properties LLC, 95 Granby Road, $250,000.
Frank B. Enders and Leisa ChongEnders to Christian Lietzau and Charmaine Wijeyesinghe, 23 Leahey Ave., $500,000.
Christopher M. Fisher and Cerrianne Panciera Fisher to Patrick Goff and Ashley M. Goff, 38 Ashton Lane, $593,000.
Richard C. Holden Jr., to Nestor Otero and Shakira Ortiz Rivera, 54 Lawn St., $460,000.
Sean Dawkins to Sean Dawkins and Jessica Marcelino, 23 Spring St., $100.
Gerri Lynn Smith and Brian Austin Lynch to Trustees of Mount Holyoke College and Mount Holyoke College, 62 Park St., $472,350.
David B. Grey and Brenden C. Eck to Patricia Kennedy, 49 Fairview St., $370,000.
SOUTHAMPTON
Richard L. Truehart, Richard L. Truehart Jr., and Paul E. Truehart to Donna M. Shepard, 6 Parc Place, $210,000.
Christopher J. Lutat and Faith B. Lutat to Zachary Kulas and Kayla Kulas, 50 Town Line, $75,000.
AGA Brothers LLC, to Thomas Stanley, 81 Valley Road, $728,000. Barbara A. Schmidt, trustee, Cheryl A. Parker, trustee, James D. Parker Jr., and Barbara A. Schmidt Revocable Trust to David Thomas and Jayne Thomas, 4 Cheryl Lane, $632,500.
Cheri Lynn Boden to Amy Daniels, James Daniels and Justin Daniels, 407 College Highway, $285,000.
SPRINGFIELD
Adriana A. Morgan to Soraya Tejada, 140 Chestnut St., Unit 402, $49,000.
Akeilee G. Murchison to Olivia Tanon and Gabriel Tanon Jr., 26 Pennsylvania Ave. $295,000. Alfieri Investment Trust, trustee of, Gerald Alfieri, trustee, and
Ann M. Alfieri, trustee, to Sean Smith and Rachel Goulart, 465 Roosevelt Ave., $400,000.
Alfred J. Albano Jr., commissioner, Nicanor Tosado and Carmen Rosa to Sarmad Al Moula, 41-43 Grover St., $260,000.
Amy E. Taranto to Dawin O. Robles, 63-65 Leyfred Terrace, $319,500.
Annie Mary Guzman to Shirley Rijos, 74 Huron St., $265,000.
Bedrock Financial LLC, trustee, and Oakland Street Trust, trustee of, to Myhozotys Balbuena and Jose Balbuena, 401-403 Oakland St., $350,000.
Campagnari Construction LLC, to Xiaomao Wang and Hong Qian, 77 Maple St., $250,000.
Cynthia E. Roberson to Aga Brothers LLC, 95-97 Northampton Ave., $65,000.
Dennilson Leo Da Rosa to Pietro Ciano and Andrea Ciano Jr., 708 Chestnut St., $400,000.
Edward C. H. Dugan, representative, Geraldine Theresa Dugan, estate, and Geraldine T. Dugan, estate, to Jared Russell, 77 Shady Brook Lane, $285,000.
Gene Spencer and Mary Ann Spencer to Madison Sinkfield and Marcal Davis, 99 Webber St., $35,000.
James B. Morrissey Jr., trustee, John Swift, trustee, and Springfield Ventures Realty Trust, trustee of, to Vivette Elizabeth Lemount, 96-98 Clifton Ave., $360,000.
Jose M. Rijos to Enid Castellano Rivera, 711 Union St., $210,000.
Joyce A. Carelock, representative, Margaret L. Traynham, estate, Margaret Lois Traynham, estate, Margaret L. Carelock, estate, and Margaret L. Mckoy, estate, to Dominic Santaniello, trustee, Lucas Giusto, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, 153 Bristol St., $135,000.
Lee F. Kania, estate, and Todd A. Kania, representative, to Sareen Properties LLC, 138 Ardmore St., $215,000.
Luciano F. Soares and Luciano Soares to Better Builders Construction LLC, N S Page Boulevard, $130,000.
