Fall Home, Lawn & Garden 2022

Safety may not be on the minds of people when they gather equipment and cleaning supplies to clean their homes, but even seemingly innocuous items can be dangerous. The National Safety Council warns that accidents and deaths often occur when least expected — including when doing chores around the house.

The online safety advocate SafeWise says that more than 160,000 Americans die as a result of an accident every year, and household injuries account for 75 percent of those deaths. It’s important to be careful when cleaning around the house, and part of that caution includes recognizing where hazards may be lurking. Here are ways to prevent cleaning and organizing accidents.

Never mix cleansers

Cleaning chemicals are often effective because they employ bases or acids to

produce cleaning actions. By themselves, many of these products are generally safe to use provided users adhere to the usage instructions and precautions. However, when mixed together, certain cleaning products can be extremely hazardous.

According to Velocity EHS, an environmental, health, safety, and sustainability advisement company, users should never mix products containing acids and bases.

Common cleaning products containing acids include tub

and tile cleaners, vinegar and mold removers. Products containing bases include, bleaches, glass cleaners, and drain cleaners. Mixing these products can produce toxic gases, intense heat or even explosions.

Avoid falls

Falls are a major contributor to home injuries. Be especially careful when climbing ladders, and do not lean too far to either side. If possible, have someone hold the ladder steady. Wear nonskid shoes and go slowly. Do

not climb on furniture or stack items to reach high spots like top shelves, as this can create a precarious situation.

Lift with care

Moving furniture or rearranging storage boxes can strain the back and other muscles. Use proper lifting techniques, which include lifting with the legs while keeping the back straight. If the item is too heavy, wait and ask for help.

Wear masks and safety gear

Whether dusting off the ceiling fan, cleaning out the crawlspace or removing debris from gutters and downspouts, protect the eyes, hands and lungs by wearing the right gear. Safety goggles, durable gloves and a dust mask are must-have cleaning supplies.

Remove supplies promptly

The NSC says about 10 people die from drowning every day in the United States. Children between the ages of one and four are at greatest risk. Do not leave cleaning buckets filled with water unattended, and make sure to clean up any supplies used right after cleaning to prevent injuries.

Cleaning and maintenance keep homes looking great. Homeowners should always keep safety in mind when cleaning around the house.

Finishing Your Basement Can Be Very Rewarding

Transforming your home’s basement into a finished space can prove to be very rewarding. Frequently the additional living space is used for a variety of entertainment functions including: Recreation Rooms, Bars, Gyms, Billiard Rooms, Home Theatres and Family Rooms. In addition, Bedrooms and Bathrooms are also incorporated into the floor space. Typically the square foot cost of finishing a basement is significantly lower than other floors within the home.

Planning is critical before starting a finished basement project. From a financial standpoint, first determine how big your budget is and how you will finance the project. Will a mortgage be required or can you refinance or obtain a home equity loan?

From the project standpoint, carefully consider what you want to use the space for. As part of this consideration, consider ceiling heights, existing pipes, oil tanks, and heating and water systems. Also consider lighting. To make a

finished basement cozy, warm and comfortable, the number and kinds of lights to install is key. In addition, consider natural lighting. Can additional windows be installed and will they be appropriate for the finished space?

Installing a bathroom in a basement can be a challenge, particularly if a pump-up system is required. It is important you meet with a plumber before you start any work, as they will have many questions and requirements for your bathroom. Potentially the most onerous aspect of installing a bathroom may be the removal of some of the cement flooring. This is a very dusty and messy job!

Also consider heating. Does your existing furnace have the capacity to support the additional space? If not, you will need to consider putting in a bigger system or creating a secondary heating system.

Finally, and probably the most important aspect to consider, is dealing with moisture. A finished basement will quickly loose its charm if water problems create mold and mildew. Basement floors and walls should be sealed and insulated to reduce moisture content in the basement. Even with these precautions, a dehumidifier may be required.

To Enjoy Your Outdoor Spaces Year-Round

As fall inches closer to winter, it’s not uncommon for people to look to the coming cold with a degree of lament. Spring, summer and fall provide ample opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, but such chances are few and far between once the winter freeze settles in. Though winter might compel the masses to huddle up inside, there’s still a way to take in the great outdoors on cold winter days and nights.

It might not prove an exact substitute for summer nights around the firepit, but a sunroom affords homeowners a chance to marvel at snowy winter landscapes without venturing out into the cold. Sometimes referred to as “all-season rooms,” sunrooms can make for a great retreat on quiet summer mornings or crisp autumn afternoons. Sunrooms can be treated as blank canvasses, which makes decorating them more fun. But a few tricks of the trade can help homeowners turn their blank canvasses into welcoming spaces to take in all that nature has to offer throughout the year.

• Define the purpose. The experts at Better Homes & Gardens recommend homeowners decide how they want to use the sunroom before they begin decorating it. When the weather gets

too chilly to dine outside, will the sunroom serve as an alternative dining space in the same way patios and decks do during the warm weather? Or do homeowners want to turn their sunrooms into reading rooms? Though it’s possible to make sunrooms multipurpose spaces, it may be hard to create a relaxing vibe in

rooms that are too crowded with furnishings or too busy. Defining how the space will be used also makes it

easier when shopping for furnishings.

• Define when the room will be used. In addition to defining how the room will be used, homeowners should give ample consideration to when the room will be used. A year-round sunroom will need to be heated, while a three-season sunroom likely won’t require heating. Cooling might be a concern on hot summer afternoons, but many homeowners will likely spend such days outside anyway, so cooling the room may be as simple as installing a ceiling fan and ensuring windows can be opened to let fresh air in. Homeowners who want a year-round sunroom should install insulated glass to keep the room even warmer when the mercury dips.

