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ATHOME

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LANDMARK HOME

Charles Curtis House

Furnishings, architecture create a standout, Page 6

[THAD ALLTON/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]

WATERINGÂ TREES, PAGE 2

ROOM-BY-ROOM DECOR, PAGE 4

WINDOW TREATMENT TRENDS, PAGE 8

2 Saturday, June 2, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Trees need water; roots need oxygen Signs of stress are leaf scorch and leaf drop

MARK YOUR CALENDAR The Shawnee County Master Gardeners is presenting several programs at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th St. All of the programs are free and start at 7 p.m.

Scheduled in June are: • June 7: “Rain Barrels” • June 14: “Presidential Gardens” Information: Shawnee County Extension Office, (785) 232-0062

Ariel Whitely-Noll

T

rees are some of the oldest and largest living organisms on our planet.

A large tree can move up to 100 gallons of water from the soil to its leaf surfaces every day. Coastal redwoods can tower more than 300 feet, and giant banyan trees in Calcutta have crowns so wide it can take up to 10 minutes to walk around the base of the tree.

Although the trees in our yards may not reach this same stature, they’re still impressive organisms. Trees shade our homes in the summer and block winds in the winter, reducing energy costs. A single tree produces enough oxygen for four people every day. Their height and width often give trees an impermeable appearance.

Water, especially in years of establishment, is crucial to tree health — and life. Although establishment years are important, all trees need water, more as they grow larger. Trees may give the appearance of strong, immortal organisms, but they are living — just like the most delicate petunia — and need care.

Some gardeners assume a wet spring means little watering is needed during the summer. This common misconception doesn’t take into account potential root damage — especially to trees — that occurs with saturated soils.

In addition to needing

Trees need more water as they grow larger. A newly planted tree needs at least 10 gallons of water a week. More water is needed for trees transplanted more than two years ago. [METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION]

water, roots also need oxygen. When soils are wet for long periods of time, plant and tree roots can “drown.” This means, when hot weather approaches, trees are working to take up water with a less extensive root system.

Signs of stress — leaf scorch and leaf drop — will appear. These signs are identical to those seen during times of drought.

Although the causes of stress differ, the result is the same: The tree can’t take up the amount of water it needs to thrive.

Trees benefit most from deep but infrequent watering. For newly planted trees, at least 10 gallons of water a week is needed — more with sandy soils. Applying this water in one setting means it will soak deep into the soil and evaporate more slowly than a shallow watering.

One preferred watering method for small trees is to drill a hole — about 1/8-inch in diameter — near the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Fill the bucket with water and allow it to dribble out in the tree’s root zone.

Refill the bucket and repeat, guaranteeing 10 gallons of water will be applied.

For larger trees transplanted more than two years ago, 10 gallons of water isn’t enough. For these trees, a perforated soaker hose is an easier way to water.

To avoid under-watering parts of the tree — a notorious problem for soaker hoses — attach each end to a Y-adapter. This will help equalize pressure and provide more uniform watering.

A Y-adapter with a shut-off valve is especially helpful to control the flow of water.

If you notice water running off the soil, turn the

pressure down. Water that is running off won’t soak down to the root zone. Set the soaker hose in a circle just inside the tree’s dripline, or as far as the branches reach.

Slightly hoeing the area where you set your soaker hose may help water infiltrate the ground more easily.

To check how deep the water has soaked, use a metal rod, wooden dowel or something similar and push it into the ground. Dry soil will be harder to push through. A penetration depth of 12 inches is needed for both new and established trees.

Monitor the time it takes the water to reach 12 inches during the first few waterings. Then, set your timer for this time for later watering — that way you won’t have to check the depth each time.

For young trees especially, mulch can help even out moisture issues. A ring

of mulch around trees can suppress weeds and grass that compete with the tree for moisture. Bare soil, without this competition, won’t hold water like covered soil.

Some homeowners prefer the look of river rock to wood mulch, but users beware.

River rock has its downside.

The weight of the rock has the potential to crush tree roots, especially if applied in a thick layer. Rock also heats up in the summer sun and could cause or worsen trunk scorching issues. Organic mulches, like wood chips and compost, don’t cause these issues.

