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GARDENING
Farmers market etiquette Tips on what to do, what to bring, Page 2
BEST AND WORST HUES, PAGE 5
STUCCO HOME MAINTENANCE, PAGE 6
TIPS FOR FIRST HOME, PAGE 7
2 Saturday, March 31, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
Reap benefits of farmers market etiquette Bring reusable bags, and leave your dog at home
FARMERS MARKETS Capitol Midweek Farmers Market S.W. 10th and Jackson, on south lawn of Capitol 7:30 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, May 10-Oct. 18 Downtown Topeka Farmers Market Inc. S.W. 12th and Harrison, south of the Judicial Building 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays, April-November Library Farmers Market Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave. 8 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays, May 15-Oct. 9 To check on new markets, visit the library’s website at cjon.co/ CJfarmersmarket.
Ariel Whitely-Noll
A
pril showers bring ... farmers markets. It doesn’t quite roll off the tongue, but it’s true, showers or not. Many of our local farmers markets will begin in April and continue well into the fall. These open-air markets are a wonderful opportunity to come face to face with local farmers and purchase fresh produce. Fresh green beans, crisp and sweet, bear no resemblance to canned. A ripe peach that oozes juice down your chin when you take a bite is an experience unto itself. Before you pack up your family and head to one of Shawnee County’s farmers markets, consider some market etiquette tips first. • Shop seasonally. Not all produce is available year round. Kansas weather doesn’t permit strawberries in April, and you won’t see asparagus in July. If you aren’t sure what’s in season, ask. Farmers love to tell you what they have to offer and when you can expect to see your favorites. Farmers markets aren’t always a substitute for going to the grocery store, but fresh produce is a great addition to every meal. • BYOB, bags that is. Bringing reusable bags from home helps farmers skip the paper or plastic ones and keeps costs
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Farmers markets not only allow consumers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, but they also allow buyers to meet the people who grow the crops. [METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION]
low. Bags you bring from home should be washed to avoid contamination. Many farmers markets are banning the use of plastic bags, because they can spread pathogens when reused. • No dogs. Leave Rover at home. Although some markets encourage four-legged friends, many don’t — and some ban them altogether. Farmers markets may be outdoors, but no one wants their food taste-tested by a dog. Along with helping themselves to sniffs, dogs
can congest market flow and slow your shopping. Service dogs are the exception. • Ask questions. Do you want to know which farms are certified organic? Are you looking for a specific variety of tomato? What is a kohlrabi, and how do you eat it? Farmers know the answers to all of these questions and more. Building a relationship with the farmers is one of the biggest draws to farmers markets, so take advantage of the opportunity.
• Respect the produce. No one wants to buy a tomato that has been poked, prodded and smelled. Pick what you like without touching every tomato in the box. If you aren’t sure what’s ripe, ask the vendor to help you out. They may have boxes in the back with produce to suit your needs. • Bring cash and pay sticker price. Some markets accept credit cards, but many don’t. Bring cash, especially smaller bills. Also, don’t assume that
The Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners will present three programs in April at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave. • April 5: “Grandpa’s Tomatoes,” 7 p.m. • April 19: “Curb Appeal,” 7 p.m. • April 26: “Growing and Using Herbs,” 7 p.m. Information: cjon.co/ CJmastergardeners; (785) 232-0062
bargaining is an option. Stroll the market before making a purchase to find the best deal. Remember, market produce is fresh and local. A local farm employs local help and getting the produce to market is no simple task, especially for smallto medium-sized operations that can’t afford the automation that larger farms have. Ariel Whitely-Noll is the horticulture agent for Shawnee County Research and Extension. She can be reached at arielw@ksu.edu.
The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com Saturday, March 31, 2018 3
Houseplants for the horticulturally impaired Succulents present an amazing array of shapes and textures of greenery. In that well-drained potting mix, it would be almost impossible to kill an aloe plant. Its leaves remain soft, fleshy and smooth, just as if you’ve been lavishing it with care. I water mine about every six months, sometimes even less frequently.
