At Home Living 111817

Saturday, November 18, 2017 An advertising feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

INTERIOR DECORATING

Getting cozy Easy ways to add comfort, style to holiday home page 6 n Courting wintertime birds, page 2 n Craft tables great for family gatherings, page 4 n Barn becomes setting for farm-to-table feast, page 8

Keith Horinek/The Capital-Journal

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How to create a habitat suitable for winter birds

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Ariel Whitely-NOLL

In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.”

ROBERT LYND Irish writer

A winter garden may lack flowers and green grass, but other opportunities for enjoying outdoor space are ample. Birds can be a source of entertainment and activity in an otherwise barren winter yard.

Birds eat insects in warmer months and bring music to the outdoors. Some are even pollinators. Providing a suitable habitat for birds will supply you with joy and an easy winter garden project for those who like to keep busy.

Bird-friendly plants alone won’t guarantee success, but in combination with food, water and an overall friendly habitat, birds will come.

To begin, birds need what all wildlife needs: food and water.

Although many of us have bird-

arielw@ksu.edu

baths, most go unused in winter months. This is the time when birds most need fresh water.

Purchasing a heated birdbath, or simply adding water regularly, will allow birds to hydrate at times when other water sources are frozen. Keep the bath near a tree with low-hanging branches to allow the birds to preen their feathers after bathing.

When it comes to feeding the birds in your yard, possibilities are endless. Store-bought and homemade recipes are abundant, but bird selection is key in the feeder and the feed. Choose what types of local birds you’d like to attract, and purchase the feeder type and feed that attracts those birds.

Habitat and shelter are the other

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Birds can be a source of entertainment during the winter months. To create a suitable habitat for them, be sure to provide plenty of food, water and shelter. important factors in attracting and keeping birds in your yard.

Evergreen shrubs provide a warm place for birds to shelter, as well as protection from predators. Bird houses or roosting boxes are also essential in winter months. Clean these out prior to cold weather and line them with hay or dried grass for optimal warmth.

Leaving plants in your yard over winter also can help birds.

Seed heads on plants like coneflower can provide food for birds, and untrimmed grasses and shrubs provide additional shelter.

Make sure to keep your feeders away from shrubs if cats are present in your neighborhood. Cats will use shrubs to hide in and easily prey upon birds. Trees are also a bird-friendly element, as well as a safe haven from cats.

Along with birds, other wild-

life will appreciate this habitat, even if you don’t want them to.

Racoons may be attracted to suet-based bird food and squirrels will eat anything you put in a bird feeder. Although many bird feeders are labeled to keep squirrels out, they don’t always work. Some homeowners opt to feed squirrels corn cobs in other parts of the BIRDS continues on 10

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A good fit for pedestal sinks

By Ed Del Grande Tribune News Service

Q: Dear Ed: I want to install a new bathroom faucet but have been confused about what type to order. The faucet I like is called a “widespread” faucet. What is a widespread faucet and will it fit on my present bathroom sink?

— Jennifer, Texas Ed Del Grande: Widespread bathroom sink faucets are a great choice for larger vanities and pedestal bathroom sinks.

Like the name says, the faucet handles and spout are spread out a little farther from each other over a standard-type bathroom faucet.

This means you need to have a widespread setup on your present sink, or you’ll need to install a new sink to accommodate the

KOHLER

A widespread faucet is a great choice for larger vanities and pedestal bathroom sinks. faucet.

The usual widespread sink hole setup is three faucet holes that measure between 8- to 16-inches from one handle side to the other, with the spout in the middle.

Bottom line: Know your sink type and style before ordering your new

faucet to avoid widespread confusion.

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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Craft tables can keep kids busy at family gatherings

By Katie Workman The Associated Press

In many homes, the Thanksgiving gathering stretches for hours. It’s not an eat-and-run kind of day — you’re all in it for the long haul.

And while adults have an acquired ability to make their own entertainment (catching up with Uncle Ivan, tossing around a football, helping in the kitchen), kids sometimes need a little more direction to fill those hours before the turkey hits the table.

In our house, that’s where the craft table comes into play. About 10 years ago, my mother, Carolan Workman, set up a table where the kids could pull up a chair and draw, color, cut, stamp and paste.

“The nicest thing about it was its one-size-fits-all universality: boys and girls, old and young, either artistically adept or not,” she said.

“And there was something wonderful in seeing a high school linebacker cousin gluing sparkles or cutting felt squares next to a toddler.”