Regardless of mulch type, one thing holds true for all: Mulch should be applied like a doughnut, not like a volcano. A mulch volcano is when mulch is piled up against tree bark and then tapers out to the dripline.

Mulch piled like this can damage tree bark and offer a haven for insects and animals who like to munch on trees.

Spreading the mulch out like a doughnut, with a hole in the middle for the trunk and the root flare, is the proper application method.

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, June 2, 2018 3

To save water, change out old fixtures Switch also may lower usage costs

By Ed Del Grande Tribune News Service

Q: Dear Ed: Like most families, we want to cut down on our home’s water usage.

To be honest, other than taking shorter showers, I’m not sure where to start.

What are your recommendations for easy ways average families can save water?

— Joe, Ohio A: Most homeowners overlook

this added benefit when it comes to saving water. In most cases, if you lower your town water use, your town sewer costs also can be lowered. If you have a well and septic tank, using less water can lead to lower maintenance costs as well.

So, updating to water-saving plumbing fixtures is one of the best investments you can make for your home.

Most older plumbing fixtures weren’t designed to be high-efficiency plumbing fixtures. So, the easy trick to saving water is to remove older water-wasting fixtures and install new high-efficiency plumbing fixtures.

This way, you really don’t have to change your lifestyle. The new fixtures do the water saving work for you.

Look for toilets that use less than 1.3 gallons per flush, shower heads that use 1.75 gallons per minute or less, and bathroom faucets that use 1.5 gallons per minute.

The good news is you don’t have to upgrade all your fixtures at once. Start with the toilet first, then let your water-saving upgrade projects flow from there.

An easy trick to save water is to remove older water-wasting fixtures and install new high-efficiency plumbing fixtures.

[KOHLER]

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.

4 Saturday, June 2, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Color, style trends to try in every room Dining rooms are out; eat-in islands rule

Programmable bathroom

By Lauren White

It may be hard to believe, but the toilet is one of the biggest bathroom trends this year. Installing highefficiency toilets is a quick and easy way to make your home more efficient, and even to modernize your bathroom aesthetic.

These toilets are sleek and minimal, and they’re available in a variety of styles — including bidet. You also can find options that open and flush automatically.

Toilets aren’t the only bathroom element that’s gotten smarter. You can now program showers to your exact desired temperature, install a Bluetooth speaker anywhere in your bathroom, and even watch a small television screen on your vanity mirror.

Design-wise, bathrooms are trending toward bolder tile selections, concrete features like overlay sinks and sleek black hardware.

HomeAdvisor

Sometimes, moving the furniture around isn’t enough.

We need something new and inspiring — something we can fall in love with. And, sometimes the latest color and style trends are the answer.

Here’s a room-by-room look at some of the most irresistible current trends — and how you can incorporate them into your own home design.

Reclaimed living room The living room is where people are showcasing reclaimed and natural materials. As our interiors — and even our daily lives — grow ever more modern, we want to maintain those grounding elements where we can.

People are capturing this essence with live plants, artisanal focal pieces and natural textures like woven fabrics and grain-baring wood.

Pieces like upcycled pallet coffee tables and recovered and refinished antique chairs

A mix of bold patterns, moody colors and nature-inspired accents makes this bedroom perfectly on trend. [DREAMSTIME]

bring warmth and character.

And global elements like pillows and baskets add interest and balance to the space.

Mixed-up kitchen Dining rooms have fallen out of favor. Today, we’re seeing more eat-in islands and banquet seating in the kitchen. As our lives grow busier, we’re making space in the kitchen to talk, cook and connect with one another. And we’re integrating charging stations into kitchen drawers to keep our devices charged

and connected, too.

Kitchen aesthetics are trending toward mix-andmatch colors and materials.

Think light butcher block wood countertops paired with stark black cabinets.

Or a navy blue wooden island paired with white modern cabinetry and stainless steel appliances.

The latest innovations in cabinetry and drawers are tucking appliances out of sight. Manufacturers are designing appliances to blend with your kitchen materials in a trend known as integrating appliances.