Geraniums and spider plants are easy to grow By Lee Reich The Associated Press
Spring weather might stir a desire to grow plants — even in people not usually drawn in that direction. If you are one of them, yet your thumbs lack the slightest hint of green, take heart: There are houseplants even you can grow. You'll have to forgo color if you require a truly tough houseplant. Flowering takes too much of a plant's energy, which comes from good — or at least reasonably good — growing conditions, including abundant light. Don't look for color in leaves either, because plants with colorful leaves have them only when there's plenty of light so they can do more with less green. Light and water Poor light is not the only abuse you might suffer upon a houseplant. Many people forget to water them, or water them too much. Also, as plants grow, they need to be divided and repotted, or shifted to larger pots. A houseplant for the horticulturally impaired should not grow so fast that frequent repotting is necessary. Yes, there are plants that can survive, and even look perky, with little light, neglectful or excessive watering, and little other care. And they're not all cacti. Take dumbcane and spider plant, for instance. Both are hard to kill, yet keep up appearances with little attention. Spider plant can fill its pot rapidly and send out new "babies" all over the place, but that's only with good growing conditions. For best results, grow an all-green variety of spider plant, rather than one with white stripes in its leaves. All-green spider plants, with more chlorophyll, tolerate low light better. Geraniums also tolerate an amazing amount of abuse. They won't flower under these conditions, so in that case why not grow scented geraniums? Many have frilly foliage and,
Aloe is one of a number of houseplants that tolerate a lot of abuse. Consequently, they are ideal for anyone who wants some household greenery but lacks a green thumb. [LEE REICH VIA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]
depending on the variety, their leaves carry aromas such as chocolate, rose or lemon. If in doubt about whether a geranium is thirsty, don't water. Cyperus is a houseplant whose especially graceful appearance belies its tough-as-nails constitution. This is a water plant, closely related to papyrus, so it can’t tolerate drying out. But watering cyperus is a no-brainer; just set the pot in a deep saucer that you always keep filled with water. Succulents Succulent plants — which include but are not limited to cacti — are obvious houseplant candidates for nongardeners. If you've killed them in the
past, it was probably because of too much water, a situation easily avoided if, when you first get the plant, you repot it with an equal volume of perlite or sand mixed into the potting soil. The perlite or sand lets water run right through the mix, making it impossible to overwater. Alternatively, repot the plant in potting mix formulated especially for succulents. Succulents present an amazing array of shapes and textures of greenery. In that well-drained potting mix, it would be almost impossible to kill an aloe plant. Its leaves remain soft, fleshy and smooth, just as if you've been lavishing it with care. I water mine about every six months, sometimes even less frequently.
Kalanchoe hardly looks like a desert plant, yet it survives neglect in proper style. The same could be said for burro's tail, ideal for hanging baskets with its ropy stems swathed in fat leaves. Jade plants respond to good conditions by growing rapidly and flowering, but they look almost the same when grown in utter neglect. Grow this succulent as a bush or a small tree. When the plant grows too large for your likes or its pot, it'll get along fine for a long time with its stems just trimmed back to whatever size you want, rather than needing to be repotted. You would think that plants called living stones would be tough houseplants — and they are. They do look like stones, however, so they might not satisfy the seasonal urge for lush greenery. Then again, if you just need some kind of garden experience, you don't need greenery. Get a decorative tray and emulate in miniature the famous Zen landscape at Ryoan-ji in Kyoto, Japan. It consists of a rectangular plot of neatly raked quartz sand surrounding artistically clustered groups of rocks.