Sighs of happiness can also be heard from the parents, freed up to enjoy that glass of wine and bit of quiet conversation.

For starters, you’ll need a large folding table that you don’t care about. Or do as Cate Geiger Kalus, visual styling director for Good Housekeeping magazine, suggests: “Roll out some craft paper for a kid-friendly tablecloth.” (goodhousekeeping.com) You’ll also need chairs — ones without dry-clean-only cushions.

Craft supplies can include any of the following: — Glue sticks (avoid liquid glue if you can) — Construction paper in all sizes and colors (particularly autumnal colors) — Felt or foam for cutting into shapes

— Thanksgiving-themed stamps with washable ink stamp pads — Washable markers, crayons, colored pencils, paint (avoid chalk) — Popsicle sticks — Printed or colored tape, such as washi tape — Googly eyes (optional but recommended) — Childproof (or safety) scissors. These also come in packages with cool edges so you can cut patterns into the paper.

— Thanksgiving-themed stickers, cut-outs and foam shapes Online, you can fine all kinds of cute and inexpensive holiday craft projects, like kits for making pilgrim hats, Thanksgiving wreaths, woven placemat kits, etc.

The mail-order company Oriental Trading provides make-your-own foam turkey kits, and has a ton of wellpriced DIY craft projects ready to go. (orientaltrading. com)

KATIE WORKMAN/VIA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A folding table with craft supplies will keep youngsters busy while the Thanksgiving feast in being prepared — and afterward when adults want to catch up with each other or watch a football game.

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REDECORATION

A cozy holiday home

By Jan Biles

jan.biles@cjonline.com

Soft textiles, scented candles and table settings that combine the familiar and classic are among the items that can make a home feel a bit cozier during the holiday season, says Dan Brungardt, designer and owner of Home at Last in Fairlawn Plaza.

However, Brungardt, who opened the furniture and home furnishings store 3½ years ago, said homeowners also should look beyond the holidays when decorating this time of the year.

“We all have so much Christmas stuff,” he said. “Look at the things that can bridge the winter season … from late November through February and March.”

Brungardt referenced a display of glass evergreen trees in the store as an example.

“Glass evergreen trees can be displayed for three or four months rather than 30 days,” he said.

Brungardt offered some other decorating tips to create a sense of coziness in a home once the weather turns cold: — Layer textiles, such as adding beautiful throws to sofas to add texture or for the practical purpose of keeping warm. Brungardt said baby alpaca throws in menswear patterns, such as pinstripes or tattersall, “fit the season” and add “a nice dose of warmth.”

— Replace floral-themed pillows with those using plaid or velvet fabrics.

— For table settings, use white

PHOTOGRAPHS BY KEITH HORINEK/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Dan Brungardt says decor items with winter themes, as opposed to those with holiday motifs, can be displayed from November through March.

HOME AT LAST

Address: 5331 S.W. 22nd Place, inside Fairlawn Plaza Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Information: (785) 215-8089; dbhomeatlast.com RED DOOR HOME STORE Address: 2131 S.W. Fairlawn Plaza Drive Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Information: (785) 250-7720; facebook.com/RedDoorHomeStore/

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We all have so much Christmas stuff. Look at the things that can bridge the winter season … from late November through February and March.”

DAN BRUNGARDT

designer and owner of Home at Last, offering a holiday decorating tip

plates and swap out the napkins “to elevate the mood quickly.”

— Use scented candles, a quick and easy way to tap into the senses.

“The sense of smell brings back memories of the holidays,” Brungardt said.

Home at Last carries highquality candles, in such scents as

Dan Brungardt, designer and owner of Home at Last in Fairlawn Plaza, says homeowners can make minor changes to their home’s decor to create a cozier feel during winter. earthy Monterrey Pine and Cinnamon Tabac, a blend of cinnamon, vanilla and sweet tobacco.

Jesse Borjon, who co-owns Red Door Home Store with his wife, Stacie, said a current decor

trend is “bringing the outdoors indoors,” which creates a feeling of comfort and coziness in a home.

COZY continues on 7

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Cozy: Red truck toys constitute new theme Jesse Borjon, co-owner of Red Door Home Store at Fairlawn Plaza, says a popular trend is “bringing the outdoors indoors.” These birch candleholders are popular among his customers.