Enriched bedroom Moody, rich colors are having a moment in the

bedroom. Navy blues, velvety purples and even pollenlike yellows can add depth and character — whether they're incorporated as furniture, accent walls or lush pillows, linens and rugs.

Decor choices, however, continue to trend toward minimalism. We’re doing our best to leave our technology, our bills and our to-do lists at the bedroom door so we can truly unwind and refresh ourselves for another day.

Plants also are showing up in our bedrooms, as they are in many other parts of the home. As art, pillows, prints and linens — and especially as living succulents and leafy indoor trees — plants are becoming an integral part of interior design.

One final trend happening in the bedroom is the mixing of bold patterns. This trend could easily make a room look garish, but people are coming up with new and creative ways to make opposite patterns complement each other. Bold stripes are being propped against soft florals, and stark geometric patterns are being married with rough-hewn textures.

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6 Saturday, June 2, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

HISTORIC SITES

Landmark homes: Charles Curtis House Architecture, furnishings make home stand out

By Shanna Sloyer Special to The Capital-Journal

Editor’s note: This is part of an ongoing series on landmark homes in Topeka. Stories about other landmark homes can be found at cjonline.com.

Topeka was founded in 1854, and since that time, many historical figures have chosen Topeka as their place of residence.

Along with backgrounds of significance, they brought a variety of architectural styles to what would become the capital city.

Through the efforts of many who have rescued them from disrepair and potential destruction, the homes still stand today. The Charles Curtis House, 1101 S.W. Topeka Blvd., is among them.

Charles Curtis, who grew up in Topeka, served as vice president during the Herbert Hoover administration. [THAD ALLTON/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]

CHARLES CURTIS HOUSE

Who was Curtis?

The Charles Curtis House, a stately brick mansion at 1101 S.W. Topeka Blvd., was the home of Charles Curtis, who served as vice president during the Herbert Hoover administration. Curtis was the first vice president from west of the Mississippi River and the first American Indian and first person from Kansas to hold such a high office. [PHOTOS BY THAD ALLTON/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]

Charles Curtis served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 14 years, from 1893 to 1907. He was elected as a U.S. senator in 1906, a position he held when presidential candidate Herbert Hoover chose him to be his running mate in 1928.

Hoover and Curtis won the race, and Curtis became the nation’s 31st vice president. He was the first vice president from west of the Mississippi River and the first American Indian and first person from Kansas to hold such a high office.

“Charles Curtis was the only Native American that ever went that far in political office,” said Nova

Cottrell, who co-owns the Charles Curtis House with her husband, Don. Curtis’ mother was of French lineage and a member of the Kaw tribe, which made Curtis oneeighth Indian. When the Kaw tribe was forced to move south on the Trail of Tears, Curtis was 13 years old. He rode his pony into Topeka to his Grandmother Curtis’ house and lived with his father’s family during his teenage years.

Curtis’ grandmother insisted he attend Topeka High School, where he finished a two-year course in a year and, without any further formal

Address: 1101 S.W. Topeka Blvd.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturdays Admission: $5; proceeds go toward utilities and property upkeep.

education, went on to pass the bar exam by age 21.

Restoration in mind It was purely by accident that the Cottrells became the guardians of Curtis’ story. Nova Cottrell collects antiques and in 1993 began selling them at Holliday Square Shopping Center. There she met the owner of the Curtis house, which at that time served as an insurance office.

Cottrell always admired the stately brick mansion at the corner of S.W. 10th and S.W. Topeka Boulevard, See CURTIS, 7

Three types of stair spindles are visible in the ornate wooden banister of the grand staircase in the Charles Curtis House.

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CURTIS From Page 6

just southwest of the Capitol. She learned it was for sale and decided to take the opportunity to see what it looked like inside.

The couple had no intention of buying a house, and it took Cottrell three weeks to convince her husband to go look at it.

“I told him I would like to see the Curtis house. I’ve loved it all my life,” she said.

It was evident during their tour of the house that it needed extensive renovation work, including a new roof, and they learned the house was on the endangered list. The Cottrells assumed it would eventually be demolished.