• Opt for bright colors. Bright colors can make sunrooms feel all the more inviting and make for a perfect match with all the natural light already in the room. The renovation experts at HGTV note that white walls and ceilings can maximize the warm illumination of the natural

light that will be pouring in from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Better Homes & Gardens adds that brightly colored cushions, pillows and area rugs with similarly hued colors and patterns can add visual interest and texture to a sunroom.

• Make use of a view. Homeowners needn’t direct too much of their focus on decor if their sunrooms come with a view. Art on the walls and other decorative items around the room are less important if a sunroom affords a view of the ocean or a lake or dense woods that attract local wildlife. In rooms with a view, arrange furniture so residents and guests can comfortably look outward and take in all the surround landscape has to offer.

Sunrooms are a great place to take in nature no matter the weather.

Do You Know Where Your House Is Wasting Water?

Did you know that, across the country, leaks account for more than one trillion gallons of water wasted each year? That’s enough water annually to supply Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado combined.

Each year, the average American home wastes more than 10,000 gallons of water on easy-to-fix household leaks. That’s how much water a family uses to wash 10 months’ worth of laundry, and it could be adding 10 percent to your water bill.

Check your water bill in winter; if a family of four uses more than 12,000 gallons per month, you may have a leak. If your

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7 Things To Know Before Replacing Windows

The decision to replace windows often comes down to aesthetics and necessity. Drafty windows can reduce energy efficiency in a home, requiring HVAC systems to work harder to keep interiors comfortable. The harder the HVAC must work, the more homeowners will pay in energy costs.

Old windows also may be points of entry for water and insects. Despite the importance of windows, Money magazine advises that new windows make up only a fraction of the home’s total exterior “envelope,” resulting in only about 5 to 15 percent of total energy savings.

But there are still plenty of reasons to invest in new windows.

1. Vinyl or aluminum may be best. Lumber is farmed rather quickly today and solid wood products may not stand up to elements as well as wood used a halfcentury ago. To avoid rot, vinyl windows often are an affordable and durable choice. Homeowners also have the option of wood

windows with aluminum cladding, which are longlasting.

2. Moisture problems indicate windows need to be replaced. Condensation that shows up as fogging between double-pane win dows or on the inside of windows indicates that the windows are starting to fail. If installing a vapor barrier in the basement or crawl space, ventilating properly when showering or cooking, or using a dehumidifier indoors does not remedy the situation, it might be time to replace windows.

3. Windows add curb appeal. Beyond function ality, replacement windows immediately update the look of the home and can improve curb appeal since they are one of the most prominent features on the exterior of a home. If a house needs an update, replacing windows and can be a quick and affordable update.

4. Consider other energyefficient upgrades. Some times older windows can be salvaged, especially if they are not damaged and only moderately drafty. Replacing panes, sash cords, weather stripping, and even glazing may be less expensive than replacing a window. Plus, older homes with attractive windows complement one another. To keep energy bills down, think about adding insulation to the attic and

basement — which is a good idea even if you are replacing windows.

5. The wrong windows can adversely affect home value. The National Association of Realtors says homeowners get about 73 percent of their replacement window investment back when they resell a home. But choosing the wrong windows might lower the value of the home. It’s important to match the look of the original windows, including window material and the divided light pattern (the number of panes in each window) with the original windows.

6. Think about sound proofing, too. When up grading windows, also think about how certain windows can cancel out noises and make homes more soundproof. Some windows can help reduce outdoor distractions like leaf blowers or lawn mowers.

7. Proper installation is key to longevity. Replace ment windows are only as good as their installation in many cases. Poor installation and orders of standard rather than custom sized windows could result in poor fitting and seals. Homeowners should carefully vet and review window replacement contractors to find the best professionals for the job.

How To Prepare Your Deck For Winter

Homeowners often take steps to winterize the interior of their homes in the weeks before winter’s arrival, but such efforts should extend to the outside of a home as well.

Decks make for great gathering places when the weather permits. Decks are where many people spend their free time and eat their meals come spring and summer, when the temperatures climb and the sun sets well into the evening. But as summer turns to fall, homeowners must take measures to protect their decks from potentially harsh winter weather.

• Inspect the deck for problems. Decks tend to be used more often in summer than any other time of year. That makes fall and early winter an ideal time to inspect for wear and tear and any additional issues that may have cropped up throughout the summer. Damaged boards and loose handrails should be fixed before winter arrives, especially for homeowners who plan to use their decks in winter. Fixing such issues in winter and even into spring may be difficult thanks to harsh conditions, so make good use of the relatively calm autumn weather to fix any issues on the deck.

• Clear the deck of potted plants. Even homeowners who intend to use their decks in winter should remove potted plants from the deck in the fall. The home improvement experts at HGTV note that moisture can get trapped between deck boards and plastic, wood or ceramic containers in cold weather, and that can contribute to mildew, discoloration or decay.

• Store unnecessary furni ture. Homeowners who like to sit on their decks in winter will no doubt want to leave some furniture out over the winter. But those with lots of furniture for entertaining guests can likely move the majority of that furniture into a garage or shed for the winter.

HGTV notes that doing so will prevent the potential formation of blemishes on the deck that can result from inconsistent weather ing.

• Remove snow, but do so carefully. Prolonged contact with snow and ice can damage a deck. As a result, homeowners should clear snow from their decks when accumulation is significant.

HGTV recommends using a snow blower on the deck to avoid scarring. If a shovel must be used, push snow with the planks to reduce the risk of damaging the deck.

Homeowners who take steps to protect their decks throughout the winter months can ensure these popular areas are ready once entertaining season returns in the spring.

Steps For Recognizing And Removing Mold In Your Home

When it comes to problems around the house, few are less aesthetically appealing than mold.