4 Saturday, March 31, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
Home decor rethinks its materials Designers say what’s old is new again By Kim Cook The Associated Press
The Earth is awash in garbage, and designers of home decor are looking at ways to reuse the waste. Among the many clever ideas emerging are tiles made out of blue jeans, and furniture made out of bottles. Detritus from timber and agriculture is being reborn as building and design materials. Sea algae is being used to create dyes and fabrics. These innovations signal a shift in our relationship with materials, says Caroline Till, of the London-based design house Franklin Till. Her firm created “The Future is Urban” pavilion at Frankfurt’s Heimtextil fair last year, which showcased trends in global materials. “All over the world, an emerging generation (is) rethinking raw materials, repurposing waste, and presenting radical solutions to the challenges of designing and making,” Till said. “We’re potentially on the brink of a materials revolution that could help rebalance our relationship with our planet and reshape society for the better. Consumers are looking for brands and companies to operate in a more responsible and conscious way.” While traditional raw materials can be expensive and in limited supply, household waste and industry scrap are abundant and cheap. Plastic is one of modern life’s most pervasive and polluting materials, Till says. But its innate durability, malleability and indestructibility can be used to create sound, hard-wearing materials. “The petroleum age’s equivalent of fashioning
Spanish designer Jorges Penades, using leather left over from the automotive, fashion, shoe and furniture industries and bio-resin, creates a reconstituted material that’s strong, resilient and beautiful and can be used for a range of applications. [KIM COOK VIA AP]
For IKEA’s PS 2017 collection, Iina Vuorivirta designed a vase made of the glass waste from other production. The vase is handmade from pieces of glass that didn’t quite make the cut the first time around, but in a second life give each vase a unique pattern. [IKEA VIA AP]
silk purses from sows’ ears,” she said. Emeco, creator of an iconic 1944 aluminum Navy chair, has partnered with CocaCola to make the chair out of 111 plastic bottles. Its production keeps 3 million of them out of landfills annually. IKEA has partnered with Stockholm studio Form Us With Love for the Kungsbacka range of kitchen cabinetry, made of recycled plastic bottles and reclaimed industrial wood. The retailer is also repurposing its own waste stream. Colorful Tanum flat-weave rugs are made from scraps from bed-linen production. The Tomat spray bottle is made of plastic left over from packing material. A swirly vase designed by Iina
Vuorivirta started life as glass waste from other production. IKEA spokesman Malin Nordin says that finding new and smarter ways to use materials is a company goal. The challenge is to develop materials that are safe, high-quality and easy to work with. “We need to stop thinking outside of the box and start thinking in circles. Being circular means eliminating waste at every step of the way,” she said. “Unavoidable waste needs to be turned into resources, and IKEA needs to generate its own renewable energy. The goal of producing as much renewable energy as IKEA consumes has been set for 2020.” In London, designer
Weaver Green’s textile yarn is spun entirely from recycled plastic bottles and has a look and feel similar to wool. [KIM COOK VIA AP]
Micaella Pedros is experimenting with melted plastic bottles as a replacement for bolts and screws for furniture repair. Weaver Green, in Devonshire, England, has created yarn from recycled bottles that has the look and feel of wool. It’s used to make durable rugs, cushions, footstools and blankets. Designer WooJai Lee is experimenting with a brick made out of pulped newspaper that can be used to craft benches and tables. Berlin-based material
designer Sophie Rowley regards waste streams as “a future quarry, a starting point rather than an end point.” She re-engineers Styrofoam, glass, paper and textiles into items like side tables, with the waste materials transformed into beautiful flow patterns and textures. Nissan is considering a material she makes out of scrap denim for possible dashboards. The clothing industry is providing a large supply of material — notably leather, denim and cottons. Danish startup Really worked with textile giant Kvadrat on reusing an enormous store of worn-out sheets, towels and uniforms from hospitality and hospitals. The results: a sturdy textile slab that can sub for wood or composite, as well as an acoustic felt with excellent sound-absorbing qualities. Spanish designer Jorge Penades transforms scrap leather into lamps clad in a colorful “structural skin.” “By using intelligent, sensitive, appealing design,” Till said, “these waste pioneers are developing exciting and innovative ways to turn what’s previously been unwanted into objects of desire.”