Mary T. Okeeffe to Coty Mahoney, 282 Old Farm Road, $255,000.
Michael Fontanella to Francisco Amador and Jaimely Alfaro, 65 Rochelle St., $268,000.
Mooring NC IV LLC, to Sandra C. Hines, 34 Sumner Ave., Unit PB7, $25,000.
Sean P. R. Milbier and Sarah Milbier to Kirsten E. Bonaiuto, 103 Clough St., $265,000.
U S Bank Trust, trustee, and RCF 2 Acquisition Trust, trustee of, to
Roberto Lopez, 92 Sunset Drive, $210,000.
SUNDERLAND
Charles W. Smiarowski, trustee of the Charles W. Smiarowski Living Trust, to Charles J. Smiarowski and Sara E. Smiarowski, 282 Hadley Road, $126,850.
WARE
Thomas D. Murphy Jr., trustee, Michael A. Muratore, trustee, and GM&M Realty Trust to Tractor Supply Co Northeast LLC, 256 West St., $525,000.
Yasser E. Fares to Tractor Supply Co Northeast LLC, Malboeuf Road, $40,000.
Alicen Ikonen and Ashley Amanda Bonin to Tyler W. Darling and Kimberly J. Darling, 27 Berkshire Drive, $360,000.
Melinda Terry to Lisa Jo Terry Jakshtis, 13 Crescent Terrace, $100. Melinda C. Terry to Lisa Jo Terry Jakshtis, 21B Crescent Street, $100.
WARWICK
Atticus L. Radinsky, individually and as personal representative of the Estate of Leon G. Radinsky Jr., to Jill A. Delisle and Andrew J. Whalen, Orange Road, $10,000.
Joseph A. Partyka to Jill A. Delisle and Andrew J. Whalen, Shepardson Road, $6,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Andrew G. Hastings and Stacia M. Hastings to Joy Marshall and David Elroy Meli, 35 Butternut Hollow Road, $345,000.
Chelsea Warywoski to Fayrouz LLC, 23 Colony Road, Unit 23, $149,000.
David W. Griffin Sr., and Gail M. Griffin to Prem Gurung and Deoka Gurung, 50 Harbey Road, $663,000.
Janet P. Lavoie and Mary M. Lamica to Nicole L. Litwin and David C. Lavigne, 40-42 Baldwin St., $325,000.
Jonathan Turner, representative, John Hulse Bellows, estate, and John H. Bellows, estate, to Lillie Shepherd, 15 Burke Ave., $235,000.
Maryann Elkas to Sandra Grenier, 30 Hickory Hill, Unit 30, $495,000.
Nicole M. Fazio to Nicholas Asselin and Kristina Mullin, 73 Amherst St., $430,000.
Norman Petit to Joshua M. Bergeron, 204 Wayside Ave., $350,000.
Hacks for keeping shoe clutter in check
By Jennifer Barger
The Washington Post
IN HIS MIAMI HOME, DJ
Khaled displays his 10,000-plus pairs of sneakers in a library-like room with a sliding ladder — the better to reach high-tops and trainers on high shelves.
Kim Kardashian and her sibs store their hundreds of heels and tennis shoes in jumbo dressing rooms that are lit up and styled like boutiques.
Most of us possess far fewer shoes than these celebs. But storing and organizing a single household’s worth of flipflops, running shoes, loafers, etc., still presents challenges.
“The most important thing is that your shoes have to be accessible — you won’t wear what you can’t see,” says Lani Inlander, a personal stylist in D.C. But that can devolve into a mess.
“So many people just have a heap of dirty shoes by the front door,” says Shira Gill, a professional organizer in San Francisco whose latest book, “LifeStyled: Your Guide to a More Organized & Intentional Life,” comes out in December.
Here’s how Inlander, Gill and other pros recommend you keep your shoes organized and close at hand. Or is it foot?
Sort through your shoes
Before organizing, take inventory. “I start any closet project with an edit and a purge,” Gill says. “It’s easier to organize less stuff.” Put all
Deeds
of your footwear in one place to survey what you have. Then try on everything, perhaps with a buddy or family member on hand to weigh in.