Unfortunately, mold is not only unsightly, but unhealthy as well. When exposed to mold, adults and children alike can experience a host of negative symptoms, in cluding nasal and sinus congestion, skin irritation, sore throat, and respiratory problems. For those already suffering from asthma, exposure to mold could even trigger an attack.

So what to do about this all-too-common problem? Homeowners who think they might have a mold problem should ask themselves if their home smells musty. If it does, the culprit is most likely mold. If that’s the case, the mold could be in a variety of places about the household.

• Where there’s moisture, there might be mold. Mold can grow on moist materials, so anywhere you might have a water leak could have a mold growth.

Areas in the bathroom that might have mold include hard to reach spots, such as behind the toilet or sink, where an overflowed or leaky toilet might have left moisture. Such areas, if not cleaned and dried properly, are often home to mold growth.

• Outside walls. Any wall exposed to the outside could harbor mold. Such walls that are concealed by

furniture that is not typically moved are common growth areas for mold.

• Mold has good hiding places. Other common areas where mold can grow are more hidden, such as beneath cabinets, inside walls, behind baseboards, or in materials kept stored in crawl spaces or storage closets.

• The basement. Mold growths are perhaps most common in basements,

particularly basements that are not used often.

Once homeowners have identified where the mold is, the task of removing it is the next step. First and foremost, homeowners undertaking a mold removal need to protect themselves to avoid any health repercussions. Wear a mask when working on mold removal, and protect your eyes as well. In addition, when finished, launder clothes imme

diately. There are also mold-removal companies to hire if a homeowner has qualms about doing mold cleanup himself or herself.

Once precautionary steps have been taken, mold removal involves the following steps.

• Dampen moldy materials and surfaces. Do so before removal has begun to minimize the number of airborne mold spores.

• Scrub hard surfaces. Hard surfaces with mold growths can be scrubbed with soap or detergent. But be careful not to scrub with ammonia-based soap and bleach, as the fumes from such a combination are toxic.

• Discard porous materials with mold growth. Porous materials such as carpet padding and drywall that have been infested by mold growth can never be completely

mold-free, so discard these items.

• Consider sanding wood surfaces. Structural wood surfaces might need more than a good scrubbing to completely remove mold growth. In such instances, mold can be sanded away.

• Disinfect cleaned areas. Areas from where mold has been removed also need to be disinfected with bleach. The amount of bleach to use depends on the surface area that needs to be cleaned, but the general rule of thumb is 1/4 to 1/2 cup bleach per gallon of water. Be sure to open nearby windows when cleaning with bleach and wear protective gear as well as rubber gloves.

• Rinse. Once the area has been disinfected, clean the entire area with water and then dry as quickly as possible. Ventilate the area properly once it’s been dried.

Do You Know Where Your House Is Wasting Water?

water bill is not measured in gallons, you can easily find a conversion calculator online. Finding and fixing leaks around the home is as easy as check, twist and replace.

Check toilets for leaks by putting food coloring in the tank and waiting a few minutes; if the color shows up in the bowl before you flush, you have a leak. The culprit may be a worn rubber flapper, which can be easily replaced.

Twist the joints connecting your showerhead and use pipe tape to ensure a tighter connection if you’ve got a leak. Outdoors, twist the hose connection tightly to the spigot and replace the hose washer if necessary.

Replace worn gaskets to nip faucet drips, one drip per second wastes 3,000 gallons of water per year.

How Homeowners Can Recognize When To Stop Mowing This Fall

Each weekend in spring, summer and fall, millions of homeowners fire up their mowers and cut the grass in their yards. A few hours spent mowing the lawn can be a great time to get some sun and some exercise in the great outdoors.

As fall gradually tran sitions to winter, home owners may wonder when to stop mowing their lawns. Each lawn is different, and when to stop mowing may depend on a host of factors, including local climate and the type of turf. In addition to climate and turf, homeowners can keep an eye on these conditions to determine when the time is right to put their mowers away for the winter.

• Frost: Warm-season grasses typically go dormant after a couple of significant frosts. Home owners can jot down each

frost during fall. Frosts are most noticeable in the early morning hours, so be sure to check lawn conditions each morning as the

weather begins to grow cold. Frost may be noticeable without even going outside, but homeowners may need to

go outside to check on chilly mornings or on days when the previous night was especially cold. If you must go outside, stay off the grass to protect it. Two or three frosts might be enough to make warmseason grasses go dormant

for the winter. Cool-season grasses may keep growing and require moving even after a few frosts, so it’s imperative that home owners determine which type of grass is in their yards.

• Soil temperature: If it’s hard to determine if frosts have occurred, homeowners can try checking the temperature of their soil to decide if they need to keep mowing. The lawn care experts at Pennington recommend homeowners continue mowing warmseason grasses so long as they keep growing. Lawns may not grow as quickly in fall as they do in spring or summer, and growth may not be as visible to the naked eye during this time of year as it is in other times. Homeowners can routinely check soil temperature to determine if their grasses have stopped growing. Warm-season grasses tend to stop growing once the soil temperature is

consistently at 55 F or below, while cool-season grasses tend to stop when temperatures are 45 degrees or lower.

Falling leaves have long been a barometer used by homeowners to determine if they need to keep mowing their lawns. That’s not necessarily a reliable metric, as grass can still keep growing even if leaves have been falling for weeks. In addition, using a mulching mower when leaves begin falling is a great way to provide the lawn with nutrients it can use throughout the winter. Some trees shed their leaves more quickly than others, but it’s a good rule of thumb that lawns will need to keep being mowed if trees are still retaining more than half their leaves.

A host of factors can help homeowners determine when it’s safe to put their mowers away for the winter.

Pre-Winter Perennial Pruning Pointers For Gardeners

Foliage and football might be two things people instantly associate with fall, but there’s more to this beloved season than brightly colored leaves and action on the gridiron.