The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com Saturday, March 31, 2018 5
As the color wheel turns Best and worst hues for your home HomeAdvisor
Colors have a proven psychological effect on our moods. And the colors we choose for our homes have a proven influence on our overall quality of life. Using color psychology, we can create a home that relaxes, energizes and focuses us where and when we need it most. It just takes knowing which colors to use in which room — and which colors to avoid. Bedrooms For the bedroom, it's best to choose peaceful, relaxing colors that will help you get a good night's sleep. • Best: blue and green. The color blue evokes a sense of calm. In fact, all shades of blue are said to bring down a person's blood pressure, respiration rate and anxiety levels. Light greens
are said to make people feel serene, comforted and refreshed. Interestingly, the color green also is said to stimulate fertility. • Worst: dark purple, orange and yellow. Dark purple is said to stimulate vivid dreams and nightmares. This is especially true for deep, dark mauve and eggplant shades. If purple is your color of choice, consider a soft lavender. This will bring the bedroom a sense of calm, the same way blue does. Bold orange is said to make people feel excited or energized — making it a better match for an exercise room than the bedroom. Yellows can make people feel hungry, which is undesirable in the one room dedicated to sleep. Kitchen The kitchen is a place for happiness and community. Choose a color that will inspire you to cook for and spend quality time with loved ones.
• Best: yellow, earth tones and white. Yellow kitchens tend to make people feel happy, optimistic and inspired. What's more, yellow is said to activate the metabolism and make people feel hungry. Rich browns emulate the color of earth, which can be associated with the fresh food we eat. Crisp whites will help give your kitchen a clean, airy feel. • Worst: bright orange and red. Experts warn: Stay away from bright orange and red if you're watching your weight. These colors are said to stimulate appetite.
Bathrooms Your bathroom is a place for self-care and self-love. Go with colors that make you feel relaxed, refreshed and confident. • Best: light green, light blue and blush. The calming effect of light green and blue make them
The colors we choose for our homes have a proven influence over our quality of life. What’s the best color of a bedroom? Hint: It’s not purple. [DREAMSTIME]
great choices for the bedroom, as well as the bathroom. Blush pinks aren’t only flattering to all skins tones, but they also are said to make people feel warmer after stepping out of the tub. • Worst: neon, dark purples, blues and reds. Neon colors, such as hot pink and lime green, are too bold for the bathroom; they won't stand the test of time. Dark purples, blues and reds are considered oppressive colors. They will make a small bathroom feel even smaller. Office The office is meant to make you feel productive
and undistracted. Here, you want to choose colors that put you in the zone. • Best: gray and green. Gray tones are detached and steady, which may help you feel less distracted and more organized. Green is considered to be a color of concentration, as well as one of the best colors to look at over a long period of time. As a bonus, green represents tranquility — something you want to feel when your work becomes frustrating. • Worst: red. Red is said to be physically stimulating and angerenhancing. For most of us, that's the opposite of how we want to feel when we're trying to get some work done.
6 Saturday, March 31, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
Stucco homes need seasonal maintenance Spring is a good time to apply paint outside
the surface seems rubbery, the sealant is probably in good shape. If not, it may be time to replace it. “It’s like the difference between poking the fatty part of your palm versus a fingernail,” Barnhart explained. Regular checks are especially important given the high clay content in Kansas soil, which contracts and expands frequently with temperature fluctuations. More movement in the ground means more opportunities for cracks to appear. Checking the sealant twice a year allows homeowners time to replace the stucco before cracks form. When shopping for a sealant, look for a silicone or urethane caulking that is approved for exterior use and meets or exceeds American Standard Testing Materials 920.