On their way out of the house that day, Don Cottrell made the owner an offer — without discussing it first with his wife — and they became the most recent owners of the Charles Curtis House, which they run as a museum in Curtis’ memory.

“This street used to be lined with houses like this and the one next door, and these are the only two left,” said Nova Cottrell.

“This building needs to be preserved for the history of our state. People from all over the United States come to see it.”

Interior grandeur Built in 1878 for Joseph C. Wilson, one of the first mayors of Topeka, Cottrell describes the architectural style of the house as Eclectic Italianate, which refers to a movement in which a variety of elements from previous styles are used to create an original style of architecture. At the time that it was built, the house was described in the local paper as “not surpassed by

A bedroom in the Charles Curtis House showcases some of the antiques that furnish the home. [PHOTOS BY THAD ALLTON/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]

Antique furniture and furnishings, including a period chandelier, are displayed in a rose-colored bedroom.

The decorative geometric mosaic of wood pieces seen in the Charles Curtis House would have been in vogue during its heyday.

Old newspaper clippings and photographs of Charles Curtis and the Charles Curtis House are among the memorabilia on display.

any residence in the city.”

Inside, a grand staircase greets visitors. Three types of stair spindles are visible in the ornate wooden banister, a result of indecision on the part of Irma Redden, who lived there with her husband, James Redden, who eventually became head physician at Stormont Vail Hospital.

The Reddens were the second owners of the house.

Irma Redden’s father was a wealthy banker, and he bankrolled the redesign of the house by Seymour Davis, a prominent architect. Davis was responsible for adding two turrets to the roofline; Redden had him

add the home’s stained- and jeweled-glass windows.

Other period features include four fireplaces — two of white oak, one of solid cherry and the fourth of Italian marble. Ornamental crown molding frames the plaster ceilings, accented by period chandeliers.

The Curtis home has more intact parquet flooring than any other historical house in Kansas, according to the Kansas Historical Society.

The decorative geometric mosaic of wood pieces would have been in vogue during the house’s heyday.

“The architecture is wonderful,” Cottrell said.

“You can’t hear traffic.

It’s built so sturdily.”

Curtis acquired the house in 1907, and it was the official address he used while serving as vice president in Washington. The Curtis family resided there until 1937, including Curtis’ wife, Ann (Baird) Curtis, and their two daughters and son. The Curtises also adopted his half-sister, Dolly, who became instrumental in his campaigns.

Cottrell has made it her life’s mission to preserve the home and history of Charles Curtis. She and her husband worked to ensure the Charles Curtis House was on the national and state Registers of Historic Places and the Topeka Landmarks Register.

Cottrell also has written

and received a number of grants, which have paid for lead-coated copper roof repairs, a cooling system and an energy-efficient boiler.

The home holds a large collection of historical memorabilia and artifacts, including antique furniture that belonged to the Curtis family. Cottrell purchased some pieces, but others have been donated over the years, such as the Curtis family clock, which a benefactor paid to have restored.

“When I sell the building, I want all museum pieces and furniture to go with it,” she said.

Shanna Sloyer is a freelance writer from Topeka.

You can reach her at ssloyer@yahoo.com.

8 Saturday, June 2, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Designers spot window treatment trends Drapes, curtains range from simple to glamorous

By Melissa Rayworth The Associated Press

Even the simplest window treatments have an important role to play in the look of a room.

“They really soften and furnish a space much more than most people imagine,” said interior designer Betsy Burnham, of Los Angeles.

Yet, she often has to reassure people that drapes, curtains or other window treatments don’t have to be fussy.

“It can be tailored, simple panels done in great fabrics and the simplest of hardware,” she said.

We’ve asked Burnham and two other interior designers — Florida-based Maggie Cruz and New York-based Deborah Martin — for advice on what’s trending in window design. How can homeowners preserve their privacy while letting in the sunlight and enjoying their view now and throughout the summer?

Simply powerful “We’re seeing a trend more toward minimalizing what’s happening around the window,” said Cruz.