Gardeners know that spring is an ideal time to plan and plant their favorite flowers and most flavorful fruits and vegetables. However, seasoned gardeners know that gardening is a yearround commitment. Pruning is one of the keys to keeping perennials coming back for years to come, and fall is an ideal time to take on this important task.

Pruning perennials in the fall is not a one-size-fitsall endeavor. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, some perennials can be cut down after the first killing frost, while others can be left to benefit wildlife, including birds and insects. Understanding pruning and when to do it this fall can help gardeners lay a strong foundation for their gardens that will benefit them next spring.

Why should some perennials be pruned?

The College of Agricultural Sciences at Pennsylvania State University notes that perennials that have become diseased or infested with insects are pruned to prevent those problems from resurfacing in the spring. In addition, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac,

many herbaceous perennials have old foliage and dying stems after several hard frosts. If dead foliage or dying stems aren’t pruned, disease, slugs and other pests can overwinter in the plants. Cutting these plants down to the ground after several hard frosts allows the base of the plant to remain dormant over the winter but makes the plant less hospitable to disease and insects.

Which perennials should I prune?

The first step to pruning perennials is to recognize which need to be pruned and which can be left intact for the winter. The Old Farmer’s Almanac notes that bee balm and phlox are prone to powdery mildew and should be cut back

once they’re gone. Hostas harbor slug eggs, so they,

too, should be pruned after a hard frost. Hosta leaves that have fallen on the ground should be removed as well. There’s no need to cut back certain perennials if they’re healthy. For example, hardy geraniums do not require pruning in the fall, and Penn State Extension notes that hardy perennials like garden mums are more likely to survive a cold winter if they’re left intact. That’s because the tops of such plants will collect leaves and snow for insulation and moisture over the course of winter. Gardeners who are unsure about fall pruning can speak with their local gardening center for additional advice regarding which plants to cut back before winter.

When to prune perennials

Gardeners need not rush to prune perennials in the fall. Diseased or infested plants can be pruned at the first sight of disease or infestation, but gardeners can wait until several hard frosts have occurred before they prune healthy perennials. In gardening parlance, a hard frost refers to when temperatures drop below 28°F. Several hard frosts kill the uppermost growth of most perennials, making this an ideal time to prune them.

Pruning perennials in fall can be the first step toward creating an awe-inspiring spring garden.

How Mulched Leaves Help Your Lawn

Various chores are syno nymous with certain times of year. For example, cleaning a pool is a summertime task. In addition, rare is the instance that Mother Nature forces anyone to break out the snow shovels outside of winter. Raking leaves has long been a task for fall afternoons, but homeowners may be surprised to learn that they might be better off putting their rakes in permanent mothballs.

In the 1990s, turfgrass specialists at Michigan (Continued On Page 9)

Al fresco dining is popular in spring and summer, and that popularity reached new heights in the summer of 2020. With much of the world still grappling with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 and government officials fearing rising case numbers if indoor gatherings were allowed, many restaurants were limited to offering only outdoor dining to patrons. Such restrictions reintroduced many people to the pleasure of outdoor dining.

Outdoor dining may be synonymous with summer, but there’s no reason why good meals can’t be enjoyed outside year-round. That’s especially true when homeowners and hosts take

Year-Round Outdoor Dining Spaces

going after summer, then some extra lighting may be necessary. The sun sets in late afternoon/early evening in fall and winter, so you won’t be able to rely on natural light to keep the dinner table aglow. Lighting also can make outdoor dining in summer more enjoyable. Outdoor string lights can add a relaxing vibe to a deck or patio. If you intend to string the lights up yearround, make sure poles are sturdy enough to withstand winter winds.

• Weather: Table cloths can add a touch of class to outdoor dining tables. But those table cloths are only effective if they remain on the table. Summer breezes might not prove too great a challenge in that regard, but fall, winter and spring weather might make it hard to keep table cloths on the table where they belong. A simple set of table cloth clips can ensure the wind doesn’t blow table cloths around while people are eating or completely off the table when everyone is inside. Hurricane candle holders also can make it easy to maintain the ambiance candles provide without having to worry about the wind extinguishing the candles in one strong gust.

• Seating: Guests might have no problem dining on traditional summer barbecue fare like burgers

and hot dogs while sitting in camping chairs. But hosts who want to serve meals that require the use of a knife and fork will need to make sure all guests have a seat at the table. A foldable picnic-style table that can be easily stored in a garage or shed can do the trick. In addition, some deck and patio tables are expandable, making them ideal options for hosts who may want to work around social distancing guidelines and serve holiday meals outside this year.

• Grill: Charcoal grill devotees may find it frustrating to keep coals lit long enough to get hot so they can keep enjoying grilled meals after summer and throughout fall, winter and spring. A hybrid charcoal/grill smoker that does not expose the fire to the elements as much as a traditional charcoal grill can do the trick, and such a grill also gives cooks the chance to slow cook and smoke foods all year long. For those with no special devotion to charcoal grills, a propane grill can light up in a matter of seconds regardless of the weather.

Outdoor dining can be enjoyed year-round, especially when hosts take steps to prepare their outdoor spaces for four seasons’ worth of gatherings.

stock of certain factors when planning outdoor dining spaces they intend to use all year long.

• Lighting: If you plan to keep outdoor dining

How Mulched Leaves Help Your Lawn

State University began exploring the potential benefits of leaving mulched leaves on a lawn instead of raking them and leaving them for curbside pickup. While the researchers noticed an obvious leaf residue on the lawn after mulching, they noted that it only sticks around for a few days. Eventually, the tiny pieces sifted down into the lawn, ultimately serving to control future weed growth while also providing the lawn with essential nutrients. Over time, researchers noted that homeowners who mulched rather than raked their leaves needed less fertilizer to give their lawns a green look in spring, saving homeowners the effort and cost associated with fertilizing.