“Ask yourself if they’re still comfortable, if you ever wear them, and whether they even fit,” says Detroit-based professional organizer Amelia Pleasant Kennedy. “If you aren’t in love with them, it might be time for them to go.”
Post-pandemic, many people no longer tolerate uncomfortable shoes, and some find that their feet grew. Items you no longer want or need can be thrown away, donated, consigned at a secondhand store or sold online via Poshmark, the RealReal and other resale sites.
Put damaged or worn shoes in a separate pile to determine whether they should be tossed or repaired. “You’d be surprised about the things a good cobbler can do, from redyeing shoes to putting new soles on boots,” Inlander says.
Get rid of the shoe boxes
The cardboard boxes shoes come in can be attractive and status-conveying — think the trademark burnt orange of Hermès or Tory Burch’s pink and purple checkerboard pattern. “But if you keep shoes in their original boxes, you tend to forget what’s inside,” Inlander says. Instead, display footwear on shelves or racks or swap cardboard boxes for clear plastic or fabric-covered boxes with drop-down fronts.
Robin D. Hendrix to Wayne Perkins and Jona Elemento, 25 Birnie Ave., $379,000. Westfield Street BLD LLC, to 7 Star Westfield Realty LLC, 562 Westfield St., $1,240,000.
WESTFIELD
Charlene Chaplin and Charlene Couchon to Charlene Chaplin and Steven C. Chaplin, 137 Putnam Drive, $100.
Cristine J. Brown to Emily Meghan Blair, 42 Ridgecrest Drive, $451,000.
Tame the front door
Whether you’re a shoes-on or shoes-off household, you’ll need an organizational system by the front (and maybe back) door. “Reserve the space by the door for just what you can store in an easy way,” Gill says. “You probably don’t want everyone seeing the dirty shoes you wear to walk the dog or run to the grocery store. Avoid a mountain of shoes.”
She suggests a bench with cubbies, a basket, or something that conceals footwear while keeping it handy. Gill had lockers built near her front door; Inlander has a simple bookcase tucked into a hallway near the door. “Everyone in my family has a bin and a shelf and puts their shoes there when they get home” (at least in theory), Inlander says.
Create order in the closet
While you want to conceal shoes by the front door, in your bedroom closet, you want to see them. “Assess what makes the most sense in the space you have,” says Caroline Solomon, a professional organizer in New York. “That might mean an over-the-door rack if space is at a premium, a shoe rack on the floor, or an Ikea bookcase that you place sneakers and sandals on.”
Built-ins — either from a custom closet outfitter or via an adaptable system such as the Container Store’s ELFA — give you multiple ways to stow shoes, and they can be
John Martin and Michael Marion to Suzanne M. Turetzky and Leonard Turetzky, 23 Lady Slipper Circle, $506,600.
Kevin J. Kennedy and Melissa K. Richter to Todd Marcyoniak and Yvonne Marcyoniak, 105 Llewellyn Drive, $451,000.
Mary Ann Wandeloski to Elaine M. Roy, 150 Hillside Road, Unit 22, $231,000.
Meaghan C. Serafin, representative, and Susan Coffey, estate, to Matthew Cyrus Collins and Michelle Collins, 30 Jeanne Marie Drive, $610,000.
Megan M. Miemiec, representative, Mary E. Miemiec and Paul J. Miemiec, estate, to Adrian Colombani and Kailynn M. Colombani, 336 Little River Road, $361,000.
Scott R. Ingalls and Sally A. Ingalls to
tailored to how many pairs you own.
“If you have room, you can put in cubbies, drawers or shelves that angle out,” Kennedy says. You can even install glass-fronted cabinets with interior lights, the better to show off those prized Louboutins.
Whatever system you decide on, it’s easier to locate things
quickly if you arrange shoes by type and color. Place pairs on shelves with the right toe and the left heel forward to conserve space. “I sometimes store pairs of flat sandals on their sides with the soles facing each other,” Inlander says. “You can squish them together and fit more in.”
Lawry Realty LLC, Rear Southampton Road, $600,000.
Servistar Realty LLC, to North Adams Realty LLC, 100 Servistar Industrial Way, $1,400,000.