Continued from 6

Extra-large pinecones, faux greenery that’s botanically correct, large green seed pods, kumquats decorated with cloves and birch wood candleholders are popular among the store’s customers.

“We don’t sell fresh greenery in the store, but when we go out to decorate, we use it,” Borjon said, adding the home decor business also offers interior design services. “We try to customize to the customer, but then we put our own spin on it.”

Red Door Home Store, also in Fairlawn Plaza, opened in August 2015.

Each Christmas, the business features a themed showroom of holiday decorations and decor items.

The first year, they embraced a tree farm theme, with a 9-foot-tall tree and ornaments as the centerpiece.

In 2016, the store adopted an old-fashioned Christmas motif, with vintage Santas, candy canes, cards, mailboxes and other merchandise.

This year’s theme is all about red trucks: ornaments, pillows and a host of other decor items.

“I think for some of us it takes us back to our childhood,” he said. “Red trucks are very vintage and vintage is in. It’s really classic.”

Contact niche editor Jan Biles at (785) 295-1292.

Kumquats decorated with cloves, which can be found at Red Door Home Store, is one way to bring an outdoorsy feel into a home.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY KEITH HORINEK/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

These glass evergreen trees at Home at Last can be displayed throughout the winter months because they aren’t tied to a holiday theme.

Scented candles are an easy way to add warmth to a home during the holidays.

Home at Last carries highquality candles with such scents as Winter Frost, Cinnamon Tabac and Monterrey Pine.

A variety of red truck ornaments are featured this holiday season at Red Door Home Store at Fairlawn Plaza.

8 | Saturday, November 18, 2017 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Barn becomes setting for farm-to-table feast

By Mary Carol Garrity Tribune News Service

Linda was on a mission.

She and her husband, Mike, were hosting a farm-to-table feast at their home north of Kansas City to benefit their church.

She stopped by on her hunt for the dishes, linens and other supplies she would need to create a beautiful fall table in her barn.

A gourmet cook, Linda is known for her parties.

And as she told me about the menu she was planning that would celebrate the fresh flavors of the local farms, dairy, bakery and distillery, she was so excited.

But she deflated like a tire with a nail in it at the thought of spending the weekend transforming the barn into a dining room for 12.

Me? As I listened, my mind became a slideshow of tables set to dazzle. We had a match made in heaven. I told Linda, you focus on the cooking, and let us do the decorating.

Linda does everything first-class.

She’s been a customer — and my friend — since 1989, when she first moved to the area. After they purchased Stony Oaks Farm, a 210-acre stretch of pristine farmland outside historic St. Joseph, Mo., the first thing they built was the barn.

They hired an Amish craftsman to construct the building.

The second floor was designed for entertaining and has been the site of many a party, including the family’s Thanksgiving dinners and kids’ graduation celebrations. We couldn’t wait to get our hands on it.

As you can imagine, when you work

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with a team as creative as visual design artists, everyone had a million ideas for the party, with stacks of Pinterest boards to show.

After working it out the Nell Hill’s way — cussing and discussing and wrangling with different looks — we came up with a vision.

Instead of the cliche fall barn images, we set a scene of rustic elegance.

The table was a tapestry of textures, built with one rich and inviting layer after another, starting with kilim rugs used as tablecloths.

Tartan napkins served as placemats.

Spode dinnerware gave the feeling of fall.

Guests were welcomed to the table with a unique place card: a tree branch wedge inscribed with their names.

The barn is not heated, so we draped tartan throws over the back of each guest’s chair so they could wrap up against the chill of the fall evening.

When there is this much going on in your dining area, it’s best to keep your

centerpieces simple.

We filled towering glass vases with branches of bittersweet and surrounded them with clusters of votive candles.

Against this beautiful backdrop, Linda wowed her guests with her unforgettable farm-to-table feast that showcased the bounty of the land: butternut squash soup served in pumpkin bowls; a salad of figs, prosciutto, walnuts and parmesan cheese; beer-brined grilled pork chops; roasted onions stuffed with caramelized onion potatoes; apple cabbage slaw; bourbon toffee date cake; and a rustic apple tart.

My stomach is growling just thinking of it.

It was such a joy for us to be a part of making this benefit dinner such a success. We love all the good things you’re doing out there to make our communities, and our world, a better place.

This column was adapted from the blog of Mary Carol Garrity at nellhills.com. She can be reached at marycarol@nellhills.com.

MARY CAROL GARRITY/TNS

A gourmet cook, Linda is known for her parties.