Researchers also noted that decomposing pieces of leaves cover up bare spots between turf plants, which have traditionally proven to be excellent spots for weed seeds to germinate. In fact, MSU notes that homeowners can expect a nearly 100 percent decrease in dandelions and crabgrass after mulching leaves for just three years.

Depending on the type of mower being used, up to six inches of leaves can be mulched at a time. Push mowers can handle smaller amounts, though can still be as effective as ride-on mowers.

Fall may be synonymous with raking leaves. However, homeowners who want to give their lawns a healthy boost should consider putting their rakes away and mulching their leaves this fall.

Three Popular Home Interior Styles

Considerable thought goes into designing a home’s interior. From which color to paint the walls to the size of the living room couch, homeowners must make a variety of decisions when planning their home interiors.

One way to simplify interior design decisions is to choose a style. Interior

design styles run the gamut from traditional to modern, and each style has its own unique look and feel. Though homeowners need not feel beholden to any particular item associated with a given style, three of the more popular styles, traditional, modern and farmhouse, each have certain key components that can ensure a home ends up with a look homeowners are aiming for.

1. Traditional Homes with a traditional interior style give a formal yet welcoming feel. Many individuals associate crown molding and wains coting with traditional

interiors, so that’s some thing homeowners aiming for this style should keep in mind. Minimal or modern furniture pieces don’t fit with the traditional style, which tends to utilize period pieces made from real wood.

2. Modern Modern interiors may differ depending on which style of modern home owners are aiming for. Midcentury modern typ ically features unique furnishings that some might see as retro. How ever, many companies now offer updated takes on midcentury modern that call to mind a bygone era but don’t make individuals

feel as though they’re living in a museum. Urban modern is another popular modern style, and home interiors fashioned in this style tend to be light, airy and not crowded with furnishings. Calm, soft tones are a go-to with urban modern interiors, helping to create the serene settings many homeowners are hoping to create with this style.

3. Farmhouse Farmhouse has become very popular in recent years. In fact, a recent survey from the interior design service Modsy found that farmhouse was the most popular design style in 26 states.

Farmhouse is beloved for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is its association with a simpler lifestyle. The rustic charm of the countryside is never far from the mind when in a home with a farmhouseinspired interior. Tra ditional farmhouse and modern farmhouse are different styles, but natural materials and bright colors, particularly white walls, are elements shared by both.

Traditional, modern and farmhouse are three popular home interior styles. Each has its own unique components, and homeowners can supple ment their favored style as they see fit.

Owner of Hardwood Floors of Lancaster, Thomas H. Dux, has traveled the world to bring the best hardwood flooring companies to North America. From China, Taiwan and two companies from Quebec, Canada, Thomas is able to buy the best quality directly from the importer and not from distributers. Many flooring stores sell what their distributors have for them to sell, but Hardwood Floors of Lancaster are specialists in wood flooring and will work hard to find you a quality product at an affordable price. If you cannot find what you are looking for, Hardwood Floors of Lancaster will make it for you.

Not only will you find the best, affordable flooring at the store, but Hardwood Floors of Lancaster now offers customers a new way to refinish hardwood floors that promises to make everyone’s life easier. Vesting LED-Hardwax oil is a unique mix of oils, waxes, resins and additives with no VOCs. When it comes in contact with a hand-held LED light, the finish completely hardens in a split-second, leaving the wood surface instantly resilient, protected against dirt and moisture. “With Vesting LED, instead of curing by air, it’s cured by ultraviolet light,” Dux explains. This process makes it more convenient for homeowners who usually needed to stay off the floors until they were cured and hardened, which could take several days. Now with Vesting LED, homeowners can return to normal life within a few hours. The floors are also more resistant to wear and tear and easier to maintain and repair. Without any additional cost to the homeowner, Vesting LED speeds up the installation. You don’t even have to move all the furniture out of a room. You can move the furniture to the other side of the room and then move back shortly so the other side of the room can be done. It’s immediately dry!

When designing a kitchen, homeowners typically give substantial consideration to many elements of their dream design, including cabinet and countertop materials and which brand of appliances they most prefer. But few may consider the lighting for the room as thoroughly.

Lighting is an important consideration in any room, but most especially in the kitchen, where people tend to gravitate and spend a good portion of their time. The right lighting can have a dramatic effect on the functionality of the kitchen, including how the space feels when you enter it. The right blend of lights can create a vibrant mood in the kitchen, while light can be adjusted according to what needs to get done in the space.

Establishing a lighting

plan in a kitchen requires a combination of different lights. The main focus should be on three distinct lighting types: task lighting, ambient lighting and accent lighting.

• Task Lighting. Task light is beneficial anywhere a person will need to perform tasks that require close concentration, such as chopping vegetables. Task lighting shines direct light onto a surface, illuminating it thoroughly, and it can be turned off when it is not needed.

Task lighting is generally placed above counters and islands where one will be slicing vegetables and preparing food. There may be lighting over the sink to illuminate dirty dishes. If a kitchen has a desk area, lighting above the desk will make that area more functional. Many task

lighting designs include lights under cabinetry to shine down onto counters and eliminate shadowed recesses. Under-cabinet lighting is a relatively inexpensive add-on for existing kitchens. Homeowners can add lighting afterward to focus more light onto countertops.

• Ambient Lighting. Ambient lighting is another

name for all-over lighting that fills a room. During the day, ambient light may stream in from windows and skylights. However, at night, ambient lighting is created by different light fixtures in a room. In the kitchen, overhead fixtures are a popular choice for ambient lighting. A blend of hanging pendant lamps, chandeliers and recessed lighting can create the amount of light needed. Homeowners should pay special attention to the bulbs and fixtures they choose, as not all produce the same amount of light. Those concerned about energy efficiency also must give mind to whether the bulbs will use a lot of energy or last a long time. Compact fluorescent bulbs as well as LED lighting are longlasting and do not use as much energy as incandescent bulbs.