Her clients are increasingly seeking functional items like simple shades, perhaps softened with a lightweight drapery.

“The hardware,” she

said, “is just enough to maybe play with the color of the metal.”

Burnham loves that kind of simplicity: “I like to use the thinnest rod I can that will support the weight of the curtain.”

Ideally, that’s just 1-inch thick.

“For support brackets, I like them always to be horizontal so you can’t see them. They’re behind the rod. It’s really minimal, and yet it’s drapery,” she said.

Martin says her clients also are embracing soft organic fabrics and natural fibers like woven woods and raffia shades, perhaps looking for “more of a high-touch, tactile element for our homes as we try to disengage from high tech.”

Maximalism returns Martin also is working with clients who are bringing more color and glamour into their furnishings and window design: “Color, color, color is the No. 1 trend.”

Taking their cue from the fashion industry, many of her clients in New York are embracing bold, graphic patterns, and in some cases “shimmery, glittery and even sequined fabrics.”

She also is seeing soft velvets — popular for several years as sofa upholstery — now being used for stationary drapery panels that serve as columns of color to frame a window.

Burnham is seeing some See WINDOWS, 9

Los Angeles-based interior designer Betsy Burnham often chooses draperies made from “tailored, simple panels done in great fabrics and the simplest of hardware” for her clients, as shown in this living room. [CHRIS PATEY/BETSY BURNHAM VIA AP]

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WINDOWS

windows, who is going to take the time to raise and lower all those shades” every morning and evening?

From Page 8

of this embrace of bold patterns, though the look is less overtly glamorous.

“I think that we’re done with the urban farmhouse,” she said. “Maximalism is coming back to a certain degree. In L.A., it’s not about glitz and glam, but it’s about pattern. And it can be a pattern that’s reminiscent of your grandmother’s cottage in the country, or it can be a pattern that’s more geometric and tailored.”

Technological advances All three designers see the growing popularity of remote-controlled motorized shades, which have become less expensive and less complicated to

Twists on classics

The clean, simple lines of Roman shades are popular and can be designed in a wide range of fabrics and colors, as shown here in this room designed by Betsy Burnham. [LAURA HULL/ BETSY BURNHAM VIA AP]

install. Cruz says her clients love them “just for the ease and functionality.”

Martin sees the same trend in Manhattan: “If you live in a high-rise in the city and you have walls of

Cruz has been using a lot of wooden plantation shutters for clients, but they are “updated and modern,” she says. Because these shutters have wide louvers, they let in lots of light and don’t obscure the view when open. Many are designed with a hidden tilt bar, she says, so the horizontal line of the shutters isn’t cut so obviously by a vertical bar of wood.

Wooden shutters, Cruz says, “add to the millwork of the house.”

Martin, who uses this type of wooden shutter in some rooms in her own home, agrees: “They’re architectural and functional, and they just add so much to a room,

almost like wood moldings.”

Another new twist on traditional style: In her dining room, Burnham has leopard-print draperies in a casual cotton fabric.

“They’re not heavy or fancy,” she said, “and they’re funky in a way that it’s not taking itself too seriously.”

Whether you’re most comfortable with minimalist Roman shades or leopardprint draperies, Burnham does suggest taking time in choosing new window designs for your home.

“This is a much more complicated category of design (than selecting a side table or rug),” she said.

“There are a lot of things to consider, and people do make mistakes (if they design their windows without a lot of thought.) They hang their rods too low or too high, so that you walk into the room and you know something is a just little bit off.”

10 Saturday, June 2, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

TIP OF THE WEEK

Dog and cat days of summer Here are some ideas from HDTV that will help keep your pets comfortable during the summer months.

• To keep a dog cool during hot temperatures, wet a bandana and place it in a freezer to chill. Once frozen, tie around the dog’s neck.

• Pets can get sunburned, too. Apply a sunscreen to your cat or dog — don’t forget the nose and tips of ears — before exposing them for longer periods in the

[METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION]

sun. Use a sunscreen with a SPF of 30 and mix it with a little petroleum

jelly to help it stay put.

Source: hdtv.com

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12 Saturday, June 2, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com