Stephen Michael Bartlett and Kara N. Bartlett to Sara Prefontaine and Christian Hughes, 327 Hillside Road, $383,000.
Wendy L. Kane to Kevin McNair, 125 Highland Ave., $247,904.
WHATELY
Kenna C. Nielsen, “aka” Kenna Nielson, and Justin S. Stansell, “aka” Justin Stansell, to Alicia Wendolowski and Mark A. Wendolowski, trustees of the Wendolowski Family Trust, 7 State Road, $320,000.
Erik T. Debbink and Kaitlin P. Debbink to Bailey Robinson and Elizabeth Robinson, 21 Poplar Hill Road, $300,000.
WILBRAHAM
Gary W. Pike and Beverly A. Pike to Connor Courtney and Jessica Courtney, 26 Decorie Drive, $437,000.
WILLIAMSBURG
Phyllis E. Wilhelm to Vera Johnson, 29 Williams St., $325,000.
James W. Forster, Nancy Stowe Forster and Nancy S. Forster to Stephen Foresteire and Abigail Churchill, 64 Adams Road, $420,000.
Laura Cattano’s closet, which uses Ikea cubes. (ORGANIZED LIVING)
How
to
get a musty smell out of a wood hutch?
By Jeanne Huber The Washington Post
Q. I have a beautiful antique hutch with a wooden cabinet below and a marble top and glass case above. It was in storage and unused for more than 10 years. Now that it’s in my home, its mildew smells are so strong that they seep into glasses I store in it. I’ve tried airing it out by keeping the cabinet doors open for extended periods, but that has not helped at all. How do I get the mildew smell out?
A. Mildew or other musty smells can be very off-putting. When airing out the interior isn’t enough, the first thing to do is to clean the surfaces by washing them with warm water and a little soap. Some people recommend Murphy Oil Soap, but clear hand dishwashing soap (around one capful in 2 cups of warm water) also works well.
Then follow these steps:
• Wipe down all surfaces with a clean cloth dampened, not soaked, in the cleaner. As the cloth becomes dirty, rear-
range it to expose a clean area or switch to a new cloth.
• After you clean an area, immediately go over it with a clean cloth moistened with plain water. It’s okay to clean an especially dirty area several times.
• Clean all interior surfaces, including the cabinet case, door interiors and both sides of any shelves. If there are drawers, remove them and clean them inside and out. Then clean the exterior, including the back of the cabinet. Tip the cabinet and clean the underside and the legs, places where mildew often grows.
• On the front and top, be especially careful not to soak the wood, which might damage the finish. All intact finishes can usually be dampwiped.
• If you aren’t sure whether the finish is intact, one test is to wipe the exterior with mineral spirits (paint thinner), which will darken areas where finish is missing. If that happens, your choice is to clean anyway or to stop. But when the smell is especially off-putting, the decision is easy: It’s clean or go.
• Leave the doors open and the shelves and drawers out until they are completely dry.
• If cleaning hasn’t fixed the problem, which is likely, you can try eliminating the odor with absorbent materials such as baking soda, activated charcoal or zeolite, a highly porous mineral that conservators use to absorb smells. If that’s not enough, one option is to take the piece to a company that uses ozone to eliminate odors. Some car detailing shops have this equipment to get rid of smoke smells in vehicles. Companies that do remediation after fires or floods also might be able to help. Or you could buy an ozone generator designed for home use, such as the Autel 1000 ($329 at odorfree.com). Seal the room while it runs and don’t let anyone enter; ozone can damage lungs, and even relatively low concentrations can cause chest pain and shortness of breath.