Indirect ambient lighting softens shadows in a room, creating a warm, inviting glow. It is an important layer of light that is often overlooked in the kitchen. Setting ambient lighting on a dimmer enables homeowners to cast a mood that is desired when the kitchen isn’t being used for prep work.

• Accent Lighting. If there are key elements around the kitchen that a person would

like to highlight, such as a china set, accent lighting can do the trick. Spotlights can be used to show off collectibles, while a subtle strip of lighting can illuminate a wall of artwork. Many people like to install accent lighting inside of cabinetry to create dramatic focal points.

Some homeowners may want to incorporate decorative lighting in their kitchens. This is the use of ornate chandeliers, hanging pendants and other eyecatching fixtures. Decorative lighting should be considered in proportion to the size of the kitchen. Therefore, smaller kitchens will have smaller fixtures and vice versa. Decorative lighting may be the most expensive type of kitchen lighting, so some homeowners prefer to plan ahead for the inclusion of decorative accents by having the wiring ready and then adding the fixtures over time.

Lighting in a kitchen can be just as important as which appliances and other accessories homeowners choose for their kitchens. Without the right mix of lighting, the kitchen may not be functional or inviting.

Budget-Friendly Renovation Ideas To Try For Your Dining Room

If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then the dining room may be akin to one of its arteries. The mood created in the kitchen spreads to the dining space where family and friends gather to eat and enjoy one another’s company.

Dining rooms can get lost in the home renovation shuffle, as many homeowners tend to focus on renovating kitchens and bathrooms instead. Homeowners do not have to invest a lot of money in renovations to give their dining spaces awe-inspiring makeovers. Here’s how to do so on a budget.

• Lighten and brighten. Dining rooms were once very formal spaces. Dark woods, large pieces of furniture, over-the-top chandeliers, and other details could be found in many homes. But now that houses are being built with open floor plans, dining rooms can blend with other spaces, which have moved to lighter colored walls, flooring and furniture. A fresh coat of vibrant paint

can work wonders and it doesn’t cost much. If you can’t remove a floor, cover it with a brightly colored area rug.

• Switch things up with slipcovers. Slipcovers can be changed each season to dramatically alter the look of a dining room for little investment. Slip covers also protect chairs and can be easily laundered after spills.

•

they

• Clear out the clutter. It might be time to say “so long”

within it. Curio and china cabinets used to be de rigueur, but plenty of people now prefer more open and airy dining rooms. For those who want to keep the cabinet, try decluttering inside to only include the very best display pieces and see if the cabinet can be refinished with paint or a lightly colored stain.

• Improve lighting. Make the chandelier the statement piece of the space. Go for a bold color or an innovative design. Then add accessories throughout the space that coordinate with the chandelier.

• Add bench seating. Those who need additional

seating may not have to get entirely new furniture. Swap out some chairs for benches, which can fit a couple more guests than chairs.

• Create depth with color. HGTV says that using various shades of the same color in a space can add depth. Coordinate drapes, walls, seat fabrics, and accessories for a cohesive design.

Renovating a dining room doesn’t require a large investment of time and money. A few simple steps can give dining spaces a whole new feel without busting homeowners’ budgets.

Add floating shelving. Floating shelves provide much-needed storage or display space without the need to invest in another piece of furniture. Depending on the shelving,

can work in modern design schemes or even farmhouse dining spaces.

to that large curio cabinet and the knickknacks

Open-concept homes have become increasingly popular in recent years. An openconcept home is one in which the rooms flow into one another with limited obstruction from walls or other barriers. According to the National Association of Home Builders, 84 percent of new single-family homes have fully or partially open layouts.

While they may seem like a new trend, open floor plans are anything but. Early American homes featured open, often one- or tworoom units built around the central kitchen/hearth. This maximized warmth and functionality. Homes evolved as incomes grew, and soon homes had several smaller rooms with specialized functions.

What’s old has become new again. However, before diving head first into a new home purchase or a big renovation to realize an open-concept dream,

consider the pros and cons of this type of setup to determine if it’s really right for you.

Advantages of open floor plans

Open floor plans facilitate the flow of natural light throughout a space and can

promote air flow, helping to reduce warm or cool pockets of air in otherwise closed-off rooms.

Open homes make social izing easier, even when people are doing different things. While someone is cooking dinner in the kitchen, he or she can still interact with someone else playing video games in the family room or paying bills in the home office. Enter taining also is easier, as mingling with guests is

much more convenient when walls are not getting in the way.

A smaller home can feel much larger if it employs an open concept. The square footage is not divided into smaller quarters, which sometimes are rooms (such as formal dining rooms) that are only used a few times per year. This eliminates underused spaces and opens up sight lines in the layout.

The value of real estate has risen dramatically since the

onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospective buyers may prefer an openconcept plan because it can help them minimize building costs.

Disadvantages of open floor plans

Open layouts are not for everyone. The same sense of space that occurs when walls are taken down may make rooms feel cavernous and less cozy, particularly in homes with ample square footage. In addition, privacy can be hard to come by when all rooms feed into one another.

When the kitchen is not separate from the family room space, that makes it easy for noise to compromise the area’s comfort levels. There is no hiding from noise in an open floor plan, as sounds from voices, television shows and appliances tend to echo and blend together. And if the home is a single-story layout, those noises from the main living areas also may carry to adjacent bedrooms.

Smoke and smells are another thing to consider. When something on the stove spills over, a small range hood will not be practical for clearing smoke from a large space. Though the aroma of freshly cooked food is enticing, it can make it hard for cooks to keep guests out of the kitchen.

Open-concept homes are popular, but homeowners should weigh the pluses and minuses to see if this trend is truly right for them.