By Samantha Egan Special to The Capital-Journal
Whether you want to change the color of your stucco home or ensure it’s still in good shape to shelter you from the elements, the change in seasons is the ideal time to act. Set aside time to ensure your stucco cladding is looking and functioning up to standards. Changing the color If you fancy a color change, Bruce Mezera, general manager of Menards, 6401 S.W. 17th St., says the best time to apply exterior latex paint is when the temperature is 50 degrees or higher for an extended period of time. Just don’t wait too long. Mezera advises that homeowners avoid painting during periods of excessive heat. Ron Barnhart, owner of Barnhart Specialty Contracting Inc. in Topeka, recommends using 100-percent breathable paint products because stucco needs to drain moisture. He suggests staying away from elastomer or rubber coatings. “It’s like putting a very tight balloon on your house,” he said. “There’s no way for moisture to get out.” When selecting paint, look for a product designed for recoloring stucco. Mezera recommends Dutch Boy Maxbond or Pittsburgh Paint Paramount exterior latex paint. In terms of painting equipment, Barnhart says it depends on the roughness of the stucco. For rougher surfaces, use a thicker
Keeping out moisture
Flashing tape should be installed under a window flange, not over its top as with the old window shown at left. Proper shiplapping of the secondary barrier — building felt paper — will prevent the intrusion of moisture and subsequent repairs. [SUBMITTED BY RON BARNHART]
nap roller to apply paint. Mezera says paint sprayers are also effective for painting large surfaces. Preventing cracks While the plaster and Portland cement mix is known for being
low-maintenance, stucco requires some upkeep to prevent moisture damage. Barnhart tells his clients to check the health of the sealant between the stucco on their homes and any penetration sites — windows, doors, cable lines or any other surface that penetrates
the cladding — twice annually, in mid-March and again near Halloween. To inspect the sealant, Barnhart advises homeowners to walk around the house and use a pen to check each area where the stucco meets the sealant. If the pen springs back and
Preventing moisture damage also means taking steps to keep water away from your home. Barnhart recommends installing proper drainage that directs water at a consistent rate. Having your house rest on the same type of earth can help keep the moisture levels stable and avoid uneven movement that can cause cracks. “It’s like having one solid piece of sponge so the house will raise and lower at the same time,” he said. While looking at the type of subsoil under and around your home may seem like a stretch when it comes to stucco repair, Barnhart says it’s all part of the process. “When you have a house,” he said, “you have to be a control freak.” Samantha Egan is a freelance writer from Topeka.
The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com Saturday, March 31, 2018 7
Tips to make your home look expensive
If there is one thing every living room needs, it’s a cozy sofa that looks like it’s from a designer but doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. The sofa also needs to be durable enough to withstand spills. [DREAMSTIME]
Opt for luxurious bedding and chic rugs to add comfort and style By Sacha Strebe Domaine
Whether you’re moving into your first apartment, a new rental or your first purchased home there’s always a myriad of things to consider with it comes to furnishings. But perhaps the first and foremost is your budget. While your stylish eye wants all the designer pieces, your frugal purse is looking at those luxury look-alikes with an affordable price tag. But you don’t have to declare war with your bank account. It’s possible to achieve a happy compromise. Low-cost decor that looks expensive really exists. Inject some personality with curated vignettes, vintage knickknacks and objets d’art. Ready to get started? Ahead, we share our top must-have pieces that look expensive without the high-ticket price tag.