Or you can seal the wood inside and out with shellac. Shellac, which is made from crusts of an insect, is sold dissolved in denatured alcohol as a brush-on finish or in spray cans. It isn’t toxic (it’s actually used to coat fruit to preserve freshness), but the alcohol is smelly, flammable and not safe to breathe in high concentrations because
of the denaturing compound that’s added so people don’t drink it (instead of alcoholic beverages that are taxed). Apply shellac where there is plenty of fresh air, or wear a half-face respirator fitted with an organic-vapor cartridge. Don’t smoke, and don’t apply shellac near an open flame. Shellac is the ideal sealer because it sticks to almost any finish and almost any finish sticks to it. If one coat reduces the odor but doesn’t eliminate it, apply a second coat. Work on a day when the relative humidity is less than 80 percent. Wait at least an hour between coats. As a sealer, any kind of shellac — waxed or dewaxed, amber or clear — should work fine. If you later plan to coat the surface with polyurethane, use the unwaxed kind, such as Zinsser Bulls Eye SealCoat ($22.99 a quart at Ace Hardware).
Sometimes, the drawers and interiors of antique cabinets reek not of mildew but from a rancid smell that’s hard to identify. That could be because the surfaces were oiled but not exposed to enough air. Shellac usually seals in this kind of smell. Other times, the smell is from rodents. Odor-eliminating products that you’d use to get rid of cat or dog urine in carpet can help with that.
than something on a tabletop or on the floor, which is helpful if you’re relying on an oil lamp or a chandelier with candles. But today’s options are much brighter. “We thought that just by replacing it with a glare-inducing bulb, we would update it,” Warfel says. “But the truth is, we could do something far better today.”
For lighting designers, a renewed focus on the power of illumination feels long overdue. In the 1950s, leading figures such as Richard Kelly made the case that lighting was an integral part of architecture and required the same kind of visual imagination as artforms like painting. He wrote that the “judicious and artful control” of lighting elements could even “stimulate the spirit,” in addition to making a space easy to see and feel safe.
Designers today similarly contend that layers of light are the key to making a room feel welcoming and useful for everything from entertaining to cleaning up after a party. An overhead light can be a part of the equation, particularly if it’s on a dimmer, but it shouldn’t be the only option.
Be smart about gadgets
It can be tempting to hit the Container Store or Amazon and purchase every shoe rack, boot tree and light-up sneaker box you can find. But don’t get carried away. “It’s more important to maximize your storage space than to get gadgets you have to fiddle with,” Solomon says. She and other organizers counsel using things you already have when possible. Gill likes simple round baskets for corralling flats and sandals — just arrange pairs in a circle, toes up. Or repurpose an existing piece of furniture such as a vintage china cabinet or credenza. Inlander helped one client store her shoe collection in antique Asian armoires using clear acrylic cubbies.
The tall boot problem
You can store booties or short boots the same way you would shoes, but it’s chal-
lenging to find space for taller pairs. “You don’t want the shaft of riding or over-theknee boots to fall over and crease,” says Elizabeth Todd, the owner of the Shoe Hive, a footwear boutique in Alexandria, Va. “I use cut-up pool noodles or the original packing material from the box to stuff the boot.” Inlander encourages clients to store tall boots on their sides, stuffed with foam boot trees in long cubbies.
There are multiple tall boot “solutions” on organizing websites, but most get low marks from closet pros. Seemingly ingenious hanging boot trees tend to malfunction and drop your boots on the floor. Tall boot racks, in which you place each boot upside down on a slender dowel, don’t shape the shaft. “You’d do better just rolling up magazines and sticking one in each boot,” Gill says.
Jennifer Barger is a writer in D.C. Find her on Instagram and via the Souvenirist, her newsletter about the intersection of design and travel.
Kristin Harrison, principal designer at Bungalow 10 Interiors in Virginia, tells clients that a mix of floor lamps, table lamps, wall sconces and a pendant or chandelier “really make you have the right type of light.”
Another issue she finds is that people with overhead fixtures often have the wrong LED lightbulbs in them. They end up with bulbs that mimic fluorescent light rather than the warmer tones of soon-to-be unsellable incandescent ones. “The temperature of your lightbulb is a big deal,” she says, saying 2700 kelvins are best.
“That’s why when people are like, ‘I hate overhead lighting,’ it’s not that they necessarily hate it, it’s that they don’t have the right temperature lighting,” Harrison says.
As for Carey, if anyone would know the difference between good and bad lighting, Harrison says, it would be her: “She knows what kind of light makes her face look good.”
Live Onsite &Webcast PUBLIC AUCTION
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