Clearing Out The Clutter

As any apartment dweller knows, space is often at a premium. Whether your apartment is in the suburbs or the big city, chances are you’re strapped for space.

For those who are finding that they have simply accumulated too many things over the years, finding ways to make the most of their space is paramount to enjoying a living environ ment. So before starting the search for a bigger place (one that will likely fall victim to clutter eventually), consider the following quick tips for making the most of your current space.

• Purchase bed risers: Particularly for apartment dwellers with roommates, the bedroom is often the most cluttered area. To combat this, consider pur chasing bed risers. Bed risers will raise your bed slightly and allow you to store items underneath the bed. Since a bed often takes up the most space, you’re simply getting more out of space without having to remove anything else. For just a few dollars, plastic drawers on wheels can be purchased and stored under the bed for easy access.

• Get a closet organizer: In smaller apartments, closet space is often sparse. A closet organizer, however, can be a great way to get the most out of your closet, regardless of how small it may be. For those who love their footwear, purchase a shoe organizer so shoes aren’t messily strewn about the closet. In addition, combat a lifetime’s worth of wardrobe with stackable drawers that will fit in the closet. While

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Is DIY A Recipe For Saving Money?

Many homeowners or renters wrestle with the question of whether to tackle a project as a do-ityourself venture to save some money or simply leave it to a professional. Each situation is unique, but there are certain factors that must be considered regardless of a homeowner’s particular situation.

On the surface, a DIY task can seem a very good way to save some money. After all, a large percentage, sometimes as much as 50 percent, of the cost of hiring a contractor goes toward labor. For a DIY job with no such costs, the final financial tally can be substantially less.

Although labor can be expensive, that cost is often justified. People who hire carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and the like are paying for the workers’ experience. They’re also paying with the expectation

that the job will be done correctly. With jobs that require a building permit or must be done to specific code, the contractor often puts his reputation on the line and will be held accountable if the work doesn’t meet requirements.

That isn’t to say an untrained individual can’t tackle a specific job around the house. There are some guidelines that may make such projects go more smoothly and, as a result, more affordable.

• Read up and learn as much as you can about the particular work to be done. It’s easier to make mistakes if you do not know where to start.

• Talk to others who have also done the work. They may have some tips or advice that can save you time and money. You may also want to ask if they can help and show you the ropes.

• Be sure to obtain all necessary permits before starting any work. Don’t risk a fine for doing work without permits or having work inspected.

• When applying for

permits, find out if there is a list of code-specific requirements that you can follow, a cheat-sheet of sorts. It may list rated materials required and any techniques. See if you can speak to an inspector who will be visiting your property later on to find out what he or she looks for specifically.

• You must feel confident with the endeavor. If you are unsure about anything, you may risk injury or make a significant mistake and be forced to hire someone to clean up your mess.

• Consider reputable sources for information. While it’s easy to go online and scour message boards for pointers on certain tasks, not all of the information is accurate. Trust only content from sources that are licensed or backed by certification in a certain area.

These things being said, there are a number of DIY projects that regular people can try. Starting off small and building up as skills are

developed are good ways to begin. For example:

• Tile a small kitchen backsplash before tackling an entire bathroom shower enclosure or floor.

• Build an outdoor potting stand before attempting furniture or cabinetry work in a main room of the house.

• Change out a ceiling fan or lighting fixture before rerunning electrical lines through the home.

• Succeed in repairing a leaky drainpipe before taking on a more advanced plumbing issue.

• Use regular painting techniques first before experimenting with a trendy faux finish or plaster application.

There are many different things individuals can do themselves that stretch beyond routine home main tenance. From manicures to pool upkeep, the potential to save money when budgets are tight can be a powerful motivator.

Did You Know?

The thinnest house in New York City, a city known for high real estate costs and compact dwellings, is located in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan. Now known as the Millay House, a name honoring its one-time resident, the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, the house was built in 1873 and is a mere 9.5 feet wide. It is sandwiched into a space that once served as a carriage alley. While Millay House certainly is compact, a home in Warsaw, Poland, is only four feet wide and, at its thinnest, is only 29.3 inches. The residence, called the Keret House, was built in a crack between two buildings. The entrance is in the rear of the home and features an entry hatch and a foldable, remote controloperated ladder.

Paint Like The Pros: Estimate How Much Paint You’ll Need

We’ve all heard how paint is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to give a room a new look. But before any homeowner embarks on a painting project, it is wise to learn approximately how much paint will be required of the job to plan accordingly.

Few things are more frustrating than running out of paint in the middle of a project which can ruin the flow of the room. Even a second batch of paint mixed to the same specifications could be slightly off in shade. That’s why it’s important to have enough paint at the start of the project. Conversely, too much leftover paint can take up valuable space in a garage or basement.

To figure out how much paint is needed, use this handy guide to estimate for

a ceiling or a room project.

Add together the length of all the walls and then multiply the number by the height of the room, from floor to ceiling. The number you get is the room’s square footage. Now you have to determine how much of that square footage is paintable surface area.

Because you use a different paint on the doors and windows, subtract those areas from the room total.

Just subtract 20 square feet for each door and 15 square feet for each average-sized window in the room. You will end up with a number that is close to the actual wall area you have to cover with paint.

In general, you can expect one gallon of paint to cover 350 square feet. You need slightly more than a gallon

if the walls are unpainted drywall, which absorbs more of the paint. You also need to consider whether to paint more than one coat. If you’re painting walls that are unfinished, heavily patched or dark in color, plan on two coats of paint.

Next, divide the paintable wall area by 350 (the squarefoot coverage in each

gallon of paint) to find the number of gallons you will need for the walls. You can round uneven numbers. If the remainder is less than .5, order a couple of quarts of wall paint to go with the gallons; if the remainder is more than .5, order an extra gallon.