Multipurpose table When you move into any new space, the first thing you’ll need is a place to dine. Make sure the table you choose has ample room to accommodate unexpected guests. If you don’t have the space for a large table, simply choose a design that’s extendable. Find furniture that works hard for the money and looks good doing it. Stylish storage Despite your best efforts to keep clutter to a minimum, life happens, and inevitably our homes fill up with stuff from the kitchen counters to the bathroom drawers. We are big believers in prevention rather than a cure — and that applies to more than just our health. Stop your mess in its tracks with storage that
looks like stylish decor and makes chaos look chic. Chic rug No home, whether it’s your first or not, is complete without a rug — or three. It’s the single most transformative thing you can do to any space, aside from paint. While there are several styles you can choose from — and this process is very personal — we recommend a jute or a flatweave style. It’s incredibly hardy, so it withstands any spills or wear and tear. Throw a vintage or colorful small rug over the top for instant texture and visual flavor. It’s a super-simple change, but it makes the biggest difference. Promise. Luxe bedding When you consider how
much time you spend in it, it’s pretty easy to see why luxury bedding is a prerequisite for any new home. If you love the new messy-bed trend, make sure you add linen sheets to your cart. This beautiful fabric feels just as good as it looks and adds an instant air of luxury to any boudoir. While they’re typically very costly, you can source some cost-effective sets from H&M. Elevated dishware Whether you plan on hosting guests for refined dinner parties or prefer to dine alone, you should always keep your buffet or kitchen cupboard well-stocked with upscale dining sets, from dinner plates to bowls to salad plates and side dishes. After all, a good hostess is always prepared for unexpected guests.
Clean towels Before you move in, it’s time to toss all your tired, ratty towels and replace them with fresh ones that match your new space. There’s nothing more satisfying than stepping out of your shower or bath and wrapping your body in a fluffy bath towel or unique Turkish varieties. It’s the simple things in life that count, right? While you can certainly spend a fortune on towels, there are plenty of luxe low-cost versions that look the part but won’t break the bank. Comfortable couch If there is one thing every living room needs, it’s a cozy sofa that looks designer but doesn’t make your credit card go into hiding. You also want it to be durable and withstand house parties and movie nights, and those inevitable spills.
8 Saturday, March 31, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
Fixture packages create instant style Items in collections complement each other
vanities, shower heads, lighting and even towel bars and paper holders. No matter what you choose in each package, the fixtures and accessories all complement and match each other. Bottom line: When finished, you can collect a lot of decorating compliments from friends and family, if you go with a bathroom fixture collection.
By Ed Del Grande Tribune News Service
Q: Dear Ed, my husband and I plan to remodel our bathroom by ourselves. He is very handy with the tools, and I plan on making the decoration decisions. As far as fixtures and accessories, is there any pro tips and tricks you can give me to help me create a professional-looking bathroom? — Sally, Utah A: As a plumber, I can
tell you what I suggest to homeowners when I'm told he or she plans on picking out all the plumbing fixtures. I inform them that larger bathroom fixture manufacturers have professional designers put
A bathroom fixture collection can make remodeling an entire bathroom much simpler. [KOHLER]
together "bathroom collections" or "fixture suite packages." These fixture collections take out a lot of
the decorating guess work. Collection packages can include things like toilets, sinks, faucets,
Master contractor/plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book "Ed Del Grande's House Call," the host of TV and Internet shows, and a LEED green associate. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eadelg@cs.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.
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Garage remodels a growing trend Be sure to get the right permits before work begins By Paul F.P. Pogue Angie's List
Are you making the most of the space your garage has to offer? If you're using it for little more than trash bin storage and the occasional home project, now's a good time to take the plunge and convert your garage into the hobby space, home gym or guest apartment you've always wanted. Garage remodels are currently one of the
hottest trends in home improvement. And the sky's the limit when it comes to your options. Here are a few important considerations to get you started. • Think through your plans.
A garage conversion is a major remodel, so it's important to take the planning process seriously. Will you be converting the space for an everydayliving purpose, such as a new bedroom for a family member? Or will you use it for hobby or entertainment purposes? If you turn your garage into a motorcycle repair zone
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or the ultimate billiards room, will you still be able to get your car inside? These decisions are entirely up to you, but be sure you understand and prioritize your needs and wants up front. • Be realistic.
Improving garage organization with custom cabinets and hangers may require an investment of a few thousand dollars. But converting a garage to a living space, adding a car lift or installing significant hobbyist upgrades could escalate into an investment requiring tens of thousands of dollars.
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