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Designer-approved tricks look expensive, but aren’t

By Gabrielle Savoie Domaine

TIP OF THE WEEK Here are some ideas to spruce up your Christmas tree balls from Better Homes and Gardens: — Insert small gold, silver and white pom-poms in a clear glass ball ornament for a sparkly, energetic look.

— For a quick cover-up, stick strips of washi tape to the ball, overlapping and smoothing them as you work your way around.

— Add ribbon stripes to an ornament.

Remove the ornament cap and cut strips of ribbon. Hot-glue the strips, beginning at the base of the ornament. Tuck the ends of the ribbons into the top opening and glue into place. Replace the

ornament cap and tie a bow around the hanging loop.

— Unwrap and chop crayons into small bits. Place one inside a clear glass ornament. Melt with a hair dryer, turning to coat the sides. Repeat with additional colors.

— Blend a few colors for a marbled effect. Fill a large disposable tray with water.

Spray two colors of coordinating spray paint into the water. The paint will float on the surface. Dip a clear glass ball ornament in the paint. The paint will adhere to the ball, creating a marbled effect.

Source: bhg.com

We believe in making aspirational decor achievable and we know that our elevated taste doesn’t always match up with our limited budgets.

We know all too well some of our favorite interior designers’ designs are like works of art we could only hope to see in museums.

So how do you achieve a champagne look on a box-wine budget?

It all starts with being observational and identifying which aspects of a design make it look so luxe. From strategically placed rugs to clever accessorizing, we’ve illustrated eight ways to fake a high-end look.

Fill a grand entrance

A grand entrance is nice to have, but making it look “decorated” can quickly escalate into spending thousands of dollars.

Instead, try combining a bright area rug, a simple tulip table and a vase filled with tall branches to bridge the gap with your lighting fixture.

Fake the custom look

Custom design is often associated with high costs, but faking the look is not as hard as you might think. Painted IKEA units can double as storage and seating, while a plug-in sconce can be much easier to install than a hard-wired one.

Make your own art.

Want the gallery wall look without the price tag? Get creative and create your own art.

— Learn from hotels.

Five-star hotel rooms are comfortable for a reason: They’re well appointed, practical and beautifully edited. Keeping within a restricted color palette also can help elevate the look of your room.

Furnish a large bedroom One of the easiest tricks to do furnish a large bedroom so is to visually fill the space both horizontally and vertically. Start with a punchy colored rug for the floor and add height with a canopy or four-poster bed.

Repeat the colors from the rug in smaller accents for visual continuity.

Accent your bathroom

All interior stylists know any bathroom will look exponentially better if well appointed with chic accessories. It’s almost as if one strategically placed Aesop bottle can hide dirty grout and ugly tiles. Sconces flanking your vanity mirror will look great.

Use luxe colors

With deep jewel tones and textiles like velvet and silk, you can make your home look a lot more expensive than its price tag.

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Birds: Taking down your feeder if a hawk appears in your yard could be wise move Continued from 2

yard, but there is the possibility of attracting more.

If you can’t find a feeder squirrels can’t reach, you may have to accept squirrels as part of your wildlife entertainment.

Sometimes, with a plethora of birds, come predatory hawks. Although most people wouldn’t enjoy seeing a hawk prey upon sweet little birds, it’s part of their natural ecosystem. The protective structures previously mentioned will allow birds to hide if a hawk does appear. If a full circleof-life moment isn’t what

you’re interested in watching, take your feeder down for a few days and the hawk should move on.

Glass is also an enemy to birds, especially if you have a large window. Placing feeders and bird baths within 3 feet of a window encourages birds to slow down in order to land on these structures and when they take off again, their speeds will be slow enough that hitting the window shouldn’t be fatal.

Once you’ve attracted birds to your yard, consider investing in binoculars and an identification manual.

“The Guide to Kansas Birds

and Birding Hotspots” (Bob Gress and Pete Janzen) is a good beginner’s guide to bird identification. “Birds of Kansas” (Thompson, Ely, Gress, Otte, Patti, Seibel & Young) isn’t a field guide, but it is an excellent source of additional information about birds.

Watching and enjoying the goings-on of birds is a fun winter activity for all.

By providing food, water, shelter and an appropriate habitat, your yard will be a hub for local birds and other wildlife.

Ariel Whitely-Noll is the horticulture agent for Shawnee County Research homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, July 29, 2017 | 9

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