The following examples can walk you through the

calculations for a 14’x20’ room that has 8’ ceilings, two doors, and two windows.

Ceiling only

1. Multiply the length of the ceiling by its width to find its area. 14 x 20 = 280 square feet

2. Divide that number by 350 to figure out how many gallons of paint to buy. 280 ÷ 350 = .8

For this example, you want to buy 1 gallon of ceiling paint for a single coat.

For the walls

1. Add together the length of each wall.

14 + 20 + 14 + 20 = 68 feet

2. Multiply the sum by the wall height to find the total wall area. 68 x 8 = 544 square feet

3. Subtract 20 square feet for each door (20 x 2 = 40) and 15 square feet for each window (15 x 2 = 30) to find the actual amount of wall area you’re painting. 54470 = 474 square feet

4. Divide this figure by the paint coverage (350 square feet per gallon) and the result is the number of gallons to purchase. 474 ÷ 350 = 1.4

For this example, you want to buy 1 gallon and 2 quarts of paint for a single coat or two gallons if it is more economical than buying quarts.

How To Give A Room A Fresh, New Look At No Cost

Homeowners know that some of the fastest ways to give a room a makeover involve a change in paint color or some new room accessories. But did you know that by simply switching around the furniture in the room, namely the sofa, love seat and entertainment center, you might find the room takes on an entirely new look?

It’s important to point out that playing musical furniture can yield a new room look but can also be strenuous work that should be shared by two or more physically capable people. If you’re ready to start, here are ways to do so in a safe and effective way.

• Sketch out floor plans: Professional decorators often make quick outline sketches of their ideas on paper. They also do some of their work on graph paper, which makes it easy to map out the square footage and then compare it in relation to the squares of the graph paper. Make each square on the paper represent one foot in the actual room. Label the shapes for what item of furniture or decorative item (like a rug) each is representing. For those who want a higher-tech room tool, there is computer software that does the same thing in a digital or virtual

capacity. The plans can then be printed out.

• More high-tech tools: You can find computer software that offers even more tools for the do-ityourself room designer. Some simply provide room plans, while others enable you to upload photos of your room and play with virtual

furniture placement. You may also be able to do a 3D virtual walk-through of the room, where you can get a very realistic view of just what the completed room may look like.

• Check out other homes: If you don’t know where to start in terms of furniture placement, see what other

neighbors have done. Housing subdivisions and developments are common in suburban areas. Many of the houses have cookiecutter floor plans, meaning everyone on your street could have the same room dimensions. Take advantage of open houses or invitations for visits from neighbors to

get an idea of how others have designed their rooms. You’ll be able to gauge what works and what doesn’t in terms of color and furniture placement.

• Hands-on approach: Some homeowners can only get an idea of how a room will look by physically moving the furniture. If this is your plan, use tools that can make the job easier.

Firstly, bend at the knees and let your legs rather than your back do much of the work. Stores sell slippery disks that can be placed under the feet of furniture so the pieces move easily over carpeting and other floors. Hand trucks and dollies can also be used to move items.

After you’ve experimented with moving items around, you may have a fresh take on the room and find you “redecorated” without spending a cent.

Clearing Out The Clutter

shirts and dresses hang from hangers, use the space underneath to place these drawers and shoe organizers. Once installed, you’ll be amazed how spacious your once small closet now appears.

• Do the charitable thing: Closets nationwide are filled with clothes that never get worn. Whether a gift from grandma or an homage to the days of yore when certain trends were popular, people never seem to want to get rid of their excess clothes, especially those outfits they never wear. However, those cramped for space would be wise to donate all the clothing they no longer wear. By donating, you might get a deduction on your taxes, and you’ll certainly see an immediate reduction in the amount of clutter in your home.

Scott High

Once-upon-a-time you loved the look of your living space, but now it feels so last-century. If this sounds like you, consider injecting new energy into your home by making a few highimpact changes without a high-roller budget.

Clever use of colors in

combination with smart lighting can enliven rooms so they give off a more compelling, modern vibe without the need for costly remodeling projects or expensive furniture.

• Color Transformations

Color both soothes and stirs the senses. Accent walls are a great way to introduce bold color and contrast, infusing a room with a sense of adventure, playfulness or drama. Bring vitality to any room by painting one wall a vivid shade to frame a focal point such as a dramatic piece of artwork.

Accent walls are usually solid with no doors or windows, unless there is something special about these features you want to

highlight, such as a spectacular view or interesting architecture.

If you find yourself intimidated by vibrant colors, use neutral tones on your primary walls with a darker, more intense shade on your accent wall.

• Lighting at its Best

Lighting is one of the most dramatic areas where things are changing in home décor. Not only are new bulbs such as CFLs and LEDs offering greater energy efficiency, light fixture styles and lamp styles are also changing.

Remember those recessed lights so popular years ago? Depending on how they are used today, they may make a home look outdated. Replace this older style with contemporary semi-flush fixtures. Swap outdated chandeliers, especially of the old brass variety, with a series of modern pendant lights.

Nothing makes a tasteful statement of modern

simplicity better than a row of pendant lights over a kitchen island or above a dining room table.

For the bathroom, use wall sconces placed on each side of the mirror for evenly lighting the face.

Wall sconces add visual interest to the bath and even make daily tasks like shaving and make-up application easier.

For bedrooms, living rooms and family rooms choose strong bold shapes for your table and floor lamps.

• Pillow Power

Match decorative accessories like pillows and lamps to your accent wall color, incorporating the color into a variety of textures. Framed photos, an interesting vase or impressive plant will stand out well against an accent wall, making the perfect focal point. A buffet lamp (a smaller version of a table lamp) adds ambience and makes an ideal accent.

Giving your home an upto-date look doesn’t need to break the bank or your back. Simple tweaks can give your interiors a much-needed